THE ROGUE QUEEN

Chapter 24

I didn’t sleep.

How could I, when the faces of the people we lost kept replaying in my mind?

Sarah, who taught me how to tie proper knots.

Marcus, who joked about teaching me to track animals.

The young male whose name I never learned, but whose last cry I would never forget.

All dead because of me.

“Stop,” my wolf said for the hundredth time. *You didn't kill them. The Council did.*

But it didn't feel that way.

As dawn fully broke, I gave up on sleep and stepped outside. The camp was quiet, most wolves were resting, recovering, grieving.

Near the fire pit, three bodies lay covered in cloth. We'd hold a proper burial ceremony later, when everyone had the strength.

"You look like hell."

I turned to find Lyra approaching with fresh bandages and her medicine kit.

"I feel worse than I look."

"That's hard to believe." she muttered. She pointed to a log. “Sit. I need to clean those wounds.”

I sat down, too tired to argue.

Lyra worked without speaking at first, removing blood-soaked bandages and replacing them with fresh ones. The bite on my shoulder had opened again during the fight. My ribs were dark with bruises. The claw marks on my side were healing, but slowly.

"You're pushing yourself too hard," Lyra said quietly. "Your body needs rest to heal properly."

“I can’t rest. There’s too much to do.”

“Like what? Sitting around blaming yourself?” She tied one bandage tighter than needed. “Because that’s all you’ve done since we got back.”

“Three people died—”

“Three people died fighting,” she said firmly. “They chose that. They believed in what they were doing.” She looked straight into my eyes. “Don’t disrespect their choice by drowning yourself in guilt.”

Before I could answer, Maya appeared.

“Selene. Come with me. Now.”

“Why?” I asked.

“Because it’s time to get answers.”

Maya took me to a small shelter at the far edge of the camp, one I hadn’t seen before. Two guards stood outside, looking serious.

“The prisoners?” I asked.

“Garrett and his second-in-command,” Maya said. “We separated them and tied them with silver so they can’t shift.” She stopped at the doorway. “I tried to question them. Garrett only gives threats. But the other one… he’s scared. Weak. If we push him the right way, he might talk.”

“What do you need me for?”

“You’re a Shadow Wolf. People are terrified of what you can do.” Maya gave a cold smile. “I want him to remember that.”

My stomach tightened. “You want me to scare him.”

“I want you to be yourself. That alone will be enough.”

Inside, a man was tied to a wooden post. He was around thirty, with rough features that looked like he had been in too many fights.

The moment he saw me, his eyes filled with fear.

“The Shadow Wolf,” he whispered.

Maya knelt in front of him. “This is your last chance. Where is the Council’s command center? How many fighters do they have? What are their plans?”

“I—I told you already,” he stammered. “I don’t know everything—”

“Then guess,” Maya said sharply. “Because if you waste my time, she”—she nodded at me—“will show you what she can do.”

“I’m just a soldier! I don’t know the big plans!”

“Then tell me about the fortress Garrett mentioned.”

The man's face went pale. "That's... that's where the commanders operate from. But attacking it is suicide. They have around fifty fighters, maybe more. Weapons. Defenses.”

“How do we get in?” Maya asked.

"You don't. It's impossible—"

Maya stood and gestured to me. "Show him what happens to people who waste my time."

My heart hammered. This wasn't a battle. This wasn't self-defense.

This was torture.

“Do it,” my wolf urged. “We need information. This is for our survival.”

I called the shadows to my hands. They moved slowly, dark and quiet.

The man’s eyes widened. His breathing sped up.

“Wait—please—”

“Talk,” Maya ordered.

"There's a supply route! East side of the fortress. Once a week, they bring in food and supplies. The guards are lighter there because they don't expect attacks." He spoke quickly now. “That’s all I know! I swear!"

“When’s the next supply run?” Maya asked.

“In five or six days. The schedule changes.”

Maya studied him, then looked at me. "What do you think? Is he lying?"

I looked at him closely. He seemed truly afraid, and desperate to be believed.

“I don’t think he’s lying.”

“Good.” Maya faced the prisoner again. “You’re going to draw us a map. Everything you remember, the layout, guard shifts, weak spots. And if we find out you lied…” She didn’t finish the sentence.

"I won't lie. I promise. Just... please don't let her hurt me."

Maya gave a small, cold smile. “That depends on how useful you are.”

Outside, I leaned against the shelter wall, trying to calm my racing heart.

"You did well in there," Maya said.

"I didn't do anything."

"Exactly. You just stood there and let him imagine what you could do. That's more effective than actual violence." She paused. "You're learning."

"Learning to be a monster, you mean."

"Learning to survive." Maya's expression softened slightly. "I know this isn't easy. But war never is. We do what we must."

“What about Garrett? Are you going to question him again?”

“I already tried. He won’t talk. He’s either too loyal or too stubborn, it doesn't matter.” She looked back at the shelter. “We’ll keep him alive for now. Maybe we can use him later, as a hostage or for negotiation.”

“And if he isn’t useful?”

Maya didn’t answer. She didn’t need to.

I found Kael near the training area. He was slowly stretching, even though his leg was still hurt.

"You should be resting," I said.

"So should you." He grimaced as he bent his knee. "But here we are."

I sat beside him. "Maya made me help interrogate one of the prisoners."

“I heard. Did you get anything useful?”

“Maybe. There’s a supply route into the fortress.” I hesitated. “But Kael… I just stood there and let that man be terrified of me. I let him think I would hurt him if he didn’t talk.”

“Did you actually hurt him?” Kael asked.

“No. But I think I would have if Maya told me to. And that scares me.”

Kael stopped stretching and looked at me. "You want to know what scares me? The thought of losing you. Losing Lyra, Zara, Maya, everyone here. That scares me more than anything I might have to do to protect us."

“So… you think the ends justify the means?” I asked.

“No,” he said. “But sometimes there aren’t any good choices. Only less horrible ones.” He stood up slowly. “You didn’t harm that prisoner. You used fear to get information. That’s different from hurting someone just to be cruel."

"It feels like a fine line."

“It is,” he agreed. He offered me his hand. “That’s why you have all of us. We’ll help you stay on the right side when you can’t tell the difference.”

I took his hand and stood. “Since when are you this wise?”

He gave a small smile. “I’ve had a lot of time to think about right and wrong while running for my life. Surviving turns everyone into a philosopher.”

That afternoon, we held the burial ceremony.

Everyone came together as we laid Sarah, Marcus, and the young wolf—Daniel—to rest. Lyra said some kind words, and a few others shared memories about them.

When it was my turn, I almost couldn’t talk.

“I didn’t know them for long,” I finally said. “But they accepted me when no one else did. They fought for me. They died for me.” My voice shook. “I won’t let their sacrifice be for nothing. I promise.”

As we covered the graves, Zara stood beside me with tears in her eyes.

“They believed in you,” she said softly. “In what you stand for. Hope that things can change.”

“I’m just one wolf,” I said.

"One wolf can change everything. That's what scares the Council." She looked at me. “That’s why they want you gone so badly.”

After the ceremony, Maya called another meeting.

We gathered in Old Thomas’s broken shelter—there were fewer of us now. Maya, Lyra, Zara, Kael, and three of the strongest fighters sat together.

“We finally have information,” Maya said. “A way into the fortress. But it’s dangerous. Very dangerous.”

“What’s the plan?” one fighter asked.

“We attack during their supply run—five or six days from now. A small team. Quick and focused.” Maya looked around. “We’re not trying to destroy the fortress—we can’t. We’re going to send a message and gather information.”

“What kind of message?” Lyra asked.

“That we know where they are. That we can reach them. That we’re not afraid.” Maya’s eyes hardened. “And maybe, if we’re lucky, we capture one of their commanders.”

“That’s crazy,” someone muttered. “We barely survived last night.”

“That’s why I’m only taking volunteers. Five wolves. No more.”

“I volunteer,” I said immediately.

Everyone stared at me.

“Selene—” Kael began.

“I’m going,” I said firmly. “They’re hunting me. I should be part of stopping them.”

“She’s right,” Zara said. “And if we want to scare them, having a Shadow Wolf inside their fortress will do it.”

“I’m going too,” Kael said.

“Your leg isn’t healed—” I started.

“I said I’m going.”

Maya nodded. “Alright. That’s three. I need two more.”

Lyra lifted her hand. “Someone has to keep you all alive.”

“And I’ll go too,” said Ash, a quiet wolf known for being able to move without being seen.

“That makes five.” Maya looked at each of us. “We have five days. Few days to heal, to prepare, and plan everything.” Her face grew serious. “Because if this mission fails… we won’t get another chance.”

That night, I finally slept.

Not because I felt safe.

Not because the guilt was gone.

I slept because I was completely exhausted.

In my dreams, I saw shadows rising. I saw the fortress burning. I saw many wolves dying.

And in the middle of everything… I saw myself.

Covered in blood and darkness.

A queen over nothing but death.

I woke up suddenly, breathing hard.

Kael rushed to my side. “Nightmare?”

“Something like that.”

“Do you want to talk about it?”

“No.” I took a deep breath. “I’m just… scared of what I’m becoming.”

"Then don't become it." He sat beside me. "You get to choose, Selene. Every day. Every moment. You choose who you are, who you want to be."

“What if I make the wrong choice?”

“Then tomorrow you choose again. That’s how everyone survives.”

His hand gently held mine in the dark.

And somehow, that small touch quieted the thoughts in my mind.

At least for tonight.