Chapter 5: Home Sweet Home

They pulled into the underground garage of his family's castle, and King Reginald hopped out as soon as the vehicle came to a stop. Luckily for him, his overbearing Royal Beta had a business meeting in Colorado, so he wasn't around to overhear the news that the King was about to reveal to his family. His son, the junior Alpha Caldwell, was back at his pack handling pack business until Alpha Week. Unfortunately, the Alpha Daughter, the ex marked Princess, Amber, was still wondering around the castle, and King Reginald wasn't sure who, if anyone, in his pack and among the palace staff that he could trust these days. As long as he played by the Royal Beta's rules, they were all fine and atleast pretended to be loyal to him, but after twenty years of giving Caldwell so much power, he couldn't be certain who was just playing along with his choices, and who Caldwell may have turned to his side.

The sun was going down, painting the sky a gorgeous sunset pink as he walked through the halls of the castle. He headed up the four different marble staircases to get to the top floor where the Royal suites were located, taking time to mindlink Alexander and Melody to ensure they would meet him in their personal suites. He and Melody had always liked Korrine. Diane had raised her to be the perfect Luna, and once she and Alexander had begun getting close, Melody had taken the girl under her wing and started teaching her to be Queen. Unfortunately, their hopes for the future had been squashed when Caldwell laid out his conditions for helping them stay financially afloat.

He opened the door to the Royal Suite to find Melody sitting in the sitting room, as Alexander paced nervously infront of the fireplace. They both stopped what they were doing and faced him as he closed the door behind him. He could see the curiosity brewing in their eyes as they faced him, nervous of what this latest attack might mean for their kingdom.

"Well, is it true? Have we lost Rodney?" Alexander asked as he took a seat on the couch next to his mother.

"Yes, son. I'm sorry, but Rodney was among the dead at Stone Hill Creek. But, the silver lining is that Callahan will not be taking over as the pack Alpha. Apparently the Moon Goddess believed that another was more qualified to handle the Prescott pack, and made them Alpha of Stone Hill Creek right after Rodney's heart stopped." King Reginald explained to his family as he took a seat in the chair across from them.

"So you didn't give the pack to Callahan. I guess that is some good news. Did you get a chance to meet the new Alpha? Who is he? Anyone I know?" Alexander asked, his curiosity piqued.

"It is, actually. The Moon Goddess gave the Prescott pack to the oldest, unmated Prescott daughter. Korrine. She is back and leading her family's pack. I did get a chance to sit down and speak with her, though she did most of the talking. It seems before she became the Stone Hill Creek Alpha, she was already Alpha to the rogues. She has a bank account, membership plan, and a whole program for her rogue pack that she intends to carry into Stone Hill Creek. If I'm being completely honest, the way she came in and took the pack over with such ease, I'd say she is basically just absorbing Stone Hill Creek into what appears to be an already very large pack." King Reginald explained as he held out the manilla envelope to his son, who immediately snatched it.

Reginald had removed the checks when he went through the packet earlier, so Alexander wouldn't come across those, but he wanted his son to see all that his ex-love had built in the years she was away. Alexander pulled the pamphlets out of the envelope and started flipping through them before handing them over to his mother.

"So what is all this? Like stuff she offers to her pack or??" Alexander asked as he flipped through another pamphlet.

"Yes. It appears that her pack members are eligible for a wide variety of programs, grants, training and classes. It's remarkable, almost as remarkable as the checks she handed me today. One, she called an equity tithe, apparently to catch up for all the years Stone Hill Creek didn't pay tithes, and the other is a quarterly tithe, and apparently we can expect to receive around that amount every three months. A little over eight hundred MILLION in total. I asked her if she was attempting to bribe me or buy my favor and she, ofcourse, took a cheap shot at Caldwell, saying that a real Alpha doesn't need to buy titles and power or something. She's different now, fierce, slightly terrifying, but she is back. And, as it turns out, you aren't the only scentless wolf running around anymore. Korrine, she scents and senses human, like you, Alexander. I thought it only right that you two be the first I tell. Caldwell and the Wardens will do everything in their power to get rid of her once they realize. But, she doesn't seem worried about them." Reginald told his son and mate honestly, his face lighting up as he spoke about the money she had given him.

"Oh yes, Korrine has made quite a name for herself in the human world. Not only is she filthy rich, but wildly popular among the humans as well. She was on the cover of Forbes forty under forty, ranked at number 3. She is part owner in several billion dollar companies, like these hospitals in this pamphlet. She also has shares in her best friend's design house, I'm talking elite, couture, expensive clothes. Then there's her other friend's Tech company, which isn't just tech gadgets, but also apps and breaking edge technology. Her other friend, a former model, has a skincare and make-up line that she holds shares in. In her Forbes interview she said the secret to her success was financially investing in those who have mentally, physically and emotionally invested in her. But those companies she's really just a silent partner in. What shes best known for in the human world, besides being filthy rich, is for her fantasy books. She's basically made herself filthy rich from what I've always guessed is essentially just writing her life story. Humans think its just fantasy and drool over her books. Oh, and in recent years, her wine company. Its a millennial wine company. Lots of unique flavors with unique names to match them. The humans are obsessed with it. I think her networth is estimated at a little over ten billion. She's very rich and successful." Melody volunteered the information as her mate and son just stared at her shocked.

"What? Mom how do you even know all of that about her?" Alexander asked his mother as he stood up to begin his pacing once again.

"Well, I follow the celebrity gossip sites on social media, son. And when I noticed Korrine's name and pictures of her always popping up on them, I started following her accounts too. Did you know that she and Prince Edward were in a very public relationship? I don't know if they ever marked one another, but they were married, which is almost the human equivalent. Their divorce a year ago was very public and very messy," Melody stated calmly.

"Oh, well I wasn't aware of her very public divorce from the Northern European Prince when I gave James the flyer for the contest to give to her. But, I do hope she's over that boy enough to apply to enter the contest. I think everyone in this room knows she'd be a wonderful queen one day." King Reginald announced as he stood from his seat. Alexander's pacing always gave him anxiety.

"You gave her the flyer? Do you think she'll actually apply? I mean, if she's as rich and famous as Mom says, she probably has guys falling at her feet. Even in the supernatural world if she was with that other prince. I mean, I hope she does, but I also hope she doesn't. A girl like that doesn't chase after guys, Prince or not, I mean she publicly divorced the one she had. I just hate for her to think she has to win my love and attention, you know? Besides, even if she did join the competition, its not like any of those assholes are actually gonna give her a fair chance at becoming my marked Princess." Alexander rambled out his thoughts as he paced back and forth infront of the fireplace once again.

"Son, did you miss the first half of my news? Korrine gave me over eight hundred million dollars. We don't need Caldwell and his band of thieves anymore. Their choices, decisions and opinions are theirs to keep. They can't dangle their money over our heads to ensure they get their way. You are free to be with whomever you believe is best for you." King Reginald reminded his son, as he walked towards him before gripping his shoulder.

Yes, the Royal Washington Family of the North American Werewolf Kingdom was finally free.