Maeve sat at the table next to Elijah for breakfast the day following their arrival at the Pack house. She sat directly in front of Ezekiel while Elijah was across Amara. While, aunt Amara, the interim Alpha was comfortable with Elijah's presence, Ezekiel had suddenly resorted to hating Elijah entirely. Especially now that he knew the relationship he had with his little sister.

"Will you stop that?" she yelled at Ezekiel.

"Stop what?" Ezekiel asked acting oblivious. Amara glanced at Maeve clearing her throat,

"Ignore him, he's being a child. I need to tell you a few things." She then looked at Elijah, "probably also why I invited this one to the lunch."

"I know what you're going to say and I don't need him to save me." Maeve asserted pointing the fork in hand toward Elijah. "I can handle myself." 

"These people don't respond to young girls as much as they do when a man is around her." Amara explained in a frustrated look. "It is the way it is. I hate it as much as you but that is the truth." 

"So what?" Maeve asked accusingly glaring at her aunt, "I just show up hand in hand with Elijah? Show those fuckers I am the traditional stupid submissive girl?"

"Look sis...they are Alphas. They don't like women going out of bounds, let alone be at an Alpha." Ezekiel mentioned it with a saddened voice. "But...we plan on announcing you being the next Alpha at the lunch."

"So why Elijah?"

"If I may──" Elijah interjected, "I think it will act as a diversion to put them off the trail that you are, inevitably going to be an Alpha beside Ezekiel." Maeve considered his words carefully.

"Smart move. I like it." Maeve leaned back in her chair before glancing at her aunt with a conspirant look. Before their conversation could continue further, the door to the dining room creaked open and peeped in a young girl with braided blonde hair.

"Alpha?" she called for Amara in a meek voice, "Sir has arrived in the main living room." she said

"Tell him we'll be there in two minutes. Now, we have a guest to attend to." Amara announced standing up. "Elijah, if you could wait for us in the hall, we have a visitor. Ezekiel, why don't you stay with him until we get back?" Amara looked at Maeve and gave her a subtle glance. Maeve looked at Elijah and quickly excused herself from the table. She walked to the living room and quietly opened the door, closing it after herself. 

Amara grabbed Maeve's arm and dragged her across the foyer toward the other hallway that led to the main living room. "Listen, this man is a vampire. He is the leader of one of the top vampire clans in the world. The five Lycan packs in America have all come together and signed a peace treaty with him." she explained to Maeve while drawing her along. "Now that you will be the head of the pack, you will have to be more diplomatic and gentle with your actions. One of them being keeping good terms with our allies. So...ready?" Maeve nodded her head and followed her into the main living room. 

Amara pushed open the double doors of the living room and sauntered in. Maeve followed her aunt with a serious expression on her face. Inside the room, adorned with a vibrant wooden floor and ivory walls, sat a round table with four chairs around it. An average built man with brown hair stood facing the fireplace. He was staring blankly at the mantle. He turned around as they entered and his eyes fixed on Amara. He smiled faintly and nodded at Amara, and then at Maeve. "Good morning, Miss Amara. You must be Maeve?" he said politely. 

"Hello." Maeve replied. The man stretched his hand out towards Maeve. She accepted it, he lifted her hand and placed a kiss on her knuckles. "Nice to meet you." she greeted him formally. Maeve noticed his blue eyes and then the way he dressed himself. A sense of familiarity flooded her senses seeing his choice of attire and mannerisms. She couldn't put her finger on what made him familiar to her but it was like a feeling that she had seen him before, somewhere.

"I'm Tristan DeMartel." he introduced himself, with a nod and a smile.

"He is the leader of the Strix. a prestigious organisation of only the best vampires." said Amara. 

"Yes." Tristan nodding his head, "We have been in good terms since the mid nineteenth century. My condolence to you on the passing of your father." he addressed Amara, "He was a great man. I had the privilege of meeting him on several occasions."

"He spoke of you in such a positive light." said Amara offering him a short smile, "I asked you here because Maeve, my niece will hereafter be in charge of the political affairs of the pack. I hoped you two would meet."

Maeve glanced over her shoulder quickly at Amara before her eyes met Tristan's again. "It would certainly be my pleasure to handle business with you. I have no doubt the you possess the same intelligence as the preceeding Kalon's. Jared was a very intelligent man. I see a lot of him in you. Not to mention your mother's beauty."

"I can only hope I can live up to my father's legacy. He was a great Alpha, as was my grandfather and my aunt is and I'm sure I'll be able to do them proud." Maeve replied, with a warm smile leaving out the part of being compared to her mother's beauty, by being humble.

"I am sure you will. So shall we discuss the details of this peace treaty? Perhaps with a few additions now?" suggested Tristan glancing past Maeve, at Amara.

Maeve licked his lips biting down on her bottom lip, "I hope this additions are not about your fear of I going back on a peace treaty my ancestor forged with you." she said. Tristan smiled back at her. 

"Certainly not. The additions are of your names, only. I trust your clan enough to understand you do not go back on the word, first." Tristan assured her.

"I am sure you would have those formalities to complete for the rest of the four packs as well. We have the tea today for that purpose." pointed out Maeve.

"I do. I would like to."

"Join us for lunch. I insist." said Amara. "Everyone is going to be bringing a plus one, you would like it." Amara told Tristan politely.

Tristan offered her a smile in response before he looked at Maeve, "and is the beautiful Maeve going to be accompanied by a man on her arm?" Maeve smiled shyly.

"I do actually. He's name is Elijah." alarms inside Maeve's head rang suddenly when she saw a glimpse of surprise──or was it shock flush over Tristan's face draining it of its colours.

"Elijah...as in Elijah Mikaelson?" he asked again with a cautious tone.

"Yes." Maeve kept her response short.

"I think I would skip lunch. Perhaps some other day we can organise a way to amend the treaty." Tristan suggested, his expression faltering to the point of imbibing curiosity in Maeve and Amara.

"Is everything alright?"

"Yes, it is. I just recollected now that I have to go meet my sister. She's been at a monastery these past few days collecting her thoughts together." Tristan nodded his head, fixed the jacket of his suit and strode to the double door, "it was nice to officially meet you Maeve. Hopefully we would meet when neither of us have any other business to attend to."

He didn't spare another glance at either of them and stomped out of the living room. Maeve kept staring at the door blinking her eyes as if to think back to what happened. "Uh, quick question..."

"What is it?"

"If he is the leader of a vampire organisation that we have a political relationship with──peace treaty and what not...what's our relationship with that Lucifer guy?" Amara hit Maeve upside on the head making the young hybrid yelp out.

"Ow! What?"

"He's name is Lucien." Amara told her. "He doesn't have an organisation. He has a business. Kingmaker's land...something. I don't know. It's Ezekiel's business now." Amara shrugged her shoulders and started sauntering out of the room. Maeve giggled jogging up to catch up with Amara.

Maeve checked herself in the full-length mirror once again adjusting the blazer jacket of the pastel coloured pantsuit she chose to wear to the lunch. She put on a single piece of jewelry and then wore her wristwatch, all the while keeping her eyes straight on the way the suit hugged her body in the mirror.

A knock sounded at the door diverting her attention towards it. "Come in." she instructed, adjusting the necklace to fall on top of the button up white shirt. The door clicked open and entered Elijah looking as sharp as ever. For the day he chose a grey suit with blue shirt and linear patterned tie to match.

Maeve looked at him through the mirror, smirking flirtatiously, "hi."

"Hi." he replied with a sigh and a smile. "You look beautiful."

"Really?" she furrowed her brows. Elijah stepped closer to her in three long strides, now standing just behind her. Even he stared at her through the mirror. "Is it because I am dressed almost like you." Elijah smiled lopsidedly. He reached up and fixed the collar of the jacket she wore. He stepped even closer to her. Elijah stopped mid-way when he caught the sight of the necklace she wore. It was the one that he had gifted her.

"You're wearing the necklace." He said nodding his head and glancing at the shining pendant.

"Why would I not?" she looked right into his eyes but still through the mirror. "It is one of the finest gifts I have ever received."

Elijah placed both his hands on her shoulder and leaned closer to her, his lips near to her ears as he whispered. "It is nothing compared to you."

Maeve blushed shyly, hiding her face from Elijah's gaze. He continued to look at her, savoring every moment of her blushing, her heart racing and the wide smile spreading over her face. Maeve then lifted her head, turning it slightly to the side, bringing their faces inches apart. For a few seconds, their eyes flickered from each other's eyes to their lips before he leaned in and placed a loving kiss on her lips. Maeve placed her hand on his chest and turned her body toward him, feeling the warmth of his embrace.

Maeve was the first to pull away. Her eyes were barely open, set upon his lips. "We..um, we have to go...so." Elijah hummed, his hot breath fanning over her face turned Maeve's cheek more red if that was even possible.

Elijah tangled his hand with hers as both strolled out of her bedroom and towards the ballroom where the lunch was organised.

Her stomach was in knots anticipating what could happen at the lunch. She stopped abruptly in the hallway and glanced up at Elijah. "Maybe this is a bad idea. You know what, why don't you stay back? Wait for me. I'll show my face, say hello to a few and leave immediately." she suggested hoping Elijah would agree with her and leave.

But to her dismay, he shook his head and said, "I promised you and your aunt that I would be here every step of the way. It's just lunch you'll be fine." He assured her and began walking towards the ballroom.

By the door of the massive room, stood Amara speaking with one of the Omegas. Her eyes fell on Maeve immediately as they walked closer. Amara examined her niece's face before she pulled out her handkerchief. "Dab your cheeks a little." she said with a scrutinising look, "too much blush."

Maeve stole away her gaze and set it upon the floor beneath. "Yeah, I went overboard." she excused herself. Amara then turned to Elijah, "listen to me, I forgot to mention it at Breakfast. Don't speak unless spoken to. Your opinions may not match with those inside. Please." she looked at Elijah, pleadingly.

"I will not engage in a conversation unless started by someone else. I give you my word." Elijah promised her.

"Thank you." Amara smiled before she took a step closer to whisper, "Stay by her side for a while, please." Amara smiled and greeted someone who walked in and saved Maeve from further embarrassment. Elijah finally let out an amused chuckle but covered it up quickly with a cough.

Maeve turned to face Elijah with a hopeful look, "all good?"

"Beautiful." he said. Maeve rolled her eyes and gave a curt shake of her head.

"I meant is the extra blush gone?"

"Yes." Maeve interlocked her arm with his, before replying in a hushed voice. "I know you like complimenting me but sometimes──be honest."

"I'll try my best." Elijah told her.

The opulent ballroom was adorned with exquisite chandeliers that bathed the room in a soft, golden glow. The clinking of fine crystal glasses echoed throughout as the wealthy attendees mingled, their extravagant outfits catching the eye of everyone present.

The long, impeccably set dining table was adorned with delicate china, sparkling silverware, and elaborate floral arrangements. Each seat was meticulously arranged, waiting for the guests to take their place. The air was filled with the mingling scents of mouth-watering delicacies, prepared by world-renowned chefs.

A sense of entitlement permeated the room, as their haughty expressions and ostentatious gestures demonstrated their belief that money could buy anything, including respect. They reveled in their power and influence, basking in the envy of those around them.

Elijah and Maeve, made their way inside the ballroom seizing all conversation with just one step. Elijah assumed confidently that it was he, who was responsible for the sudden stark silence. After all, what was an Original doing at a Lycan community home let alone at a lunch for those who were tight-knit allies, friends and for some family.

Maeve's breath hitched first before a lump formed in her throat. She could only pray to both, Seline and Hecate that Elijah was, for once, oblivious to the situation. She could only pray that were the case or else he would say something putting much in jeopardy.

"Perhaps this was a bad idea." She said with a deflated look fisting her free hand.

"This is your pack, Maeve. Just breath. Think of it like the time you met the rest of the royal covens." Maeve nodded her head. 

"No. I don't think you should be here. How about we skip and go to a pizza place? Its an awesome pizza place and we can also go to the cinema. You'll love that." Elijah pressed his fingers against hers as they held hands, they were silent for a while before he said, 

"It will be okay. If you don't want me there, I will turn back." Elijah stated, already prepared to leave.

"Its just...the men inside will say a few things which could potentially, probably insult your opinions. But you can't say anything. I have a plan in my head and for that to work I need to stand in that room today." Elijah nodded his head silently promising her. He saw a dark side in her eyes that he had never seen before and that made him feel uneasy. He wasn't sure why but it did.

With cautious footing she stepped inside. Elijah synced his walk with hers, avoiding to look at anyone who had their eyes on them. Maeve smiled professionally at anyone whose eyes met with hers. "Stay with me?" she pleaded through her teeth, a smile etched on her face. Elijah replied with tightening the hand that held hers.

Maeve guided him to the bar table in the room. She poured a glass of Whiskey for herself and for Elijah, "cheers." she said raising her glass.

"To what?"

Maeve clicked her glass with his, "to a stressful and eventful lunch."

"Well well well, if it isn't the talk of the Lycan community." a cold voice said from behind Maeve. Maeve, in reflex held Elijah's hand even strongly now to hold back on her scowling look threatening to appear. She turned around, still holding on to Elijah's hand.

"Mr Amberskey. How are you?" Maeve asked, her tone hostile and her gaze set on him. 

"Well now that I have seen the rare beauty you are I am doing quite excellently." He winked and smirked before he took her left hand and kissed the back of it.

Maeve snatched her hand from his and smiled shortly. A woman walked over to them just then. Maeve eyed the girl from top to bottom. Barrett Amberskey snaked his arm around the woman's petite waist and pulled her close to him. Her sea green dress hugged her body tightly, with a deep v-neckline. Her blonde hair was tightly pulled back and set in a braided bun showing off her prominent collarbone.

The woman's lips formed a grimace before she quickly wiped it away. "Have you met potentially could-be my Luna? Jenelle. This is Maeve Kalon, the beautiful heir to the Kalon throne. Right next to her strong and smart brother, Ezekiel." the way Barrett said the word 'my' made Maeve feel a repulsive nauseating feeling. His hand on Janelle's waist tightened, fingertips turning white like a sign. Janelle flicked her hair over her shoulder, covering the exposed part of her neck.

"Nice." the woman commented half-heartedly. "So what's your next plan? Choosing any of these men here as your husband?" Jenelle asked Maeve. Elijah stiffened hearing Jenelle's question.

"Leave her be, Jenelle, she's still young and beautiful." Barrett laughed off her question. "Unlike you she's still young and beautiful and has so many options." He gestured around the room with a snarky grin. "Currently she's occupying her time with an original...smart move by the way." He winked and added, "See this Jenelle? This is how you act if you are looking to get everything by any means necessary. This is the kind of woman an Alpha needs. Even if the said women isn't truly a Lycan." Maeve felt the sting of his words and swallowed down her annoyance at his words. She was a Lycan, she could not be bothered by such trivialities. 

"You should learn a thing or two from her instead of just idly complaining and whining." Jenelle rolled her eyes at his words. "Come with me. I think Darren's here as well." Barrett placed his hand on the small of Jenelle's back and led her away.

Maeve sighed already tired and turned around to look at Elijah, his poker face and sharp eyes made her stiffen her posture. "Elijah?" she said his name calmly, "it's okay."

"Did you not hear the wa──" Maeve looked away from him trailing off his words. Elijah breathed in sharply before he continued. "Is this really..." Maeve opened her mouth to interrupt him but her own words dissolved before she could get them out. 

"I know...just breathe and calm down. The entire lunch is yet to begin." Maeve looked past Elijah to the one who came forward to them.

"Azure! How lovely." Maeve said in her kindest voice. 

"Maeve!" Azure Darren strolled over to them and hugged the girl. "I've missed you." he whispered into her ear. He was a built, tall man with light beard. His eyes were clear and piercing and he was very handsome.

"And I you." she said grinning and pulled back. "Amberskey just went looking for you." Azure breathed in relief before chuckling.  

"Why do you think I came from the other way?" he asked her. "I've been avoiding that idiotic asshole since I arrived here." Azure's eyes diverted to Elijah, "so, new business partner."

Azure poured a glass of Whiskey for himself and refilled her glass as well.
"Yep." said Maeve almost too fast. Azure formed an 'o' with his mouth narrowing his eyes in a teasing manner at Maeve before he addressed Elijah,

"Personal business partner, I take." he said with a wink. "Hello. My name is Azure Darren."

"Elijah Mikaelson." Azure's eyes sparkled immediately hearing Elijah.

"You are dating an original?" He asked Maeve with widened eyes. "I knew I liked you better for a reason. Nice choice. Powerful. Strategic." Azure patted Maeve's shoulder seemingly ignoring Elijah thereafter and continued on to converse with Maeve. "If you are still planning on fighting for the Alpha position──I mean, take it because you are an heir too having a man like him on your side will certainly give you incentives in Councilmen's court." Azure said, his tone dry and serious.  Maeve downed the Whiskey in her glass with one gulp feeling it's bitter sting at the back of the throat. But even that did not take away the sting from his words.

The conversation faltered between the two. A strange feeling and silence clouded them suddenly. Elijah felt lost, dumb and angry. The two men whom Maeve interacted with were certainly opinionated in what a woman's destiny should be and what she should be planning. Even as far as dictating by presumption his role in her life. 

Azure suddenly leaned dangerously close to Maeve making her bent backward to move away. In a hushed voice he simply said, "Well I would say prepare yourself. Because Vittori, Santorini and Zucco just arrived." he said using his thumb to point behind him, indicating the direction in which they had arrived.

Maeve looked in the direction he was pointing to and was shocked to see the three. She gasped and looked at Azure again, her brow furrowed and her eyes widened. "Wow. This is some...thing. But, who are those three?" she asked, looking again at the three. 

"Not sure." Elijah watched her interact with Azure for a second before he decided to look around the rest of the room. Men were staring at her, and he had to admit, he felt a little jealous. Every man eyed Maeve like she was their next trophy──to be won. Maeve interlocked her hand with his to gain his attention.

"Those three are Italian Alphas. Big in the country there, not much here." She whispered to Elijah downing her third glass of Whiskey. "I need to go. You'll be okay by yourself?"

Elijah's eyes kept following her around the room before they settled on the men; their eyes filled with a mix of hunger and desire, fixated on her like predators stalking their prey. It was as if she had become their new trophy prize, an object to be possessed.

The men, with their arms draped possessively around the women they had brought as their dates, pretended to engage in polite conversation. However, their wandering eyes betrayed their true intentions. They ogled at Maeve, their gazes lingering on her figure, as if she were an exquisite work of art on display.

Vittori, Santorini and Zucco, the Alphas of the top three most feared packs of Europe stood aside to themselves nursing a freshly poured class of whiskey and chattering to each other about who were present and what it could mean to them. Three women stood next to them idly staring at their faces.

Santorini was the first of the trio to notice Maeve in the room. His eyes first fell on the pantsuit she wore before they travelled up to her face.

"I'm guessing the audacious little girl there is the recently found heir of the Kalons." he arrogantly pointed with his finger toward Maeve drawing the attention of the two burly men with scars running down their faces.

"She really is trying hard." Zucco commented with a snicker. "Why bother anyway? It isn't like Ezekiel will fight her to death. Look at that petite body. She won't survive the first blow." He chuckled darkly before glancing at his date,

"Fix your necklace. I didn't give that to you as a gift that you'll hide it in your bushy hair. It's African diamonds...show them that I'm wealthy enough to waste that much money om a mousy little thing like you." He berated her before pushing her hair off of her shoulder to show the boat neckline of her dress highlighting her prominent collarbones.

"Smile wife, they are watching." Vittori was next to berate with a smile. His wife cracked a forced smile avoiding her husband's hand that tried wrapping around her shoulder and pulling her close to him.

"Women are meant to serve us, to cater to our every whim. Does she really believe she possesses the acumen required to be one of us?"

"Gentleman!" Ezekiel made them tear their eyes away from Maeve and greet him with rough smiles.

Almost half an hour passed after, with Ezekiel managing to keep up a conversation and be well informed hereafter of the three packs. Maeve had resorted to drowning herself in Whiskey to build up a nerve to hold herself till the end of the affair.

It wasn't long after her sixth glass of Whiskey when Amara whisked her away from the bar saying, "come along. These men have been of great help during the mid-forties. We had a huge row with Wintercrest and they aided us, so be cool, calm and try not to retort." Amara laid out simply while taking Maeve along towards the men who stood by the east side of the room.

"Gentleman. May I introduce you to Maeve. Jared's only daughter."

Vittori and Zucco's faces turned sour immediately while Santorini managed to maintain a blank face. "Yes awful fate of Jared. What a great man he was!" Vittori sang of Jared's greatness, foolishly ignoring that the three who stood there were his blood. The way he spoke of Jared Kalon's "untimely demise" ; his choice of words, Maeve felt like running away. Every syllable of his aimed at belittling Maeve for even being born.

Maeve looked over Amara's shoulder to search for Elijah. She wanted to ensure that he was doing alright. Her eyes fell on him by the bar table, where he enjoyed a glass of something. Both looked at each other across the room, neither willing to stay any longer in a room full of boisterous egos.

"Jared was such a bright man, so was Luther. Then he went and married that girl and lost his life in a silly fight."

Maeve licked her lips before asking, "are you insuinating something, Mr Vittori? Because I believe you are."

"All I'm saying is, to choose properly and not in the way he did. I mean, he did get himself killed in a fight that wasn't his in the first place."

"She was his wife. Maeve is his daughter. That stupid fight was as much his as it was of hers." shot back Amara growing angrier with the man. She interlinked her hand with her niece's and forced herself in front of Maeve and glared at Vittori.

"Of course. As men it is our duty to protect our women. But he knew who she was before marrying her...her kind has been known for trouble and to birth a hybrid from it?"

"Don't you worry about incompetence, Mr Vittori." said Maeve, her voice calm yet cold. Ezekiel braced himself, readying to hold back either Maeve or one of the three ruthless idiots. "I can assure you I will do good on becoming almost like him as an Alpha."

"Ha! You really think a woman could ever lead a Pack?" Vittori berated, before erupting into laughter who was joined then by Santorini and Zucco as well.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"All I am saying is Miss Kalon, that you are a woman and you will always be a Luna. A second to an Alpha. You may have a big mouth as much as you want but men are always the heirs to the throne" he whispered lowly.

"Absolutely," chimed in Santorini, his arms draped possessively around the woman standing next to him. "Women are more competent to be Luna's. Emotional, timid, illogical. Alpha is a position demanding for a strategist, power hungry, braveheart. Not a little girl who's not even a true Lycan."

Zucco took his hand off of his date and moved a step closer to Maeve, "we know all about you──Maeve." He said coldly. "You really think with being only half Lycan you are entitled to the throne of an Alpha."

Maeve matched his challenging eyes, her own burning with anger, "it isn't up to you now is it Mr Santorini. Mr Zucco? My pack and the members have the choice to decide if they wish for me to sit on the throne or Ezekiel."

"For either of you to take that chair, you must fight to death as the rule suggests unless──you accept that you are incompetent now and stop yourself of any humiliation."

"How about we begin lunch?" Amara interjected. She ushered her son and niece away from the three men and forced them to walk toward the head of the table.

Amara whispered to Maeve, "let's announce the news, shall we?" She said before she addressed everyone in the room. Maeve glanced at Elijah, silently nodding to the seat right next to hers. He took the place behind it, a few feet away from her.

All Elijah wanted, was to steal Maeve away from the room full of mad men and protect her from their lustful gazes that demeaned her to be nothing but an object of possession; the very way these said men treated the women who accompanied them. But he calmed himself. He knew, after checking his wristwatch for the seventeenth time in the last half an hour that soon they would be free to leave.

Amara welcomed the guests with a warm smile and polite words. "I will end on a slightly different note. My father, Kade Kalon, the former Alpha of the Kalon pack, taken far too soon from us left a will. One of the many things mentioned, which I would like to share with you all is this." Amara reached out her hands and grabbed onto Ezekiel's and Maeve's and pulled them closer to her.

"He has stated in his will──approved by the Councilmen that, for the first time in the history of Lycans, Kalon pack is going to welcome two Alphas in the name of Ezekiel and Maeve Kalon." A deafening silence fell over the room, drowning any semblance of the previously cheery environment.

Maeve sat silently at the dressing table chair, looking at Elijah through the mirror who stared out the window at the garden behind the mansion. Her head felt foggy from the Whiskey she had consumed in just two hours. She carefully took off her necklace and set it in a box and did the same with her earrings and bracelet.

"How many conversations did you hear?" she asked after minutes passed in silence. Maeve took of the blazer jacket and carefully placed it on a footstool nearby.

"Every single Alpha from all the packs that gathered looked at you like a piece of meat." he told her, his voice brittle and hinting at his jealousy and rage. "I can confirm I overheard at least three of them call their dates or wives or whatever they were as 'theirs' like some property they own."

"They are Alphas, Elijah. For them women would always be Luna's. Secondary positions." Maeve told him. "Something that was made to be theirs."

"Aren't they offended by it?" Elijah's tone was harsh and aggressive, his head slightly angled as he looked out the window. He kept fixating on the sleeve of his suit blazer. In that rage, he shrugged it off and loosened his tie. "Even that Amberskey man berated Jenelle...don't even start a conversation about the three Italian men and how they acted with their dates and you."

"I get it. Neither are exactly winning men of the year awards." Maeve retorted with a saddened look in her eyes. 

"The way those Zucchinis spoke of you, I wanted to rip out their hearts right there." Elijah asserted angrily. Maeve approached him calmly. He looked into her eyes finding them void of any emotion that struck oddly to him.

"How are you so calm?" he asked her.

"Oh..because I expected it." She told him. "I expected them to have issues with me. Being not a true Lycan, being a woman. Didn't aunt Amara tell us this in the morning? It's all good for now." Maeve paused for a moment, "And what Azure and Barrett said. You know I'm not in this because of that right?"

Elijah pressed his hands on her neck, thumbs on her cheek and gazed affectionately into her brown dull looking eyes. "I know." those two words were enough for Maeve to assure her heart to stop pounding in her chest. "Calm down." he added again. Maeve went in for a hug, her arms around around his back. Elijah rested a hand on her chest, gently rubbing her back with the other.

Elijah pulled away, and asked, "how could you stand in that room with those entitled men, who looked at you with lustful eyes and like you were a trophy to be won."

"I couldn't but if I am going to be the next Alpha, I have to tolerate such gatherings and those men at least twice a year. There are plans in place that I know but neither Auntie or Ezekiel do. So please trust me. Remember what I said to you? I have a plan." She looked into his eyes for a second more before concluding, "I know you're angry."

"Is this how it is in all the packs?"

"Not in Kalon's, Wintercrest and Bloodcrest. We are more equalitarians in that manner. We have got women in ranks in Gamma troops. I was actually thinking of asking Lolita to be my Beta. I mean, the woman throws one hell of a punch."

"Then why be in a business relationship with them?" Elijah countered restlessly.

"I'll tell you everything. Just not right now." Maeve craned her neck up and kissed him. His hands rested on her lower back pulling her flush against him. Their eyes were closed, each releasing the pent up tension within. Maeve's arms wound around his neck deepening the kiss.

It was no surprise that Maeve would always be the 'woman' among the many males. She knew perfectly well that the other packs around would not accept her or her authority with as much respect as they would that of a man. Elijah's presence certainly commanded a significant boast in her position, Azure voiced the entire room when he spoke with Maeve of how Elijah could be her key in showing off to the world, she was strategic.

Both pulled away breathing heavily through their parted lips. Maeve looked at him, through her brows, "you're not mad, are you?"

"I still am." Elijah confessed. "I am mad that I promised your aunt, I would not speak unless someone speaks to me. Because of this I could not answer back when I overheard those men insult you."

"All of those men see me as a conquest. Because I belong to a powerful pack, marrying me──making me their Luna would boast their social status." Elijah's brows furrowed but Maeve's smile made the lines on his forehead disappear.

"They can try all they want...to show dominance over me, but it is you who I want to dominate me." A mischievous smile curled on Elijah's lips.

"Really?" he broke into a most unabashed grin.

Maeve blew a raspberry before giggling, "too much whiskey I think." She let out a surprisingly loud laugh. "Sorry."

Elijah laughed shaking his head before he tightened his grip on her. Maeve gasped, her face only inches away from his. "I can show much dominance if you want, Maeve but I will never undermine you the way those Alphas."

Maeve smiled wide and kissed him fervently. Elijah's hand tangled into her hair, gripping them in his fist tightly.

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Hey guys! Wow a really long chapter.

Hope you guys liked it. I was thinking of making this version well rounded. Previously I hadn't given Maeve much of her storyline and relied on constantly using the Originals storyline as driving agents for her character.

This time, you will see more of Maeve's own storyline, struggle, power and everything as an individual character.

Hope you would like that.

Please comment how you like the story so far, anything you would like to see more of, in the coming chapters. Also, vote guys! Don't be silent readers. I humbly request it.

Take care everyone!

Raven :)