The Alpha Queen's Mate (Book 5 of The Regal Eclipse Pack Series)

Chapter 39

The plane landed a few hours later and Noelle stood and followed Nick off the plane. "Do you know the Alpha's names?"

She racked her brain, trying to remember. She should have looked this stuff up last night, but she'd been distracted. Pacing the floor, thinking about Nick, and debating about linking him. She hadn't though, and she'd regretted it. "Alpha Elias and Alpha Arthur, though I don't remember their last names and I don't know their Luna's names."

Nick stopped at the bottom of the stairs to wait for her. "Arthur is mated to Amelia. Elias is not mated. His mate died in childbirth two years ago."

"Oh, that's so sad." Noelle felt her heart ache for him.

"As far as I know, he hasn't taken a chosen mate yet, though he'll have to at some point. He doesn't have an heir." Nick looked up at the man who was approaching them. "Beta Lucas."

"Nicholas Seely. It's good to see you." The blond man bowed his head and then looked at Noelle. "And who might this lovely lady be?"

"This is Noelle Remington, my mate," Nick smiled at her and she felt her heart skip a beat at being referred to as his.

"You found your mate? Well, congratulations are in order! If I would have known that, I would have brought my own mate with me. Not that we have that far to go. Come on." He grabbed their bags from Nick and put them in the Jeep.

Nick and Noelle got in as well and they took off on the short drive to the pack house.

"So, Remington huh? Are you related to the King or something?" Lucas asked.

"Or something," Noelle laughed.

Nick snorted causing the Beta to look at him. "What am I missing?"

"She's the heir to the throne," Nick informed him.

The Beta hit the brakes and threw the Jeep into park, then turned around to look at Noelle. "You're the Princess?"

Noelle smiled at him.

He immediately bowed his head. "I apologize, Princess. I had no idea."

"It's perfectly fine, Beta," Noelle reassured him.

He looked at her again then took off up the road. "And you're mated to her?"

"I am," Nick responded, smiling at Noelle.

"Very interesting." Lucas pulled up to the pack house and put the Jeep into park.

Nick opened her door and she stepped out and looked around at the beautiful house. "Wow."

"This place has been here for a very long time," Nick said softly in her ear, wrapping an arm around her waist. "This is where your grandfather first laid eyes on his first mate."

Noelle shivered at his voice but still looked up on awe. They followed the Beta up the stairs and into the grand house. The Gamma, River was waiting to greet them inside. "Welcome to Northumbria." He bowed his head. "Beta, you're needed at the training grounds."

Lucas turned and bowed to them, then hurried out the door.

River stepped forward. "Alpha Elias is up in his office waiting for you. Then we'll serve you a late dinner."

"Sounds good," Nick said with a nod.

They followed him out down a hall and he stopped in front of a set of heavy wooden doors. He opened the doors and they walked inside.

The office was done in dark oak and had many books in the bookshelves surrounding the room. The floors were hardwood and covered in dark blue rugs. A table was on one side of the room with a large map laid out over it and a man stood looking down at it.

He was still young, but he looked tired. His dark hair was a bit mused from running his hands through it. He turned to them and his gaze settled on Noelle for a long moment before moving to Nick. He crossed the room to them and stopped in front of Noelle. "Madam. Nick, how are you?" He hadn't taken his eyes off of Noelle.

"Good, Alpha Elias. How are you?" Nick asked. Noelle could hear that he was annoyed.

"I'm well. And who is this beautiful woman you've brought with you?" His eyes glowed for a moment as he looked at her.

Noelle watched him look her over and saw his gaze move to her unmarked neck. She glanced at Nick, who was clenching his jaw, then decided to speak up. "Alpha Elias, it's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Noelle, Nick's mate."

Disappointment flickered over the Alpha's face then quickly disappeared. "Nice to meet you, Noelle."

And just like that, she was brushed off, as he turned his full attention to Nick. She noticed that he kept looking at her though, which irritated her to no end. She'd had enough of arrogant alphas to last her a lifetime already.

She instead paid close attention to the conversation surrounding what was going on with the treaty. She'd make notes later. It seemed that Alpha Arthur and his Luna would be arriving in two days time and a great ceremony was being held, followed by a huge dinner.

Elias had all sorts of things planned to occupy Nick's time, and Noelle wondered what she was going to do with her own. Finally, the conversation was over, and they headed down to the dining room to eat.

Nick was given the seat at the head of the table, but he pulled it out and seated Noelle there instead, seating himself to her right. Elias sat on her left, and River and Lucas joined them with their own mates.

"I'm surprised you allow your mate to sit at the head of the table," Elias commented. "Ladies, you'll have to keep her entertained tomorrow while we give Nick a tour of the training grounds, among other things."

"I'd like to see your training grounds as well," Noelle spoke up. If this Alpha thought he was going to be pushing her to the side, he had another thing coming.

He frowned at her. "I'm sure you wouldn't be interested in such things."

Noelle looked at him. "I'm sure I would be, Alpha. I would also like a tour of the pack house as well."

His frown deepened, but he nodded curtly. "I'll see to it."

The meal passed quickly, and the men invited Nick off to play pool afterward. Noelle thought about joining them, just to irritate the Alpha, but she was tired after her sleepless night and allowed the Beta and Gamma Females to take her to her room.

"It's truly an honor to meet you, Princess," Ava, Lucas's mate said, once they were out of the dining room.

"Princess?" Isabella, the Gamma Female spoke up, from Noelle's other side.

Noelle smiled at her. "Yes. I'm Noelle Remington."

Isabella bowed her head. "Is that why your mate gave you the head seat?"

"Yes."

They stopped in front of a door, and Ava opened it, and then stepped inside. "It will be hours before the men retire. They do this every time Nick comes in."

"It's fine. I'm really tired anyways."

The women left the room and Noelle grabbed her bag. The room was quite lovely with a large canopy bed. There was a bathroom off to the side, and Noelle went in and took a quick shower, then brushed her teeth. She slipped on an oversized T-shirt, then crawled into the bed. She rolled over on her back and was startled to see a mirror up above her. She smiled, but reached over to flip out the light. Who knew when Nick would be up.

***

Nick was half drunk by the time he made it up to his room. He was still walking straight though, which he considered a positive. The men had been more relaxed once they'd gotten some liquor in them.

He'd been told he was staying in his usual room, and he headed slowly down the hall, trying to remember which room it was. Noelle's scent called to him and he followed it to the bedroom.

He opened the door and found it dark inside but that didn't faze him and he began to strip off his clothes as he walked to the bed. Once he reached the bed, he pulled back the blankets, and crawled in.

Noelle was asleep, but he pulled her to him anyway, wrapping her up tightly. She sighed in her sleep and cuddled into him. Nick was out within minutes.