The White Wolf Chapter 173: Traitors

Enzo quickly rolled the body up in the rug.l and followed the queen out the door. 

Coming up to a guard, Alexia demanded, “You there! Gather all lower-ranking guards on the training grounds at once!” She raised her voice in dominance, sending the guard into motion. 

Harley’s head was on a swivel with her mouth agape as she tried to keep up with what was happening. She had been standing outside the door waiting to be needed when the door opened. 

Edmund and Enzo came up behind her as she watched the guard run away. “What’s going on?” Edmund asked. 

“I’m finding the leak,” she said as if it were obvious. 

The group walked to the training grounds slowly allowing the guards to gather. Delilah’s body bounced in the rolled-up rug as Enzo walked. 

Arriving at the training grounds, the last of the guards made their way into formation. They looked confused and alarmed but stood at attention. 

The sun was high in the sky as noon approached. Its rays beat down on the warriors. Alexia squirted then accepted a pair of sunglasses from Harley who still looked confused. 

She stood there in front of them. Her clothes were splattered in blood. After some time she turned to Enzo and gave the order “Roll it out.”

Enzo tossed the rug to the ground causing it to unravel. It hit the ground with a thump. As it unrolled, Delilah’s lifeless body tumbled out. The bloody scene was in contrast to the intricately woven pattern that graced the carpet. 

The guards stepped back. Alexia’s eyes stayed steered ahead watching not bothering to look down. 

Then a growl erupted a few rows back. A guard shifted and then lunged for the queen overcome with emotion. Before he could make contact. Edmund jumped into action shifting into his wolf and tackling the guard to the ground. 

Teeth gnashed and claws flew. Ultimately, Edmund got the guard's throat in jaws. Crushing it, the fight was over. A breath escaped the guard's mouth as the life drained from his eyes. 

Alexia looked unfazed as Edmund released the body dropping it next to Delilah’s before turning back to the crowd. 

No other guard dared step forward. They watched and waited but none came. 

“This,” Alexia spoke up. “Is what happens to traitors.” She looked at the bodies in disgust. 

The group looked unnerved. Edmund stood close to the queen in his wolf form. His jet-black fur is a testament to his alpha. 

“An enemy is coming. Either you are with us or you are Against us.” Alexia flexed her alpha aura letting it. The guards felt the weight of it crushing down on them. They lowered their heads and dropped to a knee in submission. 

The queen was taking control. After she was satisfied with their show of loyalty she said “Dismissed.” There was no smile or warmth offered on her part. Only a cold stoic demeanor. 

The guards scattered to return to their posts. Some of the higher-ranking guards came to see what was happening. 

Delilah’s mate lay dead near here. A smaller male with brown fur. A common color among the lower ranks. 

“Find out his name. I want to know everything about him. Where he was from? What did his teachers say about him? If he had a favorite toy as a child I want a complete report. If he kissed a girl as a child, I want her complete history as well. Am I making myself clear?” Alexia ordered Edmund. 

“I will get it to you immediately.” He said shooting looks to guards which told Alexia he was linking his commands. 

He was completely unknown to the queen or any of the royals. She pitied him. He was not enough for his mate. Not enough to leave this behind and start anew. Instead, she chased power looking for a new queen when the current one did not want her. 

Even if she pitied the male he still made his choice to go Against the crown and he paid for it with his life. 

She wondered if Dennis knew how lowly his daughter's mate was. Threatening to expose it could prove to be valuable. Though she could not think of anything worse than treason. 

“I think we’re done here.” She looked to Edmund and Enzo for agreement and then turned to the high-ranking guards not standing too far away “Burn the bodies” Alexia said before turning away to walk back to the palace. 

After she took a few steps she turned back. “Hang the carpet from the balcony till the end of the day. After that have it cleaned.” She ordered the guards. 

It served as a reminder to all what happens when you betray the crown. She held her head high and her shoulders back as her face was void of emotion entering the palace. The guards at the door gave her a deep bow and avoided eye contact. 

Her heels clinked against the marble floors as everyone held their breaths in her presence. Harley followed behind with wide eyes as her hands fumbled to hold onto her stack of folders. The normally manicured hair was in disarray and matched her frantic demeanor. The queen’s mood was affecting her. 

“Has Dennis said anything?” she asked Enzo as Edmund had left to shift back and find clothes. 

“No. Anything he says will be a lie.” Enzo said doubtful. She wished to execute him and be done with it but she would wait for Caspian’s judgement. 

“Any word from the scouts?” She asked as Harley followed the pair in silence. 

“Nothing so far. Delilah could have been trying to scare you.” It was a possibility that Draxton was not coming it was all a scare tactic. 

Enzo was calm as he left the queen to see his mate. Being newly mated he hated being away from her for long. 

Alexia dismissed Harley till lunch as she needed to change. Back at her chambers, she went to the bathroom. 

The clothes would need to be burned. They were past salvaging. She dropped them to a pile on the floor and took a long shower. She scrubbed her body and scrubbed it again. With every pass the soap made on her body she tried to erase the events of the morning. 

There was no delight in taking life, it was necessary for her survival. It would not be the last time, probably far from it.