Ember woke up feeling suffocated only to find two balls of fur sleeping over her chest all curled up.
She gently picked up the two pups and laid them at her side before moving to get off her bed. But just as she was about to put her feet down she noticed a huge wolf lying down on the floor with his belly up as he was snoring.
Ember held back a snort after seeing Elliot and stepped on him as she got off the bed.
Elliot woke up with a yelp and rolled over to the side. He then turned towards Ember and let out a short bark.
Ember shrugged. "You were under my feet"
Just then the door opened interrupting Elliot's wolf retorts. Emmanuel walked in with a tray holding breakfast.
"Oh, you are up." He looked mildly surprised when he noticed Ember already up and about.
"I've slept long enough, I feel tired even thinking about it now."
Emmanuel chuckled."I brought your breakfast"
"Thanks, let me freshen up first." Ember walked to the bathroom after picking up her clothes.
"I'll bring your breakfast downstairs then"
"Sure"
Emmanuel nodded and walked out of her room.
Both of them ignored the grumbling Elliot who was left all alone talking to himself.
.........
When Ember walked out of the bathroom feeling refreshed, she found her room empty. She figured the two youngest had already woken up and left with Elliot.
She got changed quickly and headed downstairs. It was just her older brothers and Liam at the table with the latter eagerly waiting for her. Her mom was gone seemingly visiting her old pack. Her dad and the two youngest should have already finished breakfast as it was a bit late. And there's no need to talk about the girls...
"Sis, will you be leaving for the university as soon as your ceremony is finished?" Liam suddenly asked worriedly as soon as she sat down.
Ember was surprised at the sudden question. It was vacation currently and Ember still had a term left in business school before she graduated. She was planning on finishing school so she could help the family with their business.
"What else brat? She can't stay with you forever now can she?" Elliot grumbled.
"But... When I was playing football with Maddy I heard brother Andrew's mom saying she won't allow you to go... " Liam looked like he was about to cry. "But sister likes her school, I want sister to be happy"
Liam's words surprised the three. Although they knew of Andrew's mother's character, they did not expect her to take it too far.
Elliot was instantly enraged and swore unable to control his anger.
"She dare try to control an alpha..." Emmanuel's quiet voice rumbled.
"Elliot, don't swear before Liam" Ember's calm voice interjected the two.
"What?! Aren't you angry?!!" Elliot stood up making the chair fall back behind him.
Ember calmly looked at Emmanuel. "Can you help me get another spoon?"
Only then the three boys looked at the spoon Ember held in her hand. It was half dipped in the soup. But the thick stainless steel was bent out of shape and the handle can no longer be held.
Elliot shut up, brought back his chair and sat down quietly. Emmanuel quickly went to fetch another spoon while Ember took the spoon out of her dish and placed it on a napkin nearby.
Although Emmanuel was set to be the next alpha of the pack and Elliot his secretary, Ember has the most say in the pack after Alpha Grey. The twins and others in the family, even the two girls have no say against it.
And right now Ember was very angry and the brothers knew it. Ember finished her soup after Emmanuel returned with a new spoon.
"This ceremony, let's cancel it," Ember spoke out calmly.
"What?!" Elliot was surprised. Emmanuel was equally surprised. Only Liam smiled at Ember happily.
"Are you sure?" came Alpha Grey's voice from behind her. He seemed to have just climbed down the stairs.
Ember heard him walk down so she decided to let them know of her decision now.
Ember nodded calmly at her father's question.
"I knew she was someone hard to deal with but if she takes too much liberty before the bonding I'm afraid she will cross the line after I bonded with Andrew."
Seeing her father look at her quietly Ember continued. "Also, I thought tying Andrew up to the pack through bonding would be good but I don't love him and I won't be able to bond with him knowing I'll be the third person. And his ambitious nature isn't hard to discern. He's a liability."
Alpha Grey walked to Ember and placed his palm on her head and gently rubbed it. He knew her daughter liked that Andrew boy a lot.
Although she did not like him enough to love him he was her first friend and close friend till now. Even though she looked calm it must still hurt after knowing the boy who was her fiance from a young age betrayed her trust, friendship and care and wants to exploit her.
"I'm happy with your choice, child" Alpha Grey could care less about the tradition of isolating the pack. It's not like the other Elemental families hide away from the world. But his daughter was very similar to his mother in upholding the ideals and old fashioned rules.
Although he knew Ember would be safer with the pack being hidden, he only wanted Ember to find her soul mate and be happy with him or her and not sacrifice anything. Knowing the happiness of having a soul mate Alpha Grey did not want to deprive his dearest child of it.
He had even told Emmanuel to find his true mate and not follow the tradition. If Ember knew of it she would have thrown a fit.
"Get some rest, your brothers and I will take care of everything else"
"I will have to talk to Andrew and his mother" Ember sighed.
"Father and I will take care of it. You just take a break. You need it" Ember looked at Emmanuel and her lips curved into a smile.
"Alright then"