The Viking Alpha

Rogues

~Happy new year everyone! I hope it's a good one. Please let me know what you all are thinking about this so far. I think my writing has been a bit off lately. But rest assured I won't leave you hanging for long. I have something big in store for Cassandra later.~

(James POV)

While Cassandra was with her tutors he made sure the plans went smoothly. The ring he bought for her when she first arrived was in his pocket. He'd propose to her like a human man would do. She deserved this. Something done right by her view. He loved her. He knew she loved him. He was just now talking to Madga and Eva in his office to prepare their room with candles, flower petals, strawberries and chocolate. Chilled champagne, when Rextons voice came through.

'Sir. Her majesty would like to see you. She seems quite upset.'

'I'll be right there.'

He quickly dismissed the women and left for outside. He found her by the picnic table still with Rexton.

'How did you call him? You didn't even speak.' He heard her ask.

'Mind linking. He didn't tell you about that?'

'No. What is that?'

'Its-'

'It's a way to communicate through our minds. Pack only. I choose who has access to me.' I explained. I meant to talk to her about that once things had calmed down.

'Hello.' He kissed her. She tasted so sweet. Like honey and sugar. Delicious. 'I was just on my way to get you.'

Her eyes were round and panicked.

'James! I need to talk to you. I saw this...brushing my hair. It was like a movie scene. My eyes glowed. You were mad and I-'

Holding up his hands he tried to sooth her. She wasn't making any sense.

'Whoa. Slow down, Cassandra.'

He watched her take a breath and start over.

'I-my eyes glowed while I was brushing my hair. I saw them glow in the mirror. Then I saw this...I don't know. It just came into my mind like a movie scene.'

Her eyes glowed again? He was starting to wonder if he imagined it. It happened when she was feverish and in bed. She passed out a second later. But she said she just saw something? Like a movie scene? Or like a vision?

'Okay. I saw you.' She pointed to his chest now clearly frustrated. 'You were angry with me. Pissed. You told me to get out. I was no longer queen. You told your guards to take me back to the humans. I-' He saw her eyes fill. Her face looked so crestfallen. 'Cassandra. It's alright.' Hugging her tightly to him, he tried to process his thoughts now.

'Calm down. Maybe you were just dreaming.' It was the only thing that made sense.

'I was wide awake, James!'

'Okay. Okay. Maybe it's because you're under a lot of pressure. You might be getting yourself worked up.' How could she be getting visions? If so, what was this about her being banished by him? He couldn't do it. He'd never do that.

'James...oh forget it.' He watched her run to the edge of the forest. He ran after her.

'Cassandra. Love, slow down.' He stopped her after a few yards.

''What happened?'

'I-I don't know.' She was crying now. She looked so confused and lost.

He had to make her all better. Seeing her so distraught made him start to despair. Hugging her again he whispered to her.

'Love. You're alright.'

'You were so angry with me.' Her face was pressed in his shoulder. He could feel her tears through his shirt.

Leaning away he cupped her face.

'Whatever you saw, I would never send you away.' He was determined to make her see her through his eyes. Her importance. What she meant to him.

'It's just-you.. ' She sobbed again.

'Shhh. I know this is all confusing. I'm sure it was very overwhelming.'

'Yes, but-'

'Cassandra. I love you.'

He didn't mean to blurt it out like that. He meant to say it right. In a romantic setting. Damn it!

She stiffened. Her eyes were now round with shock.

'You what?'

'I love you. I always will.'

He saw what looked like a realization come across her face.

She put her hand gently on each side of his face. Stroking his stubble she looked him in the eyes.

'I love you too, James.'

Kissing her had never been as good as it was now. Hearing her declaration. Seeing it in her face while she was conscious. No uncertainty on either side.

He pulled back and rested his forehead against her while they caught their breath.

'Come with me, please?'

'Where.'

'You'll see. I want to do right by you.'

He explained as he led her back to where the people were now gathering.

Standing on the stage with her hand still in his he looked out in the crowd.

'If I could have everyone's attention?'

His voice rang across the courtyard. A hush fell over the crowd. They all looked at them.

'My people. As you know I've marked my mate. Your queen. But your queen is from the human world. I wish to do right by her. So I'd like to make a declaration for her. In front of all of you to witness. Cassandra Maia Stone. I ask you to spend the rest of my life with me. Let me love you until I stop breathing. Let me make you happy and take care of you.'

He pulled out her ring. Her eyes widened when she recognized it. Looking at him, the ring, then at the crowd she looked speechless before a smile came out.

'Yes. To all!'

Cheers erupted. He slipped the ring on her finger before kissing her in front of the whole village.

Breaking from the kiss he addressed the crowd.

'Everyone, please. Let's celebrate and feast. For our ancestors, our lives, and our futures.'

Hours passed as they ate, danced, played games, and watched as everyone enjoyed themselves. He sat on his throne with her placed on his lap. The finished platters had yet to be whisked away from their table. She tried to wiggle away. Embarrassed that people were watching.

'Let them. I want everyone to know you are mine. That you belong by my side.'

She wiggled again. 'Yes, but some people might think it's-'

He grasped her waist firmly.

'It is not their job to think anything about you or me. I'm not ashamed. Neither should you be.'

'I'm not but, sitting here on your lap is making me feel a little...hot.'

He smirked. His wolf, awake and ready to rut.

'Oh? Tell me what else you feel, Cassandra.'

She blushed and went to whisper in his ear.

'I feel your body heat through my dress.'

'Go on.' He urged.

She bit her lip. She was so brave this morning. Why was she so shy now?

'Your hardness against my thigh.'

'Yes. I'm quite hard for you. Always.'

Her voice dropped even lower.

'I feel that ache. That I need you.' His canines began to extend.

He kissed her and sneakily licked and nipped her jaw.

'Do you think I can touch you now, Cassandra? Right here, in front of everyone? Without them seeing?'

Her face was flushed. She looked around at the crowd nervously. But he could tell the idea excited her. For being an innocent just a day ago, she proved to be a quick and hungry student.

'First, I'd slip my hand under your dress, like this.' His hand went under the helm of her dress. He glided it from ankle all the way to her thigh. Now it slowly inched further up.

'Then when you-'

'Sir! Rouge's! There on the border of the village!' Rextons voice came through his head like a drill.

Damn it. He stood with Cassandra in his arms.

'What's wrong?'

'Rouges. Go with the women and children, quickly. They'll take you to the safe room in the castle.'

'Rouges? What dies that mean?'

'No time to explain, Cassandra! Go. Now.' He kissed her quickly.

'Listen up!' His voice thundered over the crowd. 'Rouges! Get to your positions, quickly!'

Everyone scrambled around. The men herded their mates and children to the castle and then ran and shifted to the borders. He took Cassandra to the front door and shoved her lightly inside.

'Go. Stay inside with them. Try to keep them calm.'

One more kiss and he then turned and shifted.

He ran with Rexton and his other guards following him. When he got to the border blood and bodies were everywhere. The rogues were trying to pass. James's men were fighting them off. He heaved himself in front and clamped down on out wolf's throat. With one swift motion he snapped its neck. He then started on another.

'Try to keep at least one alive! I want an answer for this!'

He mind linked with his guards.

A wolf got past and James tailed him. The rogue almost made it to the village when James jumped and tripped him to the ground by grabbing its hind leg with his teeth. A whimper sounded from it as James sank his teeth in its throat. James's wolf instinct was to annihilate. Kill the thing that was a threat to Cassandra.

'We need it alive. To interrogate. There could be more hiding out, waiting for an attack.'

Even though he and his wolf didn't speak to one another, he tried to will him to understand.

With a growl his wolf let go, after a pause. Then swiftly snapped its leg like a stick with his jaws.

A howl rang out from it.

A stillness seemed to happen.

'Sir. They're retreating. We have a few. Most are dead.'

'Take them to the tower. Double up on the patrol in case some are still lingering.'

'Yes, sir.'

The rogue now lay in its own blood. Its leg bone was showing through the skin and fur. Snarling and whimpering

James shifted back and punched it in the face, knocking it out.

Bodies were soon taken back to the estate. Some of them were their own but most were rogues. The bodies of the Rogues were all young. Barely older then children. What the hell?

The rouge he knocked out was shackled in the tower. While unconscious he shifted back to his original form. He was older. Much older then the rest. His leg almost healed but he was still unconscious.

Johnathan found James in the tower. Blood was all over him. His appearance was completely disheveled.

'Who is he?' He asked, jerking his chin at the rogue.

'He must be the leader.' James answered while glaring at the unconscious man. Thinking of all those young shifters. They probably didn't know any better. They were all probably taught to do this.

'Have extra guards sent up. I want to know as soon as he wakes up. Not a moment after.'

'Alright. You should go see Cassandra. I bet she's scared out of her mind right now.'

'You really dont have much faith in her do you, brother?'

'Hey, I didn't say that. It's just that she seems so fragile and I just don't trust her.'

Glaring at Jonathan, he had the shocking sudden urge to put his fist through his face. His brother and him were always so close. It made him both sad and angry that he couldn't accept Cassandra as his queen and see her also as family.

'What is it now, Johnathan?'

His brother shrugged.

'I think she's just getting too friendly with Rexton is all.'

'They are friends. Besides, Rexton has assured me he is not interested in her. He's mated to another.'

'Who?'

Seething impatiently James flexed his knuckles.

'I don't know. But that's his business.'

'Hmm.' Johnathan stared at James before shrugging again. 'Whatever you say.'

Rolling his eyes, James ignored his patronizing tone and went to find Cassandra.

He found her in the library in front of the fireplace. Holding a small crying cub in her arms. Her head was buried in the cubs black curly hair on her head.

'Cassandra?' He knelt down next to her.

She lifted her head. Sadness was in her eyes.

'Are you ok?'

'Yes, I'm fine. How do you feel? Who is this little one?' He lightly stroked the babe's hair and back.

'She's only a baby, James. Apparently her father was all she had left. He was one of those that died.'

'Oh, no.' He kept patting her back.

'She came to the safe room with another woman from the village. She said she was a neighbor who watched her from time to time. What do we do now?'

Standing, he paced while thinking. The cub was now quiet and looking up at him over Cassandra's shoulder while sucking her tiny fist. Her big hazel eyes were watching him.

'Well, in times like this we would usually give her to another family member. But she is alone from what it sounds like. So I'll have the village questioned as soon as possible in case any other family is there. If not I will make an offer to the woman who brought her.'

'What kind of offer?'

'She will be asked to love and raise the little one as her own. In exchange a lump sum of gold will be given to help provide for her.'

'What about in the meantime?'

'In the meantime I will get one of the maids to watch her.'

'Can I do it?'

He looked at her surprised.

'You?'

'Yes.' She shifted her in her arms and now was cradling her in the crook of her arm. This looked so right. Cassandra, with the look of tenderness on her face with a baby in her arms.

'I'm sure I can manage for a few days with the help of a nanny.'

He thought it over for a moment.

It was maybe a win-win. His people could see she would take care of a stranger's baby. An orphan until further arrangements were made. They would see her more as a loving queen and kind hearted then just his human mate. It would also make Cassandra happy as well.

'Alright. Then it's settled. What's her name?'

'Lana, is what the woman said.'

'Okay. I'll have a temporary nursery made for her close to our quarters.'

'No need.' She said as she stood and bounced a little as she walked.

'I'll see to it. I think you should check on some of those that have lost their loved ones.'

James smiled and wrapped his arms around her. The cub between them, gurgling. Johnathan was wrong. She was strong. Not fragile at all.

'Look at you. You're learning your new role well.'

She blushed. 'Well I have fantastic tutors. Even though they're a bit stuffy. Mrs. Palmer has nothing on them. But they are good. And I watch you as well.'

That made him smile all the more.

'I watch you too, love. You're beautiful.' He kissed her.

She batted at him playfully.

'A Child is present. Go on. Go be king. I'm going to see if I can maybe get her to take a bottle.'

He stroked the baby's head softly.

'Fine.' He kissed her quickly one more time before darting back.

'James?'

He turned back as he was walking out the door.

'You'll tell me what happened later? Or if I was in danger, right?'

'Yes. Of course.'

'Alright then. I'll see you later.'

He left to check on his people. There were people who cried over their mates. He was actually grateful yet disappointed that the true mate bond wasn't so common. If it were he would have lost more of his people today. If they were true mates then the ones that were left behind as they died would slowly go as well. But thinking back to Cassandra, it made him want to fight and protect all the more. The gift he was given was a blessing and a curse. Blessing because he had never been this happy. A curse because if he or she died he would die soon after her or if he died he'd be leaving her.

'Your majesty. He's awake.'