6: My Way!

*ALEX*

After a long explanation, a long debate ensued.

"I will stay here with you! We will go home together this weekend!" My mother insisted.

"Mom, please, just go home!" I begged my mother to agree to my request. "I just want to have alone moments with my fated mate without your presence hovering around us like a beautiful piranha." I jokingly said to lighten the mood after noticing that my beloved mother was starting to get annoyed with my persuasion.

My mother rolled her eyes. I grinned cheekily.

"Pretty please!" I said it with my puppy dog's eyes. I used to do this in my younger years every time I wanted something very badly, like toys or food. That was before the curse made me a prisoner in the basement.

"Just give me one month with my fated mate, then I'll go home ready to become the next Alpha King so that you and Dad can finally go on a three-month cruise together and explore the world outside." I assured her.

My mother took a deep breath and looked at me for a long time. "What if you eloped with her? Your father will kill me!"

"No. That will never happen." I shook my head vigorously. "I will never run from my responsibility as the future Alpha King. I promise you that. You have nothing to worry about because I stand by my words. I won't run away from my responsibility. I will not elope with my fated mate." I said reassuringly.

A thick silence descended in the living room.

My mother contemplated my request for a long time. She was having a debate in her mind about whether she would grant my request or remain in the mansion to make my life difficult with my mate.

"Mom, please, go home." I begged her once more.

After a few minutes of silence, my mother finally reached a decision.

"Alright, I'm going home. But I'll leave one car with the driver and two male servants to take care of you." She told me, rising to her feet.

"Thank you so much, Mom! I love you!" I told her affectionately.

My mother broke into a happy smile. She loved hearing those affectionate words that I never failed to say to her every time she granted my request during my younger years.

"I'll accompany you outside to your car." I offered as huge relief washed over me.

Mother opened her shoulder bag, fished out an envelope filled with cash and a debit card loaded with money, then a new cell phone, and put them in my hand. "Son, use this card to buy things from the grocery store and withdraw cash on ATM machines. And this is a new cell phone that I recently bought especially for you. Use this phone to contact me, your father, your sister, and your brothers. Our numbers are already stored on it, just in case you don't want to communicate with us using Mind Link."

"Thank you, mother, dearest. You're the best!" I gushed happily, appreciating her gifts.

"I will leave one car, one driver, and two servants for you to order around." Mom said, walking towards the door.

I followed her to the door, thankful that she finally understood why it's important for me to get to know my human mate first before I go home to become the next Alpha King. Being the oldest of my siblings, the responsibility fell on my shoulders, whether I liked it or not.

After giving instructions to the servants, my mother hugged me. "Son, call me when you are ready to go home. Don't make us wait longer, okay?" She said, hesitation still flickering in her eyes.

"I'm coming home soon!" I assured her, grabbing the car door for her to enter. She settled comfortably in the back seat, wearing a reluctant expression on her face. Her driver slid into the driver's seat and started the engine.

"Bye, son!" Mom said, closing the window of the car.

"Bye, Mom! See you again soon. Give my regards to Dad and my siblings." I cheerfully replied, glad that she understood my feelings. I needed to be with my human mate before facing my huge responsibility as the heir of my father, the Alpha King. If I had a choice, I would rather live a normal life with no titles on my head and just enjoy every single moment with my human mate.

I watched the two cars move towards the gate and disappear from my sight. A smile of relief broke in my face as I returned to the house in big stride, wanting to be with my mate again. Just the thought of spending time with my human mate filled my heart with excitement. I'm getting addicted to her. I can't get enough of her.

I met Granny in the hallway before I reached my mate's room.

"I want to talk to you in a minute, lad. Follow me!" Granny told me with urgency in her voice.

Puzzled, I followed her towards the living room as we settled on the couch. There is something in her eyes that I can't put a word on. I sat on the sofa, facing her, and asked, "What is it, Gran?"

"Listen carefully. I'm leaving," she said with finality in her voice.

My brows knitted together in confusion with her sudden decision. "Huh? Leaving, when? And where are you going? Are you going to bring Lauren with you?"

Granny shook her head. "No. I'm leaving alone tonight. And I'm entrusting my granddaughter to your care. So, from the moment I'm gone, she is your sole responsibility. Since you are the one who cured the scars on her face, you belong to each other. Don't ever let me down, lad. Don't hurt her physically or emotionally. Can you do that?"

A smile broke across my face. I feel happy that Granny entrusted Lauren into my hands. "Granny, rest assured that as long as I live, I will love and cherish your granddaughter as my mate and my future Luna!"

An oath that I made from the bottom of my heart. Granny must have seen the sincerity in my eyes; she nodded her head, satisfied with my answer. "Can I go now?" I asked, itching to see my mate again.

Granny nodded, got up, and went to the kitchen to make a meal with the assistance of the servant my mother had left.

I proceeded to my mate's room, knocked on the door, and said, "Hello, Lauren. Open the door. Can I talk to you for a minute?"

There was no reply coming from the inside. I stood outside the door, wondering if my mate was not inside her room. I was about to knock again, but the door suddenly opened on my face, and my beautiful mate looked at me.

"What do you want, Alex?" She asked me, and her voice sounds like a sweet melody in my ears.

"Um, Granny wants you to show me the parts of this house that badly need repairs. I will start on the front section of the house first." I told her.

"Ah, okay. Follow me." She responded casually as she left her room. She treated me as if I were just a regular guy. A smirk escaped my lips as I followed her outside the house to the porch.

A few minutes later, we're already outside the house, specifically on the porch.

She stood in front of the broken table in the corner. "Can you fix this table? It's Granny's favorite table," she said, looking me in the eyes.

I flashed her my killer smile. "Sure! I will fix it tomorrow morning."

"Thank you." She replied and walked away from the broken table, then added, "There are many cracks on the walls of this mansion, and the garden wooden hut located in the backyard is crumbling. Are you sure you can fix them all? Alone?" She asked me, doubting my capabilities.

I chuckled in amusement. "I can do all the repairs here alone." I replied confidently, getting used to my lies. I have no plans to repair what's broken in this mansion with my hands. I have far more important matters to attend to. I will just inform my mother that our ancestral house needs repairs, and she will send an army of people to fix it.

Lauren observed my face, doubting my words for a moment. "Anyways, I will leave everything to you," she finally said.

I responded, "No need to worry about anything else, sweetheart. I've got you covered."

She raised a brow, surprised that I called her sweetheart. It's just my way of testing the waters between us. She was about to open her mouth to say something, but she changed her mind and looked the other way. She was blushing tomato red, not used to a man's teasing.

I smiled cheekily. I'm enjoying teasing her. And I haven't started yet.

"Do you want to see the wooden hut in the garden?" She asked me, feeling uneasy with my presence as she began walking away from me without waiting for my answer.

"Yes, please." I replied, following her to the back of the house and liking the mesmerizing way she conducted herself in my presence.

'Our Luna is amazing!' Stan raved in delight inside my head.

'Yes, she is!" I fully agree with my wolf.