The Alpha King's Claim

Chapter 85

The Alpha King’s Claim chapter 84 by desirenovel

Aero

Chris, who I specifically gave an important mission, waited in the camp set up near the Ehnrelil border.

Once Serena and I exited the hidden lake, I mind-linked him, instructing to welcome us in the forest

edge bringing along a certain bundle of joy. My third surprise. Têxt belongs to NôvelDrama.Org.

That said bundle of joy was already leaping when it saw my wife.

“Sprint!” she cried out when her long lost pet hopped out of my Omega’s arms and ran towards her.

Serena had the brightest smile when it leaped onto her chest. She hugged it tight and petted the top of

its head all the while awarding me a grateful look.

I showed her a pleased smile whilst hiding my guilt when I remembered how I tossed the damn

creature from the footbridge when I was in Ehnrelil and got it trapped in some random realm using my

teleportation ability.

If I knew then that the owner was with me all this time, I wouldn’t have done so, but lucky me it was

trapped in Palmeeya, in my own realm, so Chris didn’t have a hard time retrieving it.

“Thank you Aero!” she stated just as she approached me and planted a chaste kiss on my lips.

“All for you, Serena,” I told her, my happiness swelling in my chest. I thought of my fourth surprise—

meeting her father and aunt—and felt pretty much sure she was going to be more teary-eyed.

While she and Sprint reacquainted, I signaled Chris to return to the camp and have General Halcynos

and now Alpha Margaret prepare. They were waiting in one of the big tents, in the makeshift war room

to be exact.

“Let’s go?” I asked, turning back to look at Serena. This time, a number of bugs had already

surrounded her, making her look exactly like an ethereal fae rather than a luna. This doesn’t concern

me. In fact, I already accepted her living a double life just as she accepted me in my most stingy

attitude.

Yes, as her mate, I couldn’t wait to see her transform into her wolf form, but at the same time, I was

contended for now. I wasn’t in a hurry. Forever was on our side. She could undergo the transformation

process anytime, anywhere she likes as soon as this idiotic war ends, or maybe, she could transform

while kicking fae assess.

“You’re very secretive, Aero, you’re making me feel nervous,” she told me.

A faint smile ghosted my lips.

“Hmm, my queen? Nervous?”

She jabbed my ribs in response thus eliciting a sharp ‘oof’ from me.

“Seriously, who do you mean when you said I’d love to meet the—”

She abruptly stopped both from walking and talking and directed her complete attention on the

campsite not far ahead. I watched silently as tears started streaming down her cheeks. I wanted to hold

her right then and there, but at the same time, I was aware it wasn’t me she wanted to embrace at the

moment.

“Aero…” she gazed at me with her very wet eyes and sobbed. “My father… I could feel him inside one

of those tents.”

“Go on, find him,” I urged without letting her know the general’s exact location.

She bobbed her head up and down and then ran towards the campsite. Sprint followed her while the

bugs flew not far behind.

I watched as she honed in the makeshift war room—its tent a mixture of blue and gold colors—and

without hesitation, went inside.

It would have been great to witness their family reunion; however, I decided to give them some privacy.

When I reached the entrance of the tent, I paused, crossed my arms over my chest, and waited until

my wife’s heartbeat normalized…

Serena

All those times I was bullied. All those times the High Elders told me I was a freak of nature, I always

asked why, why would they say such a thing, why would they mentally hurt me and ostracize me. It

sure made me sad, but that didn’t break my will. It never dawned on me to question my true identity. I

was satisfied with who or whatever I was.

My mother never told me I was half-wolf, but she did give me hints, hints that my little brain that time

couldn’t quite process yet. I couldn’t blame her. Being in the fae realm and getting surrounded by

twisted High Fae Elders, she had a good reason why she had to keep the truth away from me.

Maybe my wolf sensed this too, cooperated with my mother, and decided to stay dormant or…it was

just waiting for me to fully acknowledge it.

And now that I have, a newfound connection brought me in tears.

Aero and I were walking towards the campsite when I felt it—a very strong bond that was at par with

my mate bond. I could describe it as soothing, gentle…almost maternal-like but I knew it came not from

my mother.

“Aero, my father…I could feel him inside one of those tents,” I told him, my tears now unstoppable.

He urged me forward and so I did, using that fatherly bond in my quest to find him. In one of the big

tents past the small ones, I noticed a pulsating heat inside. It was beckoning me to come, attracting me

with its tender warmth.

My heart leaped and I cried again.

Swiftly, I went inside the tent and from there, I saw General Halcynos stand near a wide table. He was

wearing his battle armor—a representation of strength and destruction, but I saw past that. I saw safety

and protection. I saw my long-lost father.

Our eyes met; the gentleness in his got me sobbing some more.

“Father!” I cried out whilst running to him like a lost puppy.

His arms spread wide, willing to take me in for a tight embrace.

“Serena, child…” he patted my head and kissed my forehead, “I have always dreamed for this day to

come.”

All my hidden frustrations, all my pent up fears and anxiety, I poured it all while we embraced.

Memories of my childhood—of asking myself why I didn’t have a father figure, of wishing to have one

someday, of pushing myself to be strong for my mother, and of wondering whether she was also

pushing herself to be strong for me—everything, they flowed together with my tears.

God, I wasn’t this much of a crier…but maybe today, I would have to consider it as an exemption.

“You never told me it was you all along,” I croaked, still relishing his embrace. The platinum armor he

wore was cold, yes, but I didn’t mind. Our bond was warm enough to soothe all my pains away.

“I’m sorry,” he stated, leaning forward to press his cheek against the crown of my head.

“I’m going to kill Aero for keeping this secret from me,” I half-sobbed, half-grumbled.

“Sweety, he found out the truth just last night. Spare him your wrath,” he advised and I picked up the

loyalty in his voice towards his Alpha King.

“Right…” I chewed, “Okay, I’ll accept that.”

“What’s this?” Suddenly, a woman’s voice filled the tent, “You’re having a reunion without me?”

Withdrawing from my father’s embrace, I glanced towards an opening to another area of the tent and

saw Margaret flashing a relieved smile. I knew right then and there we were related.

“Auntie!” I cried out.

She crossed the room and joined us in another heartwarming embrace.

“At last, I didn’t have to act anymore,” she stated just as she cupped my face. “Your father here was

adamant to keep this a secret until the right time comes. I guess this is the right time.”

I chuckled when she winked at me.

“The best time Margaret especially when we are headed to war with Ehnrelil,” my father chimed in, his

gentle expression gone and now replaced with a full mask of stern commitment.

“Sweety, we will have to catch up some other time,” he told me.

I nodded at him, understanding what he meant. There was so much I wanted to tell him, but with us

sharing a familial bond, I bet he already read my thoughts about what became of my mother.

Wiping my tears dry, I kissed my father on the cheek and gave one to Aunt Margaret too. “I think I’ll

need to go out. I’m feeling my husband’s temper rising,” I said, suddenly concerned. I was aware he

was standing in front of the tent’s opening, staying patient and calm, until just a minute ago when his

alertness increased.

“Aero,” I called as soon as I opened the flaps.

His back was to me, as ramrod straight as it usually was, but I sensed the tension in his shoulders.

“Hey,” I neared him, looking directly at his tight jawline.

“Stay with me, Serena. We just got an unwelcomed guest,” he stated grimly, tossing an arm on my way

in an attempt to barricade me.

I was supposed to share his wariness, supposed to dislike the said guest’s appearance, but I didn’t.

Instead, I was happy to see Lord Hale stand some meters away from us, alone but no doubt here to

answer my call.

Before I could explain, a spark of yellowish light appeared just a stone’s throw away from our right and

once that light disappeared, Lady Yllana and two other Elemental Witches together with Rhea revealed

themselves.

“Rhea!” I shouted, smiling at her. She gave me a wave before gesturing the witches to approach me.

I heard Aero grumble before asking my attention with a confused eye.

“Don’t worry, I invited Lord Hale and Lady Yllana here,” I explained. “I asked Rhea to do it earlier.”

“Serena, we are a proud, strong race. We don’t need help from the other realms.”

I nodded at him and cupped his face. “I know, but they deserved to avenge their dead comrades, Aero.

Grant them at least that.”

Releasing a long sigh, his hard expression eased a little. “Alright, for you, I will grant that, but I want

that bat out of our kingdom once this is all over.”

I gifted him with a short but meaningful kiss on the lips. “Thank you,” I said, then faced my guests as

they neared us.

“Lord Hale, Lady Yllana, Lady Shea and Lady Rosella,” I enumerated, looking at them in the eye one

by one, “thank you for answering my call.”

“Queen Serena,” Lady Yllana tipped her chin down towards me, “we should be the one thanking you for

inviting us in this grand occasion.”

“It’s about time somebody pays for causing trouble on the realms,” Lord Hale expressed.

From my periphery, I noticed Aero’s brow arch. “Oh really?” he said, directing his attention to the

vampire lord. “You might as well spit out the truth, Hale. What personal benefits do you get from joining

in this war?”

I squeezed Aero’s hand and gave him a pointed look. ′Be nice,′ I mind-linked him.

“I’m not an insensitive vampire master, Your Majesty. I care for my subjects too,” was Lord Hale’s

answer. “Plus, I want to support your queen.”

Aero answered him with a steady glare.

“Okay, let’s get inside the tent please,” I exclaimed, trying to ease the awkwardness of the moment.

Hand in hand, Aero and I entered the makeshift war room while the others followed. Inside, I was

greeted with my father’s pleased nod and the rest of the Alphas lowered heads.

Lord Hale chose to stand on my right, near Elijah while Lady Yllana and her fellow witches picked the

spot at Aero’s left beside my father.

As the Alpha King and Luna, we stood at the head part of the table which by now had a spread of maps

of the Baltic Meadows and surprisingly, the inside of Ehnrelil.

I squeezed Aero’s hand, hinting him it was his turn to speak, but he squeezed back, throwing me a

slow smile.

“You lead my army, my queen. Guide us in this battle that promises a less bloody outcome.”

With my fired up determination, I nodded at him and faced Viacronis, Agotta, and Phanteon’s finest.

“Alright, this is how we bring down the King of Ehnrelil.”