Chapter 72
Gradel
My ears tingled at the words he spoke, but they couldn’t settle in, knowing the kind of woman I was mated to. Iris had been on my case, pleading with me to forgive my father even in death and then she went off to kill him?
I don’t believe that.
“I don’t ever want to hear such words from you again, Hegar. The only reason I won’t detain you for treason is because of our relationship so leave before you further annoy me.” I thundered, my voice hard and angry.
He inclined his head and stepped back. “I’m sorry, Your Grace. Just thought to inform you of what the guards said, I’ll ensure that they don’t spew such nonsense again.” He turned around to leave then halted.
I watched him in a pensive mood as the thrills I’d felt after a hot afternoon of passion with Iris vanished. He dug into his pocket and stretched a bracelet to me.
My eyes squinted in confusion as I stared at the bracelet in recognition. That was the bracelet I gifted Iris the day I professed my feelings to her.
What was it doing with him? I thought to myself.
“Before the Alpha’s body was taken to the cold room, I saw this lying at the edge of the bed, somewhat close to his ear. I just thought it would be proper to give it back.” He informed me and finally left.
Though I’d earlier defended her, my mind was thrown into a state of bewilderment after his explanation.
Right at that point, she strolled into the room, her body dripping wet from the bath she’d taken and her skin smelling of rose and vanilla.
She beamed at me, her lips stretched into a soft inviting smile. Was this the same woman who might have had a hand in my father’s death?
I didn’t think so.
I returned her smile and lifted her into my arms, my body eager to have her again. Presently, it was hard to differentiate between my constant yearning for her and the pressure from the mating season because heavens knew that I wanted to bury myself inside her all day.
“You smell so edible, Princess. Permit me to eat you up again?” I smirked, raising my brows.
She tapped her chin and pouted her lips then shook her head, struggling to get off my grip. “No, darling. If we get at this again, you won’t be able to fulfill other duties,” She disagreed.
Reluctantly, I put her down and faked a frown.
I sank onto the bed, my bulge growing bigger. “That’s very unfair, baby. Fulfilling my duties to you is my utmost priority, do you want me to fail on that part as well?” I whined like a baby and gave her the puppy eyes.
Soft laughter escaped her lips as she threw her head backward. And then she dropped onto my thighs and straddled me, her hands around my neck.
“You have satisfied me so well today that I’d do everything with the memory of how you took me into the clouds and brought me back. We can continue later in the evening but for now, go and attend to your people. They are waiting for you,” She urged me on and pinched my nose.
Though my body was saying something else, I knew that she was right.
“A promise is a promise, Princess. You won’t have any time to rest tonight so get ready for me.” I chuckled.
She threw a mock salute and kissed me briefly then got up immediately so that I wouldn’t have the chance to execute my naughty ideas. My body was sticky with sweat and I needed a bath but the bracelet…
I took it from the table and held it out to her. “Hegar brought it back from my father’s room. I guess you forgot it there.”
Her eyes brightened in surprise while she collected it from me with a grateful smile.
“Yeah, I did. It might have fallen off my wrist when I was trying to steady his face. I’ll thank him when I see him.”
I observed her body language carefully and all the doubts that might have formed in my mind dissipated. A woman with a skeleton in her cupboard won’t be this carefree and eager to get back the bracelet.
There and then I decided that she wasn’t guilty of any crime. She was just careless.
*********
Some minutes later, I was seated before the elders again. The sun was already beginning to set so that dusk could appear but the issue about my father’s death was yet to be cleared.
“It is with a heavy heart that relay our deepest condolences to you, your Grace. We are sorry about your father’s death and we hope that he finds himself in a better place.” Elder Hanson said.
I held back a snort and nodded silently. He could as well rot wherever he was.
“Thank you for being here, but I don’t want us to dwell so much on his death. He should be buried by tomorrow and then we’ll have a week of mourning on his passing. Afterward, we are to move forward with our plans to resurrect the dead factory in the States and our laboratory research.” I announced my plans.
Their faces held surprise just as I expected. They might have thought that I’d be drowning in grief, but what they didn’t understand was that my father’s death felt like a burden had been taken off my shoulders.
“Is that clear?”
They agreed with a nod and then Lyros raised his hand.
“We concur with your plans, but what about the pack? You have to take over the position of your father,”
I stilled in my seat. He was right but since my father died, I’d been shoving the thought of being the Alpha of Grey Rock pack aside and now the topic has sprung up again.
Doubt rose within me and I was uncertain about several things.
I might have been doing great so far but what if I ended up like my father? What if I became power drunk and began to hurt the people I was meant to protect with my life?