The Lost Queen

Chapter 10. Endless dreaming

Ace

The whole week went in a blur, and I wasn’t able to concentrate on anything. I just constantly thought about Nor’s words without a minute of stopping. Everything that I did in the office was in autopilot mode and at the same time I tried to get more information from my wolf about our mate, but he wasn’t very cooperative.

When I didn’t think about that, I tried to mend my relationship with Kade, but he was distracted the same as me just for different reasons, I suppose. Or maybe what he did on Saturday was related to his mate and Kade wasn’t ready to tell me about it? Every new thought accumulated into the neat pile somewhere inside my mind and I felt like my head would explode one day.

I still didn’t know anything about Zaven’s attack and his uncle was still looking for any helpful information. It was hard to control things about which you didn’t have any clue. The last few weeks were tragic and dreams with each passing night became harsher and more unrealistic than before. I still dreamt about Kayla’s eyes. I felt in my bones that it was hers, but I couldn’t understand why I had dreams about her. She always ran to Wolfbane’s flower field and laughed so loudly that I felt dizzy every time I woke up with the sound of her laugh still echoing in my mind.

Today was Friday already and I tried to somehow get out of bed, but I was tired, and my body was sore from all yesterday’s activity. When I couldn’t fall asleep, I left the packhouse and went for a run. When I got back, it was already four in the morning and I had three hours before getting up and going to the office. Lack of sleep was becoming a problem. I didn’t know how long I could live like this, but every thought that swirled in my mind kept me awake most of the night when everywhere was quiet and serene.

A knocking sound made me open my eyes slowly again and I managed to get out of bed. I was a tired mess, but when I opened the door and found Kade standing in front of me with his school uniform, I remembered that I had to take him to school today.

“Did you wake up just now?” my brother’s voice was full of surprise, and I deeply exhaled.

“Yeah. Give me twenty minutes and I’ll be ready.”

“Or just give me my car keys and go to sleep,” he suggested, and for a moment I thought that it was a great idea, but then remembered why I took the car from him in the first place and shook my head.

“I will drive you. Just wait.” I closed the doors and went straight to the shower.

Cold water splashed on my skin, but I didn’t feel it. I stared at the wall in front of me and for a while I just followed the wallpaper’s pattern with my eyes, but after feeling that I was going back into endless thinking, I snapped out of it and finished showering. When I managed to dress up and finally leave my room, I was already late. Kade shuffled in the living room while waiting for me and threw me an annoyed glance when I showed up.

“Can we finally go? I will be late.”

“Don’t worry. I will talk to Vincent,” I said while checking my phone. Zaven had already sent a ton of messages and I tried to understand what was happening, but my brain couldn’t register information. If my sleepless nights continue, I will have to go to a pack doctor and ask for sleeping pills.

I climbed into the car and turned the engine on while Kade trampled nearby. What was he doing? I opened the passenger’s window to ask, but at the same moment my brother plopped down, and I looked at him suspiciously.

“What was wrong with you this week?” my voice was accusing, but I didn’t care.

“Mind your own business,” Kade snapped back and lowered his head back to the phone.

I didn’t want to bicker with him, so I drove away from the packhouse and started at the road. My mind was occupied by other things and a dream from the night still haunted me. Why was I dreaming about her? I saw her twice and dreamt more than that. It was ridiculous.

“Why are you not answering my texts?” Zaven’s voice filled my head and I blinked.

“Sorry. Tough morning. I’m driving Kade to school and then I will go straight to the office.” I turned to the left at the intersection.

“Don’t bother. My uncle wants to talk with you, so go straight to the principal’s office when you drop off Kade.”

“Did you put some warriors inside the school grounds?”

“Yeah. I also warned Delilah and her parents. I’m thinking of assigning a few warriors there as well,” Zaven spoke quietly, and I wasn’t sure if he was concerned or something else happened at the same time. Of course, it’s a good idea to guard the Artemis café. All of our young children spend time there after school. And the café is in a good location, so we could monitor the streets for unknown travellers also.

“Okay. Do it. We will talk more when I come to the office.” I shut the link off and stopped in the school’s parking lot. Kade didn’t wait for one moment and jumped out right after I stepped on the brakes.

“Have a nice day to you too,” I mumbled to myself, staring at my brother's back. With a sigh, I gathered my things, then climbed out of the car and looked around the school which I finished four years ago. This smalltown was bordering with the Opal pack and all pups go there to get an education. After that, some of them stay in the pack and find jobs in a town, others leave for college or want to explore the world before settling down. We also, from time to time, had new members joining because of their mates.

It was still strange to come back here after a certain amount of time and not because of Kade and his stupid behaviour. When I approached the entrance, I spotted a few warriors from the pack and nodded to both of them. Ares was Zaven’s younger cousin and one of the guys who was as strong as me. Not even my beta could reach his ability to fight. He kind of looked similar to Zaven with his sandy hair and blue eyes. Next to him stood Isaac with his arms crossed on his chest. At first he didn’t see me, but when I came closer, he straightened out and I smiled politely. He was a few years older than me and didn’t like orders, but he was quiet and almost didn’t complain about anything.

“Good morning, Alpha,” Isaac greeted, lowering his head.

“Everything is quiet?” I looked around, questioning them.

“Only a few students who like to be late.”

“How many of you are here?” My gaze flickered between them, and both tensed immediately.

“Beta Zaven assigned the ten of us,” Ares answered first, and I nodded approvingly.

“I will wait for the report in the evening,” my voice was firm and way too autorotative, but I didn’t have enough strength today to be friendly with everyone and when I entered the main school building, I was met with a silence.

“Can I come in Vincent?” I linked Zaven’s uncle and felt Nor anxiously pacing in my head. He wasn’t speaking with me again, but when he was that agitated, something always happened and today I wasn’t ready to go into the war zone.

“Sure. Come in. We need to talk about something important.”

“I hope it’s not Kade?” I asked optimistically. Vincent’s laugh echoed in my mind, and I managed to smile a little. I still wasn’t sure if his laugh was a negative answer, but didn’t wait much and went straight into the administration office.

“Good morning Alpha.” I was greeted with a warm smile, and I nodded to Monica. She was one of our warrior’s mate and she came into our pack a few years ago.

“I came to talk to Vincent.”

“Maybe you want some tea or coffee?” Monica asked politely.

“Coffee would be great if it’s not too much work.”

“Not at all. While those little brats are studying I have some time,” the woman smiled sarcastically, “sorry Alpha, but they can be menacing little creatures sometimes.” I tried to hold back my smile but eventually I started laughing and nodded my head.

“Yeah, one is on my watch, so I know what you are talking about.”

The sound of creaking doors instantly got my attention and I looked at Zaven’s uncle standing in a doorway. His cold grey eyes bore into me, and I raised my eyebrows. He looked so much like my best friend and my beta. Vincent was Zaven’s and Josie’s mother’s brother and the only adult they now had because his mate died in the ambush three years ago also. That year he took the seniors on the school trip and Zaven left with them because it was his last year of school and when they came back a lot of people were dead, including our parents and Laura, Vincent’s mate, and Ares’s mother.

“Are you ready to have a conversation, Alpha?” He asked firmly, and I thought what are we going to talk about if he was so serious.

“Vincent, c’mon. It’s strange when you are so formal.” I managed to smile and gave one more look to Monica. I nodded to her, saying my goodbyes, and went into the principals of the River high office.