Filed to story: Luna Riannon and Alpha Brayden Novel
“Mine!” the stranger repeated, bringing Astrea out of her trance. Joran stepped in front of her, covering her with his body, and for the first time, she was grateful for his presence.
“Excuse me, you must be mistaken,” he smirked.
“Talk about starting with the wrong foot,” Forrest commented. “Gentlemen, allow me to introduce yourselves before you say anything else. Chairman Joran Nathair, Alpha Vincent Lothgar, son of the deceased High Chancellor.”
Astrea almost whistled herself. So, the stranger was the one who wanted the position of the High Chancellor, also known as the Head of the Southern Lycan Republic.
Although they had a system built on equality, there was still one person who could veto the decisions of the Alpha Convocation and act as the person in charge in case of emergencies. Joran wanted this position for years. The Dragonly always wondered why he couldn’t take it by force, and now she began to realise he simply couldn’t.
Something was preventing him from it, or that man in front of them would have lost his head here and now.
“Last time I met Alpha Lothgar’s son, he was just a teen pup.” Joran did not seem happy with his new acquaintance. “That was just one year ago. Now, you either take some serious growth hormones or-“
“You met my younger brother.” Vincent sneered. “Sadly, he had an unfortunate accident right before father’s death.”
“Unfortunate indeed,” Joran sighed, although it sounded like a scoff. “And what a coincidence. But it still doesn’t explain where you have been all this time?”
“Banished,” Vincent explained without a care in the world. ” My mother was my father’s first mate, but it didn’t go well after she betrayed him with another man. It took me years to prove my worth to my father, and he finally reinstated me just before his death.”
That story sounded so cliché that it was hard to believe.
Alpha Lothgar didn’t seem to try in the least to make it believable, either, and that told Astrea a lot. He did not care whether two of the most influential people in the Southern Republic, as well as his own newly found mate, believed in him or not. He did not need them to.
“Fascinating! And how convenient!” Joran rolled his eyes.”
About the vote-“
“We can discuss this later at the Convocation, Vincent shrugged and brushed his hand through his perfect hair, ” right now, I have more pressing matters at hand. I didn’t expect to meet my mate here, and I would like to -“
“I am afraid you will have to let it go. She is already taken.” The Serpent didn’t let him finish, marking his territory at once.
Astrea observed both men with keen interest, not saying a word and thinking of how she could use the situation to her advantage. It helped that they both were busy glaring at each other now, and none of them bothered to ask her for an opinion.
She was taught to observe and learn, which greatly helped her. Be invisible but know everything this is how she usually worked. So, it didn’t escape her eye that a new vibe was coming from her Teacher he was intimidated by her mate.
And if he wasn’t intimidated by Fenrir, who was his equal, it meant that he knew something about Vincent Lothgar that prevented him from acting rashly around the man.
“I don’t see a mark on her neck,” her mate commented, and Astrea shivered as the snake tattoo started moving. She still loathed that feeling.
“Look closer then.” Joran clenched his jaw tightly.
“What is that?” Vincent furrowed his brows and pushed Joran away as if he was nothing. He was next to Astrea in no time, his fingers digging into her shoulders as he pushed the jacket down her arms and saw the moving snake that tried to bite him the second he was about to touch it.
“The mark you were looking for,” Joran smirked, celebrating his momentary dominance.
“It’s not a mark!” Alpha Lothgar growled. “It’s not a real mark!”
“It’s the only one I need!” A low growl escaped the Serpent. “
Why don’t you take your hands off her now?”
The snake moved again, demonstrating it was ready to defend its property, and Astrea decided to test the situation a little. This was interesting.
“It hurts,” she whispered, rubbing her neck. Vincent’s expression became darker at once.
“Take that thing off her!” He ordered and only received a mocking smile in return.
“I choose to decline that offer. Come here, Astrea.” Joran seemed impatient as he stretched his hand to her, escalating the situation.
She looked sheepishly at Vincent and added quietly, “It’s probably best if we reject each other here and now. I hope you will find your happiness-“
His anger became palpable as electricity filled the air.
“Never!” Vincent’s eyes glowed blue.
“O-kay.” Alpha Forrester cleared his throat. “We all need to take a deep breath and step back. This has been a long day. We don’t have to discuss everything tonight. It’s best to put off important life decisions for later.”
“Well said,” Joran agreed. “Let’s go, Astrea. Our rooms should be ready by now.”
Her eyes locked with her mate again, and she offered an apologetic smile. Alpha Lothgar’s lips pressed into a thin white line. He took her hand, sending waves of tingles down her skin and pressed his lips against her fingers.
He knew exactly what he was doing.
“I will see you around, my mate,” he promised right before her Teacher lost his patience and yanked her other hand to get her away from the man.
He opened the doors for her, and Astrea noted she could definitely work with the situation. It was almost as if they did the work for her.
**
The elevator ride through the Convocation building was unnervingly silent. That is, until Joran finally broke it.
“It changes nothing!” He announced dryly, and Astrea decided to play along. After all, her plan wasn’t fully formed yet.
“I understand,” she shrugged, startling him with her emotionless response.
For one hundredth time, Joan regretted he had no power to read her mind. It would have been so helpful now.
“What did you feel when he walked in?” he asked.
“So many things!” she gasped, purposely avoiding his gaze. “He is- You know, my mate. His scent, the tingles… I could barely stay in the same room as him and wanted-“
“He is dangerous, Astrea!” Joran interrupted her.
“Isn’t he just a werewolf?” She knitted her brows, hugging herself.
“Stay away from him. That’s all you need to know. It’s not like you can leave me anyway. A deal is a deal.”
She clenched her lips tightly, trying not to snap at him.
“I understand,” she nodded, “but what about the whole mate bond thing? I don’t see him backing away from it.”
“Leave it to me,” Joran sneered. “All you need to do is to reject him when I tell you. At that precise moment.”
“Sure.” Astrea agreed, sensing that things would get interesting pretty soon.
The elevator stopped on one of the top floors, and they walked out into a lavish hall with several doors. Private apartments of the most notorious Alphas of the Convocation.
“I have a surprise for you.” A smile curled onto the Serpent’s lips.
“I feel like there has been enough surprises for a lifetime!” Astrea let out a chuckle, biting her lower lip when he shot an angry gaze at her. A motion that softened him.
Joran exhaled heavily and said, his voice laced with confidence, “You are going to love this one.”
He pushed the heavy door, and they entered a spacious, light-filled room. It was a comfortable modern living room in an expensive yet minimalistic style, with one of the walls made of glass to observe the city.
Astreas eyes immediately went to a person standing before it, but before she could react, she heard a familiar voice.
“Astrea!” Niki threw herself into her embrace, the sweet scent of magnolia enveloping her.
Her ward, her one and only friend, was here.
Her looks had not changed, yet somehow, it felt as if everything about her changed. She felt… grown up.
Astrea relaxed a bit, relief washing over her. Niki was fine.
When they distanced each other, she carefully studied her face and noticed that her ward was visibly happy. She didn’t expect this; however, it could have been easily explained by their reunion.