The Rogue Queen

Chapter 5

Freya was having doubts now about following Oliver as he led her to the edge of the forest with a stolen bottle of champagne in one hand and two glasses in the other. She hadn't asked him where when he asked if she wanted to get out of there, she just stood up and told him to lead the way. Now she wondered if this was some sort of trap he had cooked up for her with Iain. She stopped as he turned to go off of the main stone path onto a barley trodden one. Aside from the fact that this could be a trap, there was no way she would be able to walk through the brush with the heels she wore.

Oliver stopped when he realised she was no longer following him.

"What's wrong?" His words broke the silence that had existed since they left the marquee.

Don't say it! We don't want him to think you're crazy. Hera cautioned.

"Is this some sort of trap you're leading me to?"

You just had to say it, didn't you! I'm going to die a virgin! Hera complained loudly, causing Freya to frown.

Oliver laughed and then mistook her frown as a response to his laughter.

She thinks we’re laughing at her i***t! Gunnar hissed at him.

I’ll fix it! Oliver replied. He hated it when his wolf was right.

"No, I'm not, but I can understand why you might think that. I can also see you're not really wearing appropriate footwear for my trek." He smiled as Freya looked at her feet.

He took a stride back towards her and handed her the glasses and bottle, causing her to wrinkle her nose in confusion. Oliver didn't want her to turn back, he wanted to spend time alone with her, he knew that he wouldn't get to do that in the marquee and so he was taking her to the place he had found years ago, the place that he kept to himself. It was his place of solitude. There was no hesitation from him when he swooped down and scooped her into his arms bridal style. He smirked a little when he heard her gasp and braced himself for the protest that didn't come. So he took it as consent and quickened his pace deeper into the woods until finally they came to a small clearing.

"I come here when I want to think or to be alone. Especially at night, if you lay on the ground, you can see a great view of the stars." He said softly beside her ear as though if he spoke louder, he would break the magic that he felt in this place. Freya looked up, and her eyes seemed to twinkle in the night just like the stars until she realised that she was still in his arms. He took the hint when she began to wriggle and placed her feet on the floor.

Freya dropped to the ground like a stone and pulled off her heels before she began to rub her feet. The ache she felt from those shoes seemed to penetrate deep.

"These are like torture devices, I don't understand how Kate can wear them so long." She complained as she continued to rub. Oliver took a seat next to her as the faint pop of the champagne cork echoed around the clearing before he poured them a glass each.

"I can see why you like it here," she said before taking a sip of the cool liquid. "It's peaceful."

"It's my sanctuary here, I don't think anyone else knows about it, except you. I can be alone here, I can be me."

She raised an eyebrow. "And why can't you be alone elsewhere? You're an Alpha, don't you just tell people to leave you alone?"

He shook his head and pushed down the laugh in his chest. He knew what everyone thought the life of an Alpha was like, what his life was like, but nobody really knew the full extent.

"No, it doesn't really work like that."

"It seems like it does to me. You seem to have it pretty good from where I’m standing. You get your own wing in the training centre, which I’d bet are much more luxurious than the unranked sleeping quarters. You can opt out of training when you feel like it. You get to come and go when you feel like it.”

“Is that what you think?” He asked with an amused smile as he laid back and crossed his arms behind his head.

“You do realise I have no control over my life? That I never have and never will? I’m an Omega, so that limits my prospects in any pack, I’m also a rogue, and I don’t have a pack to speak of. Sure, I grew up in the capital, but from the moment I was born, my life was mapped out for me. I answer to the ranked members, and my whole existence as an Omega is to serve them in some sort of way. I had no say in what training pack I went to, I’ll have no say in what pack I’m allocated to, no say in what my job will be. Everyone else gets to decide for me.” Freya threw her head back and laughed, “Even the choice in a mate was mapped out and picked for me by some deity I’ve never met!”

Oliver sat up and c****d his head at her. “We aren’t so different you know. I’m an Alpha, yes, but that too was mapped out for me from the moment I was born. I’m not the first born son, I’m the second and when my uncle, who’s the current Alpha of the Silver Springs Pack didn’t have any pups with his mate it was decided I’d be his predecessor. When the Southern Kingdom fell, my parents shipped me off to the Silver Spring pack to learn how to be an Alpha. I didn’t choose to come here to train. My father and the former Alpha are close allies, there was no question I’d be allowed to go anywhere else. My Beta? I didn’t get a choice in him either. That was an agreement my father made. Calen as my Gamma was my choice, but even then he’s the son of the current Beta of Silver Springs, so it was expected. If I’d had a real choice I’d have made Calen my Beta, we grew up together, and I’d trust him with my life, and he knows the pack. Not only did I have expectations to fulfil from my uncle, I’ve had them from my father. Soon, the future of a whole pack will be in my hands, and I’ve got no choice in the matter, I can’t just say no thanks I don’t want it. And as for my mate, that might be one thing that I don’t mind being mapped out for me by the Moon Goddess.”

Freya snorted. Maybe he wasn’t so different from her like he said, but she was puzzled by why so many wolves just blindly accept a goddess picking their mate for them. “I’ll concede that maybe you haven’t had as much free will as I thought, but that will change when you become Alpha. My position isn’t ever going to change. I’m surprised, though, that given your lack of choice in your life you’re happy to just accept whatever mate is supposed to be for you. Do you not find that ironic?”

Oliver wondered how someone so young got to be so cynical, especially about fated mates. She really was this enigma. “You really don’t like the concept of mates do you? How can I not accept a fated mate from the Moon Goddess? She’s supposed to be my perfect half to make that whole.”

He watched fascinated as she finished her glass and then lifted the champagne bottle and drank straight from it. He felt the smile spread from ear to ear and enjoyed the pink flush of her cheeks.

"What? I’m a rogue after all, aren’t we all filthy uncivilised things?" She giggled, and he felt butterflies in his stomach at the sound.

"I owe you an apology for that. I should have stepped in long ago and put a stop to Iain saying it to you and to anyone else. I'm an Alpha. It's my job to make sure all of my pack are included and accepted. I shouldn’t have let him single you out."

"But you're not my Alpha," she teased with another giggle before taking another drink and passing him the bottle. Oliver raised his eyebrows and took a drink. He’d enjoy a bottle of beer, but this would be the first time he’d drank champagne like this, especially when there were perfectly good glasses.

"That's true, but it's not how I want to be as an Alpha, I shouldn't have accepted it. I need to do better, to be better."

Freya lay down on the grass beside him close enough that her arm rested against his side. "Isn't it exhausting always trying to be something people expect rather than just being who you are?"

He laughed, “You have no idea.” He began to loosen his tie and then the top few buttons, suddenly he felt like he was being suffocated, the air felt heavy around him and he didn't like it.

She sat up and furrowed her brows, watching his actions intently chewing the inside of her lip as he removed his jacket and then fully removed that tie.

I could think of so many things we could do with that tie. It would look good on his wrists tied to our bed! Hera said, practically drooling as Freya reached out and grabbed the bottle to take another drink. Suddenly, the slight peak of his chest muscles was making her hot.

She tried to push to her feet but found her usual grace and dexterity gone as she wobbled and let out the most feminine giggle of her life.

Ugh, Hera, what's wrong with my legs?

You, my dear, are drunk! Hera smirked. This is going to make things much easier for me.

"Are you ok?" Oliver asked as Freya felt his hands around her waist to steady her.

"Never been better." She answered as her eyes lingered on his lips. She imagined what it might be like to kiss them if he weren't an Alpha.

Why are you so hung up on him being an Alpha?

You know our place! She snapped back at Hera.

Fine, we'll do it my way, you stubborn Lycan!

Olivers hand scooped up and brushed her face as he moved a piece of hair from her eyes, his fingers lightly touching her cheek. Every fibre of his body wanted to kiss her right now. His touch felt too hot for Freya, too intense, and she had no idea what to do about it. She froze, hoping the sensation wouldn't stop, but far too soon, it was gone as he lay back down on the grass with his hands behind his head.

Why didn't you just kiss her dumbass? Gunnar demanded incredulously.

I'm not sure she wanted to be kissed, and I don't fancy being rejected. Oliver muttered to the disgust of his wolf.

You're acting like a mouse, not a Lycan! Of course she wanted you to kiss her. Didn't you see the look on her face? I feel what you do, I felt it when you touched her.

"You know, you're not what I expected you to be." Freya mumbled to him, followed by a hiccup, causing him to smile.

"I hope I've made a better impression on you." He really meant that, she wasn't his mate, he knew that but she was driving him and his wolf crazy, her scent felt intoxicating and he knew at some point this night had to end, but inside he didn't want it to stop, he'd never let another she-wolf this close to his inner thoughts and feelings, but with her he wanted to be open. He wanted to tell her everything.

Freya felt Hera trying to push through, wrestling her for control. Usually, there wasn't much wrestling to be done, Freya was always in full control, but now she was struggling to push Hera back.

What are you doing? She hissed at her wolf.

It will be easier if you just relax and let me!

No!

Have it your way buttercup, but you'll thank me later.

Freya felt Hera push forward as she lost control of her limbs. Her body leaned forward as she placed one hand on Oliver's chest. Oliver reacted in pleasant surprise at the contact. He could have sworn he saw the different coloured eyes of Freya's wolf for a split section before he felt her lips clumsily crash into his. He'd never tasted anything like her kiss in his life,

Hera relinquished control and Freya felt like she was in a lucid dream, her mouth moved in sync with his, she felt like he was breathing life into her as the kiss deepened, she felt the fire flush through her skin. Oliver wanted to consume her, devour her, and never let her go. He snaked one arm around her waist and flipped himself over so that she was on her back and he propped himself up on one arm, his body half onto her. He let his free hand cup her face as her fingers wrapped through his hair as she tugged him down onto her. She knew her breathing was heavy, it felt too fast, her heart was racing, and she had flutters in places she had never had before. The assault on Freya's senses made her dizzy. His lips moved against hers with delicate urgency, and time seemed to have stopped for them both. When they finally parted, they were both breathlessly panting, laying side by side on the grass.

Thank you!

You're welcome. Hera smirked.