Queen of Death

Ace

~ present day ~

Tomorrow they’re releasing her at last. Even though she hasn’t been out of bed much since waking up, Solana has been getting restless and increasingly agitated. To the degree where she’s begun threatening the medical staff.

Magnolia came to Sol’s defense and argued with Ember that if Sol was strong enough to make threats then she was strong enough to go home. I’ve already teleported our bags and belongings back to our favorite safe house so that come tomorrow morning all we have to do is say goodbye to her family and bring our Queen home.

Today, however, I need to take care of the last loose end. My father.

True to my word, I teleported him out of the Elder’s council and dropped him off in the middle of the woods per his direction. I figured we’d track him down later so I didn’t pay much attention to my surroundings. Besides, I had much more important things to get back to. Namely my dying mate.

Shortly after Solana had been transferred to a new room I received a phone call from my brother, Alec, letting me know that dear old dad had showed up at his pack house seeking refuge. Our father figured that he’d be safe there, that Alec would have no knowledge of what he had done or how he had implicated Alec in his grotesque wrong-doings.

“I should be back in a couple of hours. Make sure one of you is in Sol’s room at all times in case she wakes up, and if she does you better text me immediately.” I say to Dean, Tate, and Hunter as I’m readying myself to port over to my brother’s pack house. Eli is already down in Sol’s room. He’s been linking me with a play-by-play of the content sighs Sol has been making in her sleep and how much more peacefully she sleeps when one of us is there to be near her or hold her hand.

“We’re going to relieve Eli right now,” Dean informs me. “He said something about hanging out in the lounge downstairs after with Cole and Hunter.”

“Eli says that Calla has been there with him for over an hour and if she doesn’t shut up soon his ears are going to start bleeding.” Hunter chuckles at Eli’s expense and soon we’re all smirking at the image.

“You better go now, then. If our mate wakes up to find Calla shooting the shit with Eli she’s going to flip the fuck out. Let her know I’ll come see her as soon as I get back.” I instruct Dean and then teleport over to the packlands I once thought would be mine.

Standing here now after several decades I feel nothing for this land or its people. I have no connection here at all except for sour memories. Nothing like the feelings I get when I’m near Solana or my pack mates. With them it’s instant — an instinct to protect, cherish, and love.

Alec was expecting my arrival so I’m not surprised to find him waiting by the front gates for me.

“Alec,” I greet him with a nod. He waves off his guards and returns my greeting.

We walk in a semi-tense silence through the courtyard of the pack towards the edge of the property where the cells are located.

“He’s holed himself up in the bunker below the cells. I let him believe he was safe so he wouldn’t try to flee.” Alec explains as he leads us down to the damp, concrete stairs.

“After what he did to you and your mom I would have thought you’d have chained him up and taken some revenge for yourself first.” I comment casually. “How is she anyway?”

“She’s okay. A little rattled from being held hostage by her dead mate. I think she took his death better than she’s taking this. It shattered whatever good memories existed of him.” Alec laments and I nod in understanding.

Several more paces pass by us in an amicable silence. Just as we begin closing in on the cells Alec hesitates and toes at a rock on the ground with his boot. “You should know I never wanted to be Alpha. I can’t tell you how many times I told him to name you Alpha, but he wouldn’t have it. It wasn’t until we thought he died that my mom finally told me the truth about your mom and why he refused you your birthright.”

My jaw clenches tightly at the mention of my birth mother. One of my biggest regrets was not being able to find her before it was too late. But how can I still be bitter about ancient history when everything that happened helped push me towards Solana?

“I don’t blame you,” I admit softly to my brother. “You were still a kid, you couldn’t have known, and I shouldn’t have taken my frustrations out on you. You’re nothing like our father and I’m sorry I assumed you would be.”

My hand extends out to him as a sort of peace offering, a fresh start. He clasps my hand, giving it a squeeze, and then smiles sheepishly at me while muttering an uncomfortable “thank you.”

I didn’t expect him to go from enemies to best friends in a day over our, now, mutual enemy so I’m not disappointed when he ends the conversation by marching through the halls of the cells down into the bunker our father is hiding in.

Muted shouting sounds from inside the bunker before Alec even has his hand on the door knob. Through the supposedly soundproof walls I can hear our father frantically shouting for Alec.

When I look questioningly at my brother he shrugs unapologetically. “I temporarily took away his sight and hearing. It’ll be easier to move him that way.”

I remember now that Alec’s gift is controlling the senses and I scoff at the notion that I’d need our father any more disadvantaged than he already is. “He’s as tough as tissue paper, but thanks.”

Inside the bunker our father is blindly feeling his way through the room, trying to navigate to the door where we’re standing. He stops his pursuit and I know it’s because he’s caught our scent, he can feel how my wolf fights me for control and if that were to happen how he’d die a painful but undeservingly quick death.

“You traitorous son of a bitch,” our father spits in our general direction addressing Alec. “I should have known you weren’t cut out to be Alpha. The Goddess cursed me with a half breed and a disgrace for sons.”

“Let him hear me.” I command Alec and he gives me nod when I can address my pathetic excuse for a father. “He’s a better Alpha than you ever were,” I snap, trying to remain calm and remind myself that he’s not mine to kill. That privilege belongs to Solana.

He scoffs in disgust. “As if you’d know. Last I saw of you, you were whimpering away with your tail between your legs. Now I’m supposed to be afraid of two cowards that don’t even have the balls to look me in the eye before they kill me?”

My control splinters and I take a step toward him but Alec’s arm shoots out to stop me in my tracks. “He’s trying to goad you into giving him a quick death. Don’t give him the satisfaction.”

My hands fist through my hair as I try to rein in my wolf. “I know I said it was her kill but I’m not sure I want to allow him the honor of breathing the same air as her.”

“I know. Trust me, I know. Maybe you forget that I watched Solana and her siblings grow up. I know what she’s been through, what they’ve all been through. They’re like family to me. But if giving her this opportunity finally gives her closure then we owe it to her.”

I eye him askance but eventually relent. “I’m going to choose to overlook the part about you holding affection for my mate. For now. But you’re right about her needing to make the decision about his fate. Have him brought to this location,” I hand Alec a small card with an address on it. “Chain him up in the basement there. I’ll text you when we’re on our way tomorrow.”

“Why can’t you teleport us?” Alec’s tone is flat but there’s a smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

“If I get any closer to him I’ll fucking kill him. Besides, I’ve been away from my mate long enough.”