CHAPTER NINE

IMELDA'S POV

"Alpha Desmond is on his way here. He's at the gate now!." The guard reported with urgency visible in his voice.

What!!! My father was coming to see Alpha Xavier a few hours after we just got raided by Alpha Blake's pack. Something quite fishy was going on and we all needed to retrace our steps carefully.

Despite the fact that we signed a truce with them, the truth that was clear to us all was that they couldn't be trusted.

I, Alpha Xavier and mum exchanged knowing looks as Alpha Xavier got up from the bed, making for the palace as we all trailed him behind.

We got to the palace before the guards let Alpha Desmond in as we awaited his arrival.

On getting to the door, I could see father surveying the room and the look of shock on his face when he beheld my mother. I glanced at the both of them and noticed that mum had taken on a rather stern demeanor like every Alpha would.

"Greetings, Alpha Xavier." He accosted rather too rudely as he took a seat even before he was invited.

"Not just one Alpha is in this palace." Alpha Xavier was reminded through gritted teeth as he was trying all he could to keep his anger in check.

I have never seen this man this way and it kind of hurts that it's all because of me this is all happening. There was no need to hide the truth.

"Where have your thoughts drifted to?." I heard Xavier's voice question inside of my head and I swerved only to look eyes with him for a passing second.

"It's nothing." I replied through the mind link and he smiled.

"I can't see any other Alpha, but I'm not here for arguments. I'm just here to give you a warning which would be of benefit to us all if only you all would oblige." He stated and it only made my blood boil in anger.

"State your message." Alpha Xavier demanded haughtily as there was an abrupt change to his serenity.

"Well, I just want to let you know that the wars will not cease, the blood will not stop flowing and death would be a constant recurrence if Imelda doesn't accept the offer made by Alpha Blake. For the peace of all our packs and for the bloodshed to stop, Imelda must acknowledge and accept Alpha Blake's offer of her being his Luna." Father explained and the shade of Alpha Xavier's eye color darkened as he cast a hard glower on Alpha Desmond.

I really wonder how this evil and incompetent man called my father even became an Alpha. Imagine a father that wants his daughter to get mated to a man twice her father's age! Pathetic!!!!

There were some moments of silence and we all stared at each other, just then mum took the floor.

"Greetings, Alpha Desmond." She accosted with a tone of great sarcasm.

"Greetings." He replied poker faced, clearly displeased that she was the one to answer him.

"We can't accept your juicy offer, Mr Desmond. It's quiet too nice for us to acknowledge." My mum answered with a smirk on her face.

Thus, she rejected his offer with a tone of haughty disdain as she winked at me.

Alpha Xavier's face softened a bit as he smiled warmly.

"Let it be known to you and all packs beyond that I warned you beforehand." He warned and stood up to take his leave.

"Sure thing. Also send word to Alpha Blake that Imelda, daughter of Alpha Lena, Alpha Xavier and I myself are no scorn dog nor are we cowards. We await your eerie outburst." She started and resumed her seat, rolling her eyes in disgust.

With that, Alpha Desmond, my dad stormed off in anger. I guess he didn't get the reaction he wanted. Or did he think the raid would have any impact on us?

I felt betrayed by everything happening and the fact that the man advising this was my own father!! Remind me who I offended in my last life.

"Love, you need to take your rest." Xavier admonished with a soft look on his face.

"No Xavier, can everyone just slow down please? I'm about to run mad now!! I was fucking kidnapped in the middle of the night by Irene. What's all this? Irene disappearing and appearing. Mum visiting then dad visiting. What's all this rubbish? Someone should please explain!!! A tornado is about erupting in my head." I yelled as tears streamed down my face.

Mum came close to me and cupped my face.

"Sweetheart, there are a lot of things you can't understand till the right time. We are all as confused as you are." Mum explained wiping off my tears while Xavier just stood with heads bent down as confusion was written all over his face.

"But how did you know about all this mother? What's going on?." I asked, nothing was falling in place.

"Before Xavier could trace your scent, I had to work in the shadows to destroy the spell that masked your scent." She replied and Xavier jerked his head up in surprise.

"What!!." Xavier and I interjected in jinx.

"As far as I know Xavier, the ladies circling Imelda were witches." Mum continued and I gasped but I didn't see any hint of shock on Xavier's face.

"I know that," Xavier concurred, "but how does Irene connect to all this." He asked as he squatted.

"That's what I don't know about. I've been trying to connect the dots but I can't see where she's involved, though I have a very strong eerie feeling that she's strongly involved or someone greater than her." Mum explained as she heaved a sigh.

"Alpha Xavier, there's something I have to discuss with you." Irene's voice came as her head popped out of the door.

She keeps appearing at the wrong time like she was a monitoring spirit.

"Leave!!!." Xavier yelled.