Alpha Queen: First of Her Name

Chapter Twelve

"What's the deal, Hope." Everest and I walk through the Northern gardens arm in arm. All around us is clear crystal ice and beautiful pure white snow. A pathway of black stone and hard-packed earth is lit by glowing orange torches every few yards.

I glance at Everest, "What do you mean?"

The strawberry blonde exaggeratedly rolls her eyes. "You know what." She pointedly stares behind us. A pair of Northern knights trail after us a few feet away. Every turn we make through the icy garden, another Knight is positioned like a silent sentinel.

"Daniel is busy with Nick." I frown in confusion, "that's why the Northern knights are with us instead."

"That's not what I meant and you know it!" She tugs me closer to whisper in my ear. "The Queen."

Heat flames my cheeks. "Oh...that."

Everest grips my arm tightly, "Yes! Now you must tell me everything."

"Not here." I jerk my head backward, "We can talk over evening tea."

The taller Omega pouts petulantly, "Fine."

We continue walking, coming closer to the edge of the garden where a tall white wall towers above. The tips of the pine trees are taller, but not by much. "Why is there a wall?" I turn toward the Northern Knights and point at the large expanse of white stone.

"The Dark War." One answers gruffly not even glancing at it.

Everest lets go of my arm to step closer to the wall. "It's amazing."

She goes to touch the gritty stone but is stopped by a knight. "No touching." The female knight berates Everest.

I shake my head at the furious glare Everest shoots toward the Beta currently glaring right back. "Everest come on." My arm outstretches toward her. "Let's go see if they have a frozen rose bush."

"Fine, but I'll be back." Everest sends the knight one last glare before wrapping her arm around my waist.

Inside Solstice Palace, Daniel and Prince Nickolas greet us along with the Northern Beta, Xavier. "Did you enjoy your walk?" Daniel comes to stand beside me.

"We did," I say, falling into another bout of giggles when Everest growls low.

"I'm afraid we will have to cut this meeting short. Dinner is about to be served." Xavier's gruff baritone echos in the hall. Daniel takes my elbow while Nicolas takes Everest's. The two male Alphas lead us down a series of corridors when we stop at a door. The knights standing post immediately open the door. Warmth encases me in a welcome hug. Inside is a spread of food going the length of the table, which is almost twenty-feet.

Xavier leads us inside, taking a chair out. "Princess Hope." My eyes widen when I see that the chair is to the left of the head chair. Once I take a seat, Daniel settles down beside me. Across from me, Xavier sits. Beside him, Nickolas and then Everest.

The two of us make eye contact and she winks. I blink and frown. My attention is stolen when Xavier clears his throat. "The Queen can not dine with us this evening, she sends her apologies." At the end of his sentence, Xavier glances at me briefly.

We all begin passing around the various dishes, small talk rising. Prince Nicolas takes a sip from his goblet, leveling his dark eyes on me. "So, Princess Hope, how has your Father reacted to you being here?"

My throat constricts around the food currently sliding down it. I break out into a coughing fit. Daniel pats my back, forcing my glass of water to my lips. "Drink."

A few satisfying gulps later, I breathe heavily with my hand around my throat. "Thank you, Daniel."

The Alpha eyes me with concern, "Are you alright?"

I wave him off and turn back toward Nicolas. "I wouldn't know about my Dad." Daniel sets his hand over mine when it begins to shake underneath the table.

Prince Nicolas lifts a brow. "What do you mean?"

Everest sends me a concerned look. "You didn't do what I think you did."

"I ran away after Dad told me no." I sip primly from my glass again. "Daniel and I are rogues."

Everest's eyes widen in shock, her mouth dropping open. "A rogue!" The heavy wooden chair clatters to the floor loudly when Everest leaps from her chair. "Hope you have to be kidding!"

Tears sting behind my eyes at her words. Shame leaks from my pores and into the air causing the air to turn. "I'm sorry Everest." Tears gather at the corner of my eyes and descend on my red cheeks. "I'm sorry, I know what this means for your reputation. Being associated with me and all."

Suddenly arms wrap around my shoulders, a flowery scent enveloping me. "Are you mental? I don't care about my reputation, Hope."

My arms wrap around Everest's waist, "You mean it?"

"Let the Moon Goddess herself strike me down if I'm lying." Everest places a hand over her heart, staring into my eyes. "Nothing you could ever do will make me turn my back on you."

"Everest!" We hug, each of us burying our noses into the other's neck for a quick scenting. Everest's small hands rub circles into my back as I come back to myself from the overwhelming feeling of despair. Oblivious to the three Alphas behind us eying the two of them uncomfortably, Everest and I continue to cry on each other's shoulders.

"Why are you crying?" Using my sleeve I wipe away the tears that stain Everest's cheeks.

She hiccups, "Because you are!"

Laughter bubbles up in my lungs before spilling forth. "You're so silly." Everest rolls her eyes and wipes my tears away.

A throat clears above us. We both look up to see Daniel glaring at us. "Princesses, dinner is still in progress."

I shake my head and help Everest to her feet. "I'm not hungry anymore."

Everest nods her head, hand clutching mine tightly. "We feel like going on a walk."

"Again?" Prince Nicolas stares at us, most likely on his second glass of wine.

"We have a lot to talk about." Sending Daniel a pointed look, Everest and I both curtsy.

Everest waves back to the men at the table, sending a flirty wink toward Xavier. "Later!"

The shocked look that crosses over the Alpha's face causes me to laugh. Out in the hallway, I tug Everest behind me while the two of us giggle. "Where's your room?" We stand in the middle of the hallway. A Northern knight at the end of the hall eyes us warily.

This is it. I can either tell Everest now or wait for her curiosity to peek. "It's kind of on the other side of the palace" When Everest frowns I huff, "My room is near Queen Mac's."

She lifts a brow and smirks. "I packed some strawberry wine in my luggage."

"We're going to need more than wine." We lock arms and head toward Everest's room.

"On a scale of one to ten, how smashed do you want to get? I can steal from Nick's reserves." We breeze down the numerous halls, stopping in front of a navy-colored door.

"Ten if you want the full detailed story. I haven't come to terms with it myself." I exhale heavily and lean my head on her shoulders.

She nods, opening the door. "Go ahead, I'll be right back."

Once the two of us are situated comfortably in front of the hearth with its crackling fire, a pile of blankets and pillows formed into a nest, and dressed in our nightgowns do I speak.

Everest grunts and sips from her dark glass bottle. "You look like you need this." She hands me the bottle, its smooth ceramic surface sliding along my skin.

"Guess who has a mate?" I take a swig from the bottle. It's clutched tightly to my chest in a desperate attempt to provide me with the strength to explain this entire thing.

"No way!" Everest squeals but then falters when she notices my grimace.

Gulping down a few swigs of alcohol, I center an annoyed glare on the excited Omega. "It's Queen Mac."