Sophie waited, without Axel’s acknowledgement. Axel, on the other hand, was bothered by his men's report. Rebecca came back, again. With her purpose unknown this time. He found it ridiculous.
Edward had his own family and land. Why can’t they just settle there? Continuously insisting the union between two Alpha was starting to get him. Sighing, he stood up. The council can easily solve this matter, but he has a feeling he won’t like the way they would.
Whilst Sophie stood waiting on the ground floor of the headquarters, Axel went to their conference room, where Rebecca and the Council were talking. Edward was there, as he already knew. Axel kept his hands on his pocket to refrain himself. He also avoided Edward’s eyes. He wanted to restrict himself, and to be able to do it, he needed to ignore his existence.
“Alpha.” The council stood up to pay respect. He bowed down his head a little, and it was what Rebecca did as well. “We have just come to a decision.”
“And that is?” Axel threw them a cold gaze. He stayed on his position and maintained the distance.
“Rebecca is carrying Edward’s child. We do not have the right to deny Edward’s access to the child. Therefore––“
“Cut the chase. Are you saying you’re allowing him to live here?”
Edward stepped forward. “I won’t always be here, Axel. I have my own land and pack to lead.”
“Then why don’t you take Rebecca there?”
“She wanted to live here. She wanted to give birth to our child here in this Kingdom.”
“Alpha, I must ask you to reconsider Edward’s propose of an alliance.” The Council spoke, once again, catching Axel’s attention. “Both sides will gain something in this decision. Besides––“
“You dare speak of an alliance in front of me as if we need a pack to back us up.” Axel moved forward. His eyes were pierced to the Council. “We need no such, Council.”
“Why must you assume that the alliance we speak of was something only the weak would agree to?” Edward raised a question.
He had been staying silent. The Alpha of the Western Borders was known to be a strict, and fierce leader. As much as possible, he would like the Council to do the talking. Axel never liked him. He’d surely lose his temper. But the way he was talking now…. He came not to know the decision but to forbid it.
“Isn’t that the case, Edward? Axel turned to him.
“No. I had always believed that if you are strong, then you are. No actions nor decision can efface it.” Edward stood by his words. “I am not your enemy, nor will I be.”
Axel’s hand in his pocket turned to a fist. He does not know if that statement was meant to piss him off, nor bait him. The man beside Rebecca was such a man who could easily ruffle someone’s feathers.
Alliance? Wasn’t the council just saying it could strengthen them? What do they need the strengthen for? His pack was already strong! They need no back up. No alliance. No union. Western Born can stand by their own strength.
“Axel, whether or not––“ Rebecca’s words got hung up to the air when Axel cut her off.
“Alpha, Rebecca.” Axel corrected him. “You have no right to call me by my name.”
“Alpha…” Rebecca breathed hard. “I was saying, whether or not you accept the alliance, Edward will still have his right to live here.”
“Absolutely. But not if I also forbid your request to live here.” Axel turned around. “Give me a profound reason and maybe you’ll have my approval.”
Axel left the room. The Council, who guided the two, looked at Rebecca and her beloved with regret. Although he had approved it, in the end, the Alpha will still decide. The decision will still be up to him, as he was the Leader of this land. He had every right to deny nor accept any of the Borders’ affiliation.
The member of the Council sighed. “I apologize to the outcome of this discussion. I did not expect the Alpha to speak like that––“
“It’s okay. It is not your fault. Perhaps, the Alpha was on a terrible mood today.” Axel gave out a smile. “I’ll talk things out with Rebecca.”
Edward looked down on his Queen. He did not like Axel’s behavior. But he had every right. They were in his territory, where everything is beneath his power. Both the land and pack were his, so it was his call to make. What infuriated him was the fact that his rejection had no valid reasons. It was unreasonable. Unrespectful.
“I’m sorry, My Queen.” Edward apologized.
Rebecca reached for the side of his face and caressed it. “It wasn’t your fault, Edward.”
––
Axel didn’t want to go back in his room, so he went down to get coffee. What he did not expect to see was his Queen to be waiting over the foyer with his men. The lines on his forehead relinquished upon seeing Sophie. He walked to get to her. Didn’t she say yesterday that she’d be out with Flora to do donations?
It was the first time…
“What’s my gorgeous Luna doing here?” Axel decided to gave a charming greeting. Seeing Sophie waiting for him here made him happy. “How long have you been here? You’ve should just come straight to me.”
Sophie, who was a little surprised, looked up to him and stood up. “Axel… I got here twenty minutes ago.”
“Twenty minutes?” Axel’s brows creased before he shifted his eyes to his men. “Why didn’t you just accompany her to me?”
“She didn’t want to, Alpha,” said Hansel. “She must have thought you were busy.”
Roger laughed a little. “Damn right. Your little girl might have been thinking your paper works are all piled up like you’re a business man.”
Sophie’s brows wiggled. “Isn’t that the case?”
“Of course, not.” Axel chuckled. “I wasn’t that busy, Sophie. More so, if it’s for you.”
Alpha’s men chortled.
“I heard Rebecca’s here,” Sophie asked without hesitation. “She came for another request. What was it?”
Axel’s left hand went on top of Sophie’s head. She patted it. “Nothing for you to worry about, Sophie.”
“I’m curious, Axel.”
“Hm. She wants to live here with her mate, Edward.”