When We Were Mates (Demetra and Emris) novel Chapter 117

Chapter 117

Alpha Emris.

I hear voices coming from Demetra’s office before I reach the door.

I cross my arms and lean against the frame for a moment, taking in the scene before announcing myself. Demetra is sitting on the edge of her desk in a short jean skirt and a pink fitted top that has absolutely nothing to do with the conventional image of a pack Luna. She looks like she’s between classes somewhere, not running a meeting.

Kris, the pack secretary, is across from her with a tablet, and someone from Demetra’s personal office team is beside him with a printed schedule. They’re talking contracts, timelines and so on…too bad I have to barge in cause it’s Monday.

And on Mondays, we have a Pack meetings.

“-I can’t take any new art contracts until after the bonding gala is done with. A few days after that, I should be able to resume normal scheduling, but until then-‘

“Knock knock.”

Demetra looks up.

“We have a meeting. Can I steal her?”

“Of course, Alpha.”

Demetra rolls her eyes at her assistant who answers, then drops her pen on the desk to walk toward me. I take her hand the moment she clears the doorway and pull her into the hallway.

“Pack meeting…what’s it about?”

We walk together and we’re holding hands.

“Summary of pack matters, mostly. Reports, decisions, anything that needs the room’s attention.” I glance down at her. “It’s your first one, though. The elders have been asking about you.”

“They’re just gonna sigh.”

“Not in my presence, they won’t.”

“Yeah, but Emris.” She stops walking and puts her tiny fist on my chest…right over my heart, like she knows exactly where to press to make me weak. “I’m scared. I’m what… the youngest there.”

“But old enough to be my true mate.” I cover her fist with my palm. “It’s all that matters.”

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Chapter 117

She looks up at me.

“Baby, come here. I miss you.”

I bring her closer and kiss, tilting her chin up so she can’t escape. My tongue sweeps across her lower lip, and she opens for me like she’s been waiting all day.

We shift from the middle of the hallway to the corner of the wall….I don’t even remember moving us. Demetra does that thing… that specific side kiss along my jaw that tracks back to my mouth and genuinely tests the limits of my composure.

My large hands hold her waist on both sides. My thumbs press into the soft flesh just above her jeans. I want to lift her. I want to pin her. I want to take her right here in this hallway-

“Hmm–hmm.”

The throat clearing is deliberate and irritating.

I release Demetra slowly and find Regan glaring at both of us like we just pissed on his favourite rug.

“We’re waiting,” he says flatly. Then walks away.

I look back at Demetra.

She’s trying not to laugh and losing badly… until her cheeks are pink. She reaches up and wipes my lips with her thumb, making sure her gloss isn’t going to be on my mouth once we enter the office.

“Ready?” I ask her.

“No.”

The elders stand when we enter.

“Luna. Alpha.”

“I’m Elder Florence a pleasure to finally meet you, Luna.”

“Jasmine, pack doctor. We’re very glad you’re here.”

“I-”

“That’s John. Gerald.” I say and guide Demetra to the two chairs at the head of the table.

“Siddharth, Leo… main council elders. And Derisha.” I say my mother’s name in a way that easily proves that we are still not on speaking terms.

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Chapter 117

“And I’m Silver, the Alpha’s Beta,” My brother grins from his spot against the wall. He wiggles his eyebrows at Demetra.

I want to glare, but Demetra giggles at it.

“Nice to meet all of you. including Silver.”

“Shall we begin?” Regan says, from his position at the far end of the table, with the specific brand of arrogance that is apparently just his factory setting regardless of the hour or occasion.

“I’ll start with the Loo Fever report.” Jasmin

steps forward and pulls up a holographic display. “Last week, the Irish pack found a successful cure. As we speak, it’s under perfect surveillance. There are no new death recordings anymore, and safe to say our kids and pack members can return to normal activity following vaccination.” She crosses to me and sets a document on the table.

“The Irish Pack has provided a cost quote for deploying their vaccination teams across our territory.”

I open it and review the numbers.

Fair. More than fair, actually… I’d expected more from Seth’s pack, given everything. I’ve called him greedy in my head on more occasions than I can count for thinking he had a chance with my mate.

But this price is reasonable and I’ll pay it without negotiating.

I slide the document to Demetra.

“We’ll pay it. Tell them to deploy vaccination teams across the full territory simultaneously. I want this done in one movement, not staggered. What else?”

“You gave the Lion Pride Pack their territory back?”

Regan hisses like he’s been holding waiting for the moment to release it.

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because I can.”

His jaw tightens. “Do you have any concept of what we could have done with that land? The resources, the positioning-

“It was never the Black Covenant Pack’s territory to begin with.metra’s voice is level. She

doesn’t raise it. Neither does she look for permission to speak. “Things that don’t belong to

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Chapter 117

you should be returned.”

(23

65 vouchers

“You are the Luna of this pack now. Your obligation title means.”

to this pack’s interests. That is what the

“Have you ever been a Luna, Regan? Why would I listen to what you think a Luna should be?”

He scoffs!

“We could have monetized that territory. Leased access to their farmland on a monthly basis…the revenue alone would have-”

“Taking the Pride Pack’s land was illegal from the beginning. I wanted answers. I got them. The justification for holding their territory no longer exists, so the territory was returned. That is final.

Why the hell is he making me explain this? Regan was present when Alpha Ronin gave us the full story including what our own mother has been keeping from us. He is supposed to understand why this decision was made.

“What NONE of you seem to be focused on is that we have a lycan problem!?”

AD

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