Return to the Palace

"We've been summoned." Alec says as he enters my room his agitation felt along with his annoyance.

"By whom?" I ask him as I sit up rubbing the sleep out of my eyes.

"Your mate's grandmother." Alec says trying to control his emotions.

"Don't get your underwear in a twist. What does the summons say?" I ask him and he lets out a huff.

"She wants to meet her grandson's mate personally." He says.

"It's just a test." I say in response as I head for the bathroom.

"What's your plan?" He asks me and I look at him with a smile on my face.

"To have fun of course." I say in response before closing the bathroom door.

Meanwhile back at the place, Nate is excited and anxious to have Mei back at the castle and to see her again, especially after their last encounter in the forest. His grandmother enters his study making put his pacing to an abrupt halt.

"You are going to reject her." She says hoping to get some kind of manipulative control over him but he looks at her coldly. For the past three weeks she's become an annoyance to everyone but a pain in the ass to Nate for she wants him to marry Anna whom he can't stand for more than a few minutes.

"Nate. You're going to reject her or one of you'll regret it." His grandmother says hoping the threat will work but he looks at her silently and coldly as his eyes lose their warmth and become blood red as Eli makes his presence known causing her to take a few steps back.

"I'm warning you. Stay away from her or you'll see what exactly I'm capable of." He says dangerous and silent authority evident in his voice.

"You wouldn't hurt me." She says proudly trying to hide her fear and discomfort.

"Try something and you'll see." He says in response and looking into his eyes she knows he not joking and if any harm should come to Mei he wouldn't hesitate to punish those responsible. Even her. She excuses herself bypassing Anna along with her parents who try to get her attention but fail.

"I wonder what happened?" Anna asks herself before saying goodbye to her parents who're leaving for a two-month vacation in Hawaii.

"Don't attract unnecessary attention." Her mother says to her before they leave. She returns to her room with a naughty smirk on her face as she begins to devise a plan using the former queen's influence to her advantage to get rid of Mei.

Four days later Mei, Alec, Kelly, and Tom, Thane's brother arrive at the place where they are greeted by the royal family who notices something strange about Mei as she looks at them but can't put their finger on it.

"Welcome. We're happy to have you here." Nate's mother says as she watches her son approach Mei who doesn't move away as he bends down rubbing his nose softly against the sides of her neck, publicly showing that she's his mate while his grandmother watches shocked as he ends up behind her, his eyes red but he's calm and she doesn't move away or flinch feeling the authority and dangerousness he usually hides as he continues to smell her neck and hair.

"So Eli's come out to play." She says and he lets out a soft, gentle laugh smiling at her sweetly.

"You can say that." He responds to her and reaches for her hand but hesitates but smiles when she hooks her pinkie with his. Not exactly what he had in mind but it'll do.

"I hope you don't mind I brought them." Mei says referring to her pack mates.

"Not at all." He says to her and she gives him a sweet smile which he returns before looking at them.

"You'll be set up in the guest wing in the four-person suite." Nate says and they nod at him as the palace servants take their bags from them.

"Thank you but regular rooms will be just fine." Mei says a little uncomfortable at the thought of them staying in a suite.

"Please. I insist." He says to her gently touching her nose with his and she breathes deeply inhaling his scent.

"Ok." Mei says and her group looks at her in shock for they know her to be one to stick to her decisions no matter how small and insignificant it may be but I guess having a mate does that to you.

"Nice to meet you, Mei was it?" His grandmother says looking at her as if she's a pile of scum she stepped on.

"Yes, ma'am." Mei responds not even giving her the time of day which annoys her.

"Have you eaten lunch yet?" Nate asks Mei.

"No. We didn't want to end up late." Mei responds shrugging her shoulders as if the fact doesn't bother her.

"Join us for lunch." Nate says and Mei's group tenses slightly but they agree to have lunch with the royal family.

Once they're settled in the dining room and served lunch which consists of mashed sweet potatoes with baked chicken with a sweet and sour sauce.

"Do you like it?" Nate asks his eyes still red as he looks at his mate.

"Delicious but the sauce is a little too sour." She says giving her feedback and he nods at her making a mental note to accommodate her should they eat it again and his grandmother scowls at the interaction.

After lunch, Nate insists on taking Mei to the gardens allowing the rest of her group to wander the castle and entertain themselves. Though reserved at first as the minutes go by Mei gradually relaxes in her mate's company and also enjoys getting to know him and vice versa much to the dismay of two people.