The Crown in The Abyss

Chapter Eleven: Estella POV

I stand near the window in the new room Amaris had prepared for us. He made my parents room a place where I could let my sorrows out. The scouts came back.

“Nothing your majesty, we haven’t found him,”they reported. Kenzo was next to me.

“WELL keep looking no soul is going to rest until my fiancé is back,”I ordered.

“As you wish your excellence,”they bowed and left. I was nervous and worried for him. Maybe I did something to make him uncomfortable.

“He will come back soon,”he assured me. The ball was about to start. I thought that this year would be different. I saw the big bright yellow ball go in. And the night came. The night was introduced by loud bells announcing the ball was starting. I took off my engagement ring. I could finally admire the emerald cut. The band was gold. Sliver always damaged wolves. I let out a deep sigh.

“I just hope he’s ok,”I was in strapless blue velvet dress, with a diamond belt. I put on my gloves on. Then the ring on top of the gloves.

“Is our new member ready?”I looked up at Kenzo.

“The butler informed they had given her the attire, she will be attending,”I knew he was struggling to communicate with me. Kenzo talked to me about the idea about becoming the Royal Alpha Beta. It would benefit him and his female. His female was my soon to be sister in law. So I been training him a bit. Kenzo grabbed a key off the table and opened the glass casing that had my crown. It was my mother’s crown. He put on me. He extended his shoulder.

“I shall say your quite a natural of being a royal beta,”I giggled. Kenzo would be the third desert wolf to become a Royal Beta. Kenzo smiled. I looked around and saw the halls decorated with sliver ornaments and lots of garland. The castle looked like a winter wonderland.

“My father always had high hopes I would always reach for the top, sadly he and my mother died of disappointment when I lost to Aramis’ brother,”he explained. We walked to the royal ballroom where’d we start the royal dinner.

“I’m sorry to hear that,”I expressed my sorrows to him.

“It’s fine, luckily when Aramis got back from his banishment I won and Calen got what he deserved,”I could tell Kenzo was more opened than Aramis.

“Well Aramis is going to be king,”I informed him. We got to two big golden doors. This was another dinning hall we had. The doors opened.

“And now presenting, our hostess and your royal excellence Queen Alpha Luna Estella Eirlys Lucelence,”the mater of ceremony announced. I walked down the marble staircase. Everyone clapped. Kenzo froze as a woman approached us. She bowed to me.

“Your royal excellency, I would like to present myself as the mother of your future fiancé,”she introduced. I bowed my head.

“It’s an honor to have you here ma’am glad you could make it,”I replied.

“My Queen, here let me show you to your seat,”my butler bowed and extended his arm. I let go of Kenzo and grabbed his. He showed me to the throne and then he showed Kenzo a small throne next to me. The throne on my right arm was empty. The woman sat next to the empty chair. They brought the appetizer round. I couldn’t believe Aramis chose my favorite. It was French Onion soup. I sipped the soup and tasted every flavor and texture it had. I saw Rue with the other Alphas. She looked tense. The rainforest tribe felt really tense to be around. Everyone was chattering.

“So this what you had plan?” Kenzo looked at me.

“Yes, but I could see that Aramis did a good job,”I smiled. I was proud of my future husband. Sadly he didn’t even show up.

“I also had memorized all the pack names, Alpha names before I could join a court meeting,”I explained to Kenzo. He laughed. Then they served the first course.

“So tomorrow, are you having a meeting about starting a war?”Kenzo cut his 13 oz filet mignon.

“Well yes and solving a feud, my scouts have found the lair of the rogues,”I explained and as I ate the steak.

“So I will be leading the Canadian seasonal packs, we’ve set a small settlement in Riven’s territory,”I explained to Kenzo.

“Then I would like to come,”I could hear his bravery.

“It’s best if you stay here and watch over the castle, I think you be a great royal beta if you do defeat the competition,”I smiled at him. Then the butlers ring their bells. And dessert came. It was father’s favorite. It made want to throw up my supper.

“Would you like some your majesty?”the sever asked.

“No I’m full thanks,”I answered. So he moved along and started to ask the others. I hadn’t fully moved on from my parents death, or even Elio. I felt alone and scared. Even Kenzo, Aramis or anyone couldn’t fill this void. As everyone finished dinner. The servants retrieved the tables and put them on the side and put more desserts and snacks and champagne. Everyone started to dance in a very orderly manner. I sat in my throne.

“I kind of wished my mate would see this,”Kenzo exclaimed. Rue was standing off the side.

“I bet she would enjoy it,”I was just looking around.

“You still have hope that Aramis would enter that door,”he looked at me when he made that question.

“I do have somewhat of hope he will be marching there and ask me to dance and he be stepping on my heels,”I laughed. I played with my the ring.

“When he proposed yesterday, I wondered if I made the right choice of saying yes, if my father would approve,”I said in a sad tone.

“I think your father would be very proud your majesty, even Elio,”Kenzo response made me feel at ease. It felt my father was sending me a message I did the right thing. It made me smile from the inside to even the outside. Then Leucos came and bowed and extended his hand to grab mine. I let him because that’s what I was taught. He gave it a gentle kiss.

“My lady, it would be my honor to dance with you,”he said.

“Of course,”I gently said. He stood up with me and we walked to the dance floor. We danced gracefully among the other wolves.

“You looked radiant, shame your lover isn’t here to presence it,”he mentioned.

“It’s no matter to me if he’s not here,”I fibbed. He stared at the ring like a hawk.

“You know your majesty you don’t have to marry him, you know there are other young strong were-men around, some of them are the same age,”he implied.

“Your not wrong,but I would like to follow my family traditions, they’ve married their first destined mates who bored the same birth marks,”I revealed to him. Marks only appeared on the first mates. They’re the ones who have more compatibility. Me and Aramis both had it on our back. It was random where the marked appeared and how it appeared.

“Well that’s a beautiful tradition,”he twirled me as he knew he lost his competition.

“Estella it’s nice seeing you again,”he bowed. Leucos and I we’re close when we were younger. He was Rizon’s nephew. He let go of me and walked to talk to rest of the guests. The dance was done and I went back to my seat.

“I think I’m going back to my room,”I coughed out. Kenzo helped me up. The butler walked towards me.

“Everything ok your excellency?,”he spoke in a shaky worried tone.

“I think I’m going to back to my room to rest, please inform the guests they can keep the ball going until the last bell,”I explained to him.

“As you wished your majesty,”he bowed and walked towards the guests. Kenzo helped me walk to my room. As I got in. I took off my ring and gloves. I slowly took off my heels. I was sweating. He came and checked.

“You have a high fever,”he looked worried.

“I’m fine Kenzo,”I coughed some more and fell over the bed. I covered the marble floors with blood. I was shaking. I sensed the guard was outside.

“Your majesty,”he asked.

“Yes?”

“Lady Ruzena is here, she wants to talk,”he reported.

“Tell her to come in,”I ordered. Kenzo helped me up the bed. Ruzena came in.

“Look this is so hard to believe, Aramis kind of filled me in,”she explained. I didn’t know if this was apology or just a told you so.

“You have royal blood, so technically your my cousin, I know my father never had a another lover because if he did then he would be alive right now,”I grimly told her.

“So how am I related to you?” She was intrigued.

“Well I remember I did have a aunt,”I explained to her.

“What happened,”she asked me. I took a deep breath. She needed to know.

“I only remember few things when I was three or even four, you were born on October, I was barely three at the time, father didn’t let me visit his sister as much,”I hugged my knees tighter.

“But tragedy struck, the rogues thrashed our village in Antartica,”I explained.

“But what did they want? Why attack my mom?” She asked.

“Their goal is simple yet hard to understand, destroy the royal family line,”I explained to her.

“So did my mother survive, where can I find her?” She demanded more answers. She stood up fast and walked to the door still looking at me.

“No, you see I wasn’t in the incident, I came to it after the pack found me, my father was busy trying to find my mother, Elio tried to find my aunt as he got me back safe in the medical bunker,”I explained her.

“A guard gave the report to my father that your mother was dead,”I explained.

“What about my father?”she asked.

“He died in war Ruzena,” I explained to her. She looked disappointed.

“That explains it,”she said.

“My parents said that they found me in a wooden box floating among the sea, they were on a cruise to explore Antarctica, they thought my parents wanted to kill me but the necklace I had was pure gold so they were confused as well,”she looked grimly.

“So do my uncle and my aunt live?” She looked towards me.

“Ask yourself that question, would I even be on the throne if my parents were alive,”I asked in sarcastic tone. Kenzo was intrigued.

“What age did you became Queen,”she asked.

“Six, but you do have a right to acclaim the throne,”I grabbed some biscuits I had in the room. I began eating. She sat down.

“Teach me how to transform,”her eyes were full of curiosity.

“You know transformation takes time,”I stated.

“But in order for her to be crowned as Duchess she has to transform,”Kenzo added. It was true.

“So could you help me or not, I want to be a part of your lineage,”she requested.

“Look I’m sorry about being rude to you, but I needed answers, so please,”she pleaded. I gave in her request.

“Let’s go outside, let me change into something more flexible,” I explained to her. Kenzo pulled the tassle. The maids got as fast they could.

“Just give me a robe,”I instructed. They went to the closet and got out the robe. We went to the bathroom and they took of the tight dress. I looked at the ring. I was worried about Aramis. I put the ring back. And they just put the robe on.

“Come on let’s go Kenzo,”I insisted. They both followed me out the castle.

“Your just wearing a robe?” She whispered.

“When you transform, you rip your clothes,”I acknowledged. As we step on the cold snow. My feet felt great not walking on heels. I untied my hair. I walked in front of the crescent moon.

“When we transform, we channel our emotions, connect with your instincts,”I instructed. She was listening closely.

“If you are in enraged, let it come out, if your joyful express it,”I took deep breath. I connected with Selene after so long. It felt so much better. I slowly took off my robe and let my bones crack. I felt bigger stronger. I faced her and I saw she also transformed. I was proud, she was learning fast. But sooner or later she gave out. I knew the wolf form was a bit too complicated. I heard her huff harshly.

“You have to bond with your beast a bit more,”Kenzo advised.

“But I’ve had, I always felt empty till now,”she claimed. I was trying to hold Selene a little longer.

“Estella,”Kenzo came over and comforted me. I gave out my form. I didn’t even lasted five minutes. I saw Ruzena was back in her white wolf royal form. She wasn’t struggling. I petted her.

“If you want to turn back you just have to relax,or command your beast to go back,”I requested. She slowly laid down and transform back. She was panting. I gave her my robe so she could cover herself. I was just out naked in front of my mate’s beta. I would bet Aramis would be infuriated and he’d would make me wear his shirt.

“You won’t be able to transform, your not ready yet,”I stated. She nodded barely. I felt everything spinning.

“If your more experienced why are you having troubled,”she asked.

“It’s a family secret,” Kenzo replied. It surprises me that Kenzo could be goofy and serious the same time.

“I don’t think you should lead the battle,” he implied.

“I need to, Rue go back to your room,” I ordered. Of course she didn’t feel intimidated.

“So what would I call you or address you now?”she asked.

“Stella would do fine,”I smiled. Rue nodded and bowed. Then she left me and Kenzo.

“Kenzo let’s go,”I said.

“Estella you don’t seem well,”he commented. I slowly started feeling the lack of air. I fell limp in his arms.

As the sun stroke. I was in my bed.

“Aramis,”I tried saying. But my voice was too weak. I got up and walked to the bathroom. Luckily I planned my war outfit. The maids tried stopping me.

“Your majesty, your not in a good condition please, your wolf form took all your energy,”they exclaimed.

“JUST put me the uniform, the seasonal packs and I leave first thing today,”I commanded. They froze and nodded. I saw the clock saw it said 7:00 am. I was late. They put on the corseted top and the pencil skirt. I grabbed the green jacket and clipped it on. I walked over there as fast I could. I could see that everyone was late. They had what I could tell a very long night. In other terms veisalgia. Some were throwing up on trash cans. The strongest wolves of my clan were already over there. I walked in the courtroom.

“As all of you know of what we’d discussed yesterday, the Rogues stole all of Rainforest and Islander tribes, must we let this go? MUST the ones sacrifices lay to waste,” I asked.

“NO,”they chanted.

“CLANS we had enough of Rogues killing and ravaging OUR LANDS, it’s time to give them their own taste of their doing, as all you know we have found where they’re hiding thanks to my scouts,” I informed. They all shouted and howled.

“SO MY CILIA CLAN AND THE FOREST CLANS, will you join me to destroy these savages?” I exclaimed.

“YES,” they shouted.

“Then we shall march TO their hideout and come back to Cilia victorious,”I announced. Everyone cheered even though they had veisalgia. We started marching out of the castle. A lot of my clan said goodbye their mates, to their pups. It made think of Aramis. I imagined our pups playing together. Luckily Kenzo stayed behind. Riven transformed as well for Rizon. I got on Rizon’s back. I felt weak since I transformed. As the days passed I felt human. I knew this journey was going to last at least three weeks. We had to the all the way to the Rocky Mountains.

“The tunnels are safe, your majesty,”the butler informed.

“Very well me and Rizon will head over there,”I said. We needed to head west. The other tunnels collapsed thanks to my grandfather not using them. Rizon slowly walked in the tunnels. It was sort of a long walk to Riven’s territory. But thanks to some engineers they constructed a faster way. A capsule type of transportation. It would act like a sling shot. I got off of Rizon. He transformed back and helped me get on the front seat. He sat in the back. The capsule enclosed us and shot us to Riven’s territory end. We climbed the ladder. As we got out Riven’s wolves greeted us. They gave Rizon some lose clothing to cover himself.

“I think you can take it from here your majesty,”he bowed and left with some servants.

“Your grand highness, Riven just sent a message to show you the troop headquarters, and of course the alpha quarters,”he said.

“Very well,”I followed him. I saw the camps were spacious. Even if they were tents.

“Your quarters will be in Alpha Riven estate, and the alpha quarters are the same as the troops ,”he walked around the tents. I saw some males resting for the long journey ahead. I sensed Kenzo running to me. I faced him.

“Kenzo I ordered you to stay with my pack,”I was bit mad.

“Aramis entrusted me to take care of you, don’t worry about your pack they can be with one of the council members,”he explained.

“The council members are about to leave, it’s a cycle,”I grind my teeth. I was worried to leave my pack unprotected.

“Kenzo, if I’m not there to lead, the rebels could attack the fortress, they know how to get in,” I tried saying.

“Your majesty please let me in this fight,”he pleaded. I sighed and nodded. I needed to choose the next beta but the competition was postponed in three weeks. The rogues have attacked endlessly to tribes, to even territory. I knew we had to do something about this. I could see he was desperate of protecting me and showing me of what he was he capable.

*Rizon I need you to come now* I ordered. I sat on the bed to wait for Rizon.

“I wish Aramis was here, then I wouldn’t be commanding a army,”I chuckled.

“Kenzo what if this is a trap and they kidnap him,”I curled myself up.

“What would happen to my pack, I just don’t know what to do,”I felt stressed. As I felt him trying to extend his hand to comfort me. Rizon entered the room and bowed.

“You’re assigned to stay behind him Rizon,”I said.

“But your majesty,”he tried arguing. I tensed my stare upon him.

“I command you to relocate the pack, you will assure their safety, I want the omegas in different location and the wolves in the mountains, let this message be only delivered to the alphas and council, I don’t want harm come to my pack,”I ordered.

“Is that clear,”I said as my posture stood as tall as a clock tower. He lowered his head.

“Your wish is my command your excellence,”he said grimly. We heard growling outside.

“I wish to see it be done, my trust is fully on your hands Rizon,”I looked outside and there was blood on the snow.

“Yes your majesty, I shall take my leave,”he rose and headed to the door.

“Greenland seems like a good choice,”I suggested. He looked at me.

“I’ll take it in account,”he smiled. He did a reverence and left.

“Let’s get this fighting situated Kenzo,”I sighed. I had no time to relax, and I was preparing for war. I slowly stood up. My legs we quivering. It must be the stress and the venom taking its rightful place in my body. As my body turned more civilized.

“Your majesty I was thinking we could a diplomatic relationship with the rogues,”he walked quickly to get the door.

“We’re talking about beasts with no morals of what so ever,”I explained.

“Trust in my word that has been on the table for a long time, my father tried giving them food, territory, but they wanted something more,”I said grimly.

“But what’s your reason to go to war,”he asked. I looked at him and stopped for a moment.

“I’ve restrained this decision for so long, I stood there doing nothing while packs suffer, I’ve stayed silent for a long time, it’s time we show them that their acts won’t go without consequences,” I explained.

“And your not scared of letting a lot of innocent people die,”he asked.

“What if they go after the people that you love like well,” he thought.

“Kenzo, I thought the same, but those beasts have no instincts, they don’t know what love is, they only starve for power,” he didn’t look at me as I got my point through.

“Trust me this is the best course of action, I will risk anything to keep everyone safe it’s my job as royal,”I started walking to some French doors that took us outside.

“I’m not going to stand and do nothing,” I looked at the window where the snow was touching.

“Your right, Aramis is a powerful type of shifter, I really should trust you in this,” I smiled and felt relieved that I could get someone’s support. The other wolves weren’t convinced about the plan. They are doubting my status. I needed something to prove them. We walked outside and the forest stood silent. No twig was being stepped and broken. We walked slowly and their was a small circular dirt area. It seemed Riven had time to dig it out.

“It seems like we have a duel,”I was mad. I ordered no duels, it seemed like my commands weren’t working.

“EVERYONE I command this to stop,” I shouted as loud as I could. I felt blood piling in my throat. No one listened to me. I went down and tried separating a pair of wolves.

“LEUCOS, RIVEN, I order this to stop NOW,”I tried enhancing my shifter strength.

“STELLA,” Kenzo yelled and wasn’t concentrating on him. I was trying to make one of them fall asleep, it seemed to be working until their jaws clamped onto my arm. Fangs dug deeper in my arm. I was barely recovering from the facture that the other wolf made. I endured and made Luecos fall asleep. It was obvious I would’ve of gotten injured but I needed to separate them. The other wolves stopped and looked at me. I knew I would need a bunch of healers to heal this.

“THIS is not the time to be fighting,”I snarled. Someone transformed back in their human form. And that someone was Hugo.

“AND why shall we listen to a shifter that is slowly turning human as the days pass,” Hugo said. A lot of them lowered their heads to him.

“YOU can’t be queen, you can’t even control a small little feud between us,” I was shaken with Rage. I took a deep breath.

“THEN if your not satisfied LEAVE and your land shall belong to me,”I glared at him. Trying to keep him under control. Riven walked behind me.

“Oh I’ll leave after I win the alpha title myself,”he howled and transformed. He ran towards me to strike me. I made my hands glow and caught him by his neck and crushed him on the ground.

“Obey right now and I shall give you mercy for your disrespect for the crown OR I ripped your neck with my frost,”I said huffing as the ice grew on top of him. He closed his eyes. I got up.

“ANYONE ELSE BEG TO DIFFER,”I shouted so everyone could hear me.

“I SWEAR IF any of you let loose EVER again or QUESTION my decisions I will not give out any mercy, I WILL establish my law till you listen and STOP acting like savages, AM I CLEAR,”everyone looked at me shaking.

“All of you pack your belongings, we’re moving closer to the enemy, IF you want results RIGHT now then we won’t get ANY BLOODY HELL RESTS,”I was full of anger. Riven seemed to be shaking. Leucos bite was really bad. I spit out the blood from my throat and stomped to Kenzo. I snapped my fingers and made him transformed and I got on top of him. Everyone slowly followed behind. I was going to show the males I could lead fiercely. I leaned into Kenzo and grabbed a hanker chief and coughed as much blood clots I could. He nudged me a bit on his back.

“I’m fine we have keep moving, I’m not letting a lot of males take advantage because I been easy going for the first time,” I said. We walked through the forest. As the snow was still falling. We would get there in few days by the pace I decided to take. Hopefully we would get the results we wanted to get. I didn’t know if it was the adrenaline or anger but I felt stronger than the other days. I felt confident we could finally finish this war.