CHAPTER 5
ELISE'S POV
I pushed my room door open, and the comforting scent of my room immediately embraced me. My room was the only part of this house that really felt like me.
There were no traces of pink or blue or any girly colours in my room. I wasn't that type of girl. The wall was a perfect contrast of brown and cream. The bedframe, table, and chairs were a deeper brown, fitting the wall of the room.
It is my comfort zone…the one place I can just be Elise and not the alpha-to-be or the alpha's daughter.
I kicked off my heels and slumped on my bed, wrapping the comforter around me. I could still smell his scent on me. On my neck, my body, my gown.
Even though he was so far away, it still felt like he was with me right now. I took a deep breath just as I caught my reflection in the mirror.
My eyes widened in horror. The stares and weird glances I got when I walked into the pack, and my parents' anger, finally made sense. I looked crazy! My hair was all over the place, and my makeup was smeared in some parts. And my dress…obviously incomplete.
I sighed and flopped deeper into my bed. "Fuck all this!" I yelled into my pillow.
Lise scowled at me. "Did you forget that Mum said an important visitor is coming? Just a few hours back, you were going on and on about how we have duties and responsibilities, but here you are daydreaming…" she said with a tight voice clearly filled with irritation.
I ignored her. I could tell she was still grumpy and angry because of how we left our mate.
But she was right. I am back in the pack now, and I have to get my head in the game, get into character, and do my duties.
I grudgingly got up and slipped out of the gown I still had on. I walked over to the laundry basket to throw it in, but found myself hesitating.
I brought the dress to my nose and inhaled deeply. His scent was all over it. On a second thought, I moved away from the basket and towards my wardrobe as I folded the dress.
"What are you doing?" Lise asked.
"I am not going to wash it. We don't know when we will see him again. His scent will help keep us sane." I replied.
Yeah, I know how that sounds… But that's all I had at the moment, and I don't care if I seem crazy.
Lise didn't say anything. She understood why I made the crazy decision.
Once the dress was safely tucked away, I slipped out of my underwear and walked into the bathroom.
I hesitated in front of the bathtub. I loved his smell on me; I wished I didn't need to shower, but there was no compromise to that.
I prepared the bath and slipped in. The feel of the warm water against my skin immediately relaxed my nerves. The smell of the lemon and peppermint from the bath oil filled the room.
My mind relaxed, and I closed my eyes. Everything drifted off into nothingness as I emptied my mind.
Mum might have made the meeting sound friendly, but one thing I have realised as an aloha-to-be is that there are no friendly dinners. For every gathering, people are scheming and looking for ways to use you to better themselves.
It was always politics and secrets, and staying poised and showing no emotions is always the best strategy.
So I took my time to relax and prepare myself mentally for what was coming.
"I was just about to come upstairs and find out what was keeping you," Mum said in a clipped tone as she saw me make my way down the stairs.
"I am here now, Mum. There is no way I would be late for something important." I replied, striding down the stairs elegantly and with an air of confidence.
"Come quickly. Our guests are almost here." She rushed me.
Just as I got down the last stair, a maid entered.
"Alpha". She bowed respectfully. "Your guests are here," She said.
Dad's eyes immediately glinted with a mask of happiness. It was subtle, but I was observant. His shoulders squared, and the authoritative and imposing aura of a great alpha appeared. "You know what to do…" he replied, and the maid immediately hurried away.
He turned around. "Let's go." He said with an air of authority.
He immediately joined him, and we made our way to the adjoining house, which is connected to the main house.
It is elegantly built and well-polished. Lavishly decorated to befitting of an alpha. We only use it to entertain close family guests.
We walked in and came out through the entrance to welcome our guests. The car entered and stopped in front of the house.
The windows of the car were tinted, so I couldn't see who was inside. I waited in anticipation to see who these important guests were.
The door opened, and the alpha of the Laturn pack alighted. He stretched out his hand to his Luna and helped her out of the car like a true gentleman.
But as much as I would agree that they are important guests, I couldn't help but wonder why they are here. What was so important that they had to come over to the pack themselves?
My parents smiled. "Alpha Alfred, I am glad to see you." My dad said
"Welcome, Alpha Alfred and Luna Crystal. It's a delight to have you here in our home," my mum said in the most welcoming way. Like a true Luna that she is.
I bowed slightly to them. "Welcome," I said with a smile.
"Thank you for the warm welcome." They replied, also smiling.
I was about to turn around when I noticed the car door on the other side open and a familiar face alighted.
Gabriel…
I almost sighed but held it in. Why did he have to come with his parents?
"Alpha, Luna." He greeted my parents politely, inclining his head slightly.
"Lady Elise". He said and gave me a slight nod. His eyes shone with a certain glint of something I couldn't pinpoint.
Something that made my stomach churn and twist. It was as though he knew something I didn't, and he was happy with that fact.
"Sir Gabriel," I replied curtly. I kept my face blank, showing no emotions. The last thing I wanted was for him to notice what was going on in my mind.
"This way…" Mum pointed, ushering them into the house.
We entered and made ourselves comfortable. Food was served, and everyone made small talk while we ate.
Gabriel kept trying to meet my eyes, but I avoided him. I just wanted this to be over with, but I knew we hadn't even started yet.
No serious conversation has been made, and there is no way Alpha Alfred and Luna Crystal will come all the way here just to eat.
After dessert, my father cleared his throat. "I think it's time we get down to the main reason we are here." He said, lips curved in a little smile.
"The SilverClawpack and the Laturn pack have been friends and allies for ages now." He said. "And even apart from that, we have a good personal relationship between us. Our children grew up playing together. They did their alpha training together, and soon they will succeed us and become alphas of the two great packs." He breathed out.
"It is for this reason and for a great future that we have decided to seal this relationship even tighter with marriage."
And there it was. The word I had been dreading to hear. I had suspected this the moment I saw Gabriel and the smug look on his face.
My jaw tightened, my stomach twisted, and my eyes quavered, but I kept my face neutral with a small smile on my lips.
I kept my eyes on them as though I was listening to the conversation, but my mind was gone. This was a twist I didn't see coming. I had just found my mate; I just needed to find the right time to tell my parents.
And now this!...
And of all people… Gabriel?
It was a total mess. My head was a mess, and all I wanted to do was storm out, but I had the duty and responsibility to sit through this meeting and respect my parents and our guest.
That was what it meant to be a leader. You have to sit through the worst meetings and still keep a straight face.
"Elise…" My mother's calm voice drew me out of my thoughts.
"Yes, Mum," I replied, the smile still gracing my lips.
I have learnt the art of keeping my face the way it should be. Unreadable and, in this situation, happy.
"We have prepared a date for you and Gabriel. Just because none of you has been able to find the right mate does not mean that you can't be happy." She said happily.
I nodded.
Gabriel shifted his chair back and walked over to me. He stretched out his hand. "My lady…" he said, offering me his hand.
Mum chuckled happily, and I played my part. I dropped my hand on his and got up.
"Take your time, children…" Luna Crystal said as we left.
The car ride was quiet, mostly because we had company in the car. And I was certain Gabriel wouldn't want the warriors listening in on our conversations.
And I, on the other hand, felt like I was about to burst from anger. So keeping quiet was a good option.
We entered the high-end restaurant and made our way to the private booth area. We sat down and were served wine.
But my eyes caught a familiar figure as I raised my glass to my lips. I tweaked my face and looked closer, and there he was looking right back at me.
Rory…
My eyes slightly widened in shock and immediately darted to Gabriel, but he was busy looking at something on his phone.
My heart pounded in my chest. "What is he doing here?" I almost yelled in panic
I glanced back at Rory. His fingers clenched tightly around the wine glass until his knuckles were turning white. His shoulders were tense, and his eyes narrowed. I could sense the anger.
But I immediately became certain as the wine glass shattered in his hands.
Just then, Gabriel looked up from his phone, his attention grabbed by the sound of the glass shattering.