Paint me golden [Completed]

Beige

She woke up to him already staring at her intently. He just moved in the night before and it was still awkward between them to say the least. She remembered that they had a council meeting scheduled for the day and they had to leave early to get there on time. She tried standing up — key word tried. He held onto her tightly, after a few tries she gave up and snuggled close to him.

"If we don't get up now we'll be late" she said to him. "To hell with the meeting. The world could burn down for all I care" he said while snuggling her closer. "If we don't get up within the next two minutes you're sleeping in a guest room for a week" she said in flat tone. In an instant he was up and carrying her to the bathroom bridal style.

She smacked his arm and asked what he was doing, he answered "we're going to a shower" in the most innocent tone, but his eyes were telling a different story. So she kissed his cheek and started kissing his jaw, down to his neck. He stood stiff, and in that moment she hopped out of his arms and ran to the bathroom and locked the door. She heard his frustrated growl and a few muffled words that may or may not be related to her being a tease.

——

The ride to the council meeting was quiet, they sat in comfortable silence. Occasionally sharing short stories about themselves. But throughout the whole ride her hand was in his. At first it was awkward for them, but the longer they sat the better it felt. She felt his emotions, and most certainly he felt hers too.

Entering the building, all eyes were on them. It was the first time she came with a male other than her beta or gamma. The surprised looks on their faces said it all, they thought she'd never find her mate.

Then, an alpha with a very guilty face approached her and said "Elise, how are you?" He knew she didn't like hearing the word sorry. It always annoyed her when someone said sorry repeatedly. She answered very politely, he knew she was being professional because of the setting. And knowing her, she'd already forgiven him because he wasn't ignored.

Someone clearing their throat caught their attention, the meeting was about to start and she dreaded it. Her mate grabbed her hand and almost dragged her to the hall, and she made no effort in pulling away.

Once seated, all eyes turned to the head of the table. The head of the council started discussing current issues, she was becoming bored because she was already aware of everything. But a topic suddenly caught her attention. "We've gotten information that HE'S back" her eyes went wide and her face paled. Her mate sensing her discomfort immediately held her hand and rubbed soothing circles with his thumb, the touch slightly comforting her. Her mind was racing he completely disappeared years ago, vanishing out of thin air and was completely out of the radar for 20 years.

After the announcement the morning session was adjourned, and lunch was in order. Entering the dining room she heard someone mutter "well looks like someone's FINALLY found their mate, oh but I don't see a mark." She immediately knew who it was. It was an old alpha who didn't believe that women could lead "Alpha Michael! It LOOKS and feels like I haven't seen you in 10 years! Oh wait, I saw you a few months ago, I just got distracted by those grey hairs poking through" she said in a mocking tone. The people around them chuckled at her response. Wanting to avoid a fight, her mate dragged her to the other side of the ballroom.

"Where's your brother" he suddenly asked. She replied with "He's around here somewhere" then she further explained that her brother also dreaded these meetings and would either arrive late and just stick to the sidelines or just full on skip it. "He even went all the way as to put a camera in the hall and just live-streamed the meeting from his assigned room" she said while laughing. If she dreaded this event, her brother hated it.

The meeting resumed, she desperately wanted to go home, she was bored out of her wits. But it seems as if her mate was interested in the meeting. The afternoon session was about planning, they talked about the problems in the morning and they'd talk about how to address them in the afternoon. It was mostly about rogues and finances.

Sighing she stood up, the meeting finally over she was relieved. But a ball was in order, it was the tradition. The last two years she had the option not to go because she didn't have a mate then, but now it was compulsory.

They walked hand in hand going back to their room, occasionally talking but mostly they were quiet. When they got to their room she just sat in the bed whining, wanting to go home. Her mate just shook his head laughing while walking to the ensuite bathroom. Then she was left alone to think. About him, she never told her mate who he was. But she felt his curiosity and she knew she'd have to tell him why it was so important that it had been mentioned in the meeting. When she heard the door nob turn, she decided she'd tell him when they got home.