AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I’d finally receive the respect I deserved, and my gender would no longer be used against me.
I couldn’t feel more proud of myself, and I fought the tears that sprung to my eyes as Bria howled in my mind in triumph. Maybe this was what I wished for Roberto to see. To witness his own pack that had discarded my existence over being a female now bowing at my feet for being proven otherwise.
Deep down, I felt like he’d be proud of me.
It just hurt that he was gone now…but I’d uphold his legacy.
A single set of applause brought my attention behind me, which was why I glanced over my shoulder, only to freeze in place as I questioned what I was actually witnessing.
“If it took me dying to witness such a grand sight, I would have done it ages ago.”
No words could be formed as I stayed completely still. My eyes grew wider and wider by the second as the man in question was followed by my royal advisor, Alejandro, as they walked further into the ring.
The familiar black suit, the gelled back hair, the short yet built structure, and those eyes of blue that were identical to mine.
He came to a stop the moment he reached where I stood, his eyes briefly acknowledging Felicia’s body before his gaze returned to me while I managed to turn enough so I was facing what I was sure had to be a ghost.
“I’ve witnessed plenty of your cage fighting battles and yet that was probably your best ever. Though, the one where your eyes got injured and you had to wear a blindfold was another stellar performance, but this was truly a worthy fight to secure your Alpha position.”
He nodded his head firmly before leaning his head over to where Alejandro stood in a slightly bowed position.
“Please inform Queen Elphaba of my recovery status and that I’ll be watching the De Luca Pack while Princess Willow attends to some important matters involving the execution coming up,” he instructed. “It wouldn’t make much sense to execute someone for my death when I’m very much alive. That’s rather ruthless if you ask me, and frankly, after such a grand performance, I’m in a good mood.”
“Yes, Sir. I’ll inform her this instant,” he declared and turned his attention to me before he dropped to bow on one knee. “Princess Phoenix, I apologize for my tardiness in attending to your needs the last few days. I was assigned to guard Roberto through the duration of his miraculous recovery and thus, I’ve only now managed to inform you. Again, I apologize.”
I really couldn’t say anything, which was why I merely nodded in reply.
“Now, I know you just stated anyone opposing you should step forward and challenge you, but an old man like me who was spared from death thanks to having such a smart, powerful daughter as my heir is in no shape to fight a youngster like you,” he summed up and shook his head while his hands slipped into his pockets. “You always get so murderous when your hair turns white, a trait you took from your mother, actually. My hair only turns half silver when I’ve gone manic in rage, which is why I use magic to cover it all up. It looks rather delightful on you, I will admit, even though complimenting anyone is but a chore for my poor mind.”
He paused and bobbed his head in approval of his own joke.
“You’re…” I couldn’t get the words out.
“Alive?” he questioned back and nodded his head. “Who would think a flower that lures many into forests and encourages their negative thoughts to swarm and push the victim to kill themselves would suddenly carry the ability to heal all wounds and alignments thanks to my princess. I question if you really knew the Blood Rose can be used to heal just like it can be used to kill. The nurse explained that the dress you wore on the runway was filled with these Blood Roses that did the opposite than they blossomed purpose. You left a single rose for me and it was left on my chest as I wrestled with death. With the healing properties of the rose matched with your magic that wished for me to live, I came back from the dead. The healing process was rather swift so I wouldn’t be in a coma for months.”
With a single step, we faced one another, and he couldn’t help but reach out and lay his hand on my shoulder.
“What I said at the brink of death was absolutely true. I’ve never been more proud of you. Despite everything you have been through, the hardships and torture of being an outcast in such a cruel world, you managed to rise and claim your birthright while managing to make these shifters bow to your feet.”
He looked directly into my eyes, even as they overflowed with tears spilling down my cheeks.
“The moment Elphaba sensed your gender, I knew this world would be far too harsh on you. I knew that they would assume you were weak and vulnerable, which was why I was forced to be a villain in your eyes, even though deep within my heart, I wished to be the best father I could be,” he confessed. “That was my biggest regret, that even in death, I couldn’t shake away. I wished everyone would learn that you were my pride and joy, whether you were a male or a female. In my eyes, you were a child worthy of claiming my empire, but I also knew many wouldn’t believe you’d be capable of fighting without the magic,” he revealed and chuckled. “Rather amusing when I’m part Fae, but Elphaba always said I hid it pretty well.”
“Alpha Roberto is part fae?” someone gasped.
“I feel that’s the least of our problems here,” another spoke. “He’s alive!”
More began to whisper as it finally settled in that Roberto —my Papa Dearest— was alive.
“Now I know you have things to do and places to be,” Roberto brought up, which silenced the room once more. “You don’t have time to babysit this pack. I don’t need to be Alpha to put them all in their places, so you may go do what needs to be done and decide what you wish to do upon your return,” he offered willingly before we watched in astonishment as he lowered to one knee.
“I, Roberto De Luca, am more than happy to be under Alpha Willow Alundra Phoenix’s ruling. Feel free to let me know what you wish for me to do and I’ll start it right away.”
All eyes were on me as I opened my mouth to speak but closed it again. I looked to Bria in my subconsciousness, seeing her wise eyes as I thought of what I wished to do. I watched as they lit up slightly, approval twinkling in those mesmerizing eyes before she slowly bobbed her wolf head.
I took two solid steps to tower over Roberto, and he didn’t move as I stared down at him in complete silence. I felt like he was waiting for some sort of punishment, or to finally feel my wrath for all he’d had to do to play his ultimate role, but I knew exactly what I wished to do.
Crouching down before him, I leaned in until my forehead pressed against his. I felt the rigidity of his knelt frame, but it was the spike of shock that entered the atmosphere that confirmed what everyone didn’t expect.
