34 Chapter 34: Who is the Alpha

Elize snuck a glance at the woman. Her face didn't betray the lie on her tongue. It was devoid of any expression just like Zack's. Like mother, like son, Elize thought.

Suddenly the man laughed again. "You were always good at maintaining your poker face dear. After all, you are my daughter." he said, leaning in to pat Meiling on her head.

"Father, what-"

"Don't lie Meiling!" His voice suddenly raised. Anger flashed in his eyes, his face construed in a danger expression. He then turned towards Zack and said in a much lower tone, "I can smell her on him. He bit her already didn't he?"

Elize's heart started beating faster. The man in front of her was no ordinary man. She had heard in the days that she stayed in the pack house, rumors of his ruthlessness. She knew that he didn't gain his power by merely sitting around and ordering people. Elize looked towards Aileen, who seemed unaffected by the outburst.

"I-" Meiling sighed, before continuing, "yes father." She admitted, a tinge of sadness in her voice.

Alpha Li huffed. He turned towards Zack and pointed a finger towards him. "And I bet that with him present, no wolf could lay a finger on her. This can only mean one thing." He said, his voice getting dangerously low.

Elize held her breath. If the man knew about what happened, he wouldn't spare Alex. Although she was new to the world of werewolves, she knew enough to understand that anyone who dared to harm the Alpha would be punished severely, no matter who.

"Where is the man who dared to harm my grandson? I believe we have some punishment to mete out." Alpha Li said, a cruel smile slowly forming on his face. Elize shivered, seeing the expression on his face. Not once did he look away from her, relishing the fear displayed on her face. Elize bit her lips nervously. A dark look flashed in his eyes, sending chills all over her body. She looked away swiftly, dread filling her.

"That is out of the question!" Aileen's voice interrupted the man's stare.

Alpha Li slowly turned towards the old witch and smirked.

"I don't think that is up to you Aileen. Although you may be the head witch on the island, you have no jurisdiction over the matters among wolves." He said arrogantly.

Aileen's face turned red with anger. But before she could say anything further, Zack spoke up.

"I don't think that would be necessary." He said.

"Oh?" Alpha Li asked, amused.

"As his Alpha, I will take the decisions concerning him. You don't have to bother about such things grandfather." Zack replied.

Elize could feel the tension rising in the room. Alpha Li kept staring at Zack but he stood his ground, without backing away.

"Fine." The man said, finally breaking into a smile. "You can have it your way."

"Thank you grandfather." Zack replied, curtly.

"On one condition." Alpha Li said, his expression unchanging.

Elize tensed.

"You will not mate with this girl until she gets my approval. You have already brought much shame to the family by going against my wishes and living under the same roof with a witch."

"You!" Aileen got up from the seat angrily.

Ignoring the outburst the man continued, "But I am willing to let it slide as she is one part wolf. She can continue to stay in the pack house, but not with you."

Zack suddenly rose from his seat. The veins on his neck was protruding with anger. "That is not up to you!" His voice boomed.

The man laughed. "Boy, remember your place. Besides, I'm only doing this for her good. Her body is not strong enough to bear with your wolf's touch. Do you want to kill her?" he asked, mockingly.

A low growl emitted from Zack's body. Elize could see that he was on the verge of shifting. She quickly grabbed his arm and squeezed it, trying to calm him down.

'Calm down Zack. Please. Don't let him get to you. Let me handle this.' She urged him through the mind link.

Zack's body relaxed a bit. He took a deep breath and sat down next to her. Elize felt relieved. She then looked at the man sitting in front of her.

Squaring her shoulders she said, "With all due respect sir, I don't think that is any of your business. Besides, we have more important matter to discuss than what happens between my mate and I."

The man's eyebrows lifted in amusement. He cocked his head to the side and regarded her with curiosity.

"Elize, please be respectful towards your grandfather." Meiling warned.

Elize smiled at the older woman. "I thought he said clearly that he is not my grandfather."

"That's true. I am not your grandfather." Alpha Li said, interrupting his daughter. "You can simply call me Li little girl."

There were several gasps in the room hearing the man's remark.

"Grandfather!" Zack's voice thundered in the huge room.

"I don't think that's necessary Alpha Li, although the child will remember your kindness. She will address you as Alpha Li for now. Isn't that right Elize?" Aileen said, taking on a cold tone.

"Go on little girl. What is this important thing that you wanted to discuss?" Alpha Li suddenly said, ignoring Aileen once again.

Elize smirked. The man had some nerve to ignore the old woman, she thought. He was clearly taking advantage of the fact that Aileen was holding back because of Elize.

"Alpha Li, if I may so address you," Elize paused and looked at him for approval. A thin smile formed on his face. She laughed inside her mind, knowing that she had clearly made him uncomfortable.

She continued, "We were attacked today in the woods."

"So I have heard." The man said, his face displaying a passive expression.

Elize narrowed her eyes. The man's acting skills were over the roof, but she was not planning to let him off the hook any time soon. The Island was not a place that anyone could just enter. It was protected by magic. That would mean that someone inside was the propagator. Elize could only see one suspect, and he was sitting right in front of her.

"Are you saying that you do not know anything about the incident?" She prodded.

"Are you suspecting me little girl?" Alpha Li asked with a smirk.

Meiling suddenly interrupted the conversation. "Elize father would never-"

"I didn't say that mam. I was under the impression that you called us here in order to enquire about the attack. After all, we barely survived." Elize said calmly with a polite smile plastered on her face.

The man laughed. The sound carried a threat and she could feel it in the air. "I see that you're indeed a smart girl." He said getting up from his chair. "But I am not the villain that you're looking for. I was in the office all night yesterday. The people in the pack house can attest to that." He paused and slowly started walking towards her.

Elize could feel the power emanating off of him with each step he took in her direction. It felt like an overwhelming sense of fear enveloping every tendon in her body. She squirmed in her seat uncomfortably and looked towards Zack. He let out a low growl in warning, stopping the old man inches away from Zack's chair. Alpha Li smiled at his grandson and turned back to face Elize, his expression overtly pleasant to be real.

He continued,"And since we're on that topic, let me assure you that I have sent my best men out there to the scene for further investigation as soon as you returned. My dear child, you have no reason to fear me, we're the same you and I."

Elize felt uncomfortable at the comparison. "I don't see how that is-"

"Wolves my child. We're both wolves who are destined for greater things." He interrupted. The man's hands were raised above him as he spelt each word slowly. Elize felt a chill settle over her skin.

"Alpha Li! Since we have nothing further to discuss on the matter let us make some things clear." Aileen said raising her voice.

"Oh?" The man asked with a smirk.

"Since Elize will be staying here, I will be leaving few of my people here in order to ensure her safety. There will be no bargains on this demand." She said, with her head held high.

"And since when do you think you can ask for such demands?" Alpha Li asked, walking back to his seat.

"Thank you Aileen. That would be great." Zack interrupted, ignoring his grandfather.

"Zack!" The man warned.

"I'm the Alpha of my pack grandfather. I will decide matters on this Island." Zack said with a determined tone.

"Zack! Apologize to your grandfather now!" Meiling said standing up.

"He's just a child Ling'er. He will learn in due time. Sit down." Alpha Li said, his mood changing instantly. He then turned to Zack and smiled, "Go on Zack, you are the Alpha."

There was a tinge of sarcasm in his voice, which was apparent to everyone sitting in the room. Meiling slowly sat down, her eyes warily looking at her son.

Zack huffed at the response then turned back to Aileen. "Is there anything else Aileen?" He asked.

"Yes. I need your word as the Alpha that nothing will happen to the people I leave in your charge, including Alex. One wrong move little boy, I wouldn't hesitate to call off the truce." Aileen threatened.

"You have our word." Zack said, squeezing Elize's hand.

Elize squeezed back with a smile on her face. Although she was proud of her mate, she couldn't help being worried about the man sitting opposite to them, observing everything with an arrogant smirk on his face.