42. No Respect for the Alpha

forty-two

No Respect for the Alpha

*ELDEN*

L ater at night, after Emilia, Geneva and Samuel retire to bed, we make a detour to Silver Lake. Jace grabs some bottles of beer on the way, and Calvin brings some snacks.

“It’s unbelievable what you guys can eat,” Janice laughs.

“I am just always hungry,” Jace grins.

“Same,” Vincent says.

“Me too,” I agree.

“I have nothing to oppose,” Calvin adds.

Janice and Flora exchange a perplexed gaze before laughing. Flora skips forward, blinking up at me innocently. I know that look of hers. It can fool others into thinking she is that innocent fairy-like creature, but not me. True to my suspicion, she starts to move her fingers over my abs. “It must be the alpha genes,” she chirps, sounding even more innocent than before, but I can detect the flirting in her voice.

If we were alone now, I would devour you, I say.

She smirks. Is that so?

She tosses me a teasing glance before wiggling out of her clothes, until she is only wearing her swimsuit. Janice follows suit, and soon the two of them take each other’s hands and jump into the water.

“I don’t know about you,” Jace says, suddenly stepping next to me, “but, isn’t it weird how it all turned out. Remember when we were little boys and the only friend we had was each other?”

“Yes,” I say quietly. “Then Flora suddenly joined the equation.”

“And everything changed,” Jace says with a smile. “I befriended Deacon.”

“Your future beta,” I say. “He is a good guy.”

“He is.” Jace nods. “And then Janice came to the pack, and then your betas. I am really happy for you that your life turned around like that.”

“Jace,” I say quietly.

“No, don’t ruin the moment,” he says. “Because I mean it.”

“You deserve real happiness, too,” I say.

“I know,” he answers. “I didn’t think I would, but the last couple of weeks were eye-opening. I am in love with Janice, and I am ready to fight for her.”

“So, you confessed?” I ask.

“I did, and she feels the same,” he says. “We have to be very careful though, and sly, until I am officially alpha. I honestly can’t believe how lucky I am that Janice is on board with it. I thought she would tell me I am insane and to go fuck myself, but she didn’t. She is scared but said she will be there along the whole way. We need to be really careful, though. Please make sure you and Flora won’t tell anyone.”

“You can count on us,” I say. “What’s the plan, then? I can help!”

“No, you can’t,” Jace says with emphasis. “Seriously, Elden, you will be alpha soon, and as that you cannot just intervene in other pack affairs. Besides-” he pauses, “-what type of alpha would I be if I couldn’t fight for myself and my girlfriend? My mother wants me to take a chosen mate of her choice. Janice and I agreed to trick them as best as we can, and stall time while we are at university. I need to find a way to reclaim my life. Janice feels the same. She is heavily against involving you and Flora. I am just telling you because you are my best friend.”

I don’t like that he wants to tackle this on his own. “Jace, if I have learned one thing, then that there is no shame in asking for help. Allies make you stronger.”

“Yes, but initially, you stood up against your father yourself, even when you didn’t have the support of the Elders,” he says. “And you refused to be anyone’s pawn. That’s what I want also. I am not ready yet, to directly fight my parents – I need a couple of years to build my strength. I am not a royal lycan. if I do wrong, I don’t have anyone to cover for me.” Before I can say anything, he hastily explains himself. “Not to say that you would have anyone covering for you! I mean, technically. If I don’t play by the rules, I won’t have anyone in my corner.”

“You have me,” I say quietly.

“I know, but be real, is your position already that strong that you could save Janice’s and my ass in case something goes wrong?”

I take a moment to answer, a wave of annoyance hitting me at the fact that I don’t hold any more power yet. “Not yet, but I will,” I say. “By the goddess, Jace, I will make sure to build up my own influence to such an extent that everyone else will be shitting their pants when they want to take it up with me! Until then, please stay strong and make sure to keep a low profile! And Flora and I can help cover for you and Janice whenever you need it. How is that for a plan?”

“Alright,” Jace gives in. “It’s easier when I am not doing it all alone. Besides-“ He gazes at Janice and Flora who are laughing and splashing water at each other. “-Janice being so close to Flora does come as a huge advantage. Not even my mother would be so stupid as to question the young, miraculous Luna Flora, although she thinks she is just a silly child. I know she isn’t, but I know better than to argue with my mother.”

I smirk, not saying anything to his words. It’s Flora’s cover that she perfected over the years. They are all going to be in for a rude awakening.

“What are you doing there?” Flora calls towards us and waves. “Come in the water. You too, Vince and Calvin. Stop drinking and join us.”

“You heard the luna,” Vincent grins and elbows Calvin.

“Well, I know better than to ignore a direct order,” Calvin says dryly.

“He is really getting better with the social cues,” Jace whispers.

“He is,” I agree. “And his talents are no joke either. In the last couple of weeks that he has started to help out, and has already upped our security.”

“Come on, Jace!” Janice calls and waves.

“You heard our women,” I chuckle. “Come, let’s not make them wait.”

Jace and I join the girls in the water, my two betas following soon. Flora immediately wraps her arms around my neck, letting me wrap her in my arms.

“I am trying not to be envious,” Vincent jokes.

“How come you have no girlfriend?” Jace asks.

“I haven’t found anyone yet,” he says.

“Same for me,” Calvin agrees.

Jace and Janice, meanwhile, are very subtle. If I hadn’t known they were a couple, I wouldn’t have noticed anything. It’s only in the way they sometimes look at each other, and how they coincidentally touch each other sometimes, as if it was just a random moment.

A part of me wants to ask Jace if they are mates, but the other part knows better. Jace might already feel the mate bond even if Janice hasn’t turned eighteen yet. But she will be soon, and as a future alpha I am certain he already knows whether they are mates or not. He must at least have an inkling.

So, if they are mates, Jace didn’t tell me for a reason, most likely to make sure to keep the secret and protect Janice. And if they aren’t mates, then it’s the choice they made, as Jace will never get handed the pack without a mate of his parents’ liking. He can’t win either way, so he is trying his best to keep the situation a secret, until he is free to do how he pleases.

I just hope things will work out for him and Janice. I can’t help but feel worried. Jace doesn’t have the support system I have now, and I am not strong or powerful enough yet to be his. His parents are elitists of the worst kind, and might be even worse than my father, which is already pretty telling in itself, and the reason Jace and I became friends in the first place. Trauma-bonding that turned into real friendship.

The next day I am up early. My plan was to let Flora sleep in, but this time she wakes up along with me. I don’t know if it’s the mate bond connecting us fully now or the fact that I marked her but there is such a glow around her whenever I look at her. It’s just magical.

“You are staring,” she says while she brushes through her long blonde hair. It always looks like the sunlight is kissing it, but now it’s even more obvious to me. It looks like it’s slightly illuminated.

“You look magical,” I say.

Flora smiles brightly. “Don’t say things like that when we have to leave the bed!”

“I mean it in the literal sense,” I say. “It’s mesmerizing. I don’t know if it’s because we are marked now, but you look different.”

“Better than before?” she asks curiously.

“You always looked beautiful,” I reassure her. “But now you look ethereal to me.”

She tilts her head to the side, tapping her lips. “Maybe it’s because you can see the real me now. I told you that when we marked, parts of the light joined with you, too,” she pauses. “It’s not awkward, or is it?”

I stand up to take her hands, squeezing them. “You are a gift,” I say. “And I can’t believe the goddess deemed me worthy of you. It’s amazing, not awkward.”

Releasing my hand, she reaches out to me, while I lean down so that she can touch me. She brushes through some strands of my hair, smiling. She is caught in her own world again, seeing things that no one else can see.

Eventually, she pulls away. “We should have breakfast,” she says. “There is quite some work ahead of us.”

“And I am going to meet Samuel in an hour.”

Flora looks at me, and her eyes have a gleam to them, as if I can see the hint of stars in them. I am feeling incredibly cheesy even thinking something like that, but her eyes seem to have truly changed. “You will do it,” she tells me. “You don’t need to be scared of this asshole, Elden. He can’t walk over you anymore; he can’t do anything to you.”

I kiss her hand. “I know. I am not scared of him. It’s such a weird feeling, because I don’t feel much for him at all. I used to hate him, but now there isn’t much left.”

“Maybe that’s good,” Flora says quietly. “Maybe it’s a sign that you have healed, and that he doesn’t have a grip over you anymore.”

“Maybe,” I agree. “I think it helps that I have created my own family now, by being with you and with our friends.”

“A chosen family,” she mutters, before she nods. “You are right. We have a chosen family.” Before I can say anything, feeling awkward that I have reminded her of her grandmother and the loss she has faced recently, she takes my hand and tugs me downstairs. “I want eggs,” she exclaims. “Or cake.” She furrows her brows. “Or maybe both!”

“Then both it is,” I grin.

While Flora sets the table, I start preparing our breakfast. I don’t think I will ever become a really skilled cook, but it’s fun to do the smaller things and see my mate happy. After breakfast Flora meets Emilia, who is mentoring her now. Weird how things changed. I never disliked Emilia; I was just skeptical of her because she chose my father, but learning more about her has made me realize that she is a good person.

And certainly, very skilled. I bet Flora will learn a lot from her.

She doesn’t want a graduation ceremony for finishing school, just like I don’t want one, but this means even more reason to give her a great Luna Ceremony.

Let’s make sure our mate gets what she wants, Regis spurs me on. And let’s kick our father in the ass!

How about we try a less violent approach first?

That’s boring! I hate talking.

In our rank, we need to learn how to be diplomatic and talk. We need to play by the rules and to know them well, to be able to bend and change them. Our first step needs to be to strengthen our position in this world.

Fine, he groans. But you do the talking.

He doesn’t need to worry. The last one I would let out for a talk is my lycan. He just has no patience for idiots or assholes, but as the alpha of such a huge pack, especially with the plans we have in mind, we need to learn to deal with all kinds of people.

“Elden,” Samuel calls out to me, pulling me out of my thoughts. “You are early, just like me.”

“I wanted to be on time,” I say.

“Your father is on pack grounds, but not in his office.”

“So, he finally returned?” I ask blandly. “I didn’t notice. Not that there was much to notice.”

Previous Samuel might have chastised me for talking like that about the alpha and my father, but now he stays quiet. He doesn’t say anything, but it looks like he secretly agrees. We wait in silence in my father’s office, until I can hear the heavy footsteps approaching.

My father opens the door, clearly surprised to see us. I look at him, but as I told Flora there is not much I feel anymore.

“Caelum,” Samuel gestures at one of the seats. “Please sit down.”

I struggle to keep my composure at Samuel’s blatant disrespect. I would have never imagined him acting that way. Samuel is the textbook of perfect behavior and doing things the way they should be. He usually would have gotten up, greeted my father, made small talk and then invited him to this talk.

Dad seems to be taken aback, too, looking at Samuel questioningly while sitting down.

“I will come to the point immediately,” Samuel says. “The Council wants to plan Elden’s and Flora’s inauguration ceremony for Friday, in two weeks.”

My heart almost skips a beat at hearing the date. Fuck, it’s getting real.

“What?” my father exclaims. “Without talking to me first? Elden is not ready yet!”

“He is,” Samuel says calmly.

“He has not reached his full potential yet!”

“That doesn’t matter,” Samuel argues. “He is only eighteen. He is young, yes, but he has been prepared for this rank his whole life. As for his full potential… he will gradually become stronger and easily reach it.”

I am only remotely wondering what kind of potential they are talking about, but when Samuel tosses me a gaze, I nod at him. “I am ready,” I say shortly.

Dad looks frustrated. “You are not ready.” He looks at Samuel. “He is not ready!”

“I have marked my mate, now,” I tell him. “I feel the bond to my fated mate fully, and it makes me stronger. It’s the way it should be.” I emphasize on the word fated, noting how something in my father’s eyes flashes. Frustration, anger, a hint of shame even.

Interesting.

“I also have people who can guide and help around me,” I say. “And I have my two betas, one of them even to your liking.”

“Your son is right,” Samuel says. “He fulfilled his part of the deal. He has two betas, marked his mate, he has finished school and has trained and studied relentlessly. By now, he is the strongest warrior of this pack. He also proved to be a good leader when the pack was attacked not too long ago. The pack respects him even more, after leading them so well through the attack.”

Dad is angry. It’s obvious by his scowl. I used to be terrified of this expression, because usually it meant he would lose his temper and hit me, but now he doesn’t look terrifying to me. I look at him, scanning him from head to toe. He doesn’t look as tall anymore, as strong and bulky. When did that change?

You changed, you idiot, not him, Regis grunts.

“I am still the alpha,” Dad snarls. “The decision when Elden takes over is mine!”

“No, it’s not,” Samuel says before I can even open my mouth. “It’s not your decision, Caelum. It’s Geneva’s and mine, and the Council’s. You were the interim alpha until Elden would be ready to take over. Silverlake is his birthright, and his royal heritage and being born into the position has made him easily surpass you. The pack needs him, and we want him in this rank sooner than later! Neither Geneva nor I are asking for your approval, we are merely informing you.”

Goddess, he is not taking prisoners today!

“How dare you!” Dad snarls, slamming his hands on the desk.

“How dare you !” Samuel retorts. “You have put disgrace on this pack, your rank and your family. You were married and mated, while you had a mistress in Paris. You took a chosen mate, and then betrayed her too. You lied to us constantly, and I was a fool to believe you for so long. The pack doesn’t respect, nor like you, and I can see why. You are barely around, and you don’t care for the pack members. Your son is only eighteen and already a much better man and alpha than you ever were! I am giving you the chance to retire with dignity, which is much more than you deserve.”

Dad looks furious, but even he knows he has no chance against an Elder from the Council. “You will regret this,” he snarls before jumping up and leaving the room in long strides. I watch him leave before turning my gaze to stare at Samuel. “Goddess, you were actually pretty cool today,” I say.

Samuel looks amused. “I never dreamed that I would ever hear those words out of your mouth.”

“Neither did I,” I say. “When you said we would have this talk, I thought you wanted me to take it up with my father, which I would have done. I am not scared of him anymore. It’s the first time I noticed that he isn’t as strong as I always thought he was.”

“That’s because we now know he was never born an alpha,” Samuel says. “You however were born as one, as a royal alpha on top of that. You trained and grew stronger.” Samuel looks amused. “Your father didn’t argue more because he knew he has no chance against you anymore. Must be quite the humbling experience for him.”

I snort. “You are really out for blood today.”

“I needed to be,” he says. “A lot of Caelum’s antics were my fault. I asked you to accompany me today, not for backup, but to finally make things right by you. I protected him for way too long. To put him in his place was my task today, which is the reason Geneva didn’t accompany us either.” He sighs. “I know we walked quite the rocky path,” he admits. “And I protected your father for far too long, but I believe everything I said: You are ready for this task, and you will be an amazing alpha.”

“I am not sure what to say,” I admit.

“I was a fool,” he says. When I stay quiet, he looks at me thoughtfully. “Saying nothing is also an answer.”

“I know, I just didn’t want to add insult to injury.”

He snorts. “You have grown so much more confident.”

“I think lack of confidence was never my issue,” I say. Lack of self-worth, frustration and anger were, but I don’t say the last part out loud.

Samuel takes something out of his pocket, handing it to me. “I wasn’t sure if you would want to see it, but Geneva said she is sure you will.”

I look at the item, a picture of a boy. “Wait a moment, is that!?”

“Yes, your half-brother.”

“He is cute,” I chuckle. Not as cute as my half-sister, but still cute. “I hope you are going to help him and his mother?”

“Yes, we will. Rest reassured.”

“Samuel, I want to learn more about the other royal families. I know we don’t have a lot of contact with each other, aside from those who work for the Council, but is there a chance to learn more about them?”

“They live much more secluded than your family does,” Samuel explains. “Aside from occasional meetings with the Council and the delegates who work for the Council, we don’t see them a lot.”

“But it’s not impossible to meet them?”

“No, I will try to get you into contact with them. I agree, it might be a good idea to know each other better, even when continents are between you.”

“Well then,” I get up. “I think I have a lot to prepare for and work to do now.” I can’t help but sound joyful, my heart is filled with relief. I thought my father would be much more of an issue, but it seems not even he is stupid enough to take it up with a Council Elder. Soon, Flora and I will be put into our positions, and he can’t do anything more then.

“And I have a ceremony to plan,” Samuel says. “Geneva is already waiting for my okay to start.”

“Please tell her to involve Flora as much as possible, as my equal. I want her to shine!”

“Of course,” he reassures me, “that was the plan all along.”