Chapter 31

Christopher's P.O.V
I woke up the next morning feeling so weak and tired. It was as though I have been involved in some strenuous activities lately. I stretched my body while lying on the bed and as I turned my hand to the left, it hit someone.
I opened my eyes and turned to see who it was and I beheld Louise lying next to me in bed. This really surprised me because I did not remember coming to bed with her and I also did not notice when she came in.
I sat up and looked at her face and the sight really cracked me up. She looked like something that was animated. I tried to hold my laughter but I couldn't so I bursted out. The noise I made woke her up and when she did, I tried to hide the laughter but she caught me.
"What's cracking you up this morning?" She asked as she opened her eyes.
I pretended not to hear what she had just said so I moved quickly to the bathroom leaving her in bed.
I spent quite a long time in the bathroom thinking she would just leave but she didn't.
I never intended to have my bath early today, I wanted to go out for a walk first even though it was late for that. But just to make her get tired of staying, I began to take my bath.
While bathing, I heard the door open and close at the same time. I was glad that she was gone already. I took my time and washed myself thoroughly as I hummed my favourite song.
When I came out of the bathroom, I was surprised to still see her in the bed.
"I thought you had left already?" I asked her as soon as I set my eyes on her.
"No I haven't, I just thought to relax here a bit. " She responded and wrapped herself in the duvet.
"So who opened and closed the door?" I asked her as I moved to my closet to get a pair of jeans and a shirt. That is how I want to appear today.
"The cleaner came in to clean." She responded and I shrugged.
As I searched through the closet, I saw a shirt that Miriam bought for me. I picked it up and threw it on my body immediately and walked out of the room.
As I walked down stairs, I was smelling a very delicious aroma and I was wondering where exactly it was coming from because no matter what anyone cooks in this house, its aroma usually does not permeate the whole house the way it did today.
I was smiling all through as I walked down stairs and I must say it was something beautiful. When I got down, I met Emily setting the table.
"I can bet you didn't make this." I said as I walked down to the dining and stood behind her. The smile on her face was wide and she turned around and gave me a big hug.
"Good morning." She said as she hugged me and gave me a kiss on my cheek.
"How are you?" I asked her and she smiled and said she was good.
"Where is Louise?" She asked as she stretched her neck to look behind me.
"How did she get into my room last night?" I asked her and she bursted out laughing.
"Come on, what is funny. So I woke up and saw her in my bed. I didn't remember going in with her nor did I notice when she came in. So tell me, what are you ladies up to?" I explained to Emily still holding her by her waist.
"We are trying to get pregnant." She said with a grin on her face and I opened my mouth in shock.
"What do you even mean? I don't want trouble Emily." I stated and pulled her closer. She wrapped her arms around my neck and looked straight into my eyes.
"From the look of things, we have just us. So we must do all we can to look out for us." She said in a whisper.
"All I have been doing is in your best interest. Miriam,,"
"Don't talk about Miriam please." I interrupted her as soon as she mentioned Miriam's name.
"Alright, I think Micheal is up to something, and that is the major reason I am close to him, no strings attached. " She said as she arranged my hair.
"I just hope it remains that way though." I stated and she winked.
"Trust me." She added and I hugged her again. While we were still in each other's arms, we heard someone clear his throat. We pulled out of each other's arms and turned to see Micheal.
"It seems he heard us." I told Emily in her ears.
"No he didn't. He just walked in." She said and I held her tightly again before letting go of her.
"Hey Michael." I hailed Micheal as he walked towards us.
"Good morning Chris." He responded and moved over to give Emily a kiss on her forehead and she hugged him and gave me a wink. I just smiled and moved to my seat.
By the time they were done, I was already devouring one of the chicken laps.
"Come on Christopher, why are you in such a hurry?" Emily said as she tried to take the chicken away from me. I raised my hand so that she could not reach it.
Then she called one of the servants and asked her to go get Louise. We all sat at the table chatting about things I felt were unimportant but it was funny and it released the tension in the atmosphere.
"Tell me what this is all about." I asked Emily and she concentrated on the food she was dishing.
"We will all know about it when Louise gets here." She stated and Micheal gave her an indifferent look.
"About the meeting Micheal, have you informed the elders?" I asked Micheal and he picked up a glass of water and gulped it down.
"They are aware, it is scheduled to be held this evening." Michael responded as he took another glass of water.
"It seems you want us to keep drinking water when we have a banquet before us." I teased Emily and she smiled.
"I still insist we wait for Louise to come join us first." She added as she kept hitting on me for taking the piece of chicken I took.
I looked at the table and it was filled with all kinds of food you can think of. All perfectly arranged as though she made it for an exhibition.
The sun side up eggs and the salad caught my attention. They were so beautiful. I felt like pouncing on them and pushing them into my mouth but my hands were tied. I was still being punished for the meat I had taken already so I tried not to get into her trap again.
The chicken and chips that were directly in front of me was so inviting and I did my best to keep my hands to myself.
When I saw the servant Emily had sent to call Louise walk down the stairs, I was glad that my wait was over but I was disappointed.
"She is having her bath. She said she would join you as soon as she is done." The lady said and I bent my head in disappointment.
"Don't worry, it is not going to take longer than necessary." Emily assured me and I stood up from the table.
"Where are you going?" Emily asked me as soon as I walked out of the dining room..
"I'm going to take a walk. I will come back when Louise comes out." I told her as I walked outside the building. Michael came after me. I thought he was going somewhere else so I didn't bother to wait for him until he called my name.
"Christopher." He called out and as I turned back to look at him, he was running after me. I stopped as I saw him coming after me and allowed him to catch up with me.
We both walked out of the gate and stood in front of it.
"It's been a while you know?" He asked me.
"What do you mean by that?" I asked him because I really did not understand what he meant.
"I am saying it's been a long time since we spent time together." He answered and I just turned to look at him. I just wanted to see his expression and be sure it was coming from a place of love and concern.
"It's because we have all been keeping to ourselves." I replied and he stayed quiet for a while.
"Don't you think we should go out this evening and talk things out?" He suggested and I was surprised that he wanted to spend time with me.
"That will be fine, but it does depend on the time we finish the meeting with the council of elders." I stated and he took my hand.
"I am sorry for everything Christopher." He said and I was surprised because I really did not know why he was apologising.
"What are you sorry for?" I asked him.
"For ignoring you, for not effectively discharging my duties as your beta." He said as he looked at my face. I looked at him too, not knowing what exactly to say to him. I felt that there was something not still right though and I was going to find the best way I can handle it.
He reminded me about the trip I had planned to embark on to the silver moon pack. I actually intend to meet with the alpha of the silver moon pack and get some words of wisdom from him on how best I can handle my pack.
With all that I have heard of the alpha of the silver moon pack, there is absolutely nothing stopping me from reaching the conclusion that he was a force to reckon with.
"I still have that plan in place, I just want to finish up with the pressing issues I have at hand here first. We will travel together when the time comes." I explained to him.
"That's great. From all indications, your marriage with Louise is the only thing putting you under pressure at the moment. At least there are no other concerns for now.
"That's true, I am looking into it. I have told Emily to start making those preparations with Louise. Although she had not given me any response, I am certain they must have started something already.
"Please sir, your presence is needed inside." The gateman said to us.
"Your bride should be down by now." Micheal told me and I nodded.
"Let's go join them." He added as he opened the gate for me. I went in and he came after me. The gateman who was standing by asked him to leave the gate for him to lock. He ran after me, having left the locking of the gate for the gateman.
We walked into the mansion together and met the ladies at the table.
I quietly took my seat and reached for the eggs. And before Emily could complain, I had the eggs in my mouth already.
"So can you now tell us why you called this meeting?" I asked Emily and she cleared her throat and stood to her feet thereafter.
"This is just for a new life. I am sure that in no time from now, we will all have a new beginning." She said and took her seat while Micheal popped the bottle of champagne on the table.
I just kept staring at them because I didn't really understand what Emily just said. However I didn't want to appear like I don't so I did all I could to hide my ignorance as a glass of wine was handed to me.
"Cheers to a new and beautiful beginning." Emily screamed and we all chorused cheers.
I felt she was doing this because of Miriam. She never liked her and never did they get along, not even for a moment.
By the time we were done with the food, I excused myself and went to my room. I didn't forget to lock the door so that I don't get disturbed. The whole thing got me thinking. I needed to know what made Emily do what she did and what new life and beginning she was referring to.
After sitting idly and thinking of what to do without any success, I decided to sort out some documents after which I laid on the bed and I found myself thinking of Miriam and also having the feeling that what I was about to do was no good idea.
I heard a knock on the door but I refused to open up so I pretended not to hear. I was in no mood to speak to anyone right now.
"You have to do what you can to ensure that things are in order." My wolf said and I wondered what I needed to do to put things in order.
"Don't you think I am too weak for all of these? If I had known that being an alpha would come with all of these troubles and responsibilities, I wouldn't have killed my brother." I told my wolf and he rebuked me immediately.
"You are just being paranoid." My wolf said and I threw myself in the bed.
"The best you would do right now is to put yourself together and get prepared for the attendant responsibilities of your office.
You have held it for some months now and you're sure doing well." He added.
Well I was tired of listening to what my wolf had to say. I felt that he was not telling me the truth and I needed nothing short of the truth at this point.
"I think I need to see the Alpha of the silver moon pack immediately. I don't need to delay the meeting anymore." I said to myself.
"You know that you cannot go unprepared right? So take your time and plan it." My wolf adviced and that sounded like the most reasonable thing I have heard from him in a long time.
"If you say so." I answered and took a deep breath and tried to relax but I couldn't so I moved out of the room .
I met Micheal on my way down.
"I have been knocking on your door." Michael said to me as soon as he saw me and I sighed.
"I was asleep. So sorry for not responding." I apologised to him and he smiled.
"We will talk later, I need to take a nap before the meeting with the council of elders." Micheal said and went to his room.
I walked quietly down stairs and sat on the couch watching Emily's favourite television show. I wondered where she must have gone as she left the television, when her favourite program was airing.