Chapter 40: King’s order

**Alice’s Point of view**


"Are you sure?" Ben asks.
"Positive." Assures Elliot.
I fall into the chair next to Elliot. "So how did they do it?"
Ben sighs loudly and drinks a large glass of whiskey. "I don't know. Maybe some other spells or potions don't require a sacrifice." 
We remain silent for a moment before Elliot speaks up again.
"At least we have some assumptions now. We won't have any more answers on the subject tonight. On the other hand, I do have some other information."
He then tells the story of our mothers and Ben is stunned. He's even more shocked by the story of our grandfathers and I have to admit that I was so not ready for that. Like, really not ready.
"This is impossible." I say. "We would have heard about this Violet and this Vivian for sure."
"That's just it. According to my grandfather, it was so painful for everyone that they just buried the story."
"Oh come on! Two Alpha girls committing suicide is no small thing! They must have been famous, people must have remembered."
He shakes his head.
"It's strange, don't you think?" Ben asks, resting his elbow on the table. "Since that story, you're all only children, right?"
We remain silent for a moment. "Yes, you're right!" Exclaims Elliot. "As far as I can remember, the Alphas, Betas and Gammas are only children. Vincent, Violet and Vivian are the only exceptions." 
Ben frowns.
"What does that mean?" I ask softly.
"Maybe the Moon Goddess has 'cursed' you in quotes. Faced with this misfortune, she had to decide to grant only one heir. No more, no less. It can't be a coincidence that from that moment on, the three most influential members of the three packs have difficulties having children. And over two generations at that."
"Probably." I say as I pour myself another drink.
"So Elliot, you're saying that this Alpha Thomas from White Mountain pack had a grudge against your packs." Ben resumes.
"HAS a grudge against us. My grandfather told me that he came to avenge Vivian and that even though he never officially came back, he clearly hasn't moved on. No wolf can live alone, he is necessarily looking for a mate. And even more an Alpha who has to ensure the survival of his pack, and that means providing an heir. But Alpha Thomas didn't." Says Elliot.
"That's right." Says Ben thoughtfully. "I'll ask around about him. We'll see what comes up." He says as he typed hurriedly on his phone. "I'll have a full file tomorrow." 
He stands up and motions for us to follow him. He leads us down a hallway to the King's office where he is waiting for us.
He is a very tall and broad man with the same hair as Ben but his eyes are light brown. His features are hard but the wide smile he gives us makes him immediately sympathetic. 
We bow our heads in respect and sit down opposite him, Ben standing to his right. 
"Welcome to you both. I am delighted to finally meet my son's Generals. It is both prodigious and worrisome. But for now, tell me everything you know."
We tell again the stories of the rogues, the fact that we discovered that we are mate as well as our Betas and Gammas, the false rumors spread by the rogues to turn us against each other, the story of our parents, then of our grandparents, the assassination attempts and finally our theories. 
And I really hope this is the last time we tell all this to someone.
The King remains silent, nodding his head from time to time.
"A difficult case indeed." He says, scratching his chin. "It would appear that Alpha Thomas is our prime suspect."
"Father, I already have someone doing research. We'll have answers in the morning." Ben, who had been silent until then, intervened.
"I am concerned about the involvement of a witch, however. They were thought to be extinct, so if the existence of one is revealed..."
"That must mean she's not the only one." I complete.
The King nod. "Exactly. We were never at war with them, but we were not their friends either. But let's not get ahead of ourselves right now. Let's wait until we have proof."
He straightens up and leans forward, resting his hands on his desk, a big smile on his lips. 
"If I brought you here, it is mostly to talk about you." 
He leans over and tries to look at our necks. Seeing that we haven't marked each other, he looks disappointed and angry.
"You have to mark and mate soon." He says without emotion.
I am shocked and for a moment I think I misunderstood. He couldn't possibly have said that.
"King Matthew, with all due respect, I believe this is none of your business. This is only between Alice and me." Says Elliot in a calm tone but I know him well enough to see that he is furious.
"On the contrary young Elliot. It concerns me and also the whole werewolf world. If the Moon Goddess sent us a couple of Generals, it is not so they can look each other in the eye." He says in a harsh tone.
"You think this is easy? Our packs hate each other, I remind you. We were very lucky to meet before without knowing who we were, otherwise we would have been rejected each other on the spot." Says Elliot.
Ben tilts his head to the side. "Meet you without knowing who you were? What does that mean?"
Oh shit.
Elliot stiffens as he realizes his mistake.
"We talked to each other on a dating site and we had a good connection. We decided to meet and you know the rest." I lie.
"You see me delighted but I want you to mark within a week." The King resumes with his Alpha tone.
Elliot and I lower our heads in submission, forced to follow his order. 
And strangely thing, I actually feel Elliot's anger adding to my own. It's weird. You are supposed to feel your mate's emotions only after you have marked him. 
I also feel great sadness, and I know it's my fault. He is still afraid that I will reject him and I hate myself for making him suffer so much.
I still don't know if I can accept him as my mate, but I am sure I can't reject him.
I calmly get up from my chair and smooth out my dress before speaking in a clear and composed voice. "We are loyal to you and we will be loyal to Prince Benjamin. We will always be there if you need us. But as Elliot said, what we do is none of your damn business."
The King is stunned and red with anger, his eyes changing color dangerously. Elliot immediately gets up to stand by my side. I take his hand, we bow our heads respectfully and leave without being dismissed.
As soon as the door closes behind us, Elliot pulls me behind him, heading for the library. He almost runs and throws me inside before abruptly closing the door.
He turns around and his eyes are blue. Burning.
I don't have the time to understand that I find myself stuck to the wall, his lips on mine.