The Queen of the Exiles

Opening Ceremony

Amanda was surprised at how much attention was on the Palace at the moment, every Alpha of the 182 Packs attending the Council for the first time in the history of the Alpha Council. As such it had become a media frenzy, as some of the Alpha's had ever left their territory unless leading a war band to eliminate one threat or another. Her mom had just hung up the phone because Amy was complaining they wouldn't have her ready for the red carpet unless they hurried to get her hair and makeup done so she could get dressed.

"Leave it to you to wait until the last minute." Amy said dramatically as Amanda looked at the clock.

"The car won't be here for another four hours Amy, relax." she replied as Amy threw a towel at her and pouted.

"Which is barely enough time for an event like this. It isn't like you can wear sweats and a tank top and still make a good impression." Amy responded making Amanda sigh as she walked to the bathroom knowing her roommate was right.

King Damien poured over what little they had been able to piece together about who Miranda Dillinger could be, and why the protective order was shrouded in such mystery. Nor had the people sent to photograph her been able to do so, reporting that both her home and office had secured garages that they hadn't been able to penetrate. He was frustrated to the extreme as he prepared for the gala that evening, knowing that he would be going in the limo to pick up the daughter of the person he was trying to identify.

The problem was he had only been able to narrow it down to 15 women, much to his horror the file of the woman he had rejected as Crown Prince among them. There were 4 more that he had banished within a few months of the protective order and name change, as well as an additional 30 that has been banished from the Packs by their Alpha and approved by either himself or his father.

"Sir, the car is nearly ready to pick up Miss Dillinger." Jared said entering the office the King had demanded no one else entered as his Queen entered behind him.

"Why are you still obsessing over this Exile? It isn't like we can change anything." Victoria demanded as Damien looked at her.

"Because I have a feeling that there is a major scandal involving her, and we need to know how bad it could be. So unless you know something you haven't shared with the rest of us yet, drop it. I will be asking her questions tonight." he replied evenly as he grabbed his suit jacket and headed for the door with Jasper and Victoria hot on his heels.

"The only scandal that girl is going to make is the one that says you are replacing me with-" she said as Damien growled so fiercely it shook the paintings on the stone walls as he turned and glared at his wife.

"Never forget what I sacrificed for you woman. And never again bring it up or I assure you it is the last thing you will ever do." he threatened her so quietly that not even Jared could hear standing next to them. "Be ready for our return in 90 minutes, hopefully I will have answers." he said loudly before he stormed to the front doors while Victoria glared at his retreating back.

anda had been waiting in the foyer of the main building only a few minutes when they saw the limo pull up on front clearly bearing the flags of the Lycan Royal Family before she pulled Amy into a hug. "Thanks for the help."

"You look absolutely amazing, remember that if any of those Pack buffoons give you any trouble." Amy replied opening the door for her as the driver exited the limo and walked around to open the door for her

Amanda nervously got in before she smelt that she wasn't alone, glad she always his her scent as the King was looking at her curiously. "Apologies Majesty, I didn't realize I would be riding to the Ceremony with you." she said giving him a slight bow as he huffed a bit.

"A pleasure as always Miss Dillinger, however your attention to protocol could use a little work. It is 'Your Majesty.' he said being critical as she smiled.

"If I were a Pack Wolf, your observation would be correct King. However I am not a Pack Wolf and as there is no proper protocol for an Exile interacting with one of the Royal Family. So if my display of respect for your position is inadequate, I could always call you something else entirely." she replied as the driver got in and she noticed the privacy screen has already been raised between them as he huffed again knowing she was actually right.

"Very well, I suppose that will suffice for now." he said as the car began moving and she shook her head.

"What do I owe the pleasure of your company for the drive? I seriously doubt you wasted your valuable time to sit in a car with me." she observed as he smiled at how she called him out.

"You are absolutely correct, as there are a few things I would like to discuss with you. How are you enjoying the school?" he asked trying to break the ice as she snorted.

Amanda cleared her throat before she replied. "With all due respect Majesty, if you wish to blow smoke and bullshit up my ass, I will gladly play the game with you. However if you want answers to specific questions, I suggest you get to them. As I recall it is only a 10 minute drive from the school to the Palace, which means we have about 9 minutes remaining." she answered as he looked at her stunned at how she had replied.

"I am not sure how to respond to that." he said clearly confused at why she would speak to him like that.

"I would suggest asking the questions that put you in this vehicle to ride with me when it is clearly unnecessary. What will the reporters think when we get to the Palace and it appears you are escorting me? Did you consider the scandal that could cause? Believe me, I have no wish to tango with the Queen about propriety over such a small event." Amanda told him bluntly.

Damien was amazed she would dare be so bold, however he knew she had not been raised as a Wolf, as her education records were all from human institutions, despite the fact that she evidently was already a history major in werewolf lore. "Very well, I would like to discuss why I somehow get the feeling that your very existence will cause a scandal." he replied bluntly as well given the fact they were alone. Her smirk was apparent as she turned to look at him.

"Well, you are more perceptive than I thought Majesty. So that means your investigation revealed next to nothing about my personal life, including who exactly my mother was before she was banished, or who my father could possibly be. Here I was expecting you to have at least a clue already, it seems your Investigators need a few lessons on how to gather information." she responded not easing his fear any. If anything he was even more certain that her existence would create a scandal that he would be powerless to stop.

"I have considered the same, but the biggest roadblock is the protective order your mother has as well as her name change." he responded looking at her as she nodded.

"Majesty, I am well aware of that. But if you want me to assure you that my existence won't cause the biggest scandal of your entire reign, I apologize but you are on your own. There is nothing either of us can do but attempt to control the narrative when it comes out. What that narrative will be, I have no idea. What I do know is who I am, what I want and what I am willing to do to get it. All that remains is for you to decide what exactly you are going to do when the truth is revealed." she told him just as bluntly as she could.

Damien knew that everything she said was absolutely correct and despite the history he had with scandals, he knew anything he tried with her before he had all the information could backfire spectacularly. "So would you be willing to answer some questions for me than?" he asked her.

"Depends on the question. If you ask about my mother, the answer is no. She has made her decision and I will not even attempt to change her mind so long as your Queen lives. Other topics may be less sensitive than that, depends on what you want to know." Amanda said as he was stunned by her answer.

He had never considered that the information he wanted would be so fiercely protected by someone as young as she was. "Very well, do you know who your father is?" he asked trying to unearth at least one clue.

"I do, he and my mother were fated mates that spent exactly 2 nights together before he rejected and banished her. Afterward he ensured no Pack would take her in, leaving her to run to the Human World to raise me. She has never seen him in person or spoken to him since." Amanda said without giving any hint of who her father could possibly be. She had also narrowed it down to a few of those who had been banished, but it was still 6 people, his own fated mate one of the possibilities.

"You won't tell me who it is, will you?" he asked looking at her as they pulled into the Palace.

"You are so eager to get this scandal underway?" she asked him as she started on his eyes.

"Me knowing will reveal it?" he asked her.

She shrugged her shoulders as the car came to the front of the residence.

"Depends on how you react, if you wish to know I could inform you without ever saying the words." she said as she quit hiding her scent for just a fraction of a second before her door was opened at the same time as his was by the attendants.

Damien knew as soon as she did it that her answer had been exactly right. Depending on how he reacted to what he just learned, it could very easily set a chain of events on motion that would cause the scandal to blow up in the biggest possible way. He watched as his daughter exited the vehicle, the cameras flashing all around as he slowly got out of the car himself and walked into the building without her as she shrugged and followed one of the men as an escort to the ballroom where everything was going to happen tonight.