Alpha Prime: Her Retribution

Chapter Twenty One

I woke up hungry, so I had a quick shower and got dressed before heading downstairs. As I neared the dining room, I could make out the sounds of a conversation.

"Olivia is just a child! She meant the Luna Prime no harm yet she was humiliated"

I rolled my eyes, pushing the doors open. Christopher Caldwell stood in front of Jacob.

"If you have an issue with me Mr Caldwell, you could have approached me, why involve the Alpha Prime in it?" I inquired, taking a seat.

"Luna Prime." He greeted, bowing stiffly.

"And speaking of Olivia, I'm sure she's over 18 and can therefore not be classified as a child." I continued, ignoring his greeting as I made myself a cup of tea. "Let's say she's a child, her behaviour and lack of respect is abhorrent and I only saw it fit to discipline her... as her and your Luna Prime."

"But Adelai..."

"That's Luna Prime to you." I cut him off, taking a sip of my tea while making eye contact with Jacob who looked thoroughly amused.

This is all your fault

"The punishment you met out on her was too severe. The poor child has refused to eat or drink anything, she's too traumatised and humiliated." He argued.

I highly doubt that

I stopped myself from snorting.

"How about this Christopher, teach your pup some f*****g respect and I won't have to punish her again." I offered. His lips pressed into a thin line before he turned to Jacob.

"Alpha..."

"You heard her, now if you'll excuse us, I would like to have a peaceful breakfast with my Luna."

He sighed, bowing before leaving.

"Well that was amusing."

I shot him glare.

"Of course you'll find my inconvenience amusing." I snapped, finishing off my tea, my appetite ruined by Caldwell and the oaf seated opposite me. I got to my feet about to leave

"And where do you think you're going pet?" He asked, still seated.

"Away from you before today turns into a horror show for your guests." I retorted.

"Aren't you tired of making the same threats?" He got up, approaching me. I raised a brow, folding my arms across my chest.

"I don't make threats, I make promises" I replied.

"Yet here you are unable to still fulfil any of your promises. In fact one currently rests between your breasts..." He whispered, reaching up to caress the chain of the wretched necklace. I glared at him, remembering how he had fooled me last night… and how his lips felt against mine. I immediately squashed the thoughts.

"Face it Adelaide..." He continued, looking into my eyes. "You don't have it in you to kill me."

I swallowed hard.

"Why don't you hand me a knife? Let's test your theory." I replied. The corner of his mouth tipped forward and he took a step back.

I thought so.

With that, I left the dining room and headed back to my room. I looked around for my phone, finding it on the table. I picked it up, frowning when I saw a barrage of missed calls from Uncle Pete, Liam and Magnus. A wave of foreboding washed over me and I paused, my thumb shaking before I shook the feeling away and dialled Liam's number.

He answered immediately

"Where the hell have you been Adelaide?! I've been trying to get to you!!!" He demanded. I froze, I had never heard Liam sound so angry and worried at the same time.

"I went downstairs for breakfast... What's wrong? Uncle Pete and Magnus also called."

"s**t's hit the fan Adelaide... it's bad... it's really f*****g bad." He whispered. My heart slammed against my ribs at his words.

"W-what are you talking about?" I asked.

"The news of you being alive and your relationship with Mont Blanc has gotten to Europe. Adelaide, people are angry, they are protesting."

I sank onto my bed.

"What?"

"Turn on your TV." He instructed. I scrambled for the remote, switching on the TV and tuning to one of the werewolf news channel

Breaking News: ADELAIDE SILVERSTONE IS ALIVE

I increased the volume as the woman spoke.

"The werewolf world was rocked to its core when the supposedly dead Silverstone heir, Adelaide Silverstone was seen alive and well, not only that but she was seen in the arms of Jacob Mont Blanc, the man responsible for the death of her Pack members including the then Alpha Prime. Riots and protests have erupted all over Europe with people calling her a traitor and a hypocrite."

I was immediately reminded of my nightmare.

"Oh Eda, this can't be happening." I whispered, watching as it switched to a reporter on the streets. I could see posters with my face being crossed off. A woman grabbed the microphone from the reporter.

"Adelaide is a disgrace to her father's legacy!!! How can she align with a murderer?! Not just any murderer but the one who took our beloved Alpha Prime from us!!!"

Another chimed in.

"Who knows if she had a hand in the murder, I mean it's pretty suspicious how she was the only survivor."

Unable to hear any more allegations I turned off the TV.

"I'm coming to the consulate." I stated.

"Okay, I'll send a car."

"No, that'll take forever. I'll find my way there." I replied, hanging up. I looked down at my shaking hands, closing my eyes, I fisted them.

Be calm Adelaide, you can handle this.

I got up, grabbing my bag about to leave when the door opened and Delilah walked in.

"Good morning... uh, where are you going?" She inquired.

"I have to go to the consulate." I replied, slipping on my shoes.

"But... you have brunch with the Lunas." She pointed out. I turned to her.

"I have more important things to deal with than play the perfect Luna Prime." I said, heading to the door.

"But the brunch is..."

"f**k THE BRUNCH!!" I snapped, making her jump. Closing my eyes and reigning my anger in, I opened my eyes. "I need to go."

With that I rushed out, there were several cars outside the house. I got into the first one I saw.

"Take me to the Silverstone Consulate." I ordered.

"Yes Lu... oh Luna Prime!!! I had no idea it was you." The driver gushed. I gritted my teeth, frustrated.

"Yes it's me, can you please take me to the consulate?"

"Of course ma'am, right away."

He drove away from the cottage, my legs bouncing as we left the pack. The journey seemed to take forever, the driver's yapping not helping matters.

"The Consulate's packed, are you having an event?" He inquired, honking his horn at a group of reporters. I dialled Liam's number as I looked through the blacked out window. Several news outlets were parked outside so were people protesting.

"I'm here, can you get someone to open the gates?"

"Of course."

We didn't have to wait for long before guards appeared just as the gates swung open, the crowd surged forward but the guards held them back, clearing the road for the car to pass through and closing the gates once we were in.

"It's her!!! She was the one in the car!!!" I heard people screaming as I got out of the car, some screaming insults at me while the reporters yelled questions at me. I made my way up the steps and into the consulate. A sigh of relief left my lips as the doors closed behind me but I wasn't out of the woods yet. A couple of Consulate workers stared at me, some with a mixture of curiosity and awe, others with thinly veiled disgust and anger.

"Adelaide." Liam walked over to me, he led me up to Papa's... my office. Once the door was closed, he pulled me into a hug. I hugged him back, my body shaking. He stepped back a bit, cupping my face.

"Are you okay?" He asked, I parted my lips but no words came out so I closed my eyes and nodded.

"Y-yeah, I just... I need to fix this." I whispered, moving towards my table when I noticed the newspapers on the coffee table. I picked one up.

ADELAIDE SILVERSTONE; HELPLESS ORPHAN OR CONNIVING w***e?

There was a picture of an 18 year old me standing with my parents and Harry. Next to it was a picture of me in Jacob's arms. I couldn’t bring myself to read the contents of the article before picking up the next one.

WHAT REALLY HAPPENED AT SILVERSTONE NINE YEARS AGO?

I picked up another.

ADELAIDE SILVERSTONE, MOST HATED IN WEREWOLF EUROPE.

"Oh Eda... this can't be happening." I whispered, sitting on the edge of the sofa. A sense of overwhelming panic threatened to drown me. My nightmare was coming true. My wheezing filled the room as I struggled to breath.

"Adelaide... Addie!!! Hey!!!" Liam rushed over to me, kneeling and forcing me to look up at him.

"Breath... hey... in... out... yeah, just like that."

The door opened and Magnus stepped in.

"Liam, I would like to have a word with the Alpha Prime in private." He stated.

"As you can see she's in no state to..." Liam began but I placed a hand on his making him turn to me. I shook my head, forcing a smile.

"It's fine, just wait outside." I whispered. He glared at Magnus before getting up and headed out.

"What's going on, Adelaide?" Magnus asked the moment the door closed. "What is this talk about The North American Alpha Prime being your mate when everyone knows your mate was Harry Smith?"

I let out a sigh.

"I think you should sit down."

He did as I said, I parted my lips, closing it back, my tongue darting out across my lower lip.

"My true mate is... Jacob Mont Blanc." I began watching as his eyes widened. "My father had him changed to Harry, Jacob found out and Silverstone suffered the consequences of my father's actions. When I first came here, my intention was to kill Jacob but I was unable to, unfortunately he realised who I was and kidnapped Liam so I had no choice but to surrender." I explained.

"B-but why? Why would the former Prime do something like that?!" He asked, his voice hollow.

"Eda instructed him to, I still don't know why. I don't know how Jacob found out."

"You are an innocent party in this, Adelaide, you have to clear your name." He urged.

"How am I going to do that?" I asked.

"Tell them the truth." He replied, I shook my head, getting to my feet.

"I can't. My father was one of the best Alpha Primes Europe has seen in a while, he is still loved and respected by all. For goddess sake he is referred to as the Father of Europe, how can I throw him under the bus like that, Magnus?" I inquired, blinking back the tears. "I can't do that to him, I can't destroy the legacy he left."

Magnus nodded.

"I understand, he did wrong but he was still a good Alpha Prime. I'll think of something." He said, getting to his feet and approaching me. He placed a hand on my shoulder, a comforting smile on his lips.

"We will get through this Adelaide."

I nodded.

"Thank you Magnus."

I watched him leave, Liam walked back in.

"So, what's going to happen?" He inquired.

"Well... I told him everything. I... have you called Uncle Pete?" I inquired.

"Yeah, he um... he said they had to dispatch a group of warriors to barricade the entrance to Silverstone, some wolves went in and defaced your grave, they apprehended them though. He also said there's a lot of riots and protests going on in different packs."

I sank into the sofa, clutching my hair. I felt 18 and my life was once again crumbling around me.

JACOB

I nodded at the two Alphas in front of me as they discussed the recent oil rig that had been erected down south when another joined us.

"Yesterday's event was an incredible one. I was just talking with my wife. She said the Luna Prime isn't present at today's brunch. Is she unwell perhaps?"

I stiffened at that, before smiling and taking a sip of my bræw.

"Gentlemen, please excuse me."

I brushed past them, the minx was teetering over a thin line and I didn't know whether to strangle her or kiss her. She lived for throwing wrenches in my well laid out plans.

Delilah. I mindlinked her.

Y-yes P-prime. She stuttered, I could feel the nerves coming off her in waves.

Why isn't my Luna Prime at the brunch with the other Lunas? I inquired.

I- I... she... she well...

Out with it Delilah! I snapped, she yelped through my mind.

She left for the consulate this morning. I tried to stop her but she wouldn't listen. She replied. My already bad mood further worsened.

Just what are you playing at, Adelaide?

It's alright Delilah.

I noticed Tony approaching and turned my attention to him. He had a frown on his face.

"What's wrong?" I asked, he handed me his phone, I looked down at the screen, I clenched my jaw as I stared at the video of the protests going on in front of the Silverstone Consulate.

"Get me a car." I ordered, he nodded, walking off to do as I had asked. My grip on his phone tightened until the device sparked. I let it go as thunder rumbled in the distance above us.

****

ADELAIDE

I was seated on the sofa, my knees pulled to my chest as I watched them tear me apart on the news.

“What I would like to know is did she plan the murders with Jacob?” One of the men on tv spoke, his face red from anger.

“I'm of the same opinion, I mean why else would she gallivant herself on the arms of a murderer?” Another added.

“What if she has no choice? He could have threatened her?” the third analyst suggested.

“Oh please! No spawn of Charles Silverstone would bow to a threat. If she were innocent, she would have fought tooth and nail to avenge her family, hell she would have approached the council yet she didn't do any of that which makes her complicit to the m******e. In fact as far as I am concerned, I personally hold her responsible for the Silverstone m******e, not Jacob Mont Blanc but her.” the first cut him off.

“Who needs enemies when you have a daughter like her?”

Unable to listen any further, I turned the TV off, resting my forehead on my knees. Magnus and his team were trying to formulate a plan for damage control. I wanted to help but my brain felt like it had been filled with lead. I was exhausted, mentally and physically. My eyes drooped close before I jolted awake, my body too wound up to even let me rest.

Commotion coming from outside the door made me shoot up to my feet, for a moment thinking the people had breached the consulate and were coming for me. The doors swung open and the despair coursing through me turned to rage.

"How dare you come here?!" I demanded, glaring at him.

"Tony alerted me to what's been happening." He answered.

"And whose fault is that?!" I snarled. "This is what you wanted right?!"

Grabbing a handful of the newspapers on the coffee table, I threw them at him.

"They call me a traitor! A hypocrite, a stain on my father's legacy because you just have to hodt that stupid banquet and show everyone that you won!!!" I screamed, glaring at him. A frustrated growl escaped my lips as I furiously wiped the tears away, my chest heaving with a mixture of chaotic emotions as I struggled to get the words out.

“Well congratulations, you've succeeded in destroying and making my people hate me.” I spat, angry tears rolling down my cheeks. “Bravo Jacob!!! You must be over the f*****g moon."

He took a step towards me.

“Don't…” I said, raising a hand to stop him. “Don't you dare come near me. In fact, I want you to leave. This might be your continent but this is my Consulate, you have no power here, so get out.”

"Adelaide..." He said, taking another step closer to me.

"I SAID GET OUT!!! GET OUT OF MY CONSULATE!!! GET OUT!!!" I screamed, sending the chair next to me crashing to the floor, turning my attention to the curtains and ripping it off. I collapsed to the ground just as the doors closed, heart wrenching sobs escaped my lips.

"Adelaide!!!" Liam shouted, rushing in and cradling me while I cried to the heavens above.

JACOB

I stormed out of the consulate, the wind and rain whipping around me. My car was surrounded by a small group of reporters who surged forward, shoving microphones in my face.

"Is it true that Adelaide had a hand in the m******e of her Pack?"

"Did you two plan it together all those years ago?"

Several bolts of lightning struck the ground around us making the reporters and protesters reel back in fear.

"I will say this only once, any insult against Adelaide Silverstone is an insult against me and the entire Mont Blanc bloodline and you all know I am not one to forgive." I stated, watching as they scrambled away from my car and back to their vehicles. I glanced back at the Consulate before getting into my car. One of the newspapers she had flung at me was still in my grip. I glanced at the name of the newspaper house.

The Daily Howl...

Tossing the newspaper to the side, I mindlinked Tony as I started the car, putting it in drive.

Yes, Jacob.

I want the editor-in-chief of The Daily Howl in my cell before I get back to the pack and The Daily Howl burned to the ground.

"Alright, Alpha Prime."

ADELAIDE

"You need to eat." Liam said, I shook my head, mindlessly flipping through pages.

"H-how can I eat when all this is going on?" I asked. "Jacob... he's the villain yet I'm the one everyone is painting black. How does he get to get away with all his crimes? It's not fair. Where was the outrage when he killed my pack?"

Liam held my hand as I stared at the TV which was on mute. I let out a bitter chuckle, shaking my head.

"He was right, he holds all the cards in the game and I'm nothing but an unwilling participant who he gave the illusion of a choice" I whispered. "I'm tired Lili, I'm exhausted."

"I just want it to be over."

I felt him shift before he lifted me up, I laid my head on his shoulder. A few minutes later, he settled me on the bed, I removed my shoes and he pulled the covers over me.

"Good night Adelaide."

"Liam?" I called out.

"Yeah?"

"Can you please stay with me?"

"Of course." He replied crawling into bed, he held my hand and I closed my eyes. It felt like old times, when I had been terrorised by nightmares of the m******e and I would seek him out. My eyes drifted close and I slipped into a fitful sleep.