CHAPTER 123: CHAPTER 123 COMPROMISE SECURES THREE MONTHS

Draven’s POV

The morning after the nightmare at the club, I arrived early at the office, hoping to focus on work and forget about Ella’s public display. I had barely opened my first report when Kyle’s voice came through the intercom,"Alpha Draven, Elder Howard is demanding to speak with you immediately."

I clenched my jaw, feeling Alaric stir within me.

"Put him through," I growled.

Howard’s grating voice filled the line,"How dare you, young Alpha, treat my daughter like that?She came home last night sick, nervous, and depressed because you humiliated her in front of everyone. Alpha Draven, you’re going to be her mate,you need to give my daughter the respect and position she deserves."

"What position, Howard?" I felt my anger rising. "The position of a prostitute in a brothel? One who traps drunk men into getting her pregnant and then blackmails them? Because that’s exactly where she belongs."

"Don’t speak about my daughter that way!" Howard shouted.

I let out a low growl that made him fall silent,even through the phone line."Are you forgetting who you’re speaking to, Elder Howard? I am the Alpha of this pack, not some pup you can intimidate."

There was a moment of silence before Howard spoke again, his tone slightly more respectful. "Alpha Draven, you need to discuss the mating ceremony arrangements with Ella. You’re about to be mated, and there are many details to sort out. I expect you at my house for dinner tonight."

"Absolutely not," I stated firmly, my Alpha tone leaving no room for argument. "If you wish to speak with me, we’ll meet for lunch at Golden Petal. At noon, and we will settle this matter once and for all."

I ended the call before he could protest and immediately mind-linked Ryan.

"I need you at Golden Petal at noon. Howard and his daughter will be there."

"I’ll be there," Ryan responded without hesitation. "Should I bring backup?"

"Just yourself. Your presence will be enough to keep me from ripping out Howard’s throat."

At noon sharp, Ryan and I entered Golden Petal.Howard was already seated at a prime table, looking smug and self-important.

"What is he doing here?" Howard glared at Ryan with unconcealed disdain.

I allowed my Alpha aura to pulse slightly. "You brought your family,I brought mine. If you disrespect my Beta in any way, this meeting ends immediately."

Howard’s face tensed, but he wisely stayed silent. When a server arrived with a bottle of champagne, my control almost snapped. The audacity,did they really think there was something to celebrate?

"Take that back," I commanded the server. "We’re not celebrating anything."

"But of course we are!" Howard protested. "We’re celebrating your upcoming mateship with my daughter!"

"We are not," I stated coldly.

I turned to the server again, "Please remove the champagne."

The server nodded quickly, sensing the tension, and retreated with the bottle. Before I could continue, I felt arms suddenly snake around my neck from behind. Alaric snarled within me, recognizing Ella’s sickeningly sweet scent before I even saw her.

"Let. Go. Of. Me. Now." My words were like commands that others would have to obey.

Ella immediately released me, her eyes wide with shock. She and her mother stood there in matching designer dresses, an attempt at presenting themselves as high-class mates worthy of an Alpha.

"Sit down," I ordered.

I watched their faces carefully. "Now, what exactly do you want?"

"Darling, let’s have lunch first and talk after..." Ella started with a honeyed voice.

"Ella," I cut her off, "I don’t want to tolerate your presence, but I’m doing so out of respect for pack traditions. So state your purpose."

"I’m planning our mating ceremony..." she began with a fake smile.

"There will be no ceremony," I stated flatly.

"Draven, she’s my only daughter," Howard interjected. "If she’s becoming the Luna of Storm Valley Pack, there must be a proper ceremony."

I leaned forward, allowing my Alpha energy to fill the space between us.

"Alpha," I muttered in a low tone to remind him of my position."Don’t forget who I am."

"Here’s what’s going to happen. We’ll go to the Elder council and sign the papers with full money separation and clear rules about what I will and won’t do. I already bought a house where we’ll stay until this maybe pup is born. Let me be clear, you’ll have your space, and I’ll have mine."I looked straight at Ella.

"We’re only living together because of this so-called pup and my duty to the pack. Nothing more."

"But I thought we would live in your family’s pack house," Ella’s mother finally spoke,"That magnificent home with all its history. My daughter deserves that."

"Your daughter will never set foot in my family’s ancestral home," I replied coldly. "That house is reserved for my true mate and legitimate heirs."

"Alpha Draven, a mating bond doesn’t work like that," Howard said.

"In this case, it will," I answered firmly.

Then the restaurant filled with Ella’s loud crying.It wasn’t real crying but the screaming of someone who always gets what she wants. People at other tables looked at us.

Ryan sent me a mind-link, "Accept the mating ceremony but buy time. Use planning as an excuse to delay the mating for three months. We might find proof that Elder Howard stole from pack companies and betrayed the pack before you’re legally mated."

It was a good plan. Howard and Ella had given me something to use.

"Fine," I said, my voice stopping Ella’s crying fast. "I’ll agree to a ceremony, but only how I want it." Ella stopped crying and looked at me, still sniffing.

"And what do you want?" Howard asked carefully.

I sat up straight,"The ceremony will be in three months. My mating ceremony planner will handle everything to make sure it looks good." I meant I wouldn’t let their bad taste make my pack look bad.

"No, in three months everyone will see Ella is pregnant," her mother said.

I laughed hard. "Like she’s trying to hide it? It’s either this way or no ceremony."

"I accept!" Ella said fast, before Howard could say no.

"Good," I said, getting up. "The matter is done. My planner will call you. Ryan, let’s go."

"Wait, Draven," Howard called my name.

I shot him a sharp, warning glare. He hesitated, then corrected himself. "Please... wait, Alpha Draven."

"We still have lots to talk about."

I let out my Alpha power,"We have nothing else to talk about."

"Your house, the trip after mateship, how you treat my daughter..." Howard said.

I looked at him so cold he got smaller in his chair. "How I act won’t change. There’s no trip. And the house is already picked."

I moved closer, "Don’t think I’m weak because I follow pack rules, Elder Howard. I’m doing this only for the maybe baby, not because I respect you or am scared of you."

I stood up straight and nodded to Ryan. "Everything is done. Goodbye."

As we left, everyone in the restaurant watched us. Ryan and I went back to the office and got lunch brought to the meeting room.

"Three months," Ryan said as we ate. "That gives us time to find out exactly what Howard and his daughter are up to. The pup will be big enough then for DNA testing to prove if it’s really yours."

"And to find a way back to Caroline," I said quietly, thinking about those green eyes I loved so much.