The Lost Queen

Chapter 8. Heavenly return

Ace

It was almost after midnight when I heard Kade’s car’s engine in the packhouse yard. I was enraged and immediately strolled out of my office to the front door. I saw a tired brother’s face and his eyebrows were furrowed like he constantly thought about something and couldn’t feel at ease. Kade glanced at me, and his eyes widened.

“Car keys. Now!” I held out my hand. My voice was harsh but at this moment I didn’t care. Kade was an irresponsible little child who couldn't keep his phone turned on. If he can’t act like an adult, he can go to school and other activities by foot.

“Ace stop it.”

“Stop it?” my eyebrows shot up, “Kade, where the hell were you? I tried all day to reach you, but you turned your phone off. Zaven was attacked a few days ago and now you have gone missing for all day and you say stop it to me?” A sarcastic laugh left my lips and I wanted to smack him so badly, that I had to control my whole body.

“I had some stuff to do, okay? Sorry I didn’t call and didn’t say anything, but I knew that you would stop me if I did it.” Kade placed his car keys into my palm and went around me to the stairs.

“What did you do?” a quiet question slipped out and I wasn’t sure if I wanted to hear an answer, but I needed to be sure that he didn’t do anything stupid.

“I can’t tell you. Not now anyway.” With that, he left me standing in the hallway and I watched his back until he disappeared. I clenched the car keys in my hand and felt disorientated. Nor was anxiously pacing in my head and that shot a pang in my chest.

What the hell is happening?

“Zaven, did you talk with your uncle?” I linked to my beta and, while waiting for an answer, climbed the stairs to my bedroom.

“No. Didn’t have a chance yet,” his sleepy voice echoed through my head, “why are you still awake?”

“I waited for my stupid brother.” I sighed, stopping near the entrance to my room.

“So, he’s back? Don’t you need to worry anymore?”

“No. He had some business, and I don’t even know where he was, but don’t worry about it.” I shut the link off and went to bed. I wasn’t sleepy at all, but somehow felt exhausted and didn’t understand why. I stood near the window and looked at a crescent moon. Night was dark as an abyss and the little piece of glowing moon was magnificent. I thought about all the tales and legends that my mom told about the Moon Goddess and her best wolf-friend. Portrait of both hung on the wall in the Artemis café and I felt a strange feeling every time I stared at them. I had so many questions to the Goddess, but I’m just a simple mortal with prayers and wishes. She listens but not always answers.

I remember how my mom always organized an Artemis day for all small pups so they could be blessed by the Goddess and live their lives full of wishes and dreams. Now this festivity is organised by Josephine until I find my mate and future Luna of the Opal pack. She has done a wonderful job for the last three years. Artemis day will be in a month from today and Josie has already ordered decorations and small gifts for children. She will be a great Luna if her mate is an alpha and she could take this tradition to a different pack and my mom’s legacy will carry on.

A soft knock echoed in a quiet room, and I turned around, not being sure who could have even thought of coming at that time. When I opened the door, a tall girl stood proudly, and I raised my eyebrows. Celeste smiled gracefully and I wasn’t sure what she wanted, but when one of her fingers tapped my chest, I couldn’t contain Nor’s disapproval.

“I got back today and wanted to see you immediately, but Zaven told me you were busy, so I waited till night.” I peered at her thin nightgown and silky robe. She was stunningly beautiful with her honey hair and oval face with high cheekbones.

I didn’t see her for three months and now she’s back in my life. Like a tornado, thinking that she can just storm in and seductively smile at me. Nor was fighting for control and for a moment I wanted to let him deal with her and her small wolf. Celeste was everything and more in a human form, but in wolf’s… She didn’t like fighting, and she was one of the weakest in the Opal pack. It was unnerving and Nor couldn’t stand her.

“How was your journey?” my voice sounded polite, and Celeste instantly frowned. I saw how her nose scrunched and a small wrinkle appeared in between her eyebrows.

“It was tolerable. My mother photographed almost everything, and I just wanted to go home. Too many forests and too little shops,” Celeste shrugged and looked inside my bedroom, “maybe I can come in? We will talk more just a little bit more comfortably.”

“I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

“Ace, it’s me. What changed? I know you still haven’t found your mate.” Celeste smiled like she had won an argument.

“It doesn’t change the fact that I’m still looking for her,” my voice was firm, and the girl looked insulted.

I was relieved after she turned around and stormed away from my room. Maybe I was unfair to her, but she was gone for three months. Why did she think that when she was back, I would jump with her into the bed?

After I slept with her for the first time, Nor was mad for a week, and after that it was the second time, the third, and Nor ignored me for so long that he still won’t talk to me. Sometimes he growls or tries to communicate through me, but never with me. He is mad that I’m not looking for our mate, but what can I do? Go around the world hoping I will meet her somewhere? I can’t just abandon the pack and business because of my selfishness. Even if I have to spend the rest of my life alone, I won’t abandon my family. They are everything that I have, and I need to prioritize them.

Finally, I laid on my bed and stared at the ceiling. Thoughts were swirling in my mind, and I couldn’t close my eyes. I was tired and I have slept horribly for the past few nights. I need to sleep even for a few hours, even for an hour.

Just an hour…

Cold wind was blowing right into my face, and I couldn’t keep my eyes open. I was running through the woods and sharp tree branches scratched my arms and face’s skin. I tried to move more gracefully but the pain was only increasing. Viscous blood ran through my hands, iron scent chased me, but I needed to move forward.

Sometimes, when I could see more than an endless forest, I looked for black hair strands. I was trying to reach and outrun my prey, I needed to check on her. I needed to catch her before it was too late. Finally, I managed to reach a clearance in the dark woods. There she was standing; her back was turned to me, and I caught a glimpse of her delicate body. The girl didn’t move, just looked at something in front of her and I speeded up. I have to reach her before it’s too late.

I didn’t notice when she ran into the field full of purple flowers. Her laugh was echoing through the wind and instantly a smile appeared on my face. The urge to go to her was so intense, I didn’t even notice poisonous flowers in the whole field.

“Stop!” I tried to scream but my voice was quiet and violet dust was already on her skin. The black-haired girl turned to me, and her bright green eyes shone like two gemstones. She waved and for a moment I was losing control over my body. I wanted to reach her so badly that I didn’t even care about wolfsbane and its poisonous effect on my body.

The wind became harsher and all the pollen from the wolfsbane’s flowers flew right into my face. I started coughing, I felt a burning sensation and looked into the girl one more time. She didn’t smile anymore and her eyes were not so bright like they were before. I fell to my knees; my nails were at my throat trying to ease the breathing, but I knew that the end was near. I raised my head one more time and didn’t see a girl who I was chasing. I just saw blood on my fingers and a field full of wolfsbane flowers.

I woke up still trying to find my breath. My throat was sore, and my body was sticky from sweat. Thunderous knocking echoed through my erratic mind, and I climbed out of bed still feeling dizzy. What was that dream? Did I dream of Kayla, or was it someone very similar to her? While I tried to make sense of my dream, I found sweatpants and a hoodie. I heard more knocking and opened the door while gritting my teeth.

“Good morning, Ace.” Celeste was standing with a tray full of food and I felt my anger bubbling inside of me.

“What are you doing here?” I growled way too loudly, but at that moment I wanted her to be gone.

“I brought breakfast for you,” she smiled innocently, “I heard you weren’t eating enough, so I wanted to surprise you.” Celeste was wearing more suitable clothes today than last night and I sighed, feeling overwhelmed by everything.

“Thank you for your concern, but don’t do it again,” I said while reaching for a tray. The girl smiled brightly and I felt Nor’s disapproval. I rolled my eyes mentally and nudged my beast.

“It’s only food. Calm yourself down.”

“Our mate is nearby. I can feel her somewhere.” I was shocked when I heard him answering back. A little robotic and clumsy voice ringed in my head. I was so stunned I didn’t register his words and when they finally reached my brain, I dropped the tray out of my hands.

“Wait! Did you say you could feel our mate?”