Alpha Prime: Her Retribution

Chapter Fifty Six

My eyes scanned through the contents of the first page, it was written in a strange language yet I understood it perfectly as if I had always known it, then again, I did.

King Charles of Navarre

My fingers caressed my father’s handwriting, beneath his name of the royal crest.

I turned to the next page.

This is my account of the events that unfolded following the mating of my daughter, Meira, and Adar of Eldoria.

ENTRY ONE

I fear the actions of my daughter and Adar, the son of Alaric of Eldoria may incur the wrath of the moon goddess on us all, in my rage, I have brought my daughter back to Navarre and … and I have agreed to bar all communications between them while we find a way to break this bond, the other wolf kings are in support and are calling for their punishment for such a heinous act. … and I hope to pacify them.

I shuddered, knowing he had not been able to pacify them and in a few years, he would have to bury both Jacob and I. I flipped to the next page.

ENTRY TWO

My duty as a father wars with my duty as the disciple of the moon goddess. My daughter refuses to eat or leave her room and as a father, I can only bear so much of my daughter’s misery, she speaks of love but she is only a child, what could she possibly know of love? Letters from the King of Eldoria have reached me, Adar has also fallen into the same melancholy, he refuses to train, to eat or consume the life essence he needs to survive. I can only pray to the moon goddess to grant us the strength as we find a way to break the bond.

I looked out the window before I continued.

ENTRY THREE

Moon goddess forgive me, I have caved, as I write this, my daughter is on a ship, sailing to Eldoria to meet her husband and mate. I fear the wolf kings will do everything possible to stop this union from happening but Alaric and I will do absolutely everything we can to protect our children.

I closed the book, knowing what followed, reading the contents was too much to bear. I couldn’t continue… not now…

JACOB

I tried to concentrate on Tony's report but the nagging headache I felt made it impossible. I hadn't slept in days, memories of my life as Adar and everything I had lost haunted me.

I knocked back another glass of blood, running my fingers through my hair.

“Prime, are you okay?” He asked, I squeezed my eyes shut, massaging the bridge of my nose.

“Tony… can you give us a few minutes alone?”

I looked up, frowning at the sight of Kamilla, I hadn't heard her come in.

“Of course.”

He glanced at me once more, concern etched in his face before walking out.

“You need to rest, Jacob.” She uttered.

“You make it sound as though it is so easy.” I replied, staring at her. Just as with Alduin… I had memories of a life with her and one without her. She sat and placed a hand on mine.

“H-how is she? Is she eating?” I asked, Kamilla shook her head.

“No, the only thing I am able to convince her to take is sherba.”

Her words brought a slight ache to my heart.

“She always did love it.”

“That she did…”

The silence stretched between us as I stared at Kamilla.

“I'm sorry…”

She frowned.

“You did nothing wrong Jacob.”

“I did… for demanding that you leave after we got the Resurgem.” I whispered, referencing the conversation we had before leaving for Iceland.

She shook her head.

“You were well within your right to do so and if you still see it fit to punish me and my men for the mind controlling bræw and the murder of Samara then I am willing to take the punishment.” she said, I closed my eyes.

“I don't want to think about that right now.”

“If there is anyone that should be punished for that, it is me.”

I opened my eyes to see Destiny standing by the window, she smiled softly.

I got to my feet, Kamilla did the same.

“Why?”

Destiny glanced at Kamilla

“Because I instructed her to do so.”

My frown deepened at the piece of information.

“What?”

Destiny moved forward, the air shimmering around her, a far contrast to the old hag that had appeared to me years ago.

“When this timeline was created and the survivors had settled in with the occupants of new timeline, the wolf kings declared war on vampires.”

“The Persecution.” I whispered, Kamilla nodded.

“We lost so many vampires.” She said, her eyes filled with sadness.

“But why?” I asked.

“Without the vampires, your birth would have been impossible.” Destiny answered, her reply was like a kick to my guts. My lycan growl reverberated within my mind.

“Without my birth, Eda’s and the Alpha Primes crimes would remain hidden.” I uttered, my grip on the pen tightened until it snapped into two.

Destiny stepped forward, a bound leather book in hand.

“Here you go, this is Charles’s journal. Adelaide also has a copy.”

She placed the book on the table and I stared at it.

“For what it's worth, he loved you as one of his own.” she whispered, squeezing my shoulder gently. “Take care of yourself Jacob.”

With that she was gone, leaving me alone with Kamilla.

“I’ll let you be.” she said, getting to her feet. I watched her leave before turning my attention to the book. I picked it up,

****

ADELAIDE

King Alaric is dead… I fear his death spells nothing but doom for Adar and Meira. As I write, I am travelling to Eldoria, may the Moon goddess give us the fortitude to bear this great loss.

“Ms Adelaide?”

I looked up to see Delilah standing by the door, closing the book, I smiled at her.

“Delilah, how are you?” I inquired softly.

“I'm fine Ms Adelaide… are you okay? I came by when you returned but Prime said you were unwell.” She explained.

“I'm much better now, Delilah.” I replied.

“I brought you lunch…” She said, trailing off as she saw the two trays by my side. “Ms Adelaide…”

I shook my head.

“It's fine Delilah. I'm just not hungry these days.”

“T-that’s not healthy, you need to eat.” She insisted.

“And I will… just not now, you can leave the tray here and take the others down to the kitchen.”

She sighed and placed the tray on the table before picking up the previous ones.

“Oh and Delilah, please let the kitchen know that unless I request for food, they shouldn't bring anything up.”

“Ms A…”

“Please Delilah.”

She pressed her lips together, clearly unhappy with my instructions.

“Yes Luna.” She mumbled before leaving. I turned my attention to the next entry.

Alaric was buried today, the other kings were present and even I could feel the disdain radiating from them towards Adar and Meira. I intend to stay until Adar's coronation. He is a strong man and I am certain he will be a capable king.

ENTRY TEN

Adar and Meira were crowned as the new monarchs of Eldoria. Though the occasion was one of great joy, I could not shake the feeling of an ominous presence lingering in the air, festering like an unhealed wound.

The next few entries were mundane as I read through them.

ENTRY FIFTEEN

My daughter has given birth to a son, Alduin. Adar has sent word that the child is in excellent health, robust and strong, with a set of lungs that rivals even the mightiest of warriors. I shal travel to Eldoria to see my grandson.

ENTRY SIXTEEN

The other Wolf Kings have grown increasingly audacious, their accusations and animosity toward Adar and Meira becoming especially evident during the Gatherings. I shall remain steadfast in my efforts to prevent this discord from escalating any further.

ENTRY SEVENTEEN

My grandson is missing… stolen from his bed in the dead of night, Meira is beside herself with grief, Adar has sent his soldiers to find him. I suspect the wolf kings but there is no proof to my claim, however I shall continue to search for one. I have offered my best scouts to Adar, I can only hope we find Alduin safe and sound.

ENTRY EIGHTEEN

My daughter sinks further into despair with each passing day, and still, there is no word of Alduin. My heart aches for her, and I find myself pleading with the Moon Goddess to shield my grandson, wherever he may be.

ENTRY NINETEEN

Tragedy has struck us. Alduin has been found, but not as we had hoped. His lifeless body was discovered in the woods near the southern border, discarded like he was nothing. The weight of this loss has shattered us.

Meira collapsed upon hearing the news. The grief was too much for her body to bear, and she has lost the child she carried. Two lives taken from us in the span of a single breath. She lies in silence now, her spirit broken, her eyes empty. I fear she will never recover.

Adar is no longer the man of unyielding strength we once knew. He sits in stillness, his heart broken beyond repair. The rage I expected to see in him is absent, replaced instead with a profound and harrowing sorrow. He blames himself, though none of this is his doing.

I begged the moon goddess to protect Alduin, to shield him and the family he was meant to grow up with. She has turned a deaf ear to my prayers. I fear this is a punishment for our transgression. But one thing I know is: our enemies will pay for the devastation they have wrought.

ENTRY TWENTY

I have uncovered a truth that chills me to my very core, the rest of the wolf kings led by Adlartok, are planning to march on Eldoria. Their ambition knows no bounds, and their thirst for domination threatens to engulf us all.

I cannot sit idly by while my daughter and son face such peril. Adar and Meira must be warned, though I hesitate to bring more burden upon their already grieving hearts. Yet I know they would rather hear it from me than be blindsided by the attack.

This is no time for hesitation. I have readied myself for the fight to come. I will fulfil the promise I made to Alaric, I will fight alongside Adar and Meira to protect what remains of our family. Eldoria has withstood countless storms, and I will not allow it to fall now—not to the likes of the Adlartok and the rest.

ENTRY TWENTY ONE

I visited Adar and Meira today, though I wish I could say the sight of them brought me solace. It did not. Meira is but a shadow of herself. She sits by the window, staring out into the wilderness, as though she’s waiting for Alduin to come running back to her. Her once vibrant spirit has dimmed, replaced with a haunting emptiness. I spoke to her, but she didn’t respond. Her grief has consumed her.

Adar, too, is struggling. Though he hides it well, the weight of his sorrow is etched into his every movement. He is a man shouldering the unbearable, yet he stands tall for Meira’s sake. It breaks my heart to see him fighting his own despair while trying to keep his family and kingdom from falling apart.

I shared with them what I have learned—the wolf kings' plans to march on Eldoria. Adar listened intently, though I could see the exhaustion in his eyes. He knows as well as I do that this war will be brutal, but he agreed we cannot delay our preparations any longer.

Before I left, I knelt before Meira and whispered a promise: We will fight. We will survive. For Alduin, for the child she lost, for everything we hold dear. Though she did not reply, I saw the faintest glimmer of something in her eyes—perhaps hope, perhaps anger. Either way, I will hold onto it.

Adlartok and the rest believe they have already won. Let them come. They will find that Eldoria does not fall so easily.

ENTRY TWENTY TWO

The rest of the wolf kings have sent their message. A messenger arrived this morning with a scroll bearing Adlartok’s sigil. The words within were as much a threat as they were a warning:

Stay out of this war.

Their audacity knows no bounds. They dared to remind me of Alduin’s death, twisting the knife further by claiming it as only the beginning. They taunted me, calling me a fool for aligning with Adar and Meira, and promised that any resistance would lead to the complete annihilation of not just Eldoria but my kingdom too.

I burned the scroll after reading it, though the words still sear into my mind. The wolf kings believe they can frighten me into submission. They are mistaken. If they think I will turn my back on my family, on my home, after all they have done, then they have gravely underestimated me.

I will not bend to their threats. I will not cower before their cruelty. If anything, their message has only solidified my resolve. Let them come for me if they dare. I will stand between them and Eldoria with sword in hand, and I will not fall so easily.

Let them know this: I am not afraid.

ENTRY TWENTY THREE

The war has come and gone, and I am left with nothing but regret.

We were making our way to Adar’s army when the wolf kings’ ambush fell upon us. They were cunning, waiting in the shadows to strike when we least expected. My men fought valiantly, but the ambush delayed us far too long. By the time we broke free and reached the battleground, it was already over.

Eldoria’s banners lay trampled in the dirt. The battlefield was littered with bodies, both friend and foe, the earth soaked in blood. The silence was deafening, a mockery of the chaos that had raged here not long before.

And there, in the midst of it all, I found him. Adar, my brave son-in-law, the one who had stood tall against all odds, lay motionless. His body was bloodied and broken, his sword still clutched in his hand.

I fell to my knees beside him, my heart shattering into pieces. I whispered apologies he could no longer hear, for not being there when he needed me most. For not fighting alongside him, as I had promised. For failing him, Meira, and Alduin.

But it seemed the moon goddess was not done with me, I was struck with a gut wrenching emptiness. The paternal connection I shared with Meira snapped. I knew then what words could not yet confirm: my daughter was gone.

Grief consumed me as I realized the full extent of the loss. Meira, my daughter, the last piece of her family’s shattered puzzle, was gone. Adar, her steadfast protector, was no more. Alduin, her beloved son, had been the first to leave us. They were all gone, and I had failed them all.

It had taken everything within me not to take the sword I held to my heart, instead we gathered what remained of our forces and carried Adar’s body back to Eldoria. As I write this, Adar and Meira both lie in the great hall, draped in the royal colors.

I do not know what else to do, who else to turn to.