Chapter 23 Royal Crest

(Hope POV)

I wake up to a glorious sunrise in the middle of a meadow filed with daisies and daffodils. I stretch my arms and the blanket around me falls to show my breasts. I gasp. I'm still naked. I wrap the blanket around me and clasp it with my hands.

Where's Alexander? "Alexander, honey, where are you?" I mind link him.

"I'm at the tent fixing breakfast. Look behind you." He mind linked back.

I look behind me and sure enough, I see him at a blue tent. I walk up to him making sure the blanket didn't fall off. Oliver and David shouldn't be far away. Did they hear us last night?

"The whole pack heard the both of you last night," Opal said.

"Thanks Opal, that's very reassuring of you."

"What? I'm just telling you the truth. That Echo, hmmm, what a WOLF!" Opal was wagging her tail.

"Down girl. I'm still sore from last night."

I get to the tent and Alexander hands me some clothes. I go in and change. I touch my hair. Oh my gosh. I have a bird's nest of hair!
I look around the tent and I heave a sigh of relief when I see my purse. I take a brush and try to pull out the tangles. After 10 minutes of fussing with my hair and deciding I really needed to take a shower, I come out of the tent.

"Perfect. Your done. Breakfast is served." He hands me a huge mug of coffee and ushers me into a chair. In front of me was a plate of scrambled eggs, bacon and bagels with cream cheese. Breakfast of champions.

I grab a piece of bacon and I look at him. I didn't see a frying pan.

"You got this from the mansion huh?," I asked with my mouth full.

"Of course. Where else would I get food?"

"You don't know how to cook huh?" I ask him.

"You do?" He countered.

"Yeah, not as good as my mom. Just good enough to live on my own."

"University life right?"

"Yep." I smack my lips. Alexander starts to stare. "Hey! Stop it. We were at it all night."

"So? I can't just get enough of you that's all."

I giggle. "What are your plans for today?"

"Well, there's someone I have to talk to. Don't worry, it's a he. Then, some of the men and I are going to inspect your territory. I am also going to talk to a personal trainer, a friend of mine, to train you. You?"

"I'm going to pick up Dad."

"Okay. Take Oliver and David with you. Tomorrow, hopefully you start training. In combat."

"Like military training?"  Do I really need to learn all that?

"Something like that. It's more of self-defense training. You need to learn to defend yourself. With and without weapons."

"I see. I'll train hard then so I can whoop your ass when you get out of line," I joke.

"Uhmm...I always like a good spanking." Alexander winks at me.

"Kinky. You into dominatrix stuff?"

He gave me a look of shock. "Hope Alarie-Ulrich! And here I thought you were pure of heart."

"Pure of heart, yes. Not so pure when it comes to my thoughts." I laugh.

I hear someone cough. It was Oliver. "Alpha, the men are ready to head to Crescent Moon Territory."

"Thank you Oliver. Hope, we need to cut breakfast short and head back to the mansion. You need to take a shower." He pulls out a piece of grass from my hair.

I wanted to die of embarrassment. Oliver looked away while Alexander gave me a quick kiss. "My she-wolf is such an animal." He laughs.

I hit him on his chest and he laughs again. "Let's go. Much to do for today I'm afraid."

We head back to the mansion. He goes to his office to take a shower. I head to our room to wash up. He mind links me he's off to go to Crescent Moon as I get out of the shower. He tells me I can use any car in the garage to pick up my parents.

I change into a pair of denim shorts and a gray shirt. I pair my outfit with my favorite pair of white sneakers. I put my hair in a ponytail and mind link Oliver to meet me in the car room.

So many cars to choose from, but I had my heart set on that Range Rover. After 5 minutes of quarrelling with David to drive, I get in the driver's seat and drove the baby out of the garage.

It was so smooth and followed my every touch. I got to the hospital so quick that David said he should allow me to drive more often.

After parking, we head inside the hospital. I was talking to Oliver about training while we were walking that I bumped into someone.

"Oh my gosh! I am so sorry!" I bend down to pick up my sunglasses that fell off my head when I heard growling.

I stand up and look at the person I bumped into. Lancaster!

"Alpha Lancaster! What are doing here? Are you visiting someone in the hospital?" I smooth my ponytail from face.

"So formal. You can call me Derrick, Alpha Hope."

Oliver and David growl at him. Apparently, they must be frenemies with him too.

"Seems Alexander has sent his guard dogs to keep an eye on you."

"What do you mean Alpha Derrick? Oliver and David are my friends. Right boys?"

Oliver and David nod their heads without even blinking an eye.

"So what brings you here Alpha Derrick? Are you visiting someone?" I ask him.

"I am not going to lie. I was waiting for you. I didn't want you to forget about the business dealing with your father," he answered.

"You could have just called the mansion. So you wouldn't have wasted your time." I eyed him warily.

"You will never be a waste of my time." I pretended not to hear him. And with perfect timing as always, I saw my parents walk out into the lobby of the hospital.

"Hope, sweetie, is that you? I didn't want to sit in one of these, but they insisted. Hospital protocol or something like that." I see my dad being wheeled out in a wheelchair by a nurse with my mom following close behind.

"Dad! Mom!" I run over to them, thankful of their impeccable timing.

I help my Dad out of the wheelchair. He glanced at Lancaster. "You look familiar. Like I've seen you before."

"Dad, Mom, this is Alpha Derrick Lancaster of the Blue Moon Pack. Alpha Derrick, my mom and dad, Mirasol and Jim Alarie."

"I know your Dad. Damian Lancaster. Well, I'll be. You look just like your dad."

"I was hoping to buy apples from you, Sir. I heard your apples are the best in Washington."

"Well, I left the farm to Manuel and his wife. Manuel was my right hand man. I'll give him a call. Just give me the details of your order, how many apples, where to ship and mode of payment."

"Sure, Sir. Will do." Derrick nodded his head at my dad.

"Wow...are all of you Alphas...goodlooking?" My mom was staring at him. Yep, I know what she was thinking. Another hunk. Just not my type of hunk.

Derrick laughs. "Thank you Ma'am for the compliment." He looks at his watch. "It's almost lunch. I would like to invite all of you to have lunch with me."

"Will there be steak? The hospital food is just awful." Dad! No!

"Whatever you want Sir." He looks at Oliver and David. "You fellows know where Royal Crest is right? I'll see you there."

"Ok, let's go before heading home. Hope, where's the car?" My dad asked me.

"Over there Dad. You stay here and I'll drive up."

I walk to get the car with Derrick following me. "This is me." Pointing at the BMW beside the Range Rover. Nice car.

I get in the Range Rover and drive to the entrance to the hospital. I see Derrick exit the hospital parking lot from the rearview mirror.

I get out to escort my parents into the car. My Dad lets out a low whistle. "Wait Hope. I'm going to drive." My dad gets into the driver's seat.

"Sure Dad. Mom, do you need any help getting in?"

"No, dear. I'm shotgun." My mom climbs in the front seat.

"That means we are in the back seat. " Oliver, David and I squeeze ourselves in the back. These are the times I wish I was small like Mom. My phone starts ringing. Alexander. Uh-oh. I look at Oliver and show him my phone. He looks up, trying not to look at me.

"Hi Alexander honey. What's up?" I made my voice extra sweet.

"Why are you going to have lunch with Lancaster?" I glared at Oliver who was trying hard not to look at me.

"He invited and we accepted. You can follow, honey. Royal Crest, I think that's the name of the restaurant."

"I'll be there." Click. He hung up on me! Ugh.

"Oliver, I think I'm in a lot of trouble," I mind link Oliver.

"It's not your fault, Luna. Lancaster has always been a manipulative jerk. He saw the opportunity and took it. If he weren't Alpha, I'd..."

"You'd what?" I asked him through mind link.

"I'd punch him right in the nose." I smiled.

"Seems like the three of you don't like Lancaster that much, huh?"

"Four. You can include Amanda."

"Wow. He must have done something really wrong for all of you to dislike him." I wondered what it was. Well, I'll find out sooner or later.

"That's all in the past. We were kids back then. It's different now."

I stare out the window while David gives my Dad directions to Royal Crest. The restaurant is near the mountains just past the village.

Royal Crest was a vintage restaurant located in front of a beautiful waterfall. It was just breathtaking. Only a few cars were parked out in front. I saw Lancaster's BMW parked neatly near the entrance.

"This is just beautiful." My mom took out her phone and started taking pictures.

We walked inside and a maitre d' came rushing to welcome us.

"Welcome Alpha Hope Alarie-Ulrich!" He bows low as I entered the restaurant. "Please follow me. Your table is ready."

"Alpha Hope?" My Dad looked at me with a puzzled look.

"I'll explain later, Dad." I kiss his cheek.

We were ushered outside to the patio where a long table was waiting for us. The cutlery and utensils fixed neatly on the sides of each plate with a cloth napkin folded into a rose. We had a clear view of the waterfall from where are table was located. Lancaster really thought this through.

My mom continued taking pictures. She was so enthralled with the sight.

My Dad took my hand and made me sit beside him. "How are you an Alpha now?" He asked.

"Dad, before heading to the mansion, I restored the territory of the Crescent Moon Pack and since I am the only heir of Alpha Davis, the Council Elders decided to name me Alpha even if I'm not 21 yet."

"You restored your territory? That area that looked black from the helicopter?"

"Oh right. You guys took a chopper. It looked that bad from above huh?"

"Yes, it did. How did you restore it?"

"I dropped some of my blood on the territory."

"Magic stuff. Alright. Never mind I asked." He sighed. "My gosh Hope. First Luna. Now your Alpha."

"I know. I'm not ready for the responsibility. By the way, if you want to plant apples, you can use the land in my...our territory."

"I'll do that. At least I got something to do." My dad patted my hand.

Lancaster appeared out of nowhere. I was actually hoping he wouldn't show at all. "I am very sorry, but I have an emergency I have to attend to. Alpha Hope, my apologies." He looked agitated.

"Oh, no problem. We haven't even started so no biggie."

"I have to take my leave. I promise I will make it up to you. Once again, my apologies." He bows and rushes out to his car. He floors his BMW and heads back to the village.

"That's weird. Right Oliver?"

"Yeah. He never bows."

I hear something odd. It was coming from a distance. "Do you guys hear that?"