The Rogue Queen

Chapter 3

Freya hurried towards the forest. The pain that she had been expecting hadn't been so severe, and she couldn't help the smile that crept onto her face. She knew that letting anyone else see her like this would be foolish. No doubt Iain would take it as an insult and find a way to punish her. It would be safer to let Hera out for a long run and compose herself before Alpha called for her.

"Freya wait," the voice called from behind her, causing her heart to sink. Freya turned to find Alpha Oliver jogging towards her.

Let's just shift and run. There's no way he'll catch us. I'm like lighting, I'm so fast, blink and you miss me. Hera said with a smirk.

Freya rolled her eyes internally and snorted. You're so modest, and he's an Alpha! We don't need the punishment.

And do you think he's not here to punish us for what just went down with his beta?

Freya had no answer to that. "I've sent your t-shirt to the laundry to be cleaned, I'll return it today, I'm sorry for the delay Alpha." She wasn't able to hide the panic in her voice and didn't know what else to say to him. There could only be two reasons he was here, his t-shirt or what happened with his Beta.

He's not our Alpha you know! Hera added, and Freya put her block up. She didn't need a snarky wolf right now in her head.

Oliver looked shocked when Freya finally took in his features. His sharp jawline was stiff, and she could see the muscles ticking. His chocolate brown eyes, though they looked sympathetic, in other circumstances, Freya noted that she would find this Alpha very attractive. In fact, he would be the first wolf that could claim such a title from her. His muscles moved in ways that made her body feel funny things, and she had to resist the urge to run her fingers through his short chestnut hair, which had a slight curl.

"You can keep the t-shirt, it's unimportant, I came here to check if you are OK?" Oliver replied as his eyes raked over Feya. "My beta shouldn’t have done that in public. He should have done it privately. It was disrespectful."

Her eyes widened in shock at his words before she composed herself and kept her face under control. Passive was a look she could pull off with ease. The corner of Oliver's mouth turned up in a slight smile when he noticed the subtle change in her. He liked the way that he had caught her off guard and that she was trying to mask her true feelings. There was a growing list of things about Freya that he liked and felt intrigued by. She wasn't like any of the other she wolves that he'd come across.

"Though I must admit, I'm surprised. You're certainly in better shape than my Beta." He couldn't help the smirk this time. He had expected to find her out here crying and doubled over in pain like Iain was, but there wasn't even a hint of discomfort written on her face.

"Of all the things your beta has ever done or said to me, that rejection is the only one I'd thank him for." She replied curtly, causing Oliver to smirk more.

I like her, she's magnificent. Gunnar was almost purring.

Isn't she just, but I don't think the feeling is mutual. Oliver didn't even attempt to hide the disappointment from his wolf.

"You mean to tell me you wanted him to reject you?" He asked, curious now about her answer.

Freya laughed softly, "Yes, I don't want a mate and he certainly didn't want an Omega, let alone a rogue for his mate. This way we're all happy."

'You don't want a mate? A fated mate is a gift from the Moon Goddess."

"So everyone tells me, and I gather I'm abnormal in my stance, but I don't see why I should be mated to someone just because some deity that I've never seen nor met tells me it's so." Freya sighed, she knew that she was going to have to spend her entire life justifying why she didn't want a mate, it had been only one day and she was exhausted by it already.

"The Alpha wants to see us all in his office." Oliver relayed his mind-link, as a feeling of sadness swept over him that this conversation would be ending. She was the most interesting wolf he had ever met. Maybe it was because she was a Lycan like him or maybe it was because she was so different to the other she wolves. He hadn't met one that wasn't desperate to find their fated mate or especially if their fated mate was a ranked wolf. Yet here she was telling him that she was glad she had been rejected by his beta and that she didn't want a mate at all. Freya fell in step beside him, her long legs keeping up with his pace, which was often difficult to match.

"When did you know he was your mate?" He asked. He should have asked Iain that question earlier, but he had let his fists do the talking in anger. Punch first talk later was a problem that he had to overcome before he was officially an Alpha, he couldn't let his temper get the better of him.

"This morning."

"So he knew when we were all together when you fought those rogues?" Oliver was putting the pieces together in his head and trying to keep his anger at bay.

"Yes" she said as she cast her eyes on the ground.

Oliver knew she wouldn't be happy with what he was about to do, so he mind-linked the Alpha so she wouldn't hear. "Alpha, we have another situation we need to deal with. Your brother rejected the wolf who saved your Luna."

"Leon just told me and I'll deal with his disrespectful behaviour, though I can see he is sporting a black eye from you." He chuckled.

"It's worse than that. He knew when Freya saved Luna that she was his mate and I found him a short while later in the bed of another she wolf, Freya also saw it. He knew they were mates and that she would feel it yet he did it anyway." He was trying his best to keep his temper as they stopped outside the Alpha's office. There was no need to announce their arrival, they would all have heard them approach.

The door opened to reveal Leon. He smiled gently at Freya and motioned for them to come in. Freya looked slightly nervous as she looked around the room and saw Luna Kate standing next to Alpha Matteo and sitting in a chair in front of him, Iain. She was shocked to take in his black eye and wondered what had happened in the short time between him rejecting her and now. Alpha Matteo motioned to a chair which Freya took and Oliver took up position behind her.

"Freya, I wanted to convey my personal thanks for saving my Luna and my pups today. I am indebted to you. My Gamma has told me great things about how promising you are." Alpha Matteo started, interrupted when Iain snorted, he narrowed his eyes at his brother. "Do you have something to say?"

"Don't you find it a bit convenient that Kate was attacked just when she happened to be there and that the rogues who attacked were from the Southern Kingdom?" Iain's tone was accusing and he looked straight at Freya with hatred burning deep in his eyes.

"They were from the south? How do you know?" Freya asked without thinking first. She shrunk back in her chair when she realised.

"When a lycan or wolf dies in their wolf form, they turn back to their human form. These ones didn't. The ones from the south never leave their wolf form." Oliver confirmed as he watched Freya stiffen. He didn't think there was any validity in Iain's accusations, more likely this was the first time Freya had heard of this.

"I have no loyalty to the Southern Kingdom. I left an orphan as a young child and have very little memories from then." Freya added before she was asked, meeting Alpha Matteo's gaze, causing Oliver to raise an eyebrow, not many wolves would look an Alpha in the eye, yet here she was. Freya remembered herself and cast her eyes down to the floor. She knew she wasn't supposed to look directly at the ranked members, but she hadn't wanted to appear guilty. Not for the first time she wondered what she had done to cause Iain to hate her so much.

She watched as Luna Kate moved forward and placed her hand on her husband's shoulder. He smiled at the gesture and patted her hand.

"I think I was very lucky that Freya was there, she didn't hesitate and she didn't seem familiar with the wolves. If anything, she caught them off guard." Kate smiled softly at Freya and Freya returned it, thankful for the gesture and the support.

"Oh come on! Leon gave her a Gamma order, which she disobeyed! That alone is punishable, and if she has colluded with the Southern rogues, then that's treason!" Iain shouted as he got up from his seat. Leon clamped a hand on his shoulder, roughly pushing him back down.

"You forget yourself brother!" Alpha Matteo growled.

"Alpha, I investigated the incident and found no evidence of any foul play. And whilst Freya did ignore a direct order, I chose to overlook that given the outcome." Leon didn't look happy, he looked irritated like this wasn't the first time he was having this conversation and was bored of it.

"I'm not sure exactly what your problem is, brother, but I've read Leon's report and I've spoken to my Luna and my pups. Instead of making baseless accusations, you should thank Freya. Your behaviour today has disappointed me." Alpha Matteo sighed as he pinched the bridge of his noise and Freya got the impression that he had often had moments like this with his brother. She wondered exactly how he had come to be a Beta, he didn't exactly appear to be Beta material. "You're lucky that our father made arrangements for you, because I wouldn't blame Alpha Oliver right now if he chose another Beta. But we all know that can't and won't happen."

"Your brother is right. If there wasn't an agreement between our fathers, I'd choose a different Beta after today. Not only are you throwing accusations around, but you knew who your fated mate was this morning and yet you had s*x with another she wolf." Oliver added as Kate gasped and covered her mouth as she shook her head. "You knew she had saved your Luna and the pups and yet you still did that to her knowing it would cause her pain. Then you publicly rejected her. You could have chosen to do that more privately and show her some respect."

"I agree with your Alpha", Alpha Matto said with another sigh, "It's not the way things should be done."

"You want me to show respect to her? A filthy f*****g rogue?" Iain roared.

"Know your place!" Oliver roared back at him, causing him to shrink into his seat. "Not another word!"

Freya had no idea what was going on right now, but she didn't like the fact she seemed to be at the centre of it. "Please, that's not necessary. I understand why Beta Iain didn't want an Omega as a mate. I'm not offended by his rejection."

"I think you're being more gracious than you should be." Oliver said to her as he tightened his hands into balls to stop himself from reaching out and touching her shoulder like he wanted to. Freya kept her eyes ahead, and was unaware of the internal struggle currently happening with Oliver. He knew this was more than just an interest, he was very attracted to her and not just because she was beautiful. But he also knew he wasn't her second chance mate, so that wasn't the reason for the pull he felt towards her.

Maybe it's because she's the first she wolf not to drop to her knees and offer to service us as soon as they see us? Gunnar sniggered and Oliver suppressed the urge to laugh in response. Maybe he was right.

"We wanted to ask if you would be our guest tonight at our Alpha and Luna ceremonies?" Kate asked, bringing all of the eyes in the room to her. Alpha Matteo smiled with pride at his Luna.

"Thank you for the kind offer but it really isn't necessary." Freya shifted in her seat uncomfortably, she didn't want them to feel like they owed her anything and she certainly didn't think they would just accept her objection. She would offend them if she refused to attend, but she could think of nothing worse. The ranked members of this pack and all of the others would have their own area separated from the others. This wasn't her world and she knew it, she would stick out like a sore thumb, but she could think of no way to get out of this without causing offence.

"Actually, it's the least we could do. We owe you much more than that and there is no way I can really repay you for what you did for my family and this pack. We would love for you to be our guest this evening and if there is ever anything else you can think of, please do let me know." Alpha Matteo said.

"Actually, Alpha Matteo, there is one thing." Freya paused to gauge their reaction.

"Go on," Alpha Matteo smiled.

"I'm sure that Gamma Leon has told you that I'm due to graduate soon and will shortly be receiving my assignment." Freya watched for Matteo's nod before she took a breath, "I am probably overstepping with this request, therefore I understand if you reject it, I am after all an Omega, but if at all possible could my assignment not be one of servitude."

'That's it?" Alpha Matteo laughed slightly and Freya furrowed her brows together for a split second before catching herself once again. "Given the promising report that Leon has given about you, I'd be very surprised if you were given such a position anyway, you're capable of much more than that, but consider it granted."

"Thank you" Freya bowed her head in respect.

"I'd be grateful if you could consider getting ready with me tonight in the Luna quarters. It would be lovely to have some female company, Goddess knows when Leon will meet his mate and Beta Meyer is still on a diplomatic visit with his mate to another pack. I have a whole rack of dresses going to waste that I'm sure could fit you." Luna Kate smiled as she took steps towards Freya before capturing her hands in hers. She was the very definition of a graceful Luna who knew exactly what to say and do.

"I'd be honoured." Freya replied, her cheeks slightly flushed and a wide smile spread on Kate's face.

"Gentlemen, if you will excuse us, we should be getting ready. Leon, could you check that all of the arrangements for this evening are in place and that all of the guest quarters are prepared?"

"Of course, Luna." Leon grinned.

"I'll arrange to have a bottle of champagne sent up for you both while you're getting ready my Luna" Matteo said as he kissed Kate's hand gently.

"Thank you my Alpha" she blushed as the words came out of her mouth before she exited the room as Freya followed behind.

Oliver watched the interaction intently. Some day he wanted what they had. A fated mate and a Luna by his side, for now he just had to have patience.