Warrior Princess Book 2
Автор
S. J. Allen
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Chapter 1
Book 2
DIEGO
I found myself perpetually gazing out this window, trying to make sense of the latest curveball life had thrown at me.
“So, you’re stepping down as alpha king, and you want me to do the same? Why?” I swiveled around to face Noah—alpha king of the Lunar Pack and Wyatt’s dad.
“Diego, I’m getting old. It’s time,” he replied, his tone clipped and to the point.
I appreciated his straightforwardness, or at least I would have if he’d been completely honest. I squinted at him, suspicion creeping in.
He held my gaze for a moment before letting out a heavy sigh. “It was Freida’s idea.”
My heart pounded in my chest. “My mother? Why?”
“She believes that if we step down and let the younger generation take over, they’ll have the power they need to defeat this unknown enemy who’s after you all,” he explained, rubbing his face in frustration. “I’m not thrilled about it. They’re not ready, in my opinion, but she seemed convinced it would work.”
“I agree, they’re not ready,” I said.
He looked visibly relieved. I recognized that look. I’d seen it countless times over the years.
The wolves expected me to lose my cool and were always relieved when I didn’t. All this war, all this bloodshed, all because of ancestors who couldn’t seem to stay dead.
We lost good wolves, good fighters, wolves with families.
“Thanks for bringing this to me, Noah. I’ll need to talk to my mother to understand all of this. Then, I suggest we present it to the kids.”
Noah started to protest, but I raised a hand to silence him. “I know my daughter, Noah. If she found out I made a decision about her without consulting her, my reign as king would be over before it’s even begun.”
He sighed heavily but nodded in agreement. He took my silence as a cue to leave.
Milly wasn’t going to be happy about this. I knew her. She’d want to do it if it meant defeating another enemy.
When would we ever have peace? It seemed like there was always someone out to get us.
I left my office and walked out onto the grounds. I could see the pack house in the distance as I headed into the forest.
I needed to clear my head before talking to my mother.
I was a king now, and kings don’t lose their tempers…much.
I often found solitude in a secluded spot right on the borderlines. Not many wolves knew about it, and those who did rarely visited.
It was a bank on the river that led to a waterfall. The sound of the water crashing below was surprisingly soothing.
I’d been coming here a lot lately. My kids had all grown up and were carving their own paths, yet I struggled with letting them make mistakes and learn from them.
Each of their births changed my life. They made me a better man, a better wolf, and now…
Milly was mated and set to become queen, creating the largest combined pack since before the Great War.
Alex was about to become a father himself, and Matt… Well, he was still figuring his life out.
I sat on a rock, watching the water rush toward the drop-off. My own brothers, betraying us. For power.
What could have driven them to do such a thing?
Didn’t they have enough?
Combined, they were as powerful as G was.
Gianna, I missed her. Every day. I saw so much of her in her kids.
A snapping branch behind me jolted me out of my thoughts. I leapt to my feet, turning toward the sound, a low growl rumbling in my chest.
A figure emerged from the trees.
What the—
Kane?
I narrowed my eyes at him. “Didn’t I kill you?” I snarled, bracing myself for another fight. I’m getting too old for this.
He casually stuffed his hands into his pockets. “Yes, you did.”
“So why are you standing here looking alive then?”
He smirked slightly, but a warning growl from me wiped it off his face.
“I was brought back from the dead.”
Impossible. No one had that gift, except Gia, and it nearly killed her.
“By who?” I asked, standing up straight. He had piqued my interest.
“By a man.”
“Are you just going to give me vague answers or what?”
He sighed heavily. “I don’t know his name. I just know that he’s obsessed with the power your family has. He keeps talking about how one daughter killed the other but she married a beast and had beast children.”
Wheels were turning in my head. This just confirmed our suspicions. Mother’s father had indeed returned.
“What role do you play in all of this?”
He shuffled on his feet, eyeing me cautiously. “He brought me back to break the mating bond between your daughter and the Lunar prince.”
He took a step back as I advanced on him. “Why?”
“Because they pose a threat. Mated, they create a pack larger than any known for hundreds of years. Not to mention the exchange of power in the mating ceremony. The ceremony will ensure both packs inherit some of the gifts she possesses. We’re talking about a threat larger than anyone has ever faced.”
His words nearly knocked the wind out of me. I hadn’t even considered that. I hadn’t thought it was a possibility.
“Why are you telling me this? How do I know I can trust you?” I narrowed my eyes at him.
He stared off into the distance for a moment. Given a little more time, he would have made a fine king. He had a solid build, broad shoulders, and mousy brown hair in a buzz cut.
“When I was dead, I was with my mate again. Your sister, she met me when I died, and she took me across the river into death. She was there, Leia, my mate.” He rubbed his hand across his face.
“When she was taken from me, I started to go crazy. You know wolves aren’t supposed to live without their mates.”
I nodded, crossing my arms. Wolves often descended into madness if they lost their mates. Usually, they joined them in death not long after.
“I was a king who had lost his mate. It left my mind open to be ambushed by witches. It made me an easy target. This man showed up, and he dragged me away from Leia, back to life.”
He looked forlorn. I almost felt pity for him. Almost.
“You tried to force my daughter into mating with you. You attacked at my father’s funeral with your gaggle of witches. Why should I care that you’ve been taken from your mate again?”
“It’s no excuse, I know, but I wasn’t myself. The witches had complete control over my mind. Your daughter is beautiful, Gray, but she’s not my Leia.” He shrugged, sitting on a rock.
“I don’t trust you.”
He looked up at me. “I don’t blame you, but you’ve been around long enough. You’ve seen enough. You’re a legend among the packs, Gray. You’d know a trap when you saw one.”
He was right. This wasn’t my debut in this dangerous dance. Threats against my family had been a constant backdrop to my life for as long as I could remember.
“What’s in it for you?” I asked, my voice echoing in the silence.
His response was chilling. “When the time is right, I want you to end my life. I long to be reunited with my mate. But you must do it in such a way that I can’t return.”
His eyes were filled with a desperate plea.
“All right,” I agreed, my voice steady. “I’ll end your life once more. When is he planning to send you to sever the bond?”
“I wish I knew, but I don’t,” he confessed, raising his hands in surrender. “All I’m certain of is that I’m destined to break the bond. Please, end me before I get the chance. He has a legion of witches at his beck and call.”
I simply nodded, folding my arms across my chest, choosing to remain silent.
He took my silence as his cue to depart.
I watched as he disappeared into the inky blackness, then turned on my heel and headed back to the castle.
My mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, spinning with the weight of this new information.
Just once, I thought, I’d love a peaceful week for my family.
