Chapter 34

Klara’s days soon consisted of lessons in etiquette, literature, history, the kingdom’s packs and parenting. Late afternoon Adelaide would take her into the town and around the palace grounds.

She soon found out the kingdom consisted of community pockets, all surrounded by the barrier woods which were guarded and patrolled twenty-four-seven.

Every night Klara crawled into bed next to Marc with her head filled with information she was desperately trying to store.

“How do you remember this stuff?” she mumbled into the pillow after two weeks of continuous lessons.

“You are having quite an intense experience.” He rubbed up and down her back soothingly. “I’m sorry.”

“I’m just struggling to take it all in,” she admitted, “There’s so much to learn.”

“You’ll know more than you think, but maybe have a rest tomorrow?”

“I’m meant to recite every pack and alpha in the kingdom tomorrow, and I’m having a mock luncheon as if I’m entertaining one of them,” she moaned.

“That can be pushed to the next day, I’ll tell mother you’re resting,” he muttered reaching down to kiss her neck.

“What’s happened to the Silversmith pack?” she asked, twisting onto her back.

“Well, as you know they are under my rule, I need to either find an Alpha to lead them or disband them into other packs. A quarter have gone rogue, leaving just over a hundred left. We are certainly looking at disbandment due to the treatment and what you’ve told me. Their behaviour needs retraining.”

“What will happen then?”

“They’ll be offered multiple places, the land will be used for a few packs that wish to expand. Pelterson and Celestine have been asking for more land for a few years now.” Klara nodded slowly, wondering who was left, not that she knew that many of the wolves within her father’s old pack.

Klara laid snuggled against him, while a thought occurred to her, she thought she knew the answer due to her wolf’s insistence but she asked anyway, “If I’m an Alpha… what does that mean when I become Queen?”

“Theoretically you’ll have more power than mother ever had… and your strength against me suggests we will be equally matched to rule. An Alpha Queen.” Klara shifted to rest her head on his bare chest, her wolf smirking with importance.

*

To decompress she began running in the mornings, letting her wolf out was generally a good idea anyway or she tended to be a bit more vocal if she didn’t let her out.

Her husky paws pounded the earth happily, a sense of peace had settled over the kingdom… well in her opinion it had anyway. She felt it truly was home, the trees were becoming familiar, the guards she now could identify by smell.

She weaved around the trees, heading to an area she hadn’t explored. The vegetation was thick, hard to negotiate but she felt other wolves travelled through the area… albeit maybe sporadically.

Something caught her eye and she altered her course towards the rocky formation, the sound of water trickled from somewhere but she couldn’t see the water… merely could hear it. She padded up, the trees were unnaturally close, moss spread up from the damp ground and covered the bottom section of a sheer cliff shooting towards the tree canopy above… again it seemed a little unnatural. She looked around and, seeing she was alone, transformed back to her smaller skin form.

With bare feet she could feel the dampness more than her paw pads. Soft moss cushioned her as she walked around, the back of the formation was almost completely inaccessible until she found a hole that had been exposed under the roots of one of the trees, big enough for a full-grown male to squeeze his shoulders through.

She shimmied on her stomach sliding out to the tiny clearing she could see through the trees and thick bushes. The rocks thinned, it seemed it was a mere collection that had sprung up. Intrigued she just decided to climb onto the rocks, from this side that was possible.

She climbed to near the top, wondering if she'd be able to see above the trees at the summit. Klara slipped, she hissed when her leg scraped over the rough stone. A breeze caught her attention on her foot, looking back, she’d slipped almost into an opening. Frowning she slowly slid, she couldn’t see anything inside, it was just dark, but there was a cool breeze. ’Marc.’ She linked, wanting him to know where she was in case she got stuck.

’Yes, little one?’

’I’ve found this-’ she pushed the image (like he'd taught her the week before) of where she was and the way to get there, the image of the rock formation and the hole her bare legs were dangling in.

‘That doesn’t look safe, get back to ground and I’ll come.’

’It’ll be fine, I think there’s something down there, it’s cold.’

’Please wait for me, I’m on my way.’

’You don’t need to worry.’ The link had just gone when she felt the rock shift under her naked backside. Her stomach sunk, maybe Marc was right.

She carefully pulled her legs back, shifting to go back the way she’d come, but before she could get to safety, the rock gave way under her. She squealed as she felt herself become weightless, her stomach went into her throat as she fell.

Landing with a thump the wind whooshed out of her lungs. She felt panic, and knew Marc had felt something, whether it had been her fear, shock or own panic she wasn’t sure. But he didn’t need to link her to tell her he was close. (which he did anyway).

She looked up, seeing the light only about fifteen feet above, she wasn’t hurt, it was the surprise more than anything. Carefully getting to her feet, the breeze she felt was like winter. A smell hit her but she couldn’t decipher it… it was wolf though.

She transformed, the large husky wolf filled the space more than her human form, but the cavern she’d fallen into was large enough. She allowed herself to get used to the gloom, her wolf could see better than her but it still took a short moment. ‘Old smell,’ her wolf declared as she turned her head to see the small tunnel that went from the stone room. She could tell, in wolf form that Marc would only just fit down the tunnel with his width, even in human form it would be a single file scenario.

“Klara!” his voice came from further away.

’I’m down the hole,’ she linked. It was a few minutes before she could hear the rocks moving a little and the sound of scrambling. “Dude, this isn’t going to take my weight,” Wade’s voice was nearer.

“Can you get out of the hole?”

’I haven’t got any clothes, and I can hear Wade.’

More sounds of rustling and scrambling could be heard before Marc’s head popped over the hole above her. “You alright, little one?” He dropped a shirt down to her, she transformed and put it on quickly, buttoning up the shirt that looked like a dress on her.

“Fine, a wolf has been down here, but it’s faint.”

“Can you jump up to me?”

“I want to see where the tunnel goes.”

“Let a guard do that, I’ll send a team to explore.”

She glared up to him, folding her arms, “I recognise the scent. I don’t know who but I recognise it.”

“All the more reason to get you to safety.”

“I’m going, you can either join me, or not.” She grinned, a small flutter in her belly with how brave she was being before turning towards the tunnel.

“Don’t. Move,” the Alpha command glued her in place, he’d never commanded her before. “Klara, we don’t know what’s down there and I am not allowing you, the future Queen and my mate, to put yourself in danger. So please, jump up and grab my hand.” His hand shot through the opening.

“Marc,” she whined.

“I am not arguing on this. Jump.”

“How. High?” she replied snarkily but realised she wasn’t going to win. She crouched and leapt, catching his hand easily. She got a good grip with both hands before he began pulling her up one-handed.

The sound of rocks moving and crumbling reached both their ears. “It’s too weak,” she stated through gritted teeth.

“It’ll hold,” he replied, pulling her up. Rock showered down on her as she dropped along with Marc’s torso. He was still holding her up, but knew he wouldn’t be able to pull her now, she was surprised he hadn’t tipped through, he was half dangling over her. “Climb up me.”

“It’s not going to hold, it’s weak, if it won’t hold Wade, it won’t hold both of us.”

“I think she’s got a point, bud,” Wade’s voice piped up.

“Butt out!” Marc snapped.

“We’ll go explore together.”

“You’re two-hundred pounds soaking wet, Wade’s closer to five.”

“Want to work out what you’re doing? Holding your ankles is getting boring.”

“Shut. Up,” Marc growled as he tugged on Klara’s arms, dragging her up until she could grab onto his bare shoulders.

Klara worked her way up his body until she could grab onto his belt. “It’s not going to hold for long, Marc,” Wade rumbled, and sure enough the sounds of the stone crumbling made Klara move faster. “Rock shouldn’t be this weak!”

“More hustling, less complaining. Twist around,” Wade directed.

“I’ll fall, Klara will fall,” Marc grunted.

“Klara, get a good grip. If you twist I can pull you back,” Wade advised.

“Pull me back now, you idiot!” The thin jagged stone was like a knife cutting into his stomach.

“Just do what I say before this crumbling piece of shit gives way!”

“Fine!” Marc roared. Klara’s legs clamped around his chest so he shifted, ready to flip onto his back.

His movement was the worst thing to do, the frail ledge taking both wolves’ weights crumbled.