Of Rogues & Royals

Stranger

Cody had showered and dressed and was tired of waiting for his brother. Breakfast was already halfway over, and he would be damned if he was going to miss Ms. Boudreaux's birthday breakfast feast. He threw a pillow at Colby's head, and he still barely moved. f**k.

"Dude? Are you f*****g dead? What's wrong with you?"

"Hmmm?" Colby raised his head off the pillow, barely able to open his eyes. "What?"

"Happy Birthday dipshit. Get up, I'm hungry."

"f**k, what time is it?"

"Too late. Let's go! I want to get down there!" Cody was throwing things again. Colby scrambled up and pulled on a pair of jeans and ran his hands through his hair. His wolf, Jarek was a little anxious, but he couldn't quite tell why exactly. They were both still groggy, and he was trying to shake the sleep fog out of his mind. After brushing his teeth and pulling on a black v neck, he was about to walk out the door.

"No way, man. Go change!" Cody was also rocking jeans and a black v neck. Even if they were practically identical, they didn't need to dress it.

"Goddess, fuck." Colby pulled a teal flannel over his and rolled up the sleeves, leaving it unbuttoned. They hesitated at the door and locked eyes on each other. Colby sighed and pulled his brother into a hug. "Happy birthday, man." His heart was beating in his ears. Even though he knew they wouldn't be able to sense their mate until the party tonight under the full moon - he was so anxious to see Ainsli. Would they be able to tell?

"Cody. Can you feel anything yet?" Colby knew his brother had a better read on emotion overall.

"No. Ranger is anxious, but I don't know how much of that is driven by everything else happening today. Why? Do you think..."

Colby ran his hands over his face in frustration and anxiety. "I don't know, dude. I'm freaking out."

"Yeah, I can tell." Cody gave him an exasperated look. "Listen man, it may not be her..."

"But it may be."

"You're right...it may be. And if it is, she may only be mated to one of us. And we both need to be okay with that." Colby's eyes dropped to his feet.

"I know. I've thought a lot about that."

"Regardless, we need to be okay. We have to trust the Goddess." The brothers hugged again, which turned into a wrestling match before they chased each other down the hallway. They almost plowed over the Gamma, Elliott- a vampire who had helped their mother countless times. He was practically like another uncle to them.

"Happy Birthday, Fuckers!" Elliott called out over their heads as they tumbled over each other down the grand staircase of the pack house. They could feel their mother's amused stare on them before they could see it.

"Good morning, my little princes." Their mother was The Beloved, Genevieve Porter. The Luna Queen of the entire kingdom and a legend among the supernatural world. "Happy birthday." She smiled and stretched out her arms. The twins clambored to get to her first. They both adored their mother. Cody was the first to wrap her into his massive grasp...per usual.

"How are you feeling, My Love? Excited? Nervous?" Her golden eyes searched his ice blue ones as she smoothed his disheveled hair.

"Excited, Mama. Not that you couldn't tell." He winked. His father, Alpha Ryker, wrapped his mate in his arms and ruffled his son's hair back into an unkempt yet cool style.

"Happy birthday, Bud! We came to celebrate with y'all last night. But you lazy shits were already passed out." Ryker teased and Genevieve passed her son to his father and wrapped Colby in a hug next.

"And how are you, Mister? You seem quite contemplative this morning. Feeling anything in particular?" She was genuinely concerned. He didn't need to be able to read emotion, like she and Cody could, to see that.

"I think I'm okay, Mom. Things feel off, but I'm sure it's just all the change." She narrowed her eyes, and he could feel her power raking over him. He knew better than to try to fight it and just let it happen.

"You do seem off, Col. You both do, actually. Let's just keep an eye on it. It could be your wolves are just ready to make some moves. But if it hasn't passed after you shift, we may need to check in with Dr. Bona tomorrow." The boys both nodded and kissed their mother's cheek. Stepping into the dining hall to take their place at the head table.

She was there.

Ainsli was perched at her usual seat next to her father, Beta Male Thatcher. He had his arm tucked protectively around her while she fumbled with her scrambled eggs, her red ringlets curtained over half her face. But her eyes snapped to them as soon as they entered the hall.

Anything, Brother? Cody prodded in Colby's mind.

Just the usual.

The boys took their seats at the table and Ms. Boudreaux fussed over them, making sure they had everything they could possibly want and more.

It took everything in them to actually eat food, their appetite fleeting as soon as they took their seats in her presence, and not just openly stare at their future Beta in all her beauty.

Is it just me, or did she get more gorgeous overnight? Cody humphed through link.

She absolutely did. Maybe that's a good sign.

"Happy Birthday, Ainsli." Colby almost whispered across the table. Her genuine grin made both of their hearts leap into their throats.

"Hope you get everything you wish for." Cody winked across the table, and she laughed, rolling her eyes. Uncle Thatcher's eyes narrowed, and Aunt Rosalind threw a biscuit, nailing Cody straight in the forehead.

The day passed by agonizingly slow. But the twins tried to help it move along by working out their anxiety on the training field.

However, they were both too distracted and ended up just going for a run around the pack grounds.

They had lunch with their mother and fathers on the beach - Alpha King Jacob had returned back from his early morning meeting with the heads of the Elder Councils at the palace. Jacob hugged his sons and was actually quite emotional, which was not normal for him. Even though Cody was technically Ryker's son and Colby was Jacob's- they had been raised as a unit. There was no separation there. Their sixteen year old sister Camila even joined the beach picnic and gave them their gifts. She had been working in the blacksmith shop and armory, learning the craft. She had handmade each of them a bracelet, hammered iron with their last name engraved by hand.

"This is actually extremely thoughtful, Squirt." Colby pulled her into a head lock, and she tried to roll him out of it.

"And actually extremely well done. You've got some talent, LoveBug." Cody threw her over his shoulder and ran, tossing her into the waves. Before she could hit the water, Pop materialized out of the sea and caught the squealing princess midair, and she cackled loud enough that it scared the gulls.

This was the moment when things weren't complicated. How wonderful it would be if things could remain simple.

All the wolves coming of age were to report back to their quarters to get ready for the party. There were twelve of them this month. Colby and Cody got dressed and spent the next hour pacing a trench into the floor of their shared room. Depending on how today played out, last night could quite easily have been their last night in the same room together. They had no way of knowing if they would share a mate or each have their own. This was the moment that their lives had been leading up to, and the stress of not knowing was culminating into a ball of uneasiness sitting heavy in their stomachs.

"f**k this, man." Cody pulled a bottle of bourbon out of the side closet and took a long swig, passing the bottle to his brother. Colby did the same and sat on the edge of his bed, pressing the cool glass of the bottle up against his forehead.

"I feel like this wouldn't be so difficult if she was only important to us. This is our future Luna, our future Queen."

"I know, man. The anxiety of this moment is almost too much. I just need it to be over. It's the waiting that's practically killing me."

There was a knock on the door, and their mother poked her head in with an understanding smile. She hugged each of them, and a sense of calm and security washed over them. Thank the Goddess for her powers in this moment.

"It's time, My Loves. Your fathers are waiting for us with the pack." They made a move toward the door, and she grabbed both of her sons' hands. "You know this, but regardless of what happens down there - everything will work out. Glamma loves you and is going to make sure that her grandsons are taken care of. My mates went without me for ten years. Ten years, boys. But the love that we have and the life that we have built was worth every minute of the wait. I know you are anxious. It almost sucked the breath from my lungs when I opened the door. Just remember to breathe and to keep a level head. Okay?"

The brothers nodded, and Luna Queen Genevieve linked her arms through both of theirs, and they made their way to the barn. Every nerve ending in their bodies was telling them to run, to get to the pack, but they suppressed the driving urge and kept a regal pace.

I'll tell you the instant I know. Cody linked him.

Likewise. Colby responded.

They passed the stunning decor the pack had erected along the back lawn, but neither of the twins could see straight. Their focus was locked on the doors of the massive barn in front of them. As the doors swung open, she was there ... at the far end of the barn. She was in a glittering green floor-length gown with a slit up her thigh, lace covering her chest. Her fiery curls loose and flickering in the candlelight.

No...

Her eyes were locked in, the kelly green of her irises practically sparkling in need.

But they weren't locked on the Alpha Princes. A massive, scruffy looking mountain man made his way through the crowd, and she only had eyes for him.....

No.... Colby could feel the devastation rising in his throat, and his mother's arm steadied him.

Ainsli took a step toward the figure in the center of the barn, and the pack surrounding them all sucked in a breath.

Mate. They both whispered in unison.

The twins' hearts shattered at the sound and they could each feel the other's anguish. Their fathers came up behind them, no doubt feeling their emotions through their bond with the Luna Queen. Strong hands gripped their shoulders, holding them up and bathing the twins in their support in this moment. Who the f**k was this stranger, and how the hell did he get into our pack?

Colby took a step forward, needing to get a better view. Leaving the remnants of his heart in a trail on the ground behind him.

The stranger was a.....rogue.....