From Princess To Queen

Secrets That are Kept

"Clara, I am going to ask you once again, who have you told about this information you gave us about your father's trysts?" Xavior asked with raised brows.

Clara thought carefully about how to put the words so she would not give away what she knew about her mother and siblings. She feels uneasy about him being near her and cannot wait till he leaves her room.

"I let my two guards hear the information so they know what is going on, and you two are all I have told. Maybe we should tell other alphas, our allies, so they know what we are all up against." Clara says.

"I think that is a good idea, I can call on them first thing in the morning, and Dunken will head up the training with Clara," Xavior says.

"Where do you propose I do this from, Clara?" asked Xavior.

"Here, in my room, I will be up and skip training with Dunken tomorrow, and we can get a head start letting the others know what is happening," Clara claims, looking straight at Dunken.

Xavior was furious as they ignored him, and he could not understand why. Surly they are not onto him being fake, he thought to himself. He was in his thoughts when he returned to a conversation he could not follow.

"I did the work myself as I hate people snooping around, especially my father. I had caught him and some of his goons listening to my conversations and watching what I was doing all the time. Saying it out loud sounds gross." Clara chuckles.

"Do I even want to know how he did that?" Dunken asked.

"Cameras were in the vents, listening in on my conversations, talking to friends, and walking in the hallways and passageways, so I decided to take matters into my own hands with the help of my guards and Mr. Christian. We tripled soundproofed my room and took out the ac and heating system. That is why I have those units over there, plus the fireplace. It's all I need."

"He's not very trusting, is he? Why would he want to check on you and anybody you would have here? I mean, I don't get it. What do you have to hide? Of all the people, he's the one who hides shit all the time." Dunken said.

"Dunken, I know he does, and I do not understand it unless it has something to do with my mother, for which I do not know anything."

"Let's see...I know most of the alphas get up super early in the morning, so why don't I sleep in here with you tonight? Then I can call the other packs immediately without disturbing you or anyone else.

"Uh, where do you suppose I should sleep because there is no way in goddess's green earth and moon I won't share a room with you, "Xavior says.

"I am saving myself for my mate, so why don't you go back to your room, sleep, and come in here at seven? That way, I will be up and can help you out." Clara told Xavior.

"Fine, I can do that. Then my work here is done, and I will see you at seven am, princess."

Dunken does not leave as he wants to ask Clara something important. He does not want to overstep his bounds with their alpha, but something is wrong, and his wolf feels the same way. He just cannot put his finger on it.

"Clara, I have to know something, and I am sorry if this may seem personal and a little cross, but something is bugging me, and I need to get it off my chest."

"Go ahead; what is it, Dunken? You can ask me anything."

"Do you feel anything around Xavior? or even your wolf?"

"No, I didn't and hadn't thought about it lately since the first time you two were assigned to me for training. Lydia has not moved or said anything about him since day one. She snarls at him, which is strange; I ignore her."

She and Dunken sit for a while and ponder over things that have taken place the past few weeks. Lydia was going a little crazy when Xavior and Dunken were training her, specially Xavior when he touched Clara. Sparks would zap her body where he would skim her, but they don't.

"OH NO, Dunken, something is wrong here; okay, remember when Father assigned the two of you to train me every day from day one or whenever it was?"

"Yeah, I do remember, and when he touched you, you would have this shocked look on your face. I mean not the look, 'Oh, you just hit me.' No, it was more of that shocking jolt you just gave me. He mind-linked me, telling me they felt like lightning strikes and that his wolf was screaming, mate."

"So was Lydia, but now she cannot stand him and does not want him to be around. I am so confused about what is happening."

"Hmmm… what did you feel when he touched your skin and looked you over?"

"No, Dunken, there were no sparks; in fact, Lydia was about to come out and rip this throat out, and it took everything I had to keep her at bay."

"Okay, just avoid him for now if you can. I want to know where the passageways are, though. We could have so much fun with that?" Dunken said.

Who can Xavior trust to show him the best room with the most viewing area for cameras and recording devices to nab any conversations on and off the phones? He would have to sneak back into her room and figure out where the secret passages Clara's eyes hazed over a little bit as she linked her guards into her room for another meeting. She and Dunken told them of their plan, and she needed one of them to help him in the secret passages. She had to figure out how to get Xavior to the new location without being suspicious.

Clara called AJ on the phone, letting him know what was happening and that she would not be at training this morning because she and Duncken had to figure out if the alpha was genuine or false. AJ sent one of his people, Kasper, who knew Xavior, to the castle; Kasper could tell them if he was the real Xavior, and if not, they needed to continue with their plan.

Clara woke up and looked about her room. It was very tidy as she kept it that way, so she decided to take a shower to think of something to do to detour Xavior to the other room. She threw her towels and washcloths on the floor when she got out. Then moving to her bedroom, she got dressed and messed up her closet by throwing her underwear and some of her clothes all over the closet floor, including her bedroom. In her bedroom, she dismantled her entire bed, removed drawers, and made it look like a tornado hit.

When Dunken was with Scott, he called his alpha to see how the pack was doing. The phone rang and rang; then it went to voicemail. He had a bad feeling about this, so he called their third, and Tracy picked up the phone.

"Is Xavior there? I know he returned to check on his pack and take care of business for a while?"

"Yeah, he did come, and he is still here. He's in his wolf form right now, training the others. Why?"

"SHIT!"

"Dunken, what's wrong?"

"Xavior is here; well, we think he is, but not sure, and if he is not the real one, then we just gave him some secret information."

"Hold on; I will link the alpha."

"Dunken, what the hell is going on?"Xavior asked.

"I am sending you a text about what is happening. You should receive it now."

Xavior reads it, and his face turns red hot. He has an idea of who it may be and tells Dunken to go with the plan and that he is returning to the castle. He tells his people what is happening and sends the females, elderly, and pregnant women to the safe house, and everyone else needs to prepare for a fight.

"Yeah, it's me; they have no clue what is happening. If I say so myself, I have them fooled and doing a good job of it."

"How did you manage to be Xavior? You look nothing like him, nor are you his height or stature. I mean, come on, your cover will be blown, then what?" asked the unknown.

"I will deal with it when I cross that bridge, but I have had them fooled for a few days now."

"Your pack is wondering where you are and needs your guidance since you do not want anyone else. The king wants to know where you have gone, so he has left for the castle."

"Oh, that's even better." A laugh comes from the person in the room.

Felix thought for a moment about what to do but kept up the disguise for several more days, then made up some excuse that 'he' had to leave and check up on his pack.

Later that day, the real Xavior snuck into the castle and Clara's room, somewhat out of breath as he ran in wolf form; Tanner was upset that his mate and Beta were in trouble. His wolf did not want to be discovered by the guards or anyone else. He had to mask and cloak himself to get inside and to her room.

"Clara, open the door. It's me, Xavior; hurry up."

Clara opened the door and did not see anyone, but as soon as he came in, he took the cloak off and made himself visible to her. She gasped at his sight as he looked horrible with sunken eyes, dark circles underneath, and tiredness. She took his hand and led him to her bathroom so that he could shower and put some clean clothes on that Dunken had brought to her.

When he was done, he hugged her and kissed their forehead as a thank you. He hugged his Beta, and they filled him in on what was happening and how they discovered the other Xavior. He was pissed, to say the least, as he thought it was Felix since he could take on different forms. He dabbles in magic, and it's not good, as he told his mate. Clara had him lay down on her bed so he could nap for a bit, and Dunken left to train with the others since Clara was skipping out today. She locked the door when Dunken left and went to lie down next to her mate, and he pulled her close to him, and for the first time in weeks, he was happy, and so was she. All he could think about was completing the mating process and tying them to each other. He would have to talk to her later, but it was time to sleep.