Royalty Burning

Chapter 9: The Threat

~Flambé~

"Everyone out, especially pregnant mates." I said, holding Desire from behind. I stiffened. She looked back at me, with a smile on her face.

"Insatiable hound." She whispered. Jackson looked at her. I could tell he still felt guilty. She stepped out of my embrace and embraced Jackson. "What's the matter, love? We're past this. If I didn't have to eat, I would take you home right now. I'd get on my knees for you, suck that gorgeous d*** of yours, until you c** down my throat. Then let you…" She whispered.

He growled. "Oh Goddess, Desire stop or else I won't be able to control my actions." She moaned lowly in her throat, and turned to go into the restaurant.

"I have a booth. It's private. This way. Hey Mia." I waved, leading us upstairs.

"Alpha." Mia said without looking up while grabbing menus. I looked back and noticed that Jean, Matt, and Julie stayed downstairs.

"Order quickly." Desire said quietly.

"Yes my love. What does my queen feel like eating?" I asked.

"I believe she needs protein, meat. It's what's best for our pup." Jackson replied.

"Steak?"

"Only if it's medium rare to rare." Jackson responded.

"Excuse me, mates of mine. I would like to order my own food and I don't eat bloody meat. Are you trying to make me sick?" She said with a cute sneer.

"Will you not try it for the health of our pup? You're a wolf now my beauty and things that were abhorrent will be absolutely delicious. It'll be better for you and our pup." Jackson persuaded.

"Fine, you want me to try? You order it and I'll try yours before I order anything. Or because we are short on time, I can order chicken." She arched her brow at us.

"Red meat would be better." I pleaded. She was so stubborn.

"Then one of you order two steaks and I'll eat from that and my chicken. I'm trying to compromise."

"I understand. I'm a medium rare man and Jackson likes his rare. You'll try both ok?"

She exhaled. "Fine. Only because I know you're both looking out for me and our pup."

We ordered. The food came and Desire ate from both steaks, totally forgetting about the chicken. "We already have babies faster than humans and now we have babies faster than shifters. The House will be filled with red meat, it seems you like it a little bloody now." I said. She smiled so beautifully at me, I couldn't help but kiss her on her temple. Jackson kissed the crown of her head.

"It's time to go." She giggled. "A meeting is about to start without it's alpha."

"What, next door?" I laughed. "I'm going to do some running after the challenge fight. Do you mind taking our mate home Jackson? Or do you need a run too?"

"No, I'll take her."

"Is anyone going to ask me?"

"Not this time. You and our pup are to be protected at all times. I'll run when you return Flame."

"No, there are scouts in the woods. Traitors and we know they want you as much as Desire and our pup dead."

"There's another option." Desire said. "There are betas and Julie, who will become my beta."

"You decided already?" Jacks asked.

"Yes, I can see her skills. I will train with Jean, Matt, or one of you, after Clara is born."

"I wonder what your wolf looks like. It's probably the most beautiful wolf I've ever seen." Jackson said lovingly. We were downstairs now. The restaurant was empty except for Jean, Matt and Julie.

"Julie, after this pack meeting, I would like to talk to you in private."

"As you wish, my queen." Julie stated.

"You are ordered to call me Desire. Alpha at the very least."

"Yes, Desire in private and Alpha to show respect in public."

"Better, let's go." We walked out of the restaurant with Mia locking the door behind us.

"Alphas, betas." Mia said, walking toward the community center. She went inside before us. The betas went next, then Desire, with Jackson and I closing the procession. The 3 of us walked on stage. I walked up to the podium. Desire was next to me and Jackson was standing b g next to her.

"Good evening Silver Wolf Pack. Last meeting we discussed important issues. First tonight, we are going to have a moment of silence for Louise Boucher, my mother, our seer, and the best alpha female we've had to date." At that everyone was quiet. After a few minutes, I spoke again. "We'll be lighting her pyre tonight, but first there is a challenge." I gestured for Jean who walked up to the microphone.

"This morning we were followed and were going to be attacked in a cowardly fashion. As beta and first defense to our Alpha, I challenge Stephan Dewitt." Everyone murmured at that. Stephan stood up.

"Why would I accept this challenge? Those are pretty strong allegations, I admit. Is there proof?" Desire stood up with fire in her eyes.

"Other than your own alpha seeing you in the passenger seat. And on top of that your alpha saw you first, not to mention your plans. Your alpha is you new pack seer dumbass." She growled. More murmurs followed.

"Accept or not, I still get to kill you." Jean said witha smile and a shrug. "No one tries to kill my Alphas and not die. There were actually eight of us in that car, you were going to flip and then open fire as we struggled to get out. The beta Julie and alpha Desire are expecting pups. You're willing to kill women and children for your new alpha."

He was sputtering and everyone was staring as he clumsily backed up the aisle. Desire's alpha command damn near made my knees buckle. "Stop!!! You will answer for your crimes one way or another, you piece of s**t!" He stopped dead in his tracks, looking as if he were still trying to get away. "Speak now."

"Fine, I don't want a half breed as a queen. She doesn't know our customs, or our beliefs. I would rather follow someone stronger."

She scoffed and shook her head, "Were you supposed to leave if you were recognized from the car?"

"Yes. My Alpha told me to."

"Yet I just overrode his command with one word."

She impressed me, I can't lie. "Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you my mate, my queen, Desire Boucher Thomason. Guards grab him please. Just hold him until we are done discussing important details." I explained about our triad situation. The council had some questions, which I answered effortlessly. Then feeling like I had no choice, I had to emphasize the importance of the matter. "My mother has said it and now I'm saying it, we combine the packs or we die. There's only one other option and that's me retiring as alpha. I'll pull the funds made for the pack and take what property and stocks I have. It's no longer the option of packs but our species. We will meet with the Bloody Claws Pack's elders in two days." I then grabbed Desire's hand with Jackson walking next to her. Jean followed right behind and Matt and Julie right behind him.

"What first Flame? Pyre or challenge?"

"Challenge. Mom would have wanted him dead over just Clara." I led the way to the circular field used for training. Other pack members joined us. The guards brought out Stephan. Jean stood in the center of the field. He took off his shirt and his jeans.

"Why is Jean stripping? I'm seeing more of him than I ever wanted to." Desire said.

"He'll destroy his clothes if he has to shift." Jackson answered. Desire nodded in understanding. Stephan started to strip. I walked to the middle of the circle.

"Challengers, are you ready?" Jean nodded and rolled his shoulders. Stephan nodded. "Ok count of 3. 1,2, and 3." I blurred to Desire's side.

Jean threw a jab and Stephan's head popped back. "I am going to enjoy making an example out of you." He said, landing a fist to his ribs. He kicked his knee and I heard the pop. Stephan's knee was now reversed. Jean waited for him to drop then systematically broke his appendages at the joints. He spit on Stephan and stared down at him. "Alpha Desire? Should I start breaking bones? It's your call."

She whispered in my ear. "Has the point been proven?" I gave her a sharp nod. Out loud she said, "Finish him Jean."

"Yes, my queen." At that he partially shifted, growing fur and Claws on his left hand. He punched Stephan in the chest and ripped his heart out.

"Jean, clean up and get dressed, we're going to the pyre." He cleaned his chest and hands, then quickly dressed.

As we walked toward the pyre, we picked up torches. Time to put my mom to rest. When we reached the pyre, Desire spoke. "Tonight, we honor a wonderful woman who was a mother to us all. Who treated the whole wolfshifter nation as family regardless of pack. We send her to the loving arms of the Goddess, to be reborn in a time her visions have only seen." At that all three of us placed our torches to the pyre. I led the whole pack in a mournful howl, I noticed a lot of tears.

I walked Desire and Jackson back to the house. She watched as I stripped down. "Stop. I need this run. My emotions are all over the place."

"Is Jean going with you? You told Jackson there are traitors out there."

"I'm taking Jackson. He's had a rough day. I ordered you a few things. Go down to the room in about 15 minutes. You look like you need to play. Jackson and I are setting up things for our sparring match. I know you're worried about that, but we'll both be fine. Jean, Matt, and Julie will be here while we run."

"Where are the things you bought?"

"In the room. Oh just to let you know, it's also a panic room. There's supplies and everything."

"How will I ever let people in there?"

"You'll have to determine whether the secret is more important than the people who depend on you. Our betas, are betas because they are the best friends we could ever have. We discuss a lot of sensitive things around them and they keep those secrets. Look, be flaming embarrassed until you turn purple, but protect our people first. Some will understand, some won't. Some won't even know what they're looking at other than a crazy room. There's a positive in you being activated."

"What is it?"

"I won't hurt you now. I can strap you to the St. Andrew's cross and paddle that beautiful a** of yours then…" At that point Jackson walked out in a pair of sweatpants.

"You're blushing beautiful, you're all glassy eyed, and" he inhaled, "you're wet and ready." He groaned.

"Sorry brother, I was just letting Desire know the benefits of being activated. It seems Desire likes these benefits. We'll have a workout when we get back." I laughed. It felt good in that moment just to be with the two of them.

"I have a feeling we're getting closer to our goal. Let's move the sparring match to tomorrow. I really want to get our mate marked."

"Yeah, we can do that. Invite the packs or not?"

"Do you foresee a problem if we do invite them?"

"No but it gives the traitors time to talk over some plans. Since we're forewarned on most of this, I don't see a problem. Even looking ahead, it benefits us."

"How?"

"Our mating moving up, is going to force some of them to show their true intentions."

"Which will give us the opportunity to get rid of them." I nodded. "Good, tomorrow Desire sees Todd?"

"Yes, it's the best time." We kissed her cheeks rubbed her stomach and started to shift. My wolf was Silver in color, while Jacks' was red. His blue eyes looked at Desire with deep affection. Then we ran off in the woods. I stopped at the edge and nodded.

~Desire~

I walked into the house. Jean, Matt, and Julie were sitting on the couch. "So are you going to be Desire's beta?" Jean asked Julie.

"I don't know if I'm the right person for the job. I mean, I know a lot of it is the trust she has in me. But can I be her first defense? She's the strongest alpha ever born."

"Maybe I need something a little different as an Alpha. Maybe I need you keen eyes more than anything. We're surrounded by trained fighters, I seem to be built for it. So you're useful alerting us to dangerous situations. First defense is know when there is danger."

"It's more than that Desire. Being beta is like being a bridge between you and the pack. When you're busy I have to enforce your will."

"We'll between the beta ceremony and Desire's growing reputation that won't be a problem."

"What do you mean Jean?"

"I don't know if it's my place to tell you. But since I said that much, I guess. Flambé had some calls come in, from the allied packs. They want to meet you, pledge allegiance. Somehow, they heard about your stand-off with Ingrid. She is a well known alpha female, that a lot of packs wanted. She's a great fighter and commander. That show of restraint and strength pushed you into the spotlight. Your reputation has preceded you."

"I didn't do anything but protect my pup and myself."

"But with just that information, most wolf shifters are going to show you respect. They also heard about overriding another alpha's order. No one wants to compete. They want to be a part of your reign."

"So no one will go against her rule? I'd just have to say, Desire says and everyone will listen because of how powerful she is? What about tonight? The challenge? Matt knows I'm not a big fighter. I couldn't do that for Desire."

"No, we can do that." Matt said. "We all recognize her as our alpha and as one of her betas, either myself or Jean can challenge on her behalf. At least until we train you enough."

There was a loud bang outside at that moment. The house rocked to its foundation. I reacted without thought. "Everyone move to the basement. Now."

"We'll be trapped." Jean said.

"We'll be in the panic room. Now move!" I moved to the wine cellar and opened the door to the basement. I got down to the game room, grabbed a few extra water bottles. Then I turned to the Glen door. "In the Glen." I pulled the keys out and hurriedly unlocked the door. "Hurry." I hit the light switch next to the door to bathe it in darkness again. I hit the switch for the lights inside the room and locked the door behind us.

"Desire?" I looked up and saw Jean, Matt, and Julie looking around. "What is this place?"

"It's a playroom." Jean said with a chuckle. "s*x games, S&M, and also outfitted to be a panic room." Jean slid a cabinet to the side from behind a panel. He tapped some keys on a keyboard, and video of outside and the rooms of the house popped up on the screen. Jean and I concentrated on the land video. There was smoke. "Alpha, that was the woods. Wasn't that where Flame and Jacks went running?" She nodded. "What do you want to do Desire?"

I sat heavily in the chair and thought, looking at my betas. "Even though those are my mates out there, my main duty is to the packs and my pup. I can't go out there." There was movement on one of the house videos. I shifted my attention to that monitor. Then there was another blur on another monitor. "Who is this in my house?"

"They're moving with a lot of speed. There seems to be more than one."

"How many Jean?"

"I can't determine if they are moving this fast together."

"Julie, get over here. Tell me how many we're dealing with." She rushed to the monitor.

"There are three Desire. A silver, a red, and a black."

"Can you tell what they are doing?"

"They're being very careful. They're right outside this room."

"They are? What are they doing?"

"One is looking at this corner, the Silver. The red is staring at one of the cameras."

"The black?"

"Shifted and sitting at the bar in a pair of sweatpants."

"What the hell? Should I go out there? Do you think it's Flambé and Jackson?" I looked at the monitor that the red was still staring at the camera, the blue eyes were showing so much affection and emotions. "It's them." I walked to the door and unlocked it. I opened the door wide and the wolf shifter at my feet shifted. Flambé stood before me, he looked down at me with appreciation. "You scared me, Flame."

"I can tell my queen, but I see you have done the right thing for our people." He smiled. "The explosion you heard was a trap we set off so no one else would get hurt."

"No one else? Who was hurt?"

"They had Marc chained so someone would try to rescue him. We ran across him on our run. They broke his ribs and legs. The didn't expect that he would be forced to tell and found by me."

Marc climbed off the stool. He lowered his body to my feet. I looked down at him. "My queen, I'm sorry I let you down and ended up captured. We should come together for new security measures. If I can get caught, the rest of the security have no chance."

"Are there any clues to who attacked and captured you? Did you see, hear or smell anything that can identify this person or people?"

"Some, I don't know if it's enough. But I am willing to go over it and come up with a plan."

"Were you grabbed while patrolling the woods?"

"Yes, only twenty of our people know which routes are taken and the schedules."

"Ok here's my thoughts. I want six perimeter guards patrolling the border and four guards patrolling the inner perimeter of town. I want to know who is patrolling where at all times. If someone goes for a run, I want to know how long they ran. Flambé, Jackson, do you have any ideas on the patrols?"