The Ivory Queen
Chapter 97

***Aurora’s POV***

“So this is what you’ve been up to this entire time?” Simone’s voice booms over the entire room. “My son is missing and you’re making Christmas decorations?” She laughs bitterly.

No, I’m tired… please not now.

I remain in my place as the room erupts in growls and I count to three. This woman was really getting on my nerves.

“Sit down and be quiet,” I command, finishing up the final touches on my ornament.

Was that too harsh?

“Please,” I add.

Without looking up, I hear her sit on the floor and cross her legs. When I finally turn to look at her, she has a furious frown on her face.

“What is she feeling?” I mind-link Celina.

She frowns at me but turns to examine Simone.

“Anger but her despair… its awful.”

I sigh. Simone was a pack member after all and it was my job to take care of all my pack members, regardless of how much they loathed me.

I crawl over to her and sit directly across from her, the whole room watching in curiosity at how I would treat their former Luna. She flinches when I reach for her hand but I take it anyway in a firm grip and she snarls at me.

“I would cut that out if I were you, Simone,” I snap, desperately trying to keep my anger in check and she stops. “You do not like me and that’s fine but do not for a second question my love for your son… If I could switch places with him, I would do it in a heartbeat!”

She glares at me. “Then why are you not out there searching-“

“I was not finished,” I cut her off. “You would be mistaken to assume I have not done my part to replace him. I already know who has him and what they want in exchange for his safe return. I am actively working with our allies and have a witch on her way to help us ensure we do everything right to bring him back. There is nothing I wouldn’t do for him. Nothing. But you must remember I have to take care of my pack too. They need me and decorating the house seemed like a good way to take our minds off the situation. So forgive me for trying to be a good Luna!”

She cowers back when my voice fills with anger. Unable to hold my gaze, she turns her face and huffs.

“Let go of my hand,” she says through gritted teeth, pulling at it but I refuse to let her go

“No.”

I focus my energy on her and she gasps when she feels the jolt of electricity flow through her. She sighs after a few minutes, finally at ease.

“What did you do to me?” She asks, wrapping her arms around herself.

“I helped you feel less anxious,” I murmur. “You are a member of my pack and you were distressed. As a former Luna, you should understand that it is part of my job to take care of all of my pack members… even those who don’t deserve it.”

She sheepishly stares at me whilst tucking a strand of hair behind her ears.

“I-I don’t understand-“

“There’s nothing to understand, Simone,” I sigh. “I am going to care for every member of my pack. Because like it or not, this is my pack now.”

She nods, pressing her lips firmly together. I get up and am surprised she lets me help her to her feet. She dusts herself off and eyes the pack members in the room. If I didn’t know any better, I could have sworn that was a glint of embarrassment in her eyes.

Her gaze suddenly turns to ice when her brown eyes settle on Evan. I follow her stare and my heart shatters when I see Evan cast his eyes down to his feet as he shifts his weight nervously.

Evan never cowers… never.

Anger simmers just below my surface at the thought of the humiliation this woman must have put him through during her reign as Luna for him to be this anxious around her.

Evan, my gamma, my brother, my best friend, was a an outgoing, bubbly goof ball. He cracked jokes and teased me relentlessly. He was not shy and he was not afraid of anyone.

“I suggest you wipe that look off your face,” I warn Simone. “Remember your place in this pack. You are no longer Luna and you have no power over anyone anymore. Learn to respect your pack members, regardless of their race or ethnicity. That includes my gamma.”

She shifts her gaze back to me and scoffs. “You’ve got to be joking-“

I lose my patience and do something I never thought I’d do. I slap her across the face, her cheek turning red with the blow and she gives me a bewildered look. The room fills with gasps and nobody moves a muscle, not an inch.

I square my shoulders and hold her stunned gaze. “Enough!” My voice echoes off the walls. “I will not tolerate your nonsense any longer. I am your Luna and you will respect me and my command line no matter what you think and that’s final!” I growl, stepping into her personal space. “And if you ever look at Evan that way again, a slap to the face will be nothing compared to what I’ll do to you. Do I make myself clear?”

She nods her head furiously, her hand caressing her burning cheek.

“Good,” I reply quietly, tucking away my fury and turning to Laura. “Laura, please take her to the kitchen to get some ice for her cheek.”

“Yes Luna,” Laura replies quickly and gently ushers Simone towards the kitchen. “This way Mrs. Artaud.”

Simone silently follows her out of the room, still shocked at the turn of the events and I let out a breath the second she leaves.

You did good, Reyna says. You defended Evan and yourself.

Yeah, I mumble back unenthusiastically.

I take a deep breath. “Everyone out. I need to be alone now,” I order. “Please.”

For a few seconds everyone remains still. Celina is the first to move and she gently places a hand on my shoulder.

“Can I just say you handled that pretty well?” Celina says, giving my shoulder a squeeze as she passes by me. “I know you probably hated that, but I’m proud of you for putting her in her place.”

I respond with a smile and watch as everyone quietly slips out of the room. When Evan tries to leave, I reach out and grab his wrist, stopping him in his tracks.

“Not you,” I murmur and he silently nods.

When everyone clears the room, Evan speaks.

“You okay, kiddo?” He asks, the worry in his face clear as day.

“Don’t you ever do that again,” I say sternly, lifting my gaze up to his.

He frowns at me. “Do what?”

I reach up to cup his face. “Feel less than what you are,” I murmur. “I saw it in your eyes when she looked at you and I hated her for doing that to you all these years. Because, Evan, you have more worth in your pinky than she has in her entire body. You have your father’s crooked smile and your mother’s kinky curls, the perfect blend of two gentle souls who truly love each other. There is nothing wrong with that, do you hear me? Goddess, Ev, you are such a beautiful person and I’m so lucky to have you as my gamma. You’re the sweetest fool I’ve ever met and your parents raised you to be a good man with good heart. That’s all that should matter to anyone, not your skin color or anything else for that matter,” I say, fighting back tears. “No one has the right to treat you like you’re nothing.” My voice turns serious. “So you will not cower in front of her again. Ever.”

Tears glaze over his eyes and he quickly closes them before pulling me into his arms.

“Yes, Luna,” he replies, his voice trembling slightly. “And thank you…”

I bury my face in his chest, desperately trying to keep my emotions in check.

Goddess…I’m so tired…

Evan pulls back, placing a gentle k**s on my forehead before grabbing my ornament.

“Come on. Let’s go put this on the tree.”

Before I can answer, Carter bursts in through the door.

“The witch is here.”

***Oliver’s POV***

I’ve waited for hours for the perfect moment to strike. The little plastic shards of my cup litter the floor and I quickly stash them into the stone walls or whatever crevices I can replace. I hide the biggest and sharpest shard within one of my silver shackles. As the day drags on, I send a few prayers to Moon Goddess and it seems she’s answers them because the next thing I know, Adeline walks in.

“Bath time my love,” she chirps as two guards come marching in as well.

Only two guards… this might be my chance..

“We’ll have you nice and refreshed in no time handsome,” she adds, pulling out a small syringe and tapping out the bubbles.

I panic. I can’t be put under. That would ruin the plan.

“What do you need that for?” I ask, desperately trying to hide my panic. “I already can’t feel my wolf.”

“Ah baby, you need a new dosage to make sure it stays that way,” she coos, reaching out to caress my cheek. “I know you miss Michael, but this will all be over soon, Oli. You’ll get your wolf back.”

I take note of the guards positioning themselves behind me and make my calculations. This has to be perfect.

I lean into her hand and she smiles, letting her guard down. With her distracted, I grab hold her wrist just before she pushes the needle into me and with a quick motion, bend her wrist back and inject the dose into her. At the same time, I take the shard hidden in my shackle with my free hand and drive into one of the guard’s thighs, effectively getting him on his knees. The guard hisses in pain and I take advantage to push up on the balls of my feet and wrap my silver chain around his neck. He cries out as the silver burns his throat. The second guard lunges at me but having already anticipated his attack, I jerk the guard in my arms forward to take the blow. With no time to lose, I snap the guard’s neck using all my strength and drop him onto the floor.

The only guard left gets back on his feet and like the i***t he is, tries to kick me. I lift my arms up in an X to block the blow and tangle his ankle in my chains. His eyes fill with dread when he realizes his mistake but its too late for him. I yank his leg towards me, sending him crashing to the ground, and stomp on the back of his thigh. A sickly crunch echoes off the walls and he screams. I deliver a hard kick to his head and he’s out like a light. Not taking any chances, I untangle his leg from my shackles, bend down to his head and snap his neck.

Two snakes down, one to go.

A soft whimper rings in my ears and I turn to see Adeline crawling away.

Oh no you don’t bitch.

I quickly run as far as I can and manage to grab one of her ankles. She screams as I drag her towards me, wrapping her up in a choke hold.

Wolf or no wolf, I am a warrior and this b***h is going to pay.

“You have two options,” I hiss in her ear. “Get me out of here or you end up like both of them,” I snarl, nodding towards the two dead guards. “You pick.”

She whimpers quietly. “I -I don’t have the key,” she stutters pathetically. “I can’t-“

I tighten my arm around her neck and she starts gasping for air. “Well then you better pray Moon Goddess is more forgiving than I am,” I growl, quickly losing my patience.

“L-left …L-eft po-cket…” She wheezes as I continue to squeeze her.

I smirk, loosening my grip ever so slightly. “Good choice. Get it out now.”

She fumbles with her hands and produces a small key. I order her to unlock my shackles, still keeping her in my arms and she haphazardly inserts the key in my right wrist shackle.

I almost sigh in relief as the constant burning comes to a halt on my wrist. Unfortunately, my wrists and ankles will be permanently scarred due to the silver and will serve as a constant reminder of this hell hole. I shove that thought to the side, however, focusing on escaping back to Aurora. I have Adeline unlock the rest of the shackles and within a span of a minute, I’m free.

“Please Oli,” she whimpers. “Please don’t kill me. I just wanted us -“

“Shut up!” I snap, yanking her by the hair. “Now listen very carefully. The only reason you are still breathing right now is because I have no idea where I am. Be very f*****g careful. One wrong move and I will snap your neck. Got it?”

She nods her head furiously.

“Alright, now hold still,” I warn as I reach for both of her wrists and hold them in death grip behind her back. She winces at my harshness and I push her forward. “Get me out of here,” I snarl. “Tu ferais mieux de ne pas demander d’aide parce que je jure que je vais t’arracher la langue! {You better not call for help because I swear I’ll pull your tongue out.}” I sneer.

We slowly make our way out of the room and down a dark corridor. I sniff the air but unfortunately my wolf senses have yet to return. From what I can see though, the room they kept me in was underground. The corridor soon becomes a tunnel dug into the earth, its dirt walls covered in little grass roots. As we make our way through a series of tunnels, I grow suspicious that we have not come across a single guard.

Where the f**k were the witches and their minions?

Finally, we reach the end of the tunnel that leads to an opening near the side of a hill. I take in my surroundings, not recognizing where I am when I suddenly feel an elbow jab me in the groin with incredible force. My knees buckle as the pain pulsates across my pelvis and down my thighs.

Taking advantage of my weakness, Adeline bolts for the trees in the distance, quickly disappearing from my view.

F**k! I g***n.

Wincing in pain, I stumble towards the trees as well, afraid I might be easy to target out in the open. I hide behind some brush, taking deep breaths to numb the pain between my legs. When the stinging passes, I listen in silence for any noise.

I don’t know where I am, I sigh, holding up my pinky to my lips. But I promise, nena. I’m coming home to you. I pinky swear.