Chapter 53

Julian’s POV.

Where the fuck is he, he should’ve been back by now? It’s been days since I last spoke to Gilbert. The fucker isn’t returning my calls or texts. Something is going on, I can feel it. “Vance. As soon as Gilbert shows up, throw him in the dungeon,” I tell my new Gamma while pacing the office. Vance opens his mouth to speak, but I glare him down, daring him to say something. He closes his mouth and simply nods.

I’m too restless to focus on anything and I already tortured Brayden to death. I need to tear something to shreds with my teeth. That fucking king kidnapped Anna out from under me and I’ve been a raging mess since. “I’m going on a run,” I say as I leave, slamming the door behind me. If not for Ellen’s heat, I would’ve already killed the bastard. She started that morning, not that it mattered, the barren bitch, but I was distracted by her incessant whining, and I didn’t see Anna in the car until it was too late. I felt her pack bond and that of a pup break. I expected the pup, but not Anna. It broke within minutes of leaving my territory.

My claws carve through the nearest tree and I let loose a viscous growl. Gilbert thinks I can’t take him, bull shit! The king is a fucking pussy, that’s why he had to kidnap Anna instead of fighting me for her. The mother fucker is scared of me, and he should be. He messed with the wrong fucking Alpha.

I spend hours ripping apart any animal that is unfortunate enough to cross my path, but soaking my claws in their blood isn’t enough to calm my rage.

“Jay, where are you?”

Ah, the fucker has finally returned. “I’m picking bones out of my teeth. Where the fuck have you been?”

“Driving. I was on the other side of the country, but I got Skip. I’ll be in the territory in like 10 minutes. I’m bringing company.”

What the fuck? “Who are you bringing to my territory?”

“It’s a surprise, one that you’re going to die from.”

Whatever. He’s still going to the dungeon for the way he was talking to me and for ignoring my commands. I'm the fucking Alpha and he needs to be reminded of that fact. I rinse off in the river then head straight to my shower. Ellen eyes me as I walk past her in the buff. She has a satisfied smirk on her face every time she sees me. Reading her emotions is a waste of time, she’s so full of pride like she’s in on a secret that only she’s privy to. It’s annoying. I’ve asked her what’s going on, but she just smiles and tells me to “wait and see.” I roll my eyes and step under the water.

I hear the pleasant sounds of growling and it brings a sinister smile to my face. You can fight it all you want, Gilbert, but you’re fucked and I’m making an example out of you. My smile turns to a sneer when I exit my front door to find two SUVs, one Gilbert’s and the other is packed with the king and his entire circle. Vance is kneeling in front of Gilbert. “What the fuck is going on here?” I yell, gaining everyone’s attention.

“It’s alright, Toby. Vance is a good guy, you can release him,” Gilbert tells that bastard king and he nods. Vance stands up and Gilbert gives him a nod. “Thanks for the heads up. Go grab the pack. Everyone. Start with the orphanage. They need to be here for this.” Gilbert smacks Vance on the arm and he starts walking away.

“Hold up,” I yell for Vance to stop, but he ignores me. My jaw ticks and my blood boils. “I said hold up!” I throw out a command and he stops.

“Do as Gilbert asked.” That rat bastard commands over mine, and Vance leaves.

“How dare you!” I seethe as I storm closer to the group of pussies that think they have any say here. “This is my territory, my pack. You have no business here unless you’ve brought back my mate that you kidnapped.”

Five growls boom and they all surround me. “Wait,” a sweet, soft voice says and five pairs of shoulders slightly settle and the bastard king steps back.

My perfect Anna steps in front of me. “Anna.”

Her eyes harden. “It’s Annie. That’s short for Andromeda Bedir, daughter of Alpha Johnathan and his mate Angelica. This is my mate, King Tobias Winter,” she says just before her tiny hand crushes against my jaw, catching me off guard. My head moves from the sudden strike, and an automatic growl reverberates from my clenched jaw as I stare her down. How dare she think she can punch me?

The five males surrounding me step closer, while someone pulls Anna out of my reach. A bubble of blue light surrounds me with pulses of electricity zapping all around it. “Alright, boys, settle down.” Giselle calmly says then steps forward while the males all step a few paces back. That’s right, fuckers. I have a witch. I sneer at them while crossing my arms over my chest. I raise my chin as my eyes are latched onto the wannabe king. “Alpha Asshole. Yoo-hoo.” Giselle snaps her fingers in my face to gain my attention. “That’s you, moron, in case you haven’t caught on. It looks like you’re pretty clueless. Annie, tell him again since he’s too hopped up on testosterone to listen.”

Anna rolls her eyes at the witch but steps into view. “I said fuck you Alpha Asshole! I’m not your mate you worthless piece of garbage. My mate is King Tobias Winter. I am Queen Andromeda Bedir Winter.”

My mouth falls open as I lay my eyes on my mark that has been replaced. “That’s right, moron,” Giselle says before zapping me with her damned electricity. My body jolts as it’s pierced by what feels like a million shocking needles. I can’t breathe, I can’t move, I can’t think about anything but the pain. My teeth may break from the pressure of my jaw clamping down. She releases me and I gasp in short quick breaths. “I’ll take this.” Giselle grabs my charm and yanks down hard. The chain cuts my neck before breaking free.

“Julian!” Ellen’s voice breaks through my muffled mind and I realize I’m lying on the ground. I can hear Anna, or Annie, rather, speaking to Ellen, but my mind is too muddled to focus on words.

Annie stands over me then punches me in the nose and I feel it break. “That’s for Xavier.”

I turn my head slightly. Xavier has hold of Gilbert’s hand. “See son, he’ll never hurt you again.” Gilbert’s words make no sense. That’s my son, not his. Giselle steps beside Gilbert and takes his hand. “Jay, this is my mate. I believe you two are already acquainted.”

The fucking lying piece if shit! All this time? “Well acquainted.” I sneer remembering her perfect breasts in my hands. “Must be rough knowing I fucked her first.”

Giselle’s electricity flows through me again, this time even more painfully and much longer. She lets up and I catch my breath. She can’t kill me. The king is in my peripheral view and I move my eyes so I can see him. “Yours too,” I breathlessly laugh. I fucked the queen first and he can never have that.

Pain erupts all over my body, but it’s not Giselle’s electricity, it’s a tiny female foot. Annie is stomping on my face and chest, wailing and screaming. All I feel is pain until the crushing and kicking stops. Everything is quiet except for the ringing in my ear. I can barely breathe, I can’t see through the blood and blur. My wolf is pissed, but my body is severely beaten down. My mind is blank of all thoughts except one. My little Anna is the queen and she just stomped all over my ass. Because of Giselle, I couldn’t stop it.

***

Ellen’s POV.

I’m stunned with my mouth hanging open at the scene I walk out to. “Julian!” I scream. He’s on the ground and his body is shaking.

Annie walks up to me with one of the king's men. It’s not Beta Jeremiah, I recognize him as he’s keeping Laurent back. “I’m sorry you have to witness this, Ellen, but your mate is getting what he deserves. I was never his mate, it was a spell. King Tobias is my mate. I knew all along that something wasn’t right which is why I fought him, but he still raped me as often as he could.”

I gasp and my hand covers my mouth. Laurent stops struggling against Jeremiah, and the pack members that are starting to gather listen intently. Annie walks back to Julian and his shaking has stopped. She punches him in the nose and I automatically rush to help him, but I’m stopped by the king’s guard. Struggling against him is no use, his hold is too tight. I watch helplessly as Annie stomps and kicks Julian, but she has tears leaking down her face and she’s wailing when the King pulls her to his body and she cries into him.

The King’s inner circle guy releases his hold on my arms. This scene is surreal. Annie told the truth about the witch, she’s standing with Gilbert and there is a pup next to him and a little witch next to her. The little witch looks so much like Gilbert, there’s no denying the fact that he’s her father. But the pup, I recognize him as the brat from the orphanage. His eyes and features match the witch's.

Annie also told the truth about not wanting Julian. Her mate is the king. Holy Goddess! She must be telling the truth about the spell.

“Ellen.” Gilbert grabs my attention. “Julian’s no longer going to be the Alpha of this pack. One of us will kill him. As a courtesy, I’m letting you know in case you would like to reject him before we take his life. I have yet to decide what will happen to you. We know that you’re responsible for killing the four females a few years ago. My mate removed the spell from you which is why you’re no longer able to cast it or any other spell.” I swallow wondering if they’re going to execute me. I look at the witch, but she looks like she couldn’t care less about what’s going on around her.

Her daughter, the little girl with thick wavy hair steps closer to me. “You need to listen to my daddy. You have a baby in your tummy.” Her innocent eyes are so bright, they’re almost unreal.

“What did you just say?” I ask her. There’s no way she just said what I think she said.

She softly giggles. “There’s a baby in your tummy. I can feel it just like when mommy had Callen in her tummy.”

“I guess the new tea did the trick,” Annie wipes her eyes and says with a few sniffles.

I look at her stunned. Before she left, she made a new tea for me to try. Something about red clover or raspberry leaves, I don’t know, but it tasted pretty good. “I’m. Are you sure?”

“Callie is a gifted little witch. I wouldn’t bet against her.” Annie confirms.

“I Ellen Arrington Woodard reject you, Alpha Julian Woodard,” I say the words and immediately feel Julian part from me, but he’s passed out and can’t finish his end. Regardless, I am no longer the Luna, and the little power I held is now gone. “Annie. I’m so sorry for what he did to you.”

She nods then looks to the king who has yet to say a word, other than to calm Annie. “I could just kill him.”

She shakes her head. “That’s too easy.”

“Toby. I know you want your pound of flesh, but I challenge Alpha Julian Woodard for the Oakridge Pack and title of Alpha.”

I’m not the only one to gasp as everyone looks around not quite knowing what to do.

“Damn it, Gilly!” The witch smacks his arm and he chuckles at her like it’s some game.

The king pinches the bridge of his nose. “Gilbert. You really know how to screw with me, that’s for sure.” The king steps forward to address everyone. “Alpha Woodard has been challenged. Obviously, he is in no condition to fight so we will gather at noon in three day’s time to witness the battle.” He punches Gilbert in the arm, but Gilbert just smiles and rubs the ache away.

At Gilbert’s orders, Dr. Davis and a few of his crew hoist Julian up and carry him away and the crowd disperses, but not before Annie gets several hugs from the orphans and the woman who runs that place. “Take the kids home, sweetheart. I’ll be there in a little while. I have to get everyone set up here.” He kisses the witch on the cheek then she opens the back door and helps the little ones into their seat. “Hey! You still don’t have a license.”

“I’m not carrying the car seat way the hell over there. I’ll be careful,” she tells him and he rolls his eyes with a playful smirk on his face. I’ve never seen Gilbert like this before, so happy.

With the vehicle now gone, he turns his attention to Annie. “Can you handle the Alpha House?”

“As long as I’m not in that room, I should be alright. I still need to grab my treasures out of there, though” she answers.

“I’ll be with you, Annie,” the king tells her and she nods.

The group of massive males and Annie all head toward me. It’s an intimidating group and I instinctively move out of the way, but Gilbert stops in front of me. “Ellen. Would you be so kind as to show these guest to their rooms, please?”

“Y-yes, uh, sure. Annie, you’re welcome to choose whichever room you would like.” I open the door and allow everyone in. Maxine hugs Annie tightly and Laurent helps the King and his men with their bags. I feel completely out of place and confused. I never noticed all of these people before, and now I’m the one that will no longer be noticed.