On One Condition

Dave was fast asleep when a loud beep came into his phone, he stood up lazily, forcing his body to cooperate with the actions of his mind, after glaring at the screen, he took the call, walking few steps away from the bed, to avoid waking Zendaya up. It was a call from Dino, Dino is his beta, they have been friends since childhood, even before he found out that he would be his beta when they grow up, Dino has stuck with him through all the difficulties he has to face during his childhood when he was very young, he was sent away from the pack, to a far place, the enemies were after him, Dino stood by him during this time, and when he came back to the pack, he was glad that Dino was his beta.

“ Hello?  Dino? why did you have to call me so early? he asked stroking his eyes with his palm.

“ I'm sorry Dave, but we have an urgent matter to attend to, and it needs urgent attention, he said apologetically.

“ what is it about? He asked nonchalantly

“ it's about the Vitrano supplies, he replied warmly, waiting for few seconds, allowing him to digest it, before proceeding, Mr vertigo has sent a message asking you to meet him at the city mall today, he said the meeting is important, and if you fail to show up, then he will have no choice, but to decline the offer to supply Vitrano to our pack, he reports.

“that scumbag, he retorts with a gritted teeth, how dare he think that he can threaten me? he quizzes frantically, with a hoarse voice. “ I have been too lenient with him, that's why he thinks, he can threaten an Alpha”.

“ Hey man, keep your anger overhauled, he is in control, right now, if you do anything stupid then, the entire pack will suffer for your misdeed, you have to be patient with him, until after everything is settled, Dino said with a soft and gentle tone.

He has always been the gentle type, and that's one of the reasons why girls see him as a weakling, but deep down he knows what he is capable of doing, but he didn't want to impress anyone with his scrions.

In the past, Dave used to be very irrational about everything, the training he received while he was away from home, made him a different person, he was always eager and thirsty for bloodshed, always ready to pounce at opposition, but all of that changed a few months ago, no one knows the reasons behind his sudden change, but all the same, they are happy about it.

“ I will be ready in an hour, you also get ready, you are coming with me, Dave broke the silence that lumped in.

“of course, Dave, Dino replied with a smile on his face, then Dave ended the call. 

After receiving the call, Dave went back to the bed, his grey eyes fell on the sleeping figure of Zendaya, he moved closer to her, admiring her face, he couldn't believe how a person can be this beautiful in their sleep, he couldn't control his urge to place a kiss on her lips, he bent over and kissed her on her forehead, immediately he did that, Zendaya began whimpering, tossing from one side of the bed to the other, and sweating profusely, her eyes were tightly shut and she kept screaming out. 

Dave sat beside her, shaking her vigorously trying to wake her up, but she was too deep in shuteye, she wasn't able to wake up easily, he shook her with more force and she came jerking out of her daze, screaming with tears dripping down her face. Dave scooped her into a warm embrace stroking her head, to calm her down.

“ Shhh, don't cry, it's just a bad dream, nothing will happen to you, he said caressing her head, and hugging her to himself.

He took about ten minutes to calm her down, after that, he tugged her back to bed, she eventually fell asleep after great difficulty, she was scared and shaky, she didn't want to go back to sleep after Dave assured her that everything will be fine, she fell into a quick slumber, clasping his fingers to her chest.

Subsequently, he moved his hands away from her clutch slowly, to avoid startling her out of her sleep, he stood with his hands at akimbo, glaring at her face, with so many thoughts running through his mind.

He went to the table, and picked up his phone, putting a call across to the nanny, thereafter, he into the bathroom to prepare for the meeting he has with Mr vertigo, he didn't feel like going anywhere, leaving Zendaya behind in this condition, but he has no choice since the safety of the pack depends on his decision, and if he fails to strike the deal with Mr vertigo, then everyone might be blamed Zendaya for his actions, and he didn't want that, so he had to go.

After bathing, he got dressed in a grey suit, which brought out all his hidden features, his handsome face, and luscious red lips, and grey eyes were outstanding, he took one look at himself, in the mirror, then he heard a knock on the door, he unlocked it, Nanny carlisa walked in with a trolley, filled with different dishes. She thought that since Zendaya didn't get to eat dinner last night, she might get hungry as soon as she wakes up, so she brought the food along with her. 

Also, Dave had asked her not to take Zendaya out of the room, in his absence.

“Good morning Alpha, she greets lowering her gaze, to avoid locking eyes with the Alpha. 

She might be older than him, but she has no right to look directly into the Alpha's eyes unless she is ready to meet her end, although Alpha Dave is not like every other Alpha king, it's still believed that looking into the Alpha's eye means challenging him, and he has the right to punish anyone who does that.

“ I brought you, your favorite cup of coffee, she said smiling slightly.

“ I don't want one, Nanny, he said, causing the smile on her face to fade away.

“ You can't go hungry all day, dear, just have a cup of coffee, then you will be fine, otherwise you won't be able to work, due to how loud your stomach will be growling ”.  she urges with a serious expression.

“ But, nanny ”, he said with a pouty tinge.

“ just take it,” she said, forcing the cup into his hand, she watches him as he gulps it down at a shot. 

Dave doesn't like how coffee and nanny carlisa knew he doesn't, since she was the one who raised him when he was sent away from the pack.

“ Okay, I'm leaving now, please take care of Zendaya, don't let her out of your site, and make sure she stays out of Melina and mother's business ”, he pleads, stealing a glance at Zendaya, who is still fast asleep. 

Nanny Carlisa nods her head assuring him, ft the room, slamming the door behind him.

Queen Naya was spotted in the dining, having breakfast with Ariya, then Melina was walking down the stair, her eyes look puffy, like someone who has been crying all night long, and didn't get enough sleep because of it. 

Upon catching sight of, the descending figure of Dave, she ran towards queen Naya, she bent over, and pecked her, she halted deliberately,  making sure that the queen gets a proper look at her swollen face, and when she was sure that she did, she stood up, walking to a seat nearby, the queen was bewildered by her the terrible state of her face, she looked pale, upon seeing the terrible that Melina was in, she opens her mouth to say something, but words failed her, and she was left speechless, glaring at Melina pitifully. 

 Dave came down from the stairs, making his way towards the exit, but his mother's words made him stop in his tracks.

“ Are you finally taking that lunatic, out of my pack? She asked standing up from her chair and moving towards him at a slow gait.

“ My pack, mother, I am the Alpha of this pack, so this is my pack,  will get to decide who stays, and who lives, he replied scornfully, queen Naya had a stunned expression on her face, she had never imagined that Dave would talk to her in such a boisterous way before, and today he yelled at her in front of everyone, including the maids.

“ You might be the Alpha, but I am the queen-mother, and I have a right to make decisions about the Pack too, she said immediately she regained her composure.

Dave made his way of the hall, without waiting for a counter-battle with his mother, his mother was so angry when she realized that Dave left her, talking to herself.

“ come back here, Dave??? Dave, come back here, she said, screeching bitterly.

Melinda stood up from her seat, she walks up to her, pretentiously comforting her, she took her back to her seat, and they continued with breakfast, although Queen couldn't eat anymore, she kept staring at space, while Melina, Ariya, and Desaq had their full.

Ariya didn't care to comfort her mother, since she is already used to her tantrums.

“ This is all that girl's fault, Dave has never spoken to me in that manner before, she complains bitterly.

“it's fine, mom, Melina mumbles.

Dino was already waiting for Dave by the car, he knows that Dave was going to take longer than he said, so he made it his duty to arrange everything, they will be needing at the meeting, he was flipping through some documents when he noticed, Dave's presence, he quickly came close to him, giving him a handshake.

“Zendaya is keeping you busy, Dave, you even forgot that you have a friend who needs, your attention, he teases, and Dave responds with a blush.

Without much ado, they enter the car and zoomed off hurriedly, leaving behind traces of dust.

Back At The pack House

Melina left the dining hall, after having breakfast, she ran into her room with speed and headed straight to the washroom, she splashes water on her face and kneads it with soap, then she washes it off with water, she came out of the washroom, dabbing her face with a face towel, upon raising her head, her eyes met with someone else's, she was so scared that someone has found out her little secret, her temperature started to rise at a high velocity, and heartbeat increase involuntarily, her voice became shaky.

“ who is there? ”She manages to say, after waiting for a moment and the person did not say anything, other than stare at her. “show yourself ” she orders.

Domingo walks into the room, giggling frantically

“ I scared you, he said glaring scornfully at Melina, “ you are such a scaredy-cat.

“ What did you do that for? she asked painfully, with tears almost streaming down her cheeks, the painful expression shows how scared she was.

“ I just wanted to scare you a little so that, you would be careful next time, what if the Queen has seen you instead?  , what would you have done then? he asked coldly, but I must say, your acting skills are top-notch, He compliments winking at her seductively.

“ come on, don't do that again, she said accepting her faults ' but wait! what are you doing here by the way? She asked looking at the time.

“don't worry, little sister, he calls out sarcastically, “the queen asked me to check up on you since you left in a big hurry”

“ can you stop calling me sister, when we are alone? It's irritating already, she said with a look of disgust on her face. 

With that, she moved towards the exit, escorting Domingo out, she slams the door behind her, and leans on it, closing her eyes to savor the moment. She started laughing hysterically.

David drove at full speed into the parking lot of the city Mall, the mall is located at the heart of the commercial complex in Great vertex City, everyone who owns a share in any of the companies in the shopping complex is a big shot, most of the people, who owned the companies are based abroad, thus making Mr. vertigo, the only one in charge of everything, rumors once had it that the president of the country owns some shares of the companies in City Mall, but no one knows how true, these rumors are. Dave and Dino came out of the car after David found a space to park the car, they walk majestically into the hall, walking directly to the reception, everyone kept gazing and mumbling, they didn't pay attention to the murmurs flying around, they kept a straight face.

“ Mr. Vertigo? Dave inquired 

“Just give me a second,” Jane Austen said picking up the phone, she dialed a number, after few beeps, the other person picked up, mumbled some words to her, and ended the call.

“this way sirs!! She says beaming with a friendly smile.

Jane Austen led them to the top floor of the building, when they got to the office, she opened the door and usher them in, then she closed the door, and left them there.

Me. vertigo was busy in a meeting with some investors when they arrived, Josh Hamilton took them to vacant seats, they sat down and waited patiently until he concluded his meeting with the people, and they left the office.

“ long time, no see, Alpha Dave!!! ” Mr.Vertigo said as soon as he steps out of the office and saw them waiting, sorry the meeting was arranged in such a short time, I didn't have the time to inform you beforehand,” he said, stretching his hand for a handshake.

“ it's fine, Mr. Vertigo, Dave replied returning his handshake.

“Josh, did you get something for them to drink? He asked glaring at Josh Hamilton, and he panicked a little.

“I will go and get it, now, he said making his way out of the office, but Dave stopped him.

“You don't have to worry about that, we are okay, Dave said, causing Josh Hamilton to stop in his tracks.

“Okay, if you say so, then it's fine by me,” Mr . Vertigo said moving towards his chair, he slumps into it heavily, Dave and Dino stood in front of him, waiting for his next line of action, but he didn't do or say anything about the contract, so Dave took the first initiative to start a conversation.

“ Mr. Vertigo, can we proceed with the contract signing already? I have somewhere to be”, Dave said.

“Oh, that?? he exclaimed in realization, Dave and Dino looked at each other disdainfully, “ oh, that can wait for a while, we can do something else, before that, how about you send your man outside for a little while? He asked glaring disgustfully at Dino.

Without waiting for instructions, Dino stepped out of the room, Josh Hamilton followed him almost immediately.

“ So now that, we are all alone, I would like you to go ahead with the signing of the contract ”, Dave suggests taking a seat close to Mr. Vertigo.

“ well, you are right about that, but, you know nothing goes for nothing in this country of ours, right? , I know you understand what I'm trying to say, you don't have to prevent that you don't understand my words, it's not as if strange to you, you have been to many wars, and exchange bureaucracy, I'm sure you have many experiences when it comes to trade-by bartering, right? Mr. Vertigo stops to ask periodically. 

Dave on the other hand was already getting bored about where the conversation was heading, he didn't have the time to continue with this conversation, so he flared up.

“what exactly do you mean, Mr.Vertigo? he asked calming himself down 

“well, what I mean is that you have everything, and you also have something that I need, he said stealing glances at him,  well, I'm going to sign this contract on one condition, and that is if you agree to my conditions, He replied nonchalantly picking up the glass of wine from his table. 

He took a sip, and return it to where it was, then he looked over at Dave, he had a perplexed expression on.

“what do you mean? I don't understand!!! Dave implores ranking his head, trying to digest what is happening before him, still, he couldn't understand what Mr. Vertigo meant 

“I want her on my bed, Mr. Vertigo dropped the bombshell, Dave looks even more confused.