Chapter Five

 "You don't look pleased", Richard Stone, the Alpha of the Red Moon Pack mutters as he looks up from a file on his table.

 "I'm fine", Gabriella replies softly and shuts the door to her father's study behind her.

 Once she shuts the door, her hands move to her neck to pick the pendant of her necklace. Her father's eyes catch the ongoing action and he frowns.

 "I know that gesture", her father points out and takes off his reading glasses.

 "What?"

 "You're rubbing your necklace", he replies and she drops the pendant with a sigh.

 "Why did you call for me?", she asks in a weak attempt to divert from the present trail of conversation before it led her to a dead end.

 "Gabriella, what's wrong?"

 "I'm just thinking of what we can do to get taken seriously", she replies, spewing out a half-truth.

 "What do you mean by that? Do you think the Alpha Supreme was dismissive towards the complaint? Varus didn't inform me of such", Richard probes.

 "No. He was actually quite interested, but that just made it seem even more fishy. Or was he feigning interest? I don't know, I just don't think we're being taken seriously", she mutters.

 "One step at a time. We can think about that later, just relax for now", he comforts.

 "Yes, Father"

 "Varus mentioned that you met with one of the members of the werecouncil", Richard brings up and Gabriella sighs. "He wasn't supposed to mention that part, was he?"

 "I couldn't decide on whether I wanted you to know or not so I didn't give any instruction about that"

 "You're not sure whether you want me to know?", Richard asks with a deeper frown. "You're keeping secrets from me now?"

 "It's not that, Father. It's just...", she trails off and plonks onto the sofa adjacent to his table.

 "Gabriella, you're making me worried", her father urges and stands up from his chair to join her on the sofa. "Tell me now and stop the suspense", he prompts once he is sitting beside her.

 "I have a mate", she reveals and her father's eyes furrow.

 "A mate?", he repeats.

 "Yes, I have a new mate", she confirms.

 "Second mates are rare", he murmurs. "So you're bothered just because you have a mate?"

 "It's Marvin", she complains.

 "Am I supposed to know who that is?", Richard wonders and she groans.

 "You haven't been reading my reports!"

 "I have, I just don't focus it so much though since my very capable daughter", he begins and pauses to hug her with a small smile. "Is in charge", he completes and her countenance lightens a bit.

 "Thanks for trusting me", she appreciates. "This is why I'm even more worried, I don't want to disappoint you, to disappoint everyone trusting in me"

 "Who is this Marvin that he bothers you so much?", her father frains and she sighs.

 "It's Marvin Hale", she finally lets out and her father's countenance darkens.

 "I believe the Alpha Supreme's heir is mated so you must be talking about the second son right?"

 "Yes, Father. It's him! My wolf was practically going crazy when I was around him, how am I supposed to work against him?"

 "I don't know what to say, Gabriella", he confesses and they are both silent for a while. "I just know that I trust you, you can work according to the plan", he tells her.

 "Are you sure?"

 "Yes", he affirms and she sighs. "Why didn't you reject him though?"

 "I did! It didn't work! It was so crazy, and scary at the same time. I really don't know why it didn't work", she complains.

 "You can do it, Gabriella, with or without the mate bond", he encourages and pulls her into his arms in a hug.

 They remain in the hug for several minutes before he lets her go. She exhales once away from his embrace and immediately stands up.

 "So the plan remains the same. If we get no response for a week, we'll have to try to sabotage the construction of the new branch in Aurora", she reminds now sounding less downcasted.

 "Exactly", Richard agrees. "Now, you sound more like my daughter"

 "Thank you, Father", she smiles.

 "My pleasure"

 "I'll take my leave now", she excuses and bows then walks out.

 Richard watches his daughter with a smile as she walks away. He had to admit that she was a very lucky child. Her luck was just never in his favour.

 "Guard!", he calls few minutes after she walked out and a guard runs in immediately.

 "Your majesty", he answers and bows briefly.

 "Call Varus here immediately", Richard orders.

 "Yes, your majesty", the guard replies and hurries off.

 Varus was the only effect of Gabriella's lucky streak that he had been able to manage. The boy had began to obey him over time even though he was initially a problem since he was Gabriella's overprotective beta.

 "Your majesty", he hears the familiar voice of Varus call after a while and smiles.

 "Come in", he allows and the door opens to reveal Varus.

 "Yes, sir?", Varus prompts and Richard rolls his eyes.

 The boy still called him 'sir' once they were alone. 

 "Keep a closer eye on Gabriella from now on"

 "Why?", he demands.

 "Stubborn as usual, Varus", Richard chuckles.

 "I'm always watching over her, you know that. I just know that for you to have called me specifically to tell me to do what I'm always doing, something must be happening"

 "You've always been a smart one", Richard compliments.

 "That's the reason Gabriella is alive so I definitely know that", Varus retorts and Richard's countenance darkens.

 "I've told you to speak no more of those past events"

 "I don't know, sir... I just can't help but remember", Varus mutters in a slightly mocking tone.

 "Whatever", Richard snarls.

 "So yes, why are you suddenly bothered about her?", Varus questions reverting back to the subject of their conversation immediately.

 "She has a mate", Richard replies just as quickly and Varus' eyes immediately dilate. "Look how shocked you are, you've always acted like a stone wall", Richard taunts.

 "Gabriella has a second mate", Varus repeats and immediately his shock clears as if he needed to say it to believe it. "What's his name? I need to know everything about him, I don't want anyone hurting her again"

 "Oh, she's going to be hurt, very much"

 "Just tell me his name so that I can do my research and stop speculating", Varus demands.

 "He's the person you both have been researching on recently"

 "We've been researching on someone?", Varus wonders just before realizing. "Oh no, it's certainly not Marvin Hale right?"

 "It's him", Richard confirms.

 "It'll be hard on her"

 "It is hard on her. She's still bent on following the plan though", Richard informs her and Varus sighs.

 "I guess I'll just have to change her mind on that"

 "Don't you dare do that, Varus", Richard growls.

 "What if I want to? I wasn't bothered when she rejected her first mate but I'll be damned if I let her reject her second chance", Varus proclaims.

 "Have you forgotten about the plan?"

 "You of all people should know that I don't care about your wish to be Alpha Ultra. I'm only tagging along because Gabriella seems passionate about it"

 "She loves me of course, so she would support me", Richard smirks and Varus tightens his fists in annoyance. "There's nothing you can do to change that"

 "I'm going"

 "Of course, go and see her. Just be wise; we may be enemies but don't make Gabriella my enemy again, you won't like it"