Chapter 5

Geoff Geoff walked off the plane in Texas. It was Novemeber and still quite warm. How he wished for snow and ice. His phone buzzed in his pocket and he noticed Damion calling him. "I just landed in Texas, you couldn't wait until..." "Geoff, this is an emergency." He stated quickly. Geoff tensed up, a million reasons running through his head. "What is it? Is Adelaide and Elias okay?" He asked with a growl. "They're fine. It's me." He said. He sounded almost scared. "This isn't like you." He said, feeling a little confused on what's happening. "I don't know what's happening, but it may relate to Erica not being Marked yet." He told him. Geoff stopped as he was heading to his next flight. "You haven't Marked her yet?" "No. She's been worried that she wouldn't be who she was once it happens. I tried telling her, but she's just scared." Damion seemed out of breath all of a sudden. "Are you good?" "No! Far from it." Damion let out a groan. "My wolf is taking notice of other females, and I'm literally panicking." He stated. Geoff continued walking again. "That's out of your control. Erica will have to come to her senses soon or she'll be replaced." He walked up to a desk as he claimed his next flight. "Getting your Mate is a one time deal. After that, your wolf will take whatever partner it wants." Damion emphasized on the 'whatever. Geoff stepped away from the desk, moving to the next terminal. "Is your wolf eyeing someone already? Who have you..." He stopped again as it finally settled in his mind. A growl ripped from his chest, startling the civilians around him. "That's why I called you. I didn't want to be that person to keep something from you." Damion told him. Geoff was doing whatever he could from shifting. "Adelaide is completely off limits." He snarled. "Geoff, I'm not asking for a death wish. I'm letting you know what's going on. We've never kept things from each other and I wasn't going to start now." Damion let out a sigh. "Erica comes back next week. She's currently heading to Toronto to meet with another author." "Some time to leave." Geoff grumbled as he continued his walk. "Geoff, you know I don't want Adelaide like that. She's your Mate. You two are destined for each other." He cleared his throat. "By the way, have you and Adelaide talked about having a family?" "No. Why? Has she said something?" Geoff asked curiously. He walked for sometime before spotting where his next flight was, just as they were letting people on board. "I think she's a little bit worried from what it sounded like. She thinks that you might just use her to breed an heir and be done with her." Damion told him. Geoff felt a jolt of pain in his chest. Is that what she thought? "Foolish woman." He grumbled, rubbing his temple. He passed over his ticket before heading toward the plane. "I'll call her when I land." He hung up. As he made his way toward his next destination, his mind wandered to his Mate. Should he have brought her along instead? What if the other Alphas don't accept his Mate? This gathering would decide his next move for him. A warm breeze combed through his hair as he took a jeep through the winding hillsides. The palm trees swayed in tune of the wind as he drove up a narrow driveway that had an open gate. Trimmed hedges lined at each side of him until they broke away to reveal a cliff side Mediterranean style house that overlooked the ocean. The driveway circled an antique fountain in the center with a dolphin as its masterpiece. As he pulled to a stop, a man in a Hawaii shirt and cargo pants stepped out of the veranda, his arms open wide with balding hair on top and the sides pulled back into a grey ponytail. Alpha Archibald. "King Geoff! It's an honor for you to come here." The short man reached out and shook his hand. Geoff nodded, finishing the shake before grabbing his bag. "Alpha Archibald, I'm grateful that you opened your home to myself and the other Alphas on such short notice." He said to him. Archibald grinned, escorting him inside while a butler parked the jeep off to the side. "I could never say no to you. You should visit more often. The beach is beautiful, the sunsets are beautiful, and the women." He elbowed his ribs playfully. Normally Geoff would be all over the women, but his heart was taken by another, and his wolf didn't like the idea of being shared. "Actually, there is a reason I called for this meeting. We'll discuss things once we get inside." Geoff informed him. Archibald shrugged as he walked him through to the living room. The large cathedral style ceilings made it spacious and breathable. All of the windows were open, the breeze coming through. Many others awaited their arrival. Four more Alphas and their Mates were seated around a round table. He could already hear Adelaide cracking some sort of joke about King Arthur and his knights of the round table. His wolf whimpered. I miss her to. "My King." The Alphas stood up in unison and inclined their necks in respect. He did the same, dropping his bag on the ground beside him. "Let's get started." He said, taking a seat. They all sat down. "Wait, where's Derek?" He asked them all, but they looked amongst one another, shrugging. "He hasn't told you?" Archibald to a seat to his right. "Told me what exactly?" He asked, his hands twitching as his nails tried to sharpen. "He informed me that he wasn't joining the meeting because he was already against what the topic of discussion was." He told him. Geoff's jaw clenched up. Great, that's one Alpha out. "No matter. I'll get right to the point. I found my Mate a couple of months ago, and extend an invitation to our mating ceremony." He stated bluntly. The Lunas all looked at each other with gleaming smiles. Something with women and wedding bells tends to get them going, but he wasn't here for them. He looked at each Alpha carefully, studying their expressions, their body language. Each one regarded one another carefully. "We appreciate the invite, your majesty," a man in a light blue button up and slacks chipped in, his golden hair streaked with brown, "but I'm afraid there is a tiny issue." He said. Alpha Jackson "And what issue would that be?" Geoff asked him. "From our understanding, your Mate is a human." Another Alpha Javon, spoke up, his dark skin etched with intricate tattoos as he decided against a shirt, but wore red shorts. His caramel colored eyes glittered with specks of gold. "So?" He asked, very much annoyed that the species card continues to be brought up. "It's unnatural." A regal gentleman in a full suit and slicked back brown hair spoke up next. Alpha Lucas. "I'm sorry, being human is unnatural?" He asked him. Did they honestly forget what they were? "Unless you can manage to persuade us, your Majesty, it's a no from me." Alpha Lucas told him. Geoff looked to each Alpha who all shook their heads. His eyes finally landed on Archibald who had remained quiet during it all. The short man met Geoff's gaze and put up his hands. "I'd never say no to a good party." He said. Geoff felt a sliver of relief. That's one. "I'm a bit disappointed. This has been a long time coming after all." He proceeded to stand up and grab his bag. "Your majesty, it's not the end of the world to get a she-wolf." He heard Alpha Lucas say to him. Geoff let a growl rumble from his throat, shaking the walls a bit. "I don't need a she-wolf when I have Adelaide ." He snarled at them before walking off. Bunch of imbeciles. He couldn't be too angry with them though. They were raised in old traditions, so of course they'd say no right off the bat. He heard bare feet follow behind him as he climbed the stairs to his guest room. "My King, perhaps we can talk?" Archibald spoke up from behind him. Geoff continued walking.