Her Rogue, His Queen

Five Years Later...

Elder Richards watched with a stony expression as the beings of the supernatural community celebrated around him. It had been a humbling experience honoring the young female Gamma. Welcoming and imbuing her with the power of an Alpha wolf. From his place at his podium seat, he watched from on high as she was hugged and her hand was shook by those well-wishers whom she had become fast allies with.

Smart. She was very smart.

Having kept a close eye on her, he knew her every move as he had watched her progress over the past years. He knew that her chosen territory, though very wild and seemingly untamable, would have taken far longer than the five years needed to clear and make habitable. He also knew that on either side of her territory, was unclaimed, human territory, that, though rich in natural elements and wealth, the supernatural community could not touch without going through human means. And as the council wished to not involve their government with that of the humans, it remained untouched. And most importantly, he knew that the two closest packs near her territory, was that of the most powerful, influential, pack territories in their region. Their Alphas were said to be some of the strongest, deadliest of their kind, even to have been rumored to have been of the First Shift. Descendants of the very first of the werewolves created by the Moon Goddess.

These things he knew. These things he had kept into account when making the deal with the Elder Fae those years ago. These things were what had given him the confidence that this young she-wolf, barely old enough to touch her beginning immortality, as he had, still wet behind the ears, would eventually fail.

But what he had not put into account was her resourcefulness. Her determination, shown over, and over, and over again, when she had made the petition to be given the alpha power and her own pack land. Her unfailing grit and head strong will.

And in that, many things came to his attention that he did NOT know.

The land was wild. Untamed. Hardly habitable. And yet she had built AROUND it. Upon inspection during one of their unannounced visits, the council elders had seen the ingenuity of her progress. The land was beautiful in its wildness. In its natural form, and Dominic had used that to her advantage. The clearing with the forest trees surrounding them like sentinels, had been made habitable. Cleared of any and all wild brush, it was immaculately landscape, and the beginnings of a plantation style two story pack house was in the works, the ground already broken and the wooden frame already begun. Smaller, two story homes could be seen around it and further at the edges of the forest. The makings of a small community to be sure.

But that was not all.

In the time frame given her, Dominic had reached out to the two packs of ruthless alphas, and had in the five year limit, had formed an alliance AND a growing friendship with the two formidable alphas. This was unexpected news to him, as these two self same packs had refused any alliances that were not family based or to their own benefit. And he knew, with his extensive look into her background, he knew for an absolute fact that Dominic was NOT any relation to the descendants of the First Shift pack alphas. It was an annoying mystery he could not solve, and it frustrated him.

Another unexpected move by the she-wolf was when they the council were alerted that she had expanded her territory through the means of the human territory on either side of her chosen land. As the land was not previously claimed by the community and was in fact owned by a human bank, Dominic had gone through that of human channels and had purchased both plots of land, increasing the size of her territory by double.

Smart. Determined. Industrious.

Shame she was a woman. If she were a man, he would have been lauding her ingenuity.

“Five years, and the she-wolf child has shown she is more than capable of ruling. Tell me, Elder Wolf Richards, does that make you sweat, even a little?” The Elder Wolf growled in the back of his throat as the Elder Fae joined him at the council seats, above every one of the well-wishers congratulating the new alpha. “I must say,” Elder Fae Anais mused, watching the celebration, “the ‘Alpha’ mantle cloaks her shoulders beautifully” he glanced over at the bristling older wolf, smirking over the rim of his glass in his hand, before taking a sip of the rich brew in his cup, “The next five years should be quite eventful in seeing her growth...and,” he bated the wolf, “the removal of your seat on the high council. Pity, you accepted such a bet so in haste.”

Hearing the elder wolf growl once more, the Elder Fae conceded, backing down with another low chuckle, “Come congratulate your newest alpha, Elder Wolf. It will look unseemly if you do not. She IS one of YOUR children, after all…” So saying the Elder Fae left the Wolf at the council seat, returning to the celebration of the newly appointed alpha she-wolf.

Dominic

The bastard wasn’t coming down. Dominic grit her teeth behind the smile that she kept in place as she shook the hand of another well-wishing alpha and his alpha mate. The alphas and their alpha mates of the whole of the Northern part of their world, as well as the Betas of each of their territories, were present to welcome the newly appointed alpha into their fold.

All except the Elder Wolf. The representative of their shifter community was not present, and his absence was a cold slap in the face to the she-wolf. She knew it, and even those who gathered around her, celebrated with her, knew it. No matter the presence of the entirety of the High council, from the assisting underlings, to the highest, most ancient being, the very obvious absence of the Elder Wolf was felt by all, and the pink stain on her cheeks was not the blush of giddy happiness, but embarrassment. Gabrielle reached out and took her hand when she finished greeting the alpha mate of the second group of alphas come to wish her well, and squeezed it. Dominic smiled at her Beta and friend and returned her squeeze, as they fell into step with each other, walking toward the table set up with finger foods and beverages.

“I’ve spoken with Alphas Valerius and Lothario. They, as well as a few of our other allied alphas, have accepted your invitation to the pack house for a proper celebration of your ascension.” Dominic nodded at Gabrielle’s words, picking up a glass and taking a sip. She hummed her approval, making a mental note to get the name of the brewery’s manufacturer.

“Thank you, Gabrielle. I’ve already contacted Susan, and she is making the proper preparations.”

“Rat bastard really didn’t come, did he?” Gabrielle mused, accepting the mug that Dominic handed to her, talking so that only her alpha could hear it, “He is trying to inflict the harshest of embarrassments on you. Don’t let them see, Nicki,” Gabrielle said softly, watching those around them with a critical eye, “Don’t let them see you shaken. Don’t give them the satisfaction.”

“Well said, young Beta” a silky voice said behind them. “Our new alpha has chosen well in you for a second.”

Both women turned, facing the taller male before them. Dominic dropped her head in a bow, before raising it to meet the ruby gaze of that of the Elder Dragon

“It is an honor to be in your presence once more, Elder Dragon Jakar.”

Jakar let his gaze slide over the younger woman before him. “Elder Jakar, Little One. No need for such formal honorifics.” He looked to her side, to her Beta, tilting his head as he studied her. Dominic took one step in front of Gabrielle, as if to shield her from the Elder Dragon’s view. The corners of his mouth tilted upwards in a rare smile at her move.

“You have accomplished much, in so little time, Alpha. I come to give you my congratulations. And this.” Removing a scroll from the inside pocket of his cloak, he handed it to her. Gabrielle reached around Dominic and took the scroll from his outstretched hand. “Give this to your Gamma.” He instructed her seriously, ruby red eyes holding her gaze, “She will know what to do with it.”

“Thank you, Elder Jakar” Dominic gave him another head bow, her smile neutral, as she regarded him. He was an enigma, in this celebration. A mystery that she had not quite figured out. So to find such an enigma studying her friend with such ruby eyed interest…it unnerved her and ignited every protective instinct she had within her. As if he could sense her thoughts, he smiled slightly, before bowing his head in return, “You are most welcome, Little One. And Good Luck” As silently as he had appeared, he turned and walked away. Dominic shivered, a cold chill slivering down her spine. She turned to Gabrielle to reassure herself that he friend was okay. Her brow furrowed at the strange expression on Gabrielle’s face.

“Bri? You alright?” shaking herself, as if from a trance, Gabrielle smiled at Dominic, her gray eyes meeting her friend’s darker ones.

“Yes, Alpha, I am alright,” she said, her gaze shifting to that of the back of the retreating Elder Dragon’s, before turning her attention back to Dominic, “A few more moments shaking hands and accepting the well-wishes of condescending men, and their jealous females, and then we can make a quiet exit.”

Dominic nodded. Gabrielle was never very good with large crowds for very long periods of time, and soon the exposure of so many would begin to affect her equilibrium and senses. A few more hands to shake and then she would make her exit, her beta in tow.

Taking another sip of her drink, she did the one thing she said she would NOT do.

She lifted her head.

Rising her eyes to the Council stand, her gaze unerringly found that of the Elder Wolf’s where he stood, stubbornly watching the goings on below him with a stony, unreadable gaze. She held his eyes, her shoulder straightening even more, her posture changing as she did not cower beneath his expression. Elder Wolf Richard’s expression darkened as the young alpha wolf below him did not look away, nor did she lower her head or expose her neck to him in deference. Submission.

-That’s right, you bastard,- she thought as she held his eyes -Don’t think for a moment that you will see me bow to you-

She looked away first, turning her head, her entire body, away from the council stand. She gave him her back. Taking her beta’s hand and walking away from the food table. She felt the low indignant growl in the room long before she registered its sound. It reverberated in the council hall, bouncing off the walls, a rumble of sound that had every wolf in the room pausing, their spine bending in deference to the sound of the Elder Wolf’s growl.

Dominic bit the inside of her cheek, but did not stop walking, forcing her spine to remain straight despite her instinct to bend and submit. Beside her, Gabrielle held her hand tightly, resisting the urge as well, a whimper escaping as the instinctual desire to bend to the will of a more powerful alpha arose.

-Hold on, Bri. We are leaving now. We are almost there.- She squeezed Gabrielle’s hand, making it to the door, walking down the hallway, and out of the front door and away from the estate. The growls increased behind her, turning into snarls of indignation that she ignored. Keeping Gabrielle’s hand in hers, she left the Estate of the High Council, her back unbent, her head unbowed.

She would not submit. Neither would her pack members be forced to do so.

Not ever again.

This party was over. It was time to get to work.

did she lower her head or expose her neck to him in deference. Submission.

-That’s right, you bastard,- she thought as she held his eyes -Don’t think for a moment that you will see me bow to you-

She looked away first, turning her head, her entire body, away from the council stand. She gave him her back. Taking her beta’s hand and walking away from the food table. She felt the low indignant growl in the room long before she registered its sound. It reverberated in the council hall, bouncing off the walls, a rumble of sound that had every wolf in the room pausing, their spine bending in deference to the sound of the Elder Wolf’s growl.

Dominic bit the inside of her cheek, but did not stop walking, forcing her spine to remain straight despite her instinct to bend and submit. Beside her, Gabrielle held her hand tightly, resisting the urge as well, a whimper escaping as the instinctual desire to bend to the will of a more powerful alpha arose.

-Hold on, Bri. We are leaving now. We are almost there.- She squeezed Gabrielle’s hand, making it to the door, walking down the hallway, and out of the front door and away from the estate. The growls increased behind her, turning into snarls of indignation that she ignored. Keeping Gabrielle’s hand in hers, she left the Estate of the High Council, her back unbent, her head unbowed.

She would not submit. Neither would her pack members be forced to do so.

Not ever again.

This party was over. It was time to get to work.