The true Alpha Queen (Book 2, Alpha series)

2. I'm headed straight to the castle

Amy had arrived the day before so after breakfast we hit the road. It took us about five hours to get there and I was taking in every part of the scenery on this ride, I didn’t want to miss a thing. When we drove through the town towards the estate I had expected a half dead city with empty streets as the sun was out but just like Cole they could walk in the sun and there were people everywhere. Then I remembered how a conversation between my parents and Cassie when I was seven. My father had made a deal with the vampires and needed a witch to help him with his end of the deal. The vampires was allowed to take in humans in their town if they didn’t kill em, held them there against their will an in return for keeping the humans alive they wanted to be able to be outside in the daytime. They had a huge fight about it since Cassie wasn’t so happy about giving the vamps that kind of power. But in the end she caved and bewitched a bunch of jewelry but with a limit, it would loose it’s magic if they vampire killed someone wearing it. Plus the age limit… they weren’t happy to find out that you had have been turned for at least 50 years for the ring or bracelet to work. A fun surprise as Cassie had put it..

As we drove through the city I saw so many places I wanted to visit, cafés, restaurants, movie theater and such. Not that we did have it back home, I just rarely had the opportunity to enjoy it. Here, I was gonna enjoy it all. No early morning training or safety check at night fall. I was free, partly at least.

As we got closer to our destination the building disappeared and was replaced with a dirt road and trees all over. Once the trees let up I saw it. It was a beautiful metal gate with the name ‘Lunders manor’ at the top, the car slowed down and the gates opened up for us before we come to a stop. The dirt road turned into pavement and suddenly all the light from the sun hit us and the house at the end of the driveway ahead. I wouldn’t say that manor was the right word for this ‘house’, it looked more like a castle. It was huge and had three towers with actual flags hanging from the pole on the roof. It looked like a fairytale, right out of the storybooks. We pulled up in front of this huge antique door with black metal that curved it's way across is. Just as we stepped out of the car those doors opened and a man in his thirties stood in the opening. He was handsome and tall, maybe even 6.3ft, his pitch black hair made me just wanted to run my fingers through it. Wait what was I thinking? As he took a step forward I could see his eyes being dark red, he was definitely a vampire. I had seen Cole’s eyes being that same color when he had fed of humans. I had only seen that color in my mom's wolf when she had ripped a rogue to pieces in front of me, her fear and protectiveness had made her eyes red as well. And since it didn't seem like something that drastic had happened and we were in a vampire city it made the most sense that he was indeed a Vampire. With the blink of an eye he was right in front of me to greet me with a small bow.

“It a pleasure to meet you, your highness. I'm Frederick Lunder or the count as some people know me by” nobody had ever called me that, back home it was princess to those who didn't know me and Sophia or Soph to the ones close to me, never your highness. It felt weird. And the count? Really? He called himself that? “Well when you’ve gone by that name for over hundreds years it's hard to break the habit.” s**t, he could read my mind.. f**k f**k f**k. 

“Sorry about that, not used to people reading my mind. Nobody have to guts to do it back home.” I finally spoke out loud. 

“I get it, we have some potions in the kitchen that keeps us out of your head while you're here if you want it.” He was really kind, not what I would have expected for a vampire that calls himself the count. 

“I'll take it! Not a fan of having people mess with my mind” Amy spoke right away making me giggle. 

“Of course, I'll have it for you to take with dinner. Tastes better with a glass of wine to wash it down with.” he laughed and Cole joined him. “oh Cole, it's been a while. How's your sister?”

“Which one?” Cole asked. I didn't know if this was gonna be good or bad. 

“Anastasia of course, you know I never could stand Scarlett.” Frederick said with a wink and I felt myself relaxing. 

“Just wanted to hear you confirm it. Ana insists that you like scar..” Cole laughed. 

“That sounds like Anastasia, never truly trusted me.” he almost sounded heartbroken as he said it.

I knew that Cole and his family had lived here before coming to live with us but he never really talked about his time here. None of his family did now that I think of it, weird.

“Ready to see your rooms?” Frederick asked us. 

“yes please.” Amy jumped at the question. 

“Stephen, Jeremiah! Bags!” I don't think Frederick finished his sentence before two guys in their twenties was by our car grabbing our bags from the back. "Come on, this way” he said and we followed him into the house. “on your left is the kitchen and the library is in the east wing along with the music room. The north wing had the theater and ballroom. You’ll be on the second floor. Me and my sister is in the west wing and you’ll be in the east over here.” he said as we took a turned at the top of the stairs towards our rooms. “Stephen is in this wing as well, if you need anything just call him and he’ll be there in a second.” Literally a second. 

“Thank you Frederick for letting us stay here.” I thanked him. 

"You are always welcome here my queen, remember that.” he gave me a warm smile.” dinner will be ready in an hour and a half. You'll meet my little sister and the rest of the council then.” He walked away towards the stairs. 

“Sounds good to me, I really need a shower.” Amy said and the sound of a shower sounded so good right now. “Me too, I don't do well being cramped in a car for five hours.” Frederick laughed a little before he walked down the stairs we had recently climbed.

We all went into our own rooms and found our bags already there by the end of our beds. Damn these vampires work fast. I know we werewolves are fast but this was surreal, I had never even seen Cole move that fast. I walked over to my bag and started to unpack and hanging all my clothes in the closet and taking my things to the bathroom before finding a towel and jumping in the shower. It felt like I hadn't showered in weeks after that car ride. I finally relaxed for the first time since mom and dad had decided to send me here. My mind went blank and it felt so good. Suddenly I heard another voice in my head, not belonging to either me or my wolf, Kia. It was female, she sounded upset but I could hear by her voice how beautiful she was. I realized that all vampires were incredibly beautiful two years after Cole had moved to us. 

~I can't believe him sometimes! Jerk! He doesn't rule this place by himself and he knows it. He always pulls the older brother crap with me. I was sick of it, sick of him. Taking in some werewolves without even talking to me about it. I know we needed time with the king and queen to talk some things over but sending their spoiled little princess here instead? God I really hate being under someone else's control sometimes~

This girl must have been Frederick’s sister and she really didn't want me here.. I thought they wanted me here, Frederick seems fine with me being here so why did she have such a problem with it being me that's here?