Fated To My Lycan Stepbrothers
Chapter 144

Zeke's POV

"Sh*t!" I closed the file. This was the third file in three minutes, and they didn't stop coming!

A knock at the door granted me temporary relief.

"Come in."

I wasn't shocked to see Marley come in with a smile. She has been everywhere lately. I sighed. "What is it, Marley?" I wasn't entirely pleased to see her. Not after the stunt she pulled the other day with me and Naya. It was humiliating to both of us. "You have been avoiding me." She started without pleasantries. Well, it was better; she went straight to the point. I was stressed already.

"I have." I replied, opening the file again. It's better to act busy than waste my time with her. "It is obvious."

Marley took her seat immediately. "I told you I was sorry. I am sorry for everything."

I glanced through the paper. It was a petition for a new pack house to be built since the old one was falling in. This was the fifth time the petition would go through my office. I haven't given approval for any.

Our economy wasn't promising because of the lack of support from the other Alphas across the realms. They were not upholding the end of their deal, despite the alliance my father promised. We were bare, but we're covering their backs. How cruel.

I closed the file again, dumping it among those for review. I would address those after I have gone through half of the mountain of files.

However, Marley's eyes didn't miss my actions. "What was that?" She snatched the file, opening it immediately.

"I thought you came here to apologize." My voice was hard.

She dropped the file. "I know I deserve to be punished for my actions."

I paused to glare at her. "Do you want to be punished?"

She jutted out her lower lips like she was about to cry. She was trying to look cute. Seriously? "You have been unusually lenient."

The frustration was beginning to get to me. "Because I have more important things to do than settle the feud in my family. You were Luna. I expected you to take care of family issues, but you are doing the opposite. I don't need you here." I was acting cold, but she should expect this. She sat in my chair to dictate my role. She filed my rage rampage and insulted my mate.

It won't be easy to forgive her, even though she has been a mother figure to me

Her eyes widened in shock. "Zeke...

I frowned. "Alpha Zeke to you."

A sad whine escaped her lips, causing me to look at her. "I said I was sorry. But I think it shouldn't concern you how I talk to my daughter."

I raised my eyes. "Naya?" She is my mate, woman!

"Yes, Naya. I will accept your harsh words as my punishment. But I came here to report an important matter to you."

"What?" Her presence was beginning to infuriate me.

"The elders need an heir. You know what that means, right?"

"Stop beating about the bush!" I growled, not in the mood for her shenanigans.

Marley clicked the roof of her tongue. I knew she was getting annoyed too, but her expression was normal. She was putting on her usual red lipstick. Her gown was sleeveless and showed her big, bouncy breasts. It was quite clear that Naya took after her. "The elders need you to get a mate so that you can produce heirs for the throne. The elders are not to be put aside, you know."

I rolled my eyes. "Do you know Elder Freya was stripped of her powers?"

Marley raised an eyebrow. Oh, she wasn't aware. Even though she had eyes and ears in the pack, "How did that happen?"

I narrowed my eyes to replace a hint of a lie. It turned out she wasn't lying. She really doesn't know about it. I tried to remember where she was after she was free from my rage rampage. My mind could come up with nothing. I didn't even see her around. Where was she? "Where were you after the last incident?" I was curious now.

Marley refused to meet my eyes. I-I- went to sleep. I was so exhausted from keeping my head at a point."

I licked my dry lips. "You didn't hear anything strange?"

She shook her head. "No one told me anything. I guess it must have been really confidential for no one to tell me anything. What was it about? Does it relate to Elder Freya?" She was getting really inquisitive. Her eyes bulged as she asked those questions. She wanted to know.

I chuckled. "No one is above punishment." I emphasized the last part so she would be aware of that and control her actions. "The elderly one used Naya as a vessel to punish elder Freya. She was stripped of her powers. I didn't tell you this to mock her." I didn't even get to finish because Marley was laughing. She was laughing hard.

"Stripped of her powers? That's hilarious! Old Hag got what she deserved." Marley continued laughing, and I couldn't understand her lack of empathy. What really transpired between the both of them when I was away at the Blood moon pack? I knew elder Freya wasn't a lovable person, but Marley had told me to get on her good side.

What changed?

"This isn't a joke, Marley. It's a serious matter."

She finally managed to compose herself, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye. "Oh, come on, Zeke. You have to admit, it's a little amusing. The mighty elder was brought down by the Moon Goddess herself. It's amazing!" "The elderly one."

"They are one, aren't they? Sisters?" She inquired.

I shook my head, trying to understand how Marley could replace humor in someone's downfall. "It's not something to mock. The elderly one and the moon goddess made you Luna. They are one."

Marley's eyes became hard. "I was Luna out of my hard work."

For a moment, I wondered what she meant by that word.

Who becomes Luna through hard work? Once you are the mate of an Alpha, you become a Luna. It was automatic. It meant the moon goddess chose you to rule the pack.

Marley was Father's second chance mate. She left her own mate for her father I appreciate that, but it didn't excuse what she did. The moon goddess works in mysterious ways, and she has been a great help to the pack. The moon goddess is never at fault. The ones at fault are us.

Her hands waved off my concern. "Unity, division-it's all the same in the grand scheme of things. Besides, Elder Freya was never a fan of unity. Always scheming and plotting."

I sighed, realizing that arguing with Marley about morals was like trying to catch the wind. She wasn't wrong about Elder Freya. "Let's focus on the issue at hand. The elders want me to get a mate for the sake of producing heirs."

Marley's eyes lit up, and she leaned forward. "Finally! That's the news I've been waiting for. We need little Alphas running around. It's good for the pack's image, you know?"

I raised an eyebrow at her sudden enthusiasm. "I'm not doing it for the pack's image. I'll replace a mate when the time is right." Naya was my mate, and it would take time to break the news to the pack. There were so many things to put in place just to protect her image. I needed to abolish the ranks and create new ones.

Marley smirked, twirling a strand of her hair. "Zeke, dear, the time is always right. Especially when you have someone willing and ready."

Wait... what?

I eyed her. "Marley, we're not having this conversation. I'm not interested in discussing my personal life with you." And that was final. The last time we had this discussion was in my room. Naya was in the closet at that time. Those were embarrassing moments. She pouted, feigning innocence. "Why not? We used to be close. I've always looked out for you."

"Times change, Marley. I have responsibilities now." This was getting out of hand. I glanced at the mountain of files on my table.

Her expression shifted, and she leaned back, her eyes narrowing. "Responsibilities or a certain little omega?" Her attempt at mockery was evident.

It was glaring and prickling at my skin.

clenched my jaw. She was insulting Naya, and I wouldn't take it. "That's none of your business!

Marley laughed again. "Oh, but it is, Alpha Zeke. You can have your fun, but you know what's important."

I shot her a cold glare. "I'll accept my mate in a few days."

Marley leaned closer, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Mate or not, don't let your judgment be clouded by... sentimental attachments."

My eyes narrowed, and I pushed back my chair, standing up. "Enough, Marley. I won't tolerate disrespect toward me.

You can leave now. I have more important matters to attend to."

She opened her mouth to say more, but clamped it shut and left. The conversation was over. But it got to me.

Marley wanted me to pick her instead of my mate.