The Alpha King's Claim

Chapter 77

The Alpha King’s Claim chapter 77 by desirenovel

Serena

I was nine when I first stepped out of the fae realm. My friends Ada and Ade, sons of my caretaker,

High Elder Hanhena, helped me. They were called Adamar and Adaen, the twin swords of the Silken

Family, but I preferred to use short names for them. I wasn’t adept much with speaking as I was a late

learner…or so the Elders kept on telling me like a broken record.

To be honest, I chose not to speak. I chose to stay silent. My mother before she died told me the fewer

words I release, the safer I was. Safe from what? I didn’t know, but I had stayed true to her dying words

ever since then even if it got me in trouble many times.

Ada, Ade, and their mother were the only people who showed me care. The rest of the Elders were

quite strict with me, and it even got to the point where I felt they hated my existence.

Again, I didn’t know why, but I was told I was a freak of nature many times.

Being in a different place other than the fae realm was refreshing. Even if it was the border between the

werewolf territory and Ehnrelil, at least I got a taste of freedom. Seeing a werewolf too up close and

personal, and even a royalty at that widened my limited horizon.

At first, I thought, werewolves were what the Elders said—a wild wolf with bad smell and an even

nastier personality. I was wrong…with Prince Aero that is. Though he always sent me glares, always

told me he hated girls, he never bullied me. Plus, he smelled really great. He’d just live in his own little

world while I observed him, getting fascinated with him every second that ticked by.

I would escape on my own when Ada and Ade weren’t there to bring me to Salviste Lake. I could do it

even without using what limited ancient magic I learned at that time. My mother always said that I had a

unique power within me. I figured this was the reason why I was able to fool the other caretakers.

In my many visits to the lake, I soon realized I wanted to be better friends with this boy wolf just like the

bond he shared with the twins, but over the course of years, this craving for friendship grew into

something deeper… Love.

I knew though this feeling of mine only headed towards the path to doom. Friendship between a

werewolf and a fae was unheard of, how much more when it came to love? What was even worse was

my calling being a High Priestess. I wasn’t allowed to be loved and to love. I wasn’t even allowed to go

out of the tower in the first place.

Whenever I return from the lake, the Elders always reprimanded me, explode a string of nasty sermons

that aimed to demean me. They never failed to mention how unfit I was with my life and my calling.

But of course, since I was my mother’s daughter, a royal blood, a niece to the queen, the heir to my

mother’s seat as the High Priestess of the fae realm, they didn’t have a choice but to train me and train

me they did.

However, I always wondered if these trainings were a sort of punishment too. They taught me to fight,

but they also paired me with some of the skilled fighters in the fae army. I got many bruises and

lacerations, broken ribs and tendons, and even a fractured skull but luckily, I was a fast healer. Fae

people didn’t have that ability, hence one of the reasons why they called me a freak.

They taught me to be strong, but they also ordered me to lift objects twenty times my juvenile weight.

They gave me shelter and food, but I felt like a prisoner inside the Rexhus Tower with no one but my

rainbow bugs to live with.

They taught me the ancient magic of the faes where only priestesses had the ability to wield, but they

also forced me to do things I didn’t want, grilling my conscience whenever I had no choice but to fulfill

it. They would let me kill off helpless fae creatures using this power. They would get another animal

from another realm and order me to do the same. They would make me summon cyclones and

earthquakes just to see if this ancient power crossed our border to Earth. Using a rune, they even

made me summon fire to burn down half of the Rexhus Forest. This negligent order caused great fires

on Earth as a result.

My mother was the first to use this ancient power, supporting my uncle, King Alduin, in his shared job

as pillar of the realms. She was good at being a priestess. She was idolized by many. She always told

me the power of a priestess was meant to be used for the good of all. To protect and give life. Not to

take it away.

As Queen of Phanteon, it was my duty to also do just that; to keep the peace and ensure my people’s

safety.

I was hiding in another room, just watching King Geraden and my husband exchange words when I felt

Aero’s anger and read the intention in his mind. He was willing to sacrifice himself, his castle, and his

people for me. It was a commendable trait, and it warmed my heart, but I couldn’t allow such a thing to

happen. Not when I could do something to stop it.

I had expected already there would be repercussions for my return and this was it. I was ready to face

the ire of Queen Adna, the Elders, and the rest of the faes so decided to show myself to King Geraden.

Now there was no question whether Aero would wage war on Ehnrelil or not. After seeing me

disappear with the king and the fae knights, and with Hale at that, it was a given. The last thing I saw

was his enraged expression, mid-shift, ready to rain hell on my reckless kind.

The trip to the fae realm was a quick one. Nevannir was always known for that ability. I sensed his

power the moment we started to disappear, but I never expected he’d actually help King Geraden. He

hated the man. Maybe he was forced to do so or maybe he had a change of heart. It had been almost

a hundred years in fae time since I disappeared after all. Anyway, whatever the reason, Nevannir was

someone whose intentions were unreadable. Labile at most.

I didn’t expect a grand welcome when I appeared in my realm. In fact, I had already seen this coming:

King Geraden throwing me stat inside my room in Rexhus Tower, my prison of a house.

“Welcome back, Priestess,” were his mocking words, sending me a look that was nowhere near friendly

or comforting for a king… or even a family relative by law.

“I want to speak with Queen Adna, now,” I demanded, lifting my chin up. He may have become the

King of Ehnrelil now, but in my eyes, he still remained the High Elder who groveled for attention under

the shadows of his brother.

“Oh, you’ll get your wish soon,” he sneered, moving towards the door.

I watched as he and Hale exchanged words. It was almost inaudible, but I managed to pick up two

words: invitation and wine. Maybe they want to celebrate the success of a smooth escape from

Phanteon.

Idiots.

Then, King Geraden left, throwing another scornful look at me.

“I need some minute with your precious priestess, boys,” Hale stated while he stood on the threshold,

flashing a winsome smile on the four knights that were probably assigned to guard me.

As if they were beguiled by his powers, they left without a word.

“Are you friends with the faes now?” I asked when we were alone, feeling pissed with his presence. As

far as I remember, vampires preferred to mind their own business. They steer clear of the drama of

other realms. This vampire master was either stupid or he had a pretty good reason to get involved.

“Only when necessary, Serena,” he answered calmly.

“Right,” I placed my arms akimbo. “Damn it, Hale. I’m going straight with you. What do you get by doing

this? You’re a vampire. Vampires don’t just work for anyone except if it also benefits them.”

“Hmf,” he laughed weakly, “I’m merely doing my job as a helper, Serena. Nothing more,” he added with

still the same calm and collected attitude. I couldn’t tell if he was toying with me or this was just his

insensitive side talking.

“A helper? With King Geraden? Really?” I asked in a mocking tone.

“Not quite,” was his scarce reply, then ghosted a grin. It almost looked like he was keeping something

from me.

“Don’t lie,” I told him instead, choosing not to be fooled by his mind games. “Is this your way of getting

back on the werewolves? Your kind hated them for centuries. Are you teaming up with King Geraden

now to start a pointless war with Phanteon?”

He chuckled audibly in response and shook his head. “You sure have a wild imagination, Serena, but

no. I aim nothing of the sort…well, except for Geraden. He seems to harbor quite a strong hatred for

werewolves.”

’Yes, Geraden did and so did Queen Adna,′ I thought to myself backing up Hale’s claim. I remembered

a time when their hatred almost caused the fae army to attack Phanteon, but

I stepped up and stopped it. It was the very reason why I left Ehnrelil.

“Still, what could you gain in helping the faes? Surely not me. I already told you I hate vampires. I won’t

give you my blood either!”

“Oh, no,” he shook his head, “I’m not blind, Serena. Your bond with Aero is so strong anyone could

sense it even without seeing that mark on your neck.”

With his words, I slightly became conscious of the mark, traced its raised edges just to be sure it was

still there. It was and this comforted me; knowing that I was still connected with my beloved Alpha King.

“Also, your blood is as good as the mystery behind it. I was drawn to your blood and am still drawn to it

now, Serena. Make no mistake, I still want a taste of it; however, now that I know you’re fae, it’s safe to

assume my curiosity is already sated.”

Good. Somehow that was reassuring for me to hear.

“So what do you—” I asked, but then he cut me off.

“I gain information,” he simply stated, his expression blank of any clues.

I cringed, disliking how vague his words were.

“Care to expound?” I said. Content bel0ngs to Nôvel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

He grinned at me again. “I prefer not to, my Queen.”

“I could help you if you tell me.” I must admit, this time I was the one who was curious. Here comes a

vampire master mixing himself with the problems of others and for what? Some simple information? My

instinct told me it wasn’t the case though. He was hiding something deep…something personal.

“How sweet of you,” he chuckled. “I’m jealous of Aero now.”

I huffed. “I’m serious, Hale.”

“Hmm, yes I know, but unfortunately, you can’t give me the information I need. But enough about me,

Serena. What you should be worried about is yourself.”

He strolled inside the room and stopped near my desk where scrolls upon scrolls lay, evidence of my

nocturnal studies of the ancient fae magic.

“You amaze me. I never expected you’d be this realm’s long lost rogue priestess.”

I gave him a smug smile. To be unrecognized by all, that was my main objective when I placed a spell

on myself that day when I decided to leave Ehnrelil.

“So you know what I did here?” I asked him.

“It pays to have connections in this realm,” was his reply. He raised a palm up and gestured to all of

me. “You’re wearing Earth clothes now. Do you mean to prove something by wearing that?”

“Yes. Identity,” I answered. “I didn’t want to associate the Kingdom of Phanteon when I face the fae

court. I want them to see me as me, the High Priestess of Ehnrelil and not the werewolf queen.”

“Your queen status would have helped though,” he pointed out, but I only grimaced at his remark.

“On the contrary, it wouldn’t. It would only anger them. Give them the exact reason why they should

attack the werewolf realm.”

He tipped his lips upward as if he just realized something.

“Are you talking about the death of King Alduin? My spy told me he was killed by a werewolf.”

I clenched my hands.

“That was what the rumors said but I didn’t believe it. I’m still not believing it now. Something just

doesn’t add up.”

“Hmf,” he scoffed. “If Queen Adna and the Elders hear about this, they’d likely think you’re only

protecting the werewolves.”

“I am protecting them!” I lashed. “They are innocent and I’m going to prove it!”

He strolled back to the door and paused on the threshold again with his profile to me.

“That would be interesting to watch, Serena. I’ll see you later.”