QUEEN OF ROGUES BECOMES THE PROPHESIED LUNA

PREPARATIONS

PAUL'S POV

I have barely settled into my office when there is a knock on the door.

“Come in.”

The door opens and Beta Alfred walks in. For a moment, I just stare at him. He looks exhausted, fatigued. There is a bandage around his left arm and another one across his forehead.

“Alfred.” I call him.

“Yes, Alpha.”

I rise from my chair and walk toward him.

“I was so worried . I thought I had lost you. I couldn't face your mate when you were in prison.”

He gives me a faint smile.

“I am okay Alpha. I understand what you were going through.”

I shake his hand and lead him to one of the chairs.

“Sit down. You need to rest.”

“I am fine.”

“You don't look fine.”

He laughs quietly.

“I have been through worse Alpha.”

I sit opposite him.

“I want to hear everything. Bruce told me, but I want to hear it from you. What really happened at Dark Forest?”

His expression becomes serious and he touches the bandage on his hand.

“We underestimated them.”

“I know that.”

“As a matter of fact, we grossly underestimated them. The word underestimation is an understatement.”

I lean forward.

“What happened?”

He takes a deep breath.

“Everything was going according to the plan. But the moment we entered the forest, everything changed. The ground started shaking. At first we thought it was an earthquake, but it wasn't. Then the wind came.”

“The wind?”

“Yes. It was unlike anything I have ever experienced. It was as if the forest itself had turned against us.”

I remain silent.

“Hailstones started falling. Huge ones. Warriors were knocked down. Some couldn't even see where they were going. Our weapons became almost useless.”

“Garrick.”

Alfred nods.

“That old man may look calm, but he is dangerous.”

I remember Elder Garrick during our meeting. He had been remarkably calm, almost too calm.

“And Rowan?”

“That one is even worse. He was everywhere.”

“What do you mean?”

“He fought like a man who had something to lose.”

I immediately know what he means.

Lexie.

“He was determined to get his Queen back,” Alfred continues.

I lean back in my chair.

“What happened to the others?”

“Some were captured. Some were injured. Others…” He pauses.

“Didn't make it.”

I lower my eyes.

I already knew that, but hearing it from Alfred makes it more painful.

For a moment neither of us speaks. i take a sip from my cup. I now believe what Bruce told me because Alfred has just confirmed it.

Then I smile.

“Alfred, there is something I want to tell you, but I'm sure you already know it.”

He looks at me.

“I found out that Lexie is my mate.”

I expect him to smile but he doesn't. Instead, he looks down for a moment.

My smile fades.

“You are not happy?”

“I didn't say that, Alpha.”

“But you don't look happy.”

He sighs.

“I am happy that you have found your mate. Every wolf deserves that.”

“Then what is wrong?”

”She is our enemy. She is the queen of the pack we invaded.”

I don't answer. I'm trying to find a good answer.

“We attacked her pack first,” I finally say.

“I know.”

“Then why does it sound as if you blame her?”

“I don't blame her.”

“Then who do you blame?”

He looks at me. His eyes meet mine.

“I blame the circumstances.” You found your mate in the middle of a war, Alpha. That is not an easy situation for anyone.”

His words are reasonable and I can't argue with them.

“You think I should stay away from her?”

“No.”

He shakes his head.

“She is your mate. I would never tell you to reject your mate, but I hope you will remember that you are still the Alpha of Stormridge.”

I nod slowly.

“Of course I remember.”

“I know you do.”

He stands.

“I only wanted to remind you.”

There is nothing threatening in his voice, nothing suspicious.

He is simply doing what a Beta should do, reminding his Alpha that love and leadership are two different responsibilities.

“I appreciate your honesty.”

He bows his head.

“We have another problem. It is the reason I came here.”

“What is it?” I pay close attention.

“The families of the warriors who died are unhappy.”

My heart sinks.

“What do you mean?”

“They are grieving. Some of them are questioning why we keep fighting.”

“Who told you this?”

“I heard it from several people.”

“Is it serious?”

“Not yet.”

He looks toward the window, an empty gaze.

“But we should keep an eye on it.”

I nod.

“Thank you, Alfred.”

He turns toward the door.

“Get some rest. Maybe a few days off.”

“I will.”

After he leaves, I remain seated for several minutes. His words trouble me. Not because I think Alfred is against me.

If anything, I trust him more because he has always been willing to tell me uncomfortable truths.

But perhaps he is right.

I have been so focused on protecting Stormridge that I have forgotten what happens to the people left behind when warriors go to war.

****************************************

The preparations for the party continue throughout the day.

The compound is decorated and food is being prepared. We have invited some musicians who are already here doing rehearsals.

Several members of the pack are busy making sure everything is ready for the celebration. This is going to be a happy occasion because I am supposed to introduce Lexie to Stormridge as my mate and Luna.

But as I walk through the compound, I notice something strange, not everyone is celebrating.

Some people are standing in small groups, speaking in low voices. When they see me, some stop talking and others look away.

I don't like it.

I continue toward the main hall. Then I hear voices.

“How many more husbands must we lose?”

I stop.

Another woman answers.

“How many more sons?”

My chest tightens. What bothers me is that they ask in voices audible enough to me.

“We were told these battles would make us safe.”

“And are we safe now?”

I slowly walk away. Their words follow me. I understand their anger because I lost my parents because of rogues.

For years I have believed that eliminating our enemies was the only way to protect Stormridge but now I am beginning to understand something.

Every battle creates another enemy and every dead warrior leaves behind a grieving family which has a reason to question the Alpha who sent their loved one to war.

When I return to my office, I sit behind my desk.

Something doesn't feel right. Grief after a battle is normal. Anger is normal.

But this is spreading too quickly and I suspect someone could be taking advantage of their pain.

And one name immediately comes to mind, Nate.

I stand and walk to the map hanging on my wall.

Nate has destabilized other packs, he has trained rogues, he has benefited from chaos.

He has every reason to want Stormridge weakened.

I stare at the territories surrounding my pack and wonder, could he be doing the same thing here?

Could someone be deliberately turning my people against me?

I don't know, but I intend to find out.

---

Later in the evening, I meet some of the grieving families, I don't sit above them, I sit among them.

An old man looks at me with tears in his eyes.

“My son died at Dark Forest.”

“I know.”

“He was all I had.”

I don't know what to say.

There are moments when being Alpha feels like the greatest privilege in the world.

And there are moments, like now, when it feels like the heaviest burden.

“I cannot bring your son back,” I finally say. “I cannot erase your pain. But I can promise you something.”

Everyone looks at me.

“I will not send our warriors into war simply to prove that Stormridge is powerful.”

The room becomes silent.

“If peace is possible, I will pursue it.”

I look around.

“I will not start a war simply because I can.”

Some people nod but others remain unconvinced. Being Alpha is not an easy task.

When I return to my office, Alfred is waiting for me.

“What did you find?” He asks.

“Nothing yet.”

“Then perhaps we should look into this quietly.”

I look at him.

“I think someone is using their grief against me.”

“That is possible.”

“Nate?”

Alfred doesn't answer immediately.

“We shouldn't accuse anyone without evidence.”

I smile.

“That's why I trust you.”

He nods.

“We will find the truth.”

He turns to leave.

“Alfred.”

He stops.

“I proposed peace to Dark Forest.”

“I know.”

“And I want Lexie to come home.”

This time he smiles.

“That is the part I believe you have already decided.”

I laugh.

Perhaps he is right. I walk toward the window and face outside.

The preparations for the party are still going on. Tomorrow, my people will celebrate because I will introduce Lexie as their Luna.

But tonight, I cannot shake the feeling that someone is quietly preparing for another war.

And I have an uncomfortable feeling that this time, the enemy may not come from outside.

He may come from within.

---

THIRD PERSON'S POV

Deep inside the forest, far from Stormridge, another kind of preparation is taking place.

There is no music, no celebration.

There is no laughter, only hunger, fear and violence.

The rogue camp is hidden deep between enormous trees.

Dirty tents scattered across the muddy ground, small fires burning weakly.

The smell of sweat and rotten food fills the air.

Several warriors sit around one dying fire, staring at an empty cooking pot. There is barely enough food to feed them.

Yet inside the largest tent, William is eating roasted veal. He sits comfortably while his warriors outside fight over scraps.

A young boy approaches the entrance.

“Leader.”

He looks up.

“What?”

“Andrew, the instructor says I am too weak to continue training.”

“Then become stronger.”

The boy swallows.

“I haven't eaten since yesterday.”

William looks at him coldly.

“Neither have many of the warriors outside.”

The boy lowers his head.

“Go back to training.”

He obeys.

Andrew has been watching from a distance. His expression hardens.

There are children in this camp, carrying weapons. Some are so thin that their ribs can be seen through their clothes.

Others have untreated wounds. Some wounds are infected.

A warrior limps past him.

Nobody helps him.

Andrew walks into William's tent.

“What kind of army are you building?”

William smiles. Andrew almost loses his temper.

“A strong one.”

“You call starving children an army?”

“I call them survivors. And they're starving because Nate hasn't brought in the supplies.”

Andrew shakes his head.

“Do something about it. You are going to kill half of them before they ever see a battlefield.”

“Then the strongest half will remain.”

Andrew stares at him.

Now he understands.

William doesn't care about the rogues. He cares about power. He wants power.

Later, Andrew walks through the training grounds and notices something that makes him stop.

There are more warriors than Nate requested. Far more.

He counts them again.

Then he goes back to William. He finds him smoking a cigar. Thick blue smoke drifts through the undergrowth.

“Nate asked me to prepare an army for Blue Moon.”

“I know.”

“Then why are you training twice as many?”

William smiles.

“Because I have bigger plans.” He exhales a cloud of smoke.

Andrew's eyes narrow.

“What plans?”

William gets up and walks closer.

“You really think I intend to remain a rogue forever?” His eyes are red.

Andrew says nothing.

“I have watched Alphas rule their packs. They sit in comfortable houses while others fight and die for them. I'm not sitting in a forest forever.”

“You want to become an Alpha.”

William laughs.

“No.”

He gets nearer, looks into Andrew's eyes.

“More than an Alpha.”

Andrew feels a chill run through him.

“You are using Nate.”

William's smile widens.

“Isn't that what everyone does?”

“Be careful.”

William doesn't move.

“You came here to teach us how to fight. You came with Nate's money, weapons and orders.”

He gestures toward the camp.

“Look around you.”

Andrew looks.

“This army belongs to me now.”

Andrew's eyes narrow. He can't believe what he's hearing.

“You are planning to betray Nate.”

William's expression changes.

“I am planning to survive.”

“And what happens after the Blue Moon invasion?”

William looks toward the darkness beyond the trees.

“Blue Moon will be mine.”

Andrew says nothing.

He has heard enough.

William is building his own army.

Nate thinks he is creating a weapon.

But the weapon has begun thinking for itself.

Andrew walks away.

He should tell Nate, he knows that.

Nate needs to know exactly what William is doing.

But Andrew stops.

Why should he?

The moment Nate hired him, he had stopped being Nate's loyal subject.

He is a mercenary. He is in this for the money. And perhaps it is better to let Nate believe he is still in control.

Andrew looks back at the camp, then turns and walks into the woods. He needs time alone to think.

Behind him, William watches him disappear into the darkness.

One of his lieutenants approaches.

“Should we kill him?”

William shakes his head.

“No.”

“Why?”

“Because he still has much to teach us. When he has taught us everything…”

A sly smile spreads across his face.

“…then we will have no more use for him.”

The lieutenant nods.

William turns back toward the warriors.

But unknown to them, Andrew has heard everything.