Alari's pov
“Oh my fucking Goddess!” Pearl screamed, getting up from her chair.
“Language” mom teased and I smiled at her, rubbing my flat stomach.
“You said godmother, she said godmother!” She screamed the last part, looking at everyone else to confirm. Jumping up and down, she finally skipped her way to me and hugged me… a little too tight.
“There won't be any godmothering if you choke me to death” I exaggerated my choking, to which she quickly let go.
“Sorry, I'll be gentle” she said, hand stroking my hair, smile still big as ever. She looked like a ray of sunshine on a cold, cloudy day when she smiled like that.
“Congratulations sweetheart” dad said with tears in his eyes, which brought tears to my eyes.
“Congratulations Alpha, Luna” Mason bowed, smiling fondly.
“Thank you Mason” I smiled back.
“Do we all understand that this can't leave this room? We have a spy problem and we can't have the wrong people knowing” Damien said, putting a hole in the bubble I was floating in.
“You can trust us Alpha” Pearl said, looking more serious than a heart attack.
“Wait, I know, so does that mean I'm in the circle? Like… in in?” Mason asked, Looking joyfully shocked.
“Oh please, you've been in from the day you found her” mom said pointing at Pearl.
“Yeah, you're family and will be this kid’s godfather, if you accept of course” I smiled at him, watching his eyes go wide as he processed what I said.
Turning to Damien, who nodded in approval, “you might have to wrestle Lucien for the position though” he said, making Mason bow yet again.
“It would be my honour” he said, joy and gratitude on his face.
“I hope knowing this will make you bow a little less, you're far too formal” mom said, to which I agreed to.
“I will try Luna” he said with a quick nod.
“Lies” Pearl muttered, making Mason gape in surprise, looked like he wasn't expecting her to say that.
And sweet, sweet Pearl kept her hands busy brushing my hair while she hummed, avoiding his eyes.
“The council's here, shall we?” Damien said getting up, offering his hand for me to take.
“And no concoctions dad” I said to him, now sitting beside me on the couch, and he gave me a knowing smirk, to which I groaned.
I took Damien's hand and we left the library, feeling like I was walking on a cloud. A feeling I wanted to hold on to.
“I want to change out of this dress” I said, making Damien look at it.
“Why? Looks fine to me” he shrugged and I just rolled my eyes.
“I puked in it, I want it off, besides, those jeans and tank top aren't quite the ‘King has a meeting with the elders’ thing to wear” I said, redirecting him.
He looked down at himself in surprise as if he'd forgotten that he'd thrown the tank top on so as to not be half naked in front of Martin.
Damien, having given himself the role of my stylist, chose a sky blue skirt that stopped about an inch below the knee with its blazer and paired them with a white shirt and heels.
Tucking the shirt into the skirt accentuated my shapely figure but kept the look quite classy.
“You look divine” Damien said, looking at me like he wanted to devour me, and he probably did.
“You know how to make me look divine” I said, my eyes going over his outfit. He'd chosen black dress pants that hugged him and a white shirt, button up and rolled up the sleeves.
My mouth watered at how well the shirt clung to his body, making me wish I could be that close to him. Literally stuck to his body.
“They're not going to complain to our faces, but I think we've kept the elders waiting long enough” he said, making his way to me.
“Shall we, my lady?” He offered his hand and I took it, letting him lead me outside. Hope they play nice today.
The elders had been waiting for us in one of the many private lounges in the castle and judging from the looks on their faces, they weren't very happy we'd taken our sweet time to meet them.
“Alpha King, Luna Queen” Raven greeted as they all stood to bow.
“Elders” Damien greeted back as we sat across them.
“I'm sure you're all wondering why we called you here” Damien said, to which they nodded.
“I won't lie, we are quite curious to know what was so urgent that you had your beta call instead of sending him” Elder Valder said like the words left a bitter taste in his mouth, and I fought the urge to roll my eyes.
“What matters is that you're here” I said, smiling his way.
“Of course My Queen” he said, nodding his head.
“A lot has happened over the past couple of days, informing you of these events is one of the reasons you're here” Damien said, as formal as ever.
“Narcissa had a spy in the castle, we're not sure yet if she was the only one” he continued, getting down to business.
“What?! How can that be?! Why would anyone work for her?!” Rose exclaimed, looking like she was ready to punch someone.
“The omega was being blackmailed, Narcissa had taken her son and used that as leverage to make the poor woman do her bidding” I answered, making them frown.
“Since you know all this I'm assuming you're keeping her for interrogation?” Raven asked and I shared a look with Damien.
“She's dead” Damien said, shocking them.
“You executed her?” Valder asked, making me grit my teeth.
“No, she was murdered by Narcissa” Damien answered and their eyes went so wide, they sure were falling out now.
“Narcissa was here? Inside the pack?” Emma asked, a hint of fear in her eyes.
“How could you let that happen?!” Valder growled, glaring at Damien. Seems this old man hasn't learnt his place yet.
“What do you mean how could we let that happen? We didn't invite her, if that's what you're asking. And who doesn't know that she's working with witches?” I asked, including myself in whatever he was accusing my mate of.
“No, your highness, that's not what I meant to say” he said, suddenly flustered.
“What is it that you meant then? If not that we're incompetent?” I asked, watching him gulp and sink into the couch.
“My apologies your highnesses” he said, his voice low.
“We need to find a way to keep her out, we can't afford another massacre” Emma said, making me wonder why she was reacting this way.
“Alari has taken care of that” Damien said with a smirk, looking at me for a second before returning his gaze to the elders.
“How?” Raven asked, his eyes looking at me questionably.
“I put up barrier to keep her and the witches out. If she tries to come back, she'll be stuck outside our borders” I said, feeling quite proud of myself.
“Won't she just use more of our own to infiltrate? There's an entire Kingdom and I don't think this pack can house each and every one of them” Valder said with a bit of an edge in his tone.
“Forgive me for not clarifying, I meant I put up a barrier around the entire Kingdom, everyone within it, is safe” I said, my gaze heated, making him gulp.
“But that's impossible” Rose muttered, “no one has that kind of power” she said, looking at me like I was some kind of alien.
“You don't know the power I possess” I said, letting them feel just a bit of my power, which, if I was being honest, is a lot.
“Unbelievable” Raven whispered as he looked at me like he was just seeing me for the first time.
“I've known many before you but none have ever possessed such power” he continued, making me smirk.
“You're welcome to go confirm this for yourselves” Damien said, his tone gloating.
“Incredible” Raven murmured, looking at me like I was a specimen he wanted to cut open and learn all there was to me.
“I believe that solves our problem, we stay inside and stay safe” Rose said, scratching her chin like she'd really thought about it.
“For how long?” I asked, hoping I wouldn't have to explain why we couldn't stay cut off from the rest of the world indefinitely.
Her mouth opened and closed several times like a fish out of water, making me sigh and avert my gaze.
“Our enemies have made their move, it's time for us act” Damien said, bringing us back to the reason we were here.
“I called an Alpha's meeting tonight, it's time the Kingdom knew it's Queen. We need to be ready for whatever may come” He continued, his words darkening the mood, we all knew what he meant.
“War, you mean war is coming” Emma said with a shiver
“We barely survived the last one” it was Rose this time, who looked just as shaken up.
So they were present for it all, they saw the Kingdom burn.
“Then we have to make sure it's the last one” I said, making them turn their eyes to me.
I could see the question in their eyes and with a firm nod, I promised them to end it for good. It was my destiny after all.
“I guess that settles it, why don't we have some lunch” Damien said on a lighter note, to which everyone agreed to.
The Alpha's started arriving during lunch and Damien had to leave to welcome them, making me stay to finish my meal.
“Luna, may I sit?” Elder Emma asked, gesturing to the chair next to me.
“Please” I said with a smile, curious to know what she wanted to talk about.
“I truly hope you don't mind me scooting closer, it's just, I saw it, what the war did. I saw it all” she said, her expression so sad I knew she'd lost people she loved.
“I had barely come of age when my world just… ended. My entire family slaughter as I hid in my family cellar. Father had forbid me from joining the fight since I'd just started my training” she said, a sad smile forming at the mention of her father.
“And then it just kept going, it wouldn't stop. We thought we'd have some semblance of balance when the King's parents took the throne but, they were assassinated and that poor child had to be King at such a young age” she said, sighing deeply.
“He truly didn't deserve all that” she continued, reminding me of the Goddess's words for him, I'd completely forgotten!
“I'll do everything in my power to make sure this Kingdom survives, I'll die before I let it fall again” I said, taking her hand to reassure her.
“But that's just the thing Princess, you cannot die, if anyone must survive it's you” she said, putting her other hand over mine.
“This Kingdom's people have failed to protect the throne for far too long and it has brought nothing but our own demise. Even going as far as a civil war” she rolled her eyes and shook her head.
“What I'm trying to say is this isn't just your war, it's ours, all of us. If any of us are to survive, it's if we all fight to protect each other” she said, fire burning in her eyes.
“You are this Kingdom's future, and I will die before I let that get taken away from us again” she said, nodding.
“Emma is right, we have failed in so many ways to protect our leaders, Luna, we vow to stand by you and with you when the time comes. The council's army belongs to the throne” Elder Raven said, nodding as well.
The others agreed and I felt their loyalty to me and their determination to die for me.
“Thank you” I said and meant it. Their support and sincerity meant a lot, being advisors to the throne, I was glad they stood with me.