Alder’s POV
The beast in me wanted to claim her, and I might have if I didn’t leave her. Lycans had a nature of claiming and making their mates instant, literally at first sight. But with Clover, I can’t.
She had been rejected and killed by her mate and boyfriend. How is she able to accept me just like that? She had every reason not to trust me, and I gave her that. I went to the living room and sat on the couch while I waited for Lance. He had better settle everything now. I had to take Clover to the palace the following day.
“Alder,” my beta said as he entered the villa. I had been waiting for more than an hour already, and I think my mate had already fallen asleep because of the calmness that I was feeling.
“Is everything done?” I asked as he walked to the couch and sat opposite mine.
“Vlad was really pissed. He couldn’t accept that he was no longer the alpha and John was such a poor man. He begged for his son,” he replied, shaking his head. It was such a waste that John had to have him as his son. Seeing their son that way must be hard for him and his mate, Annie.
“How is Her Highness?” He asked, full of concern. He knew about what Vlad had done to my mate, but he still had no idea about Cindy. I didn’t know how to tell him, and I didn’t want to confuse him just like me, so I decided to keep everything a secret, including what my mate had said to me to myself.
“You know, she’s still angry. But I know I can handle her. She’s feeling the bond, which matters even if she doesn’t want to accept it yet,” I replied.
“You left her alone?” He asked, and I nodded. “So, are we going to leave tomorrow? Everything is settled, and Jessie is a very tough she-wolf. She was well respected, and the best part is, she likes her highness.” I sighed in relief after what he said. Even if I wanted Vlad out of his rank, I didn’t want the pack to become prey for rogues and other surrounding packs that wanted to eat the pack alive. It was natural, considering how wealthy the Raven Claw Pack is.
“Do you think Jessie will be able to handle things here?” I asked.
“I already had a talk with five of our warriors, and they will be staying here until they assure the pack’s safety,” Lance replied, and I smiled at him. He really thinks fast. That’s why I always had my trust in him. He always thinks about the welfare of others, may it be a Lycan like us or a werewolf. The only flaw he had was the fact that he was a f***boy.
“Why do I have this feeling that you just praise me in your mind and slaughter me after?” he said. He is really smart, so I laughed at him because he knew exactly what I was thinking. “Da** man, you’re really slaughtering me in your mind?” He asked again and wanted to make sure, as I only laughed at him. At least I can return to the palace with my mate, feeling secure in the Raven Claw Pack.
We returned to the Hill Crest Pack the following day and decided to stay there for a day. They asked us to stay, and we wanted to use their hospitality wisely.
Clover was still pissed because of what I did, and if looks could kill, I would have died a million times over. She glared at me all the time, and Lance started to worry, but I told him everything would be fine. I made a mental note to tell him and Charles about Cindy once we returned.
“Your Highness,” Alpha Rio of the Hill Crest Pack’s daughter greeted me. She was wearing a slutty dress, and Lance had his eyes on her peeking tits. I looked at my mate sitting beside me, and I found it weird that she did not react at all. I have never announced that she was my mate yet; only the Raven Claw knew about it.
“Please try this,” she said as she put a chicken thigh on my plate. We were in the dining hall for dinner, and her alpha father was just watching what she was doing. I don’t think my future daughter will ever do something like this in front of me because I will ensure she won’t.
“I can get my food by myself, so you don’t have to offer me,” I told her and looked at Clover, who had started eating.
“Your Highness, I don’t know why you had that bit** with you,” the alpha’s daughter said, and I heard Lance growl.
“Is she your mate?” The woman continued. I didn’t say or do anything because I wanted to see what Clover would do. But to my dismay, she did nothing. Lance looked at me curiously and then at my mate. I wanted to ask her why she let the alpha’s daughter say something like that. Lance and I were looking at her when she stopped eating and said as she put down her dinner knife and fork.
“Why is she not saying anything? Is she going to let her say everything and defame her? Was everything the woman said true?” Clover said before she looked at me and then at Lance.
“It’s because I know for myself that she’s not talking to me,” she continued as she looked into the woman’s eyes. “I am far from a slu*. I value virtue and chastity because I love and respect myself,” she said without batting an eye, and I knew it was true. “If you’ll excuse me, I want to take a walk,” she said, then got up and left the dining area, and none of them talked anymore.
Alpha Rio cleared his throat before he said, “Now that she has left, we can continue eating in peace.”
“The next disrespect to my mate will be the end of your life,” I said, and I continued eating after I threw away the chicken that the bit** had given me. I can hear their hearts beat faster, and I know that they are already worried. The Alpha’s daughter had her head down and couldn’t eat properly.
Lance finished his food first and went out to follow Clover. I didn’t want to talk to her now because I knew that she was angry, even if she tried to make herself appear calm.
“Alder, her highness is missing.” Lance’s mind linked to me, which made me get up from my seat and run to wherever he was.