The Rogue Queen

Chapter 4 - Escape- Alastair

When I came to, I was in so much pain. My heart was hurting, and I began to panic. Where was Cindy?

Getting to my feet, I could see the others had been hit by the same force, and by the looks of the blast marks and damage to the surrounding area, Calliope was the center of it all.

Was it really her? I didn't have time to consider it as my eyes fell onto the body of my mate. I ran to her, dropping to my knees beside her. I had noticed her head had hit the wall. The force was so strong she must have died on impact. The two guards had met the same fate.

I found it hard to breathe. My beautiful mate was dead before me. The half-rejection and my own power as an alpha saved my life, but the pain of her loss was still there. I held her in my lap for a long time, crying, before I came back to realize I needed to leave before reinforcements showed up. There was no way the commotion and destruction didn't get anyone else's attention.

I turned back to Calliope. What had happened? I bent down and looked at her, checking for a pulse. How did she do this? Even though I was hurting, I was concerned about her. So was Rusten, as he urged me to make sure she was alive.

She was still breathing.

I couldn't help myself and I reached down and caressed her face. Her skin was very soft to the touch. I stood up, and I had to get out of here. I wanted to take my precious Cindy's body with me, but I'd never make it out of here with it. I resigned myself to the fact she would not be buried on my land.

I gave her a sad goodbye, a kiss on the forehead. This was Kel's fault. I felt rage brimming to the surface as I considered his actions.

His betrayal led to all of this. I wasn't just going to kill him. I was going to make him suffer, as I have suffered.

"We have to go." Rusten reminded me.

I stood up and looked around for options. I knew I needed to blend in and I remembered seeing a guard station on my way down here. Jumping into action, moving to the guard station and grabbing a uniform, I quickly changed out of the jumpsuit, burying it in the trash and slipping out.

Finding a place to hide for a moment, I considered my options. Running straight for the border was stupid. They were going to be looking for me to be heading that way, and it was several days to safety. Instead, I considered my second option: camouflage. They would never expect me to blend in. I only needed a few days for them to think I had gotten away, then the borders would return to their standard patrols, and I'd be free to leave.

Hiding out was the best plan.

A few days had passed, and there was so much going on. They had searched relentlessly for me to no avail. I had found a house to hide out in. Pairing that with the potions from my witch, I had no problems staying out of sight.

From what I heard, Calliope was being charged with my escape and for possessing magic. It was her that caused the blast, I mused to myself.

I have to admit that while I was devastated at the loss of my mate, something about Calliope called me. I knew how Wolfen could get. There was a solid chance that she could be killed for witchcraft. Part of me felt guilty. The entire reason she was in harm's way was my fault. I guess she didn't realize she could perform magic, and I triggered her awakening. I would save her if they decided I needed to. A risk to myself, but what else did I have to live for? My mate was gone, and if I am going to go out, at least it will be doing some good. After all, she was actually trying to help me before I grabbed her.

As the tribunal time drew closer, I slipped in with the guard, taking another of my disguise vials to fit in. With all the other packs mingling in to see this, no one thought anything of me. I made my way to the tribunal hall, where everyone was packed in to see the trial.

The trial droned on, and I watched as wolves one by one stood up and lied. Some of them were not even there as things went down. As a matter of fact, only Jonas' son was really a witness, the only surviving witness other than myself.

I noticed a look that Jonas gave to each of the wolves that testified. Was he the one that pushed for their lying?

I felt my anger rising as things proceeded, and my heart went out for her as I watched her standing down below, a black hood over her head and seeing her bound in chains. That easily could have been me, and my guilt was even stronger. However, the only thing I could do right now was watch.

Finally, the mockery of justice was complete, and a recess was called for the Elders to deliberate. I slipped out to see if I could make it in to talk to her. That was, if she had no one directly around her.

I slipped in with a unit that was going to the holding area. But when I saw her, she was completely surrounded, her champion standing next to her. I could muse that they didn't want to take chances that she would escape.

With her guard tightly around her, I opted out. It was too risky, so I continued with the unit I had slipped in with.

As I passed her, we bumped into each other, and our eyes locked. I felt a connection with her almost instantly. It was not like before; it was different. I was stunned by it, and a moment passed between us.

"A second chance?" Rusten questioned the connection, and I myself was not sure about the answer. Then I knew better, there was no way.

Rusten wasn't so sure about my thoughts, and he wanted to connect more with Calliope's wolf, Saga, to know more. One thing was clear: she was important to us. I was going to make sure she lived no matter what.

Before I could say anything to her, she was nudged away from me. I wanted to stop and take her away with me. I knew better though. It would be a very bad idea for both of us. I would return to the hall and wait.

I could hear the speculation of the other wolves. I scoffed at their vitriol for someone who was a member of their pack. I had seen the badges on her uniform. She has done good things for this pack, and look how they treat her now.

Oh, how easily these packs turned on their own, I thought. So much talent is tossed away for stupid reasons.

Hours passed, and soon I saw her being led back into the hall. My heart skipped a beat. I drew in a sharp breath, and my eyes fell on her. She held her head high, but I could see the pain she was in. The betrayal she must have felt. I could relate. I was betrayed too.

The Elders began to speak, and her verdict was passed. I must have held in another breath, waiting for the hammer to fall, but all she got was exile. I could see how it crushed her, but to me, it was an opportunity. I would find her and bring her into the pack or, at the very least, make her an ally.

I don't know why, but I need her and want her in my life.