Egyptian Wolf

Chapter 6

Third-person POV

It took a while for her to process what Jefar requested from her. So many questions that she battled with while everyone was patiently staring at her and waiting for her answer.

Jefar did not seem to worry much about it, as long as she gives him the answer he wants. Because he vowed to himself, he will not leave until she agrees to be his chosen mate and even if he had to manipulate alpha Abasi to get his daughter to agree.

A heavy sigh slipped through her lips before she spoke. “I need time to think about this, and I will be ready to answer you tomorrow morning.” She smiled, watching Jefar wrinkling his nose and pulling up his upper lip, but quickly became expressionless.

He stared at her, thinking before speaking, “That's a problem, my dear. Your father needs to sign these documents. I have to go back to my people with you by my side. In fact, our people are waiting for you.” He studied her as soon as he included her, thinking that it will change her mind. But he didn't know her well enough to realize that she was not the woman he usually encounters in his life.

“I have EVERY right to think about this vast change. Not only will it affect me, but my family and pack too. You need to understand that I have known this realm my entire life, so giving this a thought would harm no one.” She retorted.

“Thank you, my child. You are excused and we will talk again tomorrow morning.” Alpha Abasi told her, hiding his smugness. Hoping that Maat rejects the proposal of Alpha king Jefar… What a guileful father he is.

She walked out of the office and closed the door behind her as she quickly jogged to the outside, looking for her siblings. She hoped to enlighten their minds about what she discussed in their father's office. Her brain travelled a million kilometres a minute, contemplating if this was her father's plan all along, but his remorseful eyes made her give him the benefit of her doubts. It was confusing, and she hoped for her siblings to shed some light on her decision, but it will depend on whether they like what she tells them. She scrunched her nose, following their scents that led her to the back of the house. But to her surprise, it was Abubakar and Naunet laughing together.

“Hey, what’s up?” Abubakar asked, seeing her thoughtful eyes.

Maat squatted between them, settling her arms over their shoulders. “Where are Abub and Dayi? I was expecting to find the four of you together.” They both stared at her curiously. “I need to talk to the four of you.” She told them with a hint of urgency.

Abubakar straightened himself as he stood up. "I know where they are and I will go to get them." He told her as he hurried away.

Maat and Naunet kept silent for a moment.

"We should sing while we wait for them." Naunet suggested, and Maat started humming the song allowing her to sing at a low range.

“jalabat alalihat almisriat aldhiyib alsihria."

(The Egyptian gods brought the magical wolf.)

“'iirtifae al'ard yubarikuna bieazamatin."

(Soaring the earth, blessing us with greatness.)

“yubeiduna ean al'adhaa, wayuhafiz ealaa salamitana."

(Tucking us away from harm, keeping us safe.)

“alta'akud min 'anana nazalu mukhtabiiyna."

(Making sure we remain hidden.)

“yuetina alhayat walquat lilbaqa' ealaa qayd alhayat nihayat jinsina."

(Gave us life and strength to survive the end of our species.)

“aldhiyb almisriu aleazim aladhi barakath alualihat almisriatu."

(The mighty Egyptian wolf, blessed by the Egyptian gods.)

At the end of the song, they let out a laugh and hugged each other.

“If this meeting involves just the five of us, that means something serious is about to happen,” Jendayi spoke, breaking their embrace. She threw herself next to Naunet. Abubakar and Abub came following each other and sat down, creating a closed circle. “But I hope this will not take long. I was in the middle of something.” She further told them.

Abub snickered as he shakes his head in amusement. “I forget you sometimes.” He messed up her short, curly, black hair. Making her groan with irritation.

“You cannot summon us like this while I was busy with someone...”

Naunet cut Abub off with a groan. “Not you too… You and Dayi spend too much time together. Can we just hear what our lovely sister has to say?” She glowered.

They kept quiet and stared at Maat, but did not pass the glare that Jendayi gave Naunet.

“You guys are so funny sometimes,” Maat grinned at them.

She gazed at the evening clear sky and heaved a deep sigh. “I just had a meeting with dad and the… Jefar. Since you all know that he requested the allegiance from Jefar’s kingdom.” She was staring at the sky, then moved her eyes to them. “There's a condition that needs to be agreed upon… it will confirm whether this complete agreement goes through and gets the benefits from Jefar.” She went silent and her siblings waited for her to continue. “The condition… I should be Jefar’s chosen mate and live with him for a month to solidify the arrangement. Later, all of you will join me in his kingdom. The deal includes me giving him an heir.” An exasperated sigh escaped her lips.

Their eyes widened in disbelief when none of them ever thought of being separated from their sister. Abubakar cleared his throat, capturing their attention as he speaks. “Wow!… I wasn’t expecting this trade of agreement, but all I am interested in is how do you feel about it?”

Maat exhaled thickly, staring at his amber eyes. “Honestly, I am disappointed and confused. Disappointed at dad for lying to us and confused about my feelings on this whole chosen mate thing.” Her eyes grew in shock at her first confession that only Naunet and she knew about.

Jendayi laughed her ass out. They all looked at her in bewilderment and waited for her to finish and share her joke.

She dragged a whoop as she spoke. “Okay, let me share my thoughts with you, my dear, big sister.” She quoted with her finger at the last word. “One, you addressed him with his first name. Two, I doubt the confusion is about how you feel rather than who to choose.” She giggled. “I might be a child, but I believe you should ask yourself what you want without worrying about anybody else. You are smart and I know deep in my heart you will figure it out somehow, besides the fact that you wanted to make the decision that is influenced by our opinions.” She finished, standing up, and strode away, whistling.

They all stared at her retrieving back, with their mouths hanging wide and considering if she said what they heard her say.

“Maat, are you sure the two of you didn't switch bodies?” Naunet spoke with an amused chuckle.

“I can’t believe that child,” Maat exclaimed, shaking her head.

It was hilarious how she pointed out things they never thought would come out of her small mouth.

Abub was just grinning at their reaction, but went on and asked Maat a question. “What did she mean when she said you were struggling to make a choice?” He asked, scratching the back of his neck in confusion.

“She found me and Tedros sitting and chatting at my meditation spot. She thinks something was going on between us.” Maat responded casually.

Naunet shook her head, laughing. “Jendayi is a grown-up in a pup's body.” They cackled aloud until the evening came.

While still lost in their conversation, they heard their mother’s voice calling them from inside the house. Standing up from the ground, they walked to the house. Abubakar called Maat aside.

“We might not have answers you were looking for, but you need to know that whatever you decide, we are a hundred percent behind you. We love you, Maat, and it will make us happier when you are truly happy.” He squeezed her in a tight hug, and she returned his gesture with a knowing smile.

They sauntered into the house with her hand wrapped around his waist as they enter the house. And went their separate ways to their rooms to freshen up before they had a warm dinner with the whole pack.

*=*

Friday at noon, she finally got the courage to go to her father’s office, ignoring the fact that she promised to speak with them in the morning, which she failed to do. She spent her morning avoiding the latter until she waited for her father to be alone and knocked on the door, then let herself in before he permitted her entry.

Her father sat in his chair, deep in thoughts.

“Hi, dad… I was waiting for you to be alone because it feels right to only say what's in my heart to you.” She eyed the room, making sure that he was certainly alone.

He looked at her before speaking. “Okay, then take a seat.” He was worried, but kept his face impassive and waited for her to talk.

Maat confronted him about what Naunet told her but without mentioning her name. She trusted he will tell her the truth.

“So, did Jefar say how he found our realm?” She studied his face, but he shifted uncomfortably in his chair, not expecting the sudden topic.

“With everything happening, I didn’t ask him about it… here I was thinking you would talk about your decision.” He replied nonchalantly.

“Are you sure, dad? Or you already know the answer, but you choose to avoid saying it?” She was still observing him as he pulled down his eyebrows.

Alpha Abasi hesitated to shift his gaze away from her for a while, then scowled. “Why do I feel like you are interrogating me? I might be your father, but I am still your Alpha… show some respect, young lady.” He yelled with a hint of a warning.

She briefly kept quiet but stubbornly spoke, “True, you are still my Alpha, but I wonder if that title is deserving of you these days. I know what you...”

He growled with his eyes turning dark in anger. He felt disrespected, but his guilt was greater. “Get. Out.” He snarled as he slams his fist on the table.

In her 22 years, his father has never raised his voice or talk to her the way he did. She scowled and stood up from the chair, walked out of the office without even glancing at him, and shut the door behind her. She breathed in and out slowly, calming her nerves, and stepped away.

As soon as she turned away from her father's office, she went to the only place that brings her peace. On her arrival, she took off her clothes, leaving her underwear and dove into the mildly cool water of the river, screaming her lungs out. She sighed, steadying her racing heart and calmed down, but realized a group of teenagers playing in the water, looking at her as if she was a crazy woman.

She looked at them smiling and waved her hand in greeting them. They waved back and continued with their playfulness. They were enjoying themselves in the water, and she admired how happy they were. She wondered if they would get the same fun in the royal kingdom.

After swimming out of the water, she picked up her clothes and put them on. She laid down flat on the ground, under the shade of a tree, and gazed at the blue sunny sky.

She didn't know when she left her father's office. Someone followed and watched her from the distance.