Chapter 46
-Alexia-
'Me? Fruit of deception?' The words rang in Alexia's head again and again. She froze in her seat, hearing what the queen had to say about her. 'How was it possible? Was I not my father's daughter all along?'
The air around the meeting hall turned chilly, following the queen's claim. Everyone's gaze landed on Alexia and Keiran. Alexia became fully self-conscious that she hid between the frames of Alpha Kai and her husband. "Helen! You are wrong! Do not say that about Alexia!" The king exclaimed. "She - Ahhh! Arrghh!"
Suddenly, the king fell off his seat, his hand clutching against his chest.
"Help the king! Help the king!" Kieran jumped out of his table and approached the king. He cared not about the guards that tried to stop him.
Beta Ford also came forward, trying to soothe the king. However, in the end, King Balthasar lost consciousness. The entire time, Queen Helen did not show affection for the king. What surprised Alexia further was how the king's son, Caspian, also appeared unaffected. "Call a doctor!" Beta Ford ordered, and while the guards within the palace scrambled to aid their king, the queen had other plans.
"It's true. The king has betrayed me. He cheated on me with a woman who was said to be his true mate!" The queen pointed to Alexia again and said, "And that woman is his daughter!"
Kieran had already helped the king into a stretcher. While the guards carried the king to his chambers, Kieran said, "What nonsense is this? Alexia is the daughter of Alpha Roland! What proof do you have that the king betrayed you?"
"I have seen this woman named Avery in the past!" Helen said to Kieran. "The king doesn't know it, but I know, and your wife? She is an exact copy of Avery - his true mate! What more proof do I need? The king cares for Alexia like she is his daughter, and that's because she probably is!"Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.
Alexia saw how Queen Helen addressed the alphas before her. She said, "Your king will never lock up Alpha Kieran because of this! He is biased towards Alpha Kieran, for he is married to his bastard child! Is that the kind of king you wish to serve?"
"Nonsense!" Kieran yelled. He looked at the attending alphas and defended King Balthasar. "Whatever personal issues the king has had nothing to do with how he led our country! King Balthasar had protected us from invasion and sacrificed his happiness to serve the nation. King Balthasar is a good king!"
Alpha Declan, Alpha Kai, and Alpha Baxter had Kieran's back. They vouched for the king, recounting the projects that he had implemented, but despite their efforts, the council of alphas still became divided, and it was all because of the recent attacks on the eastern and southern packs.
"Then, I shall have Alexia locked up for now, so we can have the doctors analyze her blood. If she truly is my husband's bastard child, then the king has sinned against me, against his promise to me!" The queen suggested.
Hearing this, Alexia shuddered. If it weren't for Alpha Kai, who was comforting her, she would have fainted with all the revelation.
"You don't need to lock up my wife! She will willingly give her blood for the analysis," Kieran replied.
"How uncooperative!" The queen announced. "Not only did you attack the small packs in the east and south, but you would also help cover up the king's mistakes!"
"My Queen, since the king is not in good health to defend himself, I suggest we continue this later," Beta Ford suggested.
Alexia saw how the queen was hesitant. She glowered at the opposing alphas and said, "Very well. We can deal with my husband's betrayal for now, however! Alpha Kieran needs to be punished!"
The alphas who were affected growled in their agreement. They said, "Punish Alpha Kieran!"
"His wife should also suffer the same fate as my wife!"
"Take away his richest and his pack!"
"Let's not make hasty judgments just yet. We need to investigate further, and the king is not here to make the decision," Beta Ford suggested. "Why? Isn't the pieces of evidence enough? I think they are more than enough!" The queen declared, and the affected alphas agreed with her. "This here is proof enough!" Alpha Blazed raised the letter that he claimed to have been written by Kieran.
"What is the rule, Beta Ford? Should my husband not be available to make these decisions? Who can make it in his place?" The queen sought.
Beta Ford looked down, thinking. Then looked at Kieran and Alexia sympathetically. He replied, "The queen."
"Therefore," said the queen. "I will make the decision!"
Alexia watched as the queen pointed a finger at Kieran. She announced, "Alpha Kieran Stone. For the abuse of your power and for attacking the small packs in the east and the south, I, therefore, strip you off of your alpha title!"
"The palace will take over your pack
and all of your territories. I will put these lands in the care of Alpha Blaze! You have one week to leave your pack or suffer the
2473
consequences!" The queen added. "Choose Alpha Kieran. Leave peacefully, avoid hurting your pack members, or go to war with me, your queen!"
"My Queen, don't you think this decision is too much?" Beta Ford questioned.
"Who is your queen again?" The queen barked at Beta Ford. "I am second in command next to the king. You must follow my orders! Don't you see, Beta Ford?"
The queen pointed to half of the alphas present in the council. She said, "The other alphas agree with me. Once we send out letters to all the alphas of Taplean, they will agree with my decision, too."
Helen snapped at Alexia and glowered at her. Then, she turned to Kieran and said, "Out! Get out of my palace before my guards drag you out!"
The couple was in their champers within the palace, packing. They were accommodated in a room last night, but now they were preparing to leave.
Alexia was crying as she closed her bag. Her emotions were all over the place. She badly just wanted to scream and let it all out, but she couldn't not when they were still in the palace.
She felt arms around her waist and she felt Kieran kiss her head. She heard him say, "It's going to be alright, Alexia. It will be fine."
"Do you think it's true?" She asked. "That I am the bastard child of the king?"
She turned to Kieran and asked, "The queen knows my mother, Kieran. That can't be a coincidence!"
"I don't have the answers right now, Alexia. What I know is that we need to get out here and fast," Kieran replied.
"Where will we go, Kieran? Your people? Rae? Jaxon? Melissa? Dean? Seth? Sheena? Everyone! What will become of them?" She asked as tears stung her eyes.
Kieran embraced Alexia tightly. He revealed, "I have already given the word to Jaxon. They are free to remain in the pack. Whoever follows after me needs to understand that they will be putting themselves in danger, but some will follow me. Jaxon will surely follow me. I know it." Cupping her cheeks, Kieran said, "Listen to me. They don't know about the Cross River Pack. The king was not able to update it as a list belonging to my territory. I saw the list from Beta Ford. So we can go there for now while we figure it out. Jaxon should be making all the arrangements by now."
"I don't know what the queen is up to, but I think she is using you as an excuse to remove me from my title - take away my power and influence," Kieran implied. "So don't blame yourself for any of this, okay?"
Alexia nodded reluctantly. She hugged Kieran again and said, "I'm scared, Kieran. I'm scared for you, and I'm scared for us."
"As long as we are together, we will be okay," Kieran firmly said.
Suddenly, they heard a knock on the
door. When Kieran opened it, Beta Ford walked in. He pleaded, "Alpha Kieran, please... Please take My King with you don't feel comfortable e that he is here, in the palace, where he could die. Two weeks ago, King Balthasar was as healthy as a horse, but suddenly he had fallen ill, yet despite his symptoms, the queen kept dismissing it, telling the king he was just tired and needed rest."
Beta Ford shook his head and said, "I have been meaning to tell the king this, but I have doubted the queen since your wife was attacked a few months back. I think the queen was behind it and not her guards."
"I will help you with everything you
need. Some guards are loyal to the king, and they will always have his best interest. They will come with you wherever you take the king to recuperate. I don't trust the doctor the queen had brought into the palace," Beta Ford added. "Please, Alpha Kieran... Take My King with you."