#Chapter 57: The Little Monster

Olivia’s POV
I could not tell how much of a relief it was, no longer having to worry about Alicia and her plotting ways. Now that the threat of Alicia and Conan is over, I can get back to aid sick wolves thorough the charity. Through the funding and aid of the Royal Hospital, both Reese and Mara were able to make speedy recoveries.
I was told that both of them would be leaving the care of the hospital in a matter of weeks. I was so happy that I started to making a room for Reese at my apartment. Celine was ecstatic to meet my little brother, because she had considered me family.
I was going to thank Eugene personally. However, his orderlies told me that he locked himself in the research labs. He started mass producing the antibodies and antidotes just in case there were other cases of Alicia’s poisoning spree. I was glad that I was not the only throwing themselves into their work.
Celine had convinced me to get from in front of my laptop and go shopping with her. I laughed at the fact that she did it with such ease while Alpha King Gabriel would have to bribe me just for a minute of my time. Celine laughed and mention that Rebecca would love to see Gabriel at her beck and call.
I could hear Rebecca’s wolf chuckle at the fact. Even though it was bittersweet, I knew Gabriel was making an effort to be a good mate and husband to me. Too bad it was too late and his true mate was long gone.
“Where should we go first?” Celine said as we sat at the restaurant for a quick bite.
“I am not sure. I was considering going to the bouquet to look at gowns for the next charity ball.” I said, contemplating.
After everything that had taken place, I convinced Gabriel to have another ball for charities. It surprised me that he accepted, but I figured it was to keep his mind busy. I was so busy I did not notice several things that should have gotten my attention.
I realized after it was too late. Neither one of the guards that Gabriel had assigned to Celine and I could be seen. I did not sense them either. There was a black van that was parked a few feet away from the restaurant however I never saw anyone leave the vehicle.
It was not until I saw a bullet fly towards me, and someone pulled me to the ground. I heard someone growling above me.
“Dammit, you have gotten too comfortable, Olivia.” I heard a tone that I recognized quickly. My hands had itched to slap the smug remark off the Alpha’s face.
“Celine!” I screamed. But I saw her ducked underneath the table. An unknown assailant was shielding her with thier body.
“I am okay,” she shouted through the gunfire.
I looked up at my savior, trying not to be angry at him. He was supposed to be training and assisting the next Alpha of Conan’s pack. Why was he here?
I heard him hiss in pain as the firing suddenly stopped. The black van’s doors had swung open and quickly sped up before the gunmen could close the doors. I turned around and began to survey Herold’s wounds. I did not have to look further, because Herold ad been shot in the chest.
Herold began to slump forward and fall against me. I slid to the ground, removing my jacket and putting it underneath his head.
“Stay with me Alpha Herold. Celine call the Royal Hospital to get help stat. Tell them there is a wounded Alpha. He has been shot and hit with a silver bullet.”
“Olivia,” Herold said, getting my attention. “Can you please forgive me?”
I wanted to deny him once more, but seeing him on the edge, I could not bring myself to say anything else except:
“What about the life of the baby that was in my womb? How can you ask for forgiveness without thinking about the life that never got to take a breath?”
The ambulance arrived in the nick of time and removed the bullet before it could do more damage. They transported Herold to the emergency room before he fell unconscious; he saw me pulling Celine away from the scene. I hope that in seeing me leave, he finally realized that he could no longer win me over. That my bitterness towards our past would not be resolved so easily.
I was told days later that Eugene had treated his brother and that a few days ago; they released Alpha Herold from the ICU. Gabriel had informed me and he said that he was grateful that I was not harmed. I did not tell him that he had Herold to thank because I was sure that he had already known.
During the banquet, I could see tension was not in the air more. Alicia was gone, and the newly crowned Alpha had given his thanks to us a few moments ago. He bowed to the Alpha King and replied.
“I am glad that you made a judgement call on my late Alpha’s behavior. It saddens me that his heart and mind became distracted by poisonous words of a temptress.”
He smiled and turned to me. He brought my hand to his lips and lay a brief kiss on my knuckles.
“My dear Queen Luna, tidings to both you and your Alpha. I hope many blessings in these days. Your strength has proven to me that love is pure if you meet your true mate.”
I smiled at his blessings and was surprised that his gesture did not upset my mate. When the new Alpha left our presence, I planted a kiss on my mate’s cheek. He smiled and chuckled.
“And what was that for, my dear?” He asked.
“That my king was for not being slighted by the affection the new Alpha Rowan showed me.”
“Oh, you learned his name already?” Gabriel looked at me slyly.
“Well, of course, I have to know that name of the Alpha that donated to the charity and is pledging to take Mara as his mate when she fully recovers.” I said as I took my mate’s forearm and guided him to the balcony of the room.
I took two flutes of champagne and handed one to the man in front of me. Before I could take a sip, I heard Gabriel growling behind me. I turned around to see Herold looking out on the balcony.
“We can go somewhere else, my alpha.” I said, trying to pull him away, but he refuted my words. In fact, he walked over to the alpha at the railing.
“How dare you still feelings for my queen,” Gabriel said, giving Herold a shove when he turned to face the Alpha King. Then Herold did something I would not have expected; he laughed.
“So you have not told him the truth yet, eh Olivia?”
Gabriel grabbed the front of Herold’s shirt and pulled him forward.
“What did you just say? Did the silver from that bullet damage what’s left of your brain? This is not your dead mate!” Gabriel roared.
“This is not your queen luna, that is not who she claims to be. This is not your luna, this is mine.”
I was starting to grow tired of Herold’s outburst at this moment, but when I turned to leave, Herold kept going.
“My king think, has there been any times that the Queen Luna done anything out of character? Anything at all that made you question whether or not your mate is still alive.”
I knew Gabriel was thinking of the incidents that he brought up to me in the past. I knew Gabriel was long suspicious of me.
“Alpha Herold please leave us,” Gabriel said.