Page 41 of Alpha's Impostor Bride

“But that’s because nobody has ever been able to exit the Misty Forest,” Edgar responds.

“What about the rebels in the Eastern Kingdom?” Derrick stops pacing and turns to face me, and I set down the report in my hand.

We share a quiet look. There’s not much information about the individuals who murdered our families. Now that we have seized some control over the Eastern Wolf Kingdom, we have begun our preliminary investigations into the assassinations. The previous king, Vivian’s father, refused to look into the matter. After nearly two decades now, it’s hard to find much information.

About half a century ago, various factions rose within the Northern and Eastern Wolf Kingdoms, attempting to overthrow the monarchies. The people initially sided with them till they realized how important the existence of the royal families is. Royal bloodlines are stronger than any other, which means we are able to control and manage the ruthlessness within the wolf packs. When the monarchy was on the verge of being displaced, the other wolf packs realized that they were being used, and they turned on the rebels. While the Northern Wolf Kingdom was able to squash the rebellion entirely, the Eastern one was not so fortunate.

They were unsuccessful in completely wiping out the rebels, and they refused to accept help from the Northern Kingdom. As a result, a few factions still exist in the East. It was one of those rebel groups that attacked my mother and father. My parents’ bodies were discovered two months after their kidnapping. “Mutilated” is a kind word to use to describe the state they were in.

I know my parents were horribly tortured for those two months, and that fact continues to eat at me to this day. They were the strongest people I knew, warriors of incredible strength. I still don’t understand how they could have been captured.

Lately, there has been extra activity within the Veil, which leads me to consider Derrick’s theory. What if the rebels have managed to enter the North and are using the Misty Forest to access the Veil and go to the human side? There will be fewer checks and balances on them within that world. If this is what is happening, we will have to increase security around the Misty Forest.

I get to my feet. “Derrick, you take your squadron and head to the Veil by the Misty Forest. If there has been no change, send word, and I’ll come to deal with this myself.”

My friend nods, but as everyone else piles out of the room, he lingers behind.

“What is it?” I ask him, seeing the troubled look in his eyes.

“Bella.”

I sigh in irritation. “Not this again. I’m not reinstating her, Derrick. Your feelings for her aside, what she did—”

“I understand that.” Derrick gestures with his hands in a pacifying manner. “She crossed the line. I’ll be the first to acknowledge it.”

“Did she send you here to talk to me?” I demand, and he shakes his head.

“You know she has too much pride to do that. But she’s been upset, Cedric, and rightfully so. You know how loyal she is to you. I don’t think it’s fair to punish her like this. At least don’t humiliate her. Everyone, even the noble families, knows that you removed her from her position and took away all her privileges because of the queen. She has been a good friend to you. She managed the castle when you were not here. You trust her. So she’s arrogant. We all know that. She knows she messed up.”

“She still doesn’t accept Leanna as queen,” I say darkly.

“Can you blame her?” Derrick argues. “Consider the family she’s from. They are some of the most extreme supporters of maintaining pure blood within the royal line.”

I consider his words. The Ashers were one of the two noble families that fought alongside the royal family during the attack of the rebels. They were determined to preserve the royal bloodline and are some of the most loyal members of the kingdom.

“I’ll talk to her,” I finally relent. “But Leanna is the queen. If Bella refuses to acknowledge her, it is going to cause issues among the elders. I cannot have that.”

“I know. I’ve had a discussion with her. She’s going to try to overlook her bias. Even she can’t deny how much work Leanna is putting into the kingdom. Just talk to her, please. I’ve never seen her this upset.”

He leaves after saying that, and I ponder his words. Even as a child, Bella was proud to a fault. She was never one to admit her mistakes and always wanted everybody else around her to placate her. We all grew out of doing that except for Derrick, mostly because of how infatuated he has been with her.

I don’t want to talk to Bella. We’re not kids anymore, and this sort of behavior has no place in the castle, given our statuses. However, I can’t deny Derrick’s words. She has been very loyal to me.

I get to my feet. I’ll give her one last chance.

Finding Bella isn’t hard because she’s always cooped up in her office. When I enter the room, she’s sitting hunched in her armchair, a book in her hands and a scowl on her face. Her hair looks disheveled, as if she hasn’t combed it for a few days. There’s also a certain smell in the room that has me reluctant to go inside any further than I have to.

“When was the last time you cleaned this place?”

She looks up from her book, and I see the surprise in her eyes. “Cedric.”

She gets to her feet as I say, “I’m here because of Derrick.” I tell her this to make sure I prevent any ideas in her head that she has gotten her way. “He pointed out that you have been loyal to me for a long time.”

“Some reward I get for that loyalty.” She crosses her arms over her chest.

“Don’t even try it, Bella,” I say harshly. “We aren’t children. Throwing a temper tantrum is not going to work in your favor.”

Her face flushes with anger, but she falls silent.

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