Chapter 37
RAINE
W00%
Gasps of horror echoed in the throne room. The Alpha of the Blood Moon pack, dead. Assassinated.
I heard one of the elders say that there would be war.
âAmaris, the Lunaâ¦â I rushed to him where he stood staring at Lord Greyson, as if he couldnât believe
his ears.
When a soulmate dies, the other half wouldnât be able to bear it. They would often take their own lives or go mad with grief. Or so they say.
âBring the guards that were stationed at his cell, Lord Grayson. They will answer to this.â He took my hand. âCome. We will check on the Luna.â
Sorin and Helen followed us out of the throne room, as well as Beta Ross.
âYou know what this means, Amaris,â Sorin matched Amarisâ forceful stride.
Helen and I fell back. In her state she couldnât walk as fast.
âThat poor girl.â Helen said, âIt would be better for her if they put her out of her misery.â
I couldnât believe she said that. âAmaris would never.â
Helen rolled her eyes at me. âShows how little you know, Raine.â
Amaris and Sorin ascended the stairs ahead of us, but I heard Sorin speak as clearly as if he stood right
next to me.
âThey will retaliate. Once again you brought this on us, Brother.â His tone was as cold as I felt.
âThen we will fight. It cannot be helped.â I heard Amarisâ calm reply.
Emergency calls only)â¦
Chapter 37
D66% 12:23
But Sorinâs voice rose in pitch. âThis shouldnât have happened in the first place, Amaris! You should never have brought them here.â
â50
what would you have done differently, Sorin! Sack their whole pack, burned down the whole da mn
village?â Amaris was losing his patience with his brother.
âThat was your usual method.â
Amaris didnât answer. Helen and I hurried after the men with Beta Ross following closely behind us. It worried for the newborn pup. What would the Luna do in her grief?
Nearing the room where they were kept, we heard a pitiful, drawn-out wail, followed by a loud crash, the sound of glass breaking and then dreadful silence. We sprinted towards the room and the guards: stationed at the door quickly opened it to let Amaris and Sorin in.
But the guards stopped Helen and I from entering.
âLet us pass!â I narrowed my eyes, trying to look commanding.
âRather not, your Majesty.â Beta Ross laid a hand on my shoulder.
âFor your safety, your Majesty.â A big, burly man blocked the entrance..
âI hope weâre not too late, poor thing.â Helen shook her blonde curls.
Amaris brushed past the guards. âShe jumped out of the window in her wolf form.â He held a small bundle in his arms. âBut she left her pup.â He pressed the squirming baby into my arms.
âOh!â She was so tiny and helpless. âA little girl.â She clasped her tiny fist around my fingers, and my heart melted.
âYes, and now the Alpha of her pack.â Beta Ross grimaced.
âFind the Luna and bring her back unharmed!â Amaris shouted at the guards. âShe is not to leave our grounds.â
Emergency calls only
Chapter 37
Amaris and Sorin left to interrogate the Alphaâs guards, leaving Helen and me with the baby. Beta Ross stayed to protect me. However he tried to conceal it, I noticed from the way his nose flared when he looked at me, he was far from pleased being my bodyguard. He probably found it beneath his station, but he couldnât go against the kingâs orders.
âSheâs going to be hungry soon,â Helen said as she peered at the tiny bundle squirming in my arms. We sat on the bed where her mother lay, a mere moments ago. The wind howled through the broken
window.
âIâll send for a wetnurse and Healer Gwyneth to check her out.â I linked Rhona with my request. âWe
need clothes and nappies for her too, and she canât be left here.â
âShe needs her mother.â Helen said her face darkening, âBut I fear whatâs to become of this little waif.â
âWhat do you mean, Helen?â I rocked the fretting baby; she was nig gling and would soon cry. I didnât have much experience with infants.
Helen raised her perfect brows. âIf Amaris takes her back to her pack, sheâd probably be killed. They would never accept a girl for an Alpha.â
âThen we will keep her here.â I said firmly. There was no way I would let that happen if I could help it.
Helen scoffed, âYou are so softhearted.â
âThe king wouldnât send her back.â Beta Ross fixed Helen with his cold, dark stare. âHe will find suitable placement for her, if her mother canât be found.â
âSheâs probably gone feral.â Helen shrugged, âEither way, this is a problem.â She pointed at the wailing infant.
âFortunately, not yours to solve, consort Princess.â Ross said evenly.
Gwyneth and Rhona hurried into the room, bowed respectfully and Gwyneth took the baby from me. âI came as soon as I could. Goodness, she has al
of lungs on her.â
âIâve found a wetnurse, your Majesty. One of the cooks. She will be here soon.â Rhona placed a bundle of clothing and nappies onto the bed. âLook how strong she is,â she said. The baby kicked her little legs
3/5
Chapter 37
in protest as Gwyneth unwrapped her to get her dressed.
âDo you think her mother would hear her cries and come back for her?â I asked no one in particular.
Gwyneth replied, âWell, I suppose it could happen, your Majesty. But thereâs no way of knowing.â
âWe have no idea whatâs going on in her mind right now.â Helen said. âAnyway, letâs leave them to care for the infant, Raine. My back is killing me.â
I walked Helen back to her suite with my ever-watchful guard dog following us. I wanted to get back to Amaris as soon as possible so I turned Helenâs offer for refreshment down and proceeded to go back to the throne room,
We were some distance away when Ross stopped me. âYour Majesty, I think we should rather take a walk in the garden until the king is done with his interrogation.â
âIs that your suggestion or the kingâs?â I craned my neck to look up at him.
âMine. It wonât be pleasant to witness.â He offered me his arm and I placed my hand on his forearm. We went out onto one of the terraces.
âYou donât like me very much, do you, Beta Ross?â I said as we made our way down the pathways to the formal flower garden, past statues of nym phs and other mythical creatures.
He stopped, frowning at me. âIt is not my place to like or dislike you, only to protect you, your Majesty.â
âAnd to instruct me, of course.â I rolled my eyes at him. âTo behave like a queen. Hence that lovely book you had me read.â
He chuckled, âI thought you would enjoy a bit of light reading.â
âIt was delightful.â I grinned at him. âBut I would actually prefer doing something useful.â
âOf course, your Majesty. In time. There is a long list of duties I have set out for you. You will have your own secretary, as well as your ladies that will help you.â He held his arms behind his back as we walked
4/5
Emergency calls only) â
Chapter 37
066% 12.24
+5
further. âThe most important thing to remember is, keeping your eyes and ears open. Listen more than speak, youâd be surprised at the information you gather.â
âI will keep that in mind, thank you Beta Ross.â We walked past a line of dense conifers. My nose picked up a scent, it was familiar, but I wasnât certain where I had come across it.
âWhat is it?â Beta Ross was immediately alerted. His hand went to the dagger at his side.
âMust have been my imagination,â I waved it away. But then as I started to turn away a blurred form rushed out between the conifers and collided me.
I fell to the ground, winded. The Luna was on top of me in her wolf form, her paws on my shoulders, tearing my top.
Before Ross could react, she shifted back, her claws raked over my chest as she shifted. I tried to get away from her, but she grabbed my hair and pulled me back.
âDonât move or I will rip your throat out!â She snarled into my ear.
Emergency calls onlyMO