When Derek saw the shock that flooded his parent’s features, that flooded the features of everyone in the room, including the ancients, he laughed.
“Sorry, that didn’t come out right.”
“Better for you. Eva is too young to take up the throne. She is barely seven. She is still a child. I won’t support that.” Yodah spoke, landing another shock ball on the people in the room. When he realized that he had spoken when he shouldn’t, that he had spoken what he shouldn’t, he sighed, and rested back in his cocoon.
‘Don’t worry. They won’t be able to tell. Only the family knows.’
Well, that could be a wrong deduction. Yodah thought when he saw Eva staring at him, like she could see right through him. He squirmed in his seat, questioning himself the next second when he thought of what he was doing. He was squirming because of a six year old?
Yodah couldn’t believe himself. Yet, Eva didn’t stop looking at him with that blank stare. She only looked away when Derek, ignoring the possible implication of Yodah’s sudden interruption, started speaking again, mostly to divert the attention from the young ancient who he noticed has gotten closer to his cousin, Maya.
“What I meant is that I won’t be taking the Alpha position for now, not until I find Emma, not until she finds me. So, Dad, you have to hold onto it for a while. You are hale and hearty as a horse after all.”
Peter wrinkled his nose but said nothing.
“I will take up Leo’s position until he comes back. That way, I can train the warriors in the same way Kane would train me. I think they will find utmost use of the training for mental stability. Their emotions too.”
Peter nodded. “Have it your way, Derek.”
“Thanks Dad.” Derek enthused reclining deeper into his chair. That was done. He would need to speak with Brandon, Leo’s assistant, to find the perfect routine for the pack warriors.
“So what do I do?” Curtis asked after a stretch of silence. He couldn’t possibly stay here with his mother-his father might suspect something.
“Just return to your pack.” Nathan looked at Claire as he said this.
Curtis, already knowing what the Prince wanted to say next, shook his head.
“I can have my father’s trust without Claire by my side.”
“I’m not doubting that, young man. But having her by your side would solidify the trust. He would think to use her to get into the Beta’s heart, that’s if the latter’s loyalties haven’t been swayed to him already. From what I have seen and heard, the man’s loyalty is to be questioned.”
Peter nodded to Nathan’s statement, the last sentence to be specific. He was beginning to question Caden’s loyalties too, since the party, since the man had looked at him weirdly when he had given him a command. He had relegated it to Claire’s case, but now it might be more than that, especially with Claire’s magic being put to play.
Who had Caden’s mate slept with? He wondered, remembering Chyra’s obsession with him when they had been growing up, even after he had claimed Melvina as his mate.
“Still, I don’t want her by my side. I’m sure she would have more useful things to do in this pack than make my life a living hell in my own pack.” Curtis pointed out, not bothering to glance at Claire who was seething in pain.
“Have it your way then. Your job is to make sure that your father keeps trusting you, that he doesn’t suspect you are on our side, and then you make reports to us.” Nathan stated, before looking at Clem who he had heard was mated with Legardo’s daughter, Diana.
“You…” Nathan called, causing Clem to jerk to his feet, causing his friends to snicker, causing him to blush red in embarrassment. He didn’t blame himself though-this was the first time the Prince had noticed him.
When the Price had told Shane to check on Eva two days ago, Clem had been jealous that he wasn’t the one to been called, considering his position. He had thought himself invisible like his sister, like his family was starting to become, despite his attempts to stay good, to stay by his friend’s side and do his duty. But now…his fears had been rendered rootless.
“You know what to do right?”
Clem was lost for words.
Nathan wasn’t deterred still. “You will take care of Diana. You must be good with words, so use it on her, Clem.”
The ancient knew his name. Clem widened the reach of his ears.
“Keep her obsessed with you, not the other way around, no matter the mate bond…” Nathan paused, then shook his head. “You know what, don’t bother fighting the mate bond. That was hypocritical and insane for me to say. So, don’t bother. You won’t win against it. You might even end up resenting me and the group for pushing you into an impossible task. So, just be yourself. Let yourself flow with her. But keep your head in the game still. Let her know, gradually, of her father’s insane plans when the opportunity presents itself. Do you understand?”
Clem nodded. He could do that. He was a master player after all.
He felt his hands itch then, and knew he needed to draw something. His mind was poking at something already, and he needed to let it out.
“So, is there anything else to add before we all disperse?”
A short bout of silence, and then the shaking of the heads.
“Alright then. To your tents, oh Israel…” Nathan stood up, Sheila’s hand in his, as he quoted a passage from his favorite book.
The others nodded, and imitated his movement. However, Jan and Claire remained seated, their hands joined together. The others ignored them. Curtis and Clem did too, not wanting to involve themselves into unhealthy situations.
“Do you really believe that he will accept me again?” Claire asked when all had left, and it was only she and Curtis’ mother in the room.
“Yes, he will. Just give him some time.” Jan said, patting Claire’s hand softly.
She would do anything to make her son forgive his mate. Not because she was pleased with Claire, but because she didn’t want her son to enjoy the barren existence she was seeing in her future.