Chapter 42

Zade

Ever since we had come back to the palace, I have been feeling so calm and happy, my head over the moon. Happy that Alexa had finally opened up more to me and I was quite hopeful she would allow me mark her.

When we got back this afternoon and I had led her to her room to go take a rest, I immediately went to my office to sort out things that I had not been able to work on while we were away for longer days than I had planned.

‘You enjoyed it’ my wolf said to me matter of factly, ‘I was not complaining’ I said back as I the memories from the previous nights and this morning popped up in my head.

“You’re finally back, I thought I would never get to see you again,” Raymond said as he walked into my office without permission.

“And why are you her?” I questioned him as I raised my brows at him, I was pretty sure he wasn’t just here to ‘check on me’.

“Wellll,” he started dragging out his words.

“Yes? Continue,” I urged him to speak as I was getting bored with him.

“News has been going around in the palace or should I say rumors,” he said to me as he took a sit opposite me. I rolled my eyes at him, he was invading my space and not even letting out why he was here.

“Rumors that?” I asked again bored with the whole conversation.

“Ever since this afternoon when you and Alexa got back, you lots have been in each other’s hair being all lovey dovey, isn’t it?” He asked me curiosity written all over his face. He looked like a child eager to collect his favorite candy from his mother.

I rolled my eyes at him as I sighed, “get out of my office,” I simply said as I focused back on the papers in my hands.

“What? I’m going nowhere until you give me details,” he countered me and he settled comfortably into my chair. I groaned in frustration, Raymond acts like a child at times and if he wasn’t my right hand man and has always been with me I would think he was.

“I am not giving you any answers,” I said to him not looking up from the documents and he groaned.

“If you won’t tell me, I would go ask Alexa,” he said as he made to stand up and my eyes locked in his as I glared at him. He sat back down but with a smirk on his face, stupid fool.

“You’re so nosy,” I said to him and he nodded in approval not denying my accusation.

“Nothing much happened. I guess she just decided to be more open with me and well here we are,” I said to him and his lips formed a crooked smile.

“You look horrible, stop smiling,” I told him but the fool didn’t stop smiling.

“Finally!” He exclaimed excitedly. “You are doing something right for the first time since you have met our Luna,” he added as he got up and started doing a victory dance. “So why’s next?” He questioned and I sighed before dropping the papers in my hands on the table.

“I was thinking that I should tell her about the whole curse thing and ask her to finally accept me,” I said to him in a solemn voice not sure if Alexa would listen to me or even take me serious.

“Well that’s a good start but take it slow, you don’t want to lose her trust again,” he said to me and I nodded as I took his words into consideration.

“Thanks man,” I said to him. “Now get out of my office,” I added as I put on my serious face once again.

“I came here to ask how the meeting went also, don’t chase me away yet,” he said to me as he scoffed at me. “I don’t want to be anywhere near you anyways, I’m not Alexa,” he muttered under his breathe loud enough for me to hear but I didn’t utter anything.

I gave him the briefing of how the meeting went and the conclusion I had come to with the pack members. When I was fine briefing him, he left and I was now alone in the confines of my office as I signed important documents and finished up everything that had been pending.

When I was done, I made my way out of the office but as I stepped out, I saw Brianna heading my way.

“Bri you’re still awake?” I questioned as she moved closer to me and her face broke into a smile.

“Hey stranger, been long since I last set my eyes on you,” she said as she finally go to to my front and hugged me lightly before pulling away squeezing my arm like she always does.

“Oh yes! I have been busy a lot, being king is not easy you know,” I say to her letting out a little laugh and she laughed as well.

“Well it’s because you have been going around with that girl you call your mate,” she says through gritted teeth and I could swear I saw malice in her eyes but I was not sure because as soon as I saw it, it was fine like I have imagined it.

“She is my mate Bri. I don’t just call her that and it is important I spend time with her,” I replied her curtly as her attitude was now getting on my nerves. She should just let it go, I understand she was looking out for me but Alexa is truly my mate, she should see it by now.

“Whatever you say,” she replied and when she saw that I was not impressed with the way she was behaving, she apologized.

“I’m sorry Zade, I’m just looking out for you, that’s all. I don’t want you to be hurt, you know that right?” She asked as she looked at me with a small smile on her face and my anger vanished.

“I understand and I’m telling you I’m one hundred percent sure this time, okay?” I say to her trying to reassure her and she nodded her head in understanding.

“Good girl,” I said to her and she let out a huge smile on her face.

“Anyways, the reason I came to see you was to ask you how you intend on breaking the curse now that you are united with your mate,” she let out looking at me curiously waiting for answers.

“I don’t want to rush things. I’m waiting for her to trust me then we move on to the next thing which is figuring out how we would break the curse,” I explained to her but she didn’t seem to be satisfied with my answer.

“If you keep on waiting until when it is suitable for her, what about the pack members Zade?” Brianna questioned me and I groaned in frustration.

“I don’t know Bri. I just want her to accept the bond so I can break the damn curse,” I started saying taking a breath before continuing. “There’s nothing I want more other than that but I would only do it on her terms and however she wants us to do it, I want her trust and support,” I finished saying trying to get Brianna to understand.

“But Zade th-“ she started but I cut her off.

“Do not argue with me Bri, I have said what I have to say. I would wait until she fully accepts and trusts me before any other thing, do you understand?” I asked her making sure she was clear with what I said so she won’t question me about this again and she nodded.

“Yes Zade,” she said solemnly, accepting defeat and I smiled at her and pulled her into a hug. She hugged me back and headed back towards her room.

I decided to go take sleep and feel refreshed before I go meet Alexa and spend some time with her. I got into my room and fell into my bed and within minutes I was asleep.

I woke up in the morning feeling refreshed and after I had taken my bath and dressed, I headed to Alexa’s room to go get her bit the door was locked. Cloris said she had ordered that Jo one disturbed her and I wondered what must’ve happened.

I decided to leave her be for a while and come back but still she was ignoring me. Over the next couple of days, I tried to reach out to her but she wouldn’t leave her room and when she did, she avoided me totally.

I was frustrated and determined to get to the bottom of why she was acting like this as I made my way to her room.

On getting there, she was not in her room and I wondered where she might be as it clicked and I made my way to the garden to look for her.

“Alexa?” I called out as I walked around the garden trying to locate where she is.

When I finally got to the middle of the garden, there she was standing in the middle of the garden, her back towards me and something felt off.

I reached out my hand to touch her shoulders and…