Chapter 52
Elena’s P.O.V
Sighing, I stood at the window and looked out over the pitch-black kingdom, silent under the blackness of the sky. The only lights that I could see were the tiny lights shining out from windows, signaling that its occupants were home or the tiny street lamps dotted around the empty streets. A small breeze licked at my skin, making me shiver slightly as goosebumps rose on my arms. Slowly, I pulled Kieran’s fur cloak around me more tightly with one hand while my other hand gently stroked my growing bump. Kieran had been gone for three days already now and my heart ached for him to be near me again. I missed his touch and missed his scent.
My wolf had remained pretty quiet since her Mate had left and I wondered why it didn’t bother her as much as it bothered me until I found out from Nerissa that while pregnant, our wolves enter some form of hibernation until we give birth as we physically cannot change while expecting. So here I was, in this big old castle feeling totally alone, with no wolf and no fiancé to wrap his arms around me. Nerissa was probably sleeping and Brooke and Hollie had gone off to hunt in wolf form down in the forests with the rest of the Royal Pack.
Turning slowly, I made my way over to the bed and gently climbed in amongst the velvet sheets before settling down comfortably and began tracing my finger over my bump, watching and feeling the little squirms of my child inside me. It amazed me at how weird the baby’s movements felt. I had only begun to feel the little movements the last day or so and seeing the little kicks ripple under my skin made me glow with happiness. Who would have guessed that I would ever grow a child, let alone a Royal Alpha baby? My eyes began to droop as tiredness began to envelop me. Sighing once more and allowing myself to sink further into the bed, I let my eyes close as the thoughts of Kieran and I sitting on the beach under the bright sun with our baby boy playing happily together while the sea crashed behind us.
I wasn’t sure how long I had been asleep but a sudden noise in my bedroom made me jolt up suddenly. I peered sleepily towards the window and saw the early morning wisps of light starting to filter in from behind the velvet curtain. Another noise that sounded like footsteps coming towards the bedroom door made me snap my head back towards the door as my ears strained painfully. Slowly, I reached over to the little drawer beside the bed and pulled it open, gently grabbing a golden dagger before hiding it under my blanket and watching the door intently. Slowly, it began to open and as I quietly slipped out of bed and made my way towards the door, with my dagger poised, Rosa popped her head around the door, and promptly screamed at seeing me standing there.
“Rosa! What are you doing here!?” I exclaimed loudly, breathing a sigh of relief at seeing a friendly face. “you scared me. Why are you sneaking into my bedroom at this ungodly hour?”
“The old Queen Nerissa sent me to come and check on you and make sure if you were alright,” Rosa explained apologetically before glancing at the dagger in my hand. “Sorry if I scared you. I was trying to be quiet. Um, why have you got a dagger in your hand?”
“I thought it was an intruder so I had to arm myself for protection,” I mused before walking back towards the drawer. “I’m fine. Why would Nerissa want to see if I was okay at this time of night? What’s going on?”
“Was you going to stab me?” Rosa gasped in mock shock before blushing and giggling gently. “Well, as you know, the royal household went out in wolf form last night deep down in the forests. We came across a pack of unknown wolves making their way through the darkness back towards the Palace. And they weren’t friendly!”
“What happened? Is everyone okay!?” I gasped, feeling a lump form in my throat. “Is Brooke and Hollie okay? Where have these strangers gone now and more importantly, who were they?”
“A fight broke out which the intruders started but don’t worry. Everybody is fine,” Rosa reassured gently, placing a hand on my arm. “Our Pack managed to scare them off but they did flee back towards the East. Do you know who resides over that way?”
“I’m glad you are all okay!” I breathed deeply, glad that no one got killed at the hands of the rogue intruders. “Yes, I know who lives in the East. Isn’t the Black Diamond Palace situated in the East? That’s the place where Carlton and his harem of whores have been exiled to!”
“Exactly. Now can you see why Nerissa was worried,” Rosa explained slowly before turning back towards the door. “But don’t panic. No one will be getting into this Palace anytime soon. Nerissa is stepping up security as we speak. Go back to sleep and get some rest and don’t worry about anything.”
“I won’t be going back to sleep now!” I chuckled loudly. “It’s almost dawn now anyway. Can you bring some breakfast up to Brooke and Hollie’s apartment, please? I have a lot to do today and really don’t want to waste any more time.”
“Of course my lady,” Rosa smiled gently before bowing and looking at me concerned. “What are your plans today if you don’t mind me asking? If you think you are going down to the city, then let me warn you. Nerissa won’t allow it! She is on the warpath!”
“Don’t you worry yourself about Nerissa,” I smiled mischievously before turning sombre. “I’ll sort her out. Now, I think it’s time for breakfast.”