The Alpha Queen's Journey

Let the ball begin

    Elara felt so dizzy when they landed at the north gate of the palace that she almost fell on the ground. She hated teleportation magic but she had to admit it was truly useful sometimes. Hendaya, on the other hand, looked tired as this kind of magic wasted most of her energies. Elara felt his father’s aura and headed directly to the source, leaving her friend at the kitchens on her way. The door of her father’s chamber was slightly open. Elara stuck to the nearest wall when she overheard Oswald’s report to the king.  

    “There were no footsteps, no scent, no trace. However, we found signs of movement on the area, broken branches, fallen leaves, softened soil. We could not detect him but Elara, well, her wolf could sense him”. Elara flinched. Oswald made her believe she lost control of her wolf but in fact, she felt an actual menace. She internally apologized to her wolf.

    “Warn the patrols, reinforce the security, no one will enter this land tonight” The king stated with firm voice. “Where’s Elara?”

    She felt Oswald hesitate. Palvin must have told him that she escaped without saying a word but the report of the northern patrol must not have arrived yet. Then how did they know it was “him”? Elara now felt more confused, both men were hiding something important from her. She was decided to find out so she slid out from her hiding place and came into the room.

    “I’m here, dad”. Elara saw how her father’s concerned face instantly became tender when she arrived. Oswald lifted an eyebrow, suspiciously. The Alpha King was a strong and wise werewolf as well as a handsome man, no doubt why he was the king, but his daughter and his wife were his only flaws. His eyes always glowed when he looked at his beautiful princess. He approached her and hug her lovingly.

    “Happy birthday, my darling. Have you enjoyed your run?” He glanced at Elara with a playful smile. Elara couldn’t believe her ears, she turned to Oswald but his face was impenetrable.

    “Dad I…” She began muttering.

    “You’ve learnt all the bad habits your father had when he was young” The Luna Queen entered the room at that moment. She walked gracefully towards Elara and gave her a little kiss on her cheek. “Happy birthday, my love”. She was still a beautiful ginger woman. She dressed with utmost elegance and moved with a natural fluidity while her voice was always soft but full of authority. His father always followed her steps with puppy eyes. The queen took her husband’s arm and when their eyes met, magic could be felt on the air. Elara was so proud of them, they always looked so happy together, so in love. Her mother then turned to her and Elara’s smile slowly faded.

    “Do not skip your classes again! Do not go out alone! Look at your clothes! Elara, for Goddess’ sake, I’m tired of this behaviour of yours. When you become queen, you can’t disappear at your first tantrum” Her mother was a professional at scolding. Elara lowered her head; it was better not to reply this time.

    “Oh dear, let it be, running is healthy, isn’t it, darling?” Her father winced at her and walked towards the window. “Next time, tell me Elara, I’ll go with you, I think I’ve lost some shape” He said that last sentence while patting at his belly.

    Elara laughed at her father’s attempt to lighten the burden but the queen glared at her husband too. The king shut his mouth, rolled his eyes up and turned to the window again. Elara then got serious, time to drop the bomb.

    “Father, mother, Oswald. I found a man at the northern forest. I believe he’s a werewolf but he didn’t seem to belong to any of the royal packs. But he did call me by my name and he said I will see him again soon”. Her father jolted, her mother’s face turned white in horror, Oswald moved uneasy on his place. Elara cleared her throat, getting more nervous. “I alerted the patrol immediately but he disappeared without a trace. I couldn’t stop him. I think he’s a rogue”

    The king gave a quick look at Oswald, who bowed his head and exited quickly. Elara’s mother walked to sit on a near chair, unable to stand up. Elara and her father quickly went to her.

    “Mother, are you ok? What’s the matter?” she said worried.

    “Please, Elara, do not go out the palace grounds again, I beg you” Her mother said with a pleading voice. Elara now regretted her short getaway, her mother looked as if she was on the verge of tears.

    “Not until we find from where that intruder comes from” Her father added with a grave tone.

    Elara kneeled and caught her mother’s hands in hers. “I’m sorry mother, I will not do it again, I promise”. The queen took a strand of Elara’s red her and tugged it to her ear carefully.

    “Go prepare yourself dear, it’s getting late”. Her mother caressed her cheek with a faint smile, Elara leaned on to her warm touch. The princess nodded her head and stood up, walking towards the door. She stopped at the doorstep when she heard her mother say to her. “We hope you like your birthday present”.

    Elara turned to her parents again, the king gently holding his wife by her shoulders, her mother’s hands on his. A loving sight she would never forget. “It’s on your bedroom, darling” her father added.

    She run excitedly through the corridors, a couple of maids giggling when they crossed paths with her. The palace was full of life today, servants were rushing all over the place, cleaning, brushing, lighting candles, carrying trays of tasty delicacies. Many rooms were set up to settle all the important guests for the night. Everything had to be perfect. Elara opened her bedroom door, her night blue dress was still hanging on the rainbow over the ceiling. Cyntia’s voice took her by surprise.

    "Lady Elara, the bath is ready”

    Elara thanked her and took her time to bathe, her heart feeling heavy. There were many things she didn’t understand, the blue flame, the strange man and now, his parents’ reaction. Everything might be related but, how? Maybe Hendaya could help her find out later. But for now, she had to prepare. She thought that Palvin was right, every piece of her wonderful life had a price, a price that her parents had paid until now. It was high time she returned them the fee. But, on the contrary, she hated the thought of not being free, free to live however she liked, free to choose a husband for love. She felt a knot in her throat when Cyntia helped her out of the bath. She automatically sat on her dressing table to get her hair and make up done, not giving the artists much attention, still lost in her thoughts. Her mind came back when Cyntia finished helping her putting on her dress and led her in front of the mirror.

    “You look stunning tonight, my lady” Cyntia said full of pride while smoothing imperceptible folds of the dress. It fitted her body perfectly. Elara’s hair was gathered in a complex but sophisticated chignon with lots of tiny sapphire hairpins all over, only two strands of her red hair framed her face. Her makeup was light, enhancing her stunning hazel eyes and her rosy cheeks. A pair of high silver heels completed the look. The princess almost didn’t recognize herself in the mirror, she felt like an actress who was wearing a costume and tonight she was going to play her part. This was the game she was born to play. Cyntia felt her sadness so she went to grab a small jeweller from one of the drawers.

    “Your parent’s birthday present, my lady. The queen herself ordered me to give it to you at this moment”

    Elara opened the velvet box carefully and instantly recognized the pendant inside. It was the pendant her father gave to her mother when they got engaged. It had a silver crescent moon shape but a round wonderful sapphire made it look like a full moon. Elara always tried it on when she was a child. A single tear slightly escaped from her eyes as this gift meant a lot to her. Cyntia helped her put it on and silently left the princess some time in private.

    A few minutes later, there was a slight knock on the door. Hendaya peeped into the room, all dressed in a pink fluffy dress, her skin glowing due to her usual glittery body make up. She looked more like a fairy than a witch.

    “Wow, Ela, you look amazing!” She whistled while going around Elara to watch her from all sides. “You really look like a goddess, every man in that ball is going to get crazy!” Elara smirked but did not utter a word, she was not in the mood. Soon after, another knock was heard.

    “Lady Elara, it’s time” Palvin entered the room and watched her, astonished. The princess walked up to him and took his hand in hers.

    “I’m sorry, Palvin, you were right, as always” She crushed the hand of her speechless mentor. Then she sighed and headed to the door. Palvin and Hendaya walked behind her in silence. They knew it was not Elara now, it was the princess who was speaking. Two warriors joined them at the end of the corridor.

    “I am sorry, too. You’re not going to mess it up, you never do” Palvin whispered on her back.

    Elara straightened her shoulders and continued walking to the edge of the staircase of the ballroom. “Here we go” She muttered while taking a deep long breath. She let her wolf spread her royal aura, lifting her head, showing how royal she was. The five hundred people gathered there turned to look at her, a deafening silence suddenly overtook the room. Richer or poorer, everyone was in their best outfits, men in black or dark blue suits and women in fancy coloured dresses. Their auras intertwined, there were alphas, lunas, betas, gammas, counsellors, warriors, merchants, all arranged into smaller groups but Elara could feel them all.

    She visualized her target and began descending the stairs, one by one. Her parents, Oswald, his wife Adele and the rest of the royal council were waiting for her at the opposite end of the ballroom. The guests sequentially parted to let her pass while looking at her, mostly with curiosity but there was also jealousy, disdain, anxiety or even lust. It was the first time the members of other packs saw the princess as her father had always kept her away from the political meetings until it was time for her to show up. Among all of them, Elara caught a distinctive smell, a mixture of wet earth and musk, the smell of the forest at sunrise. She felt so attracted to it, even her wolf purred in pleasure. But she could not avert her gaze from the front or stop halfway to see to whom that smell belonged. She had to continue despite the anxiousness of her wolf. Finally, she reached the balcony of the royal family. Her father offered her his hand to join him.

    “You are gorgeous, darling” He said to her ear.

    She smiled quietly at him and then they both faced the guests. His father raised his powerful voice to the silent crowd.

    “Welcome everyone. It is a pleasure for me and my family to have you all gathered in this palace tonight. It’s been a long time since we last spent some time together in peace so I hope this night would be memorable for us all” He made a short pause to enhance his next words. “Besides, today it’s the 18th birthday of my beautiful daughter, princess Elara. Shall we make a toast to wish her a very happy birthday and a very long life” The king lifted his cup while looking at the young princess and took a long sip. Everyone at the ballroom mimicked his gesture. Then he rose his arms and announced.

    “Let the ball begin!”