Chapter 59: Betrayal

**Alice’s Point of view**


She lands heavily on me, knocking us to the ground. Her claws are a few inches from my throat but she suddenly disappears.
I hear her screaming and struggling and a glance tells me that she has been subdued by several guards who take her out of the room, away from me.
I sit up and take my head in my hands, rocking back and forth.
I didn't hear anything. I didn't hear anything.
I feel Elliot's hand on my back and I sit up, my eyes brimming with tears.
"Tell me it's not true. Tell me she's lying."
He purses his lips and shakes his head. He seems as shocked as I am. He too is good friends with Derek.
"I can't believe it. You know him as I do! He would never do that!"
He shakes his head again. "I don't want to believe it either but Rose has no reason to lie to us."
"What about Alpha Thomas? The company that paid Rudy Foley?"
"A lot of Alphas own shares including our fathers and Alpha Jack."
"What about the geolocation of the computer that made the transfer?"
"To throw off the trail? I don't know."
"But why? Why is he doing this?" I ask through tears.
He hugs me, resting his chin on top of my head.
"I don't know. Don't worry, I'm sure the Royal Guard will take care of it."
The Chief of Guards comes to warn us that they will attack Silver Moon pack on the King's order to supposedly ask questions.
He invites us to go back to our rooms until they return, telling us that our Betas and Gammas have been warned of the situation.
The sun begins to rise when we join the wing of the guests. I don't want to stay alone and Elliot doesn't want to be alone either because he follows me to my room. The door is barely closed when he jumps on me, pinning me against a wall.
"I know you prefer a tree trunk but a wall is good too, isn't it?" He asks between two feverish kisses.
It's amazing how a simple kiss and a few words raise the temperature a notch. 
I don't answer and kiss him again, my hands drawing the muscles of his chest until I pull on his pants. 
He unzips his pants and pulls up my shirt, revealing my wet core.
As in the forest, he grabs my butt, slams me against the wall and I wrap my legs around his waist.
He doesn't waste another second and positions himself at my entrance, looking serious.
No more games. I think I'm going to have a nervous breakdown if he makes me wait one more second.
We both take a deep breath. He puts a little more weight on me.
And the door opens.
I barely have time to turn my head when Elliot is grabbed by several people and pulled back. I am tackled to the floor and I struggle, mad with rage.
A man approaches me with a syringe and injects the content in my neck, another one doing the same to Elliot.
One of our assailants looks at me and I understand without difficulty that it is a rogue.
But what is he doing here? How did they get in? This is the Royal Castle for Goddess sake.
In my fall, the shirt fell, allowing me to cover myself. The rogue sniffs the air and tries to look between my legs.
Damn. He must smell my arousal.
He comes at me with an animalistic look and I try to push him away but he grabs my ankles and opens my legs. 
Elliot roars and throws himself on him, using his bound hands to strangle him from behind. The others come to the rogue aid and punch Elliot in the face, almost knocking him out.
The rogue is on his knees and coughs violently, gasping for air. Another man walks up to him and looks down on him.
"Who do you think you are, you dirty rogue, to touch your Queen?"
I gasp and turn to Elliot. 
*"His Queen? They work for Derek?"*
*"I'm afraid so. Do you know what they injected us with?"*
I think and do a quick check-up.
*"I can hear Cassie but I can't shift. As far as I know, there's only one plant that does this and it's not life-threatening. The effects should wear off in a few hours."*
The men straighten Elliot violently and the one who put the rogue back in his place reaches out to help me up. We're getting different treatment since they think I'm their Queen.
For fear that they will hurt Elliot, I decided to remain silent and take the man's hand. He then hands me two bags, one containing a beautiful floral summer dress with sandals and the other a pair of jeans with a simple white t-shirt and sneakers from my favorite brand.
*"Put the dress on, maybe you can convince him to give it all up. Never underestimate the power of your beautiful legs."* Elliot advises me.
*"We don't know what's coming. I'd rather wear jeans."*
He sighs mentally. *"Good. I hate the idea of him looking at what's mine."*
I quickly change in the bathroom and when I come out, Elliot is wearing a navy blue t-shirt that molds his biceps.
They then take us to the public wing and I understand that they are taking us to the throne room.
I pray to the Moon Goddess that Melanie, Sam, Simon and Owen have run away and that the Royal Guard quickly realizes that Derek is no longer in the Silver Moon pack but here in the King's Castle.
The doors open and we enter the crowded throne room.
On the left, Melanie, Simon, Owen and Sam stand on their knees, their hands tied behind their backs. I gasp when I see my parents and Elliot's parents right behind them, tied in the same way.
What are they doing here?
My dad and Elliot's are in bad shape, their faces covered in blood.
To my right, King Matthew is also kneeling beside the Queen and their children. Only Ben has been seated on a chair because although he is awake, it is evident that he is no danger.
Finally, Derek is sitting on the throne, looking royal with the crown on his head. His family, his Beta and his Gamma are at his side, looking at us with contempt.
But none of this is shocking compared to the person standing proudly on Derek's right.
As we approach, I see Derek detailing me with a satisfied smile.
"Alice. I knew you would choose the jeans."
"Why did you plan a dress then?"
"So you'd have a choice."
I swallow. "Derek, what does this all mean?" I ask in a small voice, the pain of his betrayal clearly audible.
He gets up from his throne and walks towards me with a worried look on his face.
"Don't be sad my sweet Alice. Everything I do is for us." He says, stroking my cheek tenderly.
His touch disgusts me but I don't show it.
I feel Elliot stiffen behind me but he too holds back.
"What do you mean, us? Derek, I don't understand what's going on."
He continues to stroke my cheek, his second hand running up my arm.
"Yes, you must have a lot of questions. Ask and I'll answer."
I nod. "Okay, first question: what is my grandfather doing next to you?"