Promised

Alpha King's POV

This evening with my mate was breathtaking.
She was very daring and I can't say I had any problems with that. I just wish I could have held her a little longer in my arms. She didn't leave last night while I was still asleep. After we had great sex and fell asleep, it was time for her to go. With feather-light kisses on my face, she woke me up to say goodbye. Completely different from what she was used to doing. And I waved at her when she jumped out of the window. Any change can improve our relationship, so I am happy with this little step.
I'm going to sleep for a few more hours before I get back to work.
The Alcina issue is high on my agenda, I need to know more about her matter. The woman has arrived here at a crucial moment and Clark is not her target.
When I wake up again, the sun is high in the sky. I overslept, I had no intention of being in bed at noon. "'ace, in my office in an hour,' I let my Beta know as I sprint to the bathroom.
Whistling in the shower, I remember that sex with Drina was different today.
Well, maybe she was on her period but missed me too much to stay away. And her breasts were so sensitive, I could only touch them, she prevented me from spoiling them with my mouth like I love to do. Well, maybe a minor inconvenience that comes with her period.
My focus today is on solving the Alcina mystery, or at least I need to know more than yesterday. Jace can help with that.
Half an hour later I'm in my office on the ground floor.
I quickly finish some work before Jace arrives. Half an hour later, I catch his scent outside my door. But he is not alone. I can hear him arguing with none other than Erina. That little devil. A sense of amusement dazed my mind. Every time I see this pup, she fills me with such happiness. I think my paternal hormones are kicking in, I long for pups so much that I visualize my own in her.
Erina is a tough nut to crack. She is clearly very intelligent and articulate, constantly chasing Jace and challenging him quite a bit. The two are constantly engaged in some kind of heated conversation.
“Erina, leave the Beta alone and go to the kid's club. We have work to do and he can't argue with you all day," I say with a chuckle. For a moment, there is silence on the other side as if they feel caught. And then my door is pushed open and Erina stomps in. “Good afternoon, Alpha King,” she says gruffly. “I asked the Beta to sleep in his room because my apartment is too big. But he keeps refusing for no good reason,” she persists. Jace enters with a tired face, rolling his eyes. “What about that it is my room and I owe no one? I don't want company, I've been sleeping alone for years and it doesn't bother me, stay in yours," he defines frankly.
“Listen,” I intervene. I know their verbal warfare will continue in my study if I don't interfere. “Why don't you make friends in the pack and invite them to sleepovers, Erina? Jace is right, no one can force him to let you into his rooms. It's his private space."
"Girlfriends?" she asks with a dirty face. “Alpha King, I don't have any of that. I just have so much to tell the Beta but waste a lot of time waiting until he comes out of his apartment", she explains. "I'll bring my own bed, I won't sleep next to him if he doesn't want me to," she begs.
“No!”
Jace seems determined to keep her out of his abode. But there is something in his aura that alarms me that this is no ordinary defense. Curiously I lift my eyes to his face. But then I notice that he avoids looking at me. Fishy. What does Jace have to hide?
“Erina, go to the kids' club. We'll talk to you later. Jace and I still have some work to do”, I point out to her again. She nods and turns around. But before she leaves the office, she looks over her shoulders. “Was Drina here? I caught her scent yesterday. Why didn't she come to say hello to me?” she asks disappointed. I sigh deeply. How do I tell a five-year-old that the person she wanted to see was busy having hot sex with me and that we overslept?
“Next time, I'll remind her to come to see you. Don't worry, little one," I comfort her. “Go quickly now. Later, I'll come to get you and then we'll make a tour in the pack”. A happy smile crosses her face. "Promise?" she asks breathlessly. "I'm really looking forward to it, Alpha King."
I nod to her, pleased with her answer.
“Hey, what's that between you and the girl? Sometimes you seem to get along so well and then all hell breaks loose again,” I ask my Beta. “And why don't you want her in your apartment? We all know she's safe with you. That child craves your attention.” Jace doesn't answer me but keeps shaking his head.
“You wanted to discuss something urgently with me?” he asks now. “To be honest, I wanted to talk to you too. It's about Drina and Alcina". I remain silent in anticipation. To think that he was the one who alerted me to Alcina and now he's linking her to my mate.
“Do you know they met each other earlier? It seems as if the two are fighting an old feud. And you could be the top prize," he explains.
I fall back in my chair in terror. So, this is not a setup by some ambitious alpha. If the two women know each other, that is undoubtedly the clue.
Alcina has my mate in her sights....