*Omario POV*
I know when Duncan leads me to the secure study that whatever this royal visitor has to say must be really serious and sensitive.
“Alpha Omario,”Luna Sarah of the Palmland pack bows respectfully the moment I walk in.
“To what do I owe this visit?”
She will have to forgive my lack of hospitality. I really don’t have the patience nor the time. My mate is in excruciating pain, I should be by her side.
She must have read my mind because she immediately explains herself.
“I am sorry to arrive unannounced, but this is urgent. Clement and that seductress you exchanged your father’s horses for are coming to overthrow you.”
I can feel her anger when she utters the seductress. My curiosity is already piqued. The Clement she is referring to is famously known as Alpha C of the Palmland pack. He was dad’s friend, that’s why I had suggested he gave him the horses when he wanted them killed. Those are the same horses Terrence bought back a few months back in exchange for Olivia.
“Alpha C is your mate, why would you tell me this?”
She lets out a weak laugh. “You haven’t been in the loop then? Clement betrayed our bond, rejected and banished me for your ex.”
Her response is almost an accusation but I’m too shocked to defend myself.
“What? Olivia is Alpha C’s Luna now?”
I just can’t comprehend what she is saying. Alpha C is around my dad’s age, which means he is way older than Olivia.
She nods. “Clement loves them young and that escort loves the power. I heard stories of how cruel and ruthless Brenda was, she trained her niece very well. That shameless tramp is ten times worse!”
“I am sorry,” I can’t help but feel for her. I witnessed the pain dad put mom through and would not wish it upon anyone.
She shrugs her shoulders, probably not willing to go that path.
“Wait, but Olivia was heavily pregnant when she came to your pack.”
Wolves hardly accept pups that are not theirs, especially unborn or very young ones. Unless Terrence was wrong about whom he told me the dad was and Alpha C is actually the dad.
“She sacrificed the pup for Clement. The ultimate proof of love is what they call it,” she says with disgust evident in her voice and face.
“She sacrificed the pup,” I repeat her statement, dumbfounded. I have no idea what that means.
“Yes. She killed the pup to be his Luna and replace me.”
This is the most bloodcurdling thing I have ever heard. With everything Olivia has done it is really hard to believe that the sweet and kind woman I grew up with has become so evil.
Did she want being Luna so desperately that she would sacrifice her own pup and be mated to a man old enough to be her father?
Luna Sarah must have noticed my stunned expression. She proceeds and her next statement depress me more.
“I don’t know what their beef is with you, but they are coming for you. Most of our pack members are still loyal to me. I still have eyes and ears in their circle, that’s how I know this. What I gathered is that they have insiders in your council and even some servants. They already know that Luna Abi is in labour. I have the confirmation that the attack on you is imminent.”
I am trying to process everything she is saying as fast as I can. This is all in keeping with Rufus’ visions. Abi can’t shift into Nina while in labour without hurting or even killing our pup. I already know that she would rather die than do that. The part that does not make sense with all their scheming is that even though Nina is out of the fight, I still have the features of steel. No one, not even Alpha C can go against me.
“I have sent messages to gather all our warriors. They should be here in thirty minutes,” Duncan respond assuringly but I can’t help but worry. Rufus was clear that I will have no choice, which means there must be something out of the ordinary they have that will lead to my defeat.
“They are not coming. Alpha C has captured all the messengers.” A voice I have not heard in months announces.
I turn around to find my ex best friend on his knees.
“Your Highness.”
Floyd looks dull, depressed and aged, the opposite of the way I remember him.
“Forgive me, I was wrong to undermine Luna Abi and go against you. Let me redeem myself by fighting by your side,” he says with his eyes casted down.
I pull him to his feet and embrace him. “Luna Sarah has just informed me of what happened to your pup. I am deeply sorry.”
His body tremble, a low groan escaping him.
“I had no idea that she was my mate but she knew from the time she turned eighteen. I was too ordinary and she wanted to Luna. She and Brenda bribed Frode to pronounce you as her mate instead.”
All I can do is hold him tight.
“You know I was always around her. My wolf would not get pissed with all the childish and selfish things she did. I use to get really angry and annoyed by you for not being as patient with her.”
Floyd continues and I remember all of that so well. He was always so protective of Olivia and was always by her side even when I and Titan could not stand her.
“I never thought anything of it, but the pull was irresistible during the HAZE. That’s when I knew but she rejected me as soon as HAZE was over. I could take her passing off my pup as yours but killing him to be with Alpha C….it hurts,” Floyd can’t hold back his tears.
I just can’t imagine what he has been going through.
“I am so and yes, I would appreciate the help. You, Duncan and Luna Sarah can work up a strategy while I go check on Abi.”
“It’s …to..late, Your Highness,” Rufus stumbles in, breathless.
I look at him in confusion before the hairs on the back of my neck stand. “My mate is in trouble.”
“I have to go.” I am already heading out with them behind me.
A deafening boom sound followed by howling of foreign wolves fills the air.
They are here.
I can already hear screams, commotions and growling from the outside. Our guards would be definitively caught off guard and our warriors are nowhere near because the messengers did not get t them.
They all shift simultaneously, except for Rufus.
“You go and protect the Luna. We will hold them back until the warriors get here.”
That sounds like a good plan. We both head to the corridor, their destination the outside while mine is back to Abi.
We come to a standstill when we see the stretcher with my groaning mate being pushed by the two physicians and the midwife.
“What the fuck are you doing?”
I don’t even know why they would need her to be outside but surely they can hear the commotion yet they are wheeling her there.
One quickly holds a knife over Abi’s neck and I completely freeze.
“Stand back or I will slit her throat,” Doctor Fleit, our royal physician threatens.
I can’t believe this. This man delivered me. He has been the royal physician for over twenty years. While I vetted everyone coming near my wife, I blindly trusted our medical staff. I trusted the years they served the throne. I fucked up big time.
“You are a doctor, sworn by oath. Why are you doing this?”
Doctor Fleit laughs while his young colleague avoids my eyes.
“Money, Son. It makes the world go round.”
They must have paid them a lot because their salaries are triple what other doctors earn.
I helplessly move aside and watch them wheel Abi to my enemies.
Following behind with Rufus, Duncan, Floyd and Luna Sarah on my side, I link with my mate.
“Abi won’t let me out,Rio,” Nina is the first to speak. I can’t feel her anger and frustration.
“Letting you will kill the pup. I told you this already!” Abi snaps before taking deep breaths. She is in pain while her doctor has a knife on her throat and there is nothing I can do about it.
“Babe..”
“I will not do it, Omar,” Abi says decisively, but I already knew that.
“I know, My Love. I love you.”
“We are going to die, aren’t we?” Nina asks nervously and I don’t have answers for her.
All I know is that I am completely powerless when my enemies have them.
Outside, we are greeted by over hundred wolves. Leading them is Alpha C, Olivia, Frode and the rest of my elders. At least I know exactly who betrayed me. I will make them pay even if it’s the last thing I ever do.
My messengers and guards are all on their knees bound with chains. I am definitely outnumbered and powerless.
Alpha C let’s out a victorious laugh and kisses Olivia passionately when the two doctors bring Abi to him.
We stand a few meters away, none of the strategies we are trying to brainstorm, possible. Anything we do would aggravate Alpha C and deadly for Abi and our pup.
“They are both ruthless and heartless. We have no choice but do as they demand,” Luna Sarah spells it out to us.
“On your knees Omario and your pathetic army or I will kill both your mate and pup!” Alpha C shouts and we all comply.
Olivia is the one who catwalks to me. She snatches my crown and pulls out the ring of Lily town kingdom from my finger before sneering.
Titan groans but I can’t afford to let him out. His first instinct will be running to Abi, but that would be as good as signing her death.
“You should have chosen me,” she says and turns around to place my crown over Alpha C while their followers howl victoriously.
“Our people will pick the foreign howls. We just have to stall and we won’t be outnumbered too long,” Rufus suggests but I am not too hopeful because they will still have Abi.
I wince when Olivia walks towards Abi and takes the knife from the Doctor Fleit and points it directly over Abi’s heart.
“Omar, I need you to fight for our kingdom, despite what they do to me.”
“Babe, I can’t.”
“Omar…”
“You won’t and risk hurting our pup. I won’t fight and risk losing both of you.”
Our conversation is interrupted by what Olivia says to Alpha C.
“This slave has to die.”
I completely freeze. I don’t expect a woman who killed her own child to have any compassion for anyone.
“Omario has surrendered. There is no need,” Alpha C responds but Olivia shakes her head angrily.
“My daddy was killed by hers. Omario killed my uncle because of her. She killed my aunt and made me a laughing stock. She has to die and besides, she is still the inferno. What do you think will happen as soon as she is delivered?”
My heart sinks as Alpha C wraps his arms around Olivia and kissing her neck.
“You are right. Kill her.”