Chapter 361
ERIK’S POV
Erik woke up to his daughter’s mass of curly hair in his face.
He turned and looked at the windows and saw that it was almost day break
He very gently peeled himself from her and looked down to see her.
She was well sound asleep and fervently clutching her teddy bear.
He very gently got up, kissed her forehead and calmly said. “Love you monkey.”
He was surprised to hear her say. “Love you too.”
He looked back at her and saw she was sound asleep.
He knew she had spoken in her sleep.
He got up from her bed and quietly walked out of the room and shut the door.
He stretched and then headed to the one place he dreaded going to.
He had slept on the decision to make and now he had finally decided one within himself.
He walked towards the left wing and went further the steps until he was at Xaden’s door.
He knocked at the door and then he opened it and found Xaden awake sitting by his window sill.
Xaden turned and saw Erik, and then he turned back and faced his front.
Erik closed the door behind him and walked up to Xaden.
He sat by the window sill and for about five minutes they both quietly looked out at the horizon.
Finally Erik spoke up. “I always loved looking at the rising sun. It was so damn. beautiful.”
Xaden managed a weak smile. “When I was four years, I used to sit down by this very window sill with my mother and together we would look at the sun rise or look at it set.”
“We used to do that every Saturday and I always longed for those.” Xaden expressed. “And even when she had Anna, she would put her in her lap and together we would all sit and watch it. It was my favorite moment of every Saturday. Now I can sit down here and do the same with my sister.”
Erik said nothing to that and then Xaden turned to face him.
“Even though she now belongs to you.” Xaden said.
“Xaden I was going to tell you-
“Tell me what?” Xaden demanded. “That my sister became your mate? My own best friend and gamma wouldn’t even tell me that my own sister who I never even knew existed until now is your mate.”
“You know that I told myself I was not going to have a mate ever again. It was a shock to me.” Erik said. “I was going to tell you eventually.”
Xaden sighed. “Why is fate so cruel. I wanted to have her experience sometime with me. And now you two have decided to be mates.”
Erik considered taking advantage with father fact that Xaden did not want Anna mated.
But he knew what that would do to Anna.
She wanted him to be her mate and she would be vengeful if she didn’t get what she wanted.
“You made me look like a fool.” Xaden said. “Discovering about you two just like everyone else on the table for the first time.”
Erik sighed. “I am sorry about that. If I could take it back I would.”
“So what are your intentions now?” Xaden asked. “I want to hear you say it.”
Erik took in a deep breath. “Yes, we want to be mates and we would bond together.”
Xaden was quiet at first and nodded. “Alright. I give you my blessings. I might not be happy that Anna is already being mated. But I don’t know wh I would have trusted more with the life of my sister other than you.”
Erik managed a stiff smile.
“I also know that you had said you were never going to be mated again. But maybe this is a good thing. For you and Jade. Anna is a good girl. I can’t even believe how she ended up turning up the way she did after all she had gone through them. Imagine she ended up like Jasmine.”
Erik could not understand how Xaden didn’t see Anna for who she really was.
If Anna was a bit like Jasmine she would not be a monster.
And for Xaden to tnink that Anna was good for Jade drove him insane.
He was going to have to find a way to have her stay far away from his daughter.
He was being forced into a mating bond he wanted nothing to do with and he hated himself for it.
Erik gave him a stiff smile.
“Thanks.” Erik acknowledged.
“I am happy with you and for you.” Xaden said.”but that does not change the fact that you lied and kept such a secret from me. The royal family will no longer be coming here, but rather we would be going over to their castle in a few weeks.”
“And this means that I would be stripping you off your duty as gamma of this pack.” Xaden informed. “You would also not travel with us to the castle and you would not be in command when I leave. That would be left to my uncle Uther. These restrictions would be lifted until I can trust you again. And so will I be halting giving my sister’s hand in marriage to you.”
Erik was taken aback by Xaden’s words.
He has not expected him to give such severe punishments because of Anna’s stupid announcements.
Hearing Xaden say he did not trust him after all their years together felt like a pang to his chest.
The only thing that he was really pleased with, was the fact that he was putting a halt to their mating.
“You cant do that.” Erik said.
“I can and I would.” Xaden said.
And Erik realized how bad this was.
Xaden already didn’t trust him anymore which meant that if Anna slipped any unkind words to his ears, he would believe them.
Erik could not let that happen.
At that moment Jasmine came into the room and Erik stormed out of the room.