The Rebel King's Mate

18+ Content Odette' POV I sit tall in my chair, I hold my head high, I exude strength and confidence, I must show the members if the council that I have no fear or hesitation on this decision. The decision that will change my life, my fate. I sit at a large round dark brown wood table, in the council room. It is a large room made if stone in our castle, it is dark but the torches on walls add a warm glow. There are 12 council members sitting at the table, then there is myself and my father, the king. I look around the room at the older men who make up the council, all appearing to be in their fiftys but they are in fact much older as werewolves age slower than humans. The men are all well dressed and listening intently to what my father was saying, some had faces of shock, worry, or relief. I turn my head to my father, a tall regal man with dark hair and a full beard both peppered with white hairs to show his age. He is a very handsome man with strong features and steel blue eyes, his aura is powerful. I listen to his words "As you all know this war has gone on far too long wreaking havoc on our lands and our people. I have arranged a treaty with alpha Issac if RedBlood pack," my father turns to me with a look of sorrow and pride and places his hand on my shoulder I give a small nod of encouragement, then he continues. "The treaty states that RedBlood will protect our pack, BlueMoon, against the devastating attacks of the rebels. All alpha Issac asks for in return is our princess' hand in marriage. Odette has graciously agreed to accept his offer and secure safety for our pack. This decision does not go without great sacrifice for Odette, as she will be giving up her fated mate to become alpha Issac's mate." Again he glances at me but I keep my head up and I smile. It is a sacrifice but one I am willing to make for the good of my people. Besides, I am twenty I have had three years to meet my mate but have had no luck, most wolves meet their mates when they are eighteen. I have accepted alpha Issac's offer, bedsides who knows he could be my mate, I have never met him, he is eight years my senior, but that isn't uncommon and I'm sure he's a great guy, after all he is willing to help us in our time of need. The council members seemed stunned at the news then slowly they all begin to protest until they are all shouting over one another in a jumbled mess echoing off the walls. I stand, I may only be 5'5, which is short for a werewolf, my presence is commanding. They all quit after I clear my throught and call out to them "Gentlemen! Please calm down. I know you are all concerned for me and I appreciate that." I really do, the council is made up of my fathers closest friends, and after my mother died when I was three they all made a pact to look out for me. "However, I am the princess of this pack, the alphas daughter. It is my responsibility to take care of my pack. How can I sit and watch as my pack members are brutally murdered and our lands are pillaged? You all should know me better than to think if I could do something to spare them I wouldn't leap at the opportunity! This is my choice, and I am happy with it." I stand firm putting my hands on the table I lean on it as I look each of them in the eye "Trust me. Believe in me. I can do this, I chose to do this." I stand tall again waiting for their response. They all appear to be mind linking one another, then after a moment, Arnold my father's Beta stands and says "We will support your decision Odette, we believe in you." At his words I smile wide and genuine hearing him say these things makes my heart jump and gives me that extra ounce of determination I needed. After the council meeting had concluded I head to my room. It was decided that I will leave for the RedBlood pack in a weeks time, it will take us three days to travel there and my wedding shall take place two days after we arrive. It is a quick process because the sooner I wed the sooner the treaty can be signed and our pack saved.I get to my room and sigh as I lay on my bed I think about my future husband and what he'll be like. I have heard about him but everything is very vanilla, he is a strong but just leader, a fierce warrior and gentle to his subjects. But he seemed perfect almost too good to be true. I hope he will be tender and sweet, treat me so lovingly as he would his fated mate. I hope he will be the man I always dreamed I wanted. I close my eyes and dream of him. The past week has flown by, with all the packing and preparations I haven't had a moments rest. Soon we are on the road my father and I are in one carriage and our servants are in another carriage, with twenty guards traveling with us. I sit looking out the window at the beautiful scenery I love our lands, they have beautiful mountains surrounding them and gorgeous lakes. The mountains are both beautiful and functional, they serve as a strong border defense that is why we even needed this alliance. Our pack was strong but we couldn't figure out how the rebels were getting through the mountains and how they had such large numbers. There had to be something we were missing, RedBlood is a large pack but still the rebels should be doing some damage to them but it seems like they are only attacking our pack. I am thinking hard about this problem and my father clears his throat, "I can see you thinking so hard, what is wrong?" I look over "OH nothing, just the pack." He looks at me amused "You are so strong, just like your mother. I am so proud of you." "Tell me about her. I know it's hard for you to talk about her but I'd like to feel like she's with me in this important time." I grab his hand and show an encouraging smile. "I actually have something for you." He reaches into his sachel and hands me a small framed painting. I take it and look at the image, it is my mother, I know because the image looks almost identical to me. She had a regal slender frame, her golden blonde hair was swept up in an elegant style, her full lips were pink like her cheeks and her button nose had a perfect slope, the only difference were the eyes, hers were a golden brown, while mine are steel blue just like my father's. "She was so beautiful." I say smiling. "Just like you." He touches my cheek. "I loved her so much, she was the light of my life, until you came along, she was so generous and sweet but also strong willed. we butt heads a lot and she challenged me, I never thought I would enjoy being with someone like that. But she made me the best version of myself. she helped me grow and become the strong leader I am today." He holds both my hands in his "I know she would be so proud of you and I know she'd want to be here with you. she loved you so much. I know she would have so much to say and she'd want me to tell you so many things, but you and I both know I'm not one to prattle on. so I'll just tell you this; you are my daughter, and I love you, you hold the most cherishEd spot in my heart I will do anything to protect you and keep you happy. You have so much strength I am beyond proud of you my darling. I love you so much." He leans down and kisses my forehead I wrap my eyes around him and fold into his embrace, and cry. I love my father so much and I wish my mother was here. We stay like that for a while until the carriage stops and it is time for us to make camp. The next two days go by slowly with nothing to do in the carriage except count the passing trees. Father brought some paperwork so he is keeping himself busy. by nightfall I am ready for this journey to be over. We are about an hour away from the RedBlood castle. we stopped to water the horses and stretch our legs. I walk a little ways into the woods to relieve myself, as I am walking back to the carriage the breeze carries a faint scent that fills my nose. It is the most amazing scent I have ever smelt I look around to find where it came from but I see no one and nothing, it must just be the scent of the forest, how beautiful. As I reach the carriage an we are getting ready to depart we hear a loud dominant howl I stop the sound sent a shiver down my back. I could feel it was meant for me as if to say, I'm coming, and I wasn't sure if I should be happy or scared. My father pulled me into the carriage and ordered his men to hurry up. We took off as fast as our horses would go. I look at my father "What was that father?" "Rouges" He turned to me then continued to watch out the window. Rouges? how can that be? This path was supposed to be secure and the safes route. Rouges were dangerous wolves, they left devastation in their wake. We could have stayed and fought but I can understand father did not want to risk anyone's safety, we didn't know their numbers and they could have killed us all. The horses slow and my father looks at me with a smile as he speaks "We are here." I smile at him and join him to look out the window we are approaching a huge castle and around it is a massive wall with a metal gate. I can hear our guards speaking with the guards in the watch tower "State your business" "We are escorting King Stephen and Princess Odette of BlueMoon pack for the royal wedding." "Proceed" the guards lower the gate and we pass through. we enter the village and it is in poor condition the homes are run down and the villagers look dirty and ragged. The overall mood is just sad and depressing. Our village didn't look like this, it was well kept and clean, our villagers were happy and clean and well dressed. We shared our wealth with our people and took care of them, did king Issac not do that? I will have to talk with him about taking better care of his people, after all they are my subjects now too. As we get closer to the castle I notice it is in stark contrast to the village. It is very grand made from a peculiar deep green stone. It is late at night so as we step our there is no welcome party there is only a well dressed man and three women in maids uniforms. "Your majesties, I am honored to welcome you to RedBlood!" the man exclaimed, then bowed to us after father helped me out of the carriage. I gawk at the grandure of this castle it is marvelous! How can their castle be so much more grand than ours? I am excited that this will be my new home it is beautiful and I haven't even seen it all yet! "I do apologize for the lack of a reception, we were not expecting you till tomorrow morning." The man apologized. "That is quite alright we apologize for arriving before we were expected." My father apologized, "But we ran into some rouges about an hour ago when we were planning on making camp and I thought it best to make hast and get inside the safe walls of the castle." father explained. "That is quite alright your majesty, I am glad you made it here safe. We have your rooms prepared already if you and your men would like to follow me, and the princess can go with our head maid Anne, she will be well looked after." The man gestured towards an older woman who stepped towards me and bowed. She looked to be in her forties of fifties, she had a full figure, and her gray hair was poking out of her white bonnet, she had a full face and kind eyes. "Your majesty, I am very glad to meet you. Would you please follow me?" She said with a sweet voice that had a slight rustic accent.I smiled at her and nodded. She turned and I went to follow when my father grabbed my arm, I turned to face him. "Goodnight sweetheart, I will meet with king Issac in the morning and then I will send for you and you will have a formal meeting. Be ready after breakfast." He instructs me and again I smile and nod "Goodnight father." I kiss him on the cheek and follow Anne to my room. The room is beautiful but I hardly notice as I am so exhausted I decided to go to sleep right away, and bath in the morning, I tell Anne and she helps ne undress and get ready for bed. I climb into the large four-poster bed and drift to sleep.