Chapter 51 - My Omega Queen

POV: Grace

“I cannot imagine the King’s valued prisoner being allowed to wander freely around the pack.” The phrase left my mouth laced with more sarcasm than I intended. However, it did well to cover my voice almost cracking under the pressure of Zain’s proximity. Something inside my soul told me that if I looked close enough at the spot between us, I would be able to see the golden, feeble threads of fate tangling and weaving themselves in an effort to unite us in soul and body forever.

But I wouldn’t let them.

No.

For as long as he has not marked me yet, the threads could still fray.

Zain’s laughter at my own reply echoed in the air between us, my own wolf entranced by its mesmerizing sound to the point of drooling.

“Damned be the mate bond.” I cursed the gift of the Moon Goddess in my head, regardless of the moon shining above our heads.

I was the rightful Heir to the Kingdom of Werewolves.

Citizens bowed to me while I was still in my mother’s cradle.

Words were enough to bring wolves groveling at my feet.

And despite that, here I was – With only a backpack in tow, about to commit treason against my own people, free the one they believed to be their greatest enemy, and all of this while my Alpha-blooded wolf craved to hunt him down and take him where he was. Mark him and ask questions later.

I hated what this mate bond did to me. To us.

All the more reason not to let him be tortured to death. Raksha would be devastated, having to live through it every day of her life. Alpha wolves were stronger than the others, yes. But they could also feel everything stronger.

“The bigger they are, the easier they fall,” as they say. It applies to Alpha wolves, too.

My train of thought was suddenly interrupted, “Zain,” a female voice sounded from behind him. I couldn’t help but narrow my eyes at the she-wolf that dared speak our mate’s name. A tinge of something that I couldn’t put my finger on scratched at my chest, but I quickly shook it off.

However, Zain’s slight tug at the corner of his lips told me that I wasn’t fast enough. He noticed it. The tiny clench of the fist by my side, the negligible scowl that formed on my face for a mere second.

The she-wolf then put a hand on his shoulder and took a step to stand by his side.

Lyra.

My eyes instinctively locked on the hand that touched my mate, and I felt Raksha stir inside of me. It took my entire self-control to swallow the urge to rip her hand off. One part of me wished for it to be fast and swift, but another, a new part of me wished to take her time and rip off Lyra’s nails one by one before getting to the arm.

As if able to feel my thoughts, Lyra slid her hand off of his shoulder. My eyes finally released her, and I took a step back. Just in case.

She paid me no mind. “Are we taking her with us?” Lyra spoke toward Zain, her voice laced with disdain, completely unbothered by the fact that I was right there in front of them. Under any other circumstances, I could have her head simply for not baring her neck to me. But currently, I had my hands full with keeping Raksha in check. Besides, it would be quite difficult to explain my smell on her rotting corpse when the patrols would eventually find it.

Zain’s iconic smile faltered at the question, his face seemingly thoughtful for a moment. Then his eyes glided over my figure until they landed on the straps of my backpack, one of which I was still clenching. I could almost see the gears rotating in his mind.

A sly grin appeared on his face as realization clearly dawned on him. I, for one, fought the urge to slump underneath his knowing gaze. A copper, metallic taste filled my mouth as I bit the inside of my cheek to keep me from averting my eyes.

After all, taking your eyes off your enemies is the sure way to death.

Zain’s voice then followed, tinged with amusement, “We don’t have to take her anywhere.” I heard, felt, his feet approaching, “Her Majesty was clearly on her way to the dungeons.” Another step closer. “Why would she do that, I wonder?” He paused, “Could it be that she wanted to free her mate? Free a prisoner of the crown?”

The implication in his voice was obvious. Treason.

Lyra let out a laugh from behind him, incredulous at the truth in his words. From the corner of my eyes, I noticed the other two rogues still frozen in the shadows of the trees, a few feet away from us.

A small kindle of anger began taking birth in my stomach. Though I had yet to figure out exactly what fueled it.

What the f*ck was on my mind, thinking of freeing this as*hole?

I steeled my nerves. I wouldn’t show him my weakness. I wouldn’t show him how much his words, a stranger’s words, could get to me. I lifted my chin, making my posture teachers proud, then spoke with as much dignity and royal tenure as I could muster, “I will choose to pretend that I haven’t met anyone during my daily night stroll through the forest”, I felt Chloe’s gaze pinning on me, obvious to her that I was spewing a bunch of horsesh*t, yet I went on, “Consider it a parting gift from me.” I paused, “as gratitude for catching me when I fell.”

Zain cocked an eyebrow, confused.

His lips parted slightly to say something, but I didn’t give him the chance, “This is for the best.” I said lowly, mostly for myself, before closing my eyes for a moment and breathing in deeply. Then, I began reciting from the books as I remembered, filling in the dots with my own story, “I, Grace Midnight, daughter of King Edward Midnight and Queen Emily Midnight, heir to the Midnight Pack and to the Throne, reject you, Zain-“

I stopped.

Sh*t.

What was his full name again?

Everyone watched with suspense as I searched my mind through and through and came out empty. He has never told me his full name. I looked at his face, which seemed surprised but not nearly as scared or distressed as I had expected him to be in the face of a rejection. Since he was not the initiator, his pain would be much less potent than the one I’d have to bear, so that would explain the lack of fear. Though, another thought lingered in my mind…

Did he not give me his full name on purpose? For me not to be able to reject him? Even though the exact words of a rejection rite did not matter, the full names and birthing rights must be spoken. That’s the rule, passed down from generation to generation of werewolves. Regardless of their lineage.

The kindle of anger that barely simmered before, now fully on exploded after I realized that I’d been played.

“Tell me your full name.” I ordered with gritted teeth, quenching the embarrassment that threatened to overtake me.

Yet Zain seemed unaffected, despite my aura seeping through my words. He sighed instead, taking on a serious, almost disappointed stance. “Wouldn’t you like to know?” He murmured, barely audible.

At this point, I had had enough of trying to protect him. I’ve risked everything coming out here, my heritage, my future, my relationship with my parents, Chloe’s rank. I was even willing to bear the pain of the rejection for him, yet he refuses to act nice for once. “You know what?” I said, as I clenched both my hands on the straps of the backpack, and turned to leave, “It’s your choice. Take care on your way out.”

Chloe lingered a few more moments before I felt her trailing behind me. When she finally caught up to me, she spoke, “Are you sure this is what you want?”

I didn’t answer her as I continued to walk back to the village.