The air around the living room became thick with his dreadful aura again. Elara doubted in her mind if this man ever possessed joy in his heart. Unlike Alpha Vesper, the only time he smiled was when he took her hand and that was a fake smile.
With all anger, he ranted about Alpha Zephyr's absence.
Was she that important to that extent? Elara questioned herself.
The worst of all shocks that bestowed Elara was seeing Queen Anara kneeling before him. Her voice trembled as she spoke on behalf of her mate.
"He was busy with Galad in the preparation of the party since you left. Later in the afternoon, he left the City to invite the Moon Goddess. I guess he wasn't back yet, otherwise, who is he to never come and welcome her Highness?" She explained, not having the boldness to look up at all.
It took a while before Elara caught on. Was she referring to her right now? Why was everyone panicking around him and what exactly was wrong with this kingdom in particular?
He rolled his eyes away from her and faced Alpha Vesper, "I will take care of her from here." He said, referring to Elara as he approached her, "You've done a good job." He added, then, pulled Harlan's hand from Elara's.
Both his words and actions rendered Alpha Vesper in utter awe.
The most shocking part of his action was the way he bore his gaze narrowly into Alpha Vesper's eyes and whispered closely to his ear as he pulled Elara behind himself in a safeguard pose.
"Let this be the last time I will see you close to her like that. She is mine!"
Hearing him, Elara scoffed. Her face squeezed with disbelief that she aimed to utter profanity, however, Harlan rendered her speechless by lifting her in bridal style.
"Ha!!" An unconscious scream escaped from her lips as it was too abrupt for her to register anything.
Unwaveringly, Alpha Harlan turned to Royal Mother and slightly bowed his head to her. He muttered. "I want to spend some time with my mate alone. Till then, we will see at the party."
Before Elara could register what was happening, Alpha Harlan had been ambling away from the living room. Her eyes couldn't even reach Alpha Vesper to make her understand what the hell was going on.
"What are you doing?" She yelped, striving to break free but his arms were too strong for her.
As he did not give any attention to her, Elara succumbed. Wandering her gaze around as he carried her through the foyer of the castle... Her gut walked down as her gaze fed with the beauty of the castle.
Her heart strangely beat just like earlier when he kissed her hand. The feelings did not leave Elara. It made her vulnerable that she lost the strength to fight him even though she hated having his body touch her.
While she succumbed, Alpha Harlan couldn't resist staring at her from the corner of her eyes.
It appeared surreal that his long-lost mate was here relaxing in his arms.
A feeling of empathy surged through his mind. He saw the pain and agony that was hidden under those masks of makeup.
A light smile formed on his face as he realized that her eyes were already closed and the sound of her heart was beating in relaxation.
On getting to his room, he lay her down on the bed. He couldn't resist touching her. As his fingers caressed her hair from her face, Elara opened her eyes.
Alpha Harlan's hand hung in the air.
"What was all that for?!" She sat up, lavishing her grief on him.
He dropped his hanged hand over his lap tiredly and coughed slightly, "You know you have to accord me some respect." He said, remembering how disrespectful her gaze was towards her since they met at her kingdom. "You know who you are now so you have to change how you taunt your voice on me."
Elara scoffed, rolling her eyes away, and replied to him. "I have no idea who I am to you and the freaking game you all are playing with me."
"Mate?! Luna?! She is mine now and so on. What's all that for?" She taunted, not minding his warning.
The way Alpha Harlan listened to her was proof that the girl had an allure that made him exercise the patience to allow all her melodramas.
"I would have explained all that to you before arriving in my kingdom but since you insisted on following Vesper, I thought he would have told you everything."
"He didn't." She whispered and gulped in some saliva as though preparing her mind to hear the worst and the good in the news if there was any, "I'm listening." She said, folding her arms while averted her gaze away from him.
"You are my mate. The one I have been searching for years. I don't know how and why I met you in that position but I have been dying to meet you in person." His voice was so mellow, capable of melting all her frustration.
Elara sat properly. It seemed as though she was compelled by his Alpha's allure. "Was that why everyone was acting strange around me? Calling me Luna and their Highness?"
Aliha Harlan nodded, "Yes. All my Pack know you and we have been waiting to meet you."
"So what were those lies all about? About my name and the Pack I belong to?" She asked, not wanting to accept that two Alphas were lying to their mother and their Kingdom.
"About that, you just have to know it was for your protection. They must not know about that background of yours and I will bear all responsibilities to keep you safe."
The seriousness in his tone led Elara to be more inquisitive, "What are you both protecting me from to the point of lying to your family? How long do you think my background can be kept for?"
As her voice lashed out, Alpha Harlan covered her mouth abruptly. Her voice was escalating as though she was speaking to a multitude of people.
"You have to trust me." He said, removing his hand from her mouth as she already become still like stagnant water.
Her eyes blinked severally and her head shook as she kept quiet.
"You are found, thanks to Vesper." He whispered, then held her hands into his hand, looking at her hazel eyes with all sincerity, "But as of this moment, he has no right to touch you, give you names, and even claim you as his...okay?"
This time, Elara shook her head to disagree with him. She remembered what her mission was all about and the heirloom that was still with Alpha Vesper.
They even made a deal!
Thinking about all this, Elara replied to Alpha Harlan, strongly disagreeing with him as she affirmed with boldness.
"He did not just find me, he bought me as his slave. He has all the right..."