Alari's pov
A sweet, soft humming ushered me back to the land of the living, a hand gently stroking my hair.
“Hey there” I heard Damien's voice as I blinked my eyes open, coming face to face with the most handsome man alive.
“Were you humming to me?” I asked, a smile stretching across my face at the memory.
“What? No, I wasn't” he said, looking at me with confusion.
I frowned, I could have sworn I heard humming, soft and sweet, almost dream like.
“Maybe it was just a dream” I yawned, burrowing into him until my nose was right against his neck, breathing in his scent.
“Hmmm” I hummed, loving how close he was and his gently touch.
“How are you feeling love?” he asked, a bit of concern in his voice and I tried to remember why I wouldn't be feeling okay to cause him such concern.
Xavier!
I pulled away from him, sitting up on the bed and my hand instinctively went to my neck, feeling a bandage on there.
“Your dad said it would heal quickly, I was just a bit scared to remove it but I'm certain it's all healed up” he said, moving to sit behind me, his legs and hands on either side of me.
“He tried to mark me” I whispered, feeling fear rake over me at the memory of Xavier biting me.
“He tried to force his mark on me” I said again, now shaking as the feeling intensified.
Damien wrapped his hands around me, his warmth soothing away the terror I was feeling.
“You didn't let that happen, you fought him. You were so strong” he whispered in my ear, shocking me because I remember being pinned down and his teeth sinking into me.
I could feel that I was still bonded to Damien but I was still afraid that Xavier's bite might have ruined Damien's mark!
“What do you mean?” I asked, feeling my hand inche towards the bandage, I just couldn't help the urge to see what my mark looked like.
“Don't you remember?” His voice held curiosity and I shook my head no, waiting for him to explain.
“Alari yo…” he started but a knock had us both watching the door.
“It's your dad” he said, kissing the back of my head before getting up.
“My dad? How do you know that?” I asked, confused now, how did he know my dad?
“His scent from when I met him last night, he's the one that treated you” he said, pulling on a shirt before going to open the door.
“Good morning sir” he greeted my dad, warming my heart at how respectful he was, even though he is the King.
“Please, call me Valerian my King” dad said with a small bow before his eyes found mine.
He came in, sitting beside me. “How are you my love?” He asked, eyes looking at the bandage that I'd been afraid of removing.
“I'm okay dad” I said, smiling at him.
He brought his hand to my cheek, his eyes clouding with sadness.
“I'm so sorry I couldn't protect you, all these years. I failed you, I failed your mother” he said and I took his hand and brought it to my lips.
“You didn't fail me dad, I was just at the wrong place at the wrong time. And you couldn't really do anything without getting us all kicked out of the pack, which would have put us in great danger” I said, watching him shake his head and look away.
He looked like he wanted to say something but Damien stepped forward, “not yet, let's leave this place first” he said, making my dad nod.
I wondered what they were on about, it seemed like a lot happend while I was unconscious.
“Should have taken this off already” dad said, peeling the bandage off, making my breath hitch.
“There you go, all healed up” he said, patting my shoulder.
“My mark, is it…?” I couldn't finish the sentence but I hoped he understood what I was asking.
“Your mark is perfectly fine sweetheart, the bite healed completely” he said and I sighed deeply, my hand covering my neck.
“Have you decided what happens with the pack? Xavier? Beth is still fuming and I fear if we don't wrap this up and leave, she'll go rampant again” dad sighed, shaking his head.
“Wait, did you say again?” I asked, my eyes threatening to fall out of my head at how wide they'd opened.
“Your Mom is terrifying” Damien said with a shiver and I couldn't help wonder what the hell happened.
“Xavier wasn't even the end of it, we bumped into the Luna and she broke her fingers, threatened to break mine too if I healed her” dad saw and my jaw hit the flaw.
My forever composed mother broke the Luna's fingers? What did she do to Xavier that was so bad it scared Damien?
“But why would mom break the Luna's fingers? She didn't do anything, I doubt she even knows me” I said, confused as to why my mom would take her anger out on the poor girl.
“Luna Adele” dad said and I nodded in understanding.
“She kinda deserved it” I said with a shrug, not feeling an ounce of remorse for the bitch.
“Everything is ready, only the pack's judgement” dad said, looking at Damien.
“I was hoping Alari would handle that, the one to pass judgement, she's the one that suffered at the hands of this pack” Damien said, making my eyes go wide again.
“Me?” I squeaked, pointing at myself and he smile.
“You are my Luna after all, my equal” he said, making me realised what being his mate meant, and it wouldn't even end here.
This was just the beginning!
“I brought fresh clothes, everything else is packed to go” dad said, handing me a small bag I'd failed to notice.
“Thanks” I said and he kissed my forehead before leaving.
“Let's get you in the shower” Damien said, picking me up bridal style.
“I could get used to being carried around” I giggled, holding onto him firmly.
“You wish is my command” he said, making me laugh harder.
Setting me down in front of the mirror, my eyes went to my neck, looking at my healed mark.
“I like my initials on you, can't wait to have yours” he said, making me smile. I can't wait to shift and mark him too, whenever that would be.
We showered together, making out the entire time, it was a miracle we even got out.
There were three people I didn't recognise in the hallway plus William, who looked down shamefully when Damien glared at him. I knew then that I'd gotten him in trouble with his Alpha.
“It wasn't his fault, I made him leave me” I linked him, which made him growl.
“His job was to keep you safe and he failed!” He linked back.
“He couldn't have known something like that would happen, I assured him I'd be okay. I even pulled the Queen card. Please, don't take it out on him” I said, pleading with him and I heard him sigh.
“Xavier is the one at fault here” I said to him, feeling his aura darken.
“Alpha, Luna” Lucien greeted with a bow and I smiled at him, while Damien ignored him.
“They're all waiting for you in the Alpha's office” he said, making Damien look to me and I led him there.
When the beta said everyone, I didn't think it would be so many people in such a small space.
Xavier was sitting between his parents on a couch on the left and his Luna sat with who I assumed were her parents from how much she looked like the woman next to her on the other side of the room.
My parents were sitting on the two chairs infront of the desk, leaving one chair available behind the desk.
Hand in his, Damien led us to the chair and sat down, pulling me to sit on his lap, giving my parents a quick look as I settled on my mate.
Lucien stood behind us like a warrior waiting to tackle down anyone who'd try anything and I hoped they wouldn't be that dumb.
There was a deafening silence for a few minutes while Damien glared at Xavier, his dark aura making every wolf whimper.
“Your crimes are punishable by death” Damien growled lowly, making Luna Adele whimper loudly.
“But that isn't my call to make, Your Queen will be passing your judgement today” he said and I saw Luna Adele and Alpha Thomas sigh in relief, looking at me with kind eyes for the very first time.
I cleared my throat, looked at my mother who nodded firmly, telling me it was okay.
I dared a look at the new Luna but she kept her gaze down.
“This pack had never shown me kindness” I said, feeling my resentment for this place darken my heart, years of torment pushing to the front of my mind.
“And the thing is, you could have stopped it but you didn't” I laughed bitterly as I looked at the people I'd known as my Alpha and Luna all my life.
“You were supposed to protect me but instead you joined in and made my life hell” I said, my voice hardening as I kept speaking.
“We see the error of our ways and we're willing to do better” Luna Adele pleaded but something about her choice of words ticked me off.
“I wasn't done speaking!” I said softly yet I knew everyone in the room could hear the annoyance and anger in my voice.
“You're terrible examples of leadership and your son definitely took notes” I said, a dark chuckle bubbling out of me, the bitterness is my heart unbearable now.
Damien drew circles on my thighs and I was grateful for that, his touch was calming and soothing.
“You were never worthy of the titles Alpha and Luna, and if I had the power, I'd strip you of them” I said, glaring at the two failures.
“Actually Luna, you have the authority to do so” Lucien said, making Alpha Thomas and Luna Adele glare at him.
“Do I really?” I asked Damien through the link.
“Yes, you do, but not until you shift” he said and I felt a tinge of disappointment hit me.
“But worry not my love, I will do it for you today” he said and I smiled, knowing I'd leave this place in better hands.
“Alright” I said and turned my gaze to Xavier, who still wouldn't look up.
“I don't want your blood on my hands but I don't ever want to see you again. I don't want you anywhere close, where you could hurt me again. A banishment is a worthy punishment for you” I said, making him snap his eyes at me.
“Alari…” he began speaking but Damien's growl made him stop.
“Only a rogue would do what you did, so will become one” I said, my voice harder than steel, making him wince as if he'd been whipped.
I glared at the three of them for a long while before turning my gaze to the new Luna, realising how wronged she was.
“Luna?” I called and she looked up at me, probably feeling my gaze on her.
“I'm sorry for all this, you did nothing to deserve it but you're not a Luna” I said, watching her face fall.
“You're an Alpha and this pack and yours need an Alpha” I said, hoping Damien will give her a chance.
“If the King allows me, I'd like to make you the Alpha of the merged packs, Goddess knows this pack needs a new leadership anyway” I said, now looking at Damien, who seemed to be thinking it over.
“My mate is right, but I will be keeping a close eye on you” he said, making her bow respectfully.
“Thank you my Queen” she said, her tone sincere.
“You can't do that!!” Alpha Thomas yelled, standing on his feet and that act alone angered me to no end.
“Shut the fuck up and sit down before you find yourself a rogue like your son!” I heard myself growl as my wolf pushed forward and he whimpered, bowing his head in submission as he sat back down.