IVORY: The age of Gloarian

Chapter 3

    ‘Miss Genova, there’s a letter for you from the werewolves.’ the tiny assistant commented as he walked over to her desk, handing her the neatly folded scroll. Her eyes scrunched in confusion as her hands fell on the letter her mate had so neatly written up to her, without the slightest of ideas of what he was getting himself into. 

    Eliana held the note in her hand with a feeling at the pit of her stomach she couldn’t make out. What was this weird rush that she felt as her blood activated through her body? Nevertheless, she revealed the contents of the paper, taking a moment to appreciate the handwriting of someone who clearly didn’t have the best penmanship, yet made the greatest effort to avoid that secret coming through. A brief laugh escaped her mouth as she realised she too was a culprit of the same type of scripting. For years Dennis had sat down with her on her bed, holding the firm twig that had been the only form of discipline to have even remotely made Eliana’s handwriting legible to begin with. 

    Putting the thoughts aside, she focused on the message that for the time being were simply innocent words on a paper. Words that had no immediate effect on Eliana’s reaction or life whatsoever. She read the words, hearing them in a male voice she ushered from the back of her head, a voice she made up to interpret that of a man’s. 

Leader Eliana Genova, 

I am great Alpha Solonov of all Werewolf packs of Gloarian. I write to you regarding a visitation I would like to make to you community grounds at daylight to discuss an important matter regarding the Lycanthropes and the safety of my pack and Luna. I request you to please, grant me entry to your territory and allow me to present my case to you. I wish to come in peace with my Luna, Beta and Omega and plan in no way to pose a threat to anyone or anything on your territory. 

I look forward to seeing you. 

Alpha Solonov. 

    The words digested in her brain as questions began forming in her mind. What does Eliana’s community have to do with this issue with the Lycan’s? As far as her memory reached, she recalled no incident involving the Lycans having a greater effect on Gloarian. Except the time her parents were murdered by them of course. Had it not been for that incident Eliana would have rejected the offer of the Alpha immediately, who just so happened to be her one true mate. Having heard the name of a common enemy, however, eased her heart and opened her mind to hearing what the Alpha had to say, after all, a good alliance with another kind of Gloarian never hurt anybody. That and the fact that she had yet to form an alliance with any other kind of Gloarian, an act that would put her community’s mind at ease as well as up the reputation of the female leader of this vast territory. 

    She thought of what the Alpha looked like, Alpha Solonov, having remembered learning about the family as a young girl, but remembering no information that she had collected at the time. Had someone told her at that age that this very Alpha would be the biggest curse and blessing of her life, she might have had time to prepare for her misfortunes, but the flame had other plans for dear Eliana, plans that were far greater than she ever had for herself. Eliana had gotten used to her comfortable life: working, eating, spending time with her friends and nightly companions, and repeating the same process again the next day. 

    There were times she walked to the biggest Galon temple on the grounds, the most sacred Galon temple that happened to be in possession of the Hybrid community. But after a simple glance at the awe-inspiring construction, she would turn back, taking with her the hate and ego she held within herself against her life structure, more precisely, against the flame. 

    She walked around to the other side of the door, where her assistant sat, and delivered her final decision over the plea of her mate, unknowingly commencing the path of a very long journey, one that was out of her comfort zone and her habitual life. 

    ‘Could you please get word out to the guards that Alpha Solonov will be arriving at our territory at daylight, and to send him straight to my office when he does? Thank you’ she declared, walking back into her private space, where she moved the curious letter aside, and continued with the greater concerns of the community that required her attention. 

    The next morning couldn’t have come sooner, as Razaar gathered his and his proclaimed mate’s stuff in his strong hands, walking towards the entrance of the pack, where him and his companions all undressed with speed, before changing into their alternate forms, making their way to Eliana’s grounds with a rush to get things over with. 

    Eiva had yet to agree with the decisions made by her significant other, but she dare complained, for she knew the consequences would be ugly. She had gotten used to not getting what she wanted, and settling for less than she expected, but this master of disguise was ready to spend a thousand years suffering if that’s what it took to avoid being alone. She knew that being alone would mean that she would have to deal with all the pent up emotions in her mind that she didn't bother to acknowledge from the very beginning of time. The bullying, the deception, the rudeness, the loneliness, the loss, grievances, and that wasn’t even the beginning of a harsh journey that the delicate woman had safely tucked into a box in her mind. 

    The four ran on all fours, embracing the few moments they had left before all their lives took a turn in a way none of them expected. The unsuspecting Alpha and his mate followed closely next to each other as they pulled up a small distance away from the gates of Eliana’s community, where they returned to their human form, clothing themselves before bravely walking to the guards with absolutely no idea of what was going to happen next. 

    Razaar exuded power, something he had done since he had turned a mere teenager, and it was enough to intimidate the strongest members of all kinds across Gloarian. Would this leader give into the intimidation of the Alpha, or would she resist? It was something he only wondered as the guards wordlessly nodded at the Alpha, and leading him towards the office where lay his fate.

    The feeling of being on foreign soil was most certainly a reason to feel uneasy, but Razaar knew that there was something else. Something that irked him from the back of his head, something that caused his heartbeat to accelerate as he neared the petite construction of an office building. It was unlike the creations on his grounds, large, united and simply extraordinary. These were humble buildings, small, individual and spaced out. The format laid out as if to respect each other’s privacy, all the while being inviting of anyone who wished to visit. 

    The fascination had too soon come to an end as the guard delivered a final nod before taking his leave from the scene, abandoning the Alpha and his people to receive the rest of his fate on his own. Razaar took a step inside the establishment, instantly spotting the trembling assistant that by the mere air that surrounded him was stunned and afraid. Speechless, he nodded, holding out his arm to point in the direction of the door next to him, The door that would change the course of fate in a mere matter of seconds. The big headed Alpha approached the door with heavy steps, stopping right in front of it. 

    ‘Let me talk to her, Enzo, Demillo, stay with Eiva out here. Hopefully this shouldn’t take long’ he spat, his confidence taking over as he knocked on the door in front of his orbs. A voice was heard from the other side, it was barely a muffled sound, but Razaar had assumed it as his queue to enter the room ahead, for his patience was decreasing by the minute. 

    He took in the creatively decorated room as he shut the door behind him, his present avoiding the chaos of his future for a minute longer before for the second time in his life, his eyes landed on the mesmerising ones of his rejected mate. The eyes of a woman he had vowed to never see again in his life. The eyes of a woman that was about to introduce him to a world of regret and a level of anger he wouldn’t have ever thought of reaching. 

    It was like the very first interaction: silence conquered the air as Eliana stood stunned by the entrance of her mate, a man she despised with all her heart. A man she had so much to say to, but such little interest in interacting with. Razaar had become a man that symbolised all men and mates in the eyes of a woman who had lost all perception after her rejection. She had forgotten the loving look in her parents eyes, or in the eyes of her two best friends as they looked at each other after a day of being apart. She had turned blind to the concept of love, and despite not giving much thought to begin with, she now loathed it. 

    ‘You’re the leader of the Hybrid community?’ his question contained a massive tone of surprise, one that ticked Eliana over the edge even further. He had insulted her one too many times, and this time, she planned not to take his s**t in any way he planted it. 

    ‘Is there something I can help you with Alpha? Because if sexist criticism is what you’re here for then the door is right behind you, I’m sure you remember the way out of my territory’ she retorted, elevating from the seat she had been glued to not a second ago. 

    To say Razaar was surprised would be like saying that the cat was hungry after having not eaten after 3 days. It was a minimisation, one that didn’t even begin to describe the emotions that ran through the mind of the Alpha at that very moment. The scenes had come back to him clearer than ever as his mind picked one emotion to stick with throughout the repetition: regret. 

    He examined his mate from head to toe, knowing full well he regretted rejecting her with every cell in his body. He hated that he felt that way, but the truth cannot be denied, especially when it lays like a bright hypothetical sign right in front of your eyes. What Razaar could see through his vision was not what he had seen seven years ago on the forest grounds at the Grontica, instead, he saw a leader, a strong, badass leader, with looks that he had never before encountered in his life. Not on Eiva, not on anyone. 

    His words were targeted mostly to himself, but he was taken back at the response of his feisty mate, who had impressed him more than angered him in that very moment. Alpha Solonov was a man that was more than capable of terminating lives when face to face with disrespect, but the only thing the poor man could do at that very moment, was stare in disbelief at the figure he so dearly wished to hold within his arms and mate with every second of the day. 

    Attempting to form a proper sentence, he took a deep breath before bringing back the facade that for so long was a constant in his life. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to obtain her that very moment, it was that he knew that doing so would result in an issue that would be far greater than the one he had come to discuss. Instead, the egoistic Alpha stuck to his story, and betrayed every cell in his body as he followed through with his original plan of visit. 

    ‘My apologies Eliana-’

    ‘Miss Genova’ she interrupted gladly, a smirk playing on her face before she allowed him to continue. 

    ‘Miss Genova, I’m here to discuss a state of emergency for my pack with a certain issue regarding the Lycans’ he began, watching his words as he uttered them. She signalled him to take a seat in front of her as she seated herself on her own seat with an elegance that astonished even herself. ‘As I believe it, your parents suffered their passing by a couple of rogue Lycans?’ he questioned, attempting his best to introduce the topic with the utmost delicacy, for he knew that if he wanted the help of a woman who already had so much against him, he would have to do his best to contain his real emotions. Whatever they may be. 

    ‘Alpha Solonov, if you could, please get to the point, I don't have time for charades. I have a community to run.’ She responded, hitting a nerve in the Alpha’s veins. She knew how far she was going with her remarks, but refused to hold back for she more than deserved to unleash her beast on a man who had done far worse to her. Razaar clenched his fists out of her sight as he held a straight face to cover the vexation he felt. 

    ‘The Alpha of the Lycanthropes, Balthazar Tin, and I have declared a war amongst ourselves. His pack murdered my mother and I would like to avenge her by taking his life and his pack away from him. I cannot, however, do this with my mate on my grounds as she has already been taken once and I would like to avoid that from happening again. I therefore come here to seek refuge for my Luna’ he finished. 

    Eliana remained astounded in her seat as she heard the Alpha complete his story. She remembered only now the clear message on the letter he had sent, stating in advance his arrival with his mate, but of course, she hadn’t expected for that to have happened with her own mate. Confusion was in the air, causing a tension that seemed to sting both their shoulders like a heavy rainfall. The leader thought carefully of her next words as she refused to mess up her delivery and create further embarrassment. 

    ‘You want me to take in your mate and Luna until you complete your war against the Lycans?’ she questioned mostly for clarification. The Alpha responded with a curt nod before giving her the chance to continue ‘Why come to the Hybrids for this? What makes you think I will put our community in danger for your vengeance?’ she asked genuinely, wondering if her mate was as smart as people claimed. 

    ‘I am aware that your parents, the previous leaders of the hybrids were terminated by the Lycans, and was hoping you would sympathise with the knowledge of our common enemy. It would only be for a couple of months, and I would leave my third in command with her for protection purposes.’ Eliana scoffed, thinking of what a bizarre situation this was. Her ex mate asking her for refuge for the woman he chose over her? How absurd! Who even had the nerve to stand up against their rejected mate to ask for such a thing. She was fully aware of the avoidance that was going around in the room as both partners failed to mention any moment of the rejection that occurred seven years ago, and carried on as complete strangers to one another. 

    ‘Alpha Solonov-’

    ‘Razaar. Please, call me Razaar’ he interrupted, turning the tables on his mate with a smirk plastered across his face. Eliana chose to ignore the man as she continued. 

    ‘Alpha Solonov, why would I risk the security of my community over the safety of your Luna and the manic obsession of your revenge?’ her words held power as she conveyed them, folding her arms as she leaned back in her chair. 

    ‘I’m ready to give you my best fighters for protection of your community, and an alliance with my pack can definitely be of good use to you. I am after all, the great Alpha of all Gloarian, and I am well connected with the rest of the leaders across Gloarian. I don't see how this could be a loss for you.’ Just as Razaar began feeling accomplished with his argument, his mate decided to throw a bone he simply couldn’t avoid catching. 

    ‘I take it that your Luna and your pack are unaware of your rejection or your affiliation with me at all?’ That did the trick as Eliana smiled with pride at going head first against the Alpha that had for a while, made her life hell. Even at that moment, despite the lack of answers, she stood strong and bold, giving away no fear, anger or despair whatsoever. It was something that amused Razaar as he conversed with his mate. Why wasn’t she crying? Why wasn’t she asking for answers or begging him to take her back? Why wasn’t she even the slightest bit concerned that he had rejected her and was still on that same path of rejection? The thought caused an irritation within his mind that he did his best to avoid, but he knew sooner or later he would come head first to the answers, and he wasn’t sure he was going to like them. 

    His mind had instantly wandered at the possibility that she had proclaimed a mate of her own after her lack of interest in answers, and it caused within him a fury so great that he masked with over smart remarks that worked against him as she shut him down with her own. 

    Her question lurked like a ghost in the air, his mouth trying to formulate the response to the awkward question. 

    ‘I have not, and I would like to keep it that way. So I would appreciate it please, if you could simply keep this information between us. Eiva is quite sensitive, any displeasing news can cause tornadoes in her mind.’ The name Eiva instantly rang a bell as Eliana remembered the unfateful day of her rejection. Despite her assumption not being true at the time, somehow, it had come to prove itself true at that very moment. To her, this was his reason behind rejection all along. To her, Eiva was the woman that in his eyes, was superior to her. 

    These were emotions that Eliana had dealt with seven years ago, when she had locked them away in a safe, and refused to look back. These were memories she had processed and accepted, and they were emotions that the leader refused to face once again in her life. 

    She took a deep breath, putting behind any emotion or reaction related to the event, and instead, brought forward her professional stance as she looked back at the peaceful eyes of her agitated mate. It seemed of complete irony to her how someone so vicious, so destroyed could hold eyes so calm. She pondered if Eiva saw the same calamity in his eyes that she did, or if their relationship had any real spark at all. But that thought was put behind her as she faced the fact that Razaar had chosen Eiva over her, despite being his true mate. The act in itself was so sinful, that in Eliana’s mind and imagination, Eiva was a woman birthed from the flame itself, someone with the physical form of a goddess and the bravery of a warrior. 

    ‘Very well Alpha Solonov. I will have a formal contract drawn up by my assistant and sent to you by the evening to sign, in the meantime, I welcome you and your Luna to my community’ She concluded, elevating from her seat as a sign of respect. She most certainly held no respect for the man in front of her, but her past refused to get in the way of her present and future.

    She remembered in that moment, a rare time in her life when she had listened to her fathers lectures, and picked out the life lesson she had heard from it. She remembered clearly as her father taught her “when you reach a superior level in your profession, you best believe you've made it there because you’ve been capable of burying all things else below it, even your own emotions.” Those were words she had lived by for the past seven years, despite the hardships that were occurring in her personal life, and she wasn't about to give up a lesson so valuable for a ghost from her past, no matter how significant it was in her life. She had a duty to uphold as a leader, and she wouldn’t fail, especially not now. 

    ‘Thank you Miss Genova’ said Razaar, extending his hand to his mate, expecting a hand in return. Eliana smiled as she looked at the hand, for she knew what would happen if she brushed her skin against his, even for the slightest second. Her smile said everything Razaar needed to know, but still, she clarified for the big headed Alpha:

    ‘You better put that hand away before you regret it, Alpha.’