High Alpha's Risen Mate

Chapter 10: The Dark Elf Sighting

“Well, I must endure the presence of a few caterpillars if I wish to become acquainted with the butterflies.”

― Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince

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Chapter 10: The Dark Elf Sighting

POV: Kai Alistair

Welcome to the Hall of Peace. I walk down the cobblestone path, which leads to the entrance of the building.

The Hall of Peace is a three-story building with ivory painted bricks. The porch is lined with four round fluted columns supporting the balcony above on the second floor.

Outside the front of the building is a garden filled with beautiful flowers and hedges. A fountain sits in the center of the garden. Placed around the fountain are statues of the gods each faction worships: Zeus, Hades, Selene, Helios, Hera, Athena, Hecate, Artemis, Ares, Pan, and Poseidon.

Erabus and Aether's statues stand on the porch on opposite sides of the door next to the gargoyles. Erabus and Aether represent light and dark. They are the personification of it.

The gargoyles are made of stone, but don't be so fooled because they are alive and not just statues. Gargoyles see everything and are there to ensure no violence is held in such a sacred place. They will not allow anyone in if they sense in any way that someone has ill intent.

Weapons of any kind are forbidden to enter the Hall of Peace. They are to be left outside.

I open the tall, large iron French doors with elegant gold hand-painted scrollwork. Inside, the floors are hardwood, and the wallpaper is off-white with gold damask designs. Portraits of all kings and queens past and present of all factions line the walls.

Today I am meeting Alexander, or Xander as he likes to be called. He is the werewolf king and a pain in my ass. He's been spreading rumors as of late. These rumors are dangerous. Normally, I wouldn't pay any mind to such rumors, but things have been tense among the factions. Anything could set them off. I'm trying to prevent the war I know is coming.

The Hall of Peace is humming with all the ambassadors roaming around. The Phoenix is finally here, and everyone is eager to meet her. Today I have Scarlett and Darren with me. Darren Travis is my Gamma.

Werewolf packs go by a ranking system. The leader of the pack is the Alpha. The Alpha's mate is known as the pack's Luna. Then there is the Beta, and second in command. He's the enforcer of the pack. My Beta is Westly Kingston, and he's running things in the pack while I am here.

Westly's soulmate is Everleigh Kingston. She is known as the Beta Female. She is the Luna's Beta. Her job to the same as her mate's.

Third in command is the Gamma. The Gamma is the most elite warrior of the pack. They are the strongest and best fighters of the pack. He is the top warrior of the pack. It is customary for the Gamma to travel with the Alpha when he leaves the pack. His job in the pack is to train all of the Zetas.

His job is to ensure the Zetas are ready for a fight. He assigns them to the duties they are best at.

My Delta and fourth in command is Killian Beckett. He is the police if the pack. His job is to run pack patrols and investigate cases. Deltas mostly handle criminals in the pack.

Anyway, King Xander is waiting for me in the conference room. Inside the conference room is a long mahogany wooden table that seats twelve people. The east wall is nothing but a window, while the north wall has at least 10 chairs that sit against the wall.

As High King, I sit in the east chair at the head of the table. On the west wall behind the head chair are three podiums for the centaurs, fauns, and minotaurs.

I find Xander sitting in the head chair west of the room. Of course, he would because he thinks he should have all the power.

"How was your lunch, Your Highness?" The strain in his voice is duly noted. I know he doesn't actually want to be here. He sees nothing wrong in what he's doing. "It was fine," I answer simply.

I sit in my seat and motion for him to sit in the chair next to me on my right, furthest from the door. It's a subtle challenge and way to say who is truly in charge here. Alphas are territorial and dominant creatures. Alphas don't always get along because we always have to be in control.

Xander narrows his eyes at me as if deciding how to play this. He knows if I sit next to him, that shows a certain message, that he's in charge. I would never give him the satisfaction.

He finally decides to move and sit in the seat I want him to. "I've had the ambassadors voice their concerns about the rumors you have been spreading as of late. Care to explain that?" I need to hear his excuse. I know why. It's always the same, but a war would help him get what he wants.

Since I got here two days ago, I've had all the faction ambassadors voicing their concerns about these rumors. It seems Alexander has been subtly hinting to the other factions that either the elves, fae, or the witches are responsible for the moon poisonings.

I agree those would be the likely and most obvious suspects, but I don't believe that. For one, only dark elves cause diseases. The last time a plague broke out was due to the elven princess, Alora. She was sentenced to the Dragon's labyrinth for killing the dragon princess. The dragons were furious and that is the last species you want to piss off.

"Rumors, you say. I don't know anything about any rumors." Xander shrugs, feigning innocence. He's going with denial this time, I see. I arch my eyebrow at him to let him know I don't believe a word he says.

"The rumors have been traced back to you. I have enough on my plate without you trying to force a war. These rumors are going to stop now." I declare. He moves his side to side as if weighing his options.

"I'll stop, on one condition." He smirks. An uneasy feeling overcomes me. Something tells me he's been planning this for a while. "What is it?"

"Marry my daughter, Amber. Take her as your queen." Xander says. Ryder, my wolf growls in anger. "Hell no, I am not mating with that she-wolf. I will only ever be with my mate." Ryder growls in my head.

I have to admit I'm a bit surprised by Xander's proposal. That might be one of the last things I expected him to offer up. He is very protective of his daughter and rarely allows anyone near her.

"I am not going to marry her, and you can't make me accept her," Ryder grumbles to me. I agree we are not going to marry her. Wolves only ever truly want their mates. Sure, some try to deny it, but once they set their eyes on them, it's game over.

I have waited a long time to find my soulmate, and I'm not about to give up now. I need a counteroffer. I need to offer Xander the one thing he could never decline, the thing that would make him think he's got a foot in the door. "No, but I have a counteroffer for you." I refuse to marry someone who is not meant for me.

"What?" Xander has an expression of offense on his face, hearing my answer. "A position as one of my advisors." This way, I can keep a closer eye on him. It's all about strategy when dealing with Alexander.

He taps his chin a few times, looking like he's carefully considering my offer. He smiles and reaches his hand out to me to shake. I shake his hand in return. "Deal," Xander says, satisfied. "The rumors stop now, though." I'm serious about this. One wrong move and it's a chain reaction.

"No more rumors. Though I must say it is likely an elf." Xander says, catching my attention. Why would he say that? Does he know something I don't? "Spill it." My patience is running thin on this case. I have no leads on who or how to stop the moon poisoning.

"Oh, you haven't heard yet? Why, just today, a sighting of Princess Alora in the Elf kingdom happened. Many believe she's escaped the labyrinth. Though none could be so sure with it being so many years since they've seen her." His voice is condescending.

I get up and rush down the stairs to find Gianna, the elven ambassador. Xander rarely offers up information like this. He only does so for his own gain. It makes me question if this is true. If it is true, then a big piece of the puzzle will have been found.

Alora swore vengeance at the tribunal. Queen and King Lydia and Julius North are light elves. They are benevolent and one with nature, while dark elves are malevolent and mischievous. Dark elves are known for spreading plagues. Alora was born a dark elf. Her parents tried their best to tame her dark tendencies but ultimately failed. Everyone knows Alora's story.

I find Gianna outside placing an offering to Hera. "Tell me, is it true?" I need to know. I know my eyes are glowing red from my impatience. Killian is running dry on leads. I need to know if Alora has escaped not just to end the moon poisoning but to capture her. Alora is very dangerous and has a vendetta against everyone.

"W-what?" Gianna stutters, confused by my sudden outbursts. "Was Alora spotted in your kingdom today?" I ask once more. Gianna looks shocked by my question. "Um, what?" She's confused at first, then realization dawns on her. "That must have been what they wanted to discuss later on." She looks at me as if realizing something huge.

"Who?" I ask. "King Julius and Queen Lydia. I spoke to them an hour ago over the phone, but things were cut short when they got interrupted. Let me make some calls, and I will inform you of what I find." Gianna knows the severity of this. She remembers what Alora was like.

Alora was always a very jealous person. She purposefully targeted the dragon princess. She was elected the host of the blood moon ball. Alora wasn't so happy about that. She has been campaigning for weeks to host the ball but lost. A ball is held during every full moon. No matter your species, everyone can find their soulmate only on the full moon. The blood moon is when we honor and celebrate the full moon and its power. Some say the blood moon is the best full moon to find your soulmate, as it gives off the most power.

Gianna leaves me alone to make her calls. What if Alora is really out? "Killian, you there?" I mind-link my Delta. A mind-link is how most shape-shifter beings communicate while in their animal form. We can also use this ability while in human form.

"Yes, Alpha?" His voice is tired, likely from all the murders. "I want you to cross-reference each of the victims with Alora North. Look into the tribunal files and associates of hers." I have a hunch that this one rumor Xander has spoken about might actually be true.

"May I ask..." Killian sounds curious about my latest orders. "Call it a hunch," I say before cutting the link off. This just might be the break I've been looking for. Relief falls over me as I hope this is it.