When We Were Mates (Demetra and Emris) novel Chapter 45

Chapter 45

Demetra.

Black Covenant Pack.

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The moment I arrived at the gate, Emris’s gammas transferred me into another vehicle. A blue Rolls–Royce Phantom because apparently, regular cars aren’t good enough for the great Alpha Emris. It glides like oil on water, and I hate that I remember this feeling.

When I was his charity case, he had more than a hundred cars at that time. Collected them like hobbies, like toy cars. I would wake up in his arms and he’d be on the phone with some merchant, negotiating for the latest model, buying them when he was bored. Boredom for him cost more than most people see in a lifetime.

The Alpha Wing is… magnificent. There’s no other word for it.

Before Emris ever became Alpha, he told me about the history behind the Covenant Pack. What started over seven hundred years ago, before werewolves had packs and Alphas and Lunas. We were scattered then…every wolf was a rogue and fighting for itself. It was easy for stronger wolves to steal from weaker ones in the ice peaks, with no one to protect pups, omegas, and the vulnerable.

A few came together and decided to form something they called the Covenant. They would hunt together, eat together, live near each other. They built houses on a piece of land, and before long, word got out. Other weak wolves joined. Strong wolves who wanted families joined too. Soon both weak and strong were part of the community, and it grew larger and larger.

In that community, because of the mix of wolves….hybrids, lycans, zetas, bloodhounds…the fusing of these wolves in marriage bore different pups to the community. Pups of many DNAs. Over time, they became stronger. Numbers increased. So till today, they are known as the first foundation of all packs.

Therefore, you can imagine the wealth they’ve amassed. And you can imagine what it means to be the Alpha of the Black Covenant Pack.

I leave my art tools in the sitting area and begin to tour the place without Emris. I saw the shade he created outside, but before anything, I have to look at the design, the layout of the wing before I put my brush to canvas.

The colors of the Black Covenant Pack…black and gold dominate every corner. They started as royalty many years ago, so at every turn, I see the names of Alpha Kings and Luna Queens etched into plaques. The house is a giant, with its own offices, libraries and rooms, but I’m only looking forward to the places that will give me inspiration.

I look around and realize Emris still isn’t here.

1 climb the stairs and enter the Alpha’s wing office where he holds his meetings. I start jotting down things that catch my interest. His desk is massive, dark wood that’s polished to a mirror shine. The Alpha seal sits which is an instrument that he uses to authorize pack decisions on the table too. It’s black and gold, of course, with an embossed wolf’s head.

The chair behind it is high–backed, throne–like with a leather so deep and dark it absorbs light.

After I come out, I enter the hall of history…which is the place that holds all the pack’s legacy and it takes my breath away.

Statues of former Alphas and Lunas line the walls. The males stand tall, broad–shouldered and the females…equally powerful, equally regal. I walk down the line, taking notes, studying how each one holds that flame in their gaze.

And then it ends at Emris.

My stupid heart flutters.

His statue captures him perfectly…arrogant even in stone like he owns the world.

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15:54 Mon, May 11

Chapter 45

But beside him? Nothing.

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Empty space. Each Alpha has a Luna statue beside them. Every single one. But on Emris’s side, there’s nothing. No Elena.

I’m so shocked I just stand there staring until I realize I’ve been here too long. I need to leave before-

I turn and walk straight into a wall of muscle.

“Shit!” I scream, dropping everything in my hands. My notebook my pencils, my sketchpad….all clatter to the floor as my heart wildly breaks in my chest.

“Didn’t mean to scare you.” He says it calm, but he’s Emris. When has Emris ever not been scary? Even now, his body fills the doorway and I feel like a kitten next to a panther.

“I…moons…. I was taking a look for inspiration.” I bend to pick up my things and he bends at the same time, his hand brushes mine as we both reach for my notepad. I let go immediately. He picks it up. Picks up my pencil too. Then hands them both

to me.

“Find it?”

“Y–yes.” I’m trying so hard not to look back at that empty space beside his statue. Why isn’t Elena there? Is it because she’s not his true mate? Is it only true mates who earn that place?sour

“Demetra?”

“Yeah.” I snap my head up.

How long has he been talking to me?

“Have you seen the shade?”

“Um… show me.” I exhale, forcing myself to focus.

Emris turns and I follow, walking behind him down the stairs. I watch his shoulders…how broad they are, how hard they look even through his shirt. I hate that I notice.

“Thanks for putting your mother in her cage.” I hiss for no reason

He reaches the last stair and turns to look at me. I’m waiting for the cocky comment, the arrogant retort, something we can argue about so I can remember why I hate him.

But Emris just says, “Watch your step.” And keeps walking.

Dang it.

I follow him back to the sitting area where all my painting supplies wait. There’s a sliding glass door. He opens it and immediate light floods in, revealing the shade I simply glanced at before.

A wooden pergola structure stretches out with soft fabric that in the breeze. Beneath it, there is a custom easel that’s the right height. A small table beside it holds fresh flowers in a crystal vase. The lake shimmers in the distance, visible through the trees, and the whole space is positioned to catch the morning light without the harsh glare. Cushioned chairs sit nearby for anyone watching…for him, I realize and the ground is covered in smooth stones.

It’s perfect. Heavens, it’s so perfect.

“What do you think?”

Emris says like he’s hoping the next thing I do is twirl like Cinderella, to go crazy over the fact that he built me a freaking

shade.

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15.54 Mon, May 11

Chapter 45

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“Will do.” I roll my eyes to show him that nothing he does will ever impress me. “We may need to push these chairs back a bit, cover them so they don’t get stained.”

I open my large box of supplies in the sitting room and pull out brushes and paints.

“It doesn’t matter if paint gets on them. I’ll take it as my money’s worth.” His voice is smooth as aged whiskey. “Refreshments… what would you like?”

“Silence and…” I turn to look at that handsome face. Damn it. “Water.”

I look away immediately so I don’t have to see if he smirks or if he’s irritated. Moons, why did I put that clause in the contract? The one that says clients can watch me paint? I should have said clients are expected to leave me alone and give me total freedom. But it was a lot of money coming from their pockets, and I decided there should be another secret perk.

Eden and Teddy already know about us. I’m trying not to think about it. The only fact I’m holding onto is that soon, the Council of Bonds will reach back to me and they’ll issue Emris to reject me. I’ll be waiting for that day. I know once it happens, it will give me the self–control to say no to his…everything.

“Here. I put the water here.” Emris’s voice pulls me back.

I’m fixing the canvas onto the easel. I look and see he has a glass of wine in his hand, his shirt open at the collar, and he sits… manspreads his legs on the couch in a very, very, very corporate manner.

Wait. I didn’t realize there’s a laptop there. Like he came prepared to work while he watches me work?

Emris pushes his hair back as he opens his laptop.

Sexy. Undeniably sexy.

I didn’t realize the pants he’s wearing are office–tailored. His legs look powerful in them. His thighs are huge, spread enough to be straddled-

Stop it. Please, Demetra, stop it.

His skin is bronze and beautiful. His fingers on the laptop are long and manly. Then he looks up at me.

I clear my throat and look at the time.

Five hours. I have five hours in his presence.

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