| CHAPTER 65 : STARTING WITH HER |

Jade plopped a cup of coffee in front of me as she took a seat beside me on the barstool of her kitchen counter. She looked eager to say something but to my gratefulness she remained silent.

I told her everything this morning right after she woke up. Her first response to that was 'Damn let a girl freshen up first'.

When she realized I wasn't laughing or smiling, her face morphed into seriousness, and she dropped all her attempts at joking.

Now she sat beside me. With her eyes glued to my stomach again.

A sigh came out of my lips, "For the last time Jade, stop-looking-at-my stomach."

She snapped her eyes away as if not really meaning to stare at my stomach, "Gah, it's just-I can't really imagine you being pregnant!"

Her parents were out, so lucky for me, no one heard Jade's exasperated tone.

"Well, I am!" I snapped.

She bit her lip, giving me a sad worried look, "Ezzy..." a sigh came out her lips, "what are you going to do now?"

A pained expression came on my face as I rested my head on top of the counter, breathing out, "I don't know."

She copied my actions and laid her head on top of the counter too, facing me, "Want to go pinching some butts?"

A near smile crossed my face before my smile vanished, "I'm going to be a mother." A feeling of fear, dread and impossibility washed over me as I said those words then repeat them over and over again in my head.

"I'm going to be an aunt," Jade repeated in the same tone I used.

I closed my eyes as images of last night flowed through my head. Levi had stayed with me for almost two hours, just holding and hugging me. When I had started getting sleepy, he led me upstairs to Jade's bed.

Except for when Levi stayed five minutes extra just to gaze at Jade and around her room, I was really grateful he was here as I took in the news of me being pregnant.

I raised my head and picked up my coffee, taking a sip of it.

"You know..." Jade started, looking hesitant, "no matter what you do or what you're going to do," she looked me in the eyes, "you know I'll always be here, right?"

I managed a smile on my face, nodding, "Yeah, I do."

She licked her dry lips, "So...if you tell me that you're going back to that mansion to save your wolves and take back your place," she looked at her cup, looking as unsure as I've ever seen, "I'll still be your best friend. Forever and forever."

Despite her trying to hide her eyes, I could still see the fear looming within them. The fear that she might meet loneliness again. Jade had no other friends because people thought she was too much and could be a handful.

A warm sad feeling washed over me as I reached out and took her hand in mine, "You'll also be my best friend forever, bish."

A warm smile came on her face. Not even a second after-

"Okay so!" She jumped off her stool, "when are you going back?"

I gave her a confused look, "What?"

"I clearly wasn't speaking Spanish. When are you going back, idiot?" She snapped.

I gave her an incredulous look, "What do you mean?"

She pulled me out of my stool, rushing me upstairs to her room, "You belong there, bish. You don't want the normal life."

I continued giving her a confused look as she sat me down in front of her dresser.

"Since you came here you've been looking glum and gloomy, and your head isn't in this world at all. You don't belong with us, bish," Jade spoke as she brushed my hair, "you belong up there with your man and on that throne or whatever."

I grabbed her hands, making her stop whatever she was doing, looking at her with wide eyes, "What are you doing?"

She blinked, "Making you look hot?"

"Jade! You didn't even ask me if I was going back or not!"

"Well I know you, so I know your answer and I know your decision. But you're taking too much time to load. Someone has to step in and power up your brain." She spoke sassily before dabbing a wet wipe on my face.

I gave her an 'are you serious?' look.

Jade successfully ignored my look for a while before a sigh came out her lips and she set the wet wipe down, looking at me.

"Ezlynn," she started, "since you came back, you've always had this dull empty look and I know you haven't been able to forget anything. I really feel like you should go back because that place seemed to make you stronger and...I don't know, you just seem happier and glow-y when you talk about that mansion." She spoke before quickly adding, "I mean it's your choice so don't blame me if anything bad happens."

My mind pondered over everything that happened.

Jade was right.

I haven't been able to forget anything no matter how hard I tried and no matter what I do, parts of that place and people will always remain with me no matter how hard I try to get rid of it.

Just like this baby. My hand absentmindedly went to touch my stomach.

My mind went back to the school bulletin and the horrible words marked on it.

'YOUR BABY IS MINE'

This baby is not safe here.

It needs more than this house's four walls. Whoever that person was, who marked those words on the board, was still out there and he knew about this baby before I did.

This baby is in danger.

Do I really want to go back there?

Yes.

Do I really want to come face to face with King Alpha?

Yes.

Do I really want to beat up that Amber bitch's ass?

God fucking yes.

Not for me, but for this baby's safety, I'll go back there.

"I know that look...I know that smile," Jade jumped in excitement before giving an evil laugh, "Yes! You're going back!"

I nodded, a wide smile coming onto my face. I never knew saying these next words would bring so much light and happiness to me.

"I'm going back," I confirmed.

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Jade rash drove me towards the mansion which I surprisingly knew the directions to. She yelled at people and cars to move out of the way and I wanted nothing more than to calm her down. But after a while, her being a handful was rubbing off on me and I too felt the need to scream.

But I contained myself, storing that energy to God knows what.

Jade stopped when I told her to right in front of the mansion gates. Her eyes popped out of her sockets as she stopped in front of the mansion.

"Holy guacamole." She muttered, gazing at the huge mansion.

"Yeah," I said and panicked slightly the peek of nervousness flowing through me.

Jade tore her wide green eyes from the mansion and looked at me, a sad smile coming on her face, "So this is where we part again?"

I returned her look, "Yeah."

We hugged each other, exchanged a few words before I reluctantly stepped out of the car.

I gazed at the mansion in front of me and took in a deep breath before collecting my gut and stepping towards the gates.

This is how I throw my chance at having a normal life.

This is it.

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After finding a way of entering the mansion without alerting the wolves that there was an intruder, I strutted towards the throne room where I'm pretty sure King Alpha and the rest would be.

Nervousness and anxiousness pricked at my skin and each step I took felt like a great deal. I kept reminding myself that my purpose here is to get Amber out and save the crown from getting into the wrong hands. Also to protect my baby. Also because I can't bear the thought of King Alpha "marrying" her.

I heard voices that made my skin prickle with more anxiousness. The door of the throne room lay wide open, but I didn't have the guts to go and stand there.

What if I mess up? What if I fail?

My hand traced my flat stomach again and I sucked in a deep breath, making up my mind.

I'm going to take that Amber witch down.

I'm going to claim my place back.

And I'm going to slap the hell out of King Alpha once he gets back into his senses.

Making up my mind, despite so much unsureness, I let my feet carry me to the huge threshold of the throne room.

Almost immediately, all the nervousness and anxiousness melted away into a puddle beneath me at the sight of King Alpha. He stood near his throne with his hands on the waist of the blonde girl I came to despise now. Something glinted beside them on a stand, and I realized it was a crown.

Lucretia's crown.

The diamonds embedded on the crown shone brightly with a sort of ghostly attraction pulling me towards me.

Horror filled me. He's going to give her the crown.

I looked around to see literally every werewolf in the mansion now gathered here in front of King Alpha. This could only mean one thing. King Alpha and Amber are getting married.

He was looking straight into her eyes, waiting for something, and all I could feel in my body was pure rage now.

I stepped into the throne room, my steps firm and large.

People noticed me stepping in. Some hung open their mouths, some gasped but nonetheless, they stepped aside when as I strode in the center of the throne room.

The commotion between the people caused King Alpha and Amber to snap out of their little bubble and turn their attention towards me.

"You." King Alpha snarled almost immediately when his eyes landed on me.

For the first time, I didn't get scared or nervous as his eyes filled with anger gazed down on me. All I felt was rage.

And the need to eliminate this witch.

"I challenge Amber to a duel for the throne." My declaration made a few gasps and murmurs run through the crowd, but my eyes were fixed firmly on Amber.

"Ezlynn!" Drew yelled from where he stood beside King Alpha, his mouth dropped open in shock.

The warriors along with Levi who lined in front of the dais looked at me with part shock and part relieved expressions.

"I thought I exiled you?" King Alpha raised an eyebrow at me.

"As per your werewolf crap, I'm allowed to challenge her and also be marked Queen Luna if I win." I stated, my eyes hard and fixed on King Alpha now.

My heart tried building a barrier between me and my feelings. Looking at King Alpha made me remember everything with a new force and I knew if I let my feelings get ahold of me now, I would waver and lose.

A frown etched on King Alpha's face as gazed at me as if I'm some bug in his cup before a smirk slowly crawled onto his face.

He stepped away from Amber and took a seat at his throne. His elbows rested on the armrests.

"Very well," he smirked, "I'd like to see where this goes."

Amber gave him an 'are you serious' look before looking back at me with a scoff.

"You can't be serious?" She spoke with a tinged accent, "you really want me to fight her?"

"Yup," King Alpha continued smirking, his hands behind his head, "after all, it is really something in our werewolf...crap."

A small smug look appeared on my face as I looked at Amber's distasteful unsure face.

What? This bitch came here and thought she could steal my place away and expect me to not fight back?

People moved to the corners of the huge throne room, leaving space for us in between.

"An honest fight," I stated as Amber climbed down the dais steps and stood in front of me, "no weapons, no magic, no help, no nothing. A complete hand-to-hand duel." I confirmed.

A smug look crossed her, "I really thought you would flee getting the chance."

"You thought wrong."

"Call it out Levi." King Alpha demanded; his eyes eager to see some fight.

Levi gave a hesitant look between King Alpha and me. Drew looked as if he wanted to stop whatever was going to happen but he stood frozen like a statue.

"Position," Levi called out first.

Amber and I took our positions in front of each other.

"Stance," Levi's voice turned hesitant.

"Fight!"

Within a breath of a second, I lunged forward with my fist raised, faster than I've ever been in my life. Amber's eyes widened in shock before she quickly dodged my fist. Without wasting a second, I drove another fist towards her abdomen. She blocked it and twisted my arm so that my back was lined with her front.

"You know," her voice lowered down so only I could hear it, "your father is really proud of what you're doing here."

My eyes widened and I bend down before jerking up my head and slamming it onto her face. She jumped away from me, holding her nose as blood dripped down.

"You bitch!" She seethed and charged at me with fists raining from everywhere. I blocked most of them until her fist collided with my side then came her leg slamming onto my stomach, sending me flying back onto the ground.

My baby!

Rage filled my veins as I sprung off the floor. My side throbbed. I lunged again at her again. My fist slammed onto her jaw then another and another until she tripped and fell backwards. Wasting no second, I jumped on her and straddled her with my legs. My fists hammered her face.

"What do you know about my father?" I demanded.

She caught hold of my wrists in a tight grip, lifted her hips then jerked them making me launch over her. My back slammed onto the ground with the breath knocked out of my lungs.

Amber rolled over and stood up on her legs. Her face bled. She lunged for me, and I quickly rolled out the way, inches away from where her booted foot would have collided with my chest. I rolled away until there was a good distance before picking myself up.

My side throbbed even more but I tried dismissing it. She lunged for me again and my body made a sharp twist to dodge her incoming fist. I grabbed onto her arm and forcefully bent it the other way with a sickening snap producing from her elbow.

She screamed out in pain, and I half expected her to give up. But she surprised me by launching a hard kick to my legs, sending me colliding to the ground. My head slammed onto the tiled floor, and I thought I just might faint.

Black splotches clouded my eyes. I tried pulling clear of them. Another foot slammed onto my side, producing a crack in response and I was pretty sure that came from my ribs.

I tasted blood in my mouth and realized I had been biting my lip. Wrapping my head around the dizziness, I grabbed onto Amber's leg and gave a hard pull. She fell on top of me which made me heave out a gasp.

It hurt to breathe. She clambered over me and straddled me. With her unbroken arm, she drove her fists at my face more than once. My skin was wet with blood. Numbness washed over me.

Finally gathering myself, my arms painfully shot up and grabbed ahold of hers, jerking her forward so I could slam my head onto her face. While she was busy nursing her again bleeding nose, I jerked my hips upwards and pulled my legs up and out, sending her flying from on top of me.

A feeling of adrenaline rushed within me. A feeling of power and familiarity. The same feeling that has washed over me so many other times. Suddenly, I knew exactly what I was doing as I clambered to my feet and leapt towards Amber.

Before she could roll away from me, I slammed my heeled boot on her arm. She cried out uglily. My boot collided with her abdomen, then her chest until she curled up within herself. I didn't stop there, I continued slamming my foot onto her body until I was sure she couldn't move anymore.

In midst of my attacks, I didn't notice her murmuring something under her breath. When my body went suddenly flying backwards, that's when I heard the words. Foreign chanting.

Her voice grew louder, uglier as she chanted. Her eyes blazed a fire with anger and humiliation as she stood up.

A round of people yelled 'witch' in anger and horror. I didn't need to see King Alpha to feel his shock too.

My body painfully lifted itself off the ground, wiping away a bead of blood that slid from my nose.

Amber's chanting got faster, angrier as she raised her hands on either side of her body. A few people broke off from the crowd towards Amber, even the warriors.

"No," I snarled at them, "this is my fight!"

They backed off immediately except the warriors who stood positioned and ready, their eyes fixed on Amber. But they didn't make a move against my words.

Amber's chanting grew impossibly louder, and I lunged. Before I could get two inches near her, a fireball sort of thing shot from her hand and slammed into my chest. Burning hot pain searched within my chest. A painful cry escaped my lips.

King Alpha shot up from his throne but didn't move forward.

I gritted my teeth and clenched my jaw before gathering all the little strength I had and pulling myself up. My head pounded. My side throbbed. My skin burned painfully from the fireball.

"We agreed on a fair fight." I gritted out.

Instead of replying, she aimed another fireball at me and this time, I jumped to the side just in time. Something slid towards my feet, and I looked down to see a metal shield. Looking to my side, Hans gave me a nod.

I picked up the shield with weak arms and held it in front of me as Amber fired another one of her golden fireballs. The force was enough to almost send me flying backwards but I forced my feet to stand to remain planted on the ground.

Without giving another thought, I lunged forward. She continued hurling her fireballs at me. I forced strength into my body and didn't stop until the shield collided with Amber's body. She fell backwards. Her chanting abruptly stopped. I didn't stop there. My muscles screamed as I lifted the shield and slammed it repeatedly on her face. Blood gushed out. I didn't stop until her hands that were raised suddenly fell limp.

Something slid towards me and this time, the blade of a dagger glinted at me. I picked it without hesitation, straddled Amber's form and raised the dagger above my head.

A sudden fear enveloped me that made me halt. Am I really going to kill someone? Amber looked up at me with her eyes barely open, but I could still see the fear encased in them. I didn't want to kill someone.

'The one who kills their challenger gets the throne.'

Levi's words rung in my head.

'Completely end them.'

I knew no matter how much I showed her pity, Amber would still come for me. She would try to harm me in ways more than I can imagine. She didn't hesitate to use her magic to protect herself against me. God knows what else she would do.

My chest heaved as my breaths came quick. My hesitant position started putting questions in the people around me. I came to claim my place back.

So I'm going to take it back.

No matter whom I have to kill or prove myself to.

Starting with her.

Without another moment of hesitation, I plunged the dagger straight into her chest, where her heart was. Amber's eyes widened just a fraction as a gasp escaped her lips. It lasted only for a second before her eyes fluttered closed with her body limp as a doll.

I gazed at her bloodied lifeless form. The aftermath of my actions washing over me. I stood up leaving the dagger embedded in her chest and turned around to look at King Alpha.

His mouth was parted open with disbelief and shock as if he was punched in the gut that he was almost going to marry a witch.

Our eyes met and a lane of memories flowed through my head reminding me of how King Alpha radiated power when he became King. The same feeling flowed through me. Adrenaline rushed through my veins. I turned to the people around me.

They looked at me with fear, excitement, shock, horror. They knew exactly what was going to happen as much as I knew it.

"I am King Alpha's mate," my tone held a declaration, a threat, as I spoke. The new feeling made my darkest inner form thrilled to its highest peaks. I knew the strength I held in this room and so do they, "Accept me now as your Queen or dare to challenge me!"

My threat rang out loud and clear through the room.

Everyone gazed back at me with shock. I expected them to question me further, to doubt my abilities or my skills.

But instead...

It started with Levi.

He got down on his knee, holding a fist to his heart, a devilish proud smile on his face, "I submit to you, my queen."

The warriors followed after, getting down on their knees, fists to their heart, "I submit to you, my queen."

Slowly, wolf after wolf, they all got on their knees, hands to their hearts. An echo of submissions rung throughout the air.

My gaze turned to King Alpha who was already looking at me with an open-mouthed look. A smirk lifted my face.

No matter who or what stood in my way, I was the Queen.

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Date: 4th September

~THE END~