Queen, Alpha, Mate

Chapter 9

Diana POV

In the morning, once my initial enthusiasm at meeting my mate and wolf has calmed down, my dream from that night hits me at full force. What did it mean? I thought the regions were all well-protected. Will I really lose everyone? I will do everything in my power to protect my people and those closest to me. 

Softly, I wake up Joshua with a million little kisses to his brow and forehead and he pulls me into his arms, mumbling "five more minutes", as he puts his face in my hair and litters my neck with kisses that make me giggle and that heat up my cores. He sniffs the air and gives me a sly grin. "All in due time, my princess." He kisses me deeply before getting up out of bed and putting his clothes from last night back on. I squeal into a pillow and get up too, popping on some jeans and a jumper. I quickly brush my hair and teeth and take my mate downstairs for breakfast.

As we sit down, our kitchen omega, Maggie, puts down two plates, two bowls, and two steaming cups of tea in front of us. The plates are filled with toast, eggs benedict and bacon, and the bowls with greek yoghurt and some fruit. It looks and smells absolutely fantastic and I give Maggie a great big hug for her efforts. I'm so glad she's with us. Hungry from our antics the night before, we scarf down our breakfast and chat with Daniel and Katie, who also join us downstairs. 

"I don't see any mating mark yet." Daniel remarks. "How could you even keep your hands off of her?" He asks his alpha.

"Barely." Joshua answers and jokingly punches Daniel in the shoulder.

"The real question is, how could you keep your hands off of him?" Katie adds and looks at me.

"Oh, he'll get what's coming." I answer, glancing at Joshua. "But I want to relish everything about him. Can't really do that with all your curious ears and eyes around us, now can I?"

I take a bite of my piece of toast, which I think was supposed to be seductive, but came off a little awkward, due to the big piece ripping off and getting stuck in the corner of my mouth. 

At the sight, Daniel coughs with laughter. "Need some help there, princess? I thought they'd at least teach you to eat toast around these parts." At this, Katie shoots him an amused glance. 

"You're one to talk, with your yoghurt beard." She shoots back at him.

Our heads turn towards Daniel, who indeed has a bunch of yoghurt on his chin. He quickly wipes it off and laughs. "Touché."

We chat for a bit longer and go over the schedule for the day. After breakfast is combat training. We're wolves, but we also have to keep our human forms in good physical shape and learn to defend ourselves in case we find ourselves in a situation where we cannot shift. Afterwards, we're going hunting, followed by a visit to the local school. Finally, I have my classes later, so I suppose Joshua, Daniel and Katie will have to do something to entertain themselves. 

After breakfast, Katie hooks her arm in mine and we go upstairs to change into our work-out gear. We sent the boys to do the same. They probably have loads to discuss anyway. I put on a gray pair of leggins that make my butt look absolutely smacktastic and pair it with a lightblue sportsbra and top. I put my hair in a tight, flat bun. First rule of combat training: don't have anything on your head that can be pulled or dragged. Though I love my straight red hair, I don't want anyone just grabbing my ponytail and flinging me to the ground. My necklace and earrings have to go as well for the same reason. I put on my running shoes to support my ankles during training and to allow me to be faster. When we're done getting dressed, we head back downstairs, where the boys are already waiting for us.

Joshua POV

The girls have just left to go change into their workout clothes and left me and Daniel in the foyer. An omega brings us to a changing room and grabs some clothes for us to wear during our workout. It's such a shame that we didn't think to bring a change of clothes. I almost feel bad about constantly having to ask omegas to fetch me something to wear. Those poor people have better things to do than constantly do things for me and change my dirty clothes. While we're in the changing room, Daniel is prodding me with questions about my mate. Whether she kisses well, what movies she likes, what food she likes, if she's funny, if we have common interests. I smile big while I tell him all about her. In my enthusiasm, I stumble over my words a few times, but I'm pretty sure the message comes across.

Daniel whistles. "Well, if she wasn't taken, I'd definitely try it with her. She sounds great!"

At his words, my pupils turn black as Rhys surfaces. "MINE!" he growls as he tries to jump Daniel. I'd have held him back, but his words pissed me off too. You don't say that about someone else's mate. He's unmated himself, so I'll have to keep him far away from her when she goes into heat. After Rhys has made sure Daniel won't actually try anything, he gives me back control. 

"Hey, man. Not cool to let Rhys jump me like that." Daniel huffs.

I shrug. "You brought it upon yourself man, don't talk about my mate that way. You'll understand when you find your own fated mate. It will feel like a part of you that was previously missing is all of the sudden just there, within reach. It's magical, man, I swear."

Daniel puts his hands up. "Sounds great man, and I'm happy for you. You know I was just teasing you, right?"

"Sure, Dan. Let's go back to the girls. They'll probably be waiting for us."

Dressed for combat training, we go back to the foyer to wait for the girls. It seems we're a bit early, as Katie and Diana haven't come back down yet. I do, however, spot a face I really don't want to see. Unfortunately, it's walking right at me. That girl from last night, Rebecca was it, struts on over and stops right in front of me. She puts a hand on my arm. From the corner of my eye, I see Daniel raising an eyebrow. Her strong perfume wafts into my nose and it almost makes me cough.

"I've been hoping to catch you without the princess." She says. "You know, I'm fairly sure I can satisfy you a lot better than she ever could", while drawing circles on my arm with her fingers. Her touch repulses me and almost makes me gag. I'm about to bat her hand away and tell her to go away when I see my mate standing at the top of the staircase. She looks different. More bloodthirsty than I'm used to. 

I simply turn to Rebecca and say "well, you're in trouble."

Diana POV

I see Rebecca standing there, with her hands all over my mate and my vision turns red. Slowly, I move downstairs, my back straight, regal. My face is unforgiving. With deadly calm, I walk over to this woman who somehow still hasn't let go of my mate's arm. She shoots me a smug look, one that almost challenges me. 'What are you going to do about it?' it seems to say. Kysandra is going crazy in my head, telling me to beat this lady to a pulp, but I stay as composed as I can.

I look her straight in the eye as I speak. "Rebecca. You have exactly three seconds to get your hand off my mate. If you do not, I cannot be held responsible for what happens next." I keep looking at her as I start counting. "One... two... three." On 'three', she's still standing there with that smug look on her face. My mate bats her hand off his arm. In less than a second, I am in her face. I use my alpha aura to command her. "Kneel." I command her. She whimpers and struggles as my command forces her to the ground. "Bow." Sounds my next command. "Apologize." Sounds my last command. 

"I'm sorry" She whimpers.

"I'm sorry, what?" I say.

"I'm sorry, princess. For touching your mate."

"Better." I say and release my command. Rebecca is up on her feet in an instant. I make my way to the door as I hear her curse "B***h".

I turn around and swagger back to the group. "Ahh" I say, "Rebecca, thank you for volunteering to be my sparring partner." 

With these words, I walk out the door, my mate and our beta's on my heels.