Rage of the Alpha (Part 2 of the Alpha Queen series)
Chapter 4

SABER

Back at the party, Saber wasn’t sure how to sneak back to her cave. Already she had three unsuccessful attempts under her belt, without so much as getting out of the throng of people surrounding her. Although it was fun, she only wanted time to herself to mull over the revelation she’d had.

Now that she thought about getting away again, there was a slight change in the minstrel’s music. Yet again Saber was intercepted by a fan of hers. She laughed at the old man’s antics to bring her to the dance floor and finally relented. He bowed and took her hand, pulling her into a silly dance which only he knew.

A quick glance over the crowd had Saber meeting eyes with the minstrel for the first time. Her breath caught in her throat as a pang went through her chest. Recognition flared between them and she found herself standing in front of him, holding her breath.

He looked like any other minstrel - dark locks of curly hair falling to his shoulders, dapper maroon jacket with matching pants and an off-white shirt with frills lining the edges all the way up to his neck, no cravat though. But that wasn’t all Saber saw.

Past this illusion was a beautiful woman about her own height, with big brown doe eyes, bone structure to kill for with a straight nose and perfect, rounded lips. They stared at each other, each taking in as much detail as possible while the music kept flowing from the flute, the tone having changed once more.

“How is this possible?” Saber questioned what was right in front of her.

“I had hoped you wouldn’t be able to see through the illusion,” the woman’s voice nearly had Saber choking up. “…but now that you have, I couldn’t have wished for a better outcome,” she smiled sadly, her eyes turning suspiciously sparkly.

Saber lay a hand on the woman’s cheek, the touch confirming what was real. She could feel a withered part of her soul coming back to life, stretching, yawning and reaching to this gorgeous female.

“Mom…” She whispered.

“My baby…” Neall suddenly had Saber in a bear-hug, but Saber held on with as much force. She never wanted to let go as tears spilled over her face, soaking her mother’s hair and clothes in a few moments. Ugly sobs spilled out of her as she inhaled her mother’s scent, trying to press deeper into the crook of her neck.

“This was long overdue baby; I couldn’t replace you anywhere after the attack on the village. I’m so sorry. Please forgive me,” Neall begged through tears of her own.

“I’m glad you weren’t there Mom,” Saber choked out. “If you were, you would’ve died too. At least now you’re here.”

“I’m never letting go again baby, that’s a promise.”

Saber felt a hot tingle flow from her hand up her arm, and when she looked, a light green vine had crept there, stopping just above her elbow.

“A promise on your life?” She asked.

“A promise to my child,” Neall replied with absolution.

They held each other for a few more moments, then let go, heading to Saber’s cave still holding hands.

“Are you sure you want to take the minstrel home my Queen?” Came an exasperated tone from behind Saber. She spun around quickly and came face to face with a flustered-looking Sebastian.

“It’s not what you think,” she darted a glance at her mother, who only shook her head slightly. “We’re very old friends. Only going to catch up.” She added quickly.

This is awkward. Her very personal encounter with Sebastian earlier coming to mind just to haunt her in front of her mother, who Sebastian saw as the minstrel. Just fabulous!

“Oh, right then. Have a splendid chat. I’ll see you in the morning my Queen.” He relented with a smile.

“Goodnight Sebastian and thank you again.”

“Anytime my Queen.” He nodded to the minstrel and left them to their walk.

“Care for a swim?” Saber asked her mother with a sly grin.

“It’s a bit chilly…” Neall’s words were cut off as Saber pushed her into the water and dove in herself. She came up to replace her mother sputtering while trying to laugh.

“Was that necessary?” Neall demanded laughingly when she got her lungs under control.

“Maybe not, but you should’ve seen your face,” Saber laughed and guided her mother to the curtain of water and parted it with her magic.

Saber made them coffee and they went to her room so Saber could change and put her weapons away. They made small-talk about Neall’s minstrel-travels until it was time to get the big issues out of the way. Saber took a seat on the bed with her mother.

“Alright, so, I have to know…”

“Do you know who I am baby?” Neall was serious in a heartbeat.

“We think you’re the queen’s daughter.” Saber told her.

“I am. The wolves who raised me died very long ago, but they could not have children of their own, and had turned rogue because their pack leader was a tyrant. They worked for a circus as a way to bring happiness to kids and be closer to them. On their way one day, they caught sight of a funeral pyre close to the castle and was curious to know who died at the palace.”

“They found me in the ashes of the pyre, crying my lungs out. They took me in and raised me as their own. It was much later that it became public knowledge that the Queen’s daughter had been stillborn. It was obvious that child was me, with my magic already so vast even as a child.”

“They decided to keep that secret in order to protect their lives. They loved me so much. I think they also didn’t want to lose me as their daughter. I loved them too, so much that I kept them healthy for almost double their normal lifespan.”

Neall had a faraway look in her eyes, "But in the end they asked me to let them go, such long lives were never meant for wolves you see.”

Saber touched her mother’s knee in support, imagining the horror of letting someone you love die by choice. It hurt to even think about.

“I’ve considered revealing myself to the queen countless times over these millennia, but the last time I did, I met your father. He wasn’t my mate, even after he received the Alpha King status the bond did not appear. We weren’t equal enough in our power, but we loved each anyway.”

Saber remembered how in love her parents were. Always touching, always replaceing excuses to kiss each other. It warmed her heart to hear it from her mother, when her father rarely spoke about it. Men with their egos.

“What happened?” It was the only question Saber had left.

“An emissary from the queen requested our presence at the palace. She wanted to discuss the Heart of the wolves. There was no way I could go or stay away; she would’ve recognized me just as you did. And we couldn’t risk dragging her into our pack with a connection like that.”

“So, you faked your death and went where?” Saber needed to fill those missing years with information.

“I became the minstrel, even stayed in this very cave a few times. I wish I was there that night.” Neall was close to tearing up again, it was plain through her voice. “I could’ve saved everyone.”

“If you were and if you did, it would’ve revealed you. Caspian led the charge. He would’ve schemed against you if he couldn’t outright kill you. Trust me, you would not have wanted his attention.” The mood in Saber’s room was completely somber.

“Is that how you disappeared?” Neall enquired softly, sensing the truth behind those words.

“He had me for a full year, to the date. The night before my birthday.” She admitted.

Saber felt the acceptance from her mother and made a conscious decision.

“He… teased me at first, tortured my mind with threats… After a few days, he touched me and eventually took my virginity by force. He had me bound with magical chains, I was helpless… I screamed and screamed. He was violent and then he would be gentle, lovingly washing me, caressing me, whispering sweet endearments. He fucked me every way imaginable. And then he got more creative… He used all kinds of tools and by the end of that first week, there wasn’t anything left of me…”

“How did you escape?” Neall couldn’t help her voice breaking.

Saber closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, setting the emotions free. “I don’t know. I remember dying, and then I woke up. I was alone and not bound. I felt fine so I got off the stone slab. The door wasn’t locked so I went outside and found a way out of the dungeons. It led me to the river where I shifted - then I ran.”

“I went by the village and got a few supplies. Then the Power came down on me. That’s when I left for the human realm. While I was there, Asher found me, the crown prince. I thought I killed him and got away. Turns out he was my mate, and I couldn’t kill him.”

After a while we came back and he found someone to train me with the new power. I was falling in love with him, and I came to love my trainer. An old Fae woman named Zarina,” She smiled sardonically.

“Then Caspian attacked us at our village and framed us for kidnapping the queen so the whole kingdom would be looking for us. After joining up with the other princes, Ferian and Liffin, we attacked the palace and I found out that Zarina was the queen the whole time. I had come to love the person responsible for my village being massacred and my torture under Caspian.”

Neall was now sobbing with her daughter, holding her tightly. Wrapping her with all the love she hadn’t been able to give Saber in too long.

“I rejected my mate in my anger mom! And my life is worthless now! I want him back!” Saber yelled brokenly.

Neall held her daughter until she finally cried herself to sleep and tucked her into bed. There wasn’t anything she could do for Saber, other than just be here for her to remind her that she had more worth in Neall’s heart than anyone else.

Fetching a glass of water from the kitchen, she returned to Saber’s side and crawled under the covers with her. Neall cradled her close and eventually fell asleep, holding her baby to her heart, where she belonged.