Chapter 68 The Price of Loyalty
Chapter 68 The Price of Loyalty
3RD PERSON'S POV
Ronan stared at his mom. She seemed a little bit out of it. After a few seconds, Diane snapped out of her daze and stared around. The matron stood at an angle cautiously glancing at Diane as if she was suddenly going to barge at her like a bull on steroids.
He could not blame her for feeling that way, especially not after what his mom did to the poor woman. The matron was holding a basket of fruits. Ronan and his mom wanted to pay the beta a visit.
Since Alpha Damon made it known that he was going to let the people decide which alpha they wanted, Ronan and his mom had decided that they were going to win over the people's hearts.
The first person they wanted to see was the beta. He was close to the alpha and also the pack members. Diane ordered a passing maid to get another basket of seafood and other foods.
Ronan stood at the edge, watching everything. Deep down he felt it'll take way more than a few pieces of fruits and seafood to win over the beta but he decided he'll just go along with his mother's suggestions anyways. The maid came back several minutes later with the baskets.
Diane, who seemed to have fallen into another daze, snapped out of it when the maid called for her attention. Ronan couldn't tell what was wrong with her.
“Y'all should excuse us,” he said. Diane turned around to look at him with startled surprise.
“I still need their assistance. Why are you dismissing them?” She asked.
“They'll come back in a few minutes. I need to have an urgent discussion with you.” With a flick of his hand the maids and the matron hurried out. Ronan approached his mom who directed her focus back to the baskets as if she was avoiding a discussion with him.
“Mom, is everything ok?” Ronan asked. Diane bent down to pick up an empty plastic bag on the floor.
“Why shouldn't I?” She said avoiding eye contact with him.
“You seem a little out of it, like there's something bothering you which you don't wanna talk about.”
“Something like what?” She asked nervously laughing to cover up her fright. Her heart hammered in her chest and she noticed how her hands immediately started to shake. She grabbed it immediately and hoped Ronan didn't see that.
“I heard you pushed the matron unprovoked, you act like you see a ghost once in a while and you just look lost in thoughts.”
“I'm fine… I'm just worried about your father suddenly changing his mind and giving the position to Leonard.”
“Mum, I need…”
“I said I'm fine!” Diane snapped at him with irritation. Ronan kept quiet and called the maids back in. They filled in, cleverly avoiding Diane's path while trying to effectively carry out her errands. Ronan didn't want to point it out but ever since Diane told him she got rid of Mila, she had been acting completely weird.
He shrugged it away and watched his mom swiftly pack the baskets. She ordered three maids to carry the basket ahead of them to the beta's apartment. She nudged Ronan as they were about to step out of the kitchen and they ran into alpha Damon who was stepping into the house at that moment.
Ronan and his mom swallowed hard the moment they saw Alpha Damon standing there. The alpha's eyes moved from them to the baskets the maids were carrying, then back to their faces.
"What's all this about?" Damon asked, his voice calm but curious.
Diane let out a nervous chuckle. "Oh, I just wanted to pay the beta a visit. Check on him, you know? He's been through a lot lately."
Damon stared between Ronan and his mom for a moment. He didn't say anything right away. He already knew what they were up to. They were heading to the beta's place to butter him up, maybe even bribe him. It was obvious.
But he just shrugged. "Alright then. Carry on."
Ronan let out a small breath he didn't know he was holding. Damon turned and headed toward his office, his footsteps heavy on the floor. As he walked, he thought to himself. He wondered how far those two would go just to get people on their side for the alpha position. Would they promise things they couldn't deliver? Would they try to buy loyalty with fruit baskets and nice words?
He trusted his beta, though. The man had been loyal for years. Damon hoped he wouldn't disappoint him now, when it mattered most.
Meanwhile, Ronan and Diane made their way to the beta's apartment. It didn't take them long to get there, just a few minutes of walking through the pack grounds. The maids struggled a bit with the baskets, but they managed.
When they got to the door, Ronan knocked. A moment later, the beta opened it. He looked tired but still managed a kind smile when he saw who it was. He wasn't expecting Luna and the alpha prince to pay him a visit randomly in the afternoon.
"Ronan. Diane. This is a surprise," the beta said, stepping aside to let them in. "Please, come in."
He led them to his study, a small room filled with books and papers stacked on every surface. The beta motioned for them to sit, then took a seat behind his desk. His eyes kept drifting to the baskets the maids had set down by the door.
"So," the beta said, folding his hands on the desk. "What brings you here? Not that I mind the company, but this feels sudden."
Diane gave her fakest and her sweetest smile. "Can't the Luna just want to check on the beta?"
The beta didn't answer right away. He just watched her, waiting for the real reason they showed up at his door with gifts in hand. Ronan shifted uncomfortably in his seat when he noticed the beta's cautious expression.