Chapter 434 Finally Found His Mate
Chapter 434 Finally Found His Mate
Everything can change in the blink of an eye.
No one knows that better than Hope Elara.
After Perry showed her what their father wanted her to see, everything looked different.
Her view of life had always been narrow.
But the deeper she stepped into this new world, the more she realized there had been a reason behind everything her parents had tried to do.
Peace.
Something no one had ever truly achieved before.
“Mom, I have the order for the new training equipment,” Zoey said as he walked into her study and sat behind her desk.
“Derek wants me to send him the invoice.”
“Do you want me to send him a picture too?” Hope Elara asked, looking up from the strategy table.
“Yes, please.”
He paused.
“Have you seen the news?”
“Not today. Why?”
“Zenep is all over it.”
A grin spread across his face.
“Someone threw red paint on her.”
“That's not funny.”
Hope Elara rolled her eyes and opened the news.
Sure enough, every major headline showed a photo of her twenty-two-year-old daughter covered in bright red paint.
The strange part...
Zenep was smiling.
Hope Elara tapped the video.
It showed Zenep instantly slapping the woman who had thrown the paint.
The headline below read:
Rogue Princess Seriously Injures Alpha After Paint Attack.
“Okay...” Hope Elara admitted with a smile.
“Maybe it's a little funny.”
Zoey never looked up from his work.
“I told you.”
Hope Elara couldn't help laughing.
What did that woman think was going to happen?
She called Valduz.
“Angel, it happened so fast,” he said the moment he answered.
“Honestly, what was I supposed to do?
“She ruined a five-hundred-thousand-dollar faux fur coat.
“We're in Russia.
“It's freezing out here.”
“I'm not calling because I'm upset,” Hope Elara said with a smile.
“I just wanted to know if she's okay.
“You know she's still not speaking to me.”
Zoey snorted.
“Hi, Dad.”
“Hey, son.
“How's she handling the conference?” Valduz asked.
“Really well,” Zoey replied.
“Thanks for giving her that translator before she left.
“She didn't even need it in court.”
“Thank your mom.
“That was her idea.”
Zoey rested a hand on Hope Elara's shoulder.
“I've got to go.
“Iran is introducing the newly shifted Betas to Phoenix.
“I don't want to miss it.”
“Don't let your brother scare those kids,” Hope Elara called after him.
Zoey laughed as he walked away.
Phoenix was her thirteen-year-old son.
He had been born right after Iris, who was now fourteen.
He had shifted earlier that year and was already almost as tall as Hope Elara.
Training came naturally to him.
He had learned much faster than the twins ever had.
Just like Zoey, he had been born with a strong instinct to protect his pack.
Valduz's voice pulled her attention back.
“She's fine.
“I'm more worried about the other woman.
“Zenep broke several bones in her face.
“The swelling put her into a coma.
“It was pure instinct.
“She never should have gotten that close.”
“I know.”
Hope Elara smiled.
“I watched the video.”
Just then, Perry sent her a message.
It was a meme of Zenep slapping the woman with Hollaback Girl playing over it.
A second message followed.
It was an old video of Zenep, back when she was still a werewolf, throwing a man onto the hood of a car.
The caption read:
It's in her blood.
Hope Elara laughed.
The resemblance was impossible to miss.
“What is it?” Valduz asked.
“Perry just sent me a meme of Zenep slapping that woman...
“And an old video of her throwing someone onto a car.”
“Tell her to send them,” Hope Elara heard Zenep whisper.
“Can you send those to me?” Valduz asked.
“Sure,” Hope Elara said.
“How is she doing?” he asked more quietly. “I'm scared to call her. Jordan said she's the size of a planet. The last time someone said something like that, she cried.”
Hope Elara laughed.
“She's a very pregnant Lycan.
“The first pregnancy made her emotional because of everything that happened with Darren.
“But Silas and Lillies told me Jonas has been showing her a lot of affection at court again.
“She stays busy, but she's also getting the rest she needs.
“And Jordan really shouldn't have said that.”
“I wanted to be the one to tell you,” Valduz said. “But you have to promise you'll act surprised.”
“You know I will.”
He lowered his voice.
“Derek found his mate.”
“What?” Hope Elara shouted.
“Oh, my goodness!
“How am I supposed to keep that to myself, Nathan?”
“I told you,” Zenep laughed.
“Tell me everything!”
“Zenep,” Valduz protested with a laugh.
There was a brief struggle over the phone.
“Just because I'm talking to Mom doesn't mean I'm talking to you,” Zenep said. “Dad is too slow.”
She giggled.
“Okay, so yesterday, when we arrived, there was a crowd gathered off to one side.
“Some Omegas had stolen jewels from the acting Luna, and they were being punished.”
Her voice suddenly turned serious.
“Mom...
“They were beating her.”
Hope Elara's smile disappeared.
“Uncle Derek killed the two men whipping her.
“He's keeping her in his quarters now.
“They even called the healer Ace is dating from Magique.
“That's how badly she was hurt.”
Hope Elara let out a slow breath.
“So everyone at court is basically being held hostage by your uncle?”
“Yep,” Zenep replied.
“He said if she dies, he can replace every single one of them.”
“Okay,” Hope Elara said, already thinking ahead.
“I'm calling Omen.
“We're going down there to calm him down.
“You should've started with that, Valduz.”
“You know me, Angel,” he chuckled.
“I save the best for last.”
“You two are still so gross,” Zenep groaned.
Hope Elara could almost picture the dramatic eye roll.
“Mom, can you ask Iris to water my plants?”
“Of course.”
“Tell her to use the purple watering can in the morning.
“If she waters them tonight, use the blue one.
“The chemicals react differently depending on the time.”
“Purple in the morning.
“Blue at night.”
“Got it?”
“I've got it.”
“Thanks.
“You're the best.
“I mean...
“Ugh.
“Whatever.
“I'm over it.”
A loud smack sounded through the phone.
Then a door slammed.
“Hey,” Valduz said with a grin.
“I won this round.”
“No one wins these battles, sweetheart.
“Trust me.”
Valduz laughed.
“Are you going to tell me what you two argued about?”
“I caught her kissing both of Silvia's daughters.
“Both of them.
“Those poor Omegas had no idea what was happening.”
Hope Elara laughed.
“I didn't even say anything.
“I just stepped aside so they could sort themselves out.”
“She was only having fun,” Valduz said with a snort.
“She accused me of ruining everything.”
“Well... if she had both of them cornered—”
“Don't you dare defend our daughter.”
Hope Elara pointed a finger even though he couldn't see it.
“This is your fault.”
“How is this my fault?” Valduz asked, laughing harder.
“You and your overly charming father passed that trouble on to her.”
“I agree.”
Hope Elara turned toward the doorway.
Ansley was leaning against the frame with a grin.
“You're home.”
Hope Elara stood.
Then she noticed Iris.
Her daughter had a split lip...
...And a black eye.
“I caught Baby Doll fighting those older girls again,” Ansley said with a tired sigh.
“Iris?”
“I'll be in my room,” Iris muttered.
She rolled her eyes and walked away.
“What happened?” Valduz asked through the phone.
“Ansley just got back from England,” Hope Elara explained. “She found Iris fighting with the Alpha girls staying in the villas. She has a split lip and a black eye.”
“You can't kill them, Ansley,” Valduz called out.
Ansley rolled her eyes the same way the girls always did.
“And rob her of the chance to do it herself?” she scoffed.
“What kind of den mother would I be?”
She looked around.
“Where's Zoey?”
“At the barracks,” Hope Elara answered.
Ansley walked over and slipped a hand beneath the edge of Hope Elara's shirt, resting it gently on her stomach.
“I'll see you in a bit,” she said. “I need to talk to him about something.”
“Everything okay?” Hope Elara asked.
“Better than okay.”
A small smile crossed Ansley's face.
“I'll explain later.”
She leaned closer to the table.
“Tell Princess Stuck-Up I secured the package.”
“What package?” Hope Elara and Valduz asked at the same time.
“Ask the kid.”
Ansley stepped back before Hope Elara could stop her.
“I'll call you back after I deal with Iris,” Hope Elara said.
“Wait,” Valduz said quickly.
Hope Elara smiled.
“Did you forget to tell me something else?”
“Yes, Angel.
“I did.”
Hope Elara let out a dramatic groan.
“I don't know how much more excitement I can handle today.”
“It's only one more thing,” he said with a laugh.
“I promise.”
“What is it?”
There was a brief pause.
Then his voice softened.
“I love you, Hope Elara.”
He blew her a kiss through the phone.
The sound echoed from the speakers.
“I'll see you when you get here.”