The Alpha King and His Rogue Queen

Under Attack

Isabella/RAIN

I sat inside the small tent I used for shelter, going through the record book of the little group of wolves I was responsible for. I had rejected being made the leader, but they just wouldn't listen. I dislike taking responsibility for so many, but here I am, doing just that. I tried to do the best I could for everyone. They all seemed to trust me and never questioned my leadership. No one complained about how I handled things, which means I must be doing something right. The life of thuggery isn't much fun, but we need to do something to survive. The pack wolves were always hunting and hurting us like animals. We do everything in our capability to protect ourselves too. Most of the time, my wolves get picked up, tortured, or even killed without any provocation, and as their leader, I must ensure everyone's safety. Even though I hate killing, it can't be helped in some cases, and unless it is necessary, I don't allow it. I might be a rogue, but I refused to become as vicious as the pack wolves make us out to be.

The memories of the night my world came crashing down will forever be etched in my heart. I remember seeing dark smoke fill the clear night sky, the smell of burning flesh poignant in the air, and the cries of all the young pups as we searched for the mutilated and burning bodies of our parents. The anguish of those who lost their dear ones that night is indescribable. I can still hear the screams of everyone that died that night in my sleep like it happened yesterday. That attack was no doubt a sinister plan of a power-drunk alpha, who thinks just because he has a royal wolf, he could do anything he wanted. Destroying an entire pack without remorse was unacceptable. I believe the sole purpose of my existence was to exert revenge on the king for everyone he had wronged, and I would not rest until I accomplished that goal.

Many pups that didn't get killed or taken away stuck together for a while, but as we grew older, our interests differed, and we began to have disagreements. Some get picked up by pack patrols, we all know what happens to any rogue caught wandering into pack lands. Others got eaten by wild beasts, some got lost. Soon I found myself alone again and roamed the forest all by myself, avoiding packs at all cost and trying to stay alive to get my revenge. I didn't think I would last very long on my own, but I did. Meeting Amelia was the best thing that had ever happened to me. She came to me when I needed a friend. She was twelve at the time, two years older than I am. She taught me so much, and I looked up to her like my big sister. But everything changed after I got my wolf at sixteenth because, unlike her, I had an alpha wolf, Crystal, who commanded respect. She was all about leading, and wanted to amass a group of her own, even when I wasn't keen about it. It was hard to get by alone, but now she wanted to take care of others. But the more I protested, the more other rogues sought me out. I might as well be wearing the sign that said, 'Seek Me.' They all wanted to join our small circle, and soon our group began to grow. They all had stories to share, which boiled down to being victims of the king's tyranny. They all came to ask my opinion on matters that needed drastic action. I can't explain how I managed but it was quite easier than I thought. The king is just plain evil, selfish and arrogant wolf who would do anything for his personal gains. As a king, how could he not react to all the mayhem we have caused in his kingdom? Was he deliberately ignoring our existence? It angers me that he was living very comfortably in his big mansion while allowing the packs within his kingdom to suffer. I can't wait to end the king's reign so that we can become independent again. The problem was, things weren't quite as simple. For example, the king is indeed very powerful and will not succumb easily. Rumors have it that he possesses some special abilities, but nobody knows what those abilities are. Secondly, we lacked adequate resources to take him down. We might be fearless and notorious, and might also have gathered some useful intel, but it was never enough, nobody from his close circle would betray him. At one time, we tried buying some of his men off, but my men ended up getting caught, detained, and eventually killed. Getting close enough to harm him seemed impossible, there were so many protocols, so many layers of security, why did he need so much protection? He doesn't care about anyone, as long as he was safe, hiding behind the safety of his palace walls like a coward. I can't understand why anyone would want to protect him. What was so good about him, anyway? In the course of acting on impulse, I had lost a few good men. I don't want to lose anymore.

Everyone believed rogues were bad, outcasts, the ones that wouldn't follow pack rules and never want to bow to anyone, but nobody cares about our stories, most of us are victims of circumstances. Some of us still longed for a place to call home, something that was rudely snatched away from us without provocation. No, thanks to the almighty king. Being rogues, there was only so little we could do. No one wanted to associate with rogues, no one wanted to hire us. Settling in the human world is out of the question for us as the territory could belong to another alpha. Because of this, we were always moving camps, always on the run, we must never get caught or that is the end. Stealing was the easiest way to get by. Even though it was wrong, it was the only thing we could do to survive.

Being notorious sure has its perks, pack alphas soon began to contact us discreetly to help them eliminate a rival pack. At first, it sounded like a trap, but we needed the money, so we created some leverage for our safety, raiding the packs that contacted us randomly before going after the targeted pack. Getting all the money we could steal is all that mattered. We took things of value and exchanged them for money, careful not to deliberately cause the death or separation of families. I would hate to create another me in the process. Over time, we got so good at banditry that we acquired a little wealth of our own, even though we lived in hiding.

Sometimes, even if we do not need to, just to provoke him, we go raiding packs. It is his duty to ease the worries of his subjects, a duty he neglects to this day.

"I am so bored." Amelia complained, "We should do something fun, let's go party." she suggested, sitting on the stack of clothes I used as a bean bag in the shelter.

"Something like Sunny Side Club?" I asked nonchalantly without looking up from the account book. I might not know much about Amelia, but I know she loved clubbing. She is basically a party animal who loved having a good time.

"Are you serious? Can we really do that?" she asked, sitting up, her excitement making her eyes dance.

"Why not? We got so much from the Willow Pack yesterday. We can afford to spend a little out of the loot, surely a little booze here and there wouldn't hurt anyone." I said seriously, earning a hug from my over-excited friend, "But..." I continued making her stop short of jubilating. I know she will not like what I am about to say next, but I have to say it. Just because I want to take my time and fish out the rats stealing from us doesn't mean I should stop the others from having fun. I have been going through the account book since morning and I noticed a lot of inconsistencies. I have a strong hunch that whoever was stealing was someone close. This means they could come and go as they wish without getting suspected. I just need to figure out who.

"But what?" she asked, wide-eyed.

"I am not coming with you this time." I replied, still not taking my eyes off the record book.

"Why not? How am I supposed to go there alone when I knew you would be cooped up here reading over that scrap of book?" she pouted.

"Well, this scrap of book contains important information. Besides, I would like to take a little rest tonight." I tried to explain.

"So which is it?" she asked, folding her hands across her chest, making me look at her for the first time.

"Huh?"

"Are you not going because you want to take a rest, or you want to sit there and stare at that account log all night?"

"I am thinking I could do both," I said, flashing her my winning smile.

"And give up on having a good time?" she wasn't buying it.

"Yeah, it's just for tonight." I pleaded, but my resolve was solid.

"Hmmm, you know I have been noticing a pattern recently," she said after a minute.

"A pattern? How so?" I asked, going back to reading.

"Yeah, we rarely go clubbing or parties anymore. The only time we went out was to raid packs. Isn't that a boring lifestyle?" she complained.

"Is that so?" I asked, not understanding where she was going with the argument.

"Exactly, you can't even understand little sentences anymore," she huffed before going back to the stack of clothes and plopping down on it again "I hate my life."

"Oh come on, it's not that bad." I said, still smiling. It was true. Although I stay away from social activities most of the time, I still know how to have a good time.

"How about we raid another pack tonight, then? That would give me enough adrenaline rush," she suggested, and for a minute I considered this option. At least whatever loot we cart away would help in filling the huge gaps in the account. However, we just don't go into packs without adequate preparations and right now, we are out of misting illusion powder, or MIP for short. This powder was given to me by a magical creature who became my friend after a chance encounter. Before going for any raid, wearing appropriate masks, we blow the powder into the air of the intended pack and wait for it to take effect. It has worked immensely every time. By the time we began to raid, every beast within the area would be in a state of delirium which lasts for an hour. By the time they finally come back to their senses, we are already long gone, carting away all their valuables. With all of this, sometimes we meet a tough opponent and end up engaging in battle. Not that I mean to brag, but I have never lost a fight. Going without ample arrangement is like walking into a hungry lion's den.

"We can't, I am out of MIP." I told her solemnly, I should have gone for more, but I was feeling a little lazy about facing him again.

"Then let's go get more." she suggested readily, being with me the longest. I have never told her how I got the mist, and she never asked.

"We can't, I am busy, take some money and go have some fun or do whatever makes you happy," I said, although sounding calm, but resolute, I was beginning to get irritated, and I am sure Amelia noticed this too, because she only shrugged her shoulders and remained seated pouting. She knows I need to work and raiding packs also means we have to leave our shelter for good, because once the MIP wears off, no matter who our victims were, they will chase after us and if we are unlucky, they will find our camp, and we only just set up camp here.

"You are no fun. Tell me again why we became friends." she asked after a while.

"Ah, I am pretty sure you approached me first." I reminded her.

"I did no such thing" she exclaimed in horror, and I sighed. Although she is older than me, sometimes she acted as if she was younger most of the time.

"Leader, some soldiers are approaching," Dexter, one of the boys in my group and a very good warrior, suddenly rushed into the tent shouting "I think they are from the palace." he said, and Amelia was on her feet instantly.

"What are we waiting for? Let's show the king's men the stuff we are made of," she said, throwing a punch into her fist.

"We will do no such thing," I said calmly, although this isn't the first time our camp would get raided, it is the first time soldiers from the palace are coming, which means. He has finally decided to show interest.

"Pack everything important, alert everyone and retreat into the tunnel, tell them not to do anything stupid." I warned. Every wolf in my group knows what to do in case of danger, so I was not worried. Quickly, gathering all of my workbook and destroying everything that could be used to trace my scent, I jumped into the artificial tunnel inside my tent, followed closely by Amelia, who wanted to stay back and fight like a true warrior, but this wasn't the right time to fight. We would most certainly lose. A similar connecting tunnel has been dug into two more tents. These tunnels were dug deep into the ground and served as our escape route in case we get ambushed. Inside looked somewhat like a maze, but we knew our way around it. There are many secret passageways within. Even if anyone was stupid enough to follow us into the tunnel, they may never be able to get out again.

"Talk about going over to raid other packs and the raid comes to your door," Amelia remarked.

"Tell me about it," I said with a sigh, how did they find us? For the longest time, this was so far the safest place we have managed to settle in before getting discovered.