The Genius and The Prince

CHAPTER 4 – Coming and Going

Jackson King – POV

“I said I would be back tomorrow, Cass. What more do you want!” I say as quietly as possible, looking at the red SUV pass us, I couldn’t make out the driver. My wolf, Axel, who had been quiet since I started dating Cassandra, started to come wake. ‘Turn back.’ He called. I turned in my seat and looked out the back window only to see the car turn the direction we just came from. We just landed a bit ago in Atlanta. Dad wanted to meet with Richard first, but we were late getting to our private plane because Cass wanted to come with, and my father told her this was none of her business and was not going. Now she calls me every half hour asking me when I am coming back and if I miss her. If I was honest with her, I would tell her I am thankful she isn’t with us and that I am not missing her at all. I am only still with her because I haven’t found my mate and gave up hope finding her.

My mother told me I am going to regret my decision, but once I said I was dating her, or should I say she told everyone we were dating, it just got out of control, and I tried to break it off. She just will not let go, and now I just want her to go away. I shake my head and ask Axel what it was, he just shook his head as well and figuratively laid back down. “Listen Cass, I have to go. We’re here and I will be back tomorrow, stop calling.” I tried to hang up as the driver stopped and opened the door for my father. I looked at him and he just rolled his eyes and shook his head.

“But baby, you haven’t said you missed me yet.” She whines. I hate whiners. I grab my forehead and almost break my phone squeezing it.

“I said, I will be back tomorrow, how can I miss you!” I growl.

“But I am your mate.” She keeps whining. And now I am fuming.

“I have told you; you are not my mate. You are just someone to fill in. Actually, you know what, I don’t want to do this over the phone, but really when I get back, we need to talk.” With that I hang up. I look over at my dad who is talking to a man in front of a large house, I guess this is their Pack House, as I get out of the car. I walk over and my father introduces me to the Alpha.

“Ah, finally. Alpha Derick Roth, this is my son Jackson King.” He says looking from the Alpha to me. And it hits me. The scent is amazing. I look at him with wide eyes, he smells like chocolate and Strawberries. It’s the best scent ever. I know from our teaching about mates it could only be my mates’ scent. He looks at me with his hand out and I am frozen.

“Prince? Are you alright?” The Alpha asks me.

“Umm, sorry sir, uh do you know someone that smells like chocolate and strawberries?” I ask as I shake his hand.

He gives a small laugh, “Why yes, my daughter, Emily. The Lawyer y’all want to hire.” He smiles brightly. “Sorry to say she just left. She already signed an agreement with Alpha Walters. She will be at Wolfe Law and living in the Atlanta Hills pack. I tried to get her to stay to talk to y’all but she was adamant about leaving since they are giving her a family dinner for her birthday today. She is just turning 20 today.” He smiled proudly. “Have a sweet tooth for chocolate strawberries?” He lets out a chuckle.

“Well… ha, I guess so. You said today is her 20th Birthday?” I ask as scratch my head and my wolf his going crazy. Pacing. ‘i***t. I told you! Go after her!’

“Yes, would you like to come to my office, I was going to offer some tea and let you down gently, but since you asked.” I stopped him.

“No sir, we need to head to see Alpha Richard. I am sorry to take up your time. Father.” I nod to my dad, and he stands dumbfounded, so I link him. ‘His daughter, that scent, is my mate!’ I look at him and he now is shocked and turns to the Alpha.

“Oh, oh yes, I must go see my old friend. I apologize for wasting your time.” He tells the Alpha.

“No, I apologize your majesty, she can be stubborn, she has had her heart set on Wolfe Law since she started Law school. She wanted to live in the city, but I couldn’t let that happen. Thankfully Alpha Walters is allowing her on his pack lands to live.” He says as he shakes my father’s hand then mine. I let go and start walking quickly to the car. I look back and see a younger man walk out of the Pack House.

“Hello, your majesty, I am Paxton Roth. Next in line here. I apologize for my sister.” He says as my dad shakes his hand. My father looks at me and gestures for me to come back over.

My father calls me thru our link, ‘we will get to her, stop acting like a crazy man. This is her family; what do you think they will think if you act like they are not worth your time and try to come back to ask her father for her hand. Wait, you’re not going to reject her, are you?’

‘NO! I want to get to her before Braxton!’ I tell him back via our link and walk back over. “Nice to meet you Paxton, I am Jackson.” I tell him as I shake his hand. “You can call me Jack if you want.” I tell him and he has a stunned face.

“Um, I mean thanks Jack.” Paxton says. “Are y’all coming in for a glass of Tea? Maggie makes the best.”

I start to shake my head as my dad says sure and starts to walk in. ‘Son, we have to go in and sit with them for a bit. If we don’t, they will think we are rude and that we think they are insignificant. Remember this is her family, you want to make a good impression.’ As we follow them into an office my anxiety grows. Braxton and I had a huge falling out because of Cassandra. She told me she wasn’t dating him, while he told me he had gone and several dates and actually slept with her. I didn’t believe him. I thought he was jealous because she wanted me. I found out a year later, when she finally slipped up and said I stole her from Braxton, he wasn’t lying. Now I sit in my mate’s father’s office regretting I ever met Cass.

“Jackson?” My dad called.

“Oh sorry, my wolf, he was just saying the lands here are beautiful.” I try to cover my anxiety and lack of attention. “You were saying.”

Paxton just laughed. “I understand, my wolf gets edgy after a long time in a car too. I think Emi is the only wolf I know that can sit in a car or office for a long time.” He says with a sad smile. “Sorry, I can’t help it, I already miss her.”

“Oh, is Emi your mate?” My father asks. The Alpha and Paxton look at each other and then laugh.

“Oh, sorry no your majesty. Emi, is short for Emily. My daughter.” He says still smiling. “She will be greatly missed but should be back for the summer solstice. We throw a big Gala and with the moon and alignments, it is a good time to have other packs over for the younger generation to find mates. Like a mating ball. Since she has yet to find her mate, she should be back.” Her father smiles proudly.

“Dad, you don’t know, she could find her mate at the Atlanta Hills pack.” Paxton tells his dad. “Doesn’t the Alpha have a son?”

“Yes, he does, Braxton.” My father joins the conversation, as he looks at me. ‘You better pray to the Moon Goddess at this point.’

“What do you think My King, is he worthy of my daughter?” The Alpha asks.

“Please call me Thomas, and I think he is a nice young man. Quite bright like his father too.” My father says with a slight smile. I just roll my eyes. He knew Cass was dating him and dropped him once I paid attention to her. I see now she says she loves me, but really, she loves the idea of being Queen more. I hate to admit mom was right, but I knew that months ago and couldn’t get rid of her. I felt that if I did, I would be admitting I was wrong. And she was good in bed, but it really was only that one time, I felt so sick and disgusted after and my wolf was so mad he didn’t talk to me for a month.

“I will only call you Thomas if you call me Derick. Agreed?” He tells my father, and my father nods. “I know you missed my daughter here, but your more than welcome to come back in a couple weeks and meet her at the Gala?” He offers.

“My wife and I would love to come, what do you say Jackson?” My dad looks at me.

“I agree, that would be lovely. What age do you have to be in order to be allowed to come, my sister would want to come, and she is only 18.” I ask the Alpha and Paxton. I know by that time I will have my mate by my side, and I can introduce her to my family. Maybe even announce my mate or maybe a wedding! My wolf shakes his head. ‘Slow down knucklehead, she probably knows you have been dating someone and blew off your mate.’

‘I did not blow her off. I am 22, she just turned 20! I was feeling hopeless.’ I growl inwardly at him.

‘Whatever dumbass, you had no self-control and didn’t believe in the Moon Goddess. You better hope she forgives you.’ Axel curses at me.

‘I didn’t do anything wrong!’ I growl at him again and he just walks off to the back of my mind.

“My sister Ava is 18 as well. She would love to have another girl come to the Gala. She is more than welcome.” Paxton says.

“Perfect, Caroline will be excited.” My father says as he checks his watch. I look at mine and it has already been an hour. What the hell it only takes 2 hours to get there. Braxton will have an hour with her before I can get to her. My father eyes me. “Well, Derick I really am disappointed I missed your amazing daughter. Her transcripts and her reputation are impeccable. I heard about the treaties she has done for you as well as the land deal for the Dark Moon Pack. Quite remarkable and so young.” My father states as he smiles and then looks at me. I want to roll my eyes, I get it, I didn’t read the file nor listen to him when he told me to come here months ago to ask her to be an advisor. If I had I would have known she was my mate and wouldn’t be worried about Braxton sinking his damn teeth into her.

“Ah, yes, that was quite the feat. She was in a room with Dark Moon and the human owners for hours negotiating. I don’t know how she did, but she has always had a way of dealing with people. She treats everyone equal; she doesn’t believe in ranks.” Her father said and looked at me. And once again my heart sinks. One damn comment about an omega and all anyone thinks of me is that I am a classist. When my parents heard that I made the comment, my mother almost disowned me. My father made me follow the omegas around for a week. Trust me, I learned my lesson.

“Alpha Roth, I know what people think, and I know what they say. Yes, I made a comment a year and a half ago that I deeply regret. I was unaware of the value of Omegas. I have since learned they are just as important as our warriors.” I tell him looking in his eyes, so he knows I mean what I say. He nods. “I have even opened the warriors to the omegas as well. I know the news from the Royal Hills doesn’t say anything. I think they enjoy painting me as the arrogant future King.”

He is nodding. “Please again, call me Derick. I understand how rumors can warp people’s perception of a person. I had the same happen to me before I met my mate.” He says nodding. “In all honesty, I was in your position. I didn’t find my mate till I was 24. I was not so nice and had given up on the Moon Goddess. All I can say is my Mia taught me the value of a mate and how to change people’s minds even when I didn’t think it was worth it. You can do it, just keep following the path of the Moon Goddess.” I nod in agreement and understand his underlying message about mates.

“I agree with Derick. I think he is about to turn a corner.” My father says to Derick and smiles. I just nod. “And with that I think it is time for us to take our leave. We will be staying with Richard tonight. I have many things to discuss with him. Maybe even ask if I can steal a certain future lawyer.” Dad says as he laughs and stands up.

“Good luck with that! She really has dreamed about working for them for at least 2 years. She wants to live in a big city. She met some humans while in school and enjoyed spending time and learning about their culture. She finds them interesting.” Paxton says. Guess I will not only have to compete with Braxton, but a whole damn city. Lovely.

“That is good information. Thank you for your hospitality, and we will look forward to the Summer Solstice Gala.” My father says as we all shake hands and then walk to the car.

“Have a safe trip, and if you see Emi tell her to call us. She is supposed to call when she gets there, but if I know her, she will have forgotten since she is excited.” Alpha Derick tells us as we get in the car.

“Will do, Derick” My father states. He gets in and looks at me with an amused look shaking his head.

“I know, don’t even start please.” I am disappointed in myself for not listening to him sooner.

“Oh, I am not saying anything.” He says he smirk. “Well except, I told you so.”

I roll my eyes and look out the window. “Hey, Carl, can you dive a little faster.” I ask our driver as my dad held in his laughter.