The White Wolf Chapter 153: Picking Up the Pieces

She turned to Prince Dristan. “Your Highness, I understand how frustrating this situation is but I can promise you we are giving you all the information we know.” Alexia did not know if what she said was true or not as she didn’t know what information Caspian had given him. Her eyes were earnest though hoping to pacify the prince. 

He seemed to believe her as he responded. “Your Majesty, Thank you for keeping me informed. This can be a difficult time.”

“Thank you for your understanding.” She said with a smile hoping to soften him. 

“But I am curious,” Dristan replied. 

“Curious about what?” She asked trying to sound interested. 

“If the king has given any thought to who I believe is responsible for these attacks.” Dristan continued his thought. Ruhn looked uncomfortable like he wished to stop the prince from speaking but dared not. 

Alexia’s face twitched slightly as she tried to keep her composure. “I don’t think he was able to confirm.”

Dristan’s eyebrows went up as he leaned back in his chair. “He did not tell you.” 

She tried to brush it off “it must have slipped his mind.” 

Dristan paused before speaking quietly “Must have. Anyway, there is a secret society that I believe has a hand in the situation.”

“And who is that? She pressed. 

He looked around before leaning closer to her “I cannot say in such a public space.”

“Very well.” She let the matter drop and turned back to her meal that had been waiting for her. As she stabbed her salad she remembered Cynthia “Beta Ruhn, I trust your sister is doing well. I feel awful that she had to bear whiteness to such tragedies.”

“Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. She is doing well and we were glad we were able to assist in a way.” The beta replied smoothly happy that Dristan was not talking. 

Alexia was feeling bold “She was such I help. I may have to request she stay here when you return.” She laughed it off as if it were a joke. 

Ruhn’s brow furrowed for a fraction of a second. “I’m afraid she is engaged, your grace, or else it would be our honor to help you.” 

“So I hear but if things change do let me know.”

“Of course.” Ruhn turned back to his meal as his mind tried to calculate the angle the queen was plying. 

The first course was a simple salad followed by a light soup. By the time the beef tenderloin arrived, the alphas had finished their readings. When dessert arrived they were impatient. 

Throughout the meal, she paid them little to no attention focusing on what Dristan had told her. Trying to distract herself she noticed that Cynthia was not there. Her absence seemed to enable Enzo to regain his focus as he would lose it if she were around. 

Alpha Tizen spoke with the queen throughout the meal. He could be trusted as much as one could be who was not blood. 

The way he tried to occupy the queen's attention suggested that he heard the prince’s conversation. 

A conversation that she would be having with her mate whenever he returned. The look on Ruhn’s face told her there was more. 

Till then Alpha Tizen would keep with speaking in lighthearted conversation. He pointed out things he enjoyed in every dish and praised the queen for her impressive skill in picking a perfect menu. 

Alexia smiled but knew they were infatuated words. Her eyes were sad as she took in the sight of her parents. 

Her mother looked off into the distance not engaging in conversation around her. The stone face her father wore kept any conversation from reaching him. They were in protection mode. 

There was nothing they could do for Luca but there was no way any of the alphas would utter an ill word of the Queen in their presence. They needed to control something in this chaotic world. 

Alexia swirled her wine glass sticking to one glass at lunch. She slowly sipped it making it last. 

She looked to Enzo who was seated a few seats down from her. Gabe should be the one handling this but he wasn’t back and the alphas were restless. 

Enzo looked at her and then left to go check on the king’s arrival. Harley came in as Enzo left whispering into the queen's ear of any updates. 

Alexia sat her glass down and signaled to the servants to clear the plates. She patted the corners of her mouth with her napkin before allowing the servants to take it away. 

With the plates cleared, the room's attention turned to her. “Now that you’ve had a chance to look over the report we will begin taking questions.”

The servants refilled water glasses while the alphas turned through the report. Alpha Tinzen being loyal to the crown spoke up with an easy question for the queen. “Your majesty, is there any update on the water supply?” 

“I’m pleased to announce that the water had been turned back as the tests showed that it was not contaminated,” Alexia said earning murmurs of approval. Enzo returned with no sign of Caspian or Gabe. She had to begin picking up the pieces of the mess they found themselves in.

Another alpha spoke up “Your grace, have any decisions been made on the rebuilding of what has been destroyed.”

She took a moment to gather her thoughts. “Thank you for your question. As of now, nothing has been made official. The main focus has been on stopping the destruction. Since that has been completed we are looking to house those who have been displaced in temporary establishments till the rebuilding can be completed. Many are being housed in hotels. The biggest group needing housing is the orphanage. Any long-term housing in hotels will put a strain on the hotel's resources. Therefore the orphanage will be moved to the palace grounds to stay in the hunting cottage.”

Some of the alphas were interested in the news of the children while others were not. One of the alter was Alpha Gemstone who spoke next causing Alexia to sigh internally. “How will affect trade your grace? We all need to make a living.”

“It will not. The borders have been secured and trade will resume under the protection of guards.” She kept her answer brief and with no emotion. Dismissively, she looked to the next question. 

The questions came and came. It seemed like the alphas were repeating themselves or that if they asked a question a different way somehow it would change the answer. Dristan sat back in his chair as if he were watching a show saying nothing. No one seemed openly hostile or challenging her authority. Her family seemed to be doing a good job of keeping everyone in check. 

It wasn’t until an alpha that Alexia knew to be one of Alpha Dennis’s lackeys decided to speak up. “Your Majesty, this attack has left many unsettled how can we trust the crown’s leadership moving forward?”

The room became tense. A pen drop could be heard as breaths were held. Alexia felt her blood grow cold with a touch of embarrassment as her authority was challenged. 

Alexia opened her mouth to respond not sure what she was going to say but before the sound could leave her lips the doors were flung open. 

Everyone turned to look at the sound to see Caspian striding with determination. The king had returned.