The Ivory Queen
Chapter 105

***Aurora’s POV***

“It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, your Majesty. I’m Nikolai Kovalenko, Alpha of the Amethyst Lake pack.“

His ice blue eyes inspect me from head to toe, a perfect smile stretched across his lips. I feel a shiver run down my spine as I watch wolf after wolf emerge behind him.

There have to be at least 100 from the looks of it, Reyna observes.

“Your Majesty?” Miguel questions, looking over at me in confusion. “What the hell is he talking about?”

I choose to ignore him, not wanting to take my eyes off the notorious Alpha approaching the stage with quick, determined strides.

“I’ve waited many years to finally meet you,” he says as he climbs up the steps.

Meet me? How does he know who I am?

Before I can question him, Evan grabs my wrist and pulls me behind him, snarling at the Alpha.

Nikolai smirks at him. “And you are?”

“Not someone you want to mess with,” Evan spits back.

Alpha Nikolai smiles in amusement, humming quietly to himself before turning to Celina.

“Oh and your highness, I didn’t forget about you. I see you’ve finally come out of hiding and graced us with your presence,” he chuckles, resting his chin on his knuckles and tilting his head innocently to the side.

“You know… How do you know?” I ask.

He shrugs smugly, his eyes darting all around, taking in every detail of the situation. “Tais and Ira explained it all many years ago when I took over as Alpha.”

“You work for them-“

He laughs again. “How else do you think those rogues got into Lluvia Blanca without being noticed that night?”

That night…?

I rack my brain for a second before realizing what he means. My eyes widen in realization and a little mist glazes over them.

“You helped kill him…” I whisper to myself

He smiles, a chuckle bubbling in his chest. “I helped orchestrate a lot of things…”

“Will someone explain to me what the hell is going on?” Miguel snaps.

Nikolai climbs up the steps, his attention on Celina and I.

“Allow me to enlighten you,” he sighs. “Aurora Montenegro or should I say Aurora Altamirano Reyes, is the daughter of a gold and silver wolf, the fallen King and Queen of a long forgotten kingdom and the Fated Pair of the Moon and Sun.” Miguel still looks confused much to Nikolai’s annoyance. “Aurora and Celina are the Ivory twins, hybrids of a silver and gold wolf and very gifted wolves… isn’t that right your Majesty?” he asks.

I glare at him. “What game are you playing here, Alpha? What is it you want?”

“I think my intentions are quite clear, Luna.”

“T-this was not part of the plan, Alpha Nikolai! Sh-she’s just a nobody! You never- why did you keep this from me? Allies don’t lie to each other. Your men should be at River Moon, not here!” Miguel snaps.

“Oh come on, Miguel,” Alpha Nikolai sighs. “You and I both knew your son would betray you one way or another. His heart wasn’t in this alliance, even I sensed that. All I needed from you was to know how the Allies moved and you gifted me all that information.”

Miguel’s face hardens. “You son of a b***h! You lied to me!”

Alpha Nikolai smirks at the alpha. “No, I really do want River Moon.”

I growl at him. “It’s not yours to take.”

“Is it not?” He asks, looking around once more. “I don’t see your Alpha beside you. Or do you plan to take your sister’s mate as your own now that Oliver is gone? I’m sure Javier wouldn’t mind,” he laughs again.

“What the hell is he talking about?” Miguel snarls at his son. “Who is your mate?”

Javier ignores him, instead standing in front of Celina protectively as his wolf threatens to come out. The Lluvia Blanca wolves stare in shock at Javier, utterly confused.

“Oh you don’t know?” Nikolai laughs, silencing the growing murmurs amongst the crowd. “Why Miguel, it’s so simple. Javier’s mate is none other than your enemy’s twin sister, her Highness, Celina.”

The crowd gasps and the b***d visibly drains from Miguel’s face as the information registers. Javier does not shy away from the truth, however, keeping his cold stare on Nikolai.

“Celina rej-“

“Javier is Alpha of Lluvia Blanca,” Celina interrupts. “Any deal you made with Miguel is void. Javier has signed the treaty with the Allies and is no longer your ally. You know what we are and we out number you,” she snarls. “You can’t be stupid enough to start a fight you know you can’t win.”

Nikolai smiles smugly at Celina but does not answer.

“You will not take River Moon,” I command. “Stand down, Alpha.”

Alpha Nikolai stares blankly at me, the silence in the amphitheater deafening. I wait expectantly for him to obey the command when he suddenly doubles over, bursting into uncontrollable laughter.

The command didn’t work… How is that possible?

When he looks back up, his eyes glow red. “Tais and Ira may have whipped up a little something for me to use on this occasion. You know for a seemingly powerful wolf, you sure do have a lot of weaknesses,” he laughs. “Let me explain something to you, Luna. I don’t take orders. I give them.”

His eyes fog over and I watch in horror as more rogues and wolves alike appear from the surrounding woods, enclosing the Lluvia Blanca pack house.

“I said ‘STAND DOWN’,” I command, my voice faltering slightly, fearing Nikolai might not react. “You won’t win this fight.”

He shakes his head, a knowing smirk still hanging on his lips. My mind is reeling.

“Are you sure about that?”

Almost as if on cue, I’m bombarded with several mind-links from my warriors at the northern border.

“Luna, we’ve been attacked!” One cried

“They used the poison!” Another said. “We need a healer!”

“Alpha Patrick is down!”

“Carter is down!”

“Luna! Help!”

Oh goddess….

“Get everyone you can to the pack hospital,” I respond, fearing I might not be able to make it to them in time. “I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

I have to cut off my mind-link as more of their pleas bombard me. Evan must have gotten the same messages because he turns to me, a look of shock on his face.

To make matters worse, Celina suddenly collapses on her knees, a mix of anguish and fury swimming in her eyes.

“Celina? What’s wrong?”

She ignores me, her rage directed at Nikolai. A cool mist radiates from her palms and her breaths come in quick and shallow. “What did you do to my mother?” She pants.

When Nikolai just answers with a shrug, frost radiates on the stage floor surrounding Celina and a wind storm swirls around the stage. She lifts a hand, ready to aim ice crystals at him when his voice stops her.

“Careful, your Highness. I have my wolves watching your family as we speak. You hurt me in any way and they have orders to kill them too. Diego is quite weak and your father isn’t doing any better…” Nikolai threatens. “I would suggest you hurry to find them instead of coming for me. They don’t have much time left.”

“I’ll take my chances,” Celina growls back, shooting ice crystals at him.

I create a force shield around Nikolai, protecting him from the deadly rays of ice racing towards him. Nikolai smiles in amusement while Celina glares at me.

“What are you-“

“I’m not taking any chances, not when your family’s lives are on the line!” I scold her. “Go to them. I’ll figure this out on my own.”

She growls in frustration and gets to her feet again. “Don’t think this is over Nikolai. If they die, I’m coming for you. There won’t be a witch alive capable of protecting you from me.”

She turns to leave when Javier catches her arm. “Where are you going?”

“Let go unless you want to lose that arm of yours!” She snaps, yanking herself free from his grip.

“I’m coming with you then,” he says. “You’re not going out there on your own!”

“I don’t need an escort. I can take care of myself just fine. You have a pack to lead, so lead it,” she growls.

“Take me then,” Mia offers herself.

Evan and Chava growl in unison. “Not a chance!”

Knowing we are wasting precious time, I snarl at them all. “ENOUGH. ALL OF YOU. Mia and Celina go. And that’s final.”

“I don’t need Mia!” Celina snaps.

“I don’t care. Now go!”

Mia forces a smile as Celina she pushes past her and jumps off the stage.

“Let’s go!” Celina orders and Mia runs after her. Celina wraps a hand around Mia’s wrist and the two vanish into thin air.

“So Aurora, what will it be?” Nikolai asks, his voice drawing my attention. “Hand over River Moon and the Allies, or take your chances with what little army you have left?”

“You can have River Moon over my dead body,” I hiss through gritted teeth.

“I was afraid you would say that,” he sighs. “So be it. ATTACK!”

His wolves close in on us, charging at Lluvia Blanca’s warriors. Javier is quick to deliver orders and he and his soldiers begin shifting and fighting back. Wesley and his wolves jump off the stage, eager to help our new allies.

I hear the tearing of clothes as Evan shifts beside me, his wolf snarling at Nikolai. Miguel struggles against the vines still keeping him in place, catching all of our attention.

“Let me go!” Miguel cries. “Please! My pack!”

I watch Miguel struggle some more, his eyes darting across the battle field looking for someone. I don’t trust him though. Just a few minutes ago, this man was hell bent on hurting me and my pack. What would he do if I let him go?

Instead I focus my attention on Nikolai. Several of his wolves manage to get to the stage and Salvador is the first to respond, projecting a number of daggers in his hand and throwing them expertly at the oncoming wolves. Two more come racing towards the stage and Salvador bolts towards them, shifting mid air and tearing into them.

Evan pushes me behind him as Nikolai stalks towards us.

“This should be fun,” Nikolai laughs as Evan rushes towards him.

Nikolai jump-shifts, colliding into Evan in midair and both of them crash onto the stage floor. I look out into the battle scene unfolding in front of me and get to work.

In the distance, I see four wolves piling onto Javier’s back, sinking their teeth into his flesh. I lift my hand in a swift motion, a tremor rippling through the earth as roots burst through the soil. They wrap around the wolves, pulling them back. I squeeze my fist and the wolves are crushed, whining and whimpering until they fall silent. All around me, wolves are fighting and I do my best to help, aiming lightning bolts and rays of fire at the enemy.

When I see a group of rogues and Amethyst wolves corner a lone Lluvia soldier, I focus my thoughts on their nerves, activating every pain receptor I could in their bodies. They writhe in pain, allowing the young soldier to tear into their throats and end their agony.

Evan’s whimper draws my attention and I look up just in time to see Nikolai pin him down. I open a portal underneath Nikolai’s feet, causing him to loose his balance and sink into the portal. Evan takes advantage and manages to push Nikolai off of him.

I open another portal beneath Nikolai just before he lands and he slips right into it. A second portal opens 20 feet above us and he comes falling through the air, crashing with a g***n.

He shifts back into his human form, spitting b***d and rolling onto his side. He laughs, a b***d stained smile stretched across his face.

Evan storms over to him, sinking his canines into his side and holding him down as I climb back onto the stage

“You think you’ve won?” Nikolai snarls as Evan bites down harder. “Oh, your Majesty, if only you knew how much you’ve already lost!”

Several roots break the surface of the earth, slithering their way up on the stage and wrapping around his arms and legs. He winces as the plants dig into his skin, his fate practically sealed but his smile never faltering.

Suddenly, the smell of green apples and honey hits my nostrils, sending Reyna into a frenzy.

“Look behind you, your Majesty.”

Evan looks up and his eyes become clouded in confusion. I hear a sickly snarling just behind me and I turn around, coming face to face with the most gorgeous black wolf, a white spot on its tail.

“Michael?”