The Alpha King's Rebellious Queen
The Alpha King’s Rebellious Queen Chapter 76

Cassius’s POV

It’s been a week since my heart was taken from me. The longest, darkest week of my life. The first couple of days we searched for them. The trails all ran cold in a million directions. The longer it went with no sign the more despair I felt. The worst part was I could no longer feel our bond. Enoch whined constantly in my head because he could not contact or feel his mate or our pups.

I tried to get through each day. I would run for hours in the woods near where she was taken trying to replace some sign of hope. Something I could use to replace her. But it was like hope was constantly running from me. I became too distraught to do my job and when I wasn’t searching I was sitting in my room staring at the empty spot on our bed. I couldn’t bring myself to sleep in the bed without her so I just sat up all night. My father and beta have taken over running the kingdom because I am in no condition to do so. It’s been almost a week and there is talk of me replaceing a replacement. Each time the suggestion has been met with furniture breaking anger. “I WILL DIE BEFORE I REPLACE MY HEART!” I roared shaking the walls. None of them were being reasonable. They wanted to give up searching for my queen because the trail went cold.

There were rumors she left me for Jeremy. Which was bullshit. The only one still adamant about searching with me was Iain, Jemma’s twin. He was lost without his twin. His wolf Leopold was almost as frantic as Enoch to replace her.

Day six came and my parents insisted I sit in the dining room to eat breakfast. It had been days since I touched food. I just stared blankly at the food in front of me. Trying my best not to look at the empty chair on my right. Everyone around me was trying to talk to me but I just stared. I was broken without her. I felt like I couldn’t go on with life. She was my everything and without her, there was nothing to live for.

I stood up from the table and walked out of the dining room to the protests of my parents and friends. I ran into Iain in the hall. He looked as worn out and tired as I was. The bond of twins was almost stronger than that of mates. The absence of his twin was as bad for him as it was for me. “I have had no luck.” He mumbled sadly as I just wandered through the hall with no direction. “My Dad’s trackers are exhausted and he pulled them back. I can’t believe he is giving up on her.” I sensed Iain’s despair.

“We will never give up Iain.” I looked into his sullen green eyes. He looked as bad as I looked. Bags under his eyes from not sleeping. The overgrown stubble on his face. The stench of not bothering to shower daily. We walked silently outside the palace stopping at the treeline. “I’m going for a run,” I said to my brother-in-law. I started to take off my clothes and noticed he was doing the same.

“So am I.”

We finished taking off our clothes and shifted into our wolves. They were both black and large. Mine was slightly larger being a king. He has silver streaks in his fur. I glanced at him and ran into the woods towards the lake she was taken from. Iain’s wolf followed close behind. Enoch stirred in my head as we reached the lake. ‘Do you detect anything, buddy?’ I asked my wolf. He had become distant the last few days as the mate bond faded. He knew she wasn’t dead but she might as well have been.

‘I thought I did.’ He whined sadly.

I sat down on my haunches beside the lake. Iain sat beside me. ‘Leopold thought he detected something.’ His voice said in my head. ‘He’s been very withdrawn lately.’

‘So has Enoch. He can’t feel our bond anymore.’ I stared at the lake.

‘Leopold says he knows his twin is alive because he can feel her breathing. But for some reason, she cannot respond.’ He despaired.

Sighing I took off into the woods again. Running in all directions trying desperately to catch her scent on the wind. Trying to catch something that would lead me in her direction. Hour of trying and howling in desperation I decided to run back to the palace with Iain close behind me. ‘Nothing. She is just gone without a trace.’

We reached the edge of the trees and shifted into human form. I pulled on a pair of boxers from the pile. Iain and I entered the palace silently and my beta ran towards me.

“Cassius, where have you been?” Deke demanded as he stood in front of me looking distressed.

I growled lowly. “Where do you think I have been? I have been searching for my mate. Since everyone else gave up.” I snarled loudly causing my best friend to flinch.

“Well, we have been trying to contact you. Felix is here with some of the elders demanding you either replace another she-wolf to impregnate or step down.”

I growled so loud the walls shook. “Where is he?” I hissed through gritted teeth.

“In the office with your father,” Deke replied.

I ran towards the office. Enoch growled in my head. ‘Felix had something to do with Jemma disappearing.’ He rumbled.

My father was outside of the office with my mother and a few elders and Felix. I nearly flew into a rage seeing my cousin but had to restrain myself.

“Ah, Cassius.” My father said to me with a hint of anger.

I just flashed a glance at him before seething a hole of hatred through Felix’s head. “King Cassius, the elders and I were just discussing your situation.” My cousin said to me. “We believe you need to move on from the queen and replace a suitable replacement.” He said as I growled.

“That is not happening,” I said through my teeth while glaring at my cousin.

An elder stepped forward. A man with black hair. Elder Yates. “Your majesty you are running out of time to present an heir before your birthday.”

“I have two heirs,” I mentioned to him.

“And as far as we know they are dead along with their mother.”

I balled up my fists. “JEMMA IS NOT DEAD!” I roared at him. He flinched back and I felt a hand on my shoulder. I knew it was my father.

“There has been no trace of her.” The elder said to me. “And there have been rumors that she ran off with the father of her illegitimate pup.”

I pulled away from my father’s grip. “She did not leave me. She was taken from me!” I growled at the elder.

“Cassius, you need to calm down.” My father said beside me.

“My sister is alive.” Iain chimed in. “If she wasn’t I would feel it.”

The elder held up his hand. “I realize she may be alive but she isn’t here. You still need an heir.”

I stepped dangerously close to the elder. “My mate, your queen is alive. Our pups are alive. And I will not give up until I replace them.” Felix snorted and brushed his suit. Enoch growled in my head when he caught a familiar scent. I swear I saw a glint of a smirk on my cousin but it was enough for me to fly into a rage and the next thing I knew I had him by the throat pinned to a wall. “WHERE IS SHE?!” I roared.

“CASSIUS!” My father yelled at me.

“TELL ME! WHERE SHE IS?!”

Felix squirmed in my hold. “I have no idea what you are talking about.” He tried using his innocent face.

“WHY DO I SMELL HER ON YOU?”

He sighed and looked past me as I felt hands on me trying to get me to release my cousin.

“Cassius, son. You need to release Felix.” My father tried using his calm but stern tone.

“He has Jemma. I smell her on him.” I pleaded with my father as I tightened my grip on Felix’s throat.

“I don’t have your mate,” He gasped out. “You must smell my mate.”

“No that is Jemma’s scent I smell. Enoch smells it.” I said as I felt tears welling up in my eyes. I was desperate that any feminine scent must be Jemma. I dropped Felix and he fell into a heap at my feet as I turned away from them. I had to hide the tears.

“Son, it’s time to let her go. The trails are all cold.” My father said in my ear.

“It’s only been a week,” I growled at him. “I am never giving up.”

He sighed. “Son, you have to think about the kingdom. We can’t lose the crown. I know you love Jemma. But she is gone.”

“SHE IS NOT GONE!’ I roared in my father’s face. He stood stoically and pursed his lips. “I am not giving up hope of replaceing her. Not until I know for sure she is dead. But she is not dead. I would have felt it if she was. There has to be a reason Enoch and I cannot feel her.” I thought I heard snickering and looked towards my cousin. He kept smirking at me when everyone else’s eyes were turned away. I shook with rage as my father was saying something to me. I ignored him.

The elders and my father had walked into my office. Felix sauntered towards me. He leaned into me. “You will never replace her.” He whispered.

Again I saw red as I tackled Felix and punched him repeatedly as I growled. “TELL ME WHERE SHE IS?!” His face became bloody as I growled and punched him. “I KNOW YOU ARE INVOLVED!”

I felt arms pulling me off of Felix and I struggled to get free. I know it was my father pulling me away from my cousin laying bloody on the ground. “Cassius, you need to stop!” My father shouted over my frantic growls.

I felt Enoch trying to push forward for control. “HE KNOWS WHERE JEMMA IS!” I broke free from my father and ran to Felix who was sitting up. I began to pummel him again. “Tell me where she is!” I cried in frustration.

“GUARDS!” My father bellowed. More hands grabbed me and were trying to pull me away from my cousin who was now only half-conscious on the ground.

“LET ME GO!” I roared at them. “That bastard knows where Jemma is!” I repeated as a dozen guards and my father had to fight to restrain me.

“DEKE, I NEED A SEDATIVE NOW!” My father ordered my beta.

Other guards were putting my cousin on a stretcher. He didn’t deserve medical attention. “TELL ME WHERE JEMMA IS!” I shouted to Felix. I managed to break free from the hold of the guards and ran towards Felix but was stopped by more guards. It took another six to keep me from running to the stretcher.

My father stepped in and pushed me into a wall. His eyes looked sad as he looked into mine. “I’m sorry my son.” He spoke out sadly as I kept struggling to free myself from his and the guard’s hold on me. I then felt a sharp prick in my neck and I felt my body go numb as the fight slowly waned in me and then I fell to my knees. I heard my father giving orders to the guards as I passed out.

I dreamt of her again. Playing in a field of daisies with our pups. The twins frolicked with their older brother Nick. Jemma looked so serene as our pups danced around her. I stood proudly watching them all but I could not get to them. I was trapped. Then everything went black again and I was alone. I knew I was in my bed when I woke up. Her scent still lingering all around me as tears fell out of my eyes. I did not hold back as I sobbed like a baby into my pillow. I felt a hand on my shoulder and knew it was my mother.

“Oh, my boy.” She said quietly as I broke apart.

“She isn’t gone, Mom,” I mumbled into the pillow. “She isn’t gone.”

She just sighed and lightly stroked my shoulder. “Don’t ever give up on hope, Cassy.” Her voice calmed me like it always has. “Your heart and soul would know if she was truly gone.”

I rolled my head to look up at her. My eyes burned through the tears. “I can’t feel her but I know she isn’t dead. Enoch can’t feel Leonora but he knows she is alive. Why doesn’t anyone believe me? Why has everyone given up?”

She licked her lips. “They are only thinking of the future of the kingdom. They aren’t connected heart and soul to her like you are.”

“I can’t give up, Mom. No matter what. I will not give up.”

“I know baby.” She placed her hand on my cheek.

My face fell into the pillow and I closed my eyes and disappeared into the darkness again. I never felt more alone than I did now. Was I hanging on to hopelessness? Was she gone? My heart screamed no she wasn’t gone. But I couldn’t feel our bond. I couldn’t feel her. Still, I refused to give up hope. I prayed to the Moon Goddess for guidance.

‘I have faith you will not give up on her.’ A serene female voice said in my head. ‘She is alive. Barely hanging on.’

‘Moon Goddess?’ I replied to the voice I had heard before.

‘Yes, my child.’ I felt a sense of calm wash over me. ‘Normally, I don’t intervene in the lives of my children but Jemma, your pups, and you are too important to the future of this world I felt I needed to step in. The reason you and Enoch cannot feel Jemma or Leonora is because Leonora is using all of her strength to keep the pups alive. Jemma is being fed the same poison as before to kill the pups. Leonora can’t risk using any strength to mind link. But her strength is waning. I am sending help to both you and Jemma to help her break free and return home.’

I rose in my bed. My mother was still sitting beside the bed. I ignored her wide-eyed look. ‘When, when are you sending help?’

‘Have faith in me, Cassius.’ She responded.

‘When are you sending help?’ I said as I felt her presence leave me. ‘WHEN?!’ I shouted through my mind to be met with silence. I stood up and clenched my fists. “WHEN?!” I shouted out loud. “TELL ME!” Desperation was setting in. I fell to my knees and buried my head in my hands. “I need my Jemma.” I sobbed heavily and felt my mother’s hands on my back. I tried waving her off but she wouldn’t leave me. “I feel like giving up.”

‘Don’t give up, father,’ A strange male was in my head.

‘Who are you?’

‘I am Xerxes, your son’s wolf. The Goddess woke me and my twin up from our dormant state to help you and mother.’ He responded.

‘Enoch?’

‘He tells the truth, Cassius.’ Enoch responded.

‘Father, Aurora is helping mother gain strength to escape her cell while Mother Leonora keeps our human forms safe from the poison. Tonight when the moon is at its fullest we will work together to free her and get her back to you.’ He explained.

I felt new strength coursing through my veins as I stood up. I heard growls and shouts outside of my bedroom as the door slammed open revealing Iain with my guards trying to pull him out. “Leave him,” I ordered them and they backed off.

Iain’s greens eyes were wide. “Leopold felt Leonora. He knows where she is.”

‘Follow my guidance father and I will lead you to mother.’ Xerxes said in my head.

“My son’s wolf is talking in my head,” I said to Iain and my mother. “He said he can lead us to her.”

“Your son’s wolf?” My mother asked.

I nodded. “The Goddess told me she was sending help and then my son’s wolf started talking to me.”

My mother’s mouth fell open. “I thought you were glowing for a second there. And you are sure it is your son’s wolf?”

I nodded. “Enoch confirmed it. His name is Xerxes.” I told her. I started walking towards the door.

“Cassius!” My mother called me. “Where are you going?”

I looked back at her. “I am going to go get my family back. Are you coming?” I said to Iain.

He nodded. “I am with you all the way. I called my father already. He is on his way also with warriors.”

“Good,” I replied to him.

‘Have them meet us at the lake.’ Xerxes chimed in.

“Have you father and his warriors meet us at the lake in an hour,” I told Iain as he pulled out his phone. I then linked some of my warriors to meet us at the lake too. I then walked out of the palace with Iain close behind. My father was at the treeline.

“Do you need help son?” He smirked at me.

“How did you know?”

He snorted. “Your mother of course. She said your son’s wolf is talking to you.”

I nodded. ” He said he can lead me to Jemma.”

“Then I am behind you one hundred percent.” He started to strip out of his clothes.

“You believe me?”

“Of course.” He stuffs our clothes into a backpack and shifted into his wolf. He had dark almost black fur. Iain’s wolf stood beside him as I shifted. We then sprinted into the woods as I allowed Xerxes and Enoch to guide me towards Jemma.