The Alpha Queen's Journey

Fight of flight

    Hendaya came to Elara’s side soon after her parents stepped down the platform to greet the alphas personally. The ballroom was filled with sweet music and the cheerful sound of the people talking. Trays of delicious dishes and desserts were settled both sides of the ballroom while the spiritous beverages travelled around the room on the trays the palace servants were carrying non-stop. Some couples were already dancing at the dance floor. Adele, the royal witch, approached Elara with her usual charming smile to wish her a very happy birthday before joining her husband and the monarchs. Palvin was still on the platform, quietly chatting with the rest of the members of the council. The event was running in perfection but the princess could not take a single step. Her wolf felt restless, as if something wrong was going to happen.

    “Have you found out anything about what happened in the forest?” The witch beside her tried to look front and smile, asking her friend discreetly.

    “Just more questions and no answers” The princess answered trying to keep a neutral pose. “It seems that your father and mine already know something about that man in the forest but they made it look like it was a mere rogue” She frowned. “If only you had seen my mother’s reaction. It was overstated”

    “I see” Hendaya got closer to Elara and whispered on her ear. “I asked mother about blue flame magic but she told me that I have not reached the level to learn it yet, that I have to study harder and so on… and then, she changed topic. Now, after what you’ve said, my suspicions are getting worse”

    “They are hiding something from us” Elara interrupted her while rubbing her pendant with her fingers. She looked at her parents. The monarchs were chatting with a couple of approximately their age, their gestures showed that they were close.  The king squeezed the man’s shoulder while laughing and the queen had the woman’s hands in hers in an affectionate way. Surrounding them, there were two really good-looking male wolves. They seemed a bit older than her and both were tall and well- built but their bearings could not be more different.  While the oldest one seemed serious and restrained, the younger one looked joyful and relaxed. Elara started to feel again that earthy smell that captivated her during her way across the ballroom, her wolf was getting more and more anxious as the scent was getting stronger.

    “These are Oliver and Andrew Marshton. The sons of the former Alpha and Luna of the Blade Moon Pack” Palvin’s voice resonated behind Elara as he noticed her stare. “Now, Oliver is the new Alpha, a truly strong and wise ruler. Your parents and theirs are very good friends, the former Alpha was a major support to the king during the Great War”

    “You’re trying to tell me that this…Oliver could be a prospective candidate to be my husband” The princess said so emotionless that Palvin didn’t dare to add anything else. But her witch friend didn’t think the same.

    “Well, Elara, not that bad. He’s hot!”

    Palvin scoffed. Despite having grown both of them up, he would never got used to Hendaya’s shameless character, especially in public. Luckily, no one was enough close to hear their conversation.

    “We’ll talk about your latest trick later, you little witch!”

    Hendaya opened her mouth in surprise but, soon after, she burst out laughing. Palvin rolled his eyes up and retired himself to where the counsellors were still discussing. However, Elara wasn’t paying attention to their little ruckus. She couldn’t get her eyes off the two brothers, her wolf craving to know to whom that enchanting smell belonged. She got down the platform and determinedly walked towards the scent, ignoring the people that approached to offer her their best wishes. She was haunted, her mind blank, her heart racing at an incredible speed, her wolf slowly taking control. She could hear Hendaya calling her name from behind but her ears were deaf. She had almost reached her target as the scent was so strong. The older brother, the so-called Oliver, dropped his eyes on her. However, someone suddenly pulled her to the dance floor, grabbing her left hand to the side and placing the other hand on her waist, drawing her close to himself. A warm sensation covered her body while her feet began moving automatically, knowing who her partner was.

    “Princess. There are no words in this world to describe how beautiful you look tonight and how lucky I am to be able to lead you to this first dance”

    Elara quickly came back to her senses although her mind was still so blurred that she unintentionally shook her head. A pair of wonderful grey eyes were staring happily at her, totally unaware of her previous state. The dance was slow and intimate, she blushed while smiling.

    “You’re quite a gentleman today, Alex, I feel so overwhelmed” She softly whispered on his ear.

    “You’re quite an outstanding princess today, Elara, I must behave” He said with a little smirk.

    Elara chuckled. She loved Alex taunting on her. Her wolf was scolding her form the inside but she ignored her. The couple continued dancing to the music, so close to each other, in silence. Elara felt many gazes on them but she didn’t care less. She always felt comfortable with Alex. Perhaps it was the last night she could spend time with him freely. She wanted to enjoy this moment above all. After a while, he broke the silence, looking serious.

    “Elara, this morning I said I wanted to tell you something”

    “Yes, you left me on tenterhooks. Now, I’m all ears” She said pecking his nose.

    “Please, don’t say a word until I’m finished. I beg you. It’s truly important to me”. Elara slightly nodded, leaning on his chest. He took a long breath and went on. “I love you, Elara. I know that our relationship began as a game and we’ve had a lot of fun together but I’ve realized that every day I’ve spent with you has been the best day of my entire life. I know you’re destined to marry someone else but I don’t mind as long as you keep me close to you. Maybe you don’t feel the same but I… I can’t live without you. Please, let me stay with you”. He sighed after his last words, a heavy burden falling off his shoulders. Elara froze in his arms, totally speechless. She took some minutes to give him an answer.

    “You’ve caught me totally off guard, Alex. I… I don’t know what to say” Elara had felt Alex was more loving and caring on their last dates but they always ended up like…this morning. She didn’t expect this conversation at all. He had been always aware that they could not be together as a true couple but nonetheless he still fell for her. Now he was suffering and Elara felt so guilty for it. It was not fair.

    “Don’t say anything, then” He said with a gentle face. “I just… couldn’t hide my feelings from you anymore” He softly touched her cheek with his fingers.

    Elara was about to answer when a loud scream spread all over the ballroom. The guests split into a circle a few meters away from the couple. In the middle, the man Elara met at the forest was holding her mother by her back, a knife leaning over her throat. The king had took a defensive pose in front of the intruder while Oswald, Adele and the members of the Blade Moon pack were backing him. Elara got rid of Alex’s embrace and run to reach her father’s side.

    “Greetings, Princess Elara. It was so rude of you to not invite my pack to this wonderful party when we met this morning. So, my members and I thought that it would be a great present for you if we attended by surprise. And here we are!” He said with a wicked tone, pressing the knife deeper, a fine line of blood shedding from the Luna Queen’s throat. “By the way, it was so rude of me to not answer your question. My apologies, princess, my name is Aiden”  

    She could feel her father tense his body. The stranger clicked his fingers and lots of warriors appeared out of the blue at every door of the ballroom, threatening the royal soldiers settled there. They were carrying silver swords and were ready to attack. Screams of horror and surprised gasps filled the air. The warriors, Alphas and Betas among the guests quickly went to face the intruders with their bare hands, sending the weak ones behind them. They were clearly in disadvantage as no one was allowed to carry any weapon to the party apart from the royal guards.

    “Get your hands off my wife, kid. We can reach an agreement. Let’s talk” The Alpha King said with a low growl, taking a step forward. Elara was paralyzed. Her mother did not show any sign of fear, she was quietly kneeling on the floor, as if she already knew this was going to happen.

    “Talk? Did you offer my father to talk back then, old man? Let me remind you…the answer is no” Aiden said with a mockery voice.

    “Put down the knife or you’ll regret it, kid” The king’s tone was truly menacing now as he took another step forward.

    “Do you really think you are in a position to command me now? I have you surrounded. It took me no effort to sneak in this party and so it won’t to kill you all either. Just one sign and this ball will become a bloodshed so, do not dare to take another step, king!”

    “No!” Elara yelled at him, desperate. “What do you want?”

    “What do I want?” He laughed harshly. “I want what it’s mine and…I want you, Elara”

    Rivers of cold sweat run through Elara’s spine. The way he had said that words made her shiver. She felt Alex getting closer to her back but his proximity did not warm her this time.

    “Elara, my daughter, run!” Her mother shouted before Aiden cut her throat, taking her life away. Elara screamed in horror. After that, everything occurred in slow motion. The king jumped to the man, his raged aura bursting out at full force. The royal soldiers and the warriors among the guests began fighting against the intruders. A pair of arms pulled Elara by her waist, carrying her towards the staircase. Elara could see her father fight with Aiden but the man was faster and he was still carrying the silver knife. The king turned to watch his daughter one last time before Aiden stabbed him on his back.

    Elara’s tears flowed uncontrollably on her cheeks, her pain made her unable to move. She did not resist Alex strong grab while Hendaya was launching fireballs to those who dare to approach them. The alphas, betas and the warriors of the packs were strong but the enemies were much more numerous. They were almost at the bottom of the stairs when Elara heard Aiden’s voice too close to her.

    “I came for you, princess, you are not going to escape from me”

    Alex protected Elara with his body and prepared himself to fight. Aiden was reaching them, his wrecked smile stitched on his face, a regular tic appeared on his left eye.

    “Hendaya, take Elara away from here. GO!” The witch reacted to Alex’s command and pulled Elara up the stairs.

    “Not that fast” A female silhouette appeared at the top of the staircase, blocking the girls way out.  She was a beautiful dark-skinned woman with curly black hair and shiny green eyes. She was wearing a loose green dress tied to her waist and she had her hands raised in front of her body. Between her fingers, a blue current of energy was slowly flowing. The same blue colour Elara had seen at the forest. She emanated the power of a witch. Hendaya casted a magic shield around them and waited for her attack.

    “Do you really think your tiny shield could protect you from my power?” She said with a sharp, disgusting voice “Oh, poor little brat” She dropped her hands and the blue current pierced the floor. Soon after, the ground began trembling and cracking, separating the girls in different sides and shuttering the floor into pieces, dragging many people in its path.

    “An earthquake!” Someone yelled among the crowd.