The Ivory Queen
Chapter 96

***Salvador’s POV***

My heart is pounding in my chest as I watch Aurora pet the little hummingbird’s head and open the note. When I first developed my powers, I gifted her the bird as a Christmas present. She’s always been very shy and had trouble making friends in middle school. I wanted her to have a friend when Mia, Javi or I weren’t around so Santos, the hummingbird, quickly became her greatest companion. Everywhere she went, you’d see the colorful bird perched on her shoulder or head. It was quite an adorable sight.

When Dad died, however, I took the bird from her, crushing it to dust in front of her eyes. She cried for weeks. The bird was never alive but it hurt her nonetheless to watch it be destroyed.

I know giving her back the little hummingbird would not fix all that I broke inside her but it was a start. I was determined to make it up to her, piece by piece.

I continue to watch her play with the hummingbird, letting it sit on her shoulder and whispering something to it. Celina and the i***t gamma that she has look at her with bewilderment at how she interacts with the bird. Their bewilderment turns to rage when she seemingly explains her relation to the bird and they frantically look around the forest.

Guess that’s my cue to leave.

I shift, knowing I have a better chance of not getting caught in my wolf form and sprint through the trees. I managed to sneak onto the territory with great difficulty but now with them on high alert for me, I fear I won’t make it back to Lluvia Blanca safely. My fear appears to come true when I hear snarling behind me and a howl.

Crap!

I sprint faster through the trees as I hear the forest come alive with howling and footsteps. Panicking, I make the wrong turn and find myself trapped by a cliff overlooking a rocky stream. Before I know it, I’m surrounded by at least 10 River Moon guards, all eager to attack me.

My mind races as I desperately try to figure out a way out of this mess. The guards suddenly step to the side and bow as a beautiful white wolf steps into view, the little hummingbird sitting atop her head.

I lower my head in a bow. Unable to bring myself to look at Aurora in the eye, I wait for her response. I hear more wolves come running to the scene and I catch Evan’s scent as he growls at me. After a few painful minutes, I allow my gaze to shift up to find Aurora standing in front of me in her human from, a cloak tightly wrapped around her.

She takes a few steps towards me and Evan’s wolf snarls at her, warning her to stop.

“It’s okay Ev,” she mutters, once again stepping closer to me.

I shift my gaze down to her feet, afraid to move. I flinch when I feel her stroke my snout but lean into her hand as she gently caresses my face.

“Thank you for retuning Santos to me,” she says quietly, reaching over her shoulder and letting the bird perch on her fingers. “But I think you need him more than I do,” she adds, placing the bird on my head.

I lift my gaze to look at her and watch her face grow serious as she turns back to her pack. “William, please take a few guards and escort him back to the Lluvia Blanca border. Make sure he gets home safe.”

No, please wait-

She turns to look at me. “Mia needs you right now. I’ll be okay without you.”

I remain still.

“Go, now.”

I’m sorry, Aurora.

She stiffens for a split second and I swear she heard me. My belief confirmed by her next words.

“I’m not ready yet, Chava,” she sighs.

No, Please wait!

Her face reddens slightly at my disobedience. “That’s enough, Chava. You’re on my territory now. I won’t repeat myself.”

The guards move forward, one of them snarling at me to move. I give Aurora one pleading look but she’s already turned her back to me and walks towards her gamma.

I’m so sorry.

“I know you are,” she replies quietly before walking away, Evan at her heels.

———

I evaporate the bird and return safely to the Lluvia Blanca pack house to find it in chaos as omegas are hard at work making the preparations for today’s ceremony.

“Chava, where have you been?” Maira calls out to me as I walk through the door. “You missed your final fitting for your tux this morning! Ximena was going crazy trying to reach you!”

Mia comes running down the stairs. “Chava we need to talk,” she says, tugging at my wrist.

I follow her upstairs to Mom’s room and freeze outside the door.

“I’m not going in there,” I snap. “I’m never speaking to that woman again.”

“Well that should be pretty easy considering she left!”

Mia pushes the door open, revealing Mom’s room in disarray and hands me a letter addressed to her and I.

Queridos hijos,

I know you know the truth about what happened the night your father died. And as much as you hate me, you must understand, I did it all for you. I thought I was protecting you from the evils I fled from. I thought I was giving you the chance to grow up free from war. It’s a terrible thing to watch your world fall apart.

Unfortunately, it seems our world came crashing down on us regardless of my efforts and for that I am truly sorry. I am sorry for hurting you all these years. I am sorry I was the not the mother you needed. I am sorry for what I became.

I cannot change the past but I can try to make things a little easier for you. I am leaving you in hopes that it might help you heal. I hope you might one day forgive me and we can be together again. Until we meet,

Mamá.

I remain emotionless as I read Karina’s note and toss it back to Mia.

“So she’s really gone?” I finally ask.

“Yes and I’m worried-“

“Why?”

“Because mom hasn’t taken care of herself in years. What if-“

“Who cares?” I snap, pushing past her and walking towards my room. “The woman that left us was not our mother, Mia. She is a shell of a woman we once loved but she is not our mom. She beat you. She hurt us. As far as I’m concerned, Mom died the same night Dad died. So quit worrying. We have one less problem to deal with.”

“Aren’t you the least bit concerned?“

I pinch the bridge of my nose and inhale deeply. Letting the air our slowly, I face my little sister and pull her into hug.

“You are a good kid, you know that?” I ask, kissing her head and rubbing her shoulders. “Dad would be so proud of you for looking after Karina all these years… but your job is done now. Karina chose her path and we have to let her walk it, let her deal with the consequences. Focus on yourself now. You’re free. No more beatings, no more pain, no more fear. Just life. Live it. Find your mate and get away from this hell hole.”

She chuckles. “You sound just like him, sometimes.,” she says, hugging me back tightly.

I scoff. “I will never be like him… No one will.”

“Well you’re one step closer…” She says pulling back and spreading her hands apart in front of her. “Mr. Salvador Altamirano, Gamma of the Lluvia Blanca pack .”

I shake my head and sigh. “I don’t think that will be happening now that Javier’s mate is Celina and she quite literally hates my guts….”

“There’s no need to worry,” Javier’s voice interrupts us.

Mia and I both turn to look at him and he shrugs.

“She’s not going to forgive me and I’m going to have accept the fact that I may never get a true mate again. Second chance mates are rare and Celina has made it clear she doesn’t want me. So… I see no problem with you taking the gamma position if you still want it.”

I shift my gaze between Mia and Javier. I’ve wanted to be a gamma like my dad my whole life. But with Celina in the picture, I don’t know if that would be possible. Gammas and Lunas share a bond, a connection that is very strong. Celina did not trust me. How could I protect someone who hated me with every fiber in their body? Javier says she doesn’t want him, but what if that changes?

No, Javier is my friend. I will not jeopardize his mate bond for my own selfish reasons.

“I’m honored, Javi, but I cannot accept the position. A gamma is a honorable man who protects his Luna. I am not that man. Dad would have wanted me to protect Aurora and I couldn’t even do that when she was my responsibility. I’m not worthy.”

Javier nods but I see the disappointment in his eyes. “I disagree wholeheartedly, but it’s your choice, Chava. I won’t push you…” he sighs. “Now if you’ll excuse me. I have to go inform my father of the change of plans.”

***Aurora’s POV***

Several guards come racing towards us as we pull up in the drive way and help unload the several trees we selected for the foyer, the living room and my bedroom.

As we walk Into the house, my thoughts keep drifting off to the Chava.

I was shocked when I heard his thoughts drift into my mind and even more shocked that he now believes me. It felt good to no longer see the hatred in his eyes but last night’s nightmare reminded me all too well of all the things he put me through. Chava will always be my brother, but I was still healing from the pain he caused and I could not forgive him just yet.

Evan was quiet pleased with how I handled him. He drapes his arm across my shoulder and pulls me to his side.

“You did good kid. You didn’t show him an ounce of weakness,” he smiles at me. “For a second there, you had me thinking you would forgive him for everything he did.”

“One day I will,” I sigh. “But I’m just not ready to move on so quickly with him. He did a lot of things to me but I am glad to see he knows he made a mistake.”

Evan rolls his eyes. “A little late don’t you think?”

Just then, Laura and some omegas come racing towards us carrying boxes in their arms.

“Luna, can we help decorate?” Laura asks.

I offer them a smile. With Oliver gone, the entire pack has been in pain and I was glad that such a simple gesture could make them smile again.

“Of course, please help yourselves. This pack house is too big for Ro and I to decorate on our own and I want it to be ready for when Oliver returns.”

Sadness fills everyone’s eyes. I clear my throat and give them a confident smile.

“I think we should start with the foyer. It’s the first part of the house that everyone sees.”

They nod and we get to work decorating the two staircases with ribbons, bows, lights, ornaments and garlands. We plaster beautiful wreaths everywhere. As a River Moon tradition, every member of the pack house must make their own ornament and place it on a the tree as a sign of unity. Ro and the rest of the pack house members each carefully unwrap their ornaments and place them accordingly on the tree.

Laura and I watch as the tree fills up with the beautiful handmade ornaments, each representative of its creator.

I stare at Oliver’s ornament, wrapped up neatly in its box. His ornament resembled a snow globe. It was made of glass and filled with loose glitter, little fake trees and a majestic black wolf sitting in the middle. His name is written in gold paint across the top.

Rosalie chuckles lightly as she looks at it.

“His ornament has a meaning, you know?” She says, gently touching it. “You shake it like this and the whole world inside the ornament fills with glittery chaos. But when the glitter settles, the Alpha remains in the center, unfazed, solid… ready to lead his pack.”

“It’s beautiful,” I whisper, fighting back tears.

She lifts it out of its case to hang it near the top of the tree but I stop her.

“This is the Alpha’s ornament. When he returns, he will be the one to hang it up,” I say, my voice quiet but strong.

She smiles with hope and places the ornament back in its case.

“You, Laura and Diego need to make one,” she says. “I’ll go get you some supplies. Meet me in the entertainment room.” She turns to look at Celina. “Would you like to make one too? You’re part of our River Moon family.”

Celina shakes her head.

“Thanks but I’m not really an artsy person and this seems like a very special pack tradition. I wouldn’t want to impose,” Celina says politely.

“You’re not imposing,” Ro chirps. “Besides, you really think Carter and Evan are artsy people?” she laughs. “Look at them! They wouldn’t know art if it slapped them in the face!”

“I beg your pardon but my f*****g ornament is a masterpiece,” Evan scoffs, holding up his ornament.

The ornament was made of gold painted popsicle sticks and macaroni noodles glued together to make a little sled. A plastic brown wolf sits on top with a bow wrapped around its neck.

“Please, you made yours with macaroni noodles!” Carter laughs before holding up his. “Now this baby right here should be in an art gallery.

His ornament was simply a pine cone with a gold ribbon on top.

“Very minimalistic,” I chuckle. “I can see your tortured soul really pondered over this piece.”

“Thank you,” he laughs. “I call it ‘Simple man’.”

“Love it.”

“Come on Celi…” Diego chuckles, scratching his head. “Just make an ornament with us.”

“Ugh! Fine! I guess I’ll do it,” Celina g****s, causing Rosalie to squeal with excitement as she runs off to get some art supplies.

“Well, have fun. I have to go get ready for that stupid board meeting,” Carter sighs.

“Do you want me to come with you?” I ask, wanting to be useful in the pack business.

He shakes his head. “Nice try but you know you can’t leave the territory with Tais and Ira in the city. Besides, I need you here holding down the fort while I’m gone, Luna.”

I’m too tired to argue and decide to just focus on the Christmas decorations. For the next 20 minutes, Laura, Diego, Celina and I are deeply focused on crafting our ornaments. Rio sits happily beside me and I decide he needs an ornament too. I grab a small wooden block and paint it red before dipping Rio’s little paw in gold paint. Pressing his toe pads onto the wood, his ornament is complete.

The girls and I giggle at his cute little paw print and he receives the best praise for his creation.

For my own ornament, I take a small white wolf and paint purple and pink eyes on it before stuffing it inside a glass ornament. I cover the outer part in a thick layer of gold glitter, leaving a small window for the white wolf to show. On top, I glue some garlands and pine comes and white flowers. As I write my name at the top, I hear the door burst open.

“So this is what you’ve been up to this entire time?”