Their Banished Queen

Chapter 5

Maeve's P.O.V.

"Alright, we're only going to be gone for a little while," I tell Morgan. "Be good for Alexandrea and I will be be back before you know it."

       I don't want to leave her, especially now. Unfortunately, I don't have much of a choice today.

        "Are you gonna be with Mason and mama?"

        I smile sadly and brush her hair out of her face. "No, I'm not."

        "Why can't I go with you?"

        "Because it's for grown ups," I tell her. "But I got you something."

        Her face lights up. "What?"

       I hold up a necklace, one I had when I was her age. The only difference is that I put a protection spell on it. As much as I don't want to leave her, I know it's ridiculous to think that she will always be by my side.

It's pure gold and dangling from it is the symbol many know as the Triple Goddess, or Hecate, with black onyx in the middle.

       "Pretty," she coos before I put it on her. "Thank you."

"You are very welcome," I grin. "I'll be back soon, okay?"

       She nods and goes back to playing with her dolls. I give her a kiss on the crown of her head before heading downstairs where two carriages are waiting; one for Ash and me, the other for the other three guards going with us.

The past couple days I have spent every single minute questioning those who work at the castle. It has been quite tedious, but I can't sleep until I feel safe. Some of the them I parted ways with, others I raised their pay. My father could be quite stingy.

Tomorrow, I will be hosting an event at the castle to bring in new guards and soldiers. But today, I'm visiting the packs. I want to have a good relationship with them and make sure things are going smoothly.

It doesn't take long to arrive at the first of the day, the Night Walker Pack. Many of the members are congregated in front of the pack house, looking curiously as we emerge from the carriage.

"Your Majesty," a man bows. The alpha from what I can tell. "I'm Alpha Barett. I apologize, we weren't expecting you."

"I find it better if people don't have time to prepare," I say. "It's easier to get a look at the bigger picture that way."

They are nervous. I can hear multiple heartbeats speed up.

He laughs dryly. "Yes, I suppose so."

That's when I smell something peculiar. "Forgive me, but is it normal for so many humans to live in a pack?"

Alpha Barett swallows nervously. "Yes, Your Majesty," his Luna speaks up. "Many of our wolves have human mates here."

"But they transform once marked?," I ask with a tilt of my head. "And they all smell sick."

"I think you are mistaken," Alpha Barett shakes his head. "They are fine."

His tone is defensive. I spent many years with the humans, I know what they smell like. I also know what it smells like when they are sick.

      "I think I would prefer to see that for myself," I say, but they all stand in silence. "Shall I see myself in?"

One of the pack members looks around nervously before stepping up. "I can show you, Your Majesty."

         I follow her inside the pack house along with my guards. "What is your name?"