The Ivory Queen
Chapter 111

***Mia’s POV***

Evan’s heart beats rhythmically as I lay on his chest, the sound rocking me to sleep. Inez purrs contently, happy to be safely tucked away in our mate’s arms.

Our mate.

I still couldn’t wrap my head around how the events unfolded after the fighting stopped. Evan and Chava brought in Aurora to the pack hospital, a huge tear gushing b***d on her shoulder. Evan was on the verge of a mental breakdown. His Luna was hurt and unlike my father, he could nothing about it. And that’s when it happened. The most amazing thing.

As he set Aurora’s body down on a bed for Celina to work, he looked around frantically.

“Where’s Mia? Has anyone seen Mia?” He cried, his voice laced with worry and despair.

I heard his call from the hall and came rushing towards him. When I arrived, my heart swelled with joy instantly. Evan ran to me, pulling me into his chest.

“Thank the Moon you’re okay, my love,” he murmured, kissing my forehead over and over. His whole body seemed to relax and I could hear the sob forming in his throat at the thought of losing me.

While he watched over his Luna, he pulled me onto his lap, refusing to let me leave his side. He’d bury his face in my neck, kissing my skin so softly with his lips and making butterflies flutter in my tummy.

I was not an after thought to him. He had worried for my safety. I was of equal importance to his Luna and while I shared a place in his heart, his soul was mine to keep. I knew then I could love this gamma.

He plays with my hands as we watch over Carter, interlocking our fingers.

“What are you thinking about?” I ask as he brings my hand up to his lips to k**s my fingers.

“You,” he murmurs. “And the question you asked me.”

I furrow my brows and scrunch up my nose. “What question?”

“Would I give you up for Aurora?” he mutters.

Oh.

“You don’t have to say it,” I whisper. “I know you have a responsibility with Aurora-“

“I wouldn’t.” he interrupts and I stiffen, unsure if I heard him right.

“What?”

“I wouldn’t. I wouldn’t give you up. Not even for Aurora.”

At the rate my heart is beating, I fear it might burst out of my chest with joy. Those were the most beautiful words ever spoken to me.

“I was wrong to say I would,” he continues, placing a k**s on my cheek. “I have you in my arms right now,” he guides my hand down to his chest to feel his beating heart. “And my heart hasn’t stopped racing. I don’t think I could ever give up feeling the way you make me feel. Ever.”

I hang on to every word he speaks, savoring their sweetness.

“I know we got off on the wrong foot, but there hasn’t been a second you haven’t been on my mind,” he says with a smirk. “You are the most stubborn, annoying, infuriating person I’ve ever met,” he laughs. “And I’m crazy about you.”

“I’m not annoying,” I mutter. “You’re annoying.”

He frowns. “I just declared my love for you and that’s what you picked up?” he scoffs.

I shrug.

“You are unbelievable!”

I press my lips against his, shutting him up instantly.

“You didn’t let me finish,” I murmur. “You are the only person I want to annoy. Everyday. For the rest of my life.”

Without a moment to lose, our lips meet once more, each of us savoring each other’s taste. His mouth moves possessively over mine and after a few moments of fighting over dominance, I give in to him. He could win this round just once. We k**s until our lungs burn for air and then we k**s some more. He was everything I wanted. Everything I needed.

I was angry at myself for ever pushing him away but it didn’t matter anymore. This man was mine.

When we finally pull away to catch our breaths, our lips are swollen and a little red. Evan buries his face in my neck, inhaling my scent when we hear someone m**n.

“Rosie?” Carter g****s, grabbing his head in his hands and looking around the room. “Rosie?” He looks over at us. “Where is Rosalie?”

*MEANWHILE DOWNSTAIRS*

***Aurora’s POV***

I find some unpleasant visitors at the pack house upon my return to River Moon. I had sent Celina to Amethyst lake to prepare everyone for transfer and Valentina to oversee the hospital preparations at the River Moon hospital whilst Javier and Wesley take charge of the the imprisonments of the Amethyst Lake wolves. Chava goes back to Lluvia Blanca for a shower and some clothes. He hadn’t left my side since the attack.

Simone looks exhausted, severe under eye circles tugging at her eyes while Adeline just looks angry.

I call for some tea, taking a seat at the head of the dinning table and motioning for them to sit. Only Simone takes the offer and plops down in a chair, her legs seemingly exhausted from carrying her weight. An omega sets down a cup of tea in front of her but she ignores it, her eyes inspecting something on her hands.

“My daughter…” she whispers and I brace myself for her to lose her mind. “Look whatever they want … please just.. Just give it to them! Please! I’m begging you. Don’t let them take my babies!”

I remain quiet, giving thought to the b***d demand.

“They want my b***d…”

“That’s it? Then for Goddess sakes give it to them!” Adeline snaps slamming her fists on the table. “If you love Oliver as much as you claim you do, you wouldn’t give it second thought!”

“I suggest you lower your tone when you speak to me,” I hiss, slowly rising from my seat. “You’re in my house now and I demand respect.”

She stumbles back a little but quickly composes herself. “Tsk, you demand respect?” She scoffs. “You are quite literally the worst Luna River Moon has ever seen. You’ve not only lost the Alpha, but he’s now a rogue and you’ve somehow managed to lose the beta’s wife. And you want respect? Have you earned it?”

That stings, but I don’t want her to know it so I keep my face as emotionless as possible.

“It’s not a simple as you think!” I snap. “I have no idea what they want it for and-“

“Who cares what they want it for?!” Adeline argues, raising her hands in exasperation. “If I were Luna, I would-“

“Let me stop you right there,” I say, raising a hand to her. “You are not Luna and you never will be, so let’s not speculate on what you would do. You don’t know a thing about leading this pack!”

“But I do!” Simone growls, knocking away her tea cup. “I know what’s it like and I can tell you right now, with every passing minute that you lead, the more I curse the day Oliver met you.” A few tears spill onto her cheek. “You are a disgrace to River Moon,” she whispers and I feel bile rise up in my gut. “You don’t deserve that ring on your finger.”

I look down at the blue sapphire sitting on my middle finger. I had felt I did not deserve it many times but hearing her say it out loud only confirmed my fears. I was not ready to lead a kingdom. How could I, when everything I touched died?

Despite the sting of her words, I keep my face blank.

“I have half a mind to call Alpha Jacque to deal with this mess,” Simone continues.

I did not know Alpha Jacque but I knew he did not like me. I had taken away his daughter’s betrothed. I was the reason his daughter would never been Luna of River Moon.

“What?”

Simone’s face hardens. “Lune de Minuit would have Oliver and Rosalie back to me in a matter of hours!” She snarls. “If you don’t find them within the next two days, I’ll call Alpha Jacque myself! He’ll straighten everything out in the process.”

“Is that a threat?” I demand, circling around the table towards her.

“Take it as you will.”

She casts her eyes away to the floor when I stand a few feet away from her, unable to hold me gaze.

My hand charges up a lightning bolt and before I know it, a ray of lightning flashes just above her head, missing her by a few centimeters.

“Get out of my house!” I huff and without a second thought, she and Adeline make a run for the exit.

When they leave, I feel my farce fall apart. I grab on to a chair to keep from collapsing as I start to pant, unable to swallow the sob caught in my throat. Every word they’d spoken had hurt more than the last.

They’re wrong, Reyna assures. You’ll find them both.

I wipe at the tears threatening to fall and harden my face. I could not afford to cry just yet. Not when I had to figure this out.

I feel a presence behind me and turn to see Gwen watching me. I compose myself quickly, tucking away the pain of Simone and Adeline’s words

“Hi, Gwen,” I chirp, forcing a smile on my face and giving my eyes one last wipe. “I didn’t hear you come in. How are you? I heard you saved Valentina and I never got the chance to thank you. How is B***d Moon? Celina healed alpha Patrick but is he doing alright now? I’ll have to visit soon to check on him and the other alphas-“

“You don’t have to do that,” she says, a solemn look in her eyes.

“Pardon?”

“Pretend, I mean,” she shrugs. “I heard what they said. Anyone would fall apart at that. So you don’t have to pretend. Not with me anyway,”

I feel my cheeks flush in embarrassment and I wring my hands nervously as I think about Simone threats. Would she really call Alpha Jacque?

“That girl by the way,” Gwen interrupts my train of thought. “She’s weird. She has a strange vibe to her, I don’t like her.”

“Who? Adeline?” I ask. “I don’t like her either. She’s Oliver’s ex.”

“Must be that then,” the witch shrugs dismissively. “Anyways, I’ve come to talk you about something serious. Something regarding those witches. I’ve already spoken with Carter about my suspicions but based on what I’ve heard from the soldiers and Patrick, I’m afraid I’m right.”

“What is it?”

“It’s about the sword.”

Before she can elaborate any further, I get a frantic message from Evan.

“Carter’s awake!”