Alpha Ron

Maureen's POV

"He is here," Lance said as he walked into the room I used as my study in the Citadel. He was frowning and I wondered what was wrong with him. I had not seen much of him all day. I had only seen him when I had gone to our quarters to have a bath and change of clothes that morning. I had slept off in the study the previous night. I didn't even know why he had not woken me up.

"Let him wait for some minutes. Did he come alone?" I asked.

"No, he is here with his Beta and one other pack member," Lance answered.

"He is not with his mate? That is weird," I said frowning slightly.

"I guess he thinks this is business, so his mate doesn't have to be here," Lance said, then shrugged before walking towards a cabinet that held the coffee pot.

"Shut up Marshall," Lance said suddenly out loud with a loud sigh. I was sure he was having an argument with his wolf and had mistakenly said that out loud. Lance does that often especially when their discussion has something to do with me. There was always a heated argument between Marshall and Lance, and I was concerned.

"What is he saying?" I asked.

"Who?" Lance asked turning to face me with his cup of coffee in his hand.

"Marshall," I answered smiling teasingly.

"Did I speak out loud again?" Lance asked, wincing, which made me laugh.

"Yes, you did. What does Marshall want from me?" I asked then got up from the chair I was sitting on and walked to him. When I was close enough, I took the coffee from him and wrapped his hands around my waist as I leaned into him.

"He misses Sheila. He wanted you last night but you were busy here. I didn't want to disturb you so I made us stay away. Since morning, he has been going on and on painting images of what he would love to do to you if only I gave him a chance," Lance explained, then rolled his eyes.

"Tell me what Marshall wants to do?" I said as my blood warmed at the idea that my mate wanted me that much. I felt Sheila stir in my head.

"He wants to bend you over that table, and you know the rest," Lance said, smiling sheepishly at me.

"I don't know the rest. Why don't you tell me," I said seductively.

"Your meeting with the White Sky Alpha is important. We both know that if I say one more word in that direction, none of us will be stepping out of here for the next couple of hours," Lance said then gently untangled himself from me.

"I am sorry that I slept off yesterday. I didn't mean to. I have a lot I need to learn so that I wouldn't look like a fool when discussing boundaries and land acquisition with the Alpha of White Sky," I said turning my back on him as I spoke to stare at the book I had opened on my table.

Lance pulled me back into him. His front to my back. I didn't know why, but I always enjoyed him holding me that way. There was something in that position that seemed to calm my nerves each time.

"You have come a long way, Maureen. I have watched you grow from those baby steps to a leader worthy of emulation," Lance said quietly.

"Thank you, Lance. But I know there are still a lot of things I need to learn," I said.

"I guess that is the disadvantage of living a protected life as a child," Lance teased.

I stepped away from him and then turned to face him with a brow raised before I asked sarcastically, "And who do I have to thank for that?"

"Thank for what?" Lance asked pretending as if he didn't understand what I was saying.

"Stop pretending Lance. You are to blame as much as our parents. They shielded me from mixing up just in case someone raised a question that bothered me, or somehow I get to hear the truth somewhere, and you were just scared of your little sister getting corrupted with the environment," I hissed.

"Let's just say that in my eyes, no man was worthy of you. I didn't want you to be touched by the things happening. I always wished I could put you in my pocket everywhere I went to keep you safe," Lance said passionately. I walked back to him and wrapped my hands around his neck.

I stared into his eyes for a second or two before I gently stood on tip-toe and kissed him lightly on the lips.

"You were the best brother a girl would wish for, and now you are the best mate any woman would want," I said, meaning every word.

Lance groaned and I saw as his eyes changed to his wolf’s before he brought his lips down to mine. I didn't know for how long we were like that before the knock on the door interrupted us. I jumped out of his hands as if I was doing something wrong. Lance chuckled lightly and I had to raise my head to him because the voice was rather deep. His eyes were still the color of his wolf's.

"Come in," I said to whoever was behind the door. Asher came in and then paused as he stared from me to Lance. He must have smelt the arousal in the air coupled with Lance's aura feeling the air since Marshall seemed to have taken control.

"Your Majesties?" Asher greeted but it sounded more like a question.

"It is okay Asher. I am listening to you," I said to Asher before I glanced at Lance briefly to see that his wolf was still on the surface.

"I can't smell Rocha on the Alpha of White Sky. I think our other option is to put him to sleep and have Dawn dig around a little," Asher said.

"Then we have to put the people he came with to sleep as well. There will be too many questions raised. Making them sleep in Broadway light? It doesn't make sense," Lance said with his voice still his wolf's.

"Can you give Lance back control Marshall?" I asked looking into his eyes.

"Mate doesn't want me here?" he asked pouting like a child.

"I want you here, but right now, we have business to attend to," I said.

"Later then?" He asked like a child asking for a treat.

"I promise," I said then sighed when his eyes changed back to Lance's.

"Marshall can be so annoying sometimes," Lance hissed while Asher and I smiled.

"I think we have to delay him here, make him spend the night. That way, Dawn can walk into his dreams with ease, or what do you guys think?" I asked.

"I think that is an excellent idea," Lance said. "It is mid-afternoon already. You and I can go in and talk to him. While we are at it, I will leave then mind link you. You give him excuses about quickly attending to something and later arrange for him to sleep over because it is getting late. Besides he has a six hours' journey to cover by car"

"I don't think you should just leave like that. I think I should mind linking you. It will make it more believable when he sees your eyes cloud over during the mind link," Asher suggested.

Having agreed on what to do, we set out to meet the Alpha of White Sky, where he was seated in one of the Citadel's waiting rooms.

Three people stood up, and Lance and I stepped into their waiting room. The nervousness in the air was palpable. I knew that the presence of superior wolves like ours could be too daunting for any other wolf especially those born into the lower ranking. My gaze fell on a male that looked like a warrior. The nervous energy was coming from him.

I looked from one person to the other but my gaze lingered on the one that was standing in the middle. I didn't have to be told before I identified him as the Alpha. Without mincing words, he was handsome. He was as tall as Lance and he had an impressionable face that must endear him to most females.

Lance growled quietly making me realize that I was starring. I turned to Lance and smiled at him so that he could relax.

"Good day your Majesties," the Alpha of White Sky greeted us as we took our seats.

"Good day to you too Alpha…" I said, waiting for him to finish the sentence by saying his name.

"Ron. Alpha Ron. And this is my Beta and my most high-ranking soldier," the Alpha of White Sky said, and I nodded at those he introduced.

We sat down after that to start discussing the land boundaries and all. As discussed, Lance was the first to leave after he was mind-linked by Asher. I left not long after and didn't return until several hours later when I knew he would have no other option than to spend the night. While they waited, I made sure they were well entertained with food and drinks so that they didn't become hungry and bored.

"I am really very sorry to have delayed you for this long gentlemen. I had an emergency to attend to. Please can I offer you rooms to sleep in? We can finish our discussion tomorrow morning, and I promise to give a hundred percent attention," I said as I rushed into the room, pretending to be flustered.

"It is okay Your Majesty. We will accept your hospitality and stay until you are free to talk to us," the Beta said and I nodded in appreciation but not without noticing the frown on the face of the Alpha.

One other thing dropped into my heart. Why was the Beta the one accepting an offer that his Alpha should have a final say over? I didn't see their eyes cloud over in a mind link so they definitely had not communicated. I wondered if that had caused the Alpha's frown; he didn't look angry, though.

Whatever it was, I couldn't wait for Dawn to dive into his dreams and mind to see what we could find out.