Cricket sighed. “The next full moon is in four days.” She glanced at Rylee’s drawn face. Save the champagne. “But there’s bad news.”
“I’m afraid so.”
Slade reached for Cricket’s hand and held it by his heart. No matter the outcome, only their love mattered. “My territory?”
“No worries. Your territory and all assets return to you once banishment is lifted. Jesper kept all your finances straight for you as well.” She smirked. “He says you made some gains, he will share the data when you return.”
Cricket furrowed her brow. “Okay, so what’s the bad news?”
“This crap doesn’t matter to me. You know how I feel about royal titles. Even Lunara championed your case, explaining you are spirit soul mates, but they refused to listen.” She drew in a breath and slowly released it. “You are no longer a lycan prince, unless, you take a primary alpha mate.”
“What about Cricket?”
“They decided you can keep her as a secondary mate or mistress, as long as you find an alpha mate within a year. The alpha she-wolf’s pups would be your legitimate heirs and given the royal title passed on by your parents.”
Cricket’s heart sunk. “Just like my mother, my pups would be considered bastards, with no claim to territory or title.” Worse, the alpha female would make her and their pups’ life miserable knowing Slade favored her.
“Sorry.” Rylee met Slade’s eyes. “Your decision.”
Her father had chosen an alpha mate over losing his status, but kept her omega mother. As much as her soul hurt, she had to let Slade go. “If you love me, don’t ask me to stay and watch your other pups rule over mine. My family has been there done that.”
Rylee growled. “If you choose another, she is welcome to join my pack.”
Slade snapped, all alpha bossy toned. “No, you’re mine.” By alpha right, he could force her to stay, like her father had her mother. He lifted her chin, and his tone softened.
“Not when it comes to my pups being low on the totem pole.”
Slade lifted her chin and stared at her with his verdant green penetrating eyes. “Abella, don’t you trust me? I won’t let you lose your family’s, our family’s, royal status.”
“Yes, but I know, eventually, she would manipulate you to favor her children.”
“Trust in our love. There will be no other primary mate. Only you.”
“But you must remain a prince of the realm.”
“Nonsense, I don’t care about titles and outdated customs. The only prince I wish to be is yours and only yours. The only litter I will love as a father will be ours.”
“But what if someday you have regrets?”
“Never and that is a promise.”
“Oh? But what if you…”
“If Lunara, our wolf shaman says we’re soul mates, how can you doubt me?”
Tears welled in her eyes. “I’m sorry, I doubted you.”
Rylee cleared her throat. “Good. Can we move on? First off, when you return, we’re meeting about changes in our protocol while working with humans.”
Cricket wiped her tears. “Sounds good.”
“Secondly, Lev is well enough to join our next meeting. He promises to convince Nik to join Team Greywolf.”
Cricket snickered. “I’m sure Lev, aka Chernobyl werewolf, will feel more at home having a Russian comrade to work with.”
Rylee laughed. “He certainly will.”
Slade lifted a brow. “No more news from The Keep?”