punishment for everyone

punishment for everyone
Rhea’s P.O.V. (Continued)

“And that’s why your room is the perfect one for Princess Helena, Natalie. The alpha’s floor is the most guarded floor too, with all the modern security gadgets. It will put us at ease, and we don’t need to arrange an extra security team for her.” I raised my brows in surprise when Theo also stressed the same thing that Alpha Hunter suggested.

I was surprised but didn’t show it on my face. I sensed hostility in his voice towards Natalie, which was surprising, as Natalie was the princess of both families.

“And when we all are here, I want to ask something of you, Mom.” He continued and looked at Emily with a serious expression on his face.

Nathan suddenly grabbed his hand, but Theo had his eyes locked with his mother.

“Why did you and Aunt Millie tell Natalie that I will take her as my chosen mate this birthday?” Theo asked, and my breath hitched.

“What? I never said anything like this, son. Why would I say something like that? You are only 21 this year, and you just came back. You still have plenty of time to find your mate,” Luna Emily replied to him, confused by his accusation.

“Who said this to you, Theo? You know my opinion about choosing a mate,” Alpha Hunter asked him angrily this time.

I was now anxious and wanted to go away, as this has nothing to do with me.

“Natalie. Nathan can vouch for this for me.” Theo replied without any hesitation, but I felt anger radiating from his body.

We had a good distance of the whole length of the large Alpha desk between us and yet I could feel his emotions perfectly well.

Everyone looked at Nathan immediately, who also had a grim expression on his face.

“Let me clear one thing here to all of you, pups. Rejecting your fated mate because of his or her rank or without a proper reason is not acceptable by me. Do this and you will be banished. So, don’t get any idea of having a chosen mate until you cross thirty.” Alpha Hunter warned all of us in a stern voice, his gaze hot and threatening.

I glanced at Natalie and sighed when I saw how pale she was now.

“I also need to clarify that I never thought about Theo having a chosen mate when he can have his fated mate at any time. I am sure that there is some misunderstanding that led Natalie to this absurd thought.” Luna Emily was also firm and serious in her voice, looking among us, especially at Theo and Nathan.

I cleared my throat to get their attention. We still had the issue related to Princess Helena, and that’s all that matters to me right now.

They all looked at me immediately with different emotions in their eyes.

“We are discussing the arrangements for Princess Helena’s stay here,” I reminded them calmly.

“Right.” Alpha Hunter immediately replied and looked at Natalie with a stern gaze.

“You will move back to your parents’ villa by this evening, Natalie. Princess Helena will be here, and we need to renovate the room before dawn.” He instructed Natalie in a stern voice.

Natalie just lowered her eyes and nodded reluctantly.

Alpha Hunter looked at me after that.

“I will go through the security arrangements on the alpha floor after this meeting and also talk to the alphas of those packs. We can’t refuse their request directly because of Princess Helena.” I said to him, and he nodded in satisfaction.

“You are still thinking of going there?” Theo asked me, irritation evident in his voice.

“I don’t see any reason to refuse their request, Alpha Theo. All of them have a good relationship in every aspect of life with us. Even if we need to respect the palace’s request, we don’t need to jeopardize our relationship with others.” I replied to him calmly and in a respectful manner.

“She is right, Theo. Although they will not understand our situation, they will still be disappointed, and don’t forget that this is the matter of their packs’ safety.” Alpha Hunter said to him with a serious expression.

I smiled and slowly stood up. “You have a video conference in the next half an hour, Alpha Hunter. I need to get ready the documents and other materials for that meeting,” I informed Alpha Hunter, and he groaned in frustration.

Others also stood up meanwhile.

“Don’t tell me this is once again about the Next Dream Project?” he asked me, whining lightly in the process.

I smiled helplessly while walking towards the next end of the office, where I had my desk.

I heard movements behind me, but I didn’t pay attention to them. I had a job to finish and also, I needed to think about how to get out of the packhouse.

My room was on the first floor, and the alpha floor was on the third floor. Yet staying under the same roof with him was now getting on my nerves.

His scent had filled every corner of the pack house and it was suffocating.

“I don’t mind flirting with Knight. He is not as shole as his human,” Moon purred at the back of my mind, and I rolled my eyes.

I ignored her bantering and sat down on my chair, pulling my laptop to me so that I could start the work.
I didn't pay attention to them but knew that they left the room one by one.

“Here.” I looked up and saw Alpha Hunter standing on the other side of my desk with two coffee mugs in his hands.

“Thanks, Alpha.” I thanked him politely while taking the mug meant for me from him.

“You have something to ask me.” I mumbled when he was still standing there.

“Yes.” He replied and put his mug on the top of the desk.

“Is there no way to amend your relationship, Rhea?” He asked me worriedly.

I pursed my lips into a thin line, and my grip on the mug tightened too.

“I know the damage he has done can’t be reversed, an… and I am not here to advocate for him, Rhea. This is about this pack, the place that is our home,” he added further, sounding still worried, but it only made me feel a pang of pain in my chest.

“As I said earlier, his reason to reject you only has one punishment,” he added in a stern voice this time.

I trembled and looked at him in shock and horror.

“You are getting me right, Rhea. An alpha is not an authority to go astray. This is about shouldering responsibilities and maintaining our basic traditions and rules, including accepting your fated mates, because we believe that our goddess pairs us with the best person for us.” He continued, his voice still stern and commanding.