“Don’t you think you were too firm or harsh with your words??” Anthony asked Derek, immediately the elders had vacated the conference room.
The only people left in the room were he, Derek and Agrip.
“Perhaps I was. But didn’t you see that they were trying to look down on me because of my age? The insolence!” Derek mentioned, gritting his teeth in the process.
He was still unhappy that the elders had thought they would neglect and stamp on him because of his age, instead of supporting him and guiding him properly like Agrip usually did. They were supposed to respect the Alpha’s title for fudge’s sake!
They deserved it! He affirmed for the umpteenth time, since he had noticed the signs of their disloyalty. Especially Mike. Why he had let Gabirel off from the punishment hook was because the latter had been wise and quick enough to admit his mistake and apologize unlike the pompous bratty elder, Mike.
“Anthony, Derek is right. For now, your brother needs to use a strong hand and voice to follow them up. He can relax his hold later, after his authority has been recognized and established. But till then, Derek ride on! Elders like Mike need to be reminded of their positions regardless of the situations.” Agrip tipped off to Anthony who nodded the next second, having digested the wisdom of Agrip’s words.
“That is true, Agrip. Oohhh how I have missed your wise words…” Anthony dramatically sang out, putting his hands on his chest as he stalked toward Agrip.
Agrip hid his laughter unlike Derek who already loosened the reins of his laughter source.
“Don’t come any closer.” Agrip said, his lips breaking into a smile- for he was unable to keep a firm face for long under the attack of Anthony’s funny face. He lifted his hands as if in surrender knowing that the latter wanted to engulf him in a mushy hug.
“Don’t come any closer. You too!” He mentioned as he pointed at Derek who he noticed had joined Anthony in his pursuit.
“But we had missed you. Or hadn’t you missed us? Uh uh” Anthony whined causing Derek to break into another bout of laughter, especially after seeing Agrip shake his head and tap his forehead with his thumb and index finger at the same time.
“Both of you are impossible. I have to go now and check on my family before I’m being hassled here by you two.” Agrip cited, trying to make a beeline escape out of the room. He had come straight to the Alpha’s domain, without dropping in to say Hi to his family.
But before he could take two more steps away from his seat, Derek called him back.
“Agrip, where are you running to? You can check on your family later. What about the kidnap? What happened? You have to give us the full details.” Derek pronounced, leaving no room for escape for the old man.
Agrip heaved, before turning around to face the two boys who stood at the same height like twins. Two boys he had come to take as his own grandchildren. Two boys he had groomed and mentored. He was proud of who they were becoming.
But of course he would be caught dead before he would mention that to them. Those two would gloat over it forever. No, he wasn’t going to take any chances nor tempt fate.
“There is still time for that. It’s a long story, just as what had happened in the pack while I was away. And I want to talk about it when your father is awake, and the Luna is present.” Agrip uttered, staring at Derek this time around, choosing not to berate himself for giving the lad hope of his father’s survival.
Derek nodded to Agrip’s statement, a bit happy that the old man had dropped a hint that his father would survive.
He couldn’t help himself from going over to hug the man when the latter made his next statement which had something in the lines of ‘I will research tonight about your father’s sickness.’
“Heeiii, it’s okay.” Agrip recited twice after Derek hugged him and refused to let go.
He let out another breath of resignation when Anthony walked over and joined the hug.
So much for trying to escape them. They both got hugs in their own way. Sly kids! He mused, tapping them slowly at their backs.
The dallying motion of his hands came to an abrupt halt as he remembered something.
Quickly, he fisted his hands and dropped a large thump on their backs, each hand to each back.
“Ooh Agrip…you are still as strong as ever…” Anthony muttered, his voice coated with false hurt.
“So much for hugs.” Derek followed up Anthony’s statement.
The playful expressions on their faces came to a standstill when they saw Agrip’s furrowed eyebrows as he stared at them.
What now? They thought, placing their hands on their waists at the same time as if memorized.
“Derek, have you found your mate?” Agrip’s question dropped, causing Derek to swallow his saliva forcefully. He could smell trouble lurking around the corner.
Time to convince this man to go home. He thought.
But before he could give a voice to his thoughts, Anthony gave a reply.
“Yes, he has.”
“He has??? Where is she then?” Agrip inquired, finding it a bit strange that he hadn’t seen the boy’s mate since his time at the pack house. The elders hadn’t said anything about it either.
Did something happen? He thought.
Suddenly remembering the words of the old sage, he hoped not. He actually needed to see the girl by himself. His lips were threatening to break out in a smile at the thought. She was good news.
The silence that greeted Agrip at his question made him pause in his thoughts and look at the two boys carefully.
Something did happen! He screamed in his head, feeling himself age ten more years in a space of a second.
Quickly, he held Derek’s hand, shaking it voraciously as he spoke.
“Where is she? What happened to her?” He asked, already fearing the worst.
Nothing should happen to the girl unless they were all doomed!