Is she sick?
“Gentlemen,” I greeted as I strolled into the overly spacious living room. All five of them looked in my direction at the same time and stood.
We shook hands until it got to Luke's turn. He grinned, pulling me into a massive hug.
“You little fucker. Missed you so much.”
“Yeah, get off me.” I chuckled, pushing a fist into his guts. He jerked backwards, laughed before releasing me.
This is his house, and he helped me arrange this meeting. We're childhood friends. And he's an Alpha of one of the biggest Western packs.
“Have a seat.” He gestured at the space next to him.
I sat, and everyone else got seated.
“Drink or smoke?” He offered, pointing at the little feast sprawled on the table.
“Drink, please.”
“Thought as much,” he filled up my glass with scotch and handed it to me. He settled for a cigar, puffing the smoke in the air with such expertise.
The silence that settled between us grew thicker.
“Thank you all for coming,” I finally said, looking all five of them in the eyes.
They nodded simultaneously. “What is this about, Vince?” One of them asked.
I glanced at Luke, and he was just as curious. He didn't know why I wanted him to arrange this meeting, but he did.
“I'm in a fight with my son,” I said. They didn't look shocked. My fallout with Trent wasn't a secret anymore. Literally half of the world knew about it.
They knew more than they should, actually. And that's fucking good. I mean, it's gonna save me the stress of trying to fill them in.
“It’s gotten more chaotic, and I wish to take back my throne.” Now this got their reaction.
All eyes were wide and filled with raw confusion.
“I know it's never been done before. I know what I'm trying to do will strike up public ridicule, and I could probably get cancelled forever. But I wanna try. I need to try, at least.”
“Is there a particular reason why you're hellbent on getting back your throne from Trent?” One of them asked.
I felt trapped. My back against the wall, kinda trapped. Do I answer that or evade it? Do I lie, or do I be honest?
“If we're gonna be helping you start something so diplomatically wrong, we might as well know why. Don't you agree?”
“Yes, of course, you should know why.” I nodded. Waited. Found the courage and finally spilled the tea. “Because that's the only way I can be with the woman I love.”
“Luna Elena?!”
Like I said, everyone knew.
“Yes. Her.” I admitted, squarely returning their stares. They were judging me so hard with those gazes, but I wasn't about to fold. They could judge me all they want, as long as they're gonna help me afterwards.
“Don't you think it's a bit reckless to take such a risk for a girl who shouldn't be yours to begin with?”
That burned hard. I nursed down my grunt. “It's not just about Elena. Trent has done nothing as an Alpha. And he'll continue to do nothing the rest of his life. The sooner I take back my Pack, the quicker I save my people from the damnation they're bent on meeting in his hands.”
“Hmmm.” They all went silent, musing over my proposal. Even Luke seemed dejected and speechless. He's probably regretting helping me arrange this meeting.
Tough shit, though.
“If we help you accomplish this madness, what's in it for us?” One of them finally broke the silence.
“Anything you want.”
“Anything?” Luke repeated with a suspicious excitement. He leaned closer and whispered. “Even if I ask for that island?”
That island…he's talking about the biggest island I own. He's always wanted it; he even begged to buy it, and I kicked the offer back in his face. Can't believe I'm about to give it away for free.
I clenched my teeth. “Sure, man. You can have it.”
He laughed victoriously. “Man! If only you knew you'd give it up for free…”
Yeah, mock my pain, you fucking twit.
“I heard you disobeyed a royal order,” the oldest of them spoke up, bringing back the tense air. “Why?”
“I just didn't wanna go with them.”
“But you know disobeying a royal order is treason, and the punishment is death by dismemberment. As a former Alpha, they might reconsider your punishment, but you're still gonna be punished.”
“I know that,” I said. “And I do intend to go receive my punishment. But I need to get your promises first. I need to know y'all are backing me up in this fight.”
They all exchanged looks one more time and nodded.
“You can count on us.”
I let out a tiny smile. “Then we should drink to our newly formed partnership.”
When I returned to Leo's house, it was midnight. The only sound outside were the fucking owls.
I walked into the house and was greeted with another sound. A very familiar sound. The heartwrenching sounds of Elena's sobs. It wafted from the living room.
I rushed in that direction and found Leo on the couch. Cheyl was beside him, sobbing.
So it was her, not Elena? That thought calmed my nerves so bad. It took a few more seconds for me to realize that Cheryl's crying was just as bad.
Leo looked at me. The misery in his eyes was glaring. Guess they were resolving their issue.
I knew I shouldn't be here, and I didn't have any plans to linger. I turned around and headed for the stairs, going to the guest room.
I unlocked the door and stepped inside. My steps were slow and calculated. Elena wasn't on the bed, and that almost gave me a whiplash. But then I saw her standing next to the full-length window, staring into the dark street.
She seemed deep in thought. I stalked her slowly, calmly, until I was standing so damn close to her. She still didn't feel my presence. Until I gently held her shoulders.
She shuddered, turning her head sharply. Her eyes settled when she saw me. That kick-started my heart, knowing she was comfortable with my touches now.
“What are you thinking about so deeply?” I whispered, nuzzling her hair. Her scent was intoxicating, sending a raw wave of pleasure down to my dick.
"Nothing," She relaxed into my arms. “Where did you go?”
“I…had to meet some friends,” I explained, subtly caressing her ass with my crotch. “I'm sorry I locked you up in here. Did Leo give you dinner at least?”
“I wasn't hungry.”
“I get it.” I wrapped my arms around her body, locking her in. She touched my stubble, caressing it. That small, soft gesture almost brought me to tears.
I guess I've been so love starved, to the point that little shit like this makes me so damn emotional.
I kissed her cheek. “You're not mad at me?”
“No.” She breathed out.
“You love me?” I didn't mean to ask that, but it just came out. Maybe because deep down, I was craving some sort of reassurance.
I'm about to wreck the biggest havoc for her. At the very least, I wanna know I'm loved…I wanna know I'm appreciated. I wanna know I'm seen, even just a little bit.
“You wanna hear me say it?”
“That's all I'm dying to hear.”
She shifted in my arms, and I released her. She turned around, looking at me now.
Her hands cupped my face.
“I…love you, Vince.”
I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. The gentle way she said it made the words hit me deeper than they should.
“I've always loved you. I was just…terrified. I still am.”
“You don't have to be. I'm the one doing the fighting.”
“Yes, that makes me even more terrified.”
I paused. Chuckled but damn, my heart was somersaulting.
“That kinda sounds like you're saying you care about me a lot and you're scared I'm gonna get hurt.”
She nodded, without hesitation. “That's exactly what I'm saying.”
For the next few seconds, I was static. How do I react to this? Elena, admitting she cares about me…admitting that she loves me…how do I react to such a dream-come-true moment?
“Is it too late to ask you to reconsider this?” Her eyes searched mine hopefully.
“Yes, it is.” I held her face, bringing it so close to mine. “Just promise me you're gonna stay here. Don't ever leave Leo's side.”
“What?” Her eyes grew curious. ‘Where are you going?”
I evaded the question, kissing her instead. She pulled back immediately.
“Vince…”
“Shusshh…” I fought back to claim her lips. She moved her head away, still struggling to speak.
My lips locked hers in, and my tongue dove inside, claiming her aggressively, pushing her back against the window.
She was still struggling. Then somehow she pushed me off. Aroused as shit, I was gonna pounce on her again but she ran off, retching so loud.
I remained frozen, watching her run into the bathroom to throw up. Is she sick?