31

Sometime after the lunch in ended and Natalie was taken home, I too returned home. Thankfully the day was still young and Ryder and I could do some more research on Natalie and her mysterious ex. Out of all the Alphas' in attendance today only three of the eight don't have mates. Which would seem easy to narrow down who it was, but it was actually the opposite of that.

Some Alphas' would see it as a threat or questionable to ask about their past and latest ex girlfriends or chosen mates. An issues with the Alphas is the last thing I want, so I will not cross that line and ask them. Instead I will have to conduct the research on my own terms and solely through the internet and it's various search engines and news reports.

On top of all of this, when the females took Natalie to the garden the Alphas and I discussed how I will becoming out as Alpha King soon. Which means I will be moving back into the palace soon. I only lived in the palace for a few years when I was younger, but my parents decided to move back into the mansion so it didn't seem obvious we were the royal family.

My parents saw it as a big risk to allow me to continue to grow up in the palace with the possible exposure of who the King was. In which I never understood growing why it mattered who the King was. Yet, through my schooling I learned it was a practice that dated back to the tenth Alpha King. This was during the settlers coming to the new world and they killed many. The King went into hiding and the community followed and never dared expose the King. They feared exposing the King would get him killed since these settlers saw us as witches since we could shape shift. Therefore a span of satan himself, so we needed to be exterminated.

They tried many of times to find the King, but they were unsuccessful in their hunt. Ever since we have remained hidden in plain sight and formed the royal council so no one can distinguish who the King is. That threat is long since gone and it is time for my people to know who I am. I mean how can you trust a King if you can't put a face to them?

My council knows who I am and now knows who their Queen will be in the near future, but she doesn't know that. I think it will be good for the King to emerge with his Queen, it will be a spectacle to behold. A symbol of power and a statement.

I settle into comfortable clothes and take a seat at my desk with a hot coffee beside me. Ryder was already present and flipping through his research from the previous days. He sat at the little living room area I had in my office. The coffee table filled with papers, files, books, pictures, and records.

"Any luck," I ask.

He shakes his head, "no, your majesty. Nothing."

"At lunch today she seemed tense, timid almost. She said one was in the room with us."

"I assumed so, but who?"

"There are three unmated males on my council, so that narrows it down."

He huffs, "did she give you anymore information. Maybe even a little sign? I could be here for days reading old articles from these three different Alphas. As you know unmated Alpha males have quite the love lives. Jumping from one girl to the next."

I growl. "I am quite aware."

I just need to know who he is so I know what I am dealing with here.

"Who do you think it is," I ask aloud.

"Well, I have narrowed it down to two. Desmond and River."

"Why those two?"

"Well the third would be Michael, but he has been with the same girl for three years. He is unmated because his true mate died in a challenge. Desmond and River are young and have had recent break ups according to the internet."

So, we both decided who we were going to look into and dived into the research. You'd think someone could do a simple search, but no. There are a lot of Desmond and Rivers' who are Alphas. When you search them up all kinds of news from the pack pops up. It is hours upon hours scanning and picking through articles in hopes it is that Alpha you are looking for.

"I have to take a break, Ryder. The grounds director of the Palace should be here any moment to help," I tell.

"No need for excuses. I know what you got to do. Just do what you got to do."

And yet, who I thought was the moving director approaching me in the mansion's foyer was indeed not. Instead I am met with a furious mate who is dragging Alpha Desmond behind her.

The week after the first date was different, all a sudden I had some of the best warriors surrounding the town house and paparazzi was being restrained out front. Jerking the curtains shut I got ready for the day. Glancing at my phone I saw I had a few notifications a few being messages and another being a news report. I assumed it was a report on Maxwell and I's date. After I showered I went downstairs for breakfast, seeing Rowan already busy in the kitchen.

"Should we feed them," Rowan asks.

"Ask them if they are hungry," I tell.

"There is also a Lieutenant here overseeing them."

In all honesty I could easily watch over myself, simply shut the shades and make sure everything is locked and don't leave. Simple. The sad thing is, it isn't that simple, these people are crazy to be the first ones with a report to their bosses about me. Wanting to be the first news outlet with information on the women their Alpha is dating. Which, if I do recall correctly, when I started dating Desmond this didn't happen. We didn't have to sneak around or station guards around my home. Which now that I think about it, it is odd this whole predicament.

"Don't you find this odd," I say aloud.

"What is odd," Rowan asks.

"When I dated Desmond we didn't have to this many precautions."

Rowan stops and thinks. "You are right, it is weird. Don't worry about it too much, though. He is a very powerful and popular Alpha so of course people would want to know."

Maxwell is much more popular and powerful than Desmond. Maxwell is on the same Royal Council for the King, but he is higher in ranks. He is the right hand man and closest adviser to the King. Though, no one knows who the King is, it is top secret and everyone who is close to him or on the council must swear an oath. An oath to never disclose who the Alpha King is for his protection and privacy.

Halfway through breakfast there is a knock on the door and Rowan gets up to see who it is. When she opens there was a slightly shocked gasp, she looks through the rooms as pale as a ghost.

"Who is it," I mouth to her.

She moves aside revealing a man I wish I'd never see again, Desmond.

I almost spit out my food when I saw him striding through the rooms and into the eat in kitchen. He sat down and made himself cozy on one of the couches. I wanted to burst out and yell and lash out at this man. Who does he think he is? Coming into my home without any notice and after all he out me though. Not to mention the rumors flying around about me.

"How have you been, darling," Desmond asks.

Darling, the nickname that use to make me swoon and make weak at the knees, now it holds nothing but a bad taste in my mouth.

"I was doing fine till you came here unannounced and unwanted," I bark.

"Wow, babe, you really got an attitude since I rejected you."

Rejected, the pain simmers, no. You are fine, you have Maxwell. That pain is in the past and it will remain there.

"I've always had this attitude, you just haven't seen it at full swing."

"Listen, I've seen the rumors of you with Maxwell, I am going to warn you. He is trouble, he is untrustworthy and manipulative. He isn't right for you, how about you give me one more chance, we can be the ultimate power couple."

"Interesting, all a sudden you want me back. Why? Is it because my rank will be higher, therefore my powerful than you?"

"No."

"Yes, because you would never take someone back of you didn't feel threatened by their power. are you scared of my power? I'll have more of a say than you will? I'll have a title more powerful than yours?"

"You do! Your fucking uncle died last night! Your father is Alpha now! And Maxwell, he is the Alpha King!"

My uncle use to sit on the council, so that means my father will now and Maxwell is King. So I have two very powerful people in my life that influence my power and role in the community.

"Is this why? I have my father on the council, giving me a title and my mate is King, making me Queen. You must be very scared."

"That isn't it!"

"Or do you want me back so you can gain another title since my father is now a member?"

"No! I am alone! My true mate left me!"

"What a shame, so you think I will leave mine for a lowlife like yourself?"

This was truly a sad, but entertaining scene to be witnessing. This man who rejected coming back and begging on his knees for my forgiveness and to take him back. Why would I leave my true mate for this man? One who is actually caring for me and loving me when Desmond spoke down to me and belittled me. Not to mention doing it doing dinners and pack meetings, he enjoyed embarrassing me. Now, he has someone to fear. He has my wrath to fear since I am now his Queen, he knows Maxwell or I won't show him mercy.

"Wait till your King hears about what went down here today. He won't be very happy to hear you were harassing the Queen. The power driven pig you are."

His eyes widen. "No! Don't!"

He always told me he didn't fear nothing or man. I believe I have found his fear and I will be using that to my advantage.

"Is someone afraid of his King?"

He does't answer instead searches the room.

"You want me back all a sudden because my title has risen not only to daughter of a council member, but Queen!"

I am not stupid, that was the very reason he rejected me. I held no title therefore I was unimportant and unwanted. I held no reason for him to keep me around because I didn't bring an alliance. I didn't have a pack or army at my beck and call, therefore a waste. It is interesting looking at the two mates I've had. One valuing me for my title and if I had an army at my call. And then there is Maxwell who didn't see me for that. Desmond has screwed up and he is now realizing that.

"I'll be having a chat with my mate, you better hope he shows you mercy." I smirk, "especially since you have disclosed who the king is."

In all honesty I needed to have a talk with him too about this. I needed to know what is going to change in my life. What is going to become of our relationship now? I understand now why he was being so secretive about everything or shady when I mentioned the king.