Chapter 46 - My Omega Queen
POV: Grace
For some Goddess-forsaken reason, I felt a tad disappointed that he didn’t mark us. My neck was pulsing with anticipation and my core was burning with the mate bond’s pull. Sh*t. I shook my head to clear my mind of these crazy thoughts.
A loud thud and the sound of wood splintering and ripping followed. My head jerks toward the source of the noise instantly. A few inaudible curses escape my mouth as my nostrils flare with recognition.
“Dad,” is the only word that I manage to blurt out before my voice chokes.
I follow with my eyes the trail of broken trees with chunks of their trunks missing until they land on Arthur’s massive form. His tail hangs low as he watches his prey with caution. From where I stand, Arthur’s black shape could easily be lost among the shadow of the trees, becoming one and the same being with the forest. As a little girl, Arthur would let me ride him as he would run through the forest, taking me to gorgeous spots that no human could ever reach to spoil. I used to love and cherish those moments when Arthur’s back felt like the safest place on this earth. Every small animal and supernatural being recognized his approach and made way for him to pass, bowing slightly in their own way. Sometimes it felt like even the wind listened to his requests, ushering us forward.
There was never danger when Arthur was around. After all, he was the danger.
But then, how come I feel so f*cking scared right now?
I feel my legs shaking and my hand moves by itself to clutch my chest instinctively, as my eyes wander around the fallen trees, looking for him. Raksha whines inside my head for her mate.
A gruff voice brings me out of my state, “Ugh,” Zain cries while standing up with laziness, “Talk about a fancy entrance.”
Arthur growls and lets out his aura in response, making Raksha slump her ears backward. Arthur is angry, that much is clear.
However, the only tell that Zain is affected by Arthur’s display of strength is a short eye twitch. He manages to maintain his position and eye contact, watching Arthur with seeming amusement. Even as a rogue, he should still be able to tell Arthur’s overwhelming strength.
Nevertheless, my heart stopped when one of Zain’s mouth corners curved upwards. “Oh, come on, don’t be so mad,” he said to the raging king standing in front of him. Even further, he then extends his arms sideways and continues, “we’re about to become fa-“
But he didn’t get to finish before Arthur lunged at him. The last thing I saw was Zain’s infuriating smirk, then a massive, brown shape appeared in Zain’s spot. The collision between the wolves sent shockwaves through the forest, causing the ground to tremble under their force. They rolled and grappled with one another, fangs and claws unsheathed. Even the forest seemed to halt with anticipation as it bore witness to their fight. When finally the two wolves stood face to face, fur on end, my eyes widened as I realized that the two of them were equally matched in size.
There had never been a wolf, not even an Alpha, as tall and proud as Arthur.
Yet, I could not help but notice that while Arthur exhibited grace and precision in his strikes, the brown wolf was like an entirely wild, untamed creature, his movements based on instinct and reflexes. Hence, he was unpredictable and even managed to get a strike on Arthur thanks to it.
Now they assessed their enemy in front of them, circling each other like predators.
I had never, ever seen Arthur lose a fight. I cannot imagine either of them losing and what that would do to them. Or to me. This thought sent my body into a frenzy. My lungs begged for air, and for a second, I thought I would scream out. It had been long since I accepted the fact that my mate was dead. My colleagues at school went to parties while I chose to spend my time praying to the Moon Goddess for a fated mate. Day in, day out. Yet, now, in the span of less than an hour, I found him and I am about to lose him again.
There’s no f*cking way I’m going to let that happen.
My body finally stopped shaking, and I could actually move my legs. I took a determined step forward. My inertia was again halted by a swift tug at my shoulder before I was pulled into a hug.
“Oh, Grace”, my mother whispered in my ear as she strengthened her hold on me, closing off my airway with her own chest, “We were so scared for you”. Then my mother pushed me away and thoroughly went over my body with her eyes and nose, making sure that I was not hurt in any way. With the corner of my eye, I noticed a few pack warriors standing a short distance behind her.
“Have they done anything to you? Have they hurt you?” She asked in quick succession.
“Uhm, no”, I hesitated for some reason. "Is being mated to your kidnapper a way for them to hurt you?" I thought.
Her eyes widened, and her forehead furrowed in worry. "Don't worry, my dear," she reassured me, her voice laced with determination. "Your father will take care of those rogues for having the audacity to hurt you." Pulling me into a tight hug once again, she seemed afraid to let go.
As my mother's venomous words reached my ears, they somehow brought me back to the present, reminding me of the ongoing battle. "Mom," I mumbled, my tone that of a child afraid to confess to something wrong.
However, my mother continued as if she hadn’t heard me, “They deserve nothing less than death. Oh, and don’t you worry about Chloe. Amanda, Jason, and a few other pack warriors are already with her, dealing with all the leftover rogues.”
My body froze at her words. Despite being pleased to hear that Chloe was fine, the memory of those innocent children dressed in rags and playing with dirt replayed in my mind. No wonder, they will still get the same treatment as any other rogue just because of their birth conditions. “Mom,” I try again to interrupt her, but to no avail.
“My poor little child, you must have been so scared.”
Yet, ever since I got kidnapped, the only time I felt honest, true fear was at the thought that Arthur would kill Zain. At that moment, a wave of clarity washed over me, “MOM,” I shouted as I pulled away from her grasp. She finally stopped and looked at me with utter confusion. Our eyes searched each other with meaning before I swallowed the lump in my throat and told her, “I have to go and stop Dad.”
My mother looked confused for a moment, and then her eyes darkened as she talked with Accalia. When her gaze returned to me, her face had gone completely pale, void of any color. Her lips parted slightly, but no words came out.
Though I yearned to stay and share everything with her, seeking advice and reassurance, time was not on our side. I took a few steps back, releasing my mother's hand, and she remained frozen in place, her eyes following my every move. The other wolves behind her watched with intense curiosity, but I threw them a stern look, enough to remind them of their place and not interfere.
When I turn around to look at the ongoing fight, I see roots and foliage uprooted and scattered across the ground. The forest floor looked more like a grim tapestry painted with blood than the dark green lush I was used to.
The blood was coming from both Arthur’s mouth and the brown wolf’s right hind leg. As things stood now, the brown wolf’s movements looked sluggish, obviously trying not to put pressure on the wounded leg, and Arthur, like an experienced wolf in combat, took advantage of his enemy’s weakness. He sprinted toward the brown wolf and faked a left turn, tricking him into putting weight on the wounded leg. The brown wolf yelped.
The sound of it sent jolts of electricity through my body, urging me to run toward them.
“DAD,” I screamed, “PLEASE STOP”. Raksha whined and anxiously paced inside my head.
Arthur’s ears swiveled, but he didn’t stop. With fangs bared, Arthur went for the kill.
My chest burnt as I ran, but there was no way for me to make it in time, even if I shifted. So, with no other option left, I did what any other werewolf would; I listened to my instincts. With Raksha supporting me, I closed my eyes and screamed again, “F*CKING STOP!!!”
My chest heaved with the force I had put in this scream. When I opened my eyes next, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Arthur had actually stopped in his advance and was now staring me down. Just like everyone else around, including the brown wolf.
The realization hit me like a ton of bricks.
Crap.
I just gave Arthur an order.
Crap.
Sh*t.
F*ck.
The silence felt eternal, yet it only lasted a second.
Arthur would never hurt me, that I was sure of. But he could still punish me.
"Any punishment is better than having him kill our mate," Raksha's voice rang out, her head held high in defiance.
As Arthur's intense gaze remained fixed on me, his tongue lapping at the blood trickling from his lip, I could sense the weight of the decision before me.
"Daughter, explain yourself," Arthur's voice echoed in my mind, seeking an answer through the mind-link.
Summoning courage, I mirrored Raksha's confidence to the best of my abilities as I stood before the King, my father, and spoke firmly, "You cannot kill him."
Inwardly, I scolded myself for being so brazen, berating my impulsive outburst. "One does not simply tell the King what to do, Grace," I chided myself silently.
But Arthur's response was swift and unyielding, "Oh, of course I can. Watch me." His words carried an air of determination as if I had merely issued him a challenge.
As his head turned again toward the brown wolf, his vision filled with the intent to kill, I blurted out without thinking,
“He’s my mate!”