Her Rogue, His Queen

She stood with bated breath on the judgement stand. This was it. Whatever transpired in the next moments, would determine her immediate future. -Spine straight, Dominic. Stand tall. Don’t waver- she ordered mentally, boosting herself. Giving herself courage. -Show no fear. Don’t let them see your doubt-. “Dominic Collins, Gamma.” The booming voice caused her to jump, and she gripped the material of her skirt in tight fists at her side to calm herself. Lifting her gaze to the podium where the council members sat, she swallowed thickly. “Your petition to be promoted to the position of ‘Alpha’…has been approved.” She blinked. Then blinked again. Hardly able to believe that what she had fought and petitioned for for the past five months had actually come to fruition. The demon female sitting on the podium above her smiled gently. “Congratulations Alpha Collins” “Yes, well…" A voice interjected dryly, "She is not fully there, yet” the male wolf beside the councilman who had declared her petition accepted spoke out. Dominic tilted her head, eyeing the wolf representative of the council. If she didn’t know any better, she would have said she heard a bit of a disgruntled tone in his voice. But she knew better, and as a result, she mentally rolled her eyes. Men. No, more accurately, male wolves. Heaven forbid a woman rises in station or status without them. -The audacity!- she thought to herself, a small smirk touching her lips. He caught that barely there smirk and narrowed his eyes. Dominic immediately dropped her gaze, composing her face back to its neutral expression. -Concentrate, Domininc- she admonished herself, -You’ve come too far. Don’t lose focus.- Ignoring his tone, she focused instead on his words, her brows creasing, “Not there yet, Your Honor?” she asked, her gaze flitting to each member of the council. It was the Elder Demon who met her gaze straight on as she took the lead. “Per the law, a newly appointed alpha has a probation period as an acting alpha of their chosen territory. In that interim, the alpha appointed will be observed carefully, with frequent unannounced visits from members of the council. At the end of that period, the acting alpha will come once again before the council to be evaluated, the prosperity of their land challenged and rated, and any members that joined, or have been accepted into the pack, to be interrogated.” Dominic listened intently, nodding as the council woman spoke. She knew the law. As the Gamma of a pack, she had been tasked with enforcing the laws of the pack, and as such, having knowledge of the laws of the supernatural community. It had come in handy when she had come before the council with her petition for the alpha title. The journey had been long and tedious, roadblocks galore, and the thoughts and opinions of biased male superiors rampant, at every turn. But she had been victorious. And she would not back down. “The law states I have three years proba-“ “Five years.” She snapped her mouth shut, preventing the expletive from leaving her lips. Her gaze shot to the Elder Wolf. He met and held her gaze, daring her to protest. “Elder Richard, we-“ “I am the Elder for my community,” he began, standing slowly from his chair, his hands palm down flat on the smooth wood in front of him. “My people look to me to lead them. To be their voice. To keep the balance.” A sharp glint lit his eyes as he continued. “This, she-wolf, is Gamma-born. She has been rejected and exiled from her pack. And she petitions for a position above her station. Now-“ -He sure loves to hear himself speak- she thought with growing irritation as he droned on and on. Her wolf paced in her mind growling in agreement. She stood spine straight before them as he continued. Her eyes shifted as she glanced to the Elder Witch and the Elder Demon sitting at the podium above her, their expressions a mixture of slight annoyance at the Elder Wolf’s monologuing, and empathy for her. “…..As such,” he finally concluded to the relief of everyone in the room, Dominic included, "it is feasible that we charge this Gamma she-wolf five years.” Silence reigned once more as the council of supernatural beings nodded their heads in agreement. Elder Wolf Richards smirked, pleased with the concurrence of his fellow members. “Gamma Collins, do you-“ “I accept your five year probation and all that it entails.” Dominic interjected. She heard a light cough that sounded suspiciously like a chuckle at Elder Wolf Richard’s being interrupted. Before she could react, however, she was bowing her head. Presenting her neck. His growl and rank demanding that she do so. Dominic grit her teeth at the debasing act. Soon, she consoled herself to the knowledge, soon she would not be forced to such a mortifying position before any man ever again. He held her a moment longer in that position, teaching her her place, she knew, before he released her. She lifted her head high, showing a neutral expression to the podium as they began to bring the hearing to a close. “Very well. We will convene in the initiation chamber, where you will have your name certified onto the alpha registry. You will then be permitted to pick your packland territory from the map of our properties. It’s location and name will be added beside your title on the registry.” He finished speaking, sitting down, and leaning forward, resting his elbows on the smooth surface in front of him. “You have five years, acting alpha Collins. Use them wisely.” **********†*******************†****************†********** Newly initiated Alpha Dominic Collins walked out of the initiation chambers of the council estate giddy with excitement and nervous disbelief. She had done it. She had actually done it! Clutching the manila folder containing the contents of her new life and responsibilities to her chest, she stood on the front lawn of the estate, her eyes closed as she breathed deeply of the crisp evening air. Finally. After such a long journey, the tears shed, the pep talks before each hearing, the ridicule and the attempted defamation of her character, through all that, fighting for this day, it was finally here. The clenching burn in her chest that had been gnawing at her sanity during this entire endeavor, began to dissipate. And for what seemed the first time in a very long time since her fated mate had rejected her, she took a deep, liberating, breath. ****************†****************†**************†************ “She won’t last a year” Elder Witch Denise On’Ara rolled her eyes as she sat in the summation chambers with the other council members. Ever since the hearing with the newly appointed she-wolf Alpha, her colleague had been insufferable. “Five months, Richard. FIVE. MONTHS. She has been at our door, down our throats, pushing her agenda, until we had no other choice but to swallow what she presented to us.” Elder Fae Anais scratched behind a pointed ear, his expression bemused, “Her tenacity and determination are centered on more than that of a woman scorned” he said thoughtfully, "And at such a young age for our kind, she showed such a maturity that we do not see in younglings of her age group. It is because of this, I truly believe she will go far and beyond her five year interim.” He arched a brow as he tilted his head, “She will make a fine Alpha” “You would wager your position on that, Anais?” Richard’s eyes sparked with mischievous glee. More than anything, he knew how the Elder Fae loved to place bets and make wagers. The glint in the Fae’s eyes at his mention of a bet, confirmed his thoughts. “Did you see the territory she chose? It was the most destitute property we have! Nothing but wild, untamed, forests, backed against the base of an unyielding mountain. No water source, and the other three sides wide open for attack!" Seeing where his train of thought lay, Anais chuckled, leaning back in his chair. “Down boy. Sit. Stay.” He smirked at Richard’s reaction to his taunting words, “No, I would not dare wager my position, no matter how secure I feel in it. I will, however, place the bet on a more precarious seat. I wager against your seat, Elder Wolf, if you so dare” Conversation ceased around them as they held gazes, weighing the sincerity in their daring. It was Richard who finally broke the silence, “What are your terms?” Anais smirked victoriously “Ten years. We will give her ten years. In ten years’ time, if she has upheld all her obligations and have shown a fortitude for successful leadership, you will step down, and your position given to that of your nephew, alpha Charleston of the Ashwood pack” A pregnant silence filled the room as the two Elders placed wages on the fate of the young newly acting alpha. Elder Wolf Richard furrowed his brow as he considered the risks. He turned to the Elder Dragon. Normally very private, secluded, beings, Elder Dragon Jakar was the first of his kind in nearly 600 years to make himself known to their community. “What is your opinion, Jakar?” he entreated the dragon, “Will she squander her opportunity? Or will she prosper?” Jakar lifted his mug to his lips, sipping his tea, before he answered. “Take the bet, or do not, Richard” His voice rumbled in his chest like heavy thunder, “I will not be privy to the conspiracies of that brave girl’s quest.” So saying he set back into silence, his tea mug in hand. With a growl of frustration, Richard, alpha and Elder Wolf, held out his hand to the scheming Elder Fae, Anais. “On my insignia as an Elder, should acting alpha Collins fulfill her duties and obligations during her interim, and if in ten years time has produced a beautiful and productive packland, as well as a well-structured pack, I, Richard, alpha and Elder, shall abdicate my seat and my position on the High Council, and bequeath it to my nephew, Alpha Charleston" Hiding his grin, the Elder Fae stood, taking his hand and shaking it firmly. "So let it be witnessed" He declared. "It is so witnessed" The rest of the High Council replied. And so the games began.