Book 1: Chapter 89

The next time I woke up, I felt a lot better than I didn’t before. The pain wasn’t better but my muscles felt like they could at least move if I begged them. Throwing the blankets off me, I slowly sat up and moved my legs to hang off the side of the bed. The floor was cold but it felt good against my bare feet. Standing up was a venture but I was finally able to put enough weight on my left leg to not wobble. Rolling my shoulders, they crackled but loosened. My body was going down hill fast.

Walking over to the window, I pulled back curtains to see the chaos down below. My warriors were mulling about as Silas was standing in the middle of them, shouting at Keri. Nate was standing off to the side just like Charles and Sam described. Shaking my head, I opened I wasn’t asleep for as long as I had been before. At the very least, it looked like I hadn’t missed all the fun.

Going into the bathroom, I took a shower to help relax my muscles and that helped immensely as well. Though, my entire body looked like I’d lost the battle already. Getting out and wrapping myself in a towel, I made my way over to the couch where Sam had put some clothes for me. Underwear was first but I decided to forgo a bra. I’d gotten thin enough now that I didn’t need one anymore. Pulling on a black tank top, I paused before unzipping and revealing my uniform. It seemed to stare back at me, the weight of putting it on that much heavier.

“How about one last round, old friend? One more time of protecting our boys. One more time of destroying our enemies. One more time…” My words caught in my throat as I clutched my jacket to my body.

I wouldn’t cry. From now on, the only person I was was First Alpha Prince Solaris Ulrich, The Rogue King and leader of the Rogue Army. I was no one else because no one else would be able to fight and win this battle while protecting the people who meant everything to me. Securing my belt, pulling my jacket on and buttoning all the buttons, I turned to look in the mirror. Squaring my shoulders, chin up, my face wiped off all the pain I felt, I slipped into my role perfectly.

With my hair up, in a little tuff on top of my head, I was ready to face the music. One final deep breath, I turned and headed out the bedroom door. The pack house was abuzz with commotion. A mix of my guys and Silas’ pack were busy doing different tasks within the house. As soon as I stepped down the last stair, multiple heads turned my way. It took a minute for them to realize who I was but suddenly everything stopped. Silas’ pack members were confused but every single one of my warriors stood. Their fists clenched over their hearts, feet together, other arm behind their back.

I nodded to them, waving them to be at ease. All of them dropped their hands but none of them went back to what they were doing until I turned down the kitchen and headed outside.When I opened the door, all heads turned to me. In perfect unison, they all froze and saluted. Silas, Nate, and a few of their warriors looked around confused. Their eyes landed on me but I looked to the one person I wanted to speak with.

Keri strode up to me and clasped my arm, smiling wide. “Isn’t it our very own Alpha.”

I gave a nod to the guys around up. “At ease, guys. Continue your business.”

“Yes, Alpha!” They all chimed and turned back to what they were doing.

“It’s good to see you, Solaris. Though…you look like death warmed over.”

Smiling, I nodded. “I feel like it. You down for one last hurrah, Gamma?”

“Oh you know I am. Where are tweedle dee and tweedle dum?”

The chuckle was too hollow for her not to notice the pain behind it.

“What did they do now?”

Sighing, I shook my head. “I brought it upon myself. Don’t worry about it. They aren’t around right now. Noah got mad and left me in Silas’ hands, taking an unhappy Finn with him.”

“I don’t care if you commanded them to lick their own assholes. They have no right to get mad at you. You’re their Alpha. Any decision you make, whether or not we agree with it, doesn’t mean they can just abandon you. Not unless you order them to do it.”

Pinching the bridge of my nose, I really didn’t want to think about Finn and Noah right now. Keri had other ideas.

“Alpha, you need decide what you are going to do with them. They might be away now, but the moment they hear the fighting is going to start and you’re going to be leading it, they are coming. You didn’t want to command them away and so here we are. You can still command them, you can type them up in the basement, or you can force them to leave another way. But you need to do something.”

“I know! Goddess…” I whispered. “I know, Keri. I just…”

She put her hand on my shoulder. “I’ll still be by your side, Solaris. No matter what. I just know you don’t want to put those two in danger and you need to make a decision about how you want to do that. It’s the 11th hour and we don’t have anymore time.”

Reaching out, I clasped her arm and she did the same. “You’re right.” I took a deep breath. “Keep me up, Keri. I don’t want to lose face here. Not before the fun.”

She chuckled and nodded, grabbing my other arm and securing me.

“I, First Alpha Prince Solaris Ulrich, do hereby remove Noah White and Finnegan White as my Betas in charge.” 

My whole body started to saw as I felt both their connects snap from me. It took everything not to cry out and Keri held tight as I felt my strength in my leg start to go. Taking another deep breath, I closed my eyes.

“I hereby promote Gamma Keri Summers to Beta Keri Summer.”

The guys who heard me all cheered and whistled. I smiled as I opened up my eyes. Keri was shocked as she stared at me.

“Alpha, you didn’t have to…”

Shaking my head, I squeezed her arms. “You deserve it. Though, if anything, your job might end up be protecting from those two. We are about to be on the receiving end of a hell-storm.”

Keri laughed. “My pleasure Alpha. I’ve been raining to knock some shit into them for a while.”

“Don’t touch Finn. He’s too pregnant to be messed around with.”

She shrugged but I could see the smirk itching to fill her face. However, after a couple seconds, she turned serious.

“How bad is it really, Solaris?”

“This is it. I’ve ensured my old man will take care of you and you’re welcome to the nest eggs I’ve set up. Noah and Finn are also instructed to help as well. The goal is to live long enough to kill all the Hunters and then needing to be within range of those two.” I nodded in the direction of Silas and Nate.

“Why?”

“Do you remember I said that there was a third golden bond that I knew of?”

Keri cured and shook her head. “Well, for goddess’ sake. You can’t catch a break.”

“They are the reason I came back here. I’ve been trying to stay close to hopefully help with the transition.”

“Do you have plan?”

I nodded. “Somewhat. The Hunters complicate things but it’s fine. It will work out. I did end up finishing all my letters over a week ago.”

“You have them set up to be sent at specific times?”

I nodded again. “Ending it being well over 50 letters but what can you do.”

Keri laughed and shook her head. “When you decide to do something, you go all out.”

“You know I do.” I looked over to see Silas and Nate b-lining it for us. “Here we go.”

“Aelia Penn, the fuck do you think you are doing?” Silas growled but when he went to grab my arm, Keri stopped him.

She stood in front of him, in all her sassy attitude glory. “Don’t you dare touch her.”

“This is the last time you get in my way, Gamma. I swear to the goddess I will put you down right here.”

“She’s my Beta now, Silas. I ask that you don’t fight her.” I grabbed her arm and pulled her back out of Silas’ bubble. “She needs to learn that it’s okay for my brother to try and give me shit. Even though I won’t listen to him.”

Nate stepped up and brushed my cheek. “You sure? Noah and Finn have been your Beta’s for almost ten years. It’s going to hurt them so bad.”

My hands balled up. “I know. I just…how am I supposed to keep them safe? The both of them, if they think it’s still their job to protect me, to be by my side…I have to let them go. We don’t need them for this battle. Finn can’t tie his own shoes, let alone fight. I’m also not going to put Noah in harms way because if he happens to die at the hands of a Hunter and when I die, Finn will be completely alone. I won’t allow that.”

“They won’t see it that way, you know that. Especially with happened when they last time you spoke.”

I chuckled. “You mean the last time I got yelled at.”

Silas snorted. “You kind of deserved it.”

“That’s besides the point. I’ll be fine.”

Crossing his arms over his chest, Silas shook his head. “You won’t be if you continue to wear the uniform, Aelia. You need to be in bed. Not our here trying to get yourself tired out and killed by your own Betas. Sam should have never grabbed it.”

Keri snapped at him. “Show some respect. Alpha is choosing to be here. Choosing to help you and your stupid pack. So why don’t you take your ungrateful ass somewhere else.”

She swept her hand over the back yard, all my guys standing to attention. “You see these soldiers? They follow her and her alone. Not the Alpha King, her. We have been through more shitty situations than this and every single one of us owe our lives to our Alpha.” She spoke low. “So you wanna fucking disrespect her or say any kind of shit, you do it privately. Otherwise, you will be on the receiving end of a sword. Alpha or no. Brother or friend. It won’t matter.”

“That’s enough, Beta.” She froze as I growled at her. “You may be Beta now but know your place. It’s beside me and until I say otherwise, you will not fight my battles for me.”

She nodded and put her fist over her heart, bowing. “My apologies, Alpha. I got carried away.”

Silas reached out and rubbed my arm. “I’m glad you’re up. It was touch and go there for a couples days.”

“Sam said you helped by donating some blood. You didn’t need to do that.”

“Whatever I can do to help. After all that Noah said and did…I didn’t know if you would just slip through our fingers. I thought maybe it would help.”

Keri narrowed her eyes and pulled Nate aside. Their heads came together as they whispered to each other. Shaking my head, I ignored them.

“I’m in a lot of pain but I was able to get up. So that’s something. If I think about it too much, I definitely feel it zapping my strength. It’s eating away at my bones, Silas. I’m so tired.” I gave him a sad smile. “But you and Nate, protecting you guys is worth every step.”

Silas pulled me into a hug and kissed my head. “I love you, Aelia. I just…” He froze mid-sentence.

“Sil?”

“Two rogues just passed the territory line going really fast.”

Signing, I rubbed my eyes. I’d hoped they would have just left it alone but I knew better. “Colton!” One of my warriors jumped and rushed over. “Can you grab my chair from my tent I’m assuming Keri already had set up? If we are going to have this confrontation, I want it done outside. I refuse to have to pay for anything else in the damn pack house.”

Silas snickered as Colton ran off towards the woods while a few of the other guys congregated closer to me.

“HE DID WHAT?!” Keri roared as she leaned back from Nate, a fire in her eyes. “I’m going to kill them.”

Sighing, I shook my head. “Yup, definitely outside.”