The Billionairess's Trusted Alpha Mate

Chapter 7

Nikolai's POV

The meeting went on for awhile with Father and Councilman Reaver going back and forth over and over again.

I sat back just watching, Father loved a good debate and most people who went up against him knew not to in the first place, cause he never gave up unless there was irrefutable proof why his side was wrong.

Apparently Councilman Reaver was not most people...

He continued blathering on and on about how the union between Lorraine and myself would benefit the kingdom, create a united front and show how I could be a strong Alpha and King when it came time for me to rule. It would also promote peace between the two kingdoms ensuring all the shifters that we could coexist peacefully.

I rolled my eyes, just listening to the man prattle was giving me a bit of a headache and I kept wondering how much Lucien had paid him to push for this union. Lorraine was not interested in me as a husband and I returned her feelings. While we both thought the other was nice enough, we both wanted our fated mate. Lucien however wanted power and control so even though he was unmated himself, he was still pushing for his sister to take a chosen instead of waiting.

A knock on the meeting room door interrupted the Councilman's ramblings, and I let out a quiet sigh of relief. The other two Council members seemed to as well and Father looked pleased at the result of the debate, he had refuted every single one of the Councilman's arguments by stating I was not to be put on the marriage mart for anyone except my fated mate.

The door opened and Jacqueline strode in, a manila folder in her hand. She curtsied politely, "My apologies for interrupting, Your Majesty, Your Highness. But I've returned from my mission into the human city of Maratol and am here to present my report."

Father raised his hand and nodded for her to continue.

She smiled, "Out of most of the humans I've spoken with, 75 percent know nothing of the existence of magic-users. 95 percent know nothing about shifters." she reported. "The ones who do know, have been sworn to secrecy or have trade agreements with us."

Father smiled and looked at the Council who all nodded in relief, except for Reaver. He sulked a bit then pasted a smile on his face. "Just because the nearby human city doesn't know of us, that doesn't mean the other cities or towns outside of them don't. We need to unite to prevent a war." he stated.

Jacqueline frowned at him then flipped a page in her report, "All of the cities and towns around Maratol have even less information about us than they do. Most are trying to live their lives in peace. I don't know where you are getting your information, Councilman, but there is no impending war coming from the humans." she stated calmly. Thane stifled a chuckle and Father coughed a bit. The Councilman flushed red then stood up.

"Since I'm not going to be taken seriously, I'll leave. Good day Your Majesty, Your Highness." he looked ready to spit as he said this as he bowed, but Father let it go and nodded in dismissal.

He stormed out of the room and slammed the door, we could hear him stomping away like a child throwing a tantrum.

Send a man to trail him, it's obvious he's in league with Lucien, let's find out how deep. I mindlinked to Thane who nodded subtly then his eyes glazed for a brief moment before nodding again.

Jacqueline still stood there quietly and I looked at her curiously. "There is something unusual going on at Windmere." she stated.

"The CEO has been tasked with trying to be more social, going to parties and such outside of business meetings. They are to start with this year's ball in two weeks which has been opened to everyone, not just the employees of the company. It might be a good way to bring up an alliance with Maddox Industries."

I nodded thoughtfully, Maddox Industries was our corporation in the city. We were an import and export business, trading in human and magic items when needed. We had been attempting to form a partnership with Windmere to get access to their network and connections to broaden our market but the former CEO had passed away before negotiations were completed.

The current CEO was a bit of a mystery, they hadn't really been introduced to the business world much due to the upheaval of the previous CEO's death and the transition of the company to the new one. Jacqueline had managed to get on the board of directors to oversee the transition but she wasn't willing to give up too much information so as not to be accused of corporate espionage.

She did tell us that she wasn't the only non-human on the board and that the CEO had a melanin as a personal assistant.

Melanin's were people who walked in the shadows, they could appear and disappear at will and were able to sneak into most places undetected so they could get information. They were mostly used as assassins and spies, so what was one doing as a personal assistant in a human company?

Father stroked his salt and pepper beard thoughtfully, "This seems to be a good opportunity for us. Unfortunately, there is a conference with the magic-users that same week that requires my attention. So Nikolai will have to go in my stead." he declared. I grumbled, I didn't like corporate parties and Father knew it. He hated them more than I do.

I nodded and stood up looking at Jacqueline, "Please send the information to my office and I'll look over it. Anything special I should know?" I asked as I bowed to Father and headed to the door. She smiled, "It's a masked masquerade. And the CEO is showing signs of being a shifter."

I halted with my hand on the door. A human? A shifter? That was practically unheard of! Almost all shifters knew who they were and never stayed around humans unless their mate was a human, which was rare. And even so, they still stayed near a clan so they and their mate could be protected in case of attacks.

For a human to be showing signs of being a shifter meant one thing. A shifter had a family in the middle of a human city and blended in so they wouldn't be detected. It did happen sometimes and so long as they were careful not to reveal themselves to be shifters, they were mostly left alone. The ones who were careless were usually brought into a clan and had things explained to their families.

The ones who didn't care, were dealt with.

Thankfully, we had very few who chose to try and reveal our kind to the world. Most understood what would happen if shifters were revealed. Humans fear what they don't understand and someone who looks human turning into an animal, tends to scare most people.

I would need to do some research on this person and find out what type of shifter they could be.

But at the moment, I needed to run.

Luke was getting antsy just talking about this ball and I needed to run some energy out so I would actually sleep tonight.

I bade a goodnight to Father and the Council, then left the room with Thane following close behind me.

We headed out the side door of the palace and into the woods, stripping our clothing as we went. I let Luke push through and felt my bones crack and snap as the transformation began. Soon I was on the four silvery paws of my wolf.

I turned and saw Thane's wolf, Teagan, beside me. His amber fur glistening brightly in the moonlight. His dark eyes looking at me playfully. He yipped and danced around me a bit, ready to play. Teagan was a goofball but was deadly when needed.

I gave up control to Luke and let him run resting in the back of his mind as thoughts of the girl in my dream ran through me.

Could it be possible that I'd meet her at the ball?

I secretly hoped so, because if she was my mate. She was everything I had been waiting for.