The Lost Alpha Queen

Chapter 2: Arabella

As we prepare for the trip back to the capital city, Jasper wants to brief me on everything one more time, even though he has kept me up to date on everything since the day we left. I know the state of the economy and the movements of our warriors. I know who I can trust and who never even gives the time of day. I know who is in charge and that the only reason he is in charge is because he killed my parents. The Grand Alpha, since I guess that is what he is calling himself now. When I was a kid he was just Uncle Felix, my father's best friend. Though he killed my parents and basically assumed their roles, he cannot hold the title of King since he is not from the royal bloodline and does not contain the gift bestowed upon my family by the moon goddess herself. Only someone of my bloodline can hold a royal title and they will always outrank him.

That is why he has been hunting me for the past ten years. On my eighteenth birthday, my wolf will present herself and I will get my gifts, so he is trying to wipe out the last of the royal family before that happens. Technically, on my eighteenth birthday I will also become queen, but that is not something that will ever happen as long as Felix is still alive.

The day that I learned he was behind the attack that killed my parents was a shock because I grew up knowing him as my uncle but he was planning treachery behind my parents' backs. His son, Mateo, was my best friend and the only person to treat me as a regular person and not a princess. He was my first crush, but now he stands at his father’s side like a lap dog waiting for its next treat.

I’ve seen pictures of him throughout the years but it hurts every time. I remember a different person. I remember the boy that would defend me from the other kids when they would tease me. He was the knight in shining armor to the princess, but now he is the enemy. When we were children, we would run through the palace and pretend that he was rescuing his princess from the evil dragon. He would fight these imaginary dragons just to get a kiss from the princess. My father used to joke that I could kiss anyone until I was older, but I would still give Mateo a kiss for being my knight in shining armor. He would rescue me from everything. Other kids treated me differently because of my title, but Mateo would just say, "so what if you're a princess, you will always be my Bella." I wonder if I'm still his Bella even after everything his father did. I know Felix is his father but he did not have to follow him. The boy I knew is gone and I need to remember that because I know I will see him again at some point during this journey.

I hate myself for thinking of him and still being sad. I mean, for a while there he was my other half, we did everything together. He was the one I wanted when everything happened, but obviously that was not an option. I was there for him when he lost his mother, my Aunt Raven, when we were seven, but he was not there when I lost both my parents. I needed him and he betrayed me. There is no going back.

“Ari, are you listening to me? Have you heard a word I said?”

Confused, I looked at Uncle Jasper, but as soon as he saw what I was looking at, he understood. In my hand was the most recent picture of Felix and Mateo, who just came of age last month, talking to the city's warriors and walking the training grounds.

I sigh, “I’m sorry, zoned out. Can you repeat what you just said?”

Just like that, he started from the beginning. Over the next two hours, we went over the security and warrior posts. I learned where they put every post throughout the city. I learned which are more heavily manned and which are weaker. There is one section on the border that butts up against the mountains that is hard to traverse. Felix does not think anyone would try to make that journey, so that is the side with the least warriors guarding. Therefore, that is our entrance point to the city.

We are going to begin the journey in two days and cross the border the day before my birthday to make it into the city without being detected. Once midnight hits, we will be at the wards to do the ritual and we will have to be quick because others will sense me there. After the wards are strengthened, we will retreat within the city to the royal sanctuary that very few know exists. No one will be able to detect me within the sanctuary, since the whole building is blessed by the goddess. We believe the people who sense me will believe it was a mistake because it happened so quickly. While at the sanctuary, we will need to get in contact with our supporters within the city and plan our attack. I need an army before I can wage a war. Uncle Jasper believes that with how everyone has been treated under the Grand Alpha's rule, I will gain support no problem. Plus, I have the Moon Goddess on my side, which means a lot to our people. We will also have to gain the support from other alphas too before we attack. Our plan is to strengthen the wards and allow my gifts to develop so I can become the queen my people need. Now we just have to get to the city. I will get my throne back or I will die trying. My people need me.