Mate

It had been two days since her uncle had left, and although she had tried to keep a tight leash on his disappearance, she knew that her generals would soon start to suspect that something was amiss.

She didn't want to admit that her uncle had gone off to do the one thing that she had refrained from doing herself, so she had told the pack that she had sent him off on a mission. But she knew that one way or another, her lie would be exposed.

She was sitting in her father's office late that evening when she heard a knock on her door. She cleared her throat before instructing the person on the other end to come in. She watched as General Kane, along with a group of her other generals, entered the room, and she approached them, puzzled by their presence.

“What is the meaning of this?” she said quietly as she rose from her chair. He didn't seem fazed as he looked toward her with a raised eyebrow, revealing an envelope.

“Would you like us to read the contents of this letter, or are you ready to start telling us the truth?” he said to her with a raised eyebrow, and she refused to tolerate the disrespect.

“Read it,” she said to him in an assertive tone. She watched as he smirked before opening it and began to read through the contents.

“We have your men. You may think yourselves wise for thinking that you could take out Alpha King in his own home. We do not tolerate such acts of violence. You will not see this man again. We will torture them until we grow bored, which happens quickly, and then we will cut off their heads and display them on our border as a prize. Alpha King sends his regard and a gift for your leader.” The words echoed through the room as she tightened her grip on her pen. She knew that she had to keep herself composed, but inside, she was boiling over. The last thread of patience she had disappeared when she saw her uncle's blood-soaked ring drop from the envelope, staining the white carpet red.

“What do you have to say to us, Queen?” she heard Kane say to her in a mocking tone. She knew that he was only trying to provoke her, but she wasn't about to allow him to see how much she was affected.

She slowly stood to her feet, looking at them firmly. "This is why you do as I say because I am the queen and your leader and will be able to see what you are too blind to. I have underestimated these people for far too long,” she said, noticing their almost shocked expressions.

"We are no longer going to sit here and take it. The crow and arrow on their crest, the same ones that they used to tear us apart, will lead to their downfall,” she declared, and she watched as they cheered loudly.

She grinned at the sight. She had told herself that she wouldn't allow any more bloodshed, that she was going to think the plan through, but she was done with that. They had underestimated her for too long, and she was going to show them and show everybody that she wasn't one to be messed with. They had no idea what was coming for them, and they didn't know what was going to hit them until she struck.

“So, do you want us to prepare the armies?” she heard the general ask, and she watched as his eyes flashed red for a moment. She couldn't help but smirk at the sight, noticing that his wolf was threatening to come to the surface. There was a reason they were called rogues, and it was for their bloodthirsty nature, one that they had been forced to suppress for so long. But they would no longer hide under the blanket of peace. It was time for them to unleash their monsters, especially hers.

“No, no. It is my mistake. I will go there, and I will retrieve our men who were taken. And I will bring that Kayden to his knees. That I promise you,” she roared loudly.

….

Nina hit the punching bag over and over again, digging her claws into the cement once more. It was the night before she was set to leave, and she had been training tirelessly.

For a moment, images of everything that the packs had done to her flashed through her mind. They had taken her parents from her.

Punch.

They had isolated them from the others.

Punch.

And now they had humiliated and undermined her by taking her top advisor and uncle. Surely there would be hell to pay.

With one final punch, she watched as the bag fell to the floor, and she smirked. When morning came, she would be gone.

…

Nina made her way through the tall grass stealthily, clutching tightly onto her satchel as she looked towards the tall golden gates before her. She watched as the guards patrolled naively, unaware of the figure nestled in the shadows.

Just as she observed the guards preparing to change their shifts, she rose from the tall blades of grass, causing them to turn their gazes towards her with their swords raised.

She smirked as she raised her hands in the air in surrender. “I don't mean any trouble. I am the rogue queen, and I am here to see your alpha,” she said to them. She watched as they exchanged glances, seemingly mindlinking with each other.

A moment later, they turned back to her, much more cautious. “Come with us,” the one on the left, with long blonde hair and piercing blue eyes, said as they stood on either side of her.

She was led through the gates of the lavish city that stood before her. Crystal clear fountains and lavish vines adorned the walls of the buildings, and she found herself widening her eyes in intrigue as she was led towards a large glass palace.

She watched as people scurried away from her in fear as the doors were pulled open, and she was nudged inside. She turned toward the one on her left, baring her teeth at him, and he tensed.

He led her towards what appeared to be a grand ballroom, with a crystal chandelier above her. They hadn't said anything else to her, causing her to grow irritated. “How long am I supposed to stay here?” she hissed, but she was cut off by a loud growl as she was hit by an intoxicating scent.

“Mate.”