*****Erika''s POV*****


    "A truce?" Elder Grigshade stared at the hand I had brought out to seal the truce agreement I wanted to have with him.


    It had suddenly urred to mest night that if I was going to be a leader, it would not be wise to start having enemies from the inception of my reign as Alpha. I had discussed it with Kat and Pa, and they had thought it was a good idea.


    So we had gone with it. I had Pa dress her up and we had asked her to remain where she was until we were ready to call her out, I had a guard and a maid stay with her. One, I did not want her to escape, Tasyra was airheaded and could do crazy things. Two, I wanted the guard to protect her because of what was happening today my coronation.


    I could not allow her be without security, because if by any chance, something happened to her, her father would really have it out with me.


    "Yes, a truce." My hand was still outstretched, waiting for his own hand to ept the truce.


    He turned to see his daughter who was supposed toe greet him, stop at the buffet table, already piling food onto her te. He looked at her, taking in her exquisitely put-together appearance, then turned back to me, he gazed at my hand.


    "Truce." He epted my handshake.


    "Thank you." I nodded and was about to leave when his voice stopped me.


    "How do you think you''ll fare as Alpha?" He asked, a serious expression on his face.


    "I''ll do my best, Elder Grigshade." I replied.


    I was sorely tempted to ask him about the business he had with my father and then my brother, I was eager to know what it was all about and what had started it. But I was having a hesitation there, something was stopping me from doing it.


    When was the business started? Who brought about the idea? Who owned the biggest share? Where was this business located? What was being produced? Or sold? Was there a different ount that I was not aware of that was linked to the profit gotten from this business?


    The file had not really revealed much. It was more like an agreement form, I wanted a more personal information on this business. But Elder Grigshade and I were not on that level yet, we just started a truce. The only person that I could have asked was long gone.


    "You father did his best, Erika. But it was not enough." He shrugged.


    Fear and anger coiled themselves around my chest. What was this man trying to do? What was his reason for doing this to me? Was he trying to rile me up or pit fear in me?


    Mustering my best polite smile to cover up the real emotions within, I met his stare. "How do you mean, Elder Grigshade?"


    "The best is never enough, Erika. Sometimes, you have to be the worst you have to be."


    I frowned. "What? I''m sorry I do not understand you."


    "Your father tried to live a good life, not a perfect one. A good one and look where itnded him."


    I steeled my spine, using the advantage of my heel to stand up to him. "Do not insult my father''s good personality."


    He chuckled, but it was dry and humorless. "You are not yet ready to be an Alpha, Erika. If you keep reacting to everything said to you, you''ll be led to blind anger that will destroy more than make you."


    I seethed. He


    e was right, but the man


    was annoying as hell. He was intentionally riling me up, and seeing me get trapped into where he


    wanted me amused him more.


    "I know how to handle my reign, Elder Grigshade. You don''t see me questioning


    your every move as an elder, do you?" I red at me.


    "And I thought you called a truce." He chuckled tauntingly. "An Alpha with unstable emotions, Iron w is in for some drama."


    I fisted my hands at my sides, trying to calm my anger down. He was reeling me


    in, I was not supposed to go with him wherever he was trying to take me to.


    I blinked and sighed away the anger.


    I should learn to control my


    emotions, I was an Alpha not just a part of the royal family anymore. I now held the leadership reins of ckwood of Iron w pack.


    I should not let petty things get to me, only when it came to my family, no talk was


    petty. I took them serious because my family were off-limits.


    "The truce is still on, Elder Grigshade." I had ensured every anger and annoyance were gone from my voice, left with a steady calmness and confidence.


    "Are you sure? Or you''ll just go ahead to have a go at me when I make my next statement." He raised a brow at me.


    "I''ll...take my leave now, Elder Grigshade. Thank you for the truce, let''s work well henceforth." I could not withstand the man''s craziness anymore. He was airheaded, just as his daughter was, but she surely took her craziness from him. The man was just something else.


    "Running away from conversations, huh? Is this how you''ll lead the people?" His words dripped with mockery.


    His attempt to torch my emotions was something I was not going to allow


    anymore. My emotions were not going to be easily med anymore.


    "No, Elder Grigshade, I have other people to greet and who wants to greet me." I smiled at him politely.


    He looked at me for a while. He nodded. "Alright, Erika."


    "With all due respect, as I address you by your title, kindly do the same." My tone


    was clipped.


    "You want to be addressed as Alpha?" His brow was quirked.


    "Is that not what I am, just as you are an elder?" I retorted, also raising my


    eyebrow.


    His nod was curt. "Alright, Alpha Erika."


    My smile was wide. "Thank you, Elder Grigshade."


    "But just kn..."


    "Alpha, some persons are here to see you." One of my guards came to inform me.


    Saved by the guard. "Who are they?" I turned to Elder Grigshade. "See youter."


    I walked away from him.


    "They identify as Alpha Alexander Robertson and Beta Gage Forest."