[62]

                                    

                                          
A/N (1/2019): OMG. I'M ALMOST DONE EDITING, THANK THE LORD(S). Anyways, after this chapter, this incredibly lengthy story finally comes to an end. Thank you so much for reading whether you're someone who followed me from Quizilla (throwback to the 2000s) or read it first on here or read it recently to really get to experience a mature version of this story. I appreciate all comments and questions and votes like you wouldn't believe. Feel free to send me a message if you have any lingering thoughts or feelings. If you really enjoyed my work, I have a werewolf trilogy in the works and I've posted the first book "Throw Me to the Wolves" and sequel "Free Me From the Wolves" and I'm seriously thinking about bringing back Chase and/or Alicia and/or Wes in the third installment if those books pick up any real attention. ANYWAYS, enough of my promotion and onto the reading!
                          
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"So how old are you, Alicia?" a Lycan councilman named Adolph asked at breakfast. Like before, he looked to be middle-aged and in his prime, but of course he was immortal somehow I knew he was probably way older than that. I just didn't know which exact title Adolph had because even though he looked intimidating, he was pretty easy to talk to.
                          
"I just turned twenty a couple days ago actually," I answered after swallowing my food. I stared at the donuts across the table in envy. There was a breakfast for my introduction to the head councilman since Chase insisted I would stay here. Though the Council and associated royalty was set up like a twisted British monarchy with mixed heads of state and heads of government, the living arrangements were odd. This golden palace was home to any of the dozen Lycan councilmen and women, lords, princes, and the Lycan king along with their respective mates. They came and went as they pleased because it wasn't like there was a shortage of room or space. Apparently there were two varied estates for the Vampyr and Sorceror's Tier that suited their needs as well. 
                          
"Oh you're just a baby then," he laughed. Huh? 
                          
"You're awfully young to be traveling so far from home," his wife Elle commented. She wasn't as nearly as easy to talk to as her husband was. "...it's especially foolish to leave your group and stay behind with a near-stranger in a country you don't know."
                          
"Chase and I aren't strangers. We went to high school together," I reminded immediately. Elle almost coughed up her food and I knew it had to be due to the fact that I didn't address Chase with his title.
                          
"I think it's good to travel while you're young and you still have time," Adolph smiled as if he wasn't a werewolf with a longer than normal lifespan. "Life is too short."
                          
"And the world is small," Elle added with her resting bitch face. "It's incredible timing for Sir Chase to stumble upon you when he did. He was to be wed yesterday if it wasn't for the objections. They would've made a lovely couple."
                          
 "Really?" I played dumb. I had a fake look of amazement and a big smile and I looked to Chase. "What'd you do?" I asked. I knew Chase wanted to laugh at my taunting, but he only flashed his eyes and slightly raised his eyebrows informing me that I'd hear about this later—hopefully in a flirtatious tone.
                          
"We had a conflict of interest," Chase only muttered and kept his smile to himself. "But whatever, we were too young anyways."
                          
"Wait so twenty is too young to travel but old enough to get married?" I asked Elle, causing her demeanor to somehow harden even more. Now I was the one trying to contain my laughter. Adolph was finally catching on that his wife was less tolerant and was steered towards being more annoyed at me and my presence. I turned to Chase though. "But you're young. I'm sure you can go out and meet a girl the good old fashioned way."