The Ivory Queen
Chapter 102

***Javier’s POV***

As I approach the stage, my father and mother beam proudly at me. This was the most important night of my life but I could not share my parents enthusiasm.

My mate hated me and my father wanted to start a war with one of my closest friends. To top off this grand night, my best friend was being forced into a position he did not want.

I stand at the front of the stage with Salvador and Pablo at my side as my father gives a short speech.

“Chava?” I mind-link him, leaning over to him.

“What?” He hisses, forcing a smile for the crowd.

“I’m sorry about this,” I sigh. “This isn’t how I wanted my gamma to take his title.”

“Don’t worry about it,” he shrugs. “When Celina gets off her high horse and realizes you’re a good man, she’ll come to you. I’ll step down from the title and you’ll get your Luna,” he says quietly.

“Chava that’s not gonna happen!”

“Alright, Javier are you ready?” My father interrupts.

I take a deep breath, shoving my conversation with Salvador to the back of my mind. This is it. There’s no going back.

“Yes father,” I respond mechanically.

My father motions for the elders to step forward and they set the pack tablet on a table before me. The white marble tablet is engraved with two wolves and a crescent moon. Between the two peeks of the moon is a small bowl like indentation with runes along the edges and intricate carvings leading to the wolves.

Elder Juan turns to me and speaks with confidence. “Javier, repeat after me:

I, Javier Noe Salazar, do solemnly swear to preserve, to protect and to serve the members of Lluvia Blanca, to put the needs of my pack before my own. I swear to uphold the values of this pack and lead with strength and courage to the best of my abilities.

I swear to lead my pack by example, to stand with my fellow wolves in times of hardship and to guard the lives of every member of this pack.

I swear so to do, until my final breath.”

Elder Juan takes the vial of my venom and injects it into the small basin. I watch as the green venom fills the bowl and flows through the runes and into the wolf carvings. A dagger is handed to my father and he presses it to his palm.

The reality of the situation hits me. I’m about to become an Alpha.

“I love you, Javier,” my father says, setting the dagger down and turning to me. “But you will not be Alpha just yet.”

Before I can respond, someone grabs hold of my shoulders and forces me onto my knees. I feel a burning sensation tingle around my bare flesh as silver shackles lock my wrists behind my back and a gag is shoved into my mouth. I turn to see Chava manifest a colorful hummingbird behind some trees before one of the guards hits him over the side of the head with a baton, knocking him out instantly. I watch the hummingbird zoom away unnoticed by the guards, giving me hope there was still a chance Aurora could prepare for war.

I glare at my father, demanding an explanation for his sudden betrayal and he shakes his head disapprovingly at me.

“I had you followed…” he says with disappointment. “You thought I wouldn’t find out about your little agreement with Aurora and the Allies?” He snarls at me, the vein on his forehead pulsating so violently, I think it might actually burst. “I told you to get your act together, but instead you betray your pack and side with the enemy.” He shakes his head in disbelief. “Now I have to fix your little mistake before Amethyst Lake gets here, but don’t worry, you’ll be Alpha once River Moon falls.”

I’m seething with rage. This was all a trap and I brought Aurora right to him. Goddess, I’m such an i***t. I should have been more careful.

“Miguel, what is the meaning of this?” My mother asks as several guards collect Chava and Pablo off the stage to an undisclosed location.

“Nada, mi amor (Nothing, my love).You and the pack get to the safe house. I’ll take care of everything else,” my father orders, kissing my mothers forehead and turning to the crowd.

“Lluvia Blanca. Moon Goddess is smiling upon us tonight. River Moon has no Alpha and it’s time we showed those mutts who they’re dealing with. By the end of the night, River Moon will be no more and we will rule the region!”

A few wolves howl in excitement but many look concerned or frightened. For 50 years, River Moon had been our allies. We have fought alongside each other, mated with one another, respected each other. Going to war with them was extreme.

“Miguel-“

My father gives my mom a warning growl and she frowns at him, but drops the subject.

“This isn’t right and you know it,” she mutters but her warning falls on deaf ears.

My father was as stubborn as Alphas come. I watch in anguish as women and children are taken to the safe house while the number of warriors increases. A single soldier walks up to my father and whispers something in his ear.

“Find her immediately. I have don’t need Mia running around with her gift.”

A ray of hope illuminates my mind. They don’t have Mia. I can still warn Aurora and Wesley!

My father catches a glimpse of me, however, and comes to the same conclusion.

I frantically open up my mind link. “Mia!”

Dad nods to someone behind me and before I can finish my warning, the world goes dark.

***Aurora’s POV***

We find Mia waiting anxiously at the base of the tree, her vigilant eyes darting around in search of any potential threats. Her breath hitches when she catches sight of Evan and I hold back a giggle as my dear Evan blushes furiously when he sees her.

Mia is dressed in a pale blue off the shoulder gown with embroidered flowers on the skirt. Her long brown curls flow past her shoulder and she has a pretty flower crown on her head. She looks like a little princess sneaking off to meet her prince.

“No time for games, lovebirds. We’re here on business,” Celina hisses, making both Evan and Mia turn crimson.

“Mia, has he taken the oath yet?” I ask, praying to Moon Goddess I wouldn’t have to deal with a war tonight. “Is Javier the Alpha?”

She shakes her head and the worry on her face terrifies me.

“I don’t know what’s happening. He was supposed to mind link me when the ceremony was completed but he was cut off mid sentence.”

“I don’t like this, Luna,” Evan’s mutters. “Something’s not right about this.”

Suddenly, Santos the hummingbird emerges from the trees, a note tied to his little foot. I hold out my hand for the little bird and he happily perches on my finger.

The note reads “TRAP”

Trap? What trap?

I k**s the little bird’s head and thank him for the warning, still not fully understanding. Having completed his mission, Santos disappears into a cloud of smoke.

“Tell me everything about this so called plan with Amethyst lake,” I demand from Mia.

“The Amethyst Lake wolves are supposed to position themselves along the Northern Border and Alpha Nikolai should arrive after the pack run is completed. We should go. We’re running out of time!” She hisses, taking off in the direction of the pack house.

Dread settles in the pit of my stomach as we approach the house where I survived countless nightmares. Six guards stand in the circular drive way, three in their wolf forms and three in their human forms.

I recognize the three guards in their human forms as Isaac, Jorge, and Cesar. They used to tie me to a tree and use me as target practice with their BB guns and if they were feeling especially sadistic, they would chase me through the forest like prey as they practiced their hunting skills. César was also one of the wolves that held me down the day Chava branded me.

On any other day, I would have be frightened by them, but not tonight. I had to get to Javier and Chava and they were the only thing standing in my way of that.

The guards growl as they advance towards us but stop abruptly when they were within 20 feet of us, bowing awkwardly to me. I secretly enjoy the bewildered looks on their faces as they straighten back up.

“What the f**k…” Jorge mutters as his gaze shifts between Celina and I. “T-there’s two of them?”

From the corner of my eye, I see Cesar’s eyes fog over as he mind links someone.

Oh no. Can’t have that… Reyna chuckles.

I concentrate on Cesar’s throat and before I know it, he starts clawing desperately at his neck. His bulging eyes look around frantically for its attacker. With his mind-link disrupted, I turn my attention to the guards who stare at their comrade as he struggles to breathe.

“César, cut it out!” Jorge snarls.

I can see Evan and Celina smirk beside me.

“He can’t,” I reply, my voice smooth. “I’m crushing his windpipe,” I chirp.

Isaac and Jorge turn back to me.

“And if any of you alert Miguel of my arrival,” I add with a cool smile, “I’ll crush yours too.”

Jorge growls at me. “Who the hell do you think you are to give us orders?”

We don’t have time to be dealing with these idiots! Reyna growls.

I release César from my grasp and he falls to his knees, clutching his throat and erratically inhaling huge gulps of air.

With a swift flick of my wrist, I send César, Jorge and Isaac flying in the air until they collide with some trees nearby. A few vines sprout from the ground, wrapping around their bodies and trapping them against the trees.

“W-witch!” Isaac whimpers.

His trembling voice brings a smile to my face as I remember all the times I cried because of him as he hurt me mercilessly.

“Not a witch,” I shrug. “An Ivory twin.”

Jorge opens his mouth to scream but a vine wraps around his jaw and clamps it shut tight. I turn to the remaining three wolves who stare at me in shock at what I’ve done to their fellow soldiers. They exchange glances and hesitantly charge at us.

“Sit!” I command in my Royal voice.

All three wolves sit obediently on their hind legs, whining pathetically and lowering their gazes to the ground. I turn back to Cesar, pinching his chin between my fingers and forcing him to look at me.

“W-what are you? What do you want?” He whimpers.

“Silence!” I snarl, clenching my jaw in anger. “I want you three to escort me to the ceremony. You will not speak, you will not move an inch without my permission and you will do as I say without so much as a complaint,” I hiss, squeezing his jaw harder. “Ya no soy tu maldito juguete. Yo soy tu Reina y me vas a repestar, me entendiste? Ahora dime, quien soy? {I’m not your f*****g toy anymore. I’m your Queen and you will respect me, understand? Now tell me, who am I?”

He stares at me wide eyed and I lose my patience so I slap him hard across the face. “Quien soy, imbecil? {Who am I, imbecile?}”

“La reina!{the Queen}” He cries. “Ya por favor. Eres mi reina, {Enough, please. You’re my Queen.}”

I feel tears well up in my eyes but I refuse to shed any for this a*****e and his friends.

“I spent years fearing you,” I sneer coldly, the sheer terror In his eyes reminding of me of my own all those years. “And now look at you, cowering in fear before me.” He whimpers pathetically and I take a breathe to remind myself of who I am. “I’m not like you. I don’t prey on the weak like you do. But if you so much as look at me the wrong way, you’ll find out exactly what I’m capable of. So tell me,” I snarl, my hand threatening to burst into flames. “Is there a trap waiting for me?”

Cesar gulps, hesitating to speak. I lift my index finger to his face, a single flame dancing at the tip.

“One….” I count, bringing the flame closer to his face. “Two…”

“It’s an ambush!” Caesar answers, his eyes wide in fear. “It’s an ambush,” he whimpers. “Please, just don’t hurt us.”

“How many?” I ask, releasing Caesar from my grip and realizing I had dug my finger nails into his flesh. A few drops of b***d slide down his chin and he sighs in relief as a steady flow of air fills his lungs.

I blink hard, ashamed I had once again almost lost control of my anger. I push the emotion away, however, remembering I had a job to do and these guards had the answers I needed.

Jorge answers. “About 200,” he replies, his voice trembling. “The women and children were sent to the safe house and a couple of guards were sent to look for Mia,” he adds, nodding his head in her direction.

Evan snarls menacingly at the threat made towards his mate and it pleases me. Mia now had someone who would protect her with his life.

“What about Javier and Salvador? Where are they?” I ask.

“Miguel had them locked away in the dungeons so they wouldn’t interfere.”

“So Javier didn’t take the oath yet?”

Its Isaac who answers next. “He did but Miguel didn’t transfer his power to him. He still needs to seal the oath in b***d.”

My gaze shifts to the wolves sitting quietly, waiting patiently for my instructions. “You three take Wesley and his guards to find Javier and Chava and release them from their prison. If you give anyone a heads up, you won’t live long enough to regret it,” I threaten, their eyes widening in fear. “I’ll handle Miguel and the ambush.”

“Aurora-“

I lift a hand to silence Evan. He shakes his head in disapproval but I don’t care. I want Javier to finish his ceremony and I want to go home. The guards take Wesley and his men off to the dungeons and we agree to meet back at the amphitheater to complete the ceremony.

I release the remaining three idiots from my vines and they quickly scramble to their feet.

“Lead the way,” I command.

We make our way to the pack house, through the courtyard and out towards the amphitheater where we find over 200 soldiers glaring at us.

“Aurora… we’ve been expecting you,” Miguel smiles.