Chapter 25: The Treasure

Pacing the width of her chambers Dolores turned her dagger over and over in her hands. Jasper had not been waiting for her when she finally arrived back in her rooms after her altercation with Adam and Tyler when all she wanted was to run into Jasper's arms and cry. She wished she knew how to speak with him mind to mind as he has done in the past, but everytime she tried there was only a vast emptiness.

Even though she had been brave. Braver, then she believed she could be, her body seemed to still shake in fear. Yes, she was defending herself, but if any werewolf had happened to walk down that hall and see the Crown Prince pinned to the floor, her daggered aimed at his eye without knowing the reason behind her action. Dolores shuttered at the thought of what could have happened. She could have easily been accused of regicide or worse.

Thankfully the Goddess had smiled down at her because no one came, and the three of them wordlessly parted, their eyes locked as they backed away until neither saw the other. Now she was safe in her bed chambers praying to the Goddess for another miracle that Adam wouldn't send guards to retrieve her.

Dolores doubted he would, especially since that meant he would have to admit that the rogue princess got the better of him, and something told Dolores that his pride wouldn't allow that to happen. All that was left to really worry about was when Queen Elizabeth would send for her.

She needed to learn the truth as soon as possible so that she could Ellie. That way, maybe Dolores could save Ellie from her cruel mother and bring Ellie some much needed peace. She also needed to see Jasper. Over the past month and a half, she had barely been able to be with him since she was now working with the Luna Queen.

Dolores wanted to end her partnership with Elizabeth as soon as possible. That way, she can stay at Jasper's tower and not here at the Palace. Besides, she wasn't sure how much she could trust the Queen. Her son, Bryan, should be the natural Crown Prince by marriage, and yet Adam, a mistress's son, was. To make matters worse, Dolores was the chosen one. Time would only tell the Luna Queens true intentions.

A loud pounding sounded at Dolores door, startling so fiercely she dropped her dragger. Retrieving her blade from the ground, she sheathed the tiny sword in the strap around her thigh before smoothing out her gown and cautiously opening the door.

"Princess Dolores, the Luna Queen has requested to speak with you." A tall, broad guard said.

Dolores's skin seemed to vibrate with anticipation as she made her way down a long corridor to the Queen's quarters until she came to the two curved doors that opened in the middle. Once again, unseen hands opened the wolven carved doors to Queen Elzabeths's shimmering gold room.

Before Dolores could take a step past the threshold, the presumed Lady Harris brushed past without a single glance in Dolores's direction, but she still caught Lady Harris's disoriented profile as she watched the female practically run towards her own quarters.

Perplexed, Dolores made her way towards Queen Elizabeth, lounging in her perfectly stitched golden moonflowers fainting couch twirling her long golden hair around a pointed finger. Dolores gave a deep curtsy before standing without permission. She was anxious to know the truth regardless of the lecture on etiquette.

"May I know what she told you, your majesty?" Dolores blurted.

The Queen chuckled. "Have a seat, Dolores." Dolores watched as a lady's maid brought over an oversized cushion big enough to seat five werewolves comfortably. Tentatively Dolores sat folding her legs underneath her.

Queen Elizabeth snapped her delicate finger, and a pitcher of liquid was brought. The Luna Queen took a sip of her newly filled goblet before retelling the story of the Harris twins. Dolores tried not to gasp as the Queen told her the truth of Ellie's mother.

"Unbelievable." Dolores inhaled to control the fury, beginning to boil her blood. "How could a female kill her own sister! And for what, so she could become her and gain her life? The absurdity! I cannot believe werewolves like her really exist." Dolores ran her fingers through her silver hair. "She killed her own sister. so she could live as a Royal pet!"

Dolores wanted to scream. Her mind flashed with memories of her mother. She too had been a gift for the Alpha King Zachary just as Ellie's real mother had been, and Dolores knew what that meant. How Pearl, the true Pearl's life would have been. A low growl escaped her at the thought that Polly had killed her own sister to be treated like a forgotten toy.

"Now, now, manners, Dolores," Elizabeth coldly said, "There is no need to growl like some common wolf."

Dolores stiffened. "My sincerest apology, your majesty."

The slightest lift of the Queen's mouth lifted as she said, "You truly do not speak as a Princess would do you? But I suppose that is what I like about you."

Dolores kept her eyes low, not daring to speak. She could still feel the fiery rage bubbling within her veins. Queen Elizabeth must have seen her attempting to calm, or she simply didn't care because Dolores raised her eyelids towards the Queen when she heard her feather-like voice.

"I have learned about you and your mother's past with the King, and you have my sympathies." Queen Elizabeth remarked, "However, I feel as though you should know that for most young females in smaller Packs, being introduced to his majesty is beneficial. A way for a Pack to gain wealth, fame, and even pride…You and your mother merely had bad luck."

Dolores inhaled deeply, a failed attempt to calm herself as the Queen continued. "An unfortunate case, having inadequate Pack members who deem your mothers..." The Queen paused, choosing her words carefully. "situation, a scandalous one, and deciding to abandon you and her after his majesty...lost interest."

Still unable to speak, Dolores nodded, biting the inside of her cheek to keep her composure. Her thoughts raced around in her head about how this world was so unfair, offering females to the Alpha King to gain wealth, fame, and pride to a Pack. Some even praised their females for being chosen. Whereas others shunned their female. Regardless, none had a choice, to begin with.

"At that time, Pearl was quite a popular mistress," Queen Elizabeth said, lightly circling her goblet. "So Polly killing her twin sister and replacing her wasn't unreasonable. However---"

"It is still unforgivable." Dolores interrupted her voice barely above a growl.

"No one has said she is forgiven, Princess Dolores." The Queen struck. Her lazy circlers halted as she narrowed her eyes at Dolores. "I am simply saying that besides her killing her sister due to jealousy and pride, she also mentioned another important tidbit during her confession."

Dolores tilted her head in curiosity. "What was that?"

"A treasure that has been kept by The Silent Maw Pack for centuries." Queen Elizabeth stated, "Personally, I have no clue what the treasure could be, but I wondered if perhaps you had an idea."

Dolores chewed at her thumbnail as the Queen raised one quizzical brow. 'I don't," Dolores said earnestly before a small light blinked in the back of her mind. "The assassin..." She said, speaking her thoughts aloud. "the massacre… could that have been because of the treasure she mentioned?"

"Hmmm…" Queen Elizabeth seemed to pounder the information, beginning to circle her goblet once more. "Allies of the Silent Maw Pack would be The Silver Heart Pack, and The Eclipse Pack. My understanding was that The Silver Heart Pack were once the closest allies of The Silent Maw Pack since both used to have a holy duty to protect The Silent Maw Pack, due to The Silent Maw Pack being the keepers of this unspeakable treasure. As for The Eclipse Pack, they are the supposed leaders of these particular four Packs. they are sort of the leader of all those Packs being that they are the biggest Pack in the southern Kreqin, as you know."

"So what, Jasper, uh...Sage, meant was one of the southern Packs’ are responsible for the Silent Maw Pack massacre because they wanted the hidden treasure?" Dolores's mind spirited as she tried to piece together this new information.

"One or more of those Packs." Queen Elizabeth corrected. "Yes. One or more of them are responsible for the massacre of The Silent Maw Pack."

Dolores felt a chill skate down her back as the queen leaned forward, her voice almost venomous.

"I once told you that if I scratch your back, then you must scratch mine," The Luna Queen's words were quiet daggers. "So now I must kindly ask you to question the Sage... Jasper about the hidden treasure, and then bring the news back to me."