Alpha Enzo's Fight For Love

A Royal Dinner

Elle

Octavia dropped me back off at my apartment, I was shocked when she started unloading the car, all the bags that were filled with clothes that I presumed were for her were in fact for me. I told her she shouldn't have but she ignored me and carried them through to my place. The fact I had enough clothes to keep me going for years and I hadn't spent a penny made me feel a bit uneasy. I had worked hard for everything in my life, I don't expect her to waste her money on me.

I had about two hours before Octavia was due to come back to pick me up, So I used my time wisely, putting everything away, getting showered, and choosing an outfit that was respectable, but not too over the top. I asked Octavia what I should wear, she just laughed and told me to be myself, that was a great help.

As I was applying the finishing touches to my hair, Octavia walked through my door making me jump. "Sorry" she stopped in her tracks, "I should have knocked" she held her hands up.

I shook my head at her, if a week ago I told myself the princess and I would be hanging out together I would have laughed.

"No, It's fine, Honestly come in. I need your opinion, how do I look?" I asked her holding out my arms to the side I turned around slowly. I was nervous, I had pulled out all the clothes I got today trying to pick something, I opted for black trousers and a white blouse.

"I'm not gonna lie, you are looking smoking hot! But..."

I cut her off, I knew I wouldn't fit in, where I was from I never had to worry about fashion or how I looked, I suppose we were old fashioned in that way. " I look stupid" I dropped my hands down to my sides. I looked at her outfit she was in a deep blue dress, thigh-length with knee-high boots on.

"No, not at all, perfect outfit for a casual dinner you did well. But there is a change of plans, we are all heading out for dinner, my brother has a meeting somewhere so is meeting us at Crystal Palace" She walked over to my closet and started moving some items around. "Here, put this on" She gave me a short black dress and a pair of heels, I looked at her like she had lost the plot. I had never worn a dress in my life let alone heels. "Crystal Palace is a high-end restaurant, trust me you will look stunning, go!" she pointed towards the bathroom.

After what seemed like forever I stood in the mirror and studied my reflection. I barely recognized myself. Octavia curled my fiery red hair into ringlets that fell perfectly around my frame. She put some light makeup on me, something which again I had never worn before. I had been here less than 24 hours and already I looked and felt so different from what I did a week ago.

We had been traveling around half an hour before we pulled up outside a large glass building, it looked amazing, I could tell where it got its name The Crystal Palace. Two men walked towards us both opening each of our doors for us. Octavia left the car running while we headed inside. She held onto my arm and escorted me in as I glanced behind us the man jumped in the driver's seat and drove off. "He's just parking it up out the back, don't worry" She smiled as another man opened the door for us and we walked inside.

Octavia

I had mind-linked everyone letting them know about Elle, I didn't want people questioning her. I wanted her to have a nice evening, Glinda had already spoken to my mother about her, I wasn't too sure why but my mother was eager to meet her.

"Hi, sorry we are a little late," I said to my parents as we approached their table.

They both stood and hugged me, kissing my cheek in turn. "This is Elle" I motioned to the shocked woman standing behind me. I could sense the nervousness radiating from her. She bowed her head slightly before she had the chance to finish her curtsey My mother took hold of her hugging her. "It is so nice to meet you" I raised my brows as I saw Elle's eyes nearly pop out from her skull, my parents were always friendly but why were they being overly friendly? then my father did the same.

"Why are you both being weird?" I mind linked them both.

"We have no idea what you're talking about, let's sit and wait for your brother shall we?" my mother answered me as she ushered Elle to the chair next to hers. I took a seat between Elle and my father leaving one spare seat opposite us for Enzo. My mother engaged in conversation with Elle not really paying attention to anyone else around the table. My father and I glanced at each other now and again, I could see him constantly looking at his watch.

"Where on earth is Enzo" He lowered his head down to ask me discreetly.

I shrugged my shoulders, "Have you tried to reach out to him?" I whispered back.

"Yes, he's not answering, care to try?" I nodded.

"Enzo, where are you? we have been here ages, get your ass here now!" I mind linked to him.

"Running late, just start without me, apologize for me sis" That was Enzo all over, blunt and straight to the point, now I was blocked, I huffed as I turned to my father.

"He's not coming," He said before I had a chance to say anything.

"He said he's sorry" I tried to soothe the blow.

"Who is sorry?" My mother piped up from across the table, her eyes shifting between my father and myself.

"Enzo is unable to make it" my father explained, they both shared a strange look then my mother turned back to Elle.

My wolf, Fern was awake fully watching the scene play out in front of me. She seemed to find it quite amusing, I had a good relationship with my wolf. She was big and strong, and never let me down in any fight I had faced. She was there if I needed her but for the most, she was pretty quiet. Unlike Enzo, even though he shared a great bond with his wolf, it is like having another brother as they both tend to bicker and fall out quite often. It was always amusing to watch over the years.

"somethings going on" Fern hummed confirming my suspicions weren't completely crazy.

"I know, but what?" I answered her.

We all ate and engaged in conversation, Elle seemed to be enjoying herself. I was pleased she seemed to relax, she was so tense when we arrived. My mother seemed to like her, she even invited her on our annual holiday to Noelani Springs, it was a tropical island my parents inherited when they took the throne. It was our own private island so we always carried on the tradition of going there once a year, usually we stayed there for around four weeks. We were due to head out there in about three weeks and if I was being honest, it couldn't come quick enough.

I was thankful neither of my parents pushed Elle too far with the questions. I could tell she still wasn't ready to open up about her past. In time I hoped she learned to trust us more.

Enzo

"Enzo" Aston shouted through mind link making me jump from my sleep. "Rise and shine sweet cheeks" he added.

"I'm sure I said do not disturb" I answered him as I laid back in the warmth of my bed.

"We may have a problem, can you come to the office?"

"Fine!" I groaned as I threw back the covers, swinging my legs out the side of the bed.

"It's about time you got up, I'm starving" Axel my wolf growled.

"Don't start" I warned him as I jumped down the steps two at a time, he moaned before cutting the link.

I pushed open the door and was immediately hit with the smell of flowers like I was out in a meadow on a hot spring afternoon. I inhaled deeply taking in more of the intoxicating aroma.

"That scent, follow it, now!" Axel ordered.

"Not now!" I snapped back, pushing him to the back of my mind.

I didn't like to admit when he was on to something but the scent that filled the air of the corridors was sweetly intoxicating. "What's that smell in here?" I asked Aston as I stepped into the room closing the door behind me, Aston was stood looking through some papers.

He looked at me with a puzzled expression on his face "What smell?" he sniffed the air and shrugged his shoulders "I can't smell anything" he shrugged.

"You're telling me you can't smell that?" I asked him again as I walked around the room seeing where the source was coming from. I kept moving until I made it to Ansel, sniffing his shoulder, it was definitely coming from him, well his shirt at least.

"Dude!" He shouted as he stepped back, "What are you implying? I've not long showered" He lifted his arm smelling his armpit.

"I'm not implying anything, you smell good" I complimented him as I stepped towards him again to smell him.

"Yeah, it's still weird. Can you stop that? He used the palm of his hand to push my forehead away from him.

"Seriously, what is it?" I asked him once again.

"Nothing, just my usual cologne" he raised his brow, "What is wrong with you?" He placed the papers down on the desk not taking his eyes off of me. "If you're going to carry on being weird just go back to bed, I'll sort this myself"

I held up my hands in defeat, trying to ignore the intoxicating scent that had consumed my brain I take my usual seat at my desk and wave my hands telling Ansel to carry on.

"Ok, so there is a woman who came here from The Grey Rock pack. She turned up at Corban house in a pretty bad way. Glinda has asked me to look into the pack, something is not quite adding up with her" He began to explain.

"What do you mean?" I asked, now listening intently.

"She was beaten up pretty bad and looked like she hadn't eaten a good meal in a while. She's got the markings of a healer but she most definitely has Alpha blood in her. Her name is Elloise Brooks, daughter of the Alpha and Luna. She was asked about her family and told Glinda she didn't have any, my theory, some form of abuse, and she managed to escape."

"I knew them a long time ago, they don't seem like the type of people to be capable of abuse"

"You met the daughter?" he asked.

I shook my head "No, unfortunately not, I remember visiting their pack with my father when I was training to take over as Alpha, I remember them telling him about their daughter she was a talented healer like her mother if I remember right" I didn't remember much else, I was young and there were alot of attractive women there at the time.

"Something's happened, if you don't think it's the parents then what?" he asked folding his arms across his chest.

"You want me to talk to her?" I asked him, I was in no way the best candidate for that.

He shook his head, "No, Octavia's taken her out shopping, she's the best one to handle something like this. let's see what she gets from her first"

"Ok, I'll make a few calls, before I head out to the Woodstock meeting, see what I can find out"

"Yeah maybe you should think about getting laid too, people are going to start talking if they see you sniffing people" Aston smirked as he slid the diary across the table towards me.

I stopped it slamming my hand down on top of it before it slid off the end of the desk. Looking up at Aston as he began to walk towards the door "Laura's number inside if you want to give her a sniff" he chuckled.

I sighed at his pathetic attempt at humor, picking the book up I threw it at him as he sprinted out the door narrowly missing him as it landed in the hall.