Fated To My Lycan Stepbrothers
Chapter 61

Elder Freya sighed, her gaze softening slightly, which was surprising to me. "Very well. Naya, come with me." She eyed my disheveled state. "Something tells me you aren't good with people."

That was the only thing she got right with me. As she turned to leave, she couldn't resist adding one last remark. "Unless, of course, you all prefer to act like unruly children." And that was the remark I expected from her. The weight of her words hung in the air as she went back to the table. The tension had been diffused, but the underlying issues remained, lingering beneath the surface. "I think we are done here." Zeke stood up, signaling to the maids to clean up the mess. He glanced up at Kyle. "Wash up and meet us at the table." Without sparing me a look, he walked down the hall to the table. Seriously, what is his problem?

"What crawled up his a*s and died?" Brooke asked Kyle, who gave her a dead look.

"To the table, please." Elder Freya nodded to the remaining elders. It meant breakfast was over. I didn't even have breakfast because of Brooke, and no one cares to ask me what I'd like to eat.

However, Marley came to save the day. Great! She smiled at the maid. More like a grimace. "Instruct the chef to bring biscuits to the table. We are animals and are never satisfied." Eying Kyle, she joined the rest of them. Now it was just the three of us and the maids, who watched us from the corner of their eyes.

"I am off." I shrugged, walking away in the slowest way I could to hear their arguments.

"Brooke, you have to go home. You aren't joining us at the table." Kyle tried to reason with her.

"Then I'll just wait for you until it's over. What do you say?" She climbed down without waiting for his reply. Soon she was on the couch, turning on the TV. She gave him a stern look. "I'll be here waiting until you are done."

When he shot her an annoyed look, a whine escaped her. It wasn't cute because she sounded like a horse. "You have to tell me why that slut is living here with you! You never told me properly. Does it mean what I heard about the three of you coming into school together was true?"

"Brooke..."

"No more...."

"Enough!" Kyle suddenly echoed, causing the maids around him to flinch. They wanted to disappear. s**t! Kyle's angry. It was a trait I had never seen before. Last night must have pissed him off. Here I was, still walking and listening like a creep. I hope they never notice me walking slowly like a snail. It's a long way to the table. Besides, what do they want with me? The table was on the other side of the manor. "Go up to my room and wait for me." He ordered. Then he turned to the maids. "Give her whatever she wants and make sure she never leaves the manor. Got it?!"

"Yes, Alpha." One of them, I think he was called Sir Richard, nodded.

"Reid!" Kyle yelled as he entered his room. Reid followed quickly, raising an eyebrow at my stupid movements.

It was over. Not about to be in the same room with Brooke, I flew to the table. At the sight of the big doors, just like the other night, I crept towards them. I still had the scentless spray on me. It would be hard for them to sniff me out.

Getting closer, I leaned on the door. Kyle may catch me or not, but there's no harm in hearing a bit of their statement for preparation. It has helped before, and it will help me again.

"I sense something strong from that Naya girl." Elder Freya began. It seemed like she was talking to herself. "Was it the rotten smell on her...?"

"That was her mating age. It's not rotten. It's just not suitable for women, like...

"Strawberries." Zeke's quiet voice chipped in. They all paused to listen. "Strawberries. She smells like strawberries."

"It's your first day, Alpha. Whatever you say." For some reason, I didn't sense any maliciousness in her voice.

"I don't want her or you to be here." Zeke added an edge to his tone. He wasn't happy.

"He is unhappy." Naya said. That's the only thing she has said since the time I shut her up. It must really hurt. It hurt me too.

Who was the second person he was talking about?

"What do you mean?" Marley's voice rose. I almost forgot that she followed them in. This meant that Zeke didn't want to have a meeting with her. He wanted it with the elders alone. "According to the Wolf code, I have to be present for every meeting held at the table."

"I don't want to embarrass you, Marley. Just leave. You can join us at the next meeting. I need to talk to my elders." His voice was so cold, and it caused shivers to run down my spine. For the first time, I was really scared of Zeke. Could it be Flame who's talking? It didn't sound like a quiet and unpredictable Zeke at all. Something was bothering him to the extent that Flame took over. It was to be Flame. This was bad. Terribly Bad.

"Your Elders?" Elder Freya scoffed. I didn't think she would have the audacity to counter Flame. "You don't own us, Alpha." Her voice was equally icy.

"Well, you are here to ensure the stability of the pack. And who is the Alpha of the pack? Me!" His voice rose with each sentence.

"Fla- Flame?" Elder Freya gasped in shock. I was sure she was staring into the eyes of the one who pleased me last night. I only got to see his nice side. I peered into the keyhole and was shocked to see that Zeke had turned half man, half wolf. He was a Lycan. "How is this possible?" I muttered my fear to the gods.

"Alpha Zeke, Flame, you need to calm down."

"Until Elder Freya drops her tough act, I won't be calm." Zeke heaved.

Elder Freya's voice stopped the commotion. If she was scared, she hid it well. The elders were truly capable of controlling their emotions. "Alright. I will be quiet. Marley, leave, and if you see your little girl, tell her to skip along. Our Alpha is not in a good mood." With a haughty voice, she grinned at Zeke. "If we are your elders, you are our alpha." Ownership is sideways, Flame."

Her words hit the right notes. It was a sharp sword that pierced both ways. Shit... Zeke needed Kyle. Where was that fucker? Does he need me? Should I walk in and...

Marley's footsteps at the door brought me out of my reverie, and I knew I had to disappear before she found me eavesdropping.

It would never end well.

As the first rays of sunlight filtered through the trees, I found myself making my way to a relaxing spot within the pack territory. It was a big boulder where the sun hit directly on your face. The area was quiet, save for the distant sounds of birdsong and the rustling of leaves in the gentle breeze.

I had just gotten there when a rustle caught my attention. I turned to replace Elder Rosalie staring at me. How long has she been watching me think my way here? Her wine-colored hair caught the sunlight and shimmered like a waterfall of blood. She had a warm smile and genuine kindness emanating from her. "Naya," Elder Rosalie said, her voice gentle and soothing.

I didn't know anything about smiling at an elder, but there was something that made it better to smile, and I did just that. Smile. Curiosity and nerves nearly paralyzed me, because what the heck was she doing here? I was a common wolf opportuned to meet live with the Alpha. I wasn't special. They all agreed to let me off until the next meeting. "Elder Rosalie. You said you would see me today. Is this it?" She mentioned something along those lines yesterday night. I should remind her.

Elder Rosalie motioned for me to sit on the boulder, and she settled down beside me. "Of course, dear. I sensed that you had questions, and I believe it's important to provide you with the answers you seek." She must have known what I did in the hallway. The elders were all knowing. Even I knew that much.

I nodded, looking down and away from her eerie eyes. "I appreciate that." They weren't like us wolves. They were freakish-almost the color of her hair. At some point, I thought she looked older than her age. Then I'd decide against it since she'd look younger again. It alternates between ages twenty-five and fifty-five. That was creepy. I couldn't describe Elder Freya if I wanted to. They fit all ages. Old and young. "There's so much I don't understand about our realm, about the pack, and about the role of the Elders." I continued.