ELIAS'S P.O.V
I had so much rushing through my mind aside from the predicament I was also in with Zola. There was no way I would be getting any sleep. Today was Sunday, which means come tomorrow I'll have to face my father again. And while most would assume I was excited. I was the complete opposite. Especially after finding out he is moving here with a family. I fucked up badly and Uriah is never going to let me forget it. I should've taken his advice and let my father go, it would save us all the heartache that is about to reign down from this mess. But I didn't, and therefore I will have to suffer that consequence. My mother knows, so at least, it won't completely blind side her, but Irelyn still has no idea. She has never met our dad, so she wouldn't know what to expect. Hell, I was so young when he disappeared and was presumed dead, which means that I also don't know him. Not like his other family at least. What I did know about him, is no longer who he is. Therefore, I have no clue who he really is, and I invited him to live in the pack house...with his family.
I looked over at the clock. "Fuck, it's already 7 in the morning." I whispered.
I have gotten zero sleep after the night I had with Zola. Not that I was complaining, I'd take a night with her any day over sleep.
A ping caught my attention. I looked over to see my phone light up. I considered ignoring it to try and get a few hours of sleep, but another ping rang out. I suppose if they needed me that badly, they could come get me, but curiosity got the best of me.
I opened the notification, kind of expecting a text from Zola, but to my dismay it wasn't her.
Mom: We need to have a family meeting.
Mom: Before tomorrow comes.
My hand involuntarily raked my hair, bringing my mind back to the inevitable complicated topic. My father. I knew we had to rip the band-aid off, but, fuck I just wasn't ready. I wanted a day to myself to sit and think about all that had happened. But I haven't had that chance. Since I found out my father was alive, I have been on the go. Not enough time alone to ponder about it all.
Me: Alright, let's meet in the office at 9. I need a few hours.
I just needed a little rest before I broke the news to my sister. I couldn't be so dog-tired while talking about a serious matter with her sassy ass.
Mom: Thumbs up.
Me: You realize they make an emoticon for that, right?
Her next few responses had me laughing unbelievably hard. The first message was the middle finger emoji, then the second being an apology, followed by the third finally being the thumbs up emoji. She claimed 'the first emoji was an accident'. Ha, right. Accident, my asshole. She knew what she was doing. I'm sure it was intentional.
I laid my phone down after setting an alarm and rolled over to get some sleep. Today will be a long day, but tomorrow will be even longer.
BRRRING...BRRRING...BRRRING
"I swear to you, it's not my monkey!" I yelled as my body jerked upright.
I looked around dazed for a moment before realizing where I was.
"Monkey?" I repeated out loud, confused about what the hell was I dreaming of.
'The monkey was a damn thief in the night.' Aslan replied with a laugh in his tone.
'Damn monkey.' I responded before laughing too.
"What's so funny?" A voice asked, making me jump.
"When the hell did you get here?" I asked in a semi-petrified, semi-stern tone.
"An hour or so ago."
"And you just what… was watching me sleep?"
"When you say it like that, it makes me sound weird."
"Well, it is weird, Shanti. Who does that?" I asked as I got out of bed.
"Where are you rushing off to? It's Sunday."
"I have other obligations today." I said while tossing my shirt on.
"Like what?"
"Leave, Shanti. I'm busy and don't have time."
"Seriously?"
"Yeah, seriously."
"Why are you being a jerk? I am only trying to talk."
"I didn't get much sleep last night, I'm sorry. I have a lot going on right now."
I wasn't intentionally being an ass. I've just got too much on my mind to handle her too.
"You weren't here last night. Where did you go?"
I closed my eyes and images of Zola's wet naked body surfaced. I had to quickly snap out of it. The last thing I wanted was to get rock hard and give Shanti false ideas. I'd hate for her to think my hardened cock was for her.
"Border patrol." I lied.
I didn't want to have to explain my whereabouts. They weren't any of her concerns. She wasn't my chosen mate, at least not yet.
"I didn't realize there was a change in the rounds."
I closed my eyes again, trying not to get irritated.
"Listen, I don't have time to sit and chat. I have somewhere to be." I looked down at my watch, and it was five minutes until 9. "Actually somewhere to be now. If you'll excuse me," I said while grabbing my shoes.
"But you haven't told me what is going on yet. Is everything okay?"
"Bye, Shanti." I said, gesturing to the door.
"Fine. But this conversation isn't over. We will pick back up later. Yeah?"
"I guess," I said while walking out of the room.
"Is there something I can do to help?"
"No. It's personal. I won't be around today, so I'll just see you later. Okay?"
"Fine. Later."
She grabbed my arm, yanking me back to her.
"Are you forgetting something?"
"No."
"Kiss me, fool."
"I don't kiss. You know this."
Lies again. I kissed Zola with no hesitation. But I was in no mood to share that feeling with another person.
"Not even on my cheek?"
"I'm running late, and you are holding me up. I have to go." I yanked my arm from her grasp and continued down the hallway.
I felt like a dick, but she wasn't one to take no for an answer, and I was tired of repeating myself.
I opened the office door a minute before 9. However, I wasn't the first in the room.
"You're late."
"Sorry mom, I was held up."
"I bet you were busy with Shanti," Irelyn piped in.
"That is none of your concern."
"Alpha's may be late for meetings, but the king is not. Do better, Elias."
"Alright, let's get this family meeting started." I said, avoiding the topic of tardiness.
"What's with the meeting anyway?" Irelyn asked while flicking her fingernail.
I looked over at our mom. She said that she would do the honor of telling her. But it appears she has changed her mind. She wanted me to tell Irelyn about my fuck up.
"Go on." She said, urging me to spill.
"What's going on?" Irelyn asked, looking between the two of us. "What happened?" She asked again when neither of us responded.
"Our father is alive." I finally blurted out.
"What did you just say?"
"He came home, Irelyn."
"Where is he?" She asked, jumping up excitedly.
"He will be here tomorrow. I offered him a job."
"A job. Are you serious right now?"
"As a heart attack. He doesn't remember us, Irelyn."
She looked over at our mom, a glimmer in her eyes from unshed tears.
"But he came home."
"It had to be coincidental, but yes, he came home."
"Not coincidental. Fate. Daddy came back to his family." She responded excitedly.
"With another family." I whispered, but I knew with her enhanced hearing she'd hear me.
Her eyes shot up to look at me before looking at our mom.
"Dad moved on, Irelyn. I didn't know that when I invited him to live in our home."
"Why would the Moon Goddess bring him back to us with a new family?" She asked our mother this time.
"I don't know, princess. But we can't tell him who we are. He is a human now. He can't know."
"How is that supposed to work? This is a werewolf pack for crying out loud!"
Both Irelyn and our mother had tears streaming down their faces. Making my heart hurt even more than it did before.
"We will figure it out, princess." Mom whispered as she embraced Irelyn against her chest.
But her question was valid. It was the rationality that I avoided when I offered him a home and a job. How was it going to work with both keeping our identity a secret while also dealing with the consequences of my actions?