Chapter Twenty Eight
1057 Words
As ivy left, it brought a change of tension and vibe in the dining room, everyone adjusted. Even Enid shifted a bit from Zeke. Darius's eyes were cold, lips pressed into a thin line as he tried to engage Zeke in small talks. But the small smile on Zeke's face couldn't be overlooked. He was beaming with pride and joy for reasons even he couldn't pinpoint.
Enid's representatives adjusted awkwardly when realization dawned on them that they had been so carried away by the charisma of the girl their princess was supposed to replace.
After dinner, Darius stormed off with Enid and her delegates following after him. Zeke watched for a moment before instructing the kitchen staff to do their work and he walked out. But he didn't return to his chambers just yet. He couldn't. So instead, he stood outside the hall, turning over Ivy's words in his head.
The command in her voice when she addressed him, it was like daring him to say a word, daring him to reject her in public again.
His eyes caught sight of Lucas who just emerged from the hall. “Lucas,” he called with a sigh. It's been almost a week and Lucas wasn't still over it. He didn't even know if he was overreacting or maybe what he did was just that bad.
“Yes, alpha.” Lucas turned to him, hands folded over his chest, a raised eyebrow and a small, almost unnoticeable bow.
“Lucas, can you just stop this, okay? Please. I didn't mean what I said that day.” Zeke sighed and moved closer to him but Lucas remained emotionless.
“Just command me and let's get this done with.” He snorted.
“I'm not going to command you, I'm just…” he trailed off. “Sorry.” He whispered.
“Holy s**t, man!” Lucas exclaimed, his eyes wide open with surprise. “You're sorry?” He asked and Zeke nodded wjgh constructed throat.
“You've never been sorry all your life.” Lucas pointed out.
“That's because we've never had a fallout.” Zeke shrugged and Lucas nodded before leaning on the wall.
“You're wrong this time tho.” Lucas said and Zeke nodded again. “I won't go about threatening Ivy for anything.” He added.
“You really like her right?” Zeke turned to look at him and Lucas looked away.
“She's not my mate. One day we would both find our mates.” Lucas said.
“What if she is your mate and it's not just being revealed yet?” Zeke's eyes gleamed as he proposed his theory.
“She's not, man.” Lucas chuckled. “The moon goddess don't work like that, we've been walking together for sometime now, the mate bond should have fallen upon us already.” He added.
“The moon goddess works in ways we mortals don't understand…” Zeke clicked his teeth.
“Like you and Ivy?” It was Lucas's turn to be mischievous.
“That's not what I'm talking about.” Zeke groaned.
“Tell me you weren't proud of her, of how she talked to you and Enid?” Lucas asked. “Because I was proud of her.”
“And I was proud of Tessa.” Zeke muttered.
“Is that jealousy I smell?” Lucas chuckled.
“But to be sincere, there's no way you won't be proud of her. She walked into the room full of people that think she shouldn't be there, sat at the wrong end of the table, charmed her opponent's delegates, stole half the pack members then walked out like she owned the ground.”
“She owns the ground.” Zeke commented before he could stop himself.
A grin appeared on Lucas's face, threatening to split it into two. Smiling like the sun itself till it hurt. Zeke didn't respond, he just let out a sigh and looked away.
“Don't you think you should be leaving now, your Luna is waiting for you.” Lucas suggested.
“Okay.” Zeke stood upright. “You should leave too,” he said and walked out.
Lucas turned on his heels towards the destination of his apartment when he caught sight of Tessa. His heart did a very silly flip and he tried to arrange his face into something stable as he approached her. But it seemed Tessa saw him first.
He could see the question marks floating all over her face but she said nothing and Lucas was grateful for that. They both walked in the same direction, in complete silence, the kind that doesn't feel awkward.
Zeke on the other hand had a lot of thoughts running through his head as he approached his chambers. “What would ivy say? Would she even till be there waiting or maybe her words were just a bluff to call Enid off.” He didn't even know what he would say if he saw her. Wasn't sure how to react, not after what she had done in the dinning room, how she had made him go still with just a sentence and a look. He had never been known to be obedient but with her? Things changed.
His footsteps echoed over the marble floor as he approached, his room door was just few steps away and he could already feel the cold emanating, already feel the war brewing. The look she had given him when Enid's hand landed on him was what hooked him. it was an accusation of not standing up to her but how could he when he wasn't even able to go against Darius. Darius. And ivy. Two factors he wasn't still able to shake off.
When his hands landed on the door knob, it felt even more cold under his touch. The door creaked open as he pushed at it. When he walked in, there was no sign of ivy but his room was dark.
He stretched his hands and flipped the light switch on and the first thing he noticed was Ivy. Seated on his reading chair like she was meant for it. But that wasn't what stopped his heart, it was what she held in her hands. The letter. Darius's letter. The council's letter.
“Well, well…” Ivy clicked her tongue.
- Writer
