Kept Secret

Chapter 31

Lucas~

Flashbacks

"How?" Camille gives her a tentative look. I can tell she doesn't trust this woman, much less wants her help but we're desperate and frankly, I don't care if that bitch Julia herself decides to help us, as long as we get closer to finding my girl.

She walks over to the bookshelf and pulls a stack of files out from one of the boxes, "Right before Lia shifted I left for Russia to try and negotiate an alliance with Queen Lumeria of the witches and warlocks. She rejected the offer of course but maybe she'll reconsider under the circumstances. Our kingdoms have always lived in peace apart from each other but maybe this threat is exactly what we need to bring us together." We all glance between each other, hesitant, "I know I haven't exactly been the best mother in the last few years but I want to help find her. She's still my daughter and I have to at least try."

And that's how we ended up on a jet flying over the freezing hell that is Russia. I glance out the window and it's all ice and snow for as far as the eye can see and it practically being winter here doesn't help one bit. There are only four of us on the plane not including the pilot and flight attendants, myself, Camille, and the queen. Henry, unfortunately (for him) couldn't come with us since he had a pack to run but lucky for us we had a more than capable pair of deltas and a beta male who could run things while we're gone, "How long until we land?"

Camille opens her eyes for probably the first time since we took off, "from the looks of it we'll be arriving soon then it's a 30 minute drive from the airport to the castle where we'll be staying."

"Why don't we run?" Camille gives me a duh look but I don't get it

"It's way too cold up here. That's why the witches settled here hundreds of years ago when they were at war with the other species, we'd never survive for long in wolf form." I nod my head in understanding.

We end up flying even further north than I thought we would and it's even colder here. Everything is covered in ice and snow and from the looks of it, things aren't going to get any better any time soon. The door of the jet opens up and a cold wind knocks the breath right out of me before I can even reach the stairs. I hear Camille stifle a laugh behind me, "Welcome to Russia."

I grunt and start climbing down the stairs slowly, feeling tiny droplets hit my skin, "Great! This is exactly what we need right now, rain!" Evangeline's voice drifts towards us, barely audible over the wind. We reach the bottom of the stairs where an expensive-looking car is waiting for us with a very tall brooding man standing beside it, "An escort from queen Lumeria," Evangeline comments after seeing my stare, "It was either this or we land the jet in her  backyard but I'm pretty sure she wouldn't exactly be keen to join us then."

I nod still getting used to the whole royalty thing, not that I'm royalty or anything, but the people sure seem to think so.

"Welcome Queen Evangeline, Beta Queen Camille, and King Lucas." my hand freezes on the handle while my head whips around to stare at the freakishly tall man. He called me King Lucas, but that's not right, is it?

Evangeline laughs that pretentious posh laugh all royals seem to have mastered, polite yet condescending, "Yes thank you for hosting us, we are truly honored." she opens the door for me and ushers all of us in, slamming the door behind her and closing the divider, "So here's the deal, the queen doesn't know that you're not king yet, all she knows is that you're my daughter's true mate and that you both found each other very soon. It works to our advantage if they assume you're her mate because it gives you political ground to stand on. If she knew you were the rejected mate of the alpha queen... let's just say your opinion would mean next to nothing, especially in a kingdom run by women."

Camille seems to agree with Evangeline and after mulling it over for a while I realize that she's right. They won't respect me much less value my opinion if they knew what happened between Lia and me so I'll have to be king, if only for a short while," Okay I get it but I have no idea what a king does much less how to act like one so I don't exactly see this plan going over well."

Evangeline's eyes practically sparkle with mischief, "That's where I come in. I'll teach you everything you need to know about being a king." I nod at her in appreciation, although I am curious about her intentions. Something on my face must give it away because she senses it almost right away, "I know it's hard to believe but I do live my daughter and I've always wanted the best for her. I guess over time I forgot that what I thínk is best and what actually is are two different things, that's why I'm helping you find her. She needs you and I can tell that you'll be a formidable team."

"Evangeline, I-" suddenly something crashes into the side of the car sending it flying across the road. Evangeline screams while Camille and I grunt trying to brace ourselves against the sides of the car. We roll down a hill violently being tossed around until we eventually stop at the bottom of the hill. I groan looking around the damaged vehicle when the door is ripped off its hinges and the brooding man helps us all out.

Smoke erupts from the top of the hill and huge wolves appear through it with men and women riding them, "Rogues." the brooding warlock comments, eyeing the riders. The wolves start running down the hill, heading right at us, "We need to get out of here now!" Camille grabs my arm and pulls me towards the frost-covered woods, trying to find cover from the arrows and magic blasts raining down on us.

We run for what feels like hours but it's probably only been a few minutes, avoiding frost-covered trees and trying not to slip because of the rain. I push my legs to work harder than ever and I can tell the rest are doing the same but the wolves are gaining on us despite the rain, "We'll be within the palace's range if we can make it past the clearing."

The clearing comes into view but right before we can make it the wolves all leap over us, cutting us off. The lead wolf threateningly growls at us while its rider dismount. The woman, or I guess witch, turns towards me. The moment her eyes meet mine, my heart stops beating...

"Lia?"