An Alpha's Favor

Chapter 12: An Explanation

-Hunter-

When I woke up the next morning, the terrible migraine had left me, but it was not great waking up on the floor, my whole body complaining from lying on it, but there was nothing to do about it. I reached out and got ahold of the edge of my desk and pulled myself up. My cane still stood resting against my desk, as I sat down in my chair and groaned deeply and rubbing my eyes tiredly. How much time had passed, I wondered, as I turned to look at the clock that stood over the fireplace behind me.

Goddess … I had been out all night …

It was taking more and more time for me to come back, it seemed, but I was not surprised. I had been warned, and I knew what was going to happen. I sighed, leaning my head in my hand, as I stared out of the window, where the sun had come up, telling everybody a new day had started. I closed my eyes, enjoying the quietness, but then I heard someone suddenly run by my office …

She wouldn’t be so stupid, would she, I asked myself, but I already knew the answer to that, and sighed, as I grabbed the cane and helped myself up before I took my time walking over to the door, and then outside. I couldn’t see her, but she was most likely already down on the ground floor because of how fast she was running. I wasn’t in a hurry though. Where would she go? She had no place to go and no way to contact her brother. So, there was no reason to hurry.

I easily took my time walking down the many stairs, but before I got to the last set, I heard voices speaking, and a cruel smile spread on my lips. I knew that voice.

Elijah.

He had arrived, it seemed. I quietly walked out of the hallway where I was hiding and around the balcony that faced the big entrance hall until I stood on top of the stairs. There I saw a wonderful sight. Angela in Elijah’s arms, he was clearly not able to help himself. It was perfect. Better than perfect because I saw the want in his eyes. He didn’t just find her breathtaking … he wanted her.

“I see you two have met,” I said, making them both look at me. “Let me introduce you two. Angela meet Elijah. Elijah meet Angela … my mate.”

Elijah stared confused at me before turning to Angela and quickly letting go of her, as I walked down the stairs. I understood his confusion, but I would explain everything once we were alone and my mate … No, our mate would be securely locked in my room.

I grabbed her arm before she got a chance to run anywhere, and then looked down at her, seeing her shoot me a hard glare.

“Isn’t she something?” I asked, while looking at her.

Angela really was something else. She made it very hard for me to stay in control, and not just have her the way I wanted to.

“Come, Elijah, I need to talk to you,” I said and turned around, pulling Angela with me.

I had no doubt Elijah would follow me, he needed an explanation about what was going on, and I would gladly provide one, as soon as I knew Angela wasn’t running anywhere. I leaned down to her ear, as we walked up the stairs again:

“I suggest you do not run again, unless you want to have my handprint on your bare arse.”

She looked up at me shocked, as I moved back, but I just smiled at her. She tried pulling away, but she wasn’t going anywhere. It was fun to see her try though.

“What exactly is going on?” I heard Elijah ask behind us.

I looked over my shoulder, smiling at him too, while he followed closely behind us.

“I will explain everything soon enough. I just need to bring this one back to my room,” I told him.

Angela hissed and pulled back again before looking at Elijah, most likely hoping he would help her.

“He has kidnapped me!” she said.

Oh, she was good. Her voice was all high-pitched and pleading, but we both knew she went with me willingly … or sort of. She was the favor the king owed me. So semi willingly, but how would anyone know that if she claimed I had kidnapped her? I stopped and so did Elijah. He and Angela were looking at one another, and I looked between the two of them. I knew Elijah wouldn’t come to her rescue. He might play the good American guy, but I knew who he truly was, and when he did nothing but look over at me and arch an eyebrow, I knew I had been right.

“Kidnapped?” he asked.

I just shrugged.

“Something like that,” I joked.

He just shook his head before crossing his arms and sighing.

“What have I walked into?” he asked himself more than me.

“Trust me, everything will make sense soon enough,” I told him.

He didn’t say anything, but I heard him follow as I walked up the last set of stairs. I walked over to my room and pulled Angela inside with me before placing her far into the room and then turning her so we were facing each other.

“Now be a good little mate and stay here, until I come back,” I said.

She bared her small canines and hissed at me, not liking to be talked to in such a demeaning way. I just reached up and touched her cheek with my thumb stroking the skin. She looked surprised at my hand and then at me.

“Save the fire, love, you will need it for later.”

She quickly backed away, not liking the double meaning in my words. It just made me smile even bigger and I quickly turned around, walking over to my friend in the doorway, who was watching me and shaking his head. I walked outside and closed the door behind me, catching a glimpse of Angela running towards me, hoping to be able to get to the door in time. She didn’t, and I heard her slam her hands against it before screaming at me to let her out, as I locked the door.

“Should I be worried?” Elijah asked.

I shook my head and then walked a little further down the hallway, opening another door and nodding towards it. He didn’t seem too thrilled about it but walked inside with his things and came back out again, closing the door behind him. Then I turned to the stairs again, walking down to the next floor and then over to my office. Elijah was right behind me and walked inside. I sat down behind my desk and sighed, feeling even more exhausted than yesterday. Elijah stood on the other side and had crossed his arms again.

“Okay, start talking,” he said.

“And I am glad to see you as well, Lahje,” I joked.

“Not the time,” he said, shaking his head. “Did you really kidnap her?”

I smiled, as I leaned back in my seat.

“Feeling a little protective?” I teased him.

“Hunt!”

That just made me laugh.

“I knew you would like her,” I said.

“What is going on?!”

“Okay,” I said and held up one of my hands. “The truth … you remember the king owing me a favor, right?”

He nodded.

“Well, that little female is my favor.”

“What?! The king gave her to you?”

“Well … yes,” I said and folding my hands on my desk.

“Who is she?” he asked.

“Angela Adler. Chris’s younger sister. She has been missing for almost a year. Her psycho father apparently kidnapped her, and she somehow found her way back. I just met her yesterday.”

“Sh*t,” Elijah whispered, running his hand through his hair.

“Yes, it has been quite an adventure.”

“And now she is here? As your prisoner or mate?” he asked.

I laughed at his words, even if he was dead serious, but it was clear I had been right when I said he was feeling a bit protective of her.

“Mate. I was on the lookout for one, remember? I just didn’t think I would find my real mate, but f*ck! I am glad I did. She is stunning, huh?”

He didn’t answer that, clearly fearing he might be stepping into dangerous territory. So, I would have to assure him that Angela was for both of us. We weren’t living in the old days anymore, where wolves would fight over the right to a female. Elijah and I could share her if she also accepted us both.

“So, you found her. Now what?” he asked.

“Now I claim her, make her mine and get her heat started so we can start making some pups,” I said.

He narrowed his eyes slightly, his body tense, as if he was ready to fight me over her. This was more than perfect.

“But I expect you to do the same,” I finally said.

“Sorry … what?” he asked.

I smiled, finding it amusing how shocked he was by my words. Clearly, he believed I would keep her all to myself.

“Elijah, I want you to claim her too.”