8. Alpha Zerek's Reaction
1753 Words
"Why?" I inquired. Mira directed me to my wristwatch, and I noticed the red light illuminated. Suddenly, I heard a soft voice.
"Lily, please tell Vega to escort you to the Crystal Palace. I am eagerly awaiting your arrival," Alpha Brady's voice echoed.
"Where exactly is the Crystal Palace?" I asked Mira.
"The dining room belonging to Alpha Zerek. Fortunately, we are already heading in that direction," Mira smiled while I grimaced; her face was familiar, as if I had seen her in Eclipse Pack.
"Do all members of the pack eat there?" I asked.
"No, only Alpha Zerek's immediate family," Mira replied.
"Are you his daughter?" I inquired further.
"No, I'm his adopted daughter," she clarified.
"Who adopted you? Alpha Brady's mom?"
"No, Alpha Brady's mom is my biological mother, but Alpha Zerek is not my biological father. He adopted me," she explained.
"That's very thoughtful of him," I commented.
"But Alpha Brady did not like it. He objected seriously when he learned that his father wanted to adopt me," Mira revealed.
"Why?" I probed, hoping I could reconcile the answer with the conversation Alpha Brady had with his mom last night.
"My biological father was Brady's enemy. He hated our mother because she had an affair with his enemy," Mira explained. However, I could not reconcile the two conversations.
"Has any member of your family been to the Eclipse pack?" I changed the topic after about thirty seconds of silence.
"No, none of my family members have been to the Eclipse Pack. But I heard the name of the pack for the first time from my mom's mouth. I think she has a friend there or something," Mira said.
"Do you mind asking her if she has visited the pack and, if so, what kind of treatment my people gave her?" I asked, hoping to gain more insight.
"Yes, I will," Mira replied, leaving me hopeful for answers.
"Why would Alpha Lunaris' mother pay me a visit?" I asked the question that had been on my mind.
"You will soon figure everything out," Mira replied. I came to a stop as soon as I saw the Crystal Palace.
As I step into the hall, my eyes widen in awe at the opulence before me. The hall is expansive, with high ceilings adorned with intricate chandeliers that cast a warm, golden glow all around the people that were already in the Crystal Palace.
The walls are painted a deep, earthy green, with luxurious drapes hanging from the tall windows that overlook a picturesque garden beyond.
The table in the center of the room is massive, with gleaming silverware and crystal goblets carefully placed alongside plates of mouth-watering delicacies.
As I take all of this in, I can't help but feel a little intimidated by the grandeur of it all. Hence the hesitation to walk into the room. Mira connected my mind immediately.
"You are here by invitation of the Alpha of Alphas," she said, and I steeled myself and proceeded.
The four people in the dining room were all seated, waiting for others. I greeted the two women I saw, but only Alpha Lunaris' mother responded with a wild grin. The other woman, whom I presumed was Alpha Brady's mother, did not utter a word. Natasha Williams did not even look at me.
I looked around and did not know where to sit. Alpha Brady, who was standing behind the window, staring at the rain, gestured to a chair that was beside his, and I walked to the chair and sat down quietly.
I lifted my gaze and noticed Alpha Lunaris' mom was smiling at me. I blinked rapidly and lowered my head.
"Did you sleep well?" she asked with smiles. I returned her smile and nodded. "So how are you adjusting to your new surroundings?"
"I'm adjusting well, ma'am. It takes time to settle into a new environment, but I'm gonna take it one day at a time," I responded.
"Great! You should explore the pack, meet new people, and try out new things. It will help you feel more at home. I can see a positive attitude towards the transition in you, and I know you will adapt quic…."
"Sophia Williams, I know what you're trying to do," Alpha Brady's mom interrupted with a fake smile. Sophia slowly turned her head.
"What am I doing, Nelly Smith?" Sophia inquired with a fake smile too. Alpha Brady's mother looked at her son and returned her gaze to Sophia.
"Please, stop it!" Nelly gritted her teeth.
"No, I won't. As the former Luna of Lunar Guardians, I need to know how my people are doing," Sophia insisted.
"You are the Luna, not the former Luna!" Nelly scoffed. The sarcasm in her tone was apparent. I could see anger on Sophia's face.
"I'll step down soon," Sophia whimpered.
"In your dreams!" Nelly retorted.
"Nelly...," Sophia called, but was interrupted by her daughter.
"Mom, please stop," Natasha pleaded with a low tone, but the women continued arguing.
Mira and Natasha kept their heads down, staring at their phones. I followed their lead, fixed my eyes on my watch, and pretended to scroll through it, but my ears were still tuned to the conversation.
Suddenly, the Crystal Palace fell into silence. I looked up to see Alpha Lunaris walking with easy grace towards the Crystal Palace, with his two Betas walking beside him. His fitted shirt and pants showcased his toned physique.
The force of his personality made the women aware of their actions. The women's faces looked as though they were looking for places to hide. Their body language conveyed awe and respect.
I was struck by Alpha Lunaris' remarkable presence. I felt a strange stirring in my heart as I gazed at him, admiring his commanding presence.
I felt drawn to him, sensing something special and powerful about him that I could not quite explain.
Alpha Lunaris stared at his mother for a while before taking his position. His mother pursed her lips as though she would never open them ever again. The glory that filled the dining room exuded an aura of power and respect; it was as though Alpha Lunaris's presence demanded sudden respect from everyone. The air in the crystal palace crackled with electricity.
"I'm sorry," Sophia said to her son. Lunaris fixed his eyes on her. His amber eyes had a mix of gold and brown tones and that made them look luminous. It was quite intense.
Alpha Lunaris tilted one of his brows, and Sophia smirked. I guessed the gesture meant he had forgiven his mother for fighting in the crystal palace. Two minutes later, Alpha Zerek joined us, and the dishes were uncovered.
"How are you?" Alpha Zerek asked, looking admiringly at me. "I'm fine, sir," I said shyly. He smiled and nodded before picking up his cutlery.
"Brady told me about you last night. It was unfortunate that I couldn't see you before retiring to bed. Which pack do you hail from?" he asked, his eyes fixed on me.
"Eclipse pack, sir," I replied. Suddenly, Alpha Zerek dropped his cutlery causing a loud clicking sound. He sat up straight, his intense gaze now directed at Nelly Smith. There was a tinge of annoyance on his face, and I could feel the tension rising in the room.
"Nelly, what is going on?" Alpha Zerek demanded an explanation. I gripped my fork tightly as my hands vibrated, unsure of how to react to the situation. Nelly put on a fake smile, trying to defuse the tension.
"Nothing is going on, Alpha Zerek. I am just glad that our son found his mate in the most humble pack in Austria," she replied calmly, trying to make it seem as though the Alpha was angry because I came from the poorest pack. But I knew it wasn't the reason why Alpha Zerek was angry. It was obvious he knew the secret Alpha Brady and his mother were hiding.
Alpha Zerek seemed to relax a bit after Nelly's response.
"Me too," he said casually and resumed eating his meal. But I couldn't shake off the feeling of unease, and my limbs were trembling with nervous energy. I wondered what was really going on.
"Lily, I want you to take the Oath of Office immediately after your wedding," Alpha Zerek informed me. "So have you chosen a date for your wedding yet?" He turned to look at me, his eyes searching for an answer. Brady, who sat beside me glanced over, clearly eager to hear what I had to say.
I became confused. The confusion heightened when I lifted my face slowly and my eyes met Alpha Lunaris' luminous gaze, his eyes fixed on me as he held his cutlery forgotten in his hand.
The air around us seemed to be still as I struggled, feeling as if the food in my throat had turned to ash. I began to cough harshly, my body racked with the effort as I tried to catch my breath. It was as if the question had stolen the very oxygen from the room.
Brady quickly notified a domestic robot that stood at a corner. The robot moved to a tall and slender cylinder, filled a glass with water, and gave it to me.
"Are you okay?" Alpha Brady asked with a tender voice, his hand placed on my shoulder. I simply nodded.
"Dad," Alpha Lunaris called.
Alpha Zerek rolled his eyes and smirked. "I'm sorry. Alpha Lunaris doesn't like it when people talk in the dining room. We will talk about the wedding, the oath, and every other thing later," Zerek said.
As the room quieted down, my thoughts turned to my pups Lunaris had invited to dinner. My boys could be quite rowdy at the dinner table. Considering Lunaris's dislike for noise, I wondered how I would manage. I also wanted to take advantage of the occasion and send him the prenuptial papers. I trusted both him and Mira out of all the people I have met since my arrival. However, Alpha Lunaris' intense gaze could make someone miss a step!
"Today is Sunday. Here in Lunar Guardians, Sunday is called 'Family Day'," said Alpha Brady as he connected with me telepathically.
"Alright," I responded.
"How do you see the weather?" he asked.
"It's peaceful and calming," I replied.
"It's invigorating and energizing, and I think it's good for us. We can stay in bed and cuddle until the rain stops. What do you think?"
- Writer
