Dave found himself struggling to swallow his food, almost choking in the process, and narrowly avoiding spilling his water on the person seated next to him. Theresa, delighted like a child who had just received a candy, finally focused on their discussion, which had been ongoing for some time.
"I support this motion," Dave blurted out suddenly, receiving a glare from Damien, but he shrugged it off.
"An heir will be produced in due time," Damien replied bluntly, as if dismissing the topic as unnecessary.
"Alpha, we can't wait any longer for you to find your mate. Time is of the essence when it comes to leaders. Your father had you before he became the Alpha of the pack," a young warrior woman dressed in armor explained.
Theresa nodded proudly, reminiscing about Damien's father. He had become the Alpha only after Damien was born, ensuring a perfect succession when he was given the position. However, his premature death had led to the current predicament they were facing.
"How can I produce an heir without a mate?" Damien questioned, although he was well aware of the answer. Dave shook his head at his brother's reluctance to embrace the idea of mating.
"We have made preparations before your return. We proposed a marriage alliance to the Lord of the West for his only daughter, Sarah," the young warrior lady added, passing a tablet forward.
Reluctantly, Damien took the tablet and a young woman's image appeared on the screen. She possessed striking features and a graceful figure, her obsidian-black hair adding to her allure. Although she looked captivating, Damien remained impassive.
"Whoa, can I marry her instead?" Dave joked, earning a knock on the head from Theresa.
"I won't be marrying her," Damien dropped the bombshell, causing Theresa to abruptly stand up from her seat.
"Why won't you marry her?!" She yelled, slamming her fist on the table in frustration.
Glaring at his mother, he warned, "Don't think I am letting you off the hook for what you did yesterday. Don't test my patience," and she quickly sat down, seething silently.
"Alpha, the situation doesn't allow you to dictate what you want. All we ask for is an heir. You can part ways once she becomes pregnant," the elderly man from before interjected, his words carrying a finality to them.
"But what if she demands more? Women can be cunning," Beta Enoch voiced his concern.
"A contract has been drafted regarding the marriage. We anticipated the kind of Alpha we have, so we prepared an agreement in advance," the warrior lady explained, passing a file to Damien.
"Our Alpha has such reliable followers, yet he remains ungrateful," Dave teased his brother.
Taking hold of the file, Damien stood up and commanded, "Open the pack borders and resume our business. Prepare for a banquet," before leaving the dining table.
"You see, all he cares about is work. Regardless, you must ensure he marries her," Theresa addressed the Elders, pleading with them.
"He has to, it is the only way to secure his position and prevent a repeat of the past," one of the Elders declared, and they all left the dining room, leaving Dave and Theresa behind.
"Stop worrying yourself. At this point, he doesn't have any other choice. He will do what's best for the pack," Dave assured his mother before also leaving the dining room to attend to his own affairs.
Theresa nodded in understanding, deciding to cease her efforts to find a breeder for Damien. The Elders wouldn't let him off the hook, and he couldn't refuse his people. It was settled, and she could finally stop worrying.
In Damien's study
Beta Enoch and Damien continued their discussion on pack matters.
"Why don't you want to get married?" Enoch asked, the two of them having been close friends since childhood, always together since Damien assumed the role of Alpha.
"Marriage feels like a form of bondage. It's an excuse for imprisonment," Damien replied as he read the agreement file handed to him by the Elders.
"If what they say is true, then this is more like a breeding arrangement. You won't have to deal with her once she's pregnant, unless you are afraid of falling in love?" Enoch probed, trying to push Damien's buttons.
"Love is for the weak. I don't have time for such childish emotions," Damien retorted, yanking the file away. Enoch picked it up, read through its contents, nodded approvingly, and placed it back on the table.
"Trust in the agreement," he urged Damien.
"I trust the agreement, but I don't trust the woman. A mere document can't control her actions," Damien remarked.
"How about this, then? Pay her a visit and see what kind of woman she is and whether you can trust her or not. Let's not judge a book by its cover," Enoch suggested, finally managing to convince Damien.
"Fine," Damien agreed.
"If she turns out to be as you desire, then you can proceed with the marriage. Deal?" Enoch proposed.
"Deal!" Damien accepted.
In the mansion's kitchen, Theresa entered with a newfound sense of purpose, instructing Aurora on a new task.
"Aurora, from now on, prepare snacks every afternoon for the Alpha and serve him in his study room," Theresa said happily. She was pleased with how the dinner had gone and wanted to resume her role as a true mistress rather than a matchmaker.
"Why me?" Aurora asked, puzzled as to why Theresa always singled her out for such tasks when there were numerous other maids available.
"Because you are perfect, except for that little mishap earlier. Damien can't stand clumsiness," Theresa replied, not giving Aurora a second glance as she left the kitchen.
Aurora was certain that she would always be clumsy whenever she was near him. How could she calm her racing heart and overcome her fear when he was in her presence?
Should she find a way to escape tonight? It seemed risky with the borders now open and heightened security. She missed Scarlet and wondered what she was doing. If only Scarlet were here, she could find a solution to every problem.