Alari's pov
Humming, I could hear a sweet voice humming into my ear, and it was familiar, like I'd heard it before.
And it was warm, and loving, and soothing and I just wanted to keep my eyes closed and listen.
A soft hand brushed against my hair, it's touch warm, pulling a soft moan from my lips.
“I see you're enjoying my touch” a smooth, almost musical voice said, breaking me from my serenity.
My eyes shot open when I couldn't place the voice, curious to know who it was.
I realised I was laying down on the woman's lap, her hand still gently brushing against my hair.
I sat up and realised I wasn't in bed with Damien, I don't think I was even on pack grounds.
Shit shit shit! Where am I? What is this place?
White, was all I could see for as far as my eyes could look.
Oh Goddess, was I taken? Am I going to die? Damien! Where is Damien?!
“Calm down before you blow a vein” the woman, who I was still yet to look at, laughed.
I shot up to my feet, feeling snow beneath my bare toes.
Aah crap! I was taken and now I was going to die in some frozen place!
I turned to look at the woman and felt my world stop.
I don't think I was breathing! How! How was this possible?! Who was she? And why did she look like me?!
Oh Fuck, fuck fuck fuck! This has to be some kind of trick. An illusion!
“Now now, hold your horses, I am no illusion and this isn't a trick” she said, a gentle smile marring her features, my features?
“Who are you? Where am I?” I questioned, suspicious of this imposter.
“Oh come on now, I think you can guess who I am” she said, her smile now wider.
I couldn't bring my mind to stop racing for just five seconds to think clearly. All I knew was that I was in this foreign place, with a woman that looked exactly like me and I had no idea where my mate was.
“Look into her eyes Alari” Sapphira's voice echoed in my head and I breathed a sigh of relief.
Oh thank Goddess I wasn't alone with this woman.
I did as she said and looked into the stranger's eyes, more like looking at my own eyes.
Longing, sadness… grief?
I took a closer look at her face and realised that as much as we looked alike, she looked a little older than me.
There was a maturity on her face that I hadn't quite reached.
A gasp fell from my lips, my legs stepping back as tears fell from my eyes.
“H.. how? You're dead” my voice could barely be heard but her smile told me she heard me as loud as day.
It couldn't be! It wasn't possible! It just wasn't possible.
“You've grown so much” she said, a tear slipping down her perfect face, even though her smile remained.
“Beth and Valerian sure did a fine job” she said, more tears slipping down her face.
“How is this possible?” I asked, needing to know the answer so I could be sure it was really her.
I needed to know so I could hold her, wipe her tears and just… hold her.
“When I realised what I had to do in order for you to live, I bound the essence of my life force with yours using a spell. So when I died, a part of me stayed with you” she said, her voice smooth and loving.
“So, you've been with me the whole time?” I asked, my heavy emotions welling on my throat.
“Yes my love” she said, her smile saddening again.
All this time she was with me. Through the pain, rejection and torment, she was with me.
I wanted to hug her, I needed her to hold me.
She held her hands open and stepped towards me, engulfing me in a warm embrace.
I don't know how she was doing it but I was glad she knew what I was thinking, I really needed this.
My tears ran down my face as breathed in her sweet scent.
It took a while for me to calm down and when I did, we sat down on the snow, my head on her shoulder.
“Where are we?” I asked as I took a good look at where we were.
“Your mind space” she said, making me look up at her.
My mind space? “So it's a dream?” I asked, feeling a little sad that this wasn't as real as I thought.
“No, it's not a dream, it's very real. We're in the deep recesses of your subconscious, where I've been this whole time” she said, looking out at the vast whiteness.
Hearing her explain all this made me wonder why she hadn't reached out to me before.
“Why didn't you come sooner? Or call me to you or whatever the process of getting here is?” I asked, making her turn her gaze to me.
“I couldn't, not until you matured and were able to release your magic, not until your shift. And when you defended yourself against that…. Bastard!” She grit the last word out.
I thought back to that day and remembered the humming I'd heard the morning after the attack.
“That was you?!” I gasped, remembering the sweet voice that had pulled me back to the living.
“Yes my love” she said, her gaze loving.
My heart warmed, and I returned my head to her shoulder but quickly sat upright when I thought I caught movement in the snow.
I looked closely and saw something white, camouflaged by the snow moving quickly towards us.
“What is that?!” I asked, panicked and ready to run for the hills.
“Don't worry, that's just Sapphira” she said, making me sigh in relief.
“Sapphira's here too?” I asked as she got close enough for me to see her properly.
“Where else would I be?” Came Sapphira's strong voice.
Was she telling me this is where she is when I'm in human form? With our mother?
“Yes” she said once she'd reached us.
I couldn't help admiring her majestic form, tall and pure White, and those crown like lines on her forehead.
“Hello mother” she said, rubbing her side on our mother before sitting beside her.
“Hello my sweet little Goddess” mother said, running her hands through Sapphira's fur that looked softer than a feather.
I felt content, and wished more than anything it was like this all the time.
“Tell me about your side of the family, where are they?” I asked, feeling a deep longing to know where the rest of my family is, my people.
“You will know all that soon, right now it's time to return” she said, making my heart ache. I didn't want to go, not yet.
“So soon?” I asked, my voice cracking.
“You've been here a long time Alari, mate is worried” Sapphira said, laying her head on our mother's lap.
“Time doesn't exist here, ten hours feel like minutes” mother laughed, her voice so smooth.
“Can I come back?” I asked, hoping, wishing, praying to the Goddess that she'd say yes.
“Of course you can, this is your subconscious after all” she said, smiling sweetly at me.
“Okay” I said.
“Now listen, I need you to be strong Alari, this Kingdom needs it's heir. Like your ancestors fought for its freedom, it needs you to fight to protect it” she said, her voice now serious.
“How? I don't even know how to fight” I said, fear overcoming me.
“You're the strongest shifter under the moon, learn to use your strength, your magic!” She said, her gaze hardening.
My eyes went to Sapphira, who looked at me with the same determination our mother's eyes held.
“It's our birth right, we are the Alpha and Queen of this Kingdom” she said, with zero doubt in her voice.
“I know that pack hurt you, but they did not break you! Nothing can. Trust your mate, learn all you can from Valerian and Bethany, train hard. There's an evil looming over this Kingdom, over your life and you're the only one that can free everyone. It's time to take charge of your destiny my love” she said, making me release a sigh.
I had no idea how I was going to do all she said but I was going to try.
“I'll try” I whispered, my voice a little unsure.
“And you will succeed, you were made for it” she said, now smiling at me and all I could do was nod.
“I love you always and I will see you soon” she said, leaning in to kiss my forehead.
I closed my eyes to enjoy her loving touch and when I opened them, I was back in the bedroom.
I slowly sat up, realising I was alone, though I could feel two people outside the door.
The curtains were drawn and a window open to allow some free air in. It was dark outside, making me wonder what time it was.
I went to use the bathroom, relieving my painful bladder and decided to shower before I went hunting for my mate.
I chose a pair of sweatpants and a long sleeve shirt, slipping on my fluffy slippers and tied my hair into a high ponytail.
Making sure I was presentable, I left the bedroom to find Mason and a new guy. “My Queen” they both greeted as they bowed.
“Hi, a new guard?” I asked, frowning a little.
“Yes my Queen, I've been added to your security detail. My name is Logan” he said with another bow and I nodded.
“Where's Damien?” I asked, facing Mason.
“The King's in his office My Queen” he answered and I made my way to him, while they followed closely behind.
It was a little weird have two people tail me now instead of one but I guess Damien knew better.
“You banished an Alpha with Lycan heritage without consulting us!” I heard someone yell as I entered the office.
They all turned to face me as they heard the door open but I ignored all of them, keeping my eyes on a tired looking Damien.
He brightened up when he saw me and quickly got up, coming to me.
“Hey baby” he whispered to me, holding my face in his hands.
“Hey baby” I whispered back, making him smile like a kid in a candy store.
“My Queen!” Someone exclaimed from behind Damien and I saw his face harden.
He moved aside, took my hand and pulled me to his chair. He motioned for me to sit but I looked around and noticed he would have to stand behind me.
“Please sit My King” I said with a teasing smile, ignoring everyone in the room.
He smiled and sat down, pulling me onto his lap.
I noticed the council members looked a little uncomfortable and I didn't care, if they had the audacity to yell at the King, surely sitting on my mate's lap isn't inappropriate.
“My Queen, it is an honor to see you again” the one Damien called Raven said, bowing before they all sat down.
“Who was yelling?” I asked, my eye brows furrowed. I saw a man sitting beside Raven pale and knew it was him.
“My Queen, I had no idea you would hear, forgive me” the old man said, making my insides boil.
“Oh, so only care about me hearing you? Tell me, why do you feel so comfortable yelling at Your King?!” I growled, Sapphira pushing forward, angry at the disrespect shown to our mate!
“I.. I.. I just got carried away My Queen, it won't happen again” he said, shivering at the intensity of my Alpha aura.
“Is that your apology? Directed to who exactly? Or do you think you're above the King of this Kingdom?!” My anger only grew.
“And to think you're not the only one” I scoffed, turning my gaze to Rose, who quickly looked away.
“How are you even on his council?” I asked, my hard gaze going over all of them.
These people needed to understand that my mate was King and there was nothing they could do about it.
“Damn straight!” Sapphira growled.