“You sure everything’s alright? I’ve never felt anything like that before even from you Aston. Ever. To be honest my men and I thought someone was attacking the compound until we realized it was ya’ll,” River explained watching his men disperse back into the main house and amongst the grounds going back to their duties. 

“Yeah I’m sure, I know as much as you do at this point about what just happened.” Aston shrugged.

“Were you threatened? Are you upset about something? Because I’ve never felt anything like that before.” Aston looked into his best friend's dark brown eyes seeing the apprehension in them.

“No nothing like that. Rhea and I were talking when we arrived and it seemed to set off my tiger for some reason. It was different” Aston explained, not wanting to admit that the power he had felt from within himself had both scared and excited him.  

“Different is an understatement to what just happened hun,” Rhea interrupted the two as she walked up behind them keeping an eye on Aston as she did so, “That kind of power was intimidating, never in my life have I ever wanted to instantly submit to someone. River I know you felt it too, that was something that rivaled the alpha of the Falcon Haven pack and the Queen of the vampire coven.”

River nodded remembering the way the two leaders felt upon their first meeting, noticing Aston slightly narrowing his eyes at them.

“We’re just worried is all,” River huffed, “Honestly I know the elders probably felt what just happened out here, not gonna lie.”

Aston rolled his eyes, “Let’s hope n—”

“Aston!?”

All of their heads snapped in the direction of the front door seeing a mistakenly beautiful woman walking through the doorway making a beeline towards the group. The woman stood at five feet five inches wearing a royal blue halter dress that hugged her shape perfectly, highlighting her small waist. Her wavy brown hair cascaded over her shoulders giving definition to her strong jawline and high cheekbones, her dark grey eyes staring hard at the group before her. She walked with grace in her tan block heels as she glided over the steps of the doorway and onto the gravel of the driveway. She walked with power for such a small stature, but the only thing Aston felt was annoyance for the woman as she stopped in front of them questioningly.

“Isadora.” Aston greeted looking directly into her stone gaze.

“Where have you been?” Isadora demanded, “And don’t tell me you were on that god forsaken cliff of yours.”

“I was not on my cliff hiding from you and the others”

Isadora’s eyes narrowed at his answer, “You being a smart ass is not helping your case in the slightest Aston.” 

She looked at the others, seeing them trying to keep their composure at their future king’s answer, her eyes pleading with them to be some sort of help. River, noticing her gaze, composed himself standing in respect to the elder while Rhea let out a small snicker. The blonde knew laughing would make things worse, but nevertheless as the Enforcer for the clan she did not care. She did know however that Aston was going to have to deal with the elders on his own, so her help was not going to be offered in this situation. 

“Seeing as you are here now means that Rhea was able to do her job on finding you and bringing you back to the compound. As she might as well have informed you that we are expecting important guests tonight,” Isadora explained, “Even though you have been slacking on your duties these last few months, you are expected to be meeting with them along with me and the other elders.”

“Yes Isadora” Aston stated, knowing his friends were going to be of no help.

Isadora’s demeanor faltered, “Well good, lets go inside with the others and discuss this treaty.”

“Yeah I do need to make sure you all don’t fuck up this treaty.” Aston smirked walking past the small woman, shock on her face from his words.

“In my 400+ years of life, I have never had this much trouble with a potential leader of the clan. You better mind your tongue boy!” She seethed following him into the main house.

River and Rhea glanced at each other before quickly following the sounds of Isadora’s yelling at Aston to wait for her. Aston walked through the main house taking in the rustic glory that was his childhood home, the smell of honeydew and roses filling his nose as he continued to the office library. He heard voices from the other side of the doors as he approached the closed opening stopping just short of opening the doors. The sudden realization hit as a sense of reality settled into him, he was finally home and about to walk into a room with the people he had expressed complete disdain for not but a few hours ago. He stood staring at his hand on the door’s handle feeling its coldness on his palm, feeling the sensation slightly ground him as the others that were following him finally caught up to him. They stopped slightly behind him watching him with curiosity and concern as they knew that he was deliberating within his mind. Aston for a split second felt his fight or flight response kick in, feeling his tiger standing up within him ready for the confrontation within the library and a small voice in the back of his mind trying to persuade him back to the cliff.

“Hun?” Rhea asked, suddenly grounding him back from the recesses of his inner world bringing him to focus on the door handle once more.

‘Gotta treat this like a band-aid.’ He thought, making his decision.

Without a word Aston placed his hand on the other handle turning them both, the doors flying open as he simultaneously walked into the library and in the middle of the elders conversation. The elders looked in shocked silence at their future leader standing before them in the middle of the enormous room, surprised by his sudden appearance. They stared at him in awe, feeling that his presence had changed from the last time they had seen him. They wondered if the disturbance that they had felt from outside of the building had been his power, but to them it felt different and overwhelming. 

“Aston. This is a surprise, we didn’t think that you were going to grace us with your presence ever again” A stern man finally spoke out of the group adjusting his suit.

“You know Ephraim, you always have to be ready for the unexpected,” Aston replied tightly watching his blue eyes harden under the curls of his tousled hair, “But as we know by now that is not common for you.”

“Glad to see you haven’t changed Aston. Unfortunately,” A mousy woman spoke up watching him with deep brown eyes.

“I can feel the love in your voice Lydia,” He smirked. “I missed you too.”

Lydia pursed her lips as she felt the sarcasm drip off of every one of Aston’s words, knowing that it was expected from him. The other two elders stood back together watching the three knowing it was a waste of time to intervene when they exchanged words. Aston looked at the two feeling a small degree of relief, but he knew he was in their favor as they never exhausted themselves when he and the others badgered each other. 

“Kendric? Viktor? Care to weigh in on this?” Lydia interrupted, catching the attention of the two men , who were trying to stay out of the situation.

“No my dear Lydia, I have no objections to Aston at this moment,” Viktor replied out of the two staring at her with his ice blue eyes, finally getting his short dirty blonde hair the way he wanted it on his head. “Kendric, my love, do you have anything to add?”

The tall intimidating man looked towards the young blonde piercing him with his green eyes, his face naturally brooding as he responded to his lover.

“No, Astéri mou, there seems to be no objections here either,” Kendric’s deep timbre resonating with power over the others, making them shiver from the intensity.

Aston had forgotten how Kendric’s presence had affected him and the others, but for the first time feeling less affected than normal. His thoughts travel to the situation from before and how it was now seeming to be more evident that changes were coming whether he liked it or not.

“Gods, a millennia and I never get tired of that feeling,” Viktor purred, his eyes glowing as they bore into his lover receiving a rare smirk in return.

“Oh get a room you fossils! You’re both like a couple of fucking rabbits” Rhea groaned breaking the tension with the room gaining small smiles from the elders, and a sigh of relief from Aston.

Aston gazed at Rhea through the closeness of the group seeing her next to River, his eyes sending a silent thank you to her for the comic relief. Rhea could always be counted on for calming the elders with her sarcasm and honest humor, resulting in many verbal altercations being disputed without violence. With that skill the elders had believed that she would have been next in line for the title of Tiger Queen, but her brutality had shown them otherwise. Her title as the Executioner fit her better than the Enforcer in the eyes of the elders and the previous King Wyatt. Rhea stared back with e grin knowing she had given Aston the opportunity to get back on track.

“So,” Aston stated breaking the content silence, “The pride should be arriving soon, have you all decided on the treaty negotiations? I didn’t leave that cliff for my health.” 

Isadora snorted, “Absolutely. We haven’t been useless without you boy, someone had to care for the clan while you were off finding yourself.”

Before Aston could retort to her answer, a text tone chimed throughout the room, surprising all of them as River pulled out his phone to check the screen. His face grew confused before transforming into surprise as he looked at the others.

“My elders, the Lion Pride have just arrived at the front of the building,” He explained before replying to the message informing his guards to receive them as planned. 

“They are early!” Lydia gasped, “We haven’t briefed him on anything for him to present to their king.”

“Calm down Lydia, you’re overreacting, we have the entire evening to make sure everything goes smoothly.” Ephraim answered, assuring the elder.

“He is right you know,” Aston said, backing him up, surprising the others.

“Who are you and what have you done with Aston?” Isadora and Rhea said in unison, causing Aston to roll his eyes. 

A sudden knock at the door stopped him from snapping at the women, all eyes turning towards the double doors. Their guests had arrived.  

“Come in,” River answered, positioning himself next to the entrance. 

A servant opened the double doors walking into view, “My elders, I present to you the King of the Pride.”

Aston froze as the doors opened. He released a small gasp, the aroma of cedar and vanilla flooded the room overwhelming him with its earthy warmth. It was intoxicating. His inner world vibrated with a roar, his eyes glowing as his tiger charged forward rubbing itself along his skin with a mewl-like growl wanting to break free. His power released once again filling the room with an intense dominating heat as he listened to the footsteps of the man entering the room adding to the thick energy. Aston felt him and his tiger become one, but his body did not shift like his tiger was wanting to know who the mysterious person was. A realization hit them both.

“Mate” They growled, their power vibrating.

His words struck the others around him, all their eyes looking at his form trying to breathe within his power and energy.

They all mutter the same word, “Fuck...”