As they were seated in the private plane, Olive decided to check her phone and kill boredom because Wayne was apparently on a full blown business call with people. She had heard him calling Jake and now he was giving orders to someone else. She was also feeling really nervous as they got closer to Aspen City. Her mating ritual was in two days, and yet there was a looming threat of she being overthrown even before she climbs the throne.
With all these on her mind, she decided to just go through social media platforms and watch videos. As soon as she connected to the plane’s WiFi, messages from News apps began to flood in. Each notification had pictures of she and her mate. It was so overwhelming that she didn’t know when she switched off the phone, laid down, covered herself and slept off. When Wayne was done, he looked at her and wondered why she had fallen asleep. They would be landing in ten minutes so he gently tapped her awake.
“Babe,” he called her and she sat up and rubbed her eyes.
“Are we there yet?” she mumbled but he shook his head and smoothed her hair.
“We are about to land,” he answered. She sat up straight and yawned. Wayne gave her a bottle of water and she received it and gulped it down.
“Thanks,” she said as she felt fully conscious again.
“Why were you making so many phone calls on a plane?” she asked as she began to fasten her seatbelt.
“They were internet calls over the WiFi” he answered and sat back on the seat. He seemed deep in thought as he looked out the window.
“What’s bothering you?”
“Nothing. Just trying to make sure everything is set. I don’t want my Mating Ritual to be a mess,” he answered. Olive chuckled softly and looked away from him.
“What’s funny?” Wayne asked.
“It’s just that… something crossed my mind just now,” she answered.
“May I know that something?”
She chuckled again then cleared her throat before looking back at Wayne.
“What if… what if you and I get mated and you wake up next morning to see it was Gia you spent the night with and she was lying beside you on the bed?” she asked and immediately, Wayne’s eyes bulged and his stern glare made Olive jump on her seat with laughter.
“Gosh! That was what I was expecting! Haha, so funny. I bet we would be attending a burial soon. Which was why I bought an overall black outfit for me, just in case Gia does anything silly and you -sprrk- break her neck,” Olive stated and she had cut her straightened palm across her neck to signify the ‘sprrk’ sound of breaking Gia’s neck.
Wayne smiled at her confidence in him. He held her hand and squeezed it as the plane began to descend. He didn’t say anything more until they were fully landed and ready to come down from the plane. He held her waist and they walked out together. Jake and Shem were standing by two black Mercedes which had come to pick the Alpha and his mate.
“Look how beautiful she is. Come here, sweetie,” Shem stated and Olive ran away from Wayne’s hold and into Shem’s arms.
“Gosh, I’ve missed you, girl!” he exclaimed and she giggled.
“I’ve missed you too. Where is Jericho?”
“Back at the castle. Everything’s going smoothly. All that’s left is for the full moon night and a bit of smooching here and there between your mate and you,” he answered and she laughed.
“Hello, Jake,” she waved at Jake who seemed to suddenly be in a heated discussion with Wayne.
“Oh, hey. Hi. How are you?” he responded and came over to hug Olive.
“I’m doing great. I hope you’re fine too.”
“Never been better.”
“Come on, baby. Let’s get going. I’m hungry,” that was from Wayne.
“I thought I was the foodie?”
“Thought wrong.”
She smiled and let him hold her shoulder as they walked towards the open car door.
Less than thirty minutes later, they were driving into the castle. Major General Kalif and some other officials were waiting at the entrance to receive them. Olive’s heartbeat skyrocketed at the sight of General Kalif.
“Bring the volume of your heartbeat down young lady. It’s not music,” Wayne teased and pinched her cheek.
“I… I’m sorry. I just got nervous all of a sudden,” she stuttered apologetically.
“Don’t worry. I’m right here and you know there’s no way I’m letting my mate go. And, try not to appear too scared. General Kalif can sense your fear and use it against you. I need you to show him you’re undaunted about this whole fiasco,” Wayne advised and kissed her on the forehead. She nodded and looked at Jake who was driving the car.
“Don’t worry, Luna. You will be fine,” he assured her with a bright smile as he parked the car. Wayne stepped out first then held the door open and reached out his hand for her to take. She received it and stepped out looking dashing. Her heart was no longer racing and she felt confident again. Wayne encircled her with his arm and they walked to the entrance of the castle where the officials were waiting.
“Alpha Knight,” General Kalif acknowledged and they all bowed their heads in respect.
“I suppose you’re here to welcome me,” Wayne stated in his ‘Alpha Voice’.
“On a journey that we weren’t even told you were going on,” General Kalif replied and Wayne smirked.
“It was a little unplanned. I just wanted my mate and I to get a little bit of fresh air before we get mated fully.”
“Well, welcome back then. We also hope you had time to think about the decision of the parliament.”
“Oh, trust me. I had lots of time. A lot of it to make a firm decision that would benefit us all. In respect to that, I want all the members of the parliament gathered together today by 5PM to hear about my decision,” Wayne explained curtly.
“Yes, sir,” was their reply and he walked away with Olive.
As she walked past them, Olive thought she felt the general looking back at her. She turned her head and his eyes met hers straight. She felt like looking away immediately but instead, she gave him a smile and a nod before turning to face forward.
“Still nervous?” Wayne asked as he, Jake, Shem and her entered into his private elevator.
“Nope!” was her reply.
They got to their quarters and Olive walked straight to the bedroom tiredly, leaving the three men to talk. After they were sure she wouldn’t hear them, they moved to the side of the fountain to talk.
“Is the video getting ready for upload?” Alpha Knight asked in a low tone.
“Everything is fully ready. Thank God you were able to get that reaction from the people at Lumpusberg. The news is all over the pack and it is creating a positive reaction in everyone,” Shem explained.
“Good. And Gia?”
“She seems pretty relaxed about this. It seems she’s got plans, too?” Shem replied.
“Yes. Of course. But I believe we’re one step ahead of her. We always are.”
“One more thing, Alpha. I just got news that the Alpha and Beta of Golden Dust Pack won’t be coming for the Mating Ritual anymore,” Jake announced.
Wayne’s brows furrowed.
“Why? They gave me their word that they would be here,” he replied.
“Well, it’s good news and bad news. Alpha Cyprus has an emergency. His daughter had a terrible accident this morning and is going for surgery. Of course, he would never leave her side,” Jake stated.
“An accident? Jeez, how is she? She’s such a pretty girl and shouldn’t suffer that much,” Shem said.
“Hmm. I’ll have to call him to ask after her. I guess that’s the bad news. And what’s the good news?” Wayne inquired.
“Lily is pregnant,” Jake announced and Wayne’s mouth fell open. He felt his eyes tearing up.
“Oh my God,” Shem exclaimed.
“She finally was able to take in? Goodness!” Wayne rasped. He was overjoyed.
Lily was the wife of the Beta. After losing their only child, they had been trying so hard to take in again. Wayne had made an alliance with the Golden Dust Pack only three years ago but he knew the struggles the Beta faced with his wife. The news of Lily taking in was simply the best thing he had heard that day.
“Congratulations to them.”
After going over a few other things, Wayne went to the bedroom while Jake and Shem went off. Olive was brushing her hair in front of the vanity.
“Hey,” he called as he walked to her.
“Hey,” she answered. He encircled his arms around her body and kissed her neck.
“You smell nice. Fresh oranges,” he mumbled and she chuckled.
“I need to meet up with Dolly. Going to the Circular Cabinet. I’m sure you have other things to do, right?”
“Yes. I have to go and greet my Aunt and Uncle. They already returned to the castle.”
“Oh, you mean the aunt and uncle who are living here with you?”
“Yes.”
“Great. Come on, go on. I’ll be back when you return maybe.”
“Sure. I love you,” he kissed her on the lips.
“I love you too,” she whispered and watched him smile and leave.
Then she exhaled and dropped her brush on her table. She looked into the mirror and smirked mischievously. Her B-Cell beeped and she lifted it up from the vanity and saw it was a message that read; It’s ready. Meet me at the Circular Cabinet in five minutes.
Olive exhaled and smoothened her black dress. The same one she had one the first day she entered the Circular Cabinet. Walking out of the quarters and into the private elevator, she entered and headed there. When she entered the room, Jericho was seated and grinning at her mischievously.
“Hey, baby girl,” he hailed at her.
“Hey!” she waved at him. He got up and walked to her with a file in his hand.
“Here you go,” he handed it to her and she received it with both hands.
“Contains every nasty, evil thing that Gia Kalif has ever done despite her vacuum cleaner of a father,” he explained. Olive flipped through the pages and her eyes bulged. The pictures and everything was so surprising.
“Wait, how were you able to dig this far? In such a short time?” she asked with shock.
“Nothing a good looking man can’t get from a beautiful woman,” was his reply. Olive furrowed her eyes at him.
“What do you mean?”
“Nothing. Just got this from Detective Kelly Reynolds. I flirted and kissed her. She fell for it immediately.”
Olive laughed ruffled his hair.
“Thanks, Jeri. Now let us see how Gia can open her mouth and talk bullshit to me. I’m pretty sure she would not want this out in the open,” she stated and smirked mischievously.