The Hidden Queen

Chapter Five

Cullen POV

We were late. Yet again. I need to get this ball and meeting out of the way. It is time to settle down and get our pack on the right path. I could not get our Beta and Gamma organized to save my life. I tried to hurry everyone up this morning, but it was not worth it. My brother refused to come with me. He said there was no point. It is rare for the werewolf community to have twins, and Calix and I were identical in every way. He was exactly 7 minutes older than me, and he never let me live it down. He is more organized than me, but without his mate, he was becoming more and more disorganized every day.

In our pack, we had the rule of 25 for ranked members. We have to have our ranked females by our side before our 25th birthday or we would lose our positions. Our Gamma Kaleb found his last year when she turned 18. Erica was now 19, and she tries her best to keep us on track. Our Beta Jason is much younger than us and just turned 18 over the summer. He took over soon after and has had a really hard time balancing life and pack business.

“ I told you. Idiot.” Bronx sounded off in my head. He has been yelling at me for months about how important these events are, and how both Calix and I need to do better about running our pack.

“ I am trying Bronx, there is just only so much I can do. The closer we get to 25 the farther apart Calix and I are becoming.” I try to reason with the angry old wolf.

“i***t human need to find mate, and stop with all this moping. You fix and Calix be happier. All solved.” Sometimes it was so hard to understand what he was trying to say, but at least he hadn’t completely blocked me out like Calix’s wolf. Baine hasn’t talked to Calix in weeks maybe even months now. I know that was part of the reason he was struggling and refused to go to the Alpha meeting.

Finally, we pull up to the packhouse. The ranked members were not outside waiting, which meant we were even later than I thought we were.

“f**k!” I say out loud. Shocking Jason, Kaleb, and Erica who were riding with me.

“It’ll be okay man, when we pulled in the guards linked the pack. We will apologize. I am sure Alpha Andrew will be cool.” Kaleb tries to calm my nerves. Just then the doors open. Good at least this pack was organized to help with how disorganized we all were.

Fiona POV

Hair and make-up with the girls are going as well as it could. They are gushing over the minute details. Dakota keeps asking who would be there and how many people were going to come that were unmated. She is so fresh to being 18 that she hopes that this party would bring about her mate. Finally, after hours, the guys come to retrieve us. I thank the goddess, I am done with girly time. Hopefully, I could sneak away and get out of the dress soon.

Andrew, James, and I go down to the front lobby to greet the guests that were due to arrive soon. It was going to be a long process, and the rest would work on getting everyone situated in the guest rooms. Each pack was allowed to bring 50 members; every guest room was going to be full, and all of our unmated warriors willing doubled up for the next two nights to open even more rooms.

We start greeting packs, Alpha after Alpha come and introduce themselves to us. Nine of them assume I am James’s mate, and the other four didn’t acknowledge me until Andrew and James set him straight. I hope this is not a sign of what is to come tomorrow, because if so it will be a really long day.

“I think it is time to head in. The dinner will start soon. “ James says checking his watch.

“But that was only 13 packs, I thought there were 14 coming” I question.

“Lake Moon Pack, it would be our closest neighbor that is late.” Andrew jokes, “I’ll mind-link the guards to let me know when they arrive.”

“Come on! Time to go get this started.” James says slapping us both on the back, and we head in to start the festivities.

We walk in and sit at the head table. Luna Laura did an amazing job it is beautiful fall colors of red and burnt orange. The head table is a little higher than the rest so that we could make speeches. Andrew starts talking about how exciting it is to have everyone present and introduces the ranked members explaining how James would be taking over this summer on his 21st birthday. Finally, he starts the feast and the food starts to flow from the back room. Just as the food is set in front of me, Andrew mind-links me to let me know that Lake Moon is finally here. So much for the food…

Andrew, James, and I head to the front door. Ivy is pacing in my head and whining about needing to hurry my ass up. They pull up in 10 SUVS, when the first door opens the smell of cedar catches me by surprise. Then a man steps out, looking like a Greek God. He had to have been 6 foot 9 with short brown hair and striking blue eyes. Once he made eye contact, Ivy is practically drooling in my head and screaming MATE over and over again.

“f**k…” was the only thing that came out of my mouth.

Cullin’s POV

Standing at the top of the steps was the most gorgeous girl I have ever seen. She is short barely making it up to my chest. She has the darkest brown hair, it had to be almost black, and her eyes are a bright green that shine. She is wearing a short silver dress, and standing much too close to what I assumed is the future alpha of this pack. Is she my mate? With how Bronx was acting in my head I didn’t even know what to think. Finally, we make eye contact.

“Mate” Bronx screams in his head. Finally, I smell the most intoxicating scent of campfires.

“Mate.” I finally say aloud at the same time I hear the most angelic voice whisper “f**k…”