Affection In Secret

EZEKIEL'S POV:

"Ezekiel?" Father's voice echoed, resonating with the walls of my bed chambers. Elsa looked like she was going to pass out.

"Behave as if you're buttoning my shirt," I whispered quickly. Luckily, my shirt was half-buttoned down. She caught on quickly and hurriedly did as she was told.

"Your maid is here." Father asked as he slowly approached me.

With a small smile, I brushed Elsa aside and turned to Father.

"Yes. She was helping me with my buttons." I replied with ease, trying not to give myself away.

Father acknowledged what I said but had his gaze on Elsa for a while before clearing his throat.

"I need to talk to you in my study." He stated and casually walked out of the room, closing the door behind him.

The moment we were left alone, Elsa breathed out shakily, patting her chest in the process.

"If your father finds out what we've been doing, I will be dead meat." She stated it as a matter of fact, and my heart sank in despair. My wolf growled lowly and went silent immediately. Since we found our mate, he has hardly communicated with me. I believe it had everything to do with the fact that we can't claim our mate yet. He's mad, and I know.

"I'm sorry, buddy." I whispered to my wolf and looked away from Elsa. "You should leave. You are free from me today."

A moment later, I heard the door closing.

"Funny girl thinks she has me wrapped around her fingers. If only she realizes that we're mated and the attraction between us has everything to do with the mate bond." I thought to myself. It hurts to know that our relationship will face a lot of hurdles. However, I do know one thing: sooner or later, I will have to claim her and face the consequences.

"Ezekiel!" Father's voice echoed in my head, and I remembered I had been summoned.

"Coming." I replied through the mindlink and headed out.

The moment I got seated, Father looked up from his desk and sighed deeply.

"You're turning 20 in a few months; don't you think it's time you made Rue your chosen mate since you are yet to find your mate?" He queried me with his gaze fixed on me.

"It's not too late for me, Father." I said calmly.

"Well, the council members are raising their brows. They are asking questions." He further stated, causing me to furrow my brows in confusion.

"What has my mate got to do with the council members?" I thought.

"Why are they raising their brows?" I piqued.

"I'm stepping down soon, and we all want to be sure your Luna is someone capable of the position." He explained, and I felt anger rise within me.

Father had forgotten so soon the story of how he almost lost my mother. It was because of this mindset that he rejected her.

"I believe my mate is just waiting for me to find her. I also know the Moon Goddess will give me someone worthy of the Luna Position." I assured him and got to my feet. "Will that be all?"

"That will be all." He ascertained with a wave of his hand.

"You haven't said anything about your trip." His question came as I was about to grab the doorknob.

"I’ll send it to your email, Father.” I muttered and left after he acknowledged what I said.

I decided to go for a run to clear my head and simmer my anger.

*******

The whole evening, I spent it running through the woods and melding with nature. At the end of my run, I felt calmer and happier.

Grabbing a bottle of water on my way to my chamber, I hummed happily. Elsa crossed my mind, and I wondered what she was doing.

I couldn't wait for the day when I would openly announce her as my mate.

"Ezekiel?" Rue's voice startled me as I walked into my room, making me jump slightly.

She was sitting on my bed, playing with her hair, and smiling.

"Hey!" I casually said and set the empty bottle of water on my desk.

"You're here?" I asked.

She walked up to me and hugged me from the back. "Babe, are you still mad at me?"

I took a deep breath and turned to face her. "You might not like Elsa, but she works for me. So treat her like a living being." I uttered it, hoping that she understood my point. When she said nothing, I went ahead to state, "I heard how you treated her yesterday. It's really unfair."

Rue let go of me with her eyes blazing in fury, but she was trying hard not to explode in anger.

"You know, we have never had an issue until your maid showed up. I'm beginning to think that there is something you're not telling me." She snapped in frustration. "Don't you love me anymore?" Her tone went from anger to sadness in a blink of an eye, tears welling in her eyes.

For a brief moment, I felt a pang of guilt, but I dismissed the feeling as soon as it surfaced. I gathered her to myself, staring deeply into her eyes.

"Of course I still love you. But please treat Elsa with kindness." I voiced my stand once more. I wanted her to understand that I wasn't kidding regarding her treatment of Elsa.

Rue shut her eyes, and as soon as she opened them, her pupils turned red in anger.

"Gosh, you make me sick." She spat with so much venom. “I can't believe I'm here voicing how I feel about our relationship, and you chose to ignore it and instead talk about your new maid.”

With a scoff, she stormed towards the door. "Elsa is a low life, and I'll deem it fit to treat her like I should. Try to stop me." She veered and slammed the door shut right as my lips curled up in a mocking sneer.

"Wait until I tell Alpha Nathan about this." She yelled outside the door, causing me to sigh heavily.

"I should definitely find a way to end my relationship with Rue as soon as possible." I mumbled to myself and walked to the bed. My eyes caught something, and the horror I felt at that moment was nothing I had ever felt before.