Chapter 71: Their Cursed

Cullen

Remi sat next to me with an adorable, frustrated expression that I could not appreciate because I was trying to keep myself from ripping apart the Snowy Peaks Alpha. He dares threaten and insult my mate right to my face. He is very fortunate to be in the company that he is, and that Remi interfered to put him in his place. She did it with far less violence that I was fantasizing about.

“Did you think we would not find out about the treatment you were receiving?” I finally linked Remi. She turned her pouty expression to me.

“But I handled it. Now, their Alpha thinks that you declined aid to them because of me,” she replied.

“Charles is throwing a fit after not getting his way. I am sure he knows that his mate embarrassed him and, in his rage, was attempting to make us out to be the villains,” I told her.

“So, you didn’t do that because she was rude?” she asked. Her face softened a bit. I shook my head at her.

“We never intended to honor their request,” I told her. She let out a small sigh. I reached over and placed my hand on her leg. “You did a good job back there,” I admitted. She gave me a small smile.

“You were so angry, and he was being so rude…” she trailed off.

“You’re becoming more of a Luna everyday,” I told her honestly. Her cheeks went rosy. I leaned forward and kissed her perfect mouth. She gave me one of her sweet smiles and I think she was sufficiently placated now. Arthur, Luke, and Rachel came over.

“Hi, Rachel,” Remi said happily. The girl waved to Remi.

“Calder, Cullen, mind if we join you?” Arthur asked. My eyes scanned the room, looking for Pip. My jaw clenched when I realized she was sitting with Zeus and his parents.

“Sure Arthur, the more the merrier,” Calder said. Remi’s fingers grasped my hand in her lap.

“Quite the commotion earlier,” Arthur observed as they took their seats.

“I agree,” Calder said, his voice still holding some edge as he looked at our mate.

“Did something happen today with his mate?” Luke asked, looking between Remi and Rachel. Rachel swallowed nervously.

“Kelly directed some graceless comments towards myself and my mates. I simply ended her narrative and I do not believe she was pleased with the situation,” Remi said in a light voice. Rachel laughed under her breath and Luke gave her a look.

“The matter is settled,” I said, my jaw still clenched. My eyes went to Pip once more sitting by Zeus’s side.

“Rightly. Charles has been mismanaging his affairs for some time now. I don’t blame you for denying him,” Arthur said. I nodded curtly.

“Arthur, can you tell me about Raging Waters? I am afraid I have only been within my own pack,” Remi asked politely. The conversation deviated easily and moved away from sensitive topics. My attention was not at the table though. It was on Pip and Zeus. My motion had clearly bothered him like my intention. I couldn’t say whether Pip would leave Blue Moon or not, but it certainly gave her the option to stay.

Dinner was served and everyone at the table began to eat. I kept my hand on Remi, feeling uneasy for some reason. One of the Alphas of the packs Blue Moon would be absorbing approached us before the end of dinner. He was an older wolf with a human mate. To my knowledge, she was never able to bear him an heir which had contributed to the decline in their pack.

“George,” I said in greeting.

“Cullen, would or your brother spare me a private word?” George said looking between us.

I looked at Cullen and then Remi in turn. “Stay with our mate,” Calder said to me. “I’d be happy to speak with you,” he told George as he rose. He bent down to kiss Remi on her cheek before strolling away.

“What’s wrong?” Remi linked me. She continued to smile and appear to participate in the conversation with the rest of the table. I had to admit she was getting good at this.

“Nothing, love,” I replied.

“Your grip on me has gotten progressively tighter all night, Cullen. Something is bothering you,” she accused. I realized she was right and loosened my hand over her leg. I wouldn’t want to hurt her even unintentionally. “Cullen, please tell me?” she asked after I failed to say anything.

My eyes scanned the room again. “I don’t know yet,” I told her. Another of the Alphas was moving our way.

“Carson, I will be back in a moment,” I said standing up from the table. If these Alpha’s continued to flock us at dinner, it may let Zeus on to our plan. Remi looked up at me with a worried face. “I’ll be back in a moment, love. Stay here,” I told her. She nodded. I left the table quickly intercepting the other Alpha.

Remi

Cullen left the table, walking towards another Alpha I didn’t remember meeting yesterday. I turned my attention back to Arthur, Luke, and Rachel. Carson sat there with a bored expression, not actively participating in any of the conversation this evening.

“Remi, I think I am going to step out and use the restroom. Would you like to join me?” Rachel asked.

“Oh, um…” I said. I knew Cullen and Calder did not want me away from them or Carson. My eyes trailed to Carson.

“You don’t need a babysitter to go to the bathroom,” he said rolling his eyes. I pursed my lips at him as he stood and also walked away from the table. He had been in a pretty sour mood all night.

“We’ll just be a second. I’m sure your mates will be back before we are,” Rachel said with a smile. She didn’t know that was exactly what I was worried about.

“Sure,” I said with a placid smile. I didn’t want to be rude after all, especially to the she-wolf who had been the nicest to me so far. We both stood and walked out of the banquet towards the bathrooms down the hall.

“By the way, your necklace is beautiful,” Rachel said as we walked.

“Oh, thank you. It was a gift from Calder,” I told her with a smile.

“He has exceptional taste,” she said. “They really dote on you,” she commented.

I laughed. “We haven’t been mated very long. I think we are still in the honeymoon phase,” I told her.

“No, I don’t think so. Their eyes sparkle when they see you. Their bodies are like magnetic to you. I could tell when Snowy Peaks was confronting them. Mates are possessive, and Alphas take it a step further but those two... I can’t imagine what they would do to someone that even thought about touching you,” she said, a little bit of awe in her voice. I gave her a warm smile. I knew my twins loved me very much.

“Luke is very affectionate with you as well. I am not the only Luna here loved by her Alpha,” I pointed out. Rachel laughed as we stepped into the Ladies’ room. No one else was inside.

“Luke can be very… dense sometimes. He is very passionate about being the best Alpha he can be. He gets tunnel vision sometimes and I have to pull him back to me,” she sighed.

“But that just means he is going to be a great Alpha,” I told her with a smile. “I’m sure your pack members appreciate how hard he works as well.”

She gave me a giant grin. “They love him so much. I swear he knows the names of every single member of our pack,” she gushed. “Be right back,” she said, stepping into a stall.

I walked over to the sink and washed my hands. The longer we were here, the more I could tell the difference between fated and chosen mates among all the Alphas and Lunas here. Those that were fated seemed much more at ease and in sync with each other. Based on the conversations with Rachel this afternoon, the Lunas were also more relaxed and less cynical. It seemed a shame that they felt something missing in their mate bond.

Rachel emerged and came to the sink to wash her hands. “Do you and your mates always match your clothing?” she asked absentmindedly.

I laughed at that one. “No,” I told her as we moved toward the doors. “Actually, Luna Nicole packed my things for me and picked out the clothes. I was a little preoccupied before we left. I didn’t know their attire was going to match mine so flawlessly.”

“You all look like a power couple,” she joked. “But I guess that is to be expected when you are the second largest pack in the Realm.” I blushed a little at her compliments. Footsteps coming towards us turned my attention. Panic came over me as Zeus approached us, his eyes trained on me. I tried to keep my features calm, hoping to walk past him. This was precisely why I had hesitated to leave the table.

“Remi, Rachel, don’t you ladies look beautiful this evening,” Zeus said stopping us.

“Thank you, Alpha,” Rachel said brightly.

“Rachel, would you mind if I stole Remi for a word real quick? I would love to pick her brain a moment about my dear Amanda,” he said. He had a charming smile on his face that didn’t meet his eyes. Rachel looked at me with a grin.

“Of course! How cute? Remi, I will let your mates know that you will be joining us shortly,” she said and began to walk away before I could stop her.

“I should really-” I started to say, looking away from Zeus.

“Don’t tell me you are going to try to scamper away now that you don’t have a Carlisle next to you?” Zeus cut me off. His tone grew a bit darker.

I swallowed my resolve and looked up into his face with a serious expression. “What can I help you with, Alpha?” I emphasized the last word. His eyes travelled up and down me, sending a wave of revulsion through me.

“Such a shame,” he whispered before his eyes came back to me. “I would like to have Amanda stay with me after the Summit ends but she seems hesitant about leaving you. I would appreciate your assistance in this. She is my mate after all and I would enjoy spending some time with her outside of all of this,” he said waving his hand around.

I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Um, whatever Pip decides, I will support her in. If she wishes to remain here to spend some time with you, she is welcome to do so. I am not her keeper,” I said.

His eyes roamed me once again and Calli growled in my head. I wanted Cullen or Calder so much in this moment. I did not want to be alone with this man. “Ahem,” I heard behind Zeus. My eyes moved beyond him to see Calder storming towards us, fury written on his face. Zeus turned to him with a mischievous grin.

“Calder,” he said. “I was just chatting with your lovely mate.”

Calder moved around him, coming to me immediately. His hands came to rest on my arms as mine came up to his abdomen. His eyes looked over me, making sure I was untouched. His eyes turned to Zeus, still dancing with the threat of death.

“I’m sorry but we should be going,” he said in quiet voice. His arm wrapped around my waist and he pulled me with him past Zeus and back towards the banquet hall. He was quiet and although I was relieved to be away from Zeus, I had a feeling he was now upset with me.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered. He held his face forward, his jaw clenched. My eyes went to the ground, guilt now falling over me. I should have just stayed at the table.

When we reached the banquet hall, Cullen was standing outside with an equally grim look. His eyes looked me up and down as if also confirming that I was unharmed. “Where is Carson?” he asked.

“I’m not sure…” I said.

“Let’s go,” Cullen said. He turned and we all moved towards our suite.