Chapter Thirty-Eight

Ellie

As night descended, we took a breather.

We’d crossed into Crescent Moon territory. It was a mere two-hour journey from the council’s land, but we needed to be fresh and ready if we were to face the Elite Guard, despite their small numbers.

The night was calm. Warriors from all three packs took turns patrolling. Seeing them work in harmony gave me a glimmer of hope for what lay ahead.

We didn’t need a council if Alphas could cooperate like this.

My dad and Clayton had managed to coexist in the same pack for years without any power struggles. If they could do it, I didn’t see why other Alphas couldn’t.

Only the ones hungry for power would pose a problem. Alphas like Joel, and likely Zagan’s father.

I was certain he’d returned to the council, especially with the threat of war looming. Zagan was definitely his father’s son.

***

As we neared the main building, it felt like we were walking into a ghost town. There was no sign of any warriors, or any council elders. Had they all fled?

I looked at Seth, who had stayed by my side throughout the grueling journey.

He shrugged in response.

I scanned the building for any signs of life, but found none.

The place was like a tomb, constructed from white marble. It was a logical choice for our home, but not this place.

I wanted my home to be natural and airy. Like the house my dad had brought me to when I first arrived, or the home I planned to build with Seth.

I didn’t want to hide behind walls. Nor did I want to retreat to the mountains like my grandparents had.

Maybe if they hadn’t been so isolated, they would have seen the storm that ultimately took their lives.

My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the building’s massive doors being pushed open.

Seth tensed beside me as the warriors around us prepared for a fight.

I expected to see a horde of warriors pouring out of the building, or one of the Elders stepping through the door.

What I didn’t expect was a lone Elite Warrior.

His uniform gave him away.

Black, with a golden wolf's head emblazoned across his chest.

When he was about five feet away from me, he stopped, knelt down on one knee, and bowed his head.

“My Queen, the Elite Guard is ready to serve you.”

I gasped and stared at the man before me. His blonde hair flowed down his shoulders, contrasting sharply with his black uniform.

I glanced at Seth, then at Clayton and my dad. They all looked as stunned as I was.

Could this be a trick? But how? They didn’t know what I looked like. They probably knew what I looked like as a child, but not as an adult.

I took a step forward.

“You know who I am?” I asked, my voice firm.

The warrior nodded.

“Yes, my queen, we have felt your presence for two days now.”

I frowned. That would have been when my wolf fully returned. When I mated with Seth and when all my memories came flooding back.

“What about the council, the elders? Don't you serve them?”

He shook his head and looked up.

I gestured for him to stand. I couldn’t have a conversation with someone kneeling before me.

He stood and continued to speak.

“We serve only the most powerful Alpha wolf, usually a Royal Alpha. When the king died, we served the one who caused his death, as there was no other Royal Alpha wolf for us to serve.”

I clenched my jaw.

“Joel,” I muttered under my breath.

My grandfather’s words echoed in my mind.

~“Everything that was mine is now yours.”~

Now I understood the true meaning behind my grandfather’s words.

I stared at the man before me.

“The rest of the council?” I asked.

The warrior bowed his head. “They posed a threat to you, my queen. They have been dealt with.”

I swallowed hard. Dealt with. It sounded so final, but it was no less than they deserved.

I took a deep breath.

“Dead?”

He nodded.

“The Elite Guard has only one duty: to protect and obey the prime Alpha.”

I frowned. They hadn’t done a very good job of protecting my grandparents. I bit my tongue. Now wasn’t the time for blame, but I needed to know.

“My grandfather, the old king?” I asked.

A look of sorrow crossed the warrior’s face.

“He retreated to his palace in the mountains. He told us our services would only be required when he left the mountain. By the time the queen was assassinated, it was too late.”

I shook my head. Foolish, foolish man. He must have thought he was invincible. I had no such illusions.

“What is your name?” I asked.

He looked at me and frowned. “My name? My name is Arvid.”

I suddenly realized that he wasn’t expecting me to want to know his name. As far as he was concerned, he was in service to whoever the prime Alpha was.

I could only imagine how Joel had treated him and the other Elite warriors.

“Well, Arvid, my name is Ellie, and you can call me that, and this…” I gestured towards Seth. “This is Seth, he’s my mate and also your king…”

I heard Clayton clear his throat. “Ellie, I don’t think…” he began.

I turned around to face him.

“No, Clayton. I don’t care what the old laws and rules said. If I’m going to be Queen, then we’ll do this my way.”

I turned back to Arvid. I caught the smirk on his face, which dropped as soon as I looked at him.

“Seth is your King. We will rule together as equals, and that…”

I pointed at the building which used to house the council.

“That monstrosity will have to go. I want it demolished. I want no trace of it left behind. I refuse to be a Queen who hides behind walls where no one can find her.”

I heard a chuckle behind me. Arvid glared at the person who had dared to laugh at me.

I didn’t need to turn to know who it was.

“And that’s my adoptive dad, Alpha Gabriel, Arvid. You’ll show him…”

I gestured towards Clayton.

“And Alpha Clayton the same respect you’d show me and your king.”

Arvid bowed. “Yes, my…” He started, but my glare cut him off.

He cleared his throat. “Yes, Queen Ellie.”

He bowed again, this time towards Seth. “King Seth.”

I couldn’t help but smile. I could get used to that.

Clayton shot me a grin. “So, where are you planning to live if you’re tearing down the only building for miles?”

I shrugged. “We’ll set up camp here until we can build something new. I’ve roughed it before. I can do it again.”

I turned my attention back to Arvid, who was standing there, his face filled with awe.

“You can make that happen, right, Arvid?”

For the first time, he smiled. A genuine smile that lit up his eyes. “Yes, Queen Ellie, we’ll start right away.”

I nodded. “Great, then once it's up, we’ll have a proper coronation and mating ceremony.”

Clayton’s eyebrows shot up.

I smirked. “We wouldn’t want to let Olivia down, now, would we?”