The Alphas Queen

Bitter Truths

“I just can’t believe it” Max grumbled

“It’s kinda cute” Gemma laughed

“Are you serious?” Max asked, shaking his head

Gemma and Cindy laughed as Max and Maddie looked green. Cindy walked over to Maddie and helped her sit down, her head shaking as they sat around in the dorm living room.

“I mean, do they not know about condoms?” Maddie asked

“Come on guy’s. Your mum’s pregnant. She’s not doing something evil” Cindy laughed

“She might as well have” Maddie muttered, folding her hands

Chuckling, Gemma walked over to Max and pulled him with her and made him sit down beside her. Max huffed a breath, his annoyance clear on his face. After having come back this morning to the dorm, Nait, Max and Gemma had decided to allow today to rest before resuming their training tomorrow. Nait had gone to speak to the council before going away to his cottage. Max and Gemma had come back to the academy, collecting Cindy, Ben and Maddie as they explained what happened and who Tom was and the history.

After that shock and many answered questions later, Ben had just been about to ask Pontus for some food when Max’s father had called him and told them about their mother being pregnant. The shock of that news had both Max and Maddie have a mini meltdown as the siblings struggled to comprehend the situation. Ben had decided that pizza was needed and had made his way out of the dorm some ten minutes later.

“Is it really so bad?” Gemma asked

“With everything going on? Yes it’s bad!” Max said “Besides which….I really don’t want to think about them-”

“Stop!” Maddie said, covering her ears

“Would you feel like that if I was pregnant?” Gemma asked with the tilt of her head

Silence….before Max and Gemma erupted, standing up in shock. Ciney’s eyes widened before she rushed to where Gemma sat and stood before her, her back to Gemma as she faced of Max and Maddie

“Oh my goddess! You’re pregnant?” Maddie screamed

“Gemstone! f**k! You shouldn’t be zapping here and there! Are you ok my mate?” Max asked as he tried to go to Gemma

“Oh goddess! I wonder what you will have?” Maddie screamed “Oh...oh I can’t wait to be an aunt. But you know I’m going to be the favourite aunt right?

“Cindy, what the f**k? Why are you stopping me from going to Gemma?” Max asked as he shifted left and right

“Because it’s my duty to protect the breeding future Luna and to protect the Astrid in all conflict” Cindy said

“Conflict?” Max roared

“Stop...stop it, all of you” Gemma said in a serious tone as she got up

Her legs hit the back of the couch and she promptly fell back onto the couch, causing everyone to gasp and rush to her

“Are you ok?” Maddie asked

“Be careful Jumping about like that” Max grumbled

“Jumping?” Gemma blinked

“Are you ok? Should we ca-” Gemma cut Cindy off

“I’m not pregnant!” Gemma said loudly “I only asked you guys if you’d have felt that way about me too if I said I was pregnant right now”

“Why would you think that?” Max asked

“Because you’re talking about the timing. As if being pregnant was a bad thing” Gemma said “I would do anything to have Mammie here...saying that to me rather than..” Gemma cut off, her eyes sad

“My mate” Max sighed “I worry. I worry for everyone. And if you were pregnant...I’d worry even more. I’d be ecstatic but I’d freak out too….and we would fight”

“Why?” Gemma asked

“Because I’d forbid you to go into battle. Even though we would need you. I’d probably drug you and chain you up somewhere for your safety and the safety of our pup” Max said

“Max!” Gemma asked

Cindy and Maddie both nodded solumley as they agreed. When max took Gemma into his arms, he kissed her long and hard before hugging her to him

“Just wait until this battle is over. I plan to put many pups inside of you Gemstone” Max whispered in her ear

Gemma blushed, her eyes dropping to the floor. When The doorbell sounded, Maddie and Cindy looked at each other before both walking to the door. A gasp and the smell of cheese pizza hit everyone’s noses as Ben walked in carrying five large pizzas and a couple of bags on each arm

“Pizaa hut?” Gemma asked in astonishment “How’s you get them?”

“As I left, I saw Pontus walking towards the dorm. When I explained the situation and how we were wanting the normal pizzas, he opened a portal and we went to Edinburugh. Got a couple of stuffed crust, a deep pan and a thin and crispy along with about five sides and cans of Irn Bru” Ben explained

They all groaned before helping him set up the food in the living room instead of eating in the dining room. As each of them took their choices of pizza, groans of appreciation could be heard all around the room. As they discussed the merits of different topics and how the training would begin again soon, they were unaware of Heather as she plotted against them, her hands covered in blood as she took the life of her own pup in order to help the Grand Once rise victorias once again

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“Is it done?” Jon asked

Silence

“Well? Is it?” Jon asked again

He raised his head and looked at Pontus who had his eyes lowered to the floor. When He felt the stare of the Alpha, Pontus lifted his head, his eyes sad

“It is” Pontus said quietly

Jon nodded

“Go. Prepare. Prepare them too” Jon said statically “If my timeline is correct, we have only days; perhaps less than a week before it all begins”

Nodding, Pontus bowed before turning to leave. As he takes out a portal ball, another portal opens. Tom and Lily walk through it and nod at Pontus who bowed down to his king and queen; before going through his portal ball and disappearing

As they walked towards Jon who now had his back to them, Tom and Lily silently walked until they were close together and standing behind him enough to touch his shoulders in support

“I always knew, but thought she wouldn’t do it. Hoped she wouldn’t do it. I always questioned if I was a good mate to keep so much hidden from her. Now I can only count it as a blessing. I just wish it was a blessing my unborn pup had gotten to see” Jon said sadly

“I’m sorry” Lily whispered

“You have nothing to be sorry for my queen. You had warned me of this the day when you came to give Gemma to Lily. And then again on her first birthday. Our line has always protected that of the Astrid. No mate could come between that” Jon said strongly

“You have made such a sacrifice. When you knew the truth on Gemma’s first birthday; I wish you had let us help you then” Lily said

“And then I wouldn’t have had my other children which I could never wish away” Jon said

When he looked at them, his eyes lowered in front of Tom before he kneeled down in respect. Tom reached down and held Tom’s shoulder before helping him up

“You never bow to me. You know that” Tom said gruffly

“You are still my king” Jon said demurely

“And you are still the blessed line. The only one who could have not only taken care of my daughter; but also had a son...a magnificent son at that; who would be her mate. You have done more than what has been asked of you. Now, let me help you” Tom said

“I need to do it. I need to see this through.” Jon said, shaking his head “She needs to be punished for doing what she has done and not just to our pup but to our children, to our bond and I should be the one to do it”

“It is asking too much Jon” Lily whispered

“It is asking not enough of me. Others before me have done much more” Jon said “I just pray that my children forgive me...and her for having her head turned away”

“They will forgive you. As the last alpha in line before the mate of the Astrid took the throne; Your sacrifice has been the greatest” Tom said determinedly “you were the only one, along with Lily and Peter who knew about us still being alive and where. As soon as we were free, you also knew because of the power of protection you have with your son even though they don’t realise you know. Heather has no inkling and unfortunately, we suspected Carrie and Liam so we never told them. How is he?”

“Still in the induced coma. It is best, at least he won’t be there to see the real betrayal and heartbreak that is about to come. Who do you think it is Tom?” Jon asked

“I’ve racked my brain over and over. Goine was my first bet...now” Tom shook his head

“We don’t have much time. We must prepare” Lily said “What are you going to do Jon?”

“What I should have done from the start. How I should have handled it from the beginning” Jon said sadly

“And that is?” Lily asked, her hands trembling as she reached out to touch his shoulder in support

“Death” Jon said, before turning to look back at the table, his eyes falling onto the row of pictures on his desk before holding steady on the one with Heather, smiling at camera with her arms making two peace signs beside her cheeks

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“We have it my lady” Arron said as he walked into the room

“Did Nait suspect?” Heather asked as she shifted on the single wingback chair

“No….at least not yet. He wasn’t there when I got the ingredients. I also picked up some of these” Aaron said

He walked towards her, his hands carrying various pendants. When Heather opened her hands, he placed them into her palms

“This one is a Moon stone. It helps illuminate sight. It may help see the future. The other two can only be worn by the bloodline. So they are no good” Heather said “Well done. This Moon stone may be a valuable find. See how it is white but there’s a small black/blue half moon design? That let’s the wearer see the alternative reality if they made a different move” Heather explained

“So like...if I saw someone hit me, but then I hit a person back, they will show me the outcome or future of that hit? Alternative reality?” Aaron asked, wide-eyed

“Not as easy as that but yes. Something to that effect” Heather said before wincing

“Can I get you something my lady? Maybe one of the healer can-” Aaron asked

“No. I am just sore from the sacrifice. It will pass in a day or two” Heather waved her hand so he didn’t come closer

Arron walked beside the table and rang the bell. When the servant came in, he ordered food and tea as well as a hot water bottle to be filled. When Heather lifted her eyebrow in enquiry to him, he just smiled and started taking out the viles he collected from Nait’s home. After almost ten minutes, the servant came back with everything Arron had asked for, he took the tea and hot water bottle to Heather who was examining the stone.

“What?” Heather asked sourly

“Regardless of the reason, you are clearly in pain. Taking something to ease it doesn’t make you weak” Aaron said, passing her the bottle and the cup of tea

Taking them, Heather stiffened her body, not allowing herself to feel anything. The sacrifice was worth it. She knew it would have to be done. She just had to carry on the game

“So” Aaron said, leaving against the desk, his ankles crossed “Can you at least tell me now why you did it?”

“The Great One needs a pure soul along with the ingredients we have got. In the time before, it’s soul was taken when a bargain was made for power” Heather said matter-of-factly

“Can’t get much purer than a soul. But why not use that pup’s soul that we killed?” Arron asked with a frown

“Because it has to be a soul that has no purpose. At least not yet. Had I had my child, as soon as it was born, it would have been given the purpose to fight or defend the Astrid as our line always does. Killing it in the womb means I was able to harness the soul” Heather explained

“How? If it was in the womb? And your mate...won’t he?” Aaron was cut off

“I was able to use medication, the human kind to kill it in the womb. As the particles of its soul started to leave my body, I was able to capture it with a spell I was given by the Great One long ago. My mate is so oblivious. All he sees, hear’s and thinks about is Gemma and her safety” Heather spat “He had no clue I had been pregnant for weeks. Even ym second son who is about to come home is wanting to go see HER”

Nodding, Aaron took in everything she said. When Heather took a sip of tea and then relaxed against the couch, Arron started arranging everything on the table. When he saw Heather’s eyes light up, he nodded and pointed to the items outlined in tape as he placed each other in their rightful place

“We have everything we need. Tonight, I will summon the Grand One and start the process. Prepare yourself Arron. It will be a long night. Oh, and kill him; we have no need of him. His blood will go a long way to help The Grand One amplify their own power” Heather said, smiling

“You mean?” Aaron asked, his eyes wide

“You will be meeting the Grand One tonight” Heather said, nodding her head

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