Chapter 173 The queen era
Chapter 173: The queen era
Millen's POV
The northern winds carried whispers of my brother's awakening across the frozen peaks.
I smiled as the door closed behind the messenger that had come to deliver the good news to me.
I traced patterns on the frosted window of my tower. The view was magnificent and satisfying, slaves of war working day and night for a drop of water, helping in building my kingdom.
Everything was falling into place, just as I had orchestrated months ago. The purple light that had blazed across the mountains three nights ago told me all I needed to know without the messenger coming in. Milo had finally become what I always knew he could be.
My reflection in the window showed a woman who looked nothing like the omega brother I had sent south.
Yes, everything was all my handwork, convincing my parents, playing sick on the day I was to be sent to the mafia king. Everything was going so smoothly, I couldn't help but chuckle happily. I could almost smell the power within my reach.
I folded my fingers, electricity crackled in my fist.
“Just a little more time.” I whispered to my wolf.
I rose from my bed, going towards the giant mirror that towered to the sparkling ceiling. I admired the beautiful figure that had all the powers that ruled the werewolf world under her finger tips.
Where Milo had soft edges and gentle curves, I was sharp angles and barely contained violence. My white hair fell to my waist like a river of snow, and my eyes held the pale blue of deep ice. The mark of a true alpha pulsed silver at my throat, a blessing and curse passed down through generations of firstborns.
Except it should have been Milo's.
The door to my chambers opened without a knock, and only two people in my territory had that privilege. My parents entered together, as they always did, moving in perfect synchronization after decades of mated life. Father's dark hair had gone completely gray since the last time I saw him, and Mother's hands shook slightly as she reached for me.
"Millen," Mother's voice was soft, worried. "The scouts report unusual activity in the south. Is everything proceeding as planned?"
"Everything is perfect," I assured her, allowing her to take my hands. Her skin was warm against my perpetual cold.
"And Milo?" Father's question was heavy with meaning. "Is he... willing?"
The question almost made me laugh. Willing? My brother had no idea what he had agreed to when he left our territory. The enchantments I had woven into his mind during his captivity were so subtle he thought his choices were his own. Every decision, every moment of weakness, every tear he would shed was part of my design. Just like I had done to the two idiots that yearn for a son they gave away.
"Don't worry about Milo," I said, pulling my hands free. "He is playing his part beautifully."
They exchanged one of those looks that mated pairs perfected over time, and I saw the doubt there. The fear, The regret. And for no reason it made my heart bleed.
"We are proud of you, daughter," Father said formally. "You have accomplished what generations before couldn't. United the northern packs, bringing order to chaos."
"We just wish..." Mother trailed off her eyes going red, but I knew what she wanted to say. They wished they could have both their children. They wished Milo could come home. They wished our family wasn't the sacrifice required for power.
"Milo is a disgrace to our bloodline," I said coldly, watching them both flinch. "An omega firstborn? The shame of it nearly destroyed my standing in the righteous pack summit. I saved this family. I saved this pack. And I'll save all wolves from the Council's tyranny."
"But at what cost?" Mother whispered.
"Whatever cost is necessary." I turned away from them, facing the window again. "The Council is weak. The war with the unrighteous packs had depleted their forces. Now is the time to strike, and Milo is perfectly positioned to ensure victory."
"You're using your own brother as a weapon," Father said quietly.
"I am using a tool that was already broken," I corrected. "Would you rather I let him live in ignorance? Let him believe he could have a normal life with his alpha? The prophecy is clear. Two true alphas cannot exist in the same space without one destroying the other. Better I control that destruction than leave it to fate."
“That is cruel, millen…” my mother started, but I didn’t let her finish her rants.
“Spare me your pathetic lecture, woman.” I cut her shut. I didn’t mean to growl at her, but my anger was rising.
“You see dear parents, we all know about the prophecy, and how true it is. Let's not forget it was because of it, that I was able to become the reigning queen that commands the whole Council's forces. Do you want me to remind you both that in this our time, weakness of any sort is not allowed in my reign, else you would end up worse than your so-called son.”
Mum clutched her chest like she would have a panic attack, my father's eyes were wide in disbelief, I knew he was searching, looking for his sweet innocent daughter, but he would be disappointed.
“Don't let power cloud your judgment, I made a mistake. I will harbour till I die, no matter what we are still…”
“You are a fool!”
“What!” My mother gasped, shocked at my outburst,
“You heard me well, both of you are senile, old and worn out. Maybe it's time you learn that things have changed, that you are about to be the strongest werewolf ever to have lived.”
“Millen…”
I was fed up. Immediately guards barged in, in response to my secret signal.
“Take them away to the slave quarters, and make sure they work for every damn thing they get, food ,clothing, water and so on.”
They left without another word, and their disappointment lingered in the air like incense. They didn't understand. They couldn't see the bigger picture. The Council had ruled through fear for too long, deciding who could mate, who could live, who deserved power. And my father, he was part of the weak, cowards that called themselves the righteous law makers.
Their era was ending, and I would be the one to end it.