Chapter 6

Geoff "Speak your mind, Alpha Archibald." He said as he walked through a black curtain. He was met with an open balcony with black curtains pulled back, overlooking the ocean. Why did everything have to be black themed? Even the silk sheets and canopy were black. "Perhaps having your Mate come here would help with negotiating?" He suggested. Geoff dropped his bag on the bed and stepped out onto the balcony. The breeze was cooler the closer to the ocean. He sighed. "No, she is handling things back home." He ran his hand through his hair as he gazed over the waves. They seemed so endless. This large body of water separated them. It had only been two days and he ached to be home. "Well, it was just a thought. I'm throwing a party this evening in celebration of your arrival. Be sure to dress down." He chuckled before leaving. Geoff rolled his eyes. He pulled out his phone. "Geoff!" Her voice squealed through the phone. He found himself smiling as he laid back on the bed. "Hey, I hope I got you at a good time." "Any time for you is a good time." She paused. "Oh my God, that came out wrong. No! Wait! You're always a good time too." She groaned. He chuckled. He could picture her embarrassment. "Is everything okay on your end?" He asked her. "Well, I managed to get my hands on as much history as I could, but I never knew that there was so much." He could hear her flipping through pages. "What about you? You didn't call when you landed, so I got worried." "Sorry, I was little out of it from the time difference. So I waited until I was settled in." He rose up from his bed and walked back out onto the balcony. "You'd like it here, Adelaide . I have the view of the ocean from my balcony." He told her. "Wow, that sounds amazing! Have you swam with the dolphins yet?" She asked. "No, I just got here. However, the Alpha that is hosting is throwing a party in my honor tonight." He told her. She went quiet. "Adelaide ?" "It sounds like a great time." She let out a breath. "I know you can do this, Geoff. I believe in you." Her words filled his heart with courage. "Thank you, I needed to hear that." He said, sitting down on a chair. "Have you started any plans for the ceremony?" "No, I'm waiting for Erica to come back." "For the love of God, do not let her decide on the theme." He told her. "Your majesty doesn't want a bondage themed wedding?" She busted out into giggles. He laughed with her. It felt so good to hear her laugh, sense her smile. "Adelaide , I know this question is quite sudden, but do you... want to have kids?" He asked her. She was quiet for a long moment. All he could hear was the waves crashing against the cliff walls. "I do." She said simply. "I think it's rather soon to have kids since we have a wedding and whatnot to go through first." She gasped. "Would they be wolf pups?" She asked him eagerly. "It could be possible." "Oh my God, a mini Geoff running around." She was squealing again. He smiled to himself, leaning back. "What if it's a girl?" He asked her. "I'd dress her up obviously. Oh, do you think they make dresses for wolf pups?" She asked him. He let out a laugh. "I wouldn't know, but I also wouldn't be surprised." "Hey love?" She said softly. His wolf purred. "What is it?" "If things don't work out in our favor, it's okay." She said to him. He frowned. "It won't." "I'm saying if it does, it won't ever be the reason that I stop loving you. No matter what happens with the Alphas, you still have my unwavering support. I trust you, and I'll love you no matter how the table turns." She said to him. Geoff remained silent as her words dissolved. He let them sink in his mind and his heart. He let his wolf absorb them. "Adelaide , no matter what happens, I'll still give you the wedding of your dreams." He told her. She giggled softly. "I have to go, Elias is hungry. Have fun tonight, okay?" "I will. I love you, Adelaide ." He said to her. "I love you to." She said before hanging up. He slipped his phone back into his pocket, looking out over the water with new resolve. "My my, I'm glad I found you here." Penelope's voice sang from the doorway. She wore a flowing flower dress and a wide brim sun hat. "I wasn't expecting you to arrive until tomorrow." He told her as she took a seat beside him. "That was the plan until your father's mood swing had me packing and flying early." She turned back toward the door where a maid stood. "Wine please." She ordered. "I have one so far." He told her, looking back out over the water again. "Well, that's better than I expected. You won't receive any approval from Derek, but who needs him." She patted Geoff's knee gently. "Mom," he said, making her raise a brow, "when did you and Derek stop loving each other?" He asked her. She inclined her head thoughtfully, sweeping her gaze out over the ocean. "You know your father and I are not Mates. We had our opportunities to find our one love, but it just never happened. Well, for me it didn't." She said as the maid returned with two glasses of red wine. Penelope took both and passed one over to Geoff. He took it, but didn't drink. "Derek did?" He asked her. "Yes. He'll never speak a word of it. I just happened to find out by chance one drunken evening." She sipped. "He rejected her?" He asked. "Quite the opposite. In fact she rejected him. I guess I should insert the fact that his Mate was human." She mentioned. Geoff stared at her. "Wait, what? Then why?" "It's due to that rejection that he has a bitter taste in his mouth about humans." Penelope lowered her gaze to the red liquid in her hand, "He loved her, more than anything, but her heart was elsewhere." She finished her glass. Geoff passed his glass over to her. "That makes sense now, but to hold that kind of grudge all these years?" He asked her. Penelope shrugged. "You know how stubborn your father is. You do take after him for the most part." She said, downing the other glass. His mind went to Adelaide . "I was so happy to find out that Adelaide accepted you. I wouldn't lie that I feared you'd turn out just like him." She ran her finger along the edge of the glass. "They won't accept her because she's human. What they fail to realize that she's far stronger than even myself at times." He leaned his cheek against his hand. "She's been through Hell and back. We may have our supernatural abilities to account for, but she has more compassion, more heart than this damn species combined." He shut his eyes, imagining her beautiful face, her smile lighting up her emerald eyes. His wolf howled at her image. How could he even think of swapping her out for a she-wolf? What would be the point of having a Mate then? "You know, I think she did more good than I realized." Penelope spoke up beside him. He looked over to her, seeing a soft smile on her lips. "What do you mean?" He asked her. She reached over, pushing his hair from his face. "You're thinking more like a human than a Werewolf." She said to him. He watched her get up and leave him be with her words. Seagulls sang down below, perching themselves on the cliffs. Geoff closed his eyes as the cool breeze soothed his skin. His wolf growled softly in his head. "What if this doesn't work?" He asked out loud. It will. I'll make sure of it.