An Alpha Twice Removed

Abandoned And Forgotten 1988-1944

*Diane pov* 

I've been sitting in this house since that horrible night when my father king Charles beheaded my mother the Ice Luna and her lover, Dimitri when he caught wind of their love affair. it happened nearly 6 years ago. On my 10th Moon Day. what a birthday gift am I right?. Not only did my father kill my mother and her lover but he also took his own life.  Leaving 10 year old me "His little ice princess" alone in this big palace. Dimitri was my father's youngest brother and right-hand man. He was his most loyal friend and since he was of alpha blood my father wouldn't dare give him a lowly title of beta so instead, he made him his 3rd  "Overseer of war and battle tactics". We didn't have many wars anymore with mom being the badass ice queen she was. Half the time I spent in the castle locked up like precious cargo, one day as I sat in my usual chair by the library window  I overheard the warriors whisper how they never needed the alpha for anything threat or war-related. They said just go talk to the" ice Luna" she's the real leader. And they were right she was the only thing that kept the rogues away. The mysterious powerful ice queen. The villagers loved her to some human and some wolf. Mother was one of the greats. With Dimitri by her side overseer of battle, they were an unstoppable force. Dimitri was clever and fast. Only wolf I know besides me that could keep up with the ice queen. I guess that's why he assigned him the task of being my mother's royal guard. Father knew he couldn't keep up with my mom's speed and morale. Mom was kind she was fair to humans and wolves protecting neighborhood villages, but father on the other hand could care less if the human towns were raided or burned to a crisp by rogues. He always said his only concern was this pack and his kingdom. But aren't the humans a part of this kingdom as well? father called me a dreamer once he says ill always be in a fairy tale if I continued to treat everyone equally. I remember I was so upset I stormed out of his office and right smack into uncle Dimitri. Like a brick wall, he didn't even budge as to where I toppled over onto the hardwood floor skinning my knee. My uncle bent down swooped me up in his arms and carried me over to the sofa planting me down.

"Are you okay princess Di?" uncle Dimitri said.

"Yes. I'm fine just was startled that's all." I replied trying to stand up again. Before I could catch my balance the burning pain shooting from my new scrape caused my knees to buckle sending me falling backward back into my seat.

"Doesn't look fine to me," Dimitri said in a knowing voice. 

"And what exactly sent you running like that anyway little ice pup?" Dimitri added.

"Umm, I said." trying to buy me time to think of a lie but I couldn't.

"OH, MY GODDESS! LOOK AT YOUR KNEE! AND YOUR NEW DRESS!?? DI-ANA!" my mother scolded me as she walked into the sitting room busting me right away.

I didn't even have time to finish my thoughts as she came in hollering at me like a bat out of hell. She was always yelling anytime I got hurt. That's why I'm not allowed outside the castle. Mother acts as if I'm glass and ill break any moment. That's why I spend most of my time in the library. They say each book is an open window to a new adventure. And I'm just looking for my way out. Anyway out of here. The servants cleaned me up. Bandaging my new scrape and sent me on my way. I made my way down the long hall through the main hall to the sitting room where I discovered Dimitri sitting in the same spot on the sofa. It was almost like he was waiting on me. Keeping my head to the floor I tried to pass by as quietly as possible. I should have known that wouldn't work. 

*Ahem* Dimitri cleared his throat turning his full attention to Diane now frozen in place like a deer in headlights.

"Ready to continue our little chat ice pup?" he asked with a smirk.

"I'm fine. honest. I'm so sorry to have bumped into you like that. I was in a rush" she added. As she continued walking back out the room and up the marble staircase.

"DIANE!" Dimitri shouted after her. But she was already out the door. 

Rushing up the stairs and down the hall, to her bedroom she was surprised by the sight of her mother thee ICE Luna sitting on her bed and ruffling through her journal. 

"Mom that's private!" Diana cried trying to reach for her private journal. 

"Diya! is this what you think of me. some warden keeping you prisoner! Diya I've only ever wanted for you to be safe!" her mother said.

"SAFE? FROM WHAT? MOTHER!!" Diane screamed now fuming with anger.

"You always talk about keeping me safe. But I've seen no threats my entire life I've been SAFE! MOTHER! I need to go outside, have friends like every other kid in this kingdom! instead, you have me stuck here watching other kids play from the window!. I am alone and the only ones around here that even have time for me are the omega wolves that bandage me every time I've tripped or fallen. Or fed me dinner! for goddess sake mother why can't I be free! I'm twice as strong as those other kids and I've learned to keep my powers under control!" she screamed. 

"UNDER CONTROL? Do you call freezing three omegas and 2 guards under control? .. or what about the time you turned the library into an ice rink in the middle of summer? that's under control to you Diya?"

"Well, maybe I've had some hiccups in the past but were you perfect when you were my age? and I think we both can admit the guard incident was an understandable accident. I mean who sneaks up on a person when they are 3 hours deep into a Freddie vs. Jayson marathon  I mean come on". Diane defended.

"Princess you are just not ready. The world is a scary place especially when you are as special as you are. So many people don't understand magic like ours. It just isn't safe." My mother said. And that was the last conversation we had. That was the last night she and I ever had together before the incident that left me here an orphan all alone. At first, my father's beta hung around long enough to figure out what transpired in my mother's office that dreadful night after 3 days he and the rest of the pack split after the funeral. The beta handled all of my parent's arrangements as well as my uncle Dimitri's burial. I wore my beautiful flowy black dress my mother brought back from a trip to Paris when one of their allied pack alphas needed her to come to train his army. I remember telling her "I hated the stinking dress" as she showed it to me showering me with gifts because she was gone for so long. Back then I took all my anger out on mom.  After they laid my parents to rest everyone took off except for one of our elder omega wolves. She was old-fashioned and refused to just up and leave me here all alone. After mom died that need to go outside quickly faded. It seemed as if there was just nothing out there for me anymore. 3 months after their deaths and the pack deserted us raiding the castle fridge for all they could carry. The kind old omega wolf started building us a garden so we could continue to eat now that we were all each other had. Her name was Ruth and she was the kindest soul I've ever met.  And she knew all sorts of things like how to grow any plant, tree or flower you could imagine.  If you needed it Ruth could grow it for ya. She prided herself on her green thumb. I'd sit in the window just watching her digging and planting away. That's when she looked her happiest in her wolf-made garden surrounded by all the things she gave life. And if I ever got sick Ruth had a plant for that too. Shed brew me a tea and have me better in no time. I grew used to her nagging and bickering on and on about her garden and how I should come to sit in the garden one day and watch how it's done so that one day I can learn to. See Ruth was kitchen staff so I hardly ever saw her around this big old castle when my parents were alive. But somehow she knew about me not having anyone to look after me so she made it her job to do it. Ruth was a saint. And a pretty good cook too. She made the sweetest apple pie and all her ingredients were always fresh from her garden. I could never get tired of her cooking it was impeccable. Ruth however was an old woman after all she couldn't stay here forever. One day I woke up a bit later than usual cold and I don't know exactly how to explain it but I had this feeling like something was wrong. The last time I woke up feeling this way I walked into my parent's room to find their beds made and untouched only to discover them both lifeless in a pool of stale blood. *Ewww* I thought remembering the smell as if it were only yesterday. Getting up from bed I tried to shake off that strange feeling as I turned the bathroom light on. Picking up my pink toothbrush and spreading the paste I began to brush as it hit me mid-brush. *Sniff sniff* where was the smell of breakfast that usually fills the halls by now?? and Goddess why is it so cold in here! I shivered to set the toothbrush down, flinging on my mother's old robe and running out the room with a mouth full of paste.

 "Mrs. Ruth!" I called out down the hall and got no answer. 

"Mrs. Ruth!" I called out again beginning to panic.

 Still no answer. As I neared her room I smelt it, that all too familiar smell of death that just seems to love invading my castle over and over again leaving me alone. Once again. I buried her in the center of her garden. I figured that would be where she wanted to be most. Next to all her flowers and hard work plus a sweet view of the castle so she was still watching over me in a way. It's been 4 long lonely months since Ruth's passing and I just couldn't take it anymore being trapped in this large castle all alone. But the fear of the outside world mother always warned about just crippled me, a prisoner in my own castle. So far I've made it 18steps out the main door. the garden's the farthest I've ever been. Wish ruth could see me out there farming and collecting produce on my own. And every time I work up the nerve to leave something deep down inside of me felt there was something here I needed to wait for. Month after month it seems more things were breaking down and starting to deteriorate before my eyes. Pretty soon there would be no memories left in this run-down castle. But today I've made a choice. I Diane Isabella franklin daughter and last surviving member of the crescent ice pack shall except no more! from this day forward nothing else shall be taken from me!. Diane declared. And taking in a deep breath she slammed her hands together trying to channel all of a power she was taught never to use. She reached down as far into her soul as she could pulling every ounce of strength left in her. Her eyes widened at the blue hue now emerging from her chest through her gown, growing wider and wider until the whole castle was coated in a Thicke sheet of ice freezing every inch of the castle into place. Satisfied with her creation she stood in awe admiring her handy work of a power she never once got to explore. With everything perfect, she decided the best way to end her evening would be a nice hot cup of tea and a new journal entry. After 20mins of expressing her emotions on paper, Diane settled in her plush princess bed now hard and heavily coated with enchanted ice. good night mom dad and Ruthe rest well she said.