"how have you forgotten?" snapped a furious Ezekiel over the call. "how could you do this to us?"

Maeve looked down at the table in wonder. Another week had passed since the date and it was safe to say, both were enjoying the tranquility the cabin offered.

Maeve thought for a whole minute, wrecking her brain before she gasped and shut her eyes as it struck her. "Holy fuck! How could I?" she hit her hand on the table making it tremble under the force and the plates on top of it clatter. Elijah glanced up from the newspaper at Maeve who only offered him a sheepish smile in return. Maeve excused herself quickly and exited on the wooden porch behind the cabin.

"I forgot it was this month." she said rubbing a hand over her face. She looked ahead at the quiet woods, the thick line of pine trees that surrounded in lush green.

"Well...are you coming or..."

"The fuck I'm not!" she cursed before she bit her tongue. "I am coming."

"Great! So I'll get your room prepared and a guest bedroom for Elijah?" Ezekiel's voice turned questioning but with mischief as he said the last part. Maeve narrowed her eyes to slits glancing into the tree line up front,

"You're insolent!" she cursed. Maeve could hear ruffling and struggle on the other end of the call. She furrowed her brows diligently listening to a female scolding and then Ezekiel yelling in defence. Maeve laughed when she realised to whom that second voice belonged.

"Bring Elijah. I want to see who it is that my niece is dating. If Gemma said she approves then I do too."

"Your own brother...Maeve's dad, Uncle Jared said 'no boys' so no boys. You hear me, Moony? No boys. He is not invited."

"Well that's not for you to decide. I'm the Interim Alpha for now so what I say goes. I'll formally invite the man. His family too."

"Alright, he is actually here..." Maeve bit her tongue and slapped her forehead. A defeaning silence fell over the call terrifying Maeve for what could follow.

"Hold on." said Ezekiel, his voice raised suspiciously high, "you said you are taking some time to yourself because of everything that happened. What is Elijah doing there?"

"Oh how lovely! They're on vacation together. I hate this but how lovely." Maeve blushed hanging her head low. She kept swinging her leg, her toe drawing abstract shapes over it in an attempt to distract her.

Maeve heard more ruffling over the speaker, Ezekiel's blatant refusal to leave and protests against extending an invitation towards Elijah. Especially now that he knew Elijah was keeping her company as well.

"Give that man the phone." said Amara before she addressed her son to scold him, "Ezekiel, take a walk!" Maeve heard soft murmurs for a few seconds. "Hello? Elijah."

"Nope still me." said Maeve, "listen, I can talk to him...you know. If Ezekiel isn't okay with it, I don't think Elijah would mind if we don't invite him."

"Give the original the phone Maeve. I'm not asking." Amara said with a strict voice.

"But auntie..." Maeve whined, not wanting her to have a conversation with Elijah.

"Young lady, I know everything that has happened in the past six months. You may try and hide it and ask the same of your brother but don't think I can't pry it out of your brother. Before I start yelling at you for hiding it from me, give the call to Elijah." Maeve sighed. She walked back inside the house.

"Elijah." she called him. He looked up from the newspaper he was reading, sitting at the dining table. Maeve handed him the phone. "My aunt Amara wants to talk to you." he took the phone from her and brought it to his ear.

"Hello?....yes, nice to speak with you, ma'am──I understand. I won't──I understand. She has become family. Please don't, it isn't needed." Maeve chewed on her nail watching Elijah smile every now and then at something her aunt said, "I would love to. Thank you for inviting me. Yes, I will pass on the message──take care. Goodbye." Elijah ended the phone call and set it on the table.

Maeve waited for Elijah to tell her about the call but he simply resumed to read the newspaper. Maeve's brows were raised, her mouth agape, "what?"

He glanced up at her again, "what did she say?"

"Oh she asked if we were a 'thing' and I──" he trailed off when Maeve groaned out loud and slumped into the chair in front of him, "before I could concur she threatened me that if I were to break your heart, I will be ripped to shreds. Then of course, she invited me and my siblings to the annual Gala that is next week."

Maeve dropped her head on the table, hitting it in the process. "Do you not want me to come?" Elijah asked her.

"No it's the other thing she said that made me groan." Maeve lifted her head up to look at him, "did she really say rip to shreds?"

"Verbatim." Elijah chuckled.

"Well then...looks like you're coming to the finest night of the year." Maeve leaned back into the chair with a sly grin dangling on her lips, "would have said you'll need a suit but let's be honest, you don't wear anything else."

"What do you have against my suits?"

"Oh no nothing...honestly but men also have choices these days in fashion you know..." Elijah rolled his eyes and flipped over the page of the newspaper and continued skimming through the articles.

"Hurtful." she whined dramatically making Elijah crack an even wider smile. He neatly folded the newspaper and looked at her, "tell me about this Gala. What is it about?"

Maeve shifted in the chair and faced him with a bright smile. She tucked the two strands of hair behind her ears and began with a goofish look, "so basically the Gala is to commemorate the day the Kalon business empire was established by Phillipe Kalon in 1816. Back then it was mostly shipping and transportation of goods."

"So it's a celebration."

"Yes..but mostly it is a way to show how great our wealth is. You know what I mean?" Maeve clicked her tongue, "on this night, the Alphas and Lunas of other Lycan packs participate as well. All those with whom we've had business relations with or are friends. Even vampires are included. There are many different organisations by vampires Kalon's have relations with."

"Sounds interesting. So, Miss Maeve Kalon would like to accompany me to this Gala?"

Maeve raised a single brow teasingly gazing into his eyes, "I don't know...maybe." Maeve got up from her seat and made her way to him, "you'll have some rules to follow."

He grabbed her hand and kissed it before glancing up at her with a cheeky grin, "I think I can manage for a day."

"Oh..." she giggled, "it's a two day affair."

"I thought it was a Gala."

"It is." Maeve's fingers curled around his hand that held hers first, "but the night before the Gala is an annual tea party of all the business associates, board members, partners. Think of it like a massive conference to discuss the future, remember the past sort of a deal."

"So, all of the packs in America are into business then?" Maeve shook her head sideways. She took her hand from his and made her way into the kitchen.

"I was thinking Ravioli for dinner. What do you think?" she asked searching through the cabinets they stocked up for the week.

Elijah also made his way into the kitchen. He rolled up the sleeves of his shirt and began to bring out the utensils they would need to make it.

"You see Elijah...not all the packs in America──particularly in America are into the white collared business." Maeve set the pasta packet and spices on the kitchen platform and turned to face him. She placed a hand on her waist, leaning on the counter. "One or two are more into illegal dealings...but keep their noses clean for the public."

"How so?"

"There are a total of five Packs in America: Bloodcrest, Wintercrest, Amberskey, Darren and of course, Kalon." she began. Both walked around the kitchen assembling the ingredients to make Ravioli. "Bloodcrest and Wintercrest turned to underworld. Bloodcrest became Mafias...mostly drugs, murder. Wintercrest clan is known for extortion, gambling, money laundering."

Elijah set a bowl on the stove and glanced at her quickly, "do you deal with them?"

"No." Maeve quickly replied. "They prefer isolation from the rest of us. We don't bother them, they don't bother us. Kalon's, Amberskey and Darren are tightly knit in business relations." Maeve started chopping vegetables, she continued on once again,

"Each of the three have one main business where each holds monopoly and others where we have a joint venture. We have the monopoly in technology, Amberskey in textiles, Darren in agriculture. The rest of it is an equal partnership." Maeve rambled on without even glancing at Elijah. He helped her to prepare dinner while listening diligently.

After a long and detailed explanation, Maeve finally looked up at Elijah suddenly realising she had been venting out aimlessly, not even stopping to see if Elijah had any interest. "Sorry." she was quick to apologise.

Elijah shook his head and asked instead, "so this tea...what is your role in it?"

"That part scares me... previously Pops used to attend but now that he's──" a lump formed in Maeve's throat but she continued, "not here anymore it falls to Auntie to take his place since Zeke and I haven't taken our oath."

"So would your pack allow two Alphas?" Elijah simmered down the flame under the pan in which he prepared the sauce and turned to Maeve. "Generally to my knowledge there is always just one Alpha."

"Correct." Maeve snapped her fingers with a hum. "But since both of us are technically eligible to the throne there are two ways it can go." she paused to check on the pasta boiling before she proceeded, "the first way...which has always been the way things work. The two eligible for the title fight each other. To death."

A defeaning yet ringing silence suddenly took over the atmosphere that was filled with the smell of the pasta sauce. Maeve's eyes met with Elijah's, neither being sure of how to interpret the other's reaction. Deliberating what to say next, Elijah resumed to stir the sauce.

"The other option is for both to take on the title. Two Alphas." Elijah glanced her way again, this time with a much softer look.

"That is what you've chosen." he said. Elijah wasn't assuming it, he knew that was the choice they had made. Maeve bit the inside of her cheek. There were flaws to that plan that put her under scrutiny, under the watchful patriarchal eyes ones that didn't like women taking positions traditional belonging to men.

Maeve drained out the water of the pasta using a strainer and left the utensil aside to let the pasta settle down a little before she could mix it with the pasta. She didn't say anything to Elijah. She didn't want to. Why would she tell Elijah of the Lycan politics? It didn't affect him in any way. It was better that way.

"I'm not allowed to this tea then I assume?" asked Elijah with a sly smile. Maeve smiled in return shaking her head.

"You can join. The tea starts late afternoon. You can join for lunch──that is if you want to. Or you can tour the colony." Elijah gazed into her eyes as if piercing through them to look into her mind directly. He leaned down slightly and captured her lips into an affectionate kiss. Maeve's eyes fluttered close, stomach did flips, but she loved every second of the warm feeling that buzzed through her.

"I'll go wherever you want me to." Maeve gently pushed him away with a grin,

"Don't get all mushy."

"I like that flustered look on you." said Elijah resuming to cook the pasta sauce just as much as needed ignoring the red look on Maeve's face.

Maeve cleared her throat, "umm...any---anymore questions? Any questions at all?" she asked, looking at him with a quizzical expression.

"Nothing springs to my mind right now." Maeve clapped her hands and began the next steps in preparing the Ravioli.

Elijah slowed down the car as it drove through a tall metal gate that stood guard at the entrance to the gated community; tall, sturdy walls around providing a sense of security and privacy. Immediately Elijah was greeted with a meticulously designed network of winding roads that lead you through the neighborhood. He gawked at the planned colony with sheer amaze.

The houses in the gated community were a sight to behold. Each dwelling, carefully crafted with impeccable attention to detail, ensuring a consistent and cohesive architectural style. These houses exude a sense of sophistication and charm, with their well-manicured lawns and tasteful landscaping.

The exterior facades of the houses featured a consistent color palette, creating a sense of unity throughout the community. Large windows undoubtedly allowed natural light to flood the interiors, giving the houses a warm and inviting ambiance.

While he navigated through the winding roads, he couldn't help but notice one particular structure that stood out from the rest. The magnificent mansion, positioned at the heart of the community, commanded attention with its sheer grandeur. The mansion served as the centerpiece, a symbol of opulence and prestige.

The mansion seamlessly blended with the surrounding houses, despite its larger size. It shared the same architectural style and design elements, maintaining the sense of uniformity that characterized the community. The sprawling estate surrounding the mansion featured lush gardens.

"Impressed?" asked Maeve with a grin curling on her lips. She watched fascinatingly the amazed look on his face. Elijah drove the car at a slow speed navigating on the road leading to the mansion at the end of it.

"Very. It is well planned." Elijah said.

"Take it up the driveway and park it near the curb." Maeve instructed pointing forward since they neared the mansion. Elijah followed her words as they were.

Maeve unbuckled her seatbelt and glanced sideways at him, "if you are done gawking, shall we?" she asked gesturing toward the front door of the mansion. Elijah hummed and got out of the car as did Maeve.

Maeve looked upward at the mansion, a series of memories burdened her heavily. The sun that was overhead, was half visible from where she stood, hidden behind the top of the building. She forced herself to gaze that way, using it as an excuse for the unshed tear in the corner of her eye.

"Moonpie! There she is."

"Don't you dare, young lady!"

"I'll always be looking at you. Just look at the stars and see me." Grandfather's words echoed in her head.

Maeve cleared her throat and swiped a finger from the corner of her eye. She walked around the front of the car, beside Elijah. The front porch was crowded by men and women, all waiting with bright smiles for the two to make their way to them. All of them were the werewolves Maeve trained along with for the better part of the last two years.

"Maeve!" yelled out Lolita. Before another word could leave her or for anyone their eyes landed on Elijah who walked next to Maeve. There was a small glimpse of a sheepish smile on Maeve's face before she cleared it and shook her head.

"Hey everybody!" Maeve waved her hand and pressed her lips into a thin line.

"This is..." asked Ben discreetly looking at Elijah.

"I'm Elijah." he introduced himself putting his hand forward, "it's nice to meet you all. And thank you, for the invite."

"The original you're dating?" asked Lolita. Maeve turned beet red flushed from Lolita's question. Lolita grinned suggestively making Maeve punch her shoulder.

"Wow. How did you break through to her?" Ace asked Elijah, crossing his arms and raising up his brows. Maeve slapped her forehead and shook her head.

"I mean, let's face it Alpha, you are not an easy person to go about. Remember how it went with Mars?" he asked looking pointedly at Maeve.

"That was different and you know it." shot back Maeve, "now shut up. Where's auntie or Prongslette?" Maeve asked, pushing Ben, Penelope and Lolita aside to walk inside the house. "Elijah...come on, these idiots will only keep menacing. It's their only good quality."

"Uh excuse me..." Lolita took offence to Maeve's words, "we trained with you...we are only as good as you are." Maeve grabbed Elijah's hand and dragged him inside the house without any further words.

All heads turned watching them walk in, his hand wound around hers making them all grin widely.

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Hey guys! How do you like the chapter?

Thank you to everyone who voted on my last update! The Gala is on as you can see. The following chapters will show a bit more of Maeve's background, a few extra stories, things etc with a few twists (for new readers, the old update had them as well)

Hopefully you liked the chapter

Please don't forget to vote comment and share!

Take care everyone!

Raven :)