Everything went by so quickly and before I could realise it, the next morning had come and I was still awake with my eyes open, having received no sleep at all. I just wish all of this was just a big dream and I would wake up to find myself in the serene pack again and Alaric beside me.
Sincerely, even though I was trying my best to spite him and blame him for everything that had happened to me, I still really loved him and wanted to feel his touch again. I missed the way his lips felt on mine and how gentle the beast was whenever he was around me.
I miss his smile with his perfectly aligned teeth and the way he would scoop me into his arms and I would be met with his rock-hard chest and soft heart.
I wanted to be with him again and have him in me, but the moon goddess only knows how many miles come between us.
I know he must have also been trying to locate me, but I wish he would try harder.
Everything that was happening still felt like a dream I needed to wake up from, but no matter how much I pinched my arm or slapped my face, I was still in the same spot and wasn't waking up.
My chest was becoming too tight as I clenched into it. The pain was growing and I needed to curb it, but as I tried to breathe, I realised breathing was just as hard for me as I couldn't inhale nor exhale. It felt like I was suffocating as I tried to calm myself, but my body wouldn't calm. I was suffocating even though the huge windows in the room were pumping in fresh air.
"Breathe in and out slowly, Lenora. We'll make it out of here and I'm still with you. " My wolf said as she spoke to me, It has been so long since I've heard from her, but I'm glad I'm not alone and she's still with me.
The thought of it made me calm and I was able to breathe again.
"Help me out, please," I begged as I continued to breathe carefully.
"I will soon," she answered.
"Why not now?"
"Because I don't want anything to affect our child, you're capable of doing this yourself and I'm proud of you so far. I'm happy with you. "
"I'm in my lowest right now and honestly I'm losing it, why don't you just take over. I know you can do it and you're the stronger one here. " I cried.
"I've helped you when you were truly at your lowest, but right now, there's more in you," she answered, and I could feel something in me drifting away. She was leaving again.
I suddenly remembered the time I drowned. Perhaps it was Lora who had helped me get out of the sea.
"Thank you, Lora," I said before getting up from the couch on which I had passed the night and entering the bathroom. Without wasting any more time, I picked up the soap that I had used yesterday and gave myself a quick bath. I suddenly felt confident in myself and I felt stronger. I was ready to go to Latvera, and I know I'll make it out of there soon.
"3 months," I said to myself, with a smile on my face. I had remembered when Alaric promised to make me fall in love with him before 3 months, and here I am making a promise to him that I'll be with him before 3 months. If I wanted that promise to come true, then I might as well start preparing to move to Latvera.
Shortly after, I was done with the bath and entered the room with a white towel wrapped around my body. I was no longer stressed; rather, I had a happy smile on my face because I knew I'd be home soon.
On getting to the room, I spotted a new dress on the bed. It was just like yesterday's gown, but this one seemed to be designed with more gold and expensive lace. It was a blue-coloured gown, and it looked amazing. I immediately put it on, then went to the dressing table to do my hair and makeup. I felt pretty.
With my chin raised high and a proud smile on my face, I walked out of the room and straight to the queen's throne room. She was already there waiting for me, and the girls were also there, all dressed and with a box on their hands each. I suspected they must be coming along with me.
Once the queen made contact with me, the smile on her face was quickly replaced with scorn, as she didn't expect me to be happy. She must have expected me to miserably beg on her feet like yesterday.
"I can see that you're ready to meet your new family and husband," she said, with a strain on the word "husband." She's trying so hard to intimidate me.
"Yes I am," I confidently replied, and I could swear she would be punching the air right now if the throne room wasn't crowded.
"Very well then," she said, and both Miriam and Evelyn came to my side before leading me away from the throne room and into the black range rover that was waiting for us outside.
Once we got outside, I was able to take in the features of the castle for the first time, and it did not have many amazing features. The only exciting things about the castle were the water fountain that was carved in the shape of a swan and the purple flowers that were almost all over the ground. They also smelled great and I was tempted to pluck one, but resisted when I realised different eyes were on me. The queen was also approaching me, and I didn't want to exchange words with her, so I got into the car and patiently waited for them to finish packing the luggage in.
While the girls and servants were packing the luggage in the boot, she leaned towards me in the car, and I knew whatever she was about to say was going to be thrash.
As she was about to start talking, I clicked on the button in the car to wind up the glass, and the look on her face was worthy of being framed for the whole town to see.
Evelyn sat in the front seat after they finished packing, while Miriam and I sat in the back.
"You look happier than yesterday," Evelyn said, as I hummed in response.
"We were so worried about you that we thought the queen had forced you to make this decision," Miriam added, and I realised that they didn't know what had happened. The queen must have said that she wouldn't force me to make the decision, but I don't blame her. It was my husband who caused all of this drama, and he had better make it up to me once I arrive at Serene Pack.
"Thank you for agreeing to save our kingdom," Miriam said again, as I returned it with a smile.
The drive was longer than I thought it would be and the day wasn't as bright anymore. I was getting tired of sitting for so long and my butt was already cranking up.
"Why don't you find a safe place to pull over so I can stretch for a while?" I suggested it to the driver, who was looking at me through the rear-view mirror.
"The queen has said there should be no stops on the road."
"And I, the one who will save your kingdom, am requesting that you pull this car over." I immediately replied to him and could sense him thinking it through.
"Now!" I added and in no time, he pulled the car over at a cool spot as I immediately alighted the car and took a big stretch. My legs were wobbly and tired already.
I was sure the queen had told him that because she feared that I would escape, but she had nothing to worry about as I have everything under control. Besides, I don't even know my way out of this place. I wouldn't want to get into the hands of another person who wants me dead.
I also felt like I owed Edessa this one so as to pay for the loss of their king and future queen.
"How long before we get there?" I asked the girls who were also stretching beside me.
"An hour or two," Miriam answered.
"How would you know?" Evelyn asked her.
"I've been there before with the queen and our princess," she answered, as Evelyn's eyes sparked with excitement. I could tell she was already piling up the questions that she was going to ask Miriam.
"Alright, let's get into the car," I said to them before we would all be carried away by the discussion.
We continued the drive with Miriam talking all the while, and even though I acted like I wasn't interested in their talks, I was curious to know how Latvera and the prince were, so I listened and would ask some questions about them.
At first they were shocked to see me interested in their gossip, but soon enough it became the three of us gossiping and laughing all the way through the ride.
"Why does Edessa need to have an alliance with Latvera?" I finally asked the question that had been bugging me for some amount of time.
"Well, ever since the king got killed by the Lycan prince..."
"Screw him!" Evelyn cut Miriam off as my eyes widened at her sudden outburst. This was the first time that I'd hear her cuss.
"As I was saying..." Miriam continued while shooting Evelyn a death glare as she mouthed an apology.
"Ever since the king was killed by the Lycan prince, we've had targets on our backs from different nations. They believe we're weak without a king and will strike at any time, but they're right, we're weak and we need help from our neighbouring kingdom, who had engaged the princess of Edessa since birth. "
"Other kingdoms don't know that our princess is no more and we can't let that happen because then Latvera won't help us and lots of lives would be at risk"
"Then why don't you just choose any girl from your kingdom?" I asked.
"We're all blondes and blue-eyed," Evelyn answered with a chuckle.
"Only the princess was blessed with a unique feature in our kingdom and we can't trust an outsider to help us out, but the queen said she trusted you the moment she saw you." Miriam continued as I mouthed an "oh."
Everything was now clear to me, and I was feeling pity for the queen. As the future queen of all wolves and Lycans, I'll try my best to protect Edessa.
Both Evelyn and Miriam continued to chat about the kingdom and wouldn't stop talking about the prince while I sat and listened and would often chuckle. They were fun to be with to the point where I didn't realise that we had spent two more hours on the road.
"We've arrived," the driver said, and I turned to look out the window and take in the scene of Latvera. The scene looked just as Miriam had described it, but it also had some similarities with the serene pack. The only difference was that it was way bigger. It was beautiful and reminded me of home; Ariel and Alaric.
Loud trumpets blew, signalling our arrival, and as soon as we got to the entrance of the castle, the king, queen, and other members of the royal family were waiting to welcome me in.
The prince was easy to spot because he was the tallest and had the most prominent facial and body features, but the moment our gazes met, a scorn appeared on his face, his grey eyes sending daggers to mine.