“We need to start her training as soon as possible. With Prince Coro’s antics becoming even more dangerous than the next, who knows what can happen in the next few years.” A voice with a musical lilt floats through the air, reaching my ears as consciousness slowly returns.
“Trust me, Crysta can take anyone down.” Matrix retorts with a huff to this mysterious person.
“I believe she can, but her brother is a tricker person. He has ways of killing without a trace.” Another voice, one I recognize as Geminie, argues back. I frown, deciding that now is a good time to wake up if the wolves in the room decided to continue talking about me. I need to know what they know in order to prepare myself for what ever fate has in store for me. With a sigh, I open my eyes and am met with a canopied setting, realizing I am laying on a canopy bed. Turning to the sounds of the voice, I notice Geminie with her mate sitting close together on a love seat, her pup playing on the floor with a set of twins. On a separate couch, Dominic sits watching his mate pace the floor, her movements full of agitation and anger.
“Fire, come sit. You can’t let what happened get to you considering you are pregnant.” The Alpha of Bloodmoon sighs out, holding a hand to his fiery mate. Watching her pause her steps, Amberle runs a finger through he locks before joining her mate on the couch and curling into his side.
“I’m sorry Ice. I just can’t understand how a father can treat his pup like the way Alexander treated Crystalline.” At her statement, I feel a pang in my chest and clutch my fingers around the necklace, taking a moment to calm myself before making my presence known.
“It’s because Alexander isn’t my father.” I state, the room growing silent as I push myself off of the bed and into a sitting position. Six pairs of eyes stare back at me, a woman with long black hair and pale skin sitting in an arm chair watching me curiously capture my attention first.
“But I have a feeling you all knew this.” I state, the woman giving a slight nod.
“All but me apparently! For Goddess’ sake, your mother said she was pregnant with you!” Matrix cuts in, practically throwing himself from the chair and running to my side, wrapping me safely in a hug.
“I am so glad you are okay Crystalline; you’ve been asleep for eight day.” He whispers, relief flowing through our bond. Hugging him back, I take a moment to collect my thoughts and just enjoy the embrace of my best friend and accepting the fact I was asleep for eight days since the ball, since the rejection. I am happy that Matrix is here, keeping his promise to always be by my side through thick and thin. He may not be my mate, but he is definitely someone I can rely on right now, someone I can trust whole heartedly while we figure out the mess I got myself in.
“The Queen lied, didn’t she.” A statement, not a question. Pulling away from Matrix, I look towards the owner of the voice and notice the Black haired woman staring at me.
“Yes. Alexander is sterile and can’t have pups. I always thought is weird that the pack whores he kept never gave him another pup and now I know why.” I answer, chuckling as I stand from the bed and make my way towards this mysterious woman. Holding my hand out to her, she stands and takes it in her own, shaking it firmly.
“Crystalline, but you already know this.” I chuckle out.
“Ira, Priestess of the Temple of the Moon Goddess.” Ira answers back, a smile on her face. I nod, happy to know that we were in a neutral area, the Temple of the Goddess being the safest place for me right now with news of me being rejected and disowned as the heir to the werewolf throne.
“So your mother lied about being pregnant with you?” Ariven asks, directing the conversation back to the previous topic.
“Yes. Alexander went to war eighteen years ago just after his mate found me hidden in a moon flower meadow. She faked her pregnancy and on the day she supposedly gave birth, she came and gathered me from the meadow.” I answer, running a hand through my messy hair and realizing someone had take it down some time between passing out at the ball and before I woke up.
“How is that even possible. My mother was a Lady in Waiting for your mother!” I turn to see the disbelief on Matrix’s face, his head held in his hands as he realizes his mother kept a secret from him for eighteen years.
“Long story short, Coro had a dark witch kidnap me in hopes of killing me and removing me from the throne. But Morai intervened and I was saved by the Goddess of Destiny. Unfortunately, I fell into the moon flower meadow and with magic being abundant then, the flowers hid me and put me into a stasis where I never aged as a new born until the time was right. Your mother was most likely sworn to secrecy.” Being the only explanation I can give my friend and pull him into a hug and let this information settle between us. We grew up together, our mothers best friends. It doesn’t surprise me that Lianna was sworn to secrecy when it came to the safety of the heir to the throne.
“Well now that we know what happened to our lost Princess here, I think it’s time we start preparing.” Ira chimes in, breaking the silence that settled in the room. Turning to look at the wolves gathered, I catch a knowing look passing between Amberle and Geminie, concerned for what this means.
“What are we preparing for?” I ask the Priestess wearily, my hands clenching Matrix’s shirt.
“For war Princess. You will need to take back your throne and kill Coro. And for that, you need allies.”