CHAPTER 233: _CONTROL YOURSELF

Elian’s POV

*****

"Good of you to finally join us, Alpha Prince." Delte Reina’s sarcasm was rich when Lucian opened the door to the war room.

He stepped in first, followed awkwardly by Elian, whose fingers were glued to the door.

Lucian ignored the Delta’s words, walking past her and the Gamma and making his way to the other end of the rectangular metal table at the centre of the room.

White crystals shone from the walls, casting a glow that felt almost serene. Perfect contrast against the tense atmosphere here.

"What were you even doing—" Delta Reina was about to speak again but paused. Her sharp eyes scooted to Elian, brimming with confusion when she saw him.

Elian smiled awkwardly as he stepped in, closing the door behind him. "Uhm... Good morning. I—"

"Elian Ashford." Gamma Drax remarked, stroking his white beard slowly. "Nice to see you. Face to face. You seem... Different."

Elian’s heart did a somersault, his limbs trembling like he was struck by lightning.

Was the man noticing the power-ups he’s been getting? Or—

"A haircut in the Dark Lands, perhaps?" Gamma Drax asked with a curious smile.

Oh...

[Someone tell Santa over there to chill the fuck out.]

"Can we focus on important things, Gamma?" The Delta rubbed her forehead. "The Alpha king is dead! And you’re talking about some Omega’s hair—"

"Elian is not ’some’ Omega," Lucian interjected firmly, his voice leaving no room for arguments. "I brought him here because he’s my mate and future consort."

Elian’s heart stuttered. His stomach fluttered with butterflies.

Did he... did he just call him his mate and future consort before these old folks?

The Delta scoffed, folding her arms in front of her chest.

Elian lowered his head, placing himself at the opposite end of the table. He sat on a padded blue leather chair, trying to avoid eye contact with either of the older wolves.

"A consort you haven’t shown interest in marrying yet?" Reina countered, drumming her fingers on the table. "The palace reeks with the scent of your... Activities. Even now."

Elian’s cheeks flushed so hard he thought they’d explode.

Gods above and below! Could the ground just open up and swallow him already?

"Trying to judge me for having sex, Delta?" Lucian’s face was stoic and unbothered. "Interesting. Anyway, if you’re done with that can you skip to the part where you tell me why the fuck you summoned me?"

He leaned comfortably on his seat, crossing one leg over the other.

[Now that’s a man I can stan.]

The Gamma and Delta exchanged tense glances, both sitting silently for several seconds.

Meanwhile, Elian stared at Lucian, his lips twitching into a proud smile. He was already showing these two who’s boss around here.

"Well, we’ll go straight to the point then." Gamma Drax cleared his throat, his eyes trailing from Elian and Lucian before he continued. "You need to make a statement tonight. The Alpha king’s corpse is already cold and yet the empire is in the dark."

Elian could feel Lucian’s distress at the mention of his father’s corpse. It was brief, barely noticeable. But he felt it and regretted not sitting beside the Alpha Prince.

"A statement," Lucian repeated, nodding. "Very well. Do I have to get a speech ready or—"

"There’s no need for that." Reina chimed curtly. "Instead you can address the elephant in the room... How did Dark Hand operatives get access to one of the most guarded buildings on the continent?"

Elian couldn’t help but swallow hard.

It was clear no one except Lucian’s family and Seraphyne were aware of the Alpha king’s involvement with the Dark Hand. Or the recent evidence suggesting that he helped Garrick and Amara with their shady experiments.

"Isn’t that a question I’m supposed to ask you, Delta?" Lucian placed both hands on the table, his voice even. "As the Delta and Gamma, you’re in charge of overseeing the Empire’s military. Including the security forces here."

Reina frowned. "Are you insinuating we had something to do—"

"I’m not insinuating anything, Delta." Lucian raised his hands in mock defeat, leaning back on his seat again. "Point is, it’s clear this organisation... The ’Dark Hand’. They’ve got their roots deep in our system."

Gamma Drax blurted. "Then it’s time we uproot them."

He got on his feet, swiping a hand on the table. A holographic map of Lunaria flickered to life above it. Elian remembered the city names from the map of Evaros the system gave him.

Some points on the map were marked blue while other points glowed red.

"The bounty for Beta Axel’s head is still hot." He continued, clasping his hands in front of his chest. "So far, our soldiers have swept through all the cities close to Moon Haven and even a few beyond... But there have been no signs of him."

Elian’s jaw tightened at the mention of Axel. Or as he and his group know him as... Garrick Ironclaw.

"The main theory I have is that Axel is the one who’s been leading Dark Hand agents into the palace." Gamma Drax pointed out the obvious. "But how was he able to stay out of our radar for so long?"

The implications in those words weren’t lost to Elian.

He glanced at Lucian who folded his fingers in front of his face. "Are you suggesting a higher-up brought him in and kept him hidden? Like my father?"

Ellen’s eyes widened.

Never would he have imagined Lucian mentioning that.

"Manipulation isn’t out of the question." The Delta stated, sounding bored. "We won’t truly be able to know past guessing games until we capture Axel. Which brings me to another topic..."

Elian had a bad feeling when he saw her get on her feet. She walked toward a door at a corner of the room, adjusting her outfit without sparing them a glance.

When she got to the door, she suddenly swung her head to Elian.

"Please, control yourself."

Huh? Control himself?

Without another word, she opened the door. A few seconds later, a figure stepped out of the darkness, coming into the light of the war room.

Time froze for a moment.

When Elian saw those hazel eyes staring at him, he almost couldn’t believe it. His finger twitched, his mind swirling with numerous emotions before finally settling on one.

Rage.

"Elian." His arch nemesis, Estella Thorne, had a small smile curled on her lips. "Lovely to see you guys again."

And in that moment, everything he went through because of her came rushing back.

No way. No fucking way.