The Path of the Protector

Royal Ascension

Emily woke Early the next morning, it had taken hours for the Oaths of Fealty to be completed, and she realized Ethan of the Iron Fist Pack had been the first. He had been a bit smug as he swore his Oath as the new High Alpha, as he had become Alpha upon the death of his father.

She watched as the few warriors that had arrived began training, and joined them before long. She was not surprised to see Ashley, Brian, Josephine and her 4 other Guardians leading the training. She knew this was all part if her Pack grounds now, the Alphas only temporary here. It was however difficult to assign quarters when most of the Alphas had ignored protocol and claimed whichever room they wished.

As most of the Royal Pack had been killed by the Vampires, she knew that the Council would attempt to circumvent her power. She spemt her morning how she wished, and the afternoon preparing for those that wished to Witness her ascension ceremony that night time to travel. She smiled when more of the Lycans arrived, and she knew that thousands of them would be working their way this way.

There were a few skirmishes between the Alphas, and the Lycans who would laugh nearly every time they projected their Alpha Auras. Emily had even chastised a few of the Alphas for attempting to intimidate her Pack members, and made sure they passed the word that just because they were not ranked, they did not have to bow to those not of their pack.

Brian walked in laughing from the afternoon training, and an Alpha had learned a very important lesson. The Royal Pack no longer just consisted of Werewolves, there were Lycans as well.

Alpha Jorgen of the Black Rock Pack had felt insulted by Josephine, and she thoroughly wiped the floor with him in human form. He had shifted and expected his Alpha Power to work, until she shifted and stood before him. Her Aura however when she roared at him let him know he was picking a fight he could not win.

Josephine laughed as she entered, having thoroughly enjoyed the demonstration. "Little Wolves and their small powers. Was funny when he realized I was Lycan and can bark back." she said laughing as she sat down.

"Will everything be ready tonight?" Ashley asked Brian.

"Yes, we are ready now actually. Will just have to wait a short time for evening to fall and the moon to rise." he replied seriously.

"We need to decide how we will be running things, this Pack is going to require a lot of work to get back to operational." Emily said.

"I will take charge of training if that is OK." Brian replied. "Just not the rest of the Beta duties." he said.

"Ashley, normally I would ask but know that you will be the Lunas Warrior already. Josephine, I have a job for you." Emily said smiling.

"Why do I have a feeling you just changed my world?" she asked.

"Because I want you to become my Beta, and second in command." Emily replied seriously.

"I would be honored." she answered before bowing slightly.

"Good, we have a lot of work. How many of the former Rogues made it so far?" she asked as she had told them where to go.

"700 so far Majesty, and we expect several hundred more to join us here." she answered as she had been surprised at the answer as well. "How many ranked positions will there be?" she asked.

Emily smiled as she knew that would be a question. "Many, Brian, since you are not willing to be Beta, would you consoder Zeta?" she asked him.

Brian sat forward, his eyes now gleaming. "Zeta? I never considered how appropriate that Rank would be right now. Yes Majesty, I will serve as Zeta."

"Good, now we need to select two Gammas, and two Deltas. It does not have to be tonight, but we do need to consider it." Emily told them all.

"Do mated Pairs count as 2?" Josephine asked.

"No, they would fill one of the positions. Just as if you have a mate, he will assist you in your duties. All mates are expected to help with the duties of their spouse." Ashley answered as that was how wolf society operated.

"What is the roles for Gamma and Delta?" Josephine asked.

"Alphas lead the Pack, Betas are second in command and ensure that all aspects of the Pack are functioning properly. In charge of discipline and assignments.

"Gammas are in charge of training the troops, and ensure that the warriors are properly equipped. They also handle security of the Pack. Deltas handle the training of other aspects, and enforce the rules and laws of our society." Brian explained.

"Majesty, as we will be mostly Lycan, may I suggest we initially use Lycans for these positions." Josephine suggested.

"Actually, other than Brian and any others who may have survived the destruction, I was considering making the Royal Pack Lycan only." Emily declared to them.

"I will need to have a discussion with my spouse, if she is willing we will ask to be changed." Brian told her. "If you would be willing that is?" he asked.

"Of course Brian, I will of course do so if that is your choice." Emily answered knowing it would make the Royal Pack stronger. She also knew most of the Alphas knew and respected him, and was why she had Chisen him as Zeta.

He smiled wickedly, and knew that he would be cheeky now. "As General, does that mean I get to give you orders?" he asked Emily with a smile.

"As far as the war goes, yes. You will lead our entire Nations forces." she said with a smile.

"Oh gods, he is going to let it go to his head." Ashley sighed making them all laugh as they departed for the ceremony.

Emily was the last to enter the Throne Room, and walked down the Aisle to the beat of the music as was expected. She knew there were thousands of Wolves in the nearby vicinity, and wished she had this many warriors when her parents were killed.

She approached the Throne, and listened as the Elders went through the rites. They slit her palm and managed to smear some of her blood on the Royal Stone, and it shone brightly. Brighter than it had in centuries, and the Elders took note of it.

They asked if there were any other challengers, and waited for several moments while not one of the Alphas dared challenge. They had seen what she had done to the high Alpha, and her 12 foot Lycan was not something any of them would soon forget.

As soon as the crown was placed on her head, a howl was as heard from the border. Sje smiled as the chamber was sealed, and the Alphas became pissed.

'Wolf army at the northern wall Majesty, we estimate 200 warriors and they are marching slowly.' one of the new Royal Pack said through their mind link.

"What is the meaning of this? We must flee as the Royal Pack cannot be defended yet?" High Alpha Ethan demanded.

"Rest assured High Alpha, we are quite safe here. The Royal Pack has far more warriors than youbare aware of, as I have yet to begin my Royal Proclamations yet." Emily said with a smile to him. Just as she finished dozens of powerful howls were heard as the formerly Rogue Lycans answered the call to defend their new home.

"What was that?" Ethan demanded as they knew those were not normal wolf howls.

"That would be the Lycans of the Royal Pack answering the call to arms of whichever army was foolish enough to attack me today. Which brings me to my first Royal Decree, since I am the Heir of Kygor, and rightful Queen to the Lycan Nation. From this day forth the Feral Forest is no longer Feral, and the Lycans who have guarded the Path of the White Wolf have been released from their calling. As such they were the first Packs mobilized for war, and their Nation will answer to the Royal Pack only. All rogues Wolf and Lycan alike have been cleaned of that taint if they were innocent or undeserving of that sentence. Never again shall a Rogue be driven mad because of it, and any Wolf that was formerly Rogue wishes, they have a place in the Royal Pack." Emily declared to the Alphas Council as the sounds of the battle began to be heard.

"The sounds of what you are hearing are the 700 plus Lycans that were descendants of Rogues that have joined my Pack defending their new home. I assure you they have much more to fight for than power or position, and that whoever ordered this attack will be paying with their lives." she told them all as the howl of retreat was heard.

What they had not expected was that the first Lycan Pack Army had increased speed at the howl of the Lycans, and cut off the escape route. The Royal Pack also attacked the retreating Wolves, and only a few dozen Warriors surrendered to the ferocious abilities of the Lycans.

The howls of triumph were held in the Council Chamber, and she noticed several of the Alphas were extremely nervous.

"Those wishing forgiveness should admit their involvement before those who survived are drug in here. We will also be identifying all of the dead, and whichever Packs do not come forward voluntarily will be dealt with harshly." Emily said containing Selene as she tried to push through her control.

The Alphas looked around at each other, as it seemed many of them had expected something along these lines. They had not considered however that she would be able to defend herself so well from the outset.

3 Alphas came forward Voluntarily, and begged for forgiveness. They knew there was no sense in denying it, the 5 Alphas had provided 50 warriors each. High Alpha Ethan finally joined them, and stood there defiantly as he sneered at the Queen.

"No other takers? We have already determined there was a 5th Pack operating with you." Brian declared stepping forward. "It will not take long as it seems the 5 Betas have been captured alive."

The 5th Alpha finally stepped forward, and Emily stood before walking down to them. "So, since you were all too weak to defeat me in single combat, you attempted a full scale attack? Did you think I would be foolish enough to come here without a plan? Two dozen Packs offered their protection, and each was summarily refused as unneeded." she told them before stopping before Ethan. "Tell me why you should not join your father this minute?" she asked glaring at him.

"I am within my right to-" he began before she growled and Selene forced a partial shift so she could see him and hear her growl.

"I am within my right to rip your head off and s**t in the hole. Why should I not do so?" she demanded making several of the ones watching shiver at the thought.

Ethan refused to answer, and after several moments she growled and drew her sword before beheading him in front of them all.

"The 5 of you shall be stripped of your ranks, titles, lands and properties. Your Packs are hereby disbanded and stripped of all their holdings. Any Wolf guilty of conspiring with you, is hereby Rogue. You have 24 hours to remove yourself from the territories of the Packs on pain of Death!" Emily declared of them all. "Take that filth with you." she told them as they all writhed in pain.

"Do not consider returning to my Packs either, for each of them finds themselves now part of the Royal Pack. Your lands and holdings will be used to care for the innocent wolves you betrayed." she told them with a deadly glare.

"I will dispatch temporary arbiters to assume command and ensure their Packs are preparing for war. Guards, this filth has been ordered to remove itself from these grounds. They are entitled to nothing more than the clothing on their back, ensure they take their trash with them." Brian ordered of several Lycans who had escorted the Betas. "Send word to the Packs it is. ot a mistake, and they will be notified with the hour of their future."

"Alphas, we are on the precipice of war with our most ancient enemy. We fight for the survival of our race, and the right to exist. If you betray me, you betray all wolves. The punishment will be swift and severe. All Packs have a choice, prepare for war, or leave now. Any who do so will find themselves no longer part of this Nation, and will not receive support or protection from our armies. Make no mistake gentlemen, we are at War!" she said emphatically to them all as she returned to her seat.

"Long live the Queen!" Alpha Tomas, leader of the loyal to her called.

Nearly every Alpha returned the hail, several times as they began to get to the business of mobilizing 350 Packs worth of Warriors. Brian had his work cut out for him, as the Alphas learned quickly in matters of war, he outranked the Queen herself.