FULL NOVELXO Chapter 62
–
– King Balthasar –
Chapter 62
“What did you say?” The king asked, utterly taken aback. The words repeatedly rang in Balthasar’s head. ‘She is the winter-grey
wolves’ reigning queen. Address Our Highness rightfully as Queen Avery of Azenna.
Earlier, he was in awe, seeing Avery transform into this massive, beautiful winter-grey wolf. Her strength easily took down
Alexia’s attacker. Then, he learned that she was a queen.
He recounted his past decisions and all the regrets that came crashing down on him. He threw away his chances of being with
his true mate for the crown. His parents suggested Avery was not worthy since she was a commoner, but as it turned out, his
true mate was royalty!
“It is exactly as my Beta had said. I am the alpha queen of the winter-grey wolves,” Avery replied. She sucked in a breath, and
Balthasar could tell she was trying to collect herself. He realized his presence may have surprised her.
“And I am here to seek out my daughter,” Avery added, turning to Alexia. After smiling at Alexia and holding her hand, Avery
returned her gaze to Balthasar.
The king immediately noticed the change in her temperament. Her eyes narrowed, and her jaws clenched. She sought, “And
you, Balthasar – I mean, King Balthasar? What is this I hear about your wife claiming that Alexia is your child? She is not, and
how dare she use my daughter to stir up a problem in your nation?”
Avery snarled, “Does she want war against Azenna? I shall willingly grant her wish!”
“No. No.” Balthasar moved closer and added, “Trust me,
Taplean does not want another war. We are still recovering from the war against Eswen. Now, I am at war with my queen
as it is.”
He did not know how often he cleared his throat before another set of words left his l*ps. He said, “Avery -”
“Queen Avery,” Avery corrected. “Call me by my title.”
Balthasar acknowledged that this Avery was far different from the woman he had met many years ago. Avery had more
command, and her aura appeared stronger than his. Of course, knowing now that she belonged to the winter-grey wolves clan
and much more, she was the queen, he admitted that Avery’s strength would be far greater than his. After all, the winter-grey
wolves were known to be the strongest amongst all werewolves, the direct descendants of the Moon Goddess.
Raising his palm, the king showed Avery how he meant no offense. Gently, he said, “Queen Avery. I can see that you have been
briefed?”
“Yes,” Avery responded. “The warriors of the Stone Blood Pack clearly explained this when I returned to meet my daughter.
Instead of finding her in a good place, Alexia and her husband were forced to move away from their home. Thanks to the woman
you married.”
Her words cut like a knife, and they hurt the king. It was as if Avery was rubbing it on his face how he chose the wrong woman,
but how could he have known? Why didn’t Avery ever tell her in the first place?
Redirecting her attention, Avery spoke to Alexia. She said, “Alexia, my daughter, are you fine?”
Alexia nodded, saying, “I’m fine, mother.” Tears rolled down her face, saying, “Thank you for saving me. Thank you for coming
back for me.”
Not wasting any more time, Alexia embraced her mother, and from where they stood, the mother and daughter wept, relishing
their reunion.
“I have so much to tell you, my child. I’m sorry for leaving you. I did not mean to,” Avery said while caressing her daughter’s
back. She pulled back to k*ss Alexia’s forehead and her cheek. Then she returned to hugging her. “I’ll
compensate for every minute I have lost with you. Please, allow me to. I’ll explain everything to you.”
After the mother and daughter had a few exchanges, Avery turned to Kieran, Balthasar, and everyone present that day. She said,
“I’d like a moment with my daughter, alone.”
-Alexia-
“I’m sorry, can
–
can you say that again, mother?” Alexia asked. It just would not sink in. ‘My mother is a queen? And I am the princess of the
winter-grey wolves?’
After the shocking revelation, Alexia and her mother talked privately in the forest. Avery tried to be direct with her about her
identity, but it overwhelmed her.
“Okay. Let’s start from the very beginning, so you will understand,” her mother, Queen Avery, said.
“Many years ago, I did not want to be the next queen. I was an adventurous young girl who wanted to travel, but that would not
happen if I am named queen. My mother, Queen Adela, allowed me to travel around the world. Back then, she said, enjoy the
world, train, and learn about the other species. One day, you will use your knowledge to rule our
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lands,” Avery said. “And so I did.”
“For years, I traveled from one country to another, meeting werewolves and other kinds. I learned various fighting techniques,
including many methods of running nations and small packs,” Avery added. “I enjoyed my life going around different countries,
and I explored nearly every city or
province. It was very experiential for me. I had memories I will forever cherish.”
The mother and daughter made it to Alexia’s meeting place with her friends. From there, Avery suggested, “This looks like a nice
place for us to talk. Let us settle here?”
Alexia nodded. They found themselves a good spot where large rocks could be made into a seat, and then Avery resumed,
“After making it into Taplean, I settled a few days here in the Cross River Pack. That was when I met Balthasar, and everything
changed.”
“Your king, Balthasar, and I were true mates,” Avery revealed. She must have realized how Alexia had already known that she
asked, “Has he told you?”
Reluctantly, Alexia nodded, admitting, “Yes, he has, mother.”
“Initially, I thought I was the king’s daughter.” Alexia looked down at her knees, saying, “That was the only explanation I could
think of why my father would hurt me and abandon me.”
There was silence between the two until Avery said, “I – I do not know why Roland would do that. He was supposed to be my
second chance mate. He was supposed to protect you.” Avery embraced Alexia from the side and said, “I’m sorry, my child. It
was my fault.”
“Let me continue with my story,” Avery said. “It will all make
4/7
sense to you if we go back from that day when I met Balthasar.”
Avery explained how she doubted being with Balthasar. She said, “Back then, I did not know who he was, and he did not know
me. We were strangers who had been connected with what we call fate the mate bond. I thought he was just an ordinary
werewolf.”
“Alexia, our kind had detested the other werewolf clans. Due to the past wars werewolves, and trying to expand territories, the
winter-grey wolves had to find a safer refuge. It wasn’t that our elders could not defend themselves, but our kind wanted peace.
Moreover, many of the winter-grey wolves mated with humans. We protect them from being casualties of the war. Aside from
that, many werewolves packs wanted to win our alliance,” Avery explained.
“This was a tale my mother had passed down to me. Bottom line, our ancestors found it too chaotic; the fight for power, the
continuous warfare, and their interference with the peaceful lives of the winter-grey wolf clan.” With a sigh, Avery said, “Thus, our
predecessors moved and moved until finally settling in Azenna. Our ancestors claimed Azenna, and we had lived peacefully for
many generations.”
“However, because of the past, our kind had always been skeptical of other werewolf clans. My mother, for one, never wanted
me to be mated to a werewolf. While she made me travel and explore the world, she warned me against mating with one,” Avery
revealed. “So when I met Balthasar, I did not know how I could be with him and go against my mother.”
Avery looked up. Alexia noticed how she was studying the skies before finally returning to her tale, “But because of the bond that
we shared, I decided to be with Balthasar, only to be brokenhearted.”
Chapter 62
“I’m sorry to hear that, mother,” Alexia said. “Although I already know about this, it still hurts me.”
“I begged the Moon Goddess to give me a second chance mate. For days, I cried in the hotel room I stayed in within the Cross
River Pack. I hoped it was a wish that the Moon. Goddess could grant me in exchange for whatever it is in met that I have to give
up,” Avery said. “You see, we are connected to the Moon Goddess in that way. She can hear our prayers and grant our wishes,
but it always comes with a price.”
Another heavy sigh left Avery’s l*ps. She said, “One day, I felt utterly disconnected from my clan. Even if I had traveled around
the world, I had always missed Azenna, but that morning, the longing faded. I felt no urge to call my mother or any of my friends
in Azenna.”
“The pain that left me in anguish for days suddenly disappeared too. I wandered around the pack and found out why. The Moon
Goddess had granted me a second chance, mate, in the name of Roland, but it came with a price. I was disconnected from the
winter-grey wolves, and perhaps, the Moon Goddess meant it so I could live a life with Roland and give birth to you,” Avery
revealed.
“In the years that followed, after marrying Roland, I felt no guilt or remorse for not returning to Azenna. I was happy and
contented with my life here at the Cross River Pack, but my mother’s people found me one day.” Avery said, and a tear rolled
down her face. She glanced at Alexia with regret in her eyes as she revealed, “I learned my mother was dying, and I needed to
return to Azenna. I made another wish to the Moon Goddess, and I paid the price so dear to me.”