The Alpha Return

THREE: The Throne Of Ashes

KNOX'S POV

For five years, I lay awake wondering if Valerie was still waiting for me, wondering if she hated me, wondering if she still believed I was alive.

The warden had stolen many things from me. My kingdom, my warriors and my home.

I had to endure endless battles and became the warden’s slave. Everytime I tried to rebel, he used his dark magic to force me into submission.

The only thing keeping me sane was the bond and I promised myself that no matter what happened, I would come home.

I touched the scar that ran across my jaw, it was the newest one and it's memories were still etched into my mind.

When I reached Moonfang, I mindlinked my beta, Gideon. He was the only person I could trust and I wanted to know the well being of my mate.

“Alpha, it’s really you. The Kingdom has been searching for you. We all thought you were dead.” Gideon said, staring at my face to make sure it was really me.

I met his gaze steadily, “How is Valerie?”

Gideon immediately looked away, his voice dropping into a tone filled with pity.

“She’s getting married to the Alpha of Blackridge Keep. They are forming an alliance between the kingdoms, and she is going to be his Luna.”

My lips curled into a painful smile that held the anger I felt in my chest. The Moonfang pack had always priced courage and strength.

Before my capture, I’d been known as the fiercest Alpha.

I Constantly trained with my warriors, jumped from mountains, battled kingdoms and even fought rogue wolves along our borders after my first transformation at twelve.

Other Alphas sat back and watched their warriors die, but I led mine to battle and we always returned victorious.

“I must have lost my f*****g mind to think that she would…”

“Alpha, it hasn’t been easy on her either. She also had to be the Luna and keep the pack in check by herself. This is only a marriage of alliance. You were gone for five years.” Gideon interrupted.

“Where is the wedding being held?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper.

I stand at the doorway of the grand hall, the same hall my mating ceremony with Valerie was held.

Everyone stared at me in shock and I could hear the whispers spreading through the crowd.

“It's him.”

“Impossible”

“Alpha Knox?”

“He died five years ago”

The only person my eyes could see was Valerie.

She stood on the podium wearing the silver ceremonial dress which accentuated her curves. Her silver hair fell over her shoulder, and for one crazy second, all I could think about was how beautiful she looked.

Then I saw a man standing beside her with his hands wrapped around her and my pure wolf instincts kicked in.

“VALERIE!”

I screamed and walked to her, my jaw clenched.

Vina, her wolf howled and Amidus nearly tore free from my control.

I reach out to touch her but then “the dude” stepped in front of her.

“Get your filthy hands off my luna!” he snarls, putting a hand between us.

I laughed.

Several Blackridge warriors immediately move closer. One of them, a large man with dark hair and a scarred cheek rested his hand on the edge of his sword.

“I’m Alpha Knox Valor and she is my luna” I speak, pointing at Valerie who had tears falling from her eyes.

“I don't give a f**k who you are. You were supposed to be dead.” His eyes blaze with fury as he stares down at me.

The High priest nearly drops his staff as gasps erupted around the hall.

“The moon Goddess preserve us. Is this really you?”

Elder Marcus gripped his walking cane so tightly that his knuckles turned white

“This cannot be possible.”

Then General Ronan, the man who had trained me to leadership after the death of my parents grabbed the back of my neck and pulled me into a hug

“You're alive. We searched for six months. Every forest, mountain. We even buried an empty grave just to honour you.”

I didn't realise the pain my disappearance must have caused but I didn't have an option.

“Enough.”

Valerie stepped forward and she looked at the scar across my jaw

“Knox.”

The sound nearly broke me.

I had longed to hear her voice, the way she called my name like our souls were intertwined.

“I’m back, I came home to my Kingdom. I came home to my mate.”

Valerie stared at me in disbelief

“Your mate? No, you don't get to do that”

I frowned.

“Do what?”

“Walk in here after five years and act like nothing happened. You disappeared and we searched for you.”

A tear rolled from her cheek

“You weren't there when they declared you dead, when I stood at your memorial and when I spent night after night praying to the moon Goddess for answers.”

Another tear rolled.

“Where the f**k were you, knox?”

Her voice dropped to a whisper, the question echoing through the grand hall.

I feel the weight of their gazes and the terrifying memories starting clawing into my mind.

“The warden."