Chapter XXX

Despite what everyone has already talked about about the necklace, the owner, and the possible consequences, once in Samara, they make a tactical stop. This time it was Lupas who received them and gave them asylum. Karenina, the Alpha, informs her rival for centuries, Elian, who has been trying to take her position among the other clans for five hundred years, but as the Arab proverb says, "the enemy of my enemy will be my friend." Night falls with her, a well-deserved rest after days of long travel, of the multiple fights in which, although they are not one hundred percent involved, they do come to a quarrel. Elian, like a good Alpha, like a good knight, but above all, like a good prince, is grateful for the fine attention, asks his hostess for the phone so he can make several calls, each of the calls he makes from the Alpha's office, she is attentive to every word said.

—From what I just heard, you do have problems.

—Just a little, nothing I can't fix – he takes a breath as if his life depended on it – I try not to let them overtake me – she pours him a drink – Do you still insist on taking away my "crown"?

—Of course—he takes a sip—I don't know who gave you the right to be above us.

—I won't deny that at first I thought I had every right in the world, after all, for better or worse, you were all born from me, from my family, but things changed when I realized I wasn't your owner, just your creator—he takes a sip—directly or indirectly, I felt responsible for each and every one of you. Dario made me understand that wasn't the case, so I only took care of my pack. When my wife died, I left everything behind.

—I knew that, I rarely saw you. Tell me something. Is what they say about you true?

—So many things are said, be more specific.

— Your new partner died, and it wasn't in the most honorable way, let's say.

A sad smile appears on his lips-

—She would have made an excellent Alpha, she was strong, brave, dominant... she was... she was a woman too hurt by life that she never believed she was capable of receiving anything good from it.

—It sounds sad.

"It certainly was," he takes another sip, signals for more, refills his glass, and thanks her. "I promise to send you a case full of our best wine. Now your daughter is my responsibility. I adopted her."

—Are you a saint?

—I am not – she refills her glass as well – I loved Secundina so much that her daughter is the only thing I have left of her, I love her like my own daughter.

—Oh, it's over. Wait, I'll get another one, or maybe grab your glass and follow me. Don't let anyone say we Russians aren't good hosts.

—I've never said otherwise, have I? —He takes his glass and follows the platinum-plated one.

Elian's passion

—Just in case you were thinking about it. Tell me, what happened to your ribbon?

—Broken, but controlled. If I get out alive after all this is over, I'll go back to my exile.

—I will take the crown from your son, I learned that Calix is the heir or rather he was the one who won the fight.

—That's right – they arrive at the cellars – Wow! In the name of Dionysius!

This is a beauty.

—It is, follow me, to the end – he points out – the best of the best… after all you are the king, follow me your highness – he bows to him, he laughs out loud.

"I'll follow her." They reach the last part, where there was a small, more homey place. She gives him a bottle and takes one for herself. "I hope getting drunk isn't a vile move on your part to kill me."

—I admit I'm a treacherous viper, but I also admit you're protecting us. I'm not stupid, and I want to take your crown the easy way, so everyone knows there's a new queen.—she takes the bottle to her chest, he follows the rhythm, another bottle. Another bottle—tell me something, or Your Royal Highness!

"What thing?" he drawls. "Common."

—With your ribbon broken, how do you deal with that? —he points to his crotch— I mean, or did you take a vow of chastity?

—I haven't had the need, that's all.

"And you? Do you have someone to take away the cravings between your legs?" He downs the fifth bottle.

"I had it. I cut off her head when I found her with another woman," he imitates the Greek. "I haven't had the urge, like you said... but... I think it's coming to me." He spreads his legs. "Do you think you can handle it?"

Smile sideways.

— As long as you don't kill me – he bows.

—I won't do it—she pulls him by the shirt to give him a lust-filled kiss.

—I haven't done it with a magnifying glass for years.

—They say it's like riding a bike —this time he's the one kissing her as he removes her dress, letting himself be carried away by the heat of the moment.

—That's what I heard – letting them take off his shirt.

While Elián is busy in the wine cellar, the others are in their rooms, the girls in one, the men in another.

"Our beloved leader is taking his time," William says sarcastically.

"He's probably making a deal with her. Sorry, you don't know, but she's been trying to overthrow him for centuries," Loke says.

—Ahhh! What's the point? I say! If we're already divided, everyone already has their own established zone, even I, who used to be a hermit. Now the Alphas of all the clans have accepted the rules, accepted the law.