Chapter 227- Congratulations, Alpha!

Chapter 227: 227- Congratulations, Alpha!

Lucien Volkov POV:

I was on my way to an important meeting when my mother appeared in the corridor, accompanied by one of her maids. From the determined look on her face, I could already guess what she wanted to discuss.

"Lucien, I need to speak with you about Jasmine. I don’t think it’s right that you’re treating her this way, especially after everything she’s—"

"Mother, please." I raised a hand, stopping her as politely as I could. "I’m already running late for a meeting, and it’s an important one. Whatever you want to discuss, can we do it afterward?"

She didn’t seem pleased with my answer. Instead of moving aside, she dismissed the maid with a wave of her hand and turned back to me.

"It will only take five minutes, Lucien. Surely you can spare that much time for your own mother." She adjusted the shawl around her shoulders before adding, "Besides, I can’t imagine what meeting could possibly be more important than listening to your mother."

I resisted the urge to sigh. There was no point arguing with her when she was in this mood, and I certainly wasn’t going to spend the next half hour discussing Jasmine’s feelings.

"Mother, right now, I really need to leave."

She opened her mouth to protest, but my phone began ringing before she could get another word out.

I reached into my pocket, intending to silence it, until I saw Bradley’s name on the screen.

I’d asked Bradley to keep an eye on Arabella while she was at Blackthorn, and he knew better than to call me unnecessarily. No matter what, a call concerning Arabella would always come first.

"Bradley?" I answered, turning slightly away from my mother.

"Lucien, I’m not sure what’s happening, but something’s going on at Blackthorn," he said without bothering with a greeting. "Arabella went inside Chris’s residence a little while ago, and ever since then, omegas have been coming in and out of the house."

I frowned. "What do you mean? Is she alright?"

"As far as I know, she’s fine. I haven’t seen her since she went inside, but there’s been quite a bit of activity at the residence. Here everyone seems unusually excited about something." He paused briefly before adding, "I could go inside and find out what’s happening, but I thought you’d prefer to hear it from Arabella herself."

I glanced toward the exit, already making up my mind. "I’m coming." I ended the call and slipped the phone back into my pocket.

"Where are you going?" my mother asked, watching me turn away. "I thought you had an important meeting to attend."

"I did. But something more important has come up, Mother."

Before she could question me further, I excused myself and headed toward the entrance, leaving her standing in the corridor.

Whatever Arabella was up to, I intended to find out for myself.

***

The moment I stepped out of the car in front of Blackthorn’s Alpha residence, memories of my first visit came rushing back.

It had been a long time, but I remembered that day clearly. I’d come here as the Lycan King and take Rick’s daughter to the palace with me.

Back then, I’d had no idea how much that one visit would change my life.

I walked toward the entrance without waiting for anyone to announce my arrival. I’d come alone, without the usual royal guards following me around.

I knocked on the door, and a few moments later, Chloe opened it. Her eyes widened when she recognized me. "Your Majesty! I didn’t know you were—"

"Where is she?" I interrupted, already walking past her into the house.

Chloe hurried after me. "In the Alpha’s office, Your Majesty."

I knew exactly where the Alpha’s office was.

It was the same room where I’d first sat across from Chris and Rick, demanding answers about Anika’s murder. The same room where they’d agreed to send Rick’s daughter to the palace in exchange for Victor’s freedom.

Vanessa had been the daughter they were supposed to send. Instead, they’d sent Arabella.

I couldn’t help smiling at the memory. Those fools had probably thought they’d gotten away with something clever by sending me the wrong daughter.

If only they’d known what a favor they were doing me.

I reached the office and turned the handle without bothering to knock. It was the same room where I met Arabella the first time.

Arabella was standing behind the large wooden desk, surrounded by files and documents scattered across it. She appeared to be sorting through them, while her friend Toby stood nearby, helping her arrange a few folders.

To my surprise, Lilith was there too, helping Arabella. Unlike everyone else, she didn’t seem the least bit surprised. In fact, she looked as though she’d been expecting me.

Our eyes met briefly, and I gave her a small nod. She returned it before quietly putting down the papers in her hand and making her way out of the office without a word.

There were also several omegas in the room, busy cleaning the display cabinets and rearranging the furniture. The moment they noticed me, they abandoned whatever they were doing and dropped to their knees.

"Your Majesty!"

I barely acknowledged them. My attention had already settled on the woman behind the desk. Arabella looked up, and the file in her hand stopped halfway to the table. Her lips parted in surprise as she realized who had just walked into her office.

For a moment, she simply stood there, looking at me. Then she put the file down and came around the desk.

I expected her to rush into my arms, perhaps complain about my unexpected arrival or tease me for showing up without warning.

Instead, she stopped a few feet away from me.

And before I could say a word, she lowered herself onto one knee, placed a hand over her chest, and bowed her head. "Welcome to the Blackthorn Pack, Your Majesty," she announced in a steady voice. "Alpha Arabella Westwood, reporting to His Highness, the Lycan King."

For a moment, I couldn’t move. Had I heard her correctly?

I glanced over my shoulder at Chloe, who was standing near the doorway with a small smile on her face. When she nodded, confirming what I’d just heard, I turned back toward Arabella.

She was still kneeling before me, her silver-white hair falling forward as she kept her head lowered.

Goddess, this beautiful woman.

Every time I thought I had her figured out, she found another way to surprise me.

I stepped closer and gently took her by the shoulders, asking her silently to stand up. She rose without a word, lifting her face toward mine, and I found myself smiling before I could help it.

So, she’d finally done it.

The girl who’d once been sent to my palace as a replacement for someone else was now standing before me as the rightful Alpha of Blackthorn.

I leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her forehead, letting my lips linger there for a moment. "Congratulations, Alpha," I murmured against her face, then I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her into a fierce hug.