Chapter Twenty

Greyson’s POV

I flopped down on the oversized couch in my office after my head landed on one of the decorative pillows as my body sprawled across the sofa's length. Having returned from another failed mission to find my true mate, I let out a frustrated huff. “Why haven’t we found her yet?! It has been over a year, and we still haven’t even the slightest clue where she might be.” I said to Koal out loud.

‘I don’t know. Honestly, I would have thought that we would have at least come across a trace of her presence, but nothing.’ Koal’s irritation with the situation was growing thin. ‘Is it possible that we just longed for our mate so much that we imagined the entire thing?” There was a tremendous amount of agony in his tone as he softly whispered his question.

I shook my head, “There is no way we could have imagined her.” I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, “I mean, if I close my eyes and concentrate, I can still vividly recall the alluring scent of our mate. Also, don’t forget the incident where we felt our mate's fear and pain. There is no way that we could have been imagining that. We even had a bruise that appeared from it, and we weren’t the only ones that saw the bruise.” 

‘True, but we haven’t felt anything since then, and there haven’t been traces of her at any of the packs we have visited.” His words became even hushed as Koal continued, ‘What if that was the last thing that she ever felt and that we will ever feel for her because she…’ 

I shook my head and sat up on the couch, “No, I am positive that she is still fine. We would feel the agony of losing her if we hadn’t made it that day. Yet we don’t feel that. Especially since we are not your average mates, we are true mates, so there is no way we wouldn’t feel that loss.”

Koal chuckled, ‘You’re right; we would absolutely know if our mate was no longer a part of this world. We must decide what punishment Rick-a deserves for causing us so much anguish! I swear when I get my hands on her, she better pray that the moon goddess protects her because I will make a ghost out of her!”

“Oh, Koal, what am I going to do with you,” I stated as Jasper entered my office.

“What did he say now?” Jasper asked as he handed me a coffee and sat in the oversized chair closest to my office door.

“You know how he is; he holds on to a grudge like no one I have ever seen before,” I said as he knowingly nodded his head.

“Too true. It’s been over a year since the  Biennial Autumn Ball, and he still hasn’t forgiven that Rick-o dude who looks like a hot dog.” Jasper began sipping his hot coffee when I accidentally lurched forward, and Koal pack linked him, causing him to spill his scalding hot coffee all over his lap. 

‘How can you still not know the story of stinky, smelly hot dog water Rick-a!?’ Irritation was fuming in Koal’s voice as he spoke.

I ran my hand over my face and through my hair. Opening one of the drawers of the coffee table, I tossed Jasper a hand towel. “That’s enough, Koal. It doesn’t matter what Rick-a smells like or even who she is.”

‘Yeah, but he…’ Koal began to protest.

“I said enough!” An authoritative growl escaped my lips as I pushed back Koal in our consciousness. “Sorry, man, you know how dramatic he can be.”

‘Dramatic, dramatic how am I…’ Koal began to speak up once again as I muted him completely. I knew muting him wouldn’t last long since we were Alpha’s and soon-to-be Alpha kings, but at least it would for a little bit.

“That crazy wolf scalded me, and I bet if I was to go check right now, all of the hairs on my thighs where the burning hot coffee touched would be wholly scorched,” Jasper said.

I rolled my eyes, “You know Koal isn’t the only one that can be overly dramatic here.”

Jasper’s mouth gaped open in aghast, “I would never!” He stated as he threw his head back with the back of his hand draped across his forehead. 

We laughed, and I took a long, slow breath. “So what's up? What brings you to my office?” 

“Right, Elder Reiner and the group that came with him to do some research are here. This is the last day they are approved for their visit, and I was wondering if you wanted to schedule a chat with him.” Jasper asked as he stretched his arms over his head, leaning back in his chair and tossing the hand towel over his shoulder and into a hamper.

“Yeah, when are they leaving today?" I asked as I walked over to my desk to check when I might have some free time.

“Their flight leaves later this evening; however, to make sure that they make it there in time, they will probably have to leave around 4:30 at the latest,” Jasper said as I scrolled through my planner.

“Yeah, let’s schedule coffee together around 3:30. That way, we will have nearly a half hour to chat before I meet with Father and the Council of Elders,” I said as I entered the chat into my schedule.

“Alright, I will let the secretary know so that she can inform Elder Reiner of the meeting,” Jasper said as he respectfully bowed and left my office.

***

There came a loud beep on the intercom in my office, “Your majesty, Elder Reiner is here to see you.” My secretary stated.

I glanced at the clock: 3:30 on the dot, punctual as ever, “Send him in.” I said as I put my computer to sleep, and a knock came at the door. “Come in,” I said as my secretary, Clare, opened the door and let Reiner in.

“Is there anything that I can get you to drink,” Clare asked as she respectfully bowed her head in Elder Reiner’s direction.

“A black Coffee would be great,” Reiner said as he entered my office.

“Of course,” Clare said, directing her attention to me. “Is there anything I can get for you, Your Majesty?” 

She gave me a confused look, “Of course.” She stated as she turned to exit my office.

Reiner grabbed her by the elbow, “I know that you don’t drink it black. Get the drink that you really want. There is no one here that you need to impress.”

A laugh escaped my lips. “I’ll have my usual then, Clare.”

“Of course, one black coffee and one iced mocha coming right up,” She said as she left the room.

I made my way around my desk and held my hand out to shake Elder Reiner’s hand. He batted my hand away and wrapped his arms around me, “It’s been too long.” 

I laughed, “Indeed it has.” I said when an alluring scent wafted off of him.

Before I realized what was happening, Koal completely took over our body, roughly grabbed Reiner by the shoulders, and took in a huge gulp of his scent as he whispered with our mouth, “Mate.”

Horror washed over Elder Reiner’s face as he pried my hands from his shoulder, “Boy, What are you talking about?” He asked informally as he kept trying to peel me off of him.

But Koal was relentless, not wanting to let go of this small part of our mate. He kept grasping Elder Reiner repeatedly as my horror and dred skyrocketed; he continued mumbling, “Mate, Mate, Mate, My mate.” 

A soft knock came on the door, and Clare entered the room with our coffees. Her eyes widened, and embarrassment washed over her face as she saw me tightly wrapped around Elder Reiner with my head on his chest as I continued to mumble, “Mate, Mate, Mate, My mate.” 

I felt as if I would die from embarrassment.

“You don’t move,” Reiner authoritatively stated as he pointed towards Clare and firmly grasped my shoulders, his eyes glowing a deep gold. He spoke in his Alpha tone, “Boy, I asked you a question,” That was all I needed to forceable push Koal back and regain control.

“Sorry, Sorry, I am so sorry, Elder Reiner,” I humbly apologized as I bowed my head to him, embarrassed by my actions. 

Reiner looked over at Clare, who was still a bright shade of pink, and asked, “ Could you please place the coffee on the table there?” He asked her as she quickly nodded and placed them on the table.

He nudged me on the shoulder, “Don’t ever bow to anyone. You will be our next Alpha King; don’t lower yourself to anyone’s level.” I nodded, and he walked over to Clare and looked her in the eyes, “You will forget what you just saw here, understand.” 

“Of course, Elder Reiner, I saw nothing out of the ordinary here, so what would there be to tell,” Clare said with a soft nod of her head.

“Very good. Then you are dismissed, child, and we will let you know if there is anything that we need.” Reiner said, and Clare exited the room, closing the door behind her. “Now, what is this about your mate?” Reiner asked as he motioned for me to sit next to him.