Since Dmitri had marked Adrianna, the ultimate sealing of their soul bond had occurred. They could not only hear each other's thoughts, but they could also never live without each other. In case one of them died, the other one would never be able to find a different mate and would live a life of misery. If one of them felt pain, the other would automatically feel it too. And if one felt happy, the other would be joyous. It was a bond that would never let them part. Marking also meant that now she was an integral part of her alpha's pack and she could mentally listen to all the pack members.

Adrianna grinned. She became excited about the new plans.

"When do we go?

" she asked enthusiastically.

"For now, we go and have our lunch,

" said Dmitri with a smile. He pulled her out of the bedroom. Adrianna giggled as he pulled her.

Adrianna was wearing a blue silk shirt paired with a pair of white trousers while Dmitri was in his usual white shirt and jeans. As they went downstairs, Adrianna's pet, the baby bear, came running towards her. He started rolling in between her legs.

"Dmitri,

" she said and lifted the cub. He started licking her sloppily.

"Adri, we need to change his name,

" said a peeved Dmitri from behind.

The baby bear started crying. He complained,

"Adrianna, this man is not good.

"

Adrianna was shocked to hear his voice. She stared at him and then heard him saying again,

"Adri, why are you staring at me? I said that your husband is no good.

"

Adrianna was stunned. She could actually hear her pet's voice. She gulped and, just to test whether she was dreaming or not, she asked,

"Why?

"

"You should change your husband's name. That's it,

" he said, clinging on her chest.

"Because I love my name.

"

Adrianna shook her head in surprise. She was not dreaming. She laughed out loud at her discovery and also at the way her pet was complaining.

She patted his back and conveyed,

"I won't change your name.

" She felt Dmitri's anger at her and her pet. She looked at her alpha and started laughing.

She said,

"He is just a baby, Dmitri. Plus, love me, love my pet.

" Having said that, she walked down with the, now ecstatic, baby bear clinging to her.

"I think we are in for a major fight Adri…

" spoke Dmitri softly from behind. But he couldn't imagine fighting with her because he was scared of what would happen to him if she distanced herself.

But it was too late - Adrianna had heard him. She narrowed her eyes at him and said,

"I am in.

" She flicked her hair and started going down the stairs faster.

Dmitri was petrified.

"Baby, no! I am sorry. I won't fight. It was just a joke. I am truly sorry!

"

There was an audience who had witnessed the couple's first fight and who were smiling at the friendly banter. Nate had to mentally convey for them to stay quiet.

When they got downstairs, they saw that there were quite a few people who had gathered for lunch with them. While most of them were chiefs of the packs that Dmitri controlled, there were three chiefs who were still independent. Dmitri narrowed his eyes when he looked at them.

"Why are they here?

" he communicated with Nate.

"I think they want an alliance,

" Nate responded.

Dmitri became quiet. Then, he saw Cora and Keisha who were standing together. He had to make separate arrangements for Keisha as asked by Adrianna. He knew that he would meet resistance from Cora, but it was necessary.

Cora had invited several chiefs, who had not left after the wedding, for lunch. She wanted to take this opportunity to strengthen the alliances with chiefs who were not conforming to the supreme alpha. And so, she had called those three dissident chiefs.

They all sat down for lunch. Adrianna sat next to Dmitri. She sternly looked at Keisha who stared back at her. Slowly, Adrianna placed her hand to her neck and casually turned to the right for Keisha to see her mark, which was on the left side. Keisha burned with jealousy when she saw those red bites on her.

Keisha had hoped Dmitri wouldn't mark Adrianna so soon so that she would have the chance to separate them. But the mark on Adrianna hit her as though a thousand knives stabbed her heart.

Adrianna was flaunting her mark. While Dmitri was busy talking, Adrianna took this opportunity for everyone to see her mark. She had a smile playing on her lips. And almost all of them noticed it, including Cora.

Cora was sitting next to Keisha. She could feel Keisha's anger. Almost everyone in the pack could feel Keisha's anger. Nate and Dmitri looked at Keisha who was glaring at Adrianna. They warned her to contain herself. Keisha clasped Cora's hand so hard that Cora was in pain. But Cora patted Keisha's hand to reassure her.

"We will deal with it, calm down,

" she said while serving Keisha some dishes.

When lunch was over, Dmitri had to go into a meeting with the three dissidents and other chiefs, leaving Adrianna on her own. Adrianna went to sit in the main hall where the wives of the chiefs, who had come to express their happiness and loyalty, had gathered. Adrianna talked with all of them with the grace and élan of a luna.

"We heard that your father and your siblings never liked you Adrianna,

" said Keisha loudly enough for everyone in the hall to hear.

Adrianna was shocked when she heard that. She looked at Keisha who was sitting on a sofa with her back rested against it. She knew that Cora and Keisha had been involved in poisoning her.

"Is it true?

" asked Keisha as all the women started looking at Adrianna strangely.

This was Adrianna's soft point. Embarrassed, she lowered her head.

Keisha took the chance to further her insult.

"Was Kayla really involved in poisoning you?

"

One of the women. who was Keisha's friend, said,

"Isn't Kayla your sister?

" She sniggered and made it sound disgraceful.

Adrianna started looking around as tears welled up in her eyes. She wanted to forget the incident. She wanted to expose the two of them. but she couldn't do anything to Cora. And Keisha was Cora's weakness. Her lips felt dry so she licked them.

"What did you do to Kayla for her to have disliked you so much Adrianna?

" Keisha further pressed.

"Everyone wants to know. Tell us.

"