"To temper, something means to make it less extreme and we don't do that here in this team, I'm afraid." I figured Eric still thinks he's useful, otherwise, he would have gotten rid of him long before I got to know about what he did. So I decided not to send him out of the team
"I'm not going to kick you out of the team, be rest assured. Eric brought you in and I'll leave your punishment to him to do to you as he wishes." I say and look in Eric's direction.
"Yeah, I brought him in but unfortunately, I have a lot on my plate and won't be able to give him a befitting punishment. Henrik, if you don't mind, this is more up your alley. You're the General's Captain while we were in Denmark so you should handle this clown's punishment the best way you deem fit." Eric replies
"Sure..." Henrik answers before turning his attention to Thomas.
"Get up and go wait for me on the training field. I'll meet you there after the meeting"
"Yes sir!" Thomas replies and immediately gets up to leave
"Now to Ella..." I say after the door closes behind Thomas.
"Yes, General." She says and immediately kneels without being told.
"Get up! I didn't ask you to go on your knees or did I?"
"No General, you didn't!" She says meekly and goes back to standing
"The complaints leveled against only you are so many it's impossible for us to finish discussing them all tonight. Tomorrow is the trial. I can't afford to keep us out of our beds since we don't know the surprise that might be waiting for us. So, here's what is going to happen...
I'm handling your punishment to Eric, your boss and I trust he will do whatever is necessary to keep you in line. After today, I better not see a single complaint against you. Otherwise, I wouldn't care who you are to Ivar or your loyalty to the team before I personally throw you in the dungeon. Do I make myself clear!?"
"Yes, General! Crystal clear! Thank you, sir!..." She says, "And uhmmm... I'd like to apologize to everyone for my behavior. Please, whatever it was I did to you, I want you to know that it wasn't intentional. I'm so sorry and I promise..."
"Yeah, yeah... You don't have to promise, we just want to see you change. Go and sit on your man's lap like you're fond of doing or wherever. And I better not see anyone sleeping here in the living room." I say and she blushes while the others laugh. I'm glad she understands my joke.
"Since there's nothing else to discuss, today's meeting has come to an end," I finally say and stand up.
"Hey!" I hear Eric's voice call behind me as I walk towards the stairs.
I turn back and ask,
"Sup?"
"What's the plan for picking Uncle Knox up in the morning? I forgot to tell you earlier that he asked me and I promised I would call him back tonight after consulting with you."
"Oh, how could I have forgotten about that!" I say. All my mind thought about all day was my mate. I totally forgot about the old wolf.
"I think we should go pick him up tonight. Who says there won't be press camped at the entrance of the mansion and more by the gate, waiting to get a picture and escort you to the court tomorrow?"
"Yeah, those vermin!" I reply and exhale loudly.
"Inform Bear and Ivar where we're going. Henrik and Ella can meet us at the court tomorrow morning. We'll leave in twenty minutes." I say and continue up the stairs to my room.
I got to my room and plops myself on the bed. I already planned to search my memory for all the evidence I stored away so I can connect the dots that will lead me to my mate tonight but it's obvious that won't be possible anymore. It would have to wait again until tomorrow after the trial.
While on the bed, my mind drifts to wondering what my mate actually looks like and what I will do the moment I set my eyes on her...
The next I know, Eric is standing over my bed, calling my name.
"Thor! Hey man, wake up!..."
"Ughhhhh....' I groan in displeasure as I sit up in bed
"I'm sorry, did I fall asleep?" I ask as I get out of bed, hurrying towards the closet for a change of clothes.
"Yeah, you did! You said twenty minutes but we've been waiting for forty-five. You must be very tired to have fallen asleep like that."
"More like mentally drained," I mumble to myself as I finish getting my clothes on
"Don't worry. It will soon be over and you can take a vacation and have all the rest you deserve."
"Soon be over? Yeah, right!" I reply with a chuckle
In the car, on our way to my estate, I tried calling my dad but he didn't answer his calls.
"The old wolf is not answering his calls. Do you think he's sleeping already?..." I ask Eric as I check my wristwatch. "It's just 10 pm, how could he be asleep at this time of the day?"
"This time of the day? What do you mean by this time of the day, he's old!"
"He's sixty-four! Certainly not that old. Why don't you call him yourself? Didn't you say he promised to never answer my calls?"
"Yeah, but I'm sure he didn't mean that." He says and brings out his phone
"Yeah, he didn't!" I sarcastically say when the old wolf answers Eric's call. He certainly meant what he said about not picking up my calls
"Hey, Uncle Knox," Eric says
"Hey, man. I thought you said you were gonna come get me! Tomorrow is the trial. Hope you both haven't forgotten that by any chance?"
"Actually, we're on our way to the estate right now. That was what Thor was calling to tell you about"
"Oh, okay. I'll see you boys later then." He says and immediately ends the call
"He acted as if he didn't hear you mention my name, can you believe that!? How could he be so childish!" I say in annoyance
"He's old, give him a break!..."
"He's fucking sixty-four! Stop saying he's old!"
"Just apologize to him, okay? Apologize to him when we get to the estate. That's obviously what he wants so give it to him for peace's sake."
"Yeah, whatever!" I reply and turn to look outside the window
"You're both damn stubborn! Like father, like son!" He says but I ignore him.
The old wolf is waiting outside the house for us alongside the help when Ivar pulls the car to a stop.
"I thought he was angry? Why is he smiling like the cat that ate the canary?" I say
"I guess he wasn't so angry after all. He's happy to see us. He can't pretend he's not" Eric says and chuckles
"You guys!... I'm happy to see you both!" He says. He indeed looks happy as he walks towards us with a smile so broad I fear his face might tear into two.
"Uncle Knox."
I deliberately slow down my steps, allowing Eric to walk ahead of me. I watch in amusement as he grabs Eric's face, kissing him on both cheeks as if it's been years since they saw each other.
"God! I'm glad you're okay! I'm so happy to see you!..." He says again and again and again
"Yeah, yeah, we know that already..." I finally say and they both turn towards me. Eric with a pleading look on his face. He's scared I would say something bad to hurt his precious Uncle Knox
"Hey Pops... I was just wondering when it's going to be my turn if you're going to spend the whole night hugging Eric?"
The frown on Eric's face slowly transforms into a smile
'And I thought his smile couldn't get any wider.' I said to Eric through our mind link as my dad hugged me closer to himself.