Chapter 76: 76. Let her choose
Kora walked to where they were like she did not feel the pressure in the air and stopped beside Darren who wrapped his hand around her waist possessively while glaring at Lazarus.
Kora gave a glance at him and then shifted her gaze to Lazarus who was sitting and looking at the two of them. "Alpha," Kora said with a bow of her head which took everyone by surprise. This was something that rarely does. To be specific, this was the second time that she had addressed him as her alpha. The first time was because they were all in a large gathering with alphas of various packs present, she called him that way to show respect to him.
Seeing her in the room, the air of hostility lowered significantly. Lazarus took a deep breath and released it through his mouth. His eyes returned to their brown colour. While. Darren tried to hold his beast back. It was not that hard now that he had her in his arms. "What brings you here, Kora?" Lazarus asked after calming down his temper.
Kora looked at where Ezra stood and spoke, "Ezra asked me to come here," She then turned back to look at Lazarus, "He said I was needed here."
Lazarus and Darren turned to look at Ezra who raised his hands in the air. "Raven told me to bring her." He said and looked at Raven before he continued, "Alpha, everyone could feel your anger and annoyance, the pack is worried something major has happened."
Lazarus sighed. He should have exerted more control over his anger. He thought to himself. Alpha, Alpha supreme," Raven called, getting their attention. "You are both making a big deal out of something that can be settled easily."
"Let Luna Supreme decide what she wants and all this will be settled," Mateo said. He looked at Kora and gave her a slight bow, making everyone’s attention fall on her to see what her reaction would be. Kora had an expressionless face, not letting anything slip out of her expression. "Don’t you think so, Alpha?" he asked Darren.
Darren tilted his head to the side to look at Kora who was in his arms, standing beside him. Turning her body, he made her face him, "I will do as you say." Darren said to her, looking deep into her eyes. " Only you have the right to decide, no one else. Not even him." He said the last line glaring at Lazarus.
Kora was confused about what they were asking her to decide. She stared into Darren’s eyes but she still could not understand what it was that she was to decide on. She then turned to Lazarus, "Alpha..."
"We need to talk, Kora," Lazarus said and Kora gave a nod to him. " Everyone else can be excused."
Everyone started walking away and out of the office. Levi walked past them and bowed a bit in Kora’s direction and gave a nod to him before walking out. They all left except Darren who refused to leave. "I am staying here with my mate. Whatever you have to say, say it to me too."
"Very well," Lazarus said and offered Kora a seat." Have a seat, then we’ll begin." He said and Kora took a seat and sat Darren next to her.
For a while, Lazarus was quiet as he looked at the little girl whom he had rescued years ago and who has now become a beautiful young woman. She was someone whom they have all grown to love even with her cold exterior. He has grown attached to her in a way that she has become his daughter and now he was afraid of parting with her. His eyes shifted to look at Darren who sat next to her, from the position of his hand, Lazarus could tell that he still had his hand around her waist.
"I want to talk to you about him," Lazarus said, getting to the point immediately without beating around the bushes. "I know he is your mate, Kora, but you are still too young to go with him." Lazarus looked at the two of them who had the same blank look on their faces, the only difference being that Darren seemed colder than Kora."I can not allow you to go with him. At least not until I am sure of your safety outside this pack. You won’t understand now, but you will once you know the truth and the reason why I want you here."
"I know." She said and looked at her with a questioning gaze. "I know why you want me here. And I know what happened too, I saw it." She said and Lazarus gave her a nod.
"Then you understand that your safety is what I am concerned about. If you saw it then you also know what happened to them, it is best that you stay here." Lazarus said, intertwining his fingers together.
"I know that," Kora said and Darren’s hold on tightening. "If I stay, what about him? I will still have to leave eventually."
"I don’t plan on keeping you away from each other forever, you have grown up and now have your mate, keeping you away from him will be torture, not just for him, but for you too, but safety comes first before anything else. And that, Kora, is my responsibility, to keep you safe." Lazarus said.
"I can protect myself," Kora said. Her hand subconsciously moved to hold that of Darren which was still around her waist. "You know that I can."
"I trust you that you can, but what about him?" Lazarus asked, making Darren glare at him even more and he returned his glare. "I don’t trust him with you."
"Why do you think I can’t take proper care of my mate, Alpha Lazarus? Do I look so incompetent that you think I won’t be able to protect her?" Darren asked with annoyance.
"I was talking to her, not you, if you can’t stand it, then you should leave. "Lazarus said and Darren growled at him. Lazarus was seriously testing his limits and he was not sure how long he could hold himself back. If it was someone else in his position, Darren would have killed him already. But this was his mate’s guardian.
"I do," Kora said, answering Lazarus’ last question to her. "I do trust him. And I know he will keep me safe."
Hearing Kora’s words, Darren’s anger subsided and retreated. "You heard her, she comes with me." And it was Lazarus’ time to growl at Darren.
