My Luna: A Sultan's daughter (Book 4)

4. Conundrum

ELI was walking in the hallway on the third floor where his parents held their office. Yes, their pack house was quite a sight unlike those traditional stone houses with two floors. Their house had four floors. It was huge but with the growing number of inhabitants, it was becoming small at the moment.

A slender body bumped into him. Eli was taken aback by his thoughts. “Huh?” was his immediate reaction. He looked in front to see who it was. He was annoyed at the sudden disruption. He tried his best to avoid any accidents and now he was in one.

“Watch out, Hermano. Ugh, you ruined my perfect dress.” Maria stumped her feet in protest. She was a feisty girl just like Mama Claudia.

“Sorry, Hermanita. I was lost in my thoughts. You know pack stuff.” He raised his hand in the air to signify his surrender.

Yet, she was not satisfied at all.

She was wearing a light-colored dress adorned with embroidery. It was a new one for sure. He had not seen her wear it before.

“Do you like it? Mama bought it for me. Just don’t tell Alexa or she might demand one for her. I hate it when we have the same clothes.” Maria stepped back to show him. She even twirled around for him to fully appreciate the dress.

After all, the work was exquisite. It featured the woods once again. The wooden gate on the school as well as the leaves of the trees falling from the tree, in this case, was falling off from the chest to the waist. Then the bottom part was designed by an intricate flower field of gumamela (hibiscus).

“Fine, I won’t tell if you let me pass. I am looking for Mama Alex. Had you seen her?” Eli tried to smooth talk his way out of the incident. He even fixed his hair to show his cute face. Charming his way out of her mood swing.

“Ugh, shhh someone might hear you. Mama Alex is in her office with Tia Trish and Tio Leo.” She fixed her dress. She pulled it down on both sides and then she used her hands like iron to flatten it out. Such a meticulous way.

Eli just tried to look away from her. He was used to her cleanliness but this was on another level of obsession.

“Are you done fixing up? I am in a hurry here.” Eli tapped his feet on the wooden floor. It was making a click-clack noise.

“Hermano, please wait I need to look pretty for the visitors. You never know who you would meet. Tsk!” She swished her dress side to side. She was playing the cute girl once again.

“Stop that! You should act like a lady already. You have a mate for Christ’s sake Maria.” Eli was furious with her. He dragged from the hallway towards their Mama Alex’s office.

“Mama, can we come in?” He asked as he knocked on the door. It was made of hardwood with carvings on the door of flowery design. On the upper part, there was a name carved on the door. ‘Oficina de Alex’ (Alex’s Office)

Yup, it was named after his Mama. She made sure it was clear so that people would not be lost when they visit. It was more for the outsiders than for them. Eli loved her philosophy of accepting anyone into the pack lands for business and maintain security.

“Come in, Niño.” A thick Spanish accent greeted him behind the door.

Eli paused a bit to breathe in and he opened the door. He was still holding onto Maria who has now calmed down.

“Mama, I need to talk to you it is urgent.” He looked around to see if there was anyone inside. Apparently, his Tia Trish was gone. He let out a sigh.

“Sit down first Niño. You too, Maria.” She was puzzled by the two of them.

He just brushed her reaction aside. He was more concerned about his situation. Lost, he did not know where to start and somehow, he was nervous as well. What if she would not accept him or she loved someone else already? It just crossed his mind but that did not make any more sense than having a human mate. After all, he had alpha blood. Then again, his Tia Trish got a human mate as well. He shuddered at the thought.

He sat in front of his Mama’s desk while Maria sat at the bench near the window. She was looking outside and wasn’t listening to him.

“I found my mate.” He whispered under his breath unable to take the courage to say it out loud.

Maria suddenly ran towards his side. “Hermano, congratulations! Who is she? Is she one of the pack members who had just shifted?” She threw a dozen questions more.

“Maria, be quiet. I want to talk to your Hermano first.” She looked sternly towards her then shifted back to him. “Tell me more about your mate.” Her full attention was on him.

Eli almost choked on his own saliva. He tried to force himself to talk but as he opened his mouth nothing came out.

“What now?” His Mama grew impatient. She tapped her index finger on the desk.

“I think she is human. She is part of the Moros who came earlier.” He spoke softly like he was stepping on a thin bamboo floor that creeks if you put a lit of pressure.

“Wow! That makes sense though. I thought Pablo would find his mate but I guess it was you who got lucky. Does she feel the pull? I know Leo before was drawn to your Tia Trish. No matter how I tried to separate them.” She was thinking about something as well.

Eli held the armrest tighter at the mention of Leo. He was civil to him but being compared to him right now did not help at all.

“We just saw each other in the sala. I do not think she feels it. She was more focused on her task to fix the sala.” He described how she reacted when their eyes met. His wolf was excited and was howling non-stop ever since but he was more nervous and unhappy about his mate.

“That’s interesting. She is part of the Sultan’s entourage so she must be either noble or a servant. Either way, you should tread lightly on this. We cannot jeopardize your mission. Remember the security of the Sultan's daughter is the priority. If you could befriend her before the Sultan’s family arrives that would be better. You need a Luna already. As you are quite ready to be an Alpha. It is time for me to step down now.” Mama Alex massaged her forehead and pinched her bridged. She looked more tired than ever.

“Si, Mama. As for Maria here please make her see sense. She keeps on making herself beautiful for others even if she already has her mate.” Eli snitched her sister.

“Eli! That is not how I taught you, and you, young lady, what is this you are doing?” She was mad at both of them.

Eli wanted to shrink in his seat. Maria on the other hand just smiled as if she was not affected by her mother’s question.

“Mama you know what you said to us right. That we should be respectable always. I am just following you. Hermano, here is just overreacting.” She was good at defending herself.

Eli rolled his eyes while Mama Alex just laughed. “Ay, Niño stop pestering your sister. You should work on that mate of yours to lessen your brooding.” She then dismissed them.

Maria stood first and let out her tongue to Eli. She then ran out of the office, while laughing her heart out.

“See what I meant Mama. Ugh, my blood is boiling from her silliness.” Eli grunted.

His Mama Alex just ignored him and raised her hand and waved it.

Eli defeated stood up and went out of the room. He then looked for Danah. Maybe he could talk to her and get to know her more. He was daydreaming of her almond-colored eye. It was all he saw as everything else was covered with cloth.