Killian’s POV.
“Father!” Emily squealed happily and jumped into my arms immediately I walked into the house.
I’ve been out the whole day putting everything together for the mating ceremony, and thankfully, it was all set. I couldn’t wait to tell Elena.
“Hey princess,” I scooped her into my arms. “How did your day go?”
“Not so great, I wanted to go play with Aunt Elena but Mother won’t let me.” She pouted and I snapped my head towards Aria who was sitting a few inches away from me.
“Why would you deprive her of seeing Elena?” I asked.
“My daughter will have nothing to do with that worthless piece of trash,” she spat and my body tensed angrily, my wolf growled in heavy fury, protesting to be set free to pounce on Aria. But then I was able to hold it down, even if I wanted to pin her against the wall and and squeeze the last pinch of breath from her, I needed to respect Emily’s presence. I couldn’t let her witness such.
I knew Aria was testing my patience, she wanted to coarse a reaction from me in front of our daughter but I know better.
“Princess, Papa is tired and needs to rest, I’ll see you in a bit okay?” I placed a kiss on her forehead, dropping her to the floor, and headed out.
“Killian! Killian!” I heard Aria’s voice behind me as I made to push my door open.
“Do you have a death wish Aria? It’s taking a great deal of self control to prevent myself from taking your life, don’t push it!” I growled, deep anger coursing through me.
“Why are you doing this Killian? Have you no single respect for me? You are planning a mating ceremony with Elena while I’m your Luna, have you considered what people would think of me?” She lamented.
“I have no problem with that,” I replied nonchalantly.
“Of course you do, I’m your Luna, you can’t subject me to mockery, I have taken enough of all of this,” she continued yelling.
Paying attention to her rants was the last thing I needed right now, if I stayed back one more minute listening to her, she’d be dead in the next.
Dragging in a deep breath, I pushed the door open and walked in, ignoring her tantrums.
My head was buzzing from the events of the day, and as much as my body burned to see Elena, I needed a good shower as well.
I quickly stripped off my clothes and jumped into the shower, as the water washed through my body, my mind wandered off to Elena, if she was here right now, her flawless skin would rub against mine, her hands all over my body, while I buried my cock deep in her. I was insanely attracted to her, such that I could never control myself around her.
My cock was beginning to harden as her thoughts filled my head.
Fuck! I needed to see her.
I quickly rushed out of the shower, pulling my robe over my body, and headed towards her room.
I placed a gentle knock on the door and awaited her response but nothing came.
I waited for a short while before placing yet another knock on the door. Yet, no response.
“Elena?” I called in a soft tone.
I waited several minutes for her response but it never came.
That was unlike her, she always rushed to the door at my first knock, almost like she was always waiting for me, what could be the problem now?
Or could she be sleeping?
I called out to her one more time and hearing no response, I walked away, groaning angrily.
I really wanted to see her one more time before the ceremony tomorrow, but then again, she needed all the sleep she could get because tomorrow is a big day for us, and the entire pack as well.
Deciding to release my tension by taking a walk around the palace, I took the passageway that led through the back to avoid running into Aria in the living room again. I do not know how strong my restraining power is left.
Just as I stepped out, my gaze landed on Graham pacing to and fro the garden. “Graham?” I called and he turned towards me with a frightened look but immediately calmed down noticing it was me.
“It’s you, Alpha,” he smiled.
“Is anything the matter?” I queried.
“No, not at all,” he replied.
“Anyway, I had intended to send for you later, it’s good you are here,” I said and I noticed the flicker of fright flash through his eyes, but it quickly disappeared as quick as it came. “Is there a problem Alpha?” He panicked.
“Of course not, I want to relieve you of the duty of watching over Elena, I’ve confirmed that she’s harmless, and as you may know, I have claimed her as my mate again and tomorrow is our mating ceremony,” I said.
I noticed the look of disappointment and clear disapproval on his face.
“Graham, do you have an objection to that?” I asked noticing his mood.
“Uhm… I just think that you are going about everything the wrong way, sorry to say,” he blurted.
I chuckled slightly, shaking my head in amusement. “What are you talking about?”
“You have a mate already Alpha, claiming another woman as your mate doesn’t seem like the right thing to do,” he pointed out with all seriousness.
“Graham, I have no connection with Aria, Elena is the only woman in my life, everyone knows that already,” instead of getting angry at his outburst, I wanted to make him understand.
“I totally understand Alpha, but don’t you also think that now is not the right time? We are constantly getting attacks from unknown sources and our people are dying every day, we the warriors have been trying our best but we also need you,” he lamented.
“You have neglected your duties to the pack and all your focus has been channeled to her ever since she returned, you placed her first before every other thing and it’s affecting the pack greatly,” he continued.
His words hit me deeply like a dagger, how could he even think such? Could the entire pack be having the same thought as him? Do they believe I have neglected my duties as the Alpha of the pack all because of Elena?
“There has been no neglect of my duties whatsoever Graham, I care about the pack as much as I always did, it has nothing to do with Elena,” I was beginning to get pissed now.
“I’m sorry, but it doesn’t seem like it, you have become distant, you have become inconsistent,”
I quickly jacked him by the collar stopping him from going any further.
“How dare you!” I growled, my grip on him tightened.
“There are so many things you are not seeing about Elena, Alpha, please believe me, she isn’t the same naive woman she used to be years ago, you are making a huge mistake reclaiming her as your mate,” his voice came out cracky following my strong grip on him.
“You are wrong, Elena is a pure angel, you are blinded by your suspicions, which is why I’m relieving you of the duties, do not keep an eye on her anymore,” I gritted in rage.
“And I do not want to ever hear this from you again, either to me, or any of the pack members, heck! Not even to yourself!” I shook him repeatedly as I spoke.
“I will not have you question my authority, have I made myself clear?” I growled and he nodded frantically.
“I won’t hesitate to have you beheaded if you go against my command,” I spat, roughly loosening my grip on him and stormed off.