The Alpha Queen and Her Rogue Kingdom

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

ELINA

After my great-uncles, the alpha twins, finished their visit and left, I was left with more questions than answers, and although they adored Aiden and Alissa so much that they reiterated their support for me in the war, even if that means allying with someone they consider to be the one responsible for the death of their son and nephew Darius, however, they agreed to put aside their differences with my now husband, in order to unite to regain my throne and avenge the death of their beloved niece, which represents great news for us, as they have one of the most prosperous kingdoms on the continent, and although their military strength is not as great as that of Bastian or Zane, they have many more resources than those two kingdoms combined.

However, everything I was told about Zane left me with a strange feeling, like there was a lot I didn't know about him, which is something I had considered before, but I never thought that Zane's past life was tainted with rumors so serious, I suppose that I will have to ask him directly to find out what his version of the story is, because if I have learned something in this last year leading an army, which although small has still brought a lot of problems, it is that I should try to listen to the other version of the story first.

And that is also why I couldn't just trust Bastian's version of what happened to my father that day, and even though what my mother told me only served to reinforce his side of the story, there is still a part of me that refuses to believe him, and it is the same part that also mistrusts his arguments about the non-participation of his people in the attack on my family; Since that day, when my father was executed and I rejected Bastian, it is as if not only the bond between us has been damaged, but as if a part of me has become his staunch enemy, and that is the part that has been dominating my thoughts and actions ever since.

But since what happened in the forest, it's almost as if that part has weakened, and a little bit of the old Elina who died with my father in that execution yard has been revived, and I hate it, I hate to feel that something as trivial as that could have changed me so much in just one moment, I hate the influence that Bastian has on my emotions, I vowed to take revenge on his family and regain my throne, but now that so much has happened, I am not so sure of my initial plans anymore, because although my goal is still to take back my family's kingdom, which includes the palace and grounds, now I am not entirely sure I want to do it out of revenge, but because it's the right thing to do, and if Bastian has a bit of decency still, he will agree to return to the castle his grandfather left, and establish his people on their former grounds.

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Zane is coming back today and although I can't say I missed him, I do feel some relief with his return, as I was getting tired of having to deal with his alphas, although they are supposed to be mine now too; But most of all, I was tired of having to deal with royal commitments, especially those that involved receiving some kind of special envoy from other realms, for Zane has taken it very seriously to find allies for the war.

And my patience was already running out, mainly with regard to the blonde from the Silver Moon kingdom, who has managed to get on my nerves in the short time she has been here, not only because of what happened in the first meeting I had with her, but because since then she has been acting under a good girl mask that I do not buy, looking intimidated every time we pass each other, but deep down I know that that is just a facade and that her intentions from the beginning have been quite obvious, it doesn't help her either that my warriors have come to inform me about some strange things she has been up to, such as asking the palace staff about me, the babies, and Zane.

I don't know if any of them have answered her questions, but just in case they have or are thinking of talking to her, I sent Camille with a clear message to all the palace staff: Whoever is caught talking about the private matters of the king and his family, will be tried for treason and will receive a corresponding punishment.

And now I am just waiting for Zane to arrive and ask her to leave, as apparently, it is not within the powers of a queen consort to expel people from the kingdom, especially those who come as special envoys of an ally, or possible ally; which was quite infuriating for me when I was informed about it, although she has been careful not to cross my path to prevent me from complying with the warning I gave her the first day.

"You seem upset, is that because you missed me?" I hear someone say behind me, and I turn to find Zane at the door of the babies' room, with a half smile and open arms, waiting for a hug from me.

"I want that blonde out of here, immediately," I reply, and he drops his arms in exasperation.

"Elina, again with that? You know that Silver Moon is a very important ally, I thought that you of all people would know it by now,” he tells me, and I shake my head.

"I don't like her, something is up with that woman, and I want her away from me and my babies," I reply.

"Our babies," he corrects me, as usual.

"I want her out," I insist.

"Can I ask why?" he tells me.

"Because she has been sticking her nose where it doesn't belong, asking the palace employees for information about us and the babies, don't you think she is crossing the line?" I ask him.

"It's normal for an ally to want to know more before agreeing to join us in the war," he tells me, and I raise an eyebrow at him.

"Okay, I will ask King Caius to send someone else, or I will go there directly," he replies.

"Thank you," I tell him simply, and he smiles again.

"Anything for you," he says as he walks over to me and wraps me in his arms, and I stiffen almost immediately.

"What's the matter?" he asks me curiously.

"The twin kings came to visit us," I tell him, and he frowns slightly.

"Ah, those crazy old men," he replies, and I look at him with curiosity.

"Don't talk about them like that, they are my family," I tell him.

"They are your distant family, and yes they are half crazy, they have been accusing me of the death of Prince Darius for years, although it has already been proved that I had nothing to do with it, he was my friend, I would never have hurt him," he responds, and I look at him with a shocked expression.

"They said they are willing to support us in the war, they want revenge on the Varks for the death of my mother," I tell him.

"Of course they want to, they must be desperate to clear their conscience after they refused to support your grandfather in the war with the Varks," he replies, and I look at him with annoyance.

"Crimson Woods also refused to help my grandfather, don't forget that little fact before judging others," I tell him, and he shakes his head.

"That was my father, not me, instead they reigned at that time and continue to do so now, they changed their minds after losing their niece, but I have always offered you my support ever since you were in the royal guard of who is now your enemy, so I think the one who shouldn't forget those little details should be you,” he tells me, and I feel slightly guilty for mistrusting him.

"I know, I am sorry, but lately you have been very mysterious and saying enigmatic things, like my run in the woods," I tell him, and he purses his lips.

"If it will give you more peace, I am not spying on you, I found out because I called Howling Creek Palace to speak with you but you were already gone, which surprised me because you were supposed to stay for one more day, and King Arnold informed me that you had gone for a run in the forest the night before, from which you had come back a bit upset, and that you left as soon as it dawned, that is all,” he tells me with a sincere expression, but I feel that there is still something that doesn’t fit here.

And I need to find out what it is.

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