‘Was John still at the coronation party?’ I asked Noble, inquiring about the new alpha of Daybreak.
I’d killed the former alpha of Daybreak, Mallory’s dad, and traipsing onto John’s land without seeking his consent was disrespectful, but he’d understand, right? I was king, and this was Nai … I needed her back—now. He and Sara had been so nice to Nai and me when we were on his land before. I didn’t think he’d mind now.
‘I think so,’ Noble said and then confirmed it a breath later.
Justice slowed his pace as his nostrils flared. Then, he bared his teeth. ‘Mallory here.’
I’d already picked up on her scent, but I hoped she’d take off rather than confront us.
The five guards Noble sent trotted up behind us, huffing and puffing. Apparently, the entire royal guard needed to increase their training and conditioning. Declan had become overconfident and lax. I wasn’t stupid. A new king would always be tested—even if I didn’t know how or when. I’d need a strong guard to protect our borders and a group of trusted elites to help keep my loved ones safe.
‘They’re close,’ I shot back to Justice. A breeze carried their scent nearer, and I sniffed the ground, trying to pinpoint their location. ‘As in right around—’
“What the hell are you doing here, Rage?” Mallory growled, stepping out from the trees behind me.
Her sister followed her, muttering, “Come to rub salt in our wounds?”
I spun, shifting into my human form with extra caution to use magic and keep my clothing on. Mallory had tried to hook up with me my second year at Alpha Academy, and she’d been a bitch to Nai. The last thing I wanted was to be naked in front of her.
“Or are you here to finish off the rest of our family?” Mallory spat.
“I’m not here to kill you,” I huffed, rolling my eyes. I didn’t know what else to say to her without sounding like a dick. I’m sorry for your loss, but your dad was a prick and deserved it?
She stepped closer, her eyes glistening with unshed tears, and her body trembled.
Next to me, Justice, already back in his human form, snorted with derision. Even before Nai, he’d hated Mallory.
My guards stalked closer, still in their wolf forms, as Mallory stepped into my personal space.
“You could have let him live!” Her scream cut off as a sob ripped from her throat.
I sighed. There was no joy for me in her pain, but she was wrong. I couldn’t have let him live.
“Alpha fights end only with death. You know this, and so did he,” I said.
She glared at me. “Then, why are you here?” she growled through clenched teeth, stepping closer.
Justice stepped forward, chin held high, and gently pushed her back. “Have some respect for your king.”
Mallory balked, eyes widening, and then she lowered her gaze and her chin while I flicked a gaze to my brother.
‘She’s grieving. Let it go…’ I almost said before I remembered how Mallory and her siblings had joined Nolan in trying to kill my mate during the mid-year games. As king, I’d need to deal with that kind of behavior. Might as well set the standard now.
I stepped up to her, toe-to-toe, and stared her down, letting all of my anger and frustration surge to the surface. “I don’t need permission to go anywhere on Alpha Island. I’m king,” I told her, my voice barely human. “And this is your official notice that you’ve both been expelled from Alpha Academy for unsportsmanlike conduct.” I looked to her sister to make sure she knew I was talking about her as well. “If you ever attack my mate or my family, I’ll personally watch my guards tear you to shreds. Don’t challenge me again, Mallory Daybreak.”
Then, I blasted past her and her sister, not noticing the four other Daybreak wolves who’d left my coronation early with the girls until afterward. I ignored them all; I didn’t want them to think I was a pushover. Best to be stern now and not have to deal with another challenge fight later, but I was glad Noble had the foresight to send extra guards. Not that these six would be a challenge, but a fight would take time.
As for Mallory and her sister’s expulsion, it was the best way to limit her training and decrease the potential that she or her sister challenge John in the future for alpha of their pack. Besides, with John as alpha, his daughters had a rightful spot at Alpha Academy as his heirs.
A low whine of submission came from Mallory’s throat as I passed, but she didn’t move from her place by the tall cedar tree. Good riddance.
Once Justice and I entered the clearing, I scanned the land.
Several homes sat near the edge of the cliff, overlooking the water; the rest of the pack’s homes were scattered throughout the territory. I glanced at the castle-like monstrosity Mallory had been raised in. Her father had been just like Declan, cold and calculating.
Dismissing her and her father from my thoughts, I scanned the trees on the northernmost tip of the clearing. As soon as I found the tree, I’d find the portal. Once I found the portal, I’d hopefully find my mate.
My heart thundered with eager anticipation as my thoughts narrowed until my sole focus was Nai. I walked to the right, along the cliff, until I reached the copse. Then, weaving through the trees, I searched for the weeping willow among the juniper, pines, cedars, and firs.
High Mage Island overlaid Alpha Island, but the former resided in another dimension we couldn’t see or access. They were protected in their elite plane of existence, and as far as I knew, there were only two portals in or out: the library and the weeping willow.
I stepped between two giant cedar trunks, feeling the scrub and undergrowth brushing against my legs, and then pulled to a stop. There it was, a curly willow tree sitting in a much smaller clearing of grass. The tree’s naked limbs looked sorely out of place, turning orange in the fading sunlight. Between the bare branches, the light caught on a shimmering kaleidoscope of colors.
“This is it?” Justice walked up beside me. “The tree?”
I nodded while considering the best approach. “There’s no door. No lock.” I took a deep breath, hoping it would be easy. “Maybe we just walk through like the portal to the mortal world.”
“Maybe.” Justice rubbed the back of his neck and narrowed his eyes at the intricately woven branches. Finally, he turned his attention to me. “I’ll try it first.”
“I’m king, not made of glass.” I rolled my eyes and stepped forward.
My brother grabbed my arm and pulled me back. “I wasn’t implying you were made of glass, idiot, but if this thing shreds you to pieces, I’ll be king. Neither of us wants that.”
“Good point.” I glanced down at my hand, noting the charred skin already flaking away and showing hints of pink, new skin underneath. High mage magic was potent stuff. I carried a hefty amount of elemental fire magic, but it was nothing like the power used in making these portals.
“I’m not sure I want you walking through either,” I said to Justice, holding up my healing hand.
Footsteps announced several visitors, and my lip curled when I caught Mallory’s scent.
“They’ve spelled them with protections,” she said, “so only high mages are able to use them. You can’t get through without breaking the spells.”