Chapter 149: The Truth

ALEX

I pace across the front steps of the palace as we wait for Ariel to arrive.

She’s only been gone for the weekend, but it feels much longer.

Everyone thinks I've been overreacting, because I’ve been worried about her safety while she’s been away.

But I know Ariel.

The last time she went to her birth pack, she expected a happy reunion. But it ended in disaster.

She went there again, hoping for the best and refusing to prepare for the worst.

~I can’t lose her. ~

~I can’t lose another mate...~

~“~Calm down, man. They’ll be here soon,” Dom snickers.

“I’ll calm down when I have her by my side again,” I snap.

Dom sobers. “I get it, Alex. Sorry.”

“It’s alright, bud. I shouldn’t have lost my temper.”

~The Queen’s car has entered pack territory, ~a patrol wolf mind-links, and I breathe a sigh of relief.

Viv crashes through the doors, her phone clutched in her hand.

“Are they here yet? Have I missed them?”

“All this angst over your mates has me wanting to check on mine. Catch you guys later,” Dom says, hurrying back inside.

“They’re almost here. Did Jo send you a message?”

“Yes. We're still working on the mind-link thing. I might never be able to connect with her or the pack because I'm only half-werewolf...”

“We’ll figure something out, Viv. Maybe it’ll just take some more practice.”

The car comes to a stop and the passenger door flies open before the car has even completely come to a stop.

Jo rushes around the car and meets Viv halfway down the driveway, sweeping her up in an embrace.

Ariel steps out from the backseat and shakes her head at the pair. She leans casually against the cars and watches me with a teasing smile, all but daring me to create a similar scene.

I take my time walking down the stairs and towards her, feeling her eyes on my body as I come closer. My hands settle on her hips, pulling her in close. I feel her hands tangle in my hair.

"No grand gesture upon my homecoming, my king?” Ariel teases.

“I’m saving all my grand gestures for when we are alone in our room, my queen.”

Ariel brushes a light kiss on my lips.

“Lead the way then, love.”

As we walk, Alex looks behind us. “Where’s your sister? Did she decide to stay at Crescent Moon?”

“Yeah, she wants to spend a little more time with Blake and Carol so they can get to know Xavi and Chuck better.”

“Is it bad that I'm glad to have some extra time to spend with you now that your sister isn’t here?”

“Not at all, love,” I say, kissing him softly. “I understand what you mean.”

***

Later that day, I rush out of bed and get ready for a brunch date with Helena and Maria.

Helena said she had something to discuss with us and I want to pick Maria’s brain about tracing my family history.

Sometimes it feels like I have a never-ending list of things that need to be done.

“Sorry I'm late,” I apologise, dropping into my chair with a sigh of relief.

“It looks like you could use some coffee, my dear,” Maria says, already pouring a cup for me. “Am I to assume Alex was ~excited~ for your return?”

“She does look rather ~worn out~, doesn’t she?” Helena teases.

“You two are hilarious,” I say, rolling my eyes. “But yes, we were very excited to be reunited.”

We help ourselves to the brunch spread and they fill me in on everything I missed while I was away.

Maria spends most of her days with various of her friends, having tea and gossiping.

Helena spends most of her days running after Camelia. The little pup has taken to throwing anything she can get her hands on at Dom, much to Helena’s amusement.

Dom is less happy with this as he is, more often than not, covered in Camelia’s food.

“Thankfully, she saves the food throwing for Dom. She’s never done it with me,” Helena laughs. “But that does bring me to the favour I wanted to ask you Ariel. Would you and Alex mind babysitting her for an evening next month? Our one-year anniversary is coming up and I wanted to do something special for Dom.”

“Oh, wow! Has it really been a year already?” Maria exclaims.

“It’s certainly been a busy year…” I say. “Of course we’ll babysit for you, Helena. What will you two do to celebrate?”

“Not sure yet, Ari. Maybe just a quiet dinner.”

“That sounds a bit boring,” I say truthfully. “Why don’t you go out dancing or something?” I suggest.

“Just wait until you have kids…you’ll really appreciate any quiet downtime that you can get,” Helena chuckles.

“It’ll be good practice for when you and Alex decide to give me some grandbabies,” Maria says, patting my hand before reaching for another scone. “I’m not getting any younger and would very much like to spend a few good years with them.”

“We’re busy enough as it is!” I say. “I really can’t imagine adding pups to the mix anytime soon.”

“We’ll see, my dear,” Maria says.

“Since we’re on the topic of family…is there any way to trace a person’s family? I know you told me about the royal family keeping track of their lines.”

“You might be able to find information in the archives. Every pack sends us a register of all their members every year, including any designations or qualifications they have. Why do you ask?”

“We found some old photo albums when we were packing up Dianne’s things,” I explain. “Dad told us a bit about a great uncle that was disowned by the family. He wants to find out what ended up happening to him.”

“Why was he disowned?” Helena questions.

“He fell in love with a human guy who was not his mate. That's all Dad knows. His grandmother didn’t speak of her brother too often, from the sounds of it.”

“That’s so sad, Ari,” Helena sighs.

“That was unfortunately the way things happened in that time, darling,” Maria explains. “Do you know which pack he was in? That would be the best place to start.”

“Dad said they’re from the Blackstone Pack. Do you know it?”

Maria's fork clatters onto her plate when she hears the pack name. “Did you say the Black~stone ~Pack? No- perhaps you mean the Black~wood ~Pack?”

“It was definitely the Black~stone~ Pack. Why? What’s wrong?”

“Oh dear, I'm so sorry,” Maria says, her face falling. “But the Blackstones were all killed in a rogue attack after their Alpha couple went missing. To this day, no one knows what truly happened to them.”