Chapter 33 - Say Uncle

**Lily**

"Is he really here?"

"Yes, Princess." The guard bows in my direction. Did he just call me princess? Wait - I look like her.

"Stay here." The King grabs the Queen by the shoulders and places a kiss on her forehead. The Queen nods, her eyes closing as if to savor the kiss.

"But dad - "

"Keely." The King uses his alpha voice, a voice that makes all of us freeze for a couple seconds. "I know you won't listen to me so listen to Exel. Go to the safe place and don't fight unless we call for you, please." Keely purses her lips at his order but nods. The King wraps his arms around her, holding her tightly.

Am I really jealous right now?

When he turns to me, my heart beat begins to accelerate. Will he do that to me? "Sir," I clear my throat. "Let us help. If... if my uncle is here, I need to see him." I take a step forward and lock eyes with him, unwavering. Our stare down lasts approximately one minute before his eyes go to the Queen and than back to mine.

"We will call you when we need you."

Anger floods my veins. "What?" My hands turn into fists. Did this man go mad? I NEED to do this!

"I know you think revenge is the right thing but - "

"But that's none of your business. You've barely been in my life for a whole day and you want to tell me what to do?!" I scoff, feeling my lips curl upwards. "*Fuck* That."

The queen gasps. "That is NO way to speak to your father!"

Goosbumps form on my skin. "What?" My face loses it's emotion. "Did you just - "

"Is is weird that I want to bow down right now?" Megan whispers, taking a couple steps back.

"Am I in trouble?" Victor raises his hand, cowering.

"This is my land and whether you like it or not, you are OUR daughter. And I am telling you to stay here and listen to YOUR mother." He walks until he is in front of me, his eyes commanding me to do as he says.

My gaze falls. "Okay." I don't think I've ever been talked to like this.

"Okay." The King clears his throat. "Be safe." He places his arm on my shoulder and gives it a light squeeze. He takes a couple steps back, nods at the others and walks in front of the guard, who bows once again and closes the door behind them.

*Boom*.

The floor rumbles.

"It's time to separate." Exel grabs Keely's hand and places a kiss on the back of her hand. "Take them to the safe room, I'll come back to you." He smiles tenderly.

"What if... what if you don't come back?" Keely sniffles.

"I will." He places a kiss on her cheek. Keely nods and hugs him tightly.

"We'll come."

"What?" Brandon sputters. "I don't think so." He retreats behind Chase.

Jesse rolls his eyes. "We will. Jeremy, Victor and I." Jesse crosses his arms, daring Exel to disagree. Exel shrugs and motions his head towards the door.

"What? No!" Megan exclaims, taking a few steps forwards. "I'll go too. I can do what you do!" Megan growls as a warning.

"No!" Jeremy shouts. "You have to stay with Lily." Megan's eyes widen and she nods, lips in a tight line.

"I don't need a babysitter." I retort and make my way to where Exel is.

"It's not that you need a babysitter." Jeremy rubs a hand over his face, tired. "It's that I won't be able to concentrate if you're out there with me. Especially because I know about how you lose control at times. Just do it... for me?"

Why is everyone trying to decide what's right for me? Are my choices wrong? Am I dumb or something.

I exhale with a nod. Jeremy pecks my lips quickly, hand squishing my cheeks. I fake a smile. Jeremy nods and follows Exel out. Victor winks and waves, lips puckered into a kiss. Jesse sighs and pushes Victor out.

"Let's go!"

"Whyyy." Brandon whines as Chase pulls him out. Chase offers me a charming smile but I know it's fake. His heart aches and mine does as well. I nod, one which he returns. And he's gone.

They're gone.

"We have to get out of here." Keely yells, voice pitchy as the ground rumbles another time. "Follow me!" Keely signals us out and we follow her to the book shelf.

"I know words are strong but they ain't this strong." Megan yells in panic.

Keely pulls out a book and the whole book shelf moves to the side to reveal a dark passage. Keely ushers us in, the queen in front of us. The passage is small, most of us are crouching down. It smells of dirt and a hint of rat but other than that, it seems like it's cleaned semi-regularly. It feels like around five hours since we've been walking. The queen halts, her hands reaching around the wall beside her. She pushes a brick inside and the wall in front of her moves aside.

"I want to live here!" Joanne gushes, climbing out.

Honestly, same. I've always wanted a secret passage. If I had one, I would make it so that it goes to a place where I can be alone. I could think and hone my skills, maybe just spend some time to myself. It would allow me to get used to the idea that I've met my parents. Maybe if I had some time, I'd be more open or so I hope so.

"Why are you stopping?" I roll my eyes and push Megan forward. Megan stumbles out and lands on her knees. "Did you get weak? Don't you usually land on your..." My voice trails off. Not because the safe place is beautiful or just as smelly as the passage but because we are *not* alone.

My bones freeze completely and my breathing stops at the sight of the man infront of me. Who looks a *lot* like the Queen. Is he -

"Who The Hell Are You?!" Keely gets in a fighting stance, arms fisted in front of her.

"Keely, dear." His voice is carefree, arms resting lazily on the armrests of a couch. "I'm surprised you forgot about me so soon. I used to babysit you." The man laughs. And unlike how I imagined him, his laugh is so... simple and plain.

What is scarier, is the lines around his eyes and mouth. The bags under his eyes are so huge, I don't think makeup can cover them. His lips are chapped and bloodied. And to make it worse, he's wearing a suit like his pack isn't outside fighting. He looks like a beat-up business man.

"Uncle?" Keely snarls. His eyes turn hard, eyes looking at Keely as if she isn't in front of him. It's as if he's staring at her soul.

"Bingo! Ahh, Lily! How nice to see you after all these years!"

My eye twitches. My wolf howls and a sudden surge passes throughout my body, strengthening my bones. Sudden confidence and determination is what I feel at the pit of my stomach but it's not as powerful as the anger that wants to tear him to pieces.

I take a threatening step forward, giving him the most murderous glare of the century. "You." I spat, taking another step forward.

Fear crosses his eyes but he covers it up quicklywith a roll of his eyes, only adding to my anger. "Back off Girl, I just want the throne!" He growls, his sharp teeth covering his bottom lip. I clench my fists, my nails ripping my palm's skin apart from the pressure.

I don't stop though, I use my wolf strength and in seconds I'm face to face with what is called an "uncle". He blinks looking absolutely terrified at the anger in my eyes. But before he could take a step back, my hands reach up and grab his neck roughly, strangling him.

"Lily, please." The Queen chokes with horrified eyes, tears steaming down her face.

I don't listen and instead tighten my grip, his face turns a darker shade of red. He whimpers out as his hands try to loosen my grip. I smirk. The surge I feel feels satisfied. And the longer I keep his neck in my hands, the better my wolf and I feel.

"You don't want to do this." He chokes, trying to pry my hands off.

I scoff. "I want this more than anything." I growl, tightening my hands a little more.

I want his death to be *painful*, slow and *painful*. What he deserves. Maybe killing him won't bring me peace but at least I'll know he's dead because I took back what he took from me. He took my life and I'm going to take his.

An Eye for An Eye.

"Don't y - you want t - to - " I tighten my grip on his neck. But he let's out a small chortle before he continues talking. " - K - know about -" I shake my head. "- A - about why all this is h - happening."

The surge I feel flickers. It wants answers. I want the answers. I loosen my grip on his neck, my eyes searching his face for a lie or a trick. He seems sincere but pathological liars always look sincere. They believe whatever they say.

"Fine." I seeth. "You have five minutes." I push him to the couch as in attempt to control my temper. If his neck comes any closer, I might just kill him in a flash.

He sits up, his hands fixing and loosening his tie. "I never wanted to hurt you, okay?" His tone of voice is small, like he's afraid of my next moves.

"But you did, more than anyone." I growl. My wolf pinches the side of my heart. I bite my lips as an attempt to control the painful expression that's about to show.

My wolf wants revenge and it wants it now.

His lips lose the expression and his voice gets louder. "I know and I'm sorry. I really am." He places his hands on his face. Does he think I will pity him?

"And that's why you come here and attack the Royal territory?!" I move my neck to the side, trying to hide my face from his point of view. I don't want him to see me in pain, it would ruin the hard work I put into making me this way. I try to block my wolf but she pinches my heart again. It's taking all my willpower to hide this pain.

He runs a hand through his hair, gripping it tightly while looking up at the ceiling. A heavy sigh leaves his lips. "I just wanted to show them I was worth it. All my life, my parents doubted me, ignoring me and paying all the attention to your mother, my own sister." His fists clench tightly. "She did too. I was suppose to get the throne, not her. All men get it in our family. But they gave it to *her*." He spits, arms shaking violently.

Just like me. My fake parents doubted me but I got back up, with some help but I still got back up. And this man, he decides to steal a child and deprive her of a life that is way different than the one her twin experienced. I can't explain what I'm feeling into words.

I look back at my mom and see all the regret in her eyes and than look back at my so called "uncle", broken, the both of them. They're experiencing the same feeling and I don't think they know it.

"Ben." The Queen sniffles, hands trembling. "You did nothing to prove yourself worthy, you killed your own best friend." The Queen interjects, voice rising in anger.

My uncle jumps up, eyes turning darker. "I didn't mean to! He was flirting with my mate! My Mate! She was mine and then she left - to - to That TRAITOR!" He shouts back, cracking his neck.

Woah! I blink in shock. That's the first time I heard that.

"Because you *BEAT* him up! You beat him up! You sent him to the hospital, he was human, a human." The Queen places a hand on her heart. Keely holds her up, eyes looking painful at the sight of her mother in pain. The Queen continues talking, "He didn't know, just like she didn't know either!" She pleads, sobbing.

My "Uncle" places his hands against his ears, eyes closed shut.

"You destroyed my life for that?" My face burns. "Because your mate didn't know she was made for you?!" My hands itch to wrap around his neck.

He doesn't look intimidated at all. "I had to! What would you do if that happened to you?!"

My teeth grind together. "I got rejected, okay?" My face burns in embarressment. " I got rejected but I didn't kill him!" I wanted to but I couldn't. It's nearly impossible to do that when you meet someone you love instantly and regardless of any faults. And the fact that he could... it makes him dangerous.

His eyes widen but he quickly recovers and makes them hard again. "She was all I had! My family didn't want me! My own sister didn't want me!" His tone of voice rises.

I stare at him in disbelief. "All you had?!" I repeat, trying to not snap. "She Didn't Know." I hiss while gripping the side of the dinner table.

"I don't care! She Was Mine!"

With my wolf on the verge of taking over, I find my hands wrapped around his neck. My wolf howls, excited to be in control. Our mind clash, his brain trying to take major control of mine and it's functions.

"Lily!"

My wolf tighten's its grip. But it doesn't last. A gnawing pain makes its way to the top of my head. My vision gets blurry and my grip loosen. My "uncle" smirks, his hands gently tapping on the bruise around his neck.

"I'm here, *bitch*."

A cold metal touches my left ear. And by the circular ring shape, I'm sure it's a gun. A sinister smile is plastered on Debra's face as she holds a gun.

"Lily!"

From the corner of my eye, I notice the gun pointed to Megan's back by Joanne. Alexis, Keely, the Queen are held back by five large black wolves.

"What the hell are you doing?" I hiss.

Debra adjusts the gun on her hand, her grip tightening. "I think we all know why, Lily. I'm surprised you believed I faked hating you all those years." She smirks, her gun poking my cheek deeply.

How did I not see it coming? The paing in my chest gets bigger and this time it's not because of my wolf. I want to ask her "why" and "how" she could do this to me. But her eyes are hard and sinister, I don't recognize this side of Debra. And at this moment, I fear I never knew her.

"Debra, leave her alone." My "uncle" grunts. "I'm here for the thrown. You can take care of her later." He breathes out, rotating his neck.

"Why?" It's Alexis. Her eyes are hurt and in disbelief, probably from learning that her two best friends betrayed her.

"Why?" Joanne chuckles humorlessly, "You of all people should know, bae." Joanne answers.

"But since we love you, oh so dearly, we'll give you a chance. We'll spare you as long as you join us." Debra proposes, her hands stabbing the gun on my cheek. I growl but all she does is stare me down with hooded eyes.

Alexus glances at Debra for a few seconds before staring at Joanne, whose head is bobbling up and down to say "yes". She stares at Keely, then at the Queen and than at me. Her eyes look scared but she nods, her eyes turning darker. "And my brothers? Will you spare them too?" She gulps.

"Of course." Debra nods. "Even if they don't join us, we'll spare them." Debra's voice doesn't sound sincere.

Something changes in Alexis eyes but she responds, "Yes." Joanne squeals and from the corner of my eye, Debra loosens her grip on the gun with a sigh of relief.

I slap the gun off her hand and swing a punch to her face. Debra cries out in surprise and let's out a cry. I rougly grab her hair and pull it up, a scream rolls off her tongue as she stays kneeled in front of me. Her hands reach and try to pry my hands off but I grip her hair tighter. The satisfaction I feel still isn't enough to shake the pang in my heart for her betrayal.

"Let Her Go." My "uncle" chuckles, two guns pointing at both Keely and Megan. Keely and Megan snarl, not backing down.

I glare at him, gritting my teeth when he adjusts the guns with his fingers on the triggers.

His grin turns to a sinister smirk. "Let her go or you can say goodbye to tomboy and twin over here." He grins from ear to ear.

My heart stops when the Queen step in front of them, determination in their face. "You'll have to go through me first."

"That can be arranged." My "uncle" moves both hands in the direction of the Queen. The Queen blinks in shock but holds her head high.

"No it can't." I seeth and push Debra to the floor, letting go of her hair. My "uncle" lets out a slow evil smirk, the guns not moving away from them.

"Good choice, niece."

It is taking all of my will power to not puke at that nickname. He stares at me for more seconds, thoughful. And from the glint in his eyes, it's anything but good. But then again when does anything good happen with a guy who killed his best friend over a girl?

"Say bye bye."

And he pulls the trigger.