Forbidden |18+

XXXVIII: A New Monarchy

The first thing that I notice on the way up to Alpha Ernouf and Luna Lovetta's office with Ulric, is the uncertainty, the uneasiness...the fear in the eyes of pack members as I walk by. I'm quite familiar with the looks of fear I once received when I first arrived and started assimilating within the Ancient Pride Pack, however, this is a different type of fear that reflects in their eyes.

"Ulric, Wren," Noir greets us briefly as we walk down the hallway to the office, noticing that Idris is nowhere to be found. As he normally is nearly at Noir's side all the time, I find it odd, though when she opens the door for the two of us to enter, I'm brought back right down from my thoughts.

"Noir," Ulric nods as he walks past her and into the office.

As I follow behind him, Noir stops me briefly, her features softening as she asks, "Are you doing better?"

A soft smile works its way onto my lips, replying, "Yes, thank you for your concern, though, I'm okay now."

"I'm glad," a small smile forms on Noir's lips as she nods at me, her gaze breaking away as she stares back down the hall, returning to her post.

As the door closes behind me, I turn around and immediately notice that Odette in standing near one of the bookshelves, a grim look set on her features. Furrowing my brows, I try and reach out, asking, "Odette—"

"You doing okay now?" Odette cuts me off short, her gaze searching over me as she glances to Alpha Ernouf who sits at his desk. He and Luna Lovetta and looking over something on the surface of the desk, when their gazes lift, and they rest them on Ulric and me.

"I...yes," I look around, noticing the difference in their demeanors. Everything just seems so different, like I'm living in another world...

Alpha Ernouf glances at Odette and questions, "Would you like to explain to Wren what you told us before the letters all packs have started to receive?"

Odette nods quietly, moving away from the wall while Luna Lovetta addresses me, "Wren, you might want to take a seat for this."

When I look to Ulric, he lowers his head and nods, and while I lower myself into one of the seats across from the Alpha and Luna, Ulric stands behind me. I feel safe with him so close to me, there for me, making sure that I'm not left alone again.

Luna Lovetta offers me a soft smile, though she remains silent, just as Alpha Ernouf is. As they allow Odette to take the floor, she stands off slightly to the side of the desk, parting her lips and explaining, "Wren, there's really no easy way to say this, however, the information that you provided to Ulric was true."

"What?" I ask, furrowing my brows, "How? What do you mean?"

Odette calmly begins to elaborate, "While you've been out unconscious, a lot has happened. Prince Rune did in fact, take Lilian Myrkur as his beloved. Krafa commenced, and there was a display of bond. They were formally announced and addressed as King Rune Hárauður and Queen Liliana Myrkur-Hárauður."

I remain quiet and patient, knowing that this is the natural course that would take after I did not show for Krafa the initial time, Eli's words playing out as truth and not mere hearsay. Though, I still am not quite sure what she means by the information I provided—

"The Vampire King and Queen were...killed in their sleep," when Odette says this, my blood runs cold.

All the color drains from my face, Ulric gently rests his hands on the tops of my shoulders as I state, "Eli and Jinx murdered them. I loathe Rune but I wouldn't have killed him for change, nor harmed Liliana."

Alpha Ernouf clears his throat, Luna Lovetta's eyes shifting slightly as she looks away.

Something isn't right.