Chapter 69|Accepting Her.

.....


**Lucas' P O V.

My Brother's reaction towards his mate had me wishing mine was close to me, although he seemed like a caged tiger waiting for the slightest opportunity to escape and flee its cage, he nonetheless had the look of a very smitten man.

After Isabelle took Arabella to their Pack in the UK, the manor fell into a state of chaos because the Alpha had called a meeting that necessitated each and every one of the De Luca Pack member's attendance.

The Alpha made a statement regarding the whole events that transpired in the past few days. He cleared everyone's confusion by announcing the end of his betrothal to Arabella Swift and announced Isabelle Kane Knight as his mate for all to know. The crowd cheered and hooted at the tinge of a smile that pulled at their Alpha's lips after his admission. Next, he apprised them of Isabelle's abduction and the people behind them, openly disclosing the identities of the Elders involved and stating a price over their heads for whosoever is able to bring them to the Pack for justice to be served.

I stood alongside my brother and his Beta as he spoke by the podium. When my turn came to speak, I urged everyone to treat the Alpha's mate with utmost respect. I was the first to accept her as the future Luna of the De Luca Pack followed by Francis Rossi and Damon Creed.

The last speaker was Old Bea. Her speech was strict and focused on how much the Pack was reeking of treachery, of deceit and disappointment. How it was unheard of in the past but seemed to be a recurring issue in recent times.

A few hours later, I gave Kate the best vacation she could ever wish for by flying her to Maldives, her choice and paid off her expenses before returning to Staten Island to my brother.

My mind was made up on my next move and I have every intention of making it happen. I found the Alpha in the gardens overlooking the scenery it provided with a whole bottle of liquor in his hand and he was sipping directly from the bottle. A simple yet so uncouth act for a man as disciplined as Alexander.

Sipping. I scoffed when I watched how he gulped down a large portion of it in one swig.

"Careful with that, I thought you were the civilized man to my savage? When did civil men start drinking directly from the bottle, I thought that was left for us, the scoundrels." I mused loudly, taking a hold of the bottle and taking a swig myself.

The taste of something bitter burst on my tongue and I fought the urge to grimace.

What the hell is this guy taking?

I took a glance at the name and shuddered in disgust. Definitely not my liquor choice.

"How do you chug that down your throat man? I'm not into this." I handed his bottle back, spitting what's left of the vile taste in my mouth to the pavement.

"Serves you good for taking what's not yours. Next time you read the contents before chugging it like you did. Besides, I'm not in the mood for anything sweet. I need the bitter taste it provides. Keeps me going." The Alpha concisely replied.

"You miss her." I stated, it was obvious in the rigid way he carried himself.

On a normal day, Alexander is a stoic and strict man. On days like this, his scowl was pulled tighter and his persona completely unapproachable. He took on the stance that says to fuck off. Or more like growls it.

Alexander gulped his drink in one long move that had me thinking how he was coping with the vile taste. His throat worked hard.

"So fucking much. Every hour hurts more than the last. I get restless, my fingers are itching to break something." His jaw was pulled taut as his hand massaged a spot on his chest. "I feel wild." He added the last part in a whisper and brushed his hand through his hair. "I'm fucking going there tonight if it gets worse. I didn't sign up for pain when I accepted my mate but then, we cope." He rambled, when he turned to me his orbs were glinting in gold. His wolf was near.

"I can't say I know exactly how you feel but I feel something too. I feel like an integral part of my life is kind of missing. Feels hollow. Fuck we're talking about our feelings like teenage girls."

"I honestly don't care. It doesn't make me any less of a man to admit that I miss her badly it hurts more than words can say. To hell with anyone who dubs me a weakling. This is the time when I need her most in my life and it grates on my fucking nerves that she's a whole continent away. Dammit!" He exclaimed, dropping the bottle carelessly unto the ground.

It shattered.

None of us made a move to skirt away from the broken pieces of glass. A few shards slicing into my skin wouldn't hurt, not compared to the ire raging in my blood. Talkless of that of my brother.

He looked like a man who could chew on glass and survive it.

We fell into a comfortable silence, both of us overlooking the Late Penelope De Luca's gardens. Gardens tended by Old Bea and her minions now and also one of Isabelle's favorite places to be in at the Pack.

As much as everyone thinks I'm the typical manwhore who thinks about nothing but himself I have qualities I'd rather keep to myself than expose to the world. I have the tendency to observe people when they're least expecting to be watched over. My senses are also sharp, if my instincts warn me off a person I watch over them harder to understand better why I feel strained towards the person in question. Like Leah. I'd never been close to her like any brother is to his foster sister. There's always been something off about her cheery attitude.

"I'm accepting her as mine. I'm following her, tonight if need be." My words cut through the silence swiftly.