Chapter 119: Still Sleeping

Michael’s POV

Alaric watched Elias for another moment before shaking his head.

"I have never seen a player like this Elias Roth before. Five women around him at once. He really knows how to keep himself entertained."

I glanced toward Elias again. "He acts like someone who never received enough love at home."

Alaric nodded. "You may be right."

Almost immediately, I shifted my gaze toward him. He felt it and turned to meet my eyes.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"I just got reminded of one of my very good friends who acts exactly like Elias Roth. He is also always surrounded by women."

Alaric narrowed his eyes. He knew exactly what I was doing. "You had better—"

I raised a hand slightly and gave him a pointed look around the club. "Remember where we are."

He stopped himself and released a deep sigh.

"I came all the way to Boston because I wanted to relax and have some fun, and now look at me. A shapeshifter has appeared, and somehow that has managed to ruin my entire evening."

I gave him a sidelong glance.

"It seems you think an Alpha Primogen should be whiling away his time every other day while the world is in danger."

Alaric poured himself another drink. "It isn’t as if I am the saviour of the world."

I looked away from him and returned my attention to Elias.

A moment later, my hearing picked up the conversation from their table.

The shapeshifter asked Elias when he was going to host them at his apartment again.

Elias smiled. "I’ve been very busy lately. I will need some time to plan it properly."

Alaric leaned slightly toward me. "I bet she is looking for an opportunity to get him. The first time she went to his apartment was probably an opportunity to survey his environment."

I said nothing. My attention remained on the conversation.

The woman smiled at Elias. "Take your time. We aren’t going anywhere."

There was nothing unusual about her tone, and Elias seemed completely comfortable with her response.

But the request itself was worth remembering.

She had already been inside his apartment. Now she wanted another invitation. That was enough for me to take the matter seriously.

I picked up my phone and sent a message to my men.

"Keep an eye on Elias Roth’s group. Follow the shapeshifter when they leave and maintain surveillance on her. Do not interfere unless necessary. I want to know where she goes and who she meets."

The reply came shortly afterwards.

"Understood, Alpha."

I put my phone away. Not long after, Elias and the women finally got up from their table.

I watched them make their way toward the exit, with the shapeshifter leaving alongside the rest of the group.

I had no intention of interfering. Doing so would expose the investigation, and there was no reason to put Elias in danger when my men could handle the surveillance without being noticed.

I had already given the order. Whatever happened after they left was no longer something I needed to worry about tonight.

Beside me, Alaric watched the group disappear through the entrance before settling back into his seat.

"Finally."

I watched him lift his glass and say, "She is gone. Now I can actually enjoy myself."

I shook my head and turned my attention back to the club. Apparently, this was what Alaric considered rest.

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I woke up early the next morning and went through my usual morning exercise before heading to the bathroom.

Alaric was still asleep by the time I was dressed and ready to start the day,

That wasn’t surprising.

He had drunk considerably more than I had the previous night, and he had gone to bed in the early hours of the morning.

I could have joined him in sleeping for a few more hours. My body, however, didn’t allow me that luxury.

Sleep had never been something I could indulge in for too long, particularly when there was something that needed to be done.

And there was.

Emerald was coming over.

I went into the kitchen and started preparing breakfast.

Since there would be three of us eating, I decided to make enough food instead of relying on the usual portions I would prepare for myself.

Alaric and I could eat considerably more than an ordinary person, and Emerald was certainly not going to leave my condo hungry.

I prepared six dishes myself: fluffy scrambled eggs with cheese and herbs, crispy bacon, breakfast sausages, golden hash browns, buttered pancakes with maple syrup, and a large bowl of fresh fruit consisting of strawberries, blueberries, grapes, bananas, and sliced melon.

I also prepared fresh orange juice and brewed coffee and green tea.

By the time I finished, the kitchen smelled much better than it had when I walked in.

I checked the dishes again, making sure everything was ready and covered where necessary. My phone, which I had brought into the kitchen, suddenly rang.

I picked it up. Emerald’s name boldly shone on the screen. I slid my finger across the screen to answer.

"Good morning."

"Good morning, Michael," she greeted. "I’m downstairs."

I glanced toward the kitchen clock. "Give me a minute. I will come down and bring you up."

"Okay."

I ended the call immediately, then I checked the food one more time before turning toward one of the rooms.

"Alaric!"

There was no answer. I tried calling him again, but the condo stayed silent. He was clearly still sleeping.

I left him and headed downstairs.

Emerald was waiting when I reached the entrance. She was carrying a few grocery bags, and the moment she saw me, she smiled and held them out.

I took them from her. "You didn’t need to bring these."

"I know." She smiled again. "Just accept them so I can freeload off you in peace."

I chuckled. "That’s one way to justify bringing groceries into someone else’s house."

"I thought it was a very reasonable arrangement."

"I can see that."

I carried the bags as we walked toward the elevator.

Because the elevator required the resident’s access credentials to reach the upper floors, Emerald couldn’t simply come up to my condo by herself.

I used my access and waited for the elevator doors to open before we stepped inside.

Once we reached my floor, I transferred the grocery bags to my left hand so I could enter the keycode for my door.

I noticed Emerald looking away, so I immediately said, "Watch."

She turned toward me.

"You should learn the code so you can use it whenever you come here, whether I’m in Boston or not."

"There is no need." She looked at the keypad. "I won’t have any reason to come here if you aren’t around."

I entered the first part of the code. "You will need it."

She watched me.

"For example, if you ever want to get away from your dorm for a few days and stay somewhere more spacious, quiet, and comfortable, you can come here."

She considered that for a moment but didn’t argue with me again.

I finished entering the code, and the lock clicked. I smiled slightly and opened the door.