Our Other Mate: Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Merrick's POV

After Phillip helped me take Eleonore to her chamber, I went to my private study. I asked Phillip to join me, he was always down for a drink and a good conversation. What no one ever tells you is being a royal is so lonely. Especially after the death of my two older brothers Allen and Marshall. I lived in this huge home meant for 20 people and it was me and a small bit of my household. Alliyah and I would talk about filling each room with our large family.

I'm not sure if Eleonore will even want a family,  I tell my lycan who looks sad at the thought. Turning back to Phillip I pop open a bottle of Dalmore and offer him a glass, of course, he accepts.

"Wanna play?" I motion to the chessboard in front of me. I can see him roll his eyes.

"Why? You always cheat!" he sneered. I can help but let out a laugh. Phillip was a werewolf from outside of the city, playing chess was not something he had learned from a young age.

"Hey, you almost beat me last time...you might win." I can feel the devious smile spread across my face. He accepts, downing the glass as he makes his first move.

We play well into the night until Phillip finally looks up at me, "Did you really call The Dutchess, Alliyah?"

I cringe, closing my eyes and rubbing the bridge of my nose. I nod without looking up, I know that he has that devilish smirk plaster all over his face. I had seen it a million times.

"I need another glass" I pour another into my glass and I see him push his glass toward me. One would never suspect that I was the duke and he's my personal guard. Many drinks later I fall asleep in the comfy armchairs, lulled by the Dalmore that I kept a continuous supply of ever since Alliyah died.

I see the sunbeams enter at the top of the black curtains that hung in the study. When sunlight filled this room it was breathtaking, the redwood almost sparkling. I love this room more than any other room in the Manor, it was my father's study and it had stayed the same as he left it. Only a few small changes like the curtains and the chairs had been changed. I grabbed my phone off the side table, looking at the time. Phillip sitting across for me still asleep and snoring loud. I throw his rook at his chest making him jump to attention hand to his face in a salute and his eyes barely opened.

"Relax." I chuckle a bit knowing he is in no way awake. I click on my lock screen and I see the picture of Alliyah I took while we were out on my yacht at the end of the summer after her birthday. She looked so pretty in her yellow dress and sun hat. It didn't matter to me that she was not in the upper class or even a lycan. I loved her still.

After Phillip had opened his eyes fully I didn't need to remind him that today was the 14th of the month and it was time to decorate the memorial. Filling the flask from my pocket, we make our way to the garden. When we arrive Phillip starts to clear the leaves that collected at the foot of Alliyah's statue as I shine the golden plaque that had been placed here shortly after she was buried.

Phillip disappears for a few moments and returns with a watering can. He always made sure the flowers were well taken care of as well as me. He had been with me for years at this point and aside from Joseph, he was my closest confidant. We were the same age and after the death of his parents, my father's groom, he came to live with us. When we were teenagers, we were glued to the hips. We studied together, played together, and took trips around the kingdom. As we got older our friendship stayed strong and I appointed him my personal guard. He took care of me almost to a fault. These days he pulled me out of the dark hole I had drunk myself into since Alliyah's death.

"Thank you for looking out for me Phillip", I stand up inspecting the memorial.

"Always Rick, you are the most important person in my life and I swore an oath to protect me until my death" he smiles

"I guess we should go wake up my new bride and get going. The sooner we can get this done the better. It's hard enough knowing she doesn't want this either." I sigh and turn back towards the Manor.

"Hey, you don't know that she could be fun in the bedroom. " Phillip smiles his arm touching my shoulder.

When I enter the sitting room I am surprised to find Miriam franticly looking out the window. Phillip pushes the door in, "What is it, Miriam? Did you wake the Duchess up? I heard she can be a bit crabby", he chuckles.

"She...she's gone. I'm sorry Your Grace, I tried to stop her but she just left her room. A chambermaid said she went into the gardens but I can't seem to find her." Miriam croaks out. I feel my face turn pale.

"What?!??" is all that can leave my mouth. I turn to look at Phillip who is already on his way out the door. "I'll find her"

I turn on my heels to go with him, my palms are sweaty from the nerves. After checking most of the garden and with no luck I feel myself start to breakdown. I was not in love with Eleonore but here I was a Duke who couldn't keep his mates safe. Just as I felt that familiar feeling of losing hope, Phillip beckons me with his hands in the direction of the memorial.

When I finally am in view, I see my new bride in front of Allyiah's statue. Anger swells inside me, How dare she be here, she is not worthy enough to be on this hallowed ground!!! I feel Phillip's hand tug at my shoulder but I can look away from what she has done. This is Alliyah's space and she is never allowed in here!

I take off to confront her and make her leave. Just as I reach her she turns around, tears streaming down her face. Why is she crying?! My lycan is confused. "I'm....", she stops "Your Grace." she stumbles, trying to bow and wipe away the tears as quickly as possible.

At a glance, I notice all the new flowers that now decorated the area where Phillip and I had just been moments before. "You did this?" I ask as I offer my hand to help her up.

"Yes, I'm sorry for being here. I just wanted to explore and wound up here," she confessed. "I didn't mean to disrupt her grave, I just wanted to bring her flowers and tell her I am sorry she isn't here." Ella looks at the floor, then back up at me.

She wanted to make it more beautiful my lycan chuffed. He was happy we had chosen a mate with such good character, not that We'd had much choice.

"Thank you, Ella, I appreciate the kind gesture," I say picking her up. Something about this small act filled my heart with hope. Hope that maybe one day, she really be my chosen mate.

The winds blew in the garden and we decided to head inside and get ready for our honeymoon. I was taking her to my favorite Greek isles, Rhodes. When I was a young man I was obsessed with Ottoman rule and the capture of Rhodes was one of Suleiman the Magnificent's greatest accomplishments. I had visited there often when my work allowed me and this was the perfect opportunity to visit. I hoped that Ella would enjoy it as well and that while we were there we could get to know one another better.

We sat at the small dining table that was just inside the kitchen as we waited for our luggage to be carried to the yacht. "Are we flying? I have only been on a plane once and that was on my way here." Ella confessed, trying to break the awkward silence that how now surrounded us.

"No Your Grace, we are taking The Moon Goddess, The Duke's Yacht," Phillip answered. She smiled at him, briefly looking at me to introduce him.

"Oh, yes! Ella this is Phillip my... I mean Our personal guard. He will be with us while we are out of the manor" Ella extends her hand and smiles at Phillip.

"Well, I hope you are hungry! Before you leave you must eat something dear, when you went to bed with no supper I was worried." Mrs. Green said stepping out of the kitchen with 8 or 9 platers full of food.

Lycans and wolfs were always had a healthy appetite and I was beginning to feel the hunger pains from last night as well. Dalmore and Champagne didn't make a good meal and my mouth watered at the delicious smells that wafted our way as the platters were placed in front of us. I watched Ella, almost as if to study her. I hadn't been around many women, and the few that I had were always so delicate, not at all like Eleonore. She didn't seem to mind the dirt on her dress from the garden to that her hair had been blown by the wind. Her auburn curls sparkled in the sunlight and they reminded me of Alliyah's golden windswept hair. We asked each other a few basic questions to try and get rid of the nerves and every once and a while Phillip would chuckle at one of my answers.

"Was that your design at the cathedral? The gold and lilies were so beautiful", Ella asks looking up from her plate.

I see Phillips's eyes look at me as he shakes his head. She-wolfs were normally jealous by nature but everything had led me to believe that Ella was different somehow.

"No, That was Alliyah's design," I said with a sigh " it was the last thing I could give her. If she wasn't there, it could have at least been the way she wanted it." I don't bother looking at her, I can feel her sympathetic eyes looking at me.

I feel the warm touch of her hand on my hand, sending sparks up my arm. It felt good to be touched by someone other than myself.

"I know the feeling," she sighed. As we finished our meal, Phillip reminded me of the time and that it was time to embark and make our way to Rhodes.