***
“What was that all about?” Jeremy asked as they stepped into the elevator.
“Nothing. Just wanted to know whether he was okay with coming later.”
“Why would you think he wouldn’t be okay?” Jeremy looked at his friend.
Philip turned his gaze on Jeremy. “‘Cause your brother was wishing I wouldn’t leave.” Philip drawled.
“Doesn’t know you can read his thoughts, does he?” Jeremy chuckled.
“Nope.”
Both men burst into laughter.
“You sure he’s okay to be amongst people?” Jeremy asked as they exited the elevator.
“He’s fine.”
“Did you compel him not to hurt anyone or destroy stuff?”
“No, but he’ll be fine,” Philip said confidently.
“Lip…” Jeremy groaned. “That mate of yours…”
“I’ve got this, Jer,” Philip muttered.
“I hope you do.”
*
In the huge dining room on the third floor, all the people who had been in the control room were seated, enjoying some chilled cocktails. Although they were hungry and would have loved to dig in the varieties of food laid out on the dining table, they had to wait for their alpha and the alpha of all alphas to serve themselves first before they took their turn. That was protocol. They laughed as they listened to Pete’s story about how Troy had been a pain in the arse during the battle with the Wyatt clan.
“In fact, I almost shifted back to human when I saw the boy because I wanted to strangle him with my bare hands,” Pete said.
“What did he do?” Gloria chuckled.
“Mama G, that son of yours has got a mean aim, I ain’t gonna lie.” Pete groaned. “He wounded Malik and Alex.”
“Malik?” Joel looked shocked.
“Now you understand why I said he’s got aim?” Pete chuckled.
“If Pete and I had gotten to him…” Stan shook his head as he recalled how both Pete and himself had charged at Troy on that day.
“Well, thank Luna you didn’t,” Philip growled as he entered the room with Jeremy. “‘Cause I’d have whooped your asses.” He drawled as he and Jeremy went around the table, greeting everyone.
As everyone laughed at what Philip had said, Paige looked at the door with a frown. “Where are Ryan and Troy?”
“They’ll be here in a moment,” Jeremy responded as he hugged his mother.
“Oh, great,” Paige muttered as she grabbed her cell phone and began to dial. “Hope he hasn’t left the suite yet.” She muttered as she moved to a corner of the room. “Ryan, please bring me the assessment book when you’re coming down,” Paige said as soon as Ryan picked her call. As lecturers, Paige and Ryan were always talking about one book or the other. Paige listened to whatever Ryan was saying for a moment and went all persuasive suddenly. “Aw come on, go back and pick it up. I’ll use it tonight. Pretty please with cherries on top.” She purred, and then gave a huge smile, gushed her thanks, and then hung up.
Philip chose to go to Gloria last as he greeted the people in the room. He knew that his mate’s mother was angry at him. Because he’d had to stay by his mate’s side, he hadn’t been able to go and talk to Gloria as he knew he should. When Gloria came to his suite the day before to see her son, she hadn’t said a word to him. She’d clearly been briefed by Joel after Troy’s premier shift so she already knew her son had been marked. And it was obvious she wasn’t happy.
When Philip got to Gloria, he didn’t make any move to hug her as he ordinarily would have. Neither did Gloria acknowledge the alpha’s presence beside her. Philip simply stood before her and looked at her. Everyone at the table went quiet.
“Mum…” Jeremy groaned.
“Shut up, Jeremy.” Gloria snapped as she got to her feet. “Can we talk outside?” She finally addressed her alpha and son-in-law.
“Sure.” Philip turned and preceded Gloria outside.
“I’m not going to beat about the bush, Philip,” Gloria said as soon as they’d gotten away from the closed door. “I’m not happy with what you’ve done.” Neither heard when the elevator pinged open for its lone occupant.
“I know,” Philip murmured. “There’s nothing fair about what I did and nothing I can say will make it okay…much as I wish it could. I should have exercised restraint, I know. I’m sor…”
“You know I already had an issue with the fact that he wasn’t prepared enough,” Gloria stated in a cold voice. “But you just had to throw this in. I feel so disrespected. And I know Travis is going to feel the same when he gets to know. Marking a mate is a very sacred and important thing. Both of you need to be on the same page before that is done. And you know that. But you didn’t even bother telling my son what you are to him or ask for his consent before marking him as your mate. Who does that?” Gloria asked heatedly.
“You didn’t give my son the respect he deserves and for that, I’m very angry. The fact that he was taken away from us for years doesn’t make him any less of a werewolf or a person for that matter.”
“I’m sorry.” Philip sighed. “Sorry doesn’t make it better but.”
“You’re right. It doesn’t make it any better.” Gloria shook her head. “I’m so disappointed in you Philip.” She turned to go.
“Mama G, come on…” Philip turned and reached out to hold Gloria back but froze when he saw Troy staring at both him and an equally frozen Gloria. “Troy…” He felt his heart drop into his stomach. That was definitely not how he’d planned on coming clean to his mate.
“Baby are you okay?” Gloria started towards her son but Troy’s shocked, accusing eyes remained on Philip. “Hey, come here.” Gloria drew Troy into her arms for a fierce hug.
Troy’s eyes never once left Philip’s throughout the hug. He couldn’t believe what he’d just heard. His mother had told him a lot about werewolves. And she had explained the concept of mating at length. She’d told him that mating was like the human marriage only more intense and compelling. Not only did werewolves mate for life, but they were also emotionally and sexually connected to their mates for life. She’d also told him about the mating mark and what it meant. That was the ultimate establishment of an eternal bond between two werewolves. A lot of things suddenly became clear to Troy.
“That’s why you stopped the wolves from killing me, wasn’t it?” Troy asked Philip as he stepped out of his mother’s embrace.