My Beloved Hybrid Queen

Chapter 13

Caspian’s POV

Dawn rose slowly over the red mist pack, painting the sky in faint gold as my warriors prepared the last of their luggage inside the car. The air carried a strange heaviness, half relief, half anticipation. Today we were finally leaving.

I stood beside the sleek obsidian SUV at the center of the courtyard, its engine rumbling quietly. The rest of the convoy, eight armored vehicles waited behind me, my warriors posted with disciplined precision.

Astrid stood near the edge of the court yard, her fingers brushing the cool air, her mind a swirl of emotion. This was the last place that had caged her, yet walking away felt unreal, it just felt like any moment someone would drag her back to that hell she struggled so hard to leave.

My hand slipped into hers, they were warm and grounding.

“Breathe, Astrid”, I murmured. “You’re not going back, ever. I’m going to always be by your side now and forever, I would love, protect you, cherish and adore you for as long as I live and even after death.”

I could see the tears in her eyes about to fall, then I lifted my hands and wiped her tears, I kissed her on her forehead and her eyes.

Not long after, my gamma approached and bowed lightly.

”Your Majesties, the escort is ready. Boarders secured, no suspicious movements so far, we are clear to depart whenever you’re ready.”

“Good.” Though my gaze still stayed on Astrid.

My delta followed behind him.

“Your Majesties”. he bowed and after that he went to check if the warriors packed all our luggage properly and that we weren’t forgetting anything important.

I nodded, my movement sharp and controlled, my wolf, restless beneath his skin, now calmed slightly by the news, Finally we could leave the red mist pack and return to the palace, I can’t wait for them to meet my lovely mate.

My gaze still focused on Astrid, she stood beside me, still wrapped in the oversized cloaked I had draped over her the night before. Even now, her heartbeat was too soft, her eyes were a bit swollen from the pain she endured within this walls for years, but when our gaze met, I saw the flicker of strength returning, it was faint but it’s still growing. All her pains can’t just be washed away immediately, I know it’s going to take time, and I’m going to be patient and stand by her side no matter what.

“We leave in 5 minutes,” I announce.

Astrid exhaled shakily as if the those words sliced the last invisible chain tying her to the pack that had wronged her all her life.

Just as we were about to leave, a soft cautious voice rose behind me.

“Your majesty, may we approach?”

I turned, it was Alfred, the newly appointed Alpha of the red mist pack, beside him was his mother, she was still the Luna because Alfred hasn’t met his mate yet.

Alfred exhaled a shaky breath and stepped closer bowing his head deeply. “Thank you, for giving us a chance to rebuild. I know we do not deserve your mercy, not after what happened to the future queen.” His voice cracked, but he forced himself to keep going. “I promise you your majesty, I would lead this pack differentl. No secrets, no corruption, no cruelty hidden behind power, I’m going to to my best to be a better person and alpha, for my pack and for the supernatural world, I promise to forever remain loyal to you.”

After he finished speaking, I studied him for a long moment, the sincerity, the trembling resolve, the fear of repeating the sins which his father committed. I smiled, I knew he was a good person, and that he was going to be a better alpha to his people.

“You have one chance Alfred,” I said calmly, a quiet warning beneath my tone. “Fail your pack or fail my kingdom, and no title will shield you”.

Alfred swallowed and bowed again, but it was deeper this time, “ I won’t fail.”

While we were speaking, the Luna stepped toward Astrid, not close, just near enough to be heard without raising her voice. She kept her eyes lowered, while her hands were trembling in front of her.

“Your majesty “, her voice wavere. “I wanted to say… that I‘m sorry.”

Astrid stiffened slightly, tears slipping silently down her cheeks. “I know what my husband and his mistresses were capable of, I stayed quiet when I should have spoken, I protected blood instead of innocence.” She wiped her eyes quickly. “You showed more strength than any of us, and for that you deserve a better place than this pack that was nothing more than a curse and pain to you. I hope you find peace in your new home and I’m sorry for everything that happened here.”

Astrid’s breaths softened, she didn’t speak. She didn’t have to. Her silence wasn’t rejection, it was forgiveness without words.

The Luna looked relieved, even if she didn’t expect a spoken response.

When Alfred approached Astrid, he didn’t hold himself like an alpha, he stood like a boy trying to repair a damage he didn’t create, but was force to inherit.

“Queen Astrid…” he said quietly. “I know sorry will never erase what you went through here. But I wanted to say it anyway. Not for forgiveness. Just for truth.” His jaw tightened. “The things done to you under this roof, they won’t be repeated under mine.”

Astrid gave him a small nod, gentle but firm. “Take care of your people, Alpha Alfred. Give them a pack they can be proud of.”

He blinked, stunned at the grace she showed him.

“I will,” he promised.

I placed a protective hand at Astrid‘s back, and opened the passenger door of the black SUV. “Get in sweetheart.” She slid onto the seat, her heart thudding softly and I took my place beside her and held her hands.

Alpha Alfred and Luna Aurora bowed in unison, low, deep, and respectful.

“For the Lycan King,” Alfred declared.

“For the future Queen,” Aurora followed.

Astrid turned in her seat for one last look.

Alfred and his mother stood at the pack gates with their heads bowed, watching the convoy disappear down the long, cracked road.

The warriors got into the cars behind us, and we began to move. Dust lifted behind them as the cars zoomed off.

Alfred and his mother remained at the gates long after the group disappeared beyond the trees, watching until the last glimmer of Caspian’s and his warriors cars disappeared into the horizon.

Hoping and praying that the new era of the Red Mist Pack would be worthy of the second chance they’d been given.