The Alpha King’s Virgin by Charmeleon (Raine & Amari)

Chapter 37

RAINE

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Gasps of horror echoed in the throne room. The Alpha of the Blood Moon pack, dead. Assassinated.

I heard one of the elders say that there would be war.

“Amaris, the Luna…” I rushed to him where he stood staring at Lord Greyson, as if he couldn’t believe

his ears.

When a soulmate dies, the other half wouldn’t be able to bear it. They would often take their own lives or go mad with grief. Or so they say.

“Bring the guards that were stationed at his cell, Lord Grayson. They will answer to this.” He took my hand. “Come. We will check on the Luna.”

Sorin and Helen followed us out of the throne room, as well as Beta Ross.

“You know what this means, Amaris,” Sorin matched Amaris’ forceful stride.

Helen and I fell back. In her state she couldn’t walk as fast.

“That poor girl.” Helen said, “It would be better for her if they put her out of her misery.”

I couldn’t believe she said that. “Amaris would never.”

Helen rolled her eyes at me. “Shows how little you know, Raine.”

Amaris and Sorin ascended the stairs ahead of us, but I heard Sorin speak as clearly as if he stood right

next to me.

“They will retaliate. Once again you brought this on us, Brother.” His tone was as cold as I felt.

“Then we will fight. It cannot be helped.” I heard Amaris’ calm reply.

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But Sorin’s voice rose in pitch. “This shouldn’t have happened in the first place, Amaris! You should never have brought them here.”

“50

what would you have done differently, Sorin! Sack their whole pack, burned down the whole da mn

village?” Amaris was losing his patience with his brother.

“That was your usual method.”

Amaris didn’t answer. Helen and I hurried after the men with Beta Ross following closely behind us. It worried for the newborn pup. What would the Luna do in her grief?

Nearing the room where they were kept, we heard a pitiful, drawn-out wail, followed by a loud crash, the sound of glass breaking and then dreadful silence. We sprinted towards the room and the guards: stationed at the door quickly opened it to let Amaris and Sorin in.

But the guards stopped Helen and I from entering.

“Let us pass!” I narrowed my eyes, trying to look commanding.

“Rather not, your Majesty.” Beta Ross laid a hand on my shoulder.

“For your safety, your Majesty.” A big, burly man blocked the entrance..

“I hope we’re not too late, poor thing.” Helen shook her blonde curls.

Amaris brushed past the guards. “She jumped out of the window in her wolf form.” He held a small bundle in his arms. “But she left her pup.” He pressed the squirming baby into my arms.

“Oh!” She was so tiny and helpless. “A little girl.” She clasped her tiny fist around my fingers, and my heart melted.

“Yes, and now the Alpha of her pack.” Beta Ross grimaced.

“Find the Luna and bring her back unharmed!” Amaris shouted at the guards. “She is not to leave our grounds.”

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Amaris and Sorin left to interrogate the Alpha’s guards, leaving Helen and me with the baby. Beta Ross stayed to protect me. However he tried to conceal it, I noticed from the way his nose flared when he looked at me, he was far from pleased being my bodyguard. He probably found it beneath his station, but he couldn’t go against the king’s orders.

“She’s going to be hungry soon,” Helen said as she peered at the tiny bundle squirming in my arms. We sat on the bed where her mother lay, a mere moments ago. The wind howled through the broken

window.

“I’ll send for a wetnurse and Healer Gwyneth to check her out.” I linked Rhona with my request. “We

need clothes and nappies for her too, and she can’t be left here.”

“She needs her mother.” Helen said her face darkening, “But I fear what’s to become of this little waif.”

“What do you mean, Helen?” I rocked the fretting baby; she was nig gling and would soon cry. I didn’t have much experience with infants.

Helen raised her perfect brows. “If Amaris takes her back to her pack, she’d probably be killed. They would never accept a girl for an Alpha.”

“Then we will keep her here.” I said firmly. There was no way I would let that happen if I could help it.

Helen scoffed, “You are so softhearted.”

“The king wouldn’t send her back.” Beta Ross fixed Helen with his cold, dark stare. “He will find suitable placement for her, if her mother can’t be found.”

“She’s probably gone feral.” Helen shrugged, “Either way, this is a problem.” She pointed at the wailing infant.

“Fortunately, not yours to solve, consort Princess.” Ross said evenly.

Gwyneth and Rhona hurried into the room, bowed respectfully and Gwyneth took the baby from me. “I came as soon as I could. Goodness, she has al

of lungs on her.”

“I’ve found a wetnurse, your Majesty. One of the cooks. She will be here soon.” Rhona placed a bundle of clothing and nappies onto the bed. “Look how strong she is,” she said. The baby kicked her little legs

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in protest as Gwyneth unwrapped her to get her dressed.

“Do you think her mother would hear her cries and come back for her?” I asked no one in particular.

Gwyneth replied, “Well, I suppose it could happen, your Majesty. But there’s no way of knowing.”

“We have no idea what’s going on in her mind right now.” Helen said. “Anyway, let’s leave them to care for the infant, Raine. My back is killing me.”

I walked Helen back to her suite with my ever-watchful guard dog following us. I wanted to get back to Amaris as soon as possible so I turned Helen’s offer for refreshment down and proceeded to go back to the throne room,

We were some distance away when Ross stopped me. “Your Majesty, I think we should rather take a walk in the garden until the king is done with his interrogation.”

“Is that your suggestion or the king’s?” I craned my neck to look up at him.

“Mine. It won’t be pleasant to witness.” He offered me his arm and I placed my hand on his forearm. We went out onto one of the terraces.

“You don’t like me very much, do you, Beta Ross?” I said as we made our way down the pathways to the formal flower garden, past statues of nym phs and other mythical creatures.

He stopped, frowning at me. “It is not my place to like or dislike you, only to protect you, your Majesty.”

“And to instruct me, of course.” I rolled my eyes at him. “To behave like a queen. Hence that lovely book you had me read.”

He chuckled, “I thought you would enjoy a bit of light reading.”

“It was delightful.” I grinned at him. “But I would actually prefer doing something useful.”

“Of course, your Majesty. In time. There is a long list of duties I have set out for you. You will have your own secretary, as well as your ladies that will help you.” He held his arms behind his back as we walked

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further. “The most important thing to remember is, keeping your eyes and ears open. Listen more than speak, you’d be surprised at the information you gather.”

“I will keep that in mind, thank you Beta Ross.” We walked past a line of dense conifers. My nose picked up a scent, it was familiar, but I wasn’t certain where I had come across it.

“What is it?” Beta Ross was immediately alerted. His hand went to the dagger at his side.

“Must have been my imagination,” I waved it away. But then as I started to turn away a blurred form rushed out between the conifers and collided me.

I fell to the ground, winded. The Luna was on top of me in her wolf form, her paws on my shoulders, tearing my top.

Before Ross could react, she shifted back, her claws raked over my chest as she shifted. I tried to get away from her, but she grabbed my hair and pulled me back.

“Don’t move or I will rip your throat out!” She snarled into my ear.

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