(Image: Queen Zawadi of Lornydahl)

   It was more than clear that king Blackwolf said 'please', but it was not a request at all. There were few who would not obey an Alpha wolf at once. They paid with their life for such a foolish decision in most of those cases.

   The ladies in waiting were shaking like autumn leaves in the wind. Some were sobbing with eyes tightly closed, awaiting their inevitable doom. And yet not one of them moved from her spot. These women were ready to die for their queen. Bryson felt true admiration. He valued loyalty above all, and did not want to scare them to death. But he also had no choice. Hasira was almost at the surface, snarling and pushing to emerge. The wolf in him was determined to see the mysterious queen of Lornydahl, one way or another. The deep, low-frequency growl that came out of his chest froze everyone's blood.

   "Move away," he slowly whispered in the closest lady's ear.

   It was directed at her, but everyone present heard the command, or rather felt it in every tiny bit of their bodies. It was like icicles, sharper than a dagger, piercing through the skin and forcing anyone to submit without a second thought. This was no longer a human voice. It was not even a voice in the real sense of the word. If the concept of giving an order could have a material expression, then it was this chilling, subjugating sound that penetrated the consciousness and the flesh, overcoming any form of resistance.

   The women instantly fell to their knees amid the jingle of gold bracelets and precious necklaces. The black veils spread on the floor around them, reminiscent of the burnt land after a forest fire. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, only one figure remained standing in the middle. She was wrapped in а silk black cloak. The hood covered her face. And yet there was no doubt that she was very different from her companions. There was an aura of delicacy and tenderness about her. She was short and frail, barely reaching the massive wolf king's chest. Her body was shaking. Her hands were clutched in a tight grip in front of her. The contrast between the two figures facing each other was remarkable.

   "My Lord, wait a moment. Take a deep breath before your next move." Damian carefully rested his hand on his king's shoulder and leaned closer. "Do not look at her. Look at me instead, just for a while."

   Bryson listened to his Beta. He knew his friend was right. His eyes turned to the courageous general. They were like smoldering embers. One could easily see the blazing fire in them, but also the tears welling up in the corners, the pain, the desperation, the rising anger. Both men could guess exactly what she was, without even asking her to reveal her face. Although they had accepted the harsh truth that the last Omega had vanished for good ten years ago, there could be no other explanation. Even children knew that they would never see anyone like her ever again. And yet, here she was, standing alive and well among her human courtiers while her people struggled to establish a whole new order due to the fact that for reasons unknown, those like her were no longer born on their lands. How was that possible?

   "Tulia, Bwana Wangu, Hazira (calm down, My Lord Hazira)," Damian chanted in the ancient language of the king's ancestors, gazing into his master's stormy eyes.

   Alpha wolves were centuries old and had been reincarnated thousands of times. Only Betas could reach out to them and be heard. He repeated the words his father had taught him during the harsh training he had to complete in order to become the king's most trusted man. He had done his best to be fully prepared and make his family proud. It was a life and death task.

   His voice had exactly the right power and intonation as he continued. "Karibu tena kwetu. (Welcome back to us.) Ease your fury, Hazira. See the way of forgiveness. Ask before you strike. Learn before you judge. Show us your wisdom and mercy. Vuta pumzi (take a deep breath)."

   Bryson's breathing gradually calmed down. His gaze cleared up. The enraged wolf took a step back. Damian had managed to stop the disaster for the time being, but it was not clear whether he had prevented it or merely postponed it.

   "How could you?" the wolf king whispered, directing his stare at the motionless queen again. "Do you have any idea what harm you caused to your people, the pain you inflicted, the future you stole? Tell me you were forced to come here and marry our enemy. Tell me it was not what you desired, and I will erase this kingdom from the face of the earth. Did they kidnap you? What is your name and tribe?"

   "No." The answer was barely audible. The woman removed her hood. All the shifters gasped at the sight. No one could mistake those eyes, big, blue as the clearest sky, exquisitely beautiful and captivating. The eyes of an Omega. She lowered her head and bowed. "Forgive me, Alpha. My name is Zawadi.* I was born in a small village, right on the Lornydahl's border, just three days after our beautiful Luna. I am from The Kabila Tawala.**"

   *Zawadi (Swahili) – meaning: A gift

   **Kabila Tawala (Swahili) – meaning: The Ruling Tribe

   "Forgive?" King Blackwolf shook his head in disbelief. His voice was colder than ice. "Your Luna, my mother is gone. You dare to ask for forgiveness? Ask our people who will have no one to lead them after my time passes. Ask Hasira, who won't find another Alpha to be reborn into. Do you know what an Infra Alpha is?"

   "I do not." The queen fell to her knees and sobbed out, "You must believe me. There was no other way."

   "I will tell you what it is. 'Infra' means 'bellow', 'inferior to', but it also means 'after'. This is a title given to an ordinary person who is entrusted with the heavy burden to rule a kingdom after..." Bryson brought his face close to her and spitefully hissed through his gritted teeth, "... after their last Alpha was gone. Those will be the rulers of the future. Have you seen a pack without a leader? Have you seen a lost wolf without a purpose? What happens to them? Answer!"

   "They die," she hummed.

   "Say it louder!" Bryson gripped her chin with two fingers and made her raise her head. "Say it so loud that even the wolf who lives within your soul can hear what will happen because you chose to run away. For what? Love?"

   "Enough!" King Lothatr's yell was followed by the metallic sound of swords being unsheathed. Both the shifters and the humans were ready to clash. "Blackwolf, do not touch my wife. Who do you think you are? This is not your mountain den. You can't do what you please here."

   "Do not dare talk to me." The wolf king turned to face the man. His entire body exuded hatred and contempt. The next second the blade of his sword was resting on the human's throat. "Did you think you would get away with this? Are you still hoping to survive the day? You stole our most precious treasure. Nothing can save you."

   "Stole?" Lothar humorlessly laughed out. "I saved her. You should have seen the way she looked when I found her on the cold stones in front of the gate, covered in blood and freezing to death. She hadn't eaten in a week. A feeble girl who passed out in my arms and was unconscious for three full days before we could get her warm and strong enough to wake up. Three months passed before she could say a word to me. It was thirty years ago, and I still remember every tiny detail. I had never seen anyone so frightened and heartbroken. She was one of your people. Where was your father to protect her from the villains who killed every single person and burned her home to the ground? The Alpha did not care because he already had his queen. Am not I right?"

   "You have the guts to insult my father?" Bryson shouted in rage. He pressed the blade into the older man's flesh, cutting the skin. A stream of blood run down Lothar's chest coloring the abundance of gold jewelry in red. "I thought you had no honor to attack a peaceful neighbor only for profit, but now I see that you are also a thief and a piece of shit. Die and let your God forgive you for your crimes!"

   He swung his sword with an unimaginable power. Screams of horror and desperation filled the room. It seemed this was the other king's end.

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A/N

Hello at the end of Chapter 3. 💗💗💗

The mystery is deepening.

Have you already formed an idea about what is going on?

Why did the queen appear at all if she was aware it was not going to end well?

Will King Lothar survive?

Share your thoughts, ask questions and criticize, if you think it is necessary.

Don't forget to vote, if you liked the chapter.

Love: Anny