My Alpha and Beta

Ch. 99 - What's Left

Liam POV

We sat with Jax in our arms for what seem liked forever. Time had stopped and nothing seemed to matter. Many enter the hall, all bowing at us and waiting for what was to happen next.

We killed the King. Riley was now the most powerful beast that existed. She sat beside our lost mate, crying into his chest. I knew she needed to address the remaining Lycans, but I didn't seem to care anymore about the world than she did.

Our world was destroyed. I thought of our daughter, and the child that grew inside her. My eyes looked over Jax. He won't ever meet his children.

"Riley, baby, we need to get up. We need to bring Jax home. Our daughter will be sent to us soon too. We killed Demetrius and it's over now."

"At what cost." She cried.

"I know. It's not fair, gorgeous. We have to move though." My hand brushed over her hair again. I wanted to take away this pain, but I felt it too. Nothing could fix this.

"Riley, Liam." A crackly voice came beside us. My eyes widened seeing Freya sitting next to me. She looked like skin and bones, deep sunken eyes and hair mixed with grey. "He is alive." She croaked out and we both looked to Jax.

My ear went to his chest, hearing the slow beats of his heart. "Barely. Can you wake him?" I asked hopeful.

She sadly shook her head no. "I can keep him safe though." Her hands rested over his chest, white light poured out of her and into him.

"What did you do?" Riley asked.

"I persevered his body. He killed his master and the curse would had eventually taken his life. He will live until you find a way."

"What way?" Tears fell rapidly from her eyes.

"Only Mildred's direct kin can wake him."

"Mildred has no children. I doubt her parents are alive either." I said looking over Jax. His heart was much stronger, but he remained a statue.

"It's a spell. You have time to search for a way. I'm sorry, it's the best I can offer." Freya looked to us, knowing there was little hope.

"It buys us time." My hand reached out for Riley's. She slowly nodded her head ok. She watched Jax's handsome face as tears seemed to be never ending down her cheeks.

"You are our Queen now. We need you, Riley." Freya looked around the hall and Riley followed her eyes. Twelve Lycans remained, not including the three mates still laying half dead. Riley was now their leader and they knelt behind her, waiting for her orders.

"I don't want to be Queen, or a Lycan. I want to be just me again. Do what you want." The sadness in her voice was overwhelming. Each word radiated through me and cut me into pieces.

I squeezed her hand and she looked at me. "You have a responsibility to these people." I turned her hand over, my finger brushing the mark on her wrist. Only one blood vow remained. The four Lycans she swore to kill were already dead and so the mark healed from her skin.

"I don't want it. I want Jax!" She began crying again.

"I know baby. He is alive and we will find a way to bring him back. Honor you blood vow and stop the cruelty Demetrius put in place for so long. You can be their Queen and Jax's mate."

Riley rubbed her wrist then looked to Freya. She swallowed hard seeing the other three mates laying half dead on the floor.

"You rejected Demetrius and saved us. Thank you, Freya."

"It was a honor, my Queen." She smiled wearily at her. Freya looked too weak to even stand, but she pushed herself to be strong for us.

"Will they be ok?" Riley nodded to the other women.

"In time. I know some spells Star can help me with to lessen the pain of the rejection. Don't worry about us, Riley, we will survive this."

"Release the women from downstairs. This is now their home." Riley said, turning to the Lycans kneeling behind her. "Freya and her mates will remain here as the leaders of this territory." She turned to Freya. "If you want to stay this land is yours. The women held as prisoners will be your responsibility to nurture and give a good life too."

"We would like that Riley, and we won't disappoint you."

"One Lycan can stay as your bodyguard of these land. The rest I want scattered. There will be no Lycan pack and I forbid them to live in one place together. Too much power leads to too much destruction."

I smiled at Riley. Even heartbroken she was a true leader. No one has ever separated the Lycans, or demoted them to mere bodyguards. They would be foolish to disobey her though.

"Yes, my Queen." The Lycans said in unison.

"I'm not your Queen, but you will obey my commands. If any of you so much as scratches an innocent I will have you imprisoned and torture for the rest of your miserable existence. Is that understood?" She spoke fiercely at them, leaving no room for disobedience.

"Understood." They said.

"Go! Release the women and help them settle in the castle. Two of you prepare my father's body for me to bring home. As far as the werewolves left, you can come with Liam and I, or stay and help Freya rebuild here. You will join one of our packs and swear obedience, or you can run and become rogues."

The room began emptying, doing as their fierce and sexy Queen ordered. Riley remained unmoved from Jax's side.

"Let's bring our mate home and meet our daughter." My hand brushed her hair behind her ear. She nodded to me and stood. I lifted Jax in my arms and felt his dead weight. I concentrated on his heartbeat, letting it fill me with hope. I couldn't let the possibility of truly losing him enter my mind.

"Anything you need call me." Riley gave Freya a hug.

"Same for you. You freed thousands of us today, Riley. I know it cost you greatly, but the world will be forever grateful to their Lycan Queen and her fierce Alpha mates."

Riley nodded to her and laid a hand to my shoulder. Her eyes remained on Jax's face as we walked out of the mansion. Hundreds of people scattered around us and we saw women emerging from the bottom floors. They looked afraid, but hopeful.

Hope was the best anyone can give another. Change was never easy, but it was necessary. The whole supernatural world needed to adapt to a new way. The way of Riley. She now had the power to make this world in her vision, and I knew in time it would be as perfect as she is.

"Your father is placed in the car behind you." One Lycan male said with a bow to Riley.

"Thank you." She said, looking to the large SUV. Jeremiah would never meet his grandchildren, or see how amazing his daughter ruled their world. It was a sacrifice any rational father would make though. He gave up his life, turned from the only world he knew to raise my gorgeous mate away from all this.

Riley learned to be a compassionate human, instead of some supernatural slave to Demetrius. Jeremiah always protected his daughter, and I knew Riley would value that most of all. I looked to Jax and sighed. It was our job to protect her now. I needed him by my side, by our side.