QUEEN OF ROGUES BECOMES THE PROPHESIED LUNA

POOR ROWAN

LEXIE'S POV

In the afternoon Rowan arrives in the company of our senior pack officials. Elder Garrick is also with them. It took a lot of convincing for Rowan and Garrick to accept to sit with Paul. They had earlier insisted that he was an enemy and they wanted nothing much but just my release.

Now, seated in a roundtable, we deliberate on the way forward. Paul had us sit here so that we discuss as equals.

“I must start by saying that I am extremely sorry for attacking you. You had not provoked us and we should have left you alone. Now I want not only for us to exchange the prisoners, but I also want us to reach a lasting peace agreement.” Paul starts.

“But I must quickly add that there has been another turn of events. I just found out that your newly crowned queen Lexie is my mate.”

I look at Rowan and Garrick to see their reactions to this. I would have wanted to break the news to them myself but now Paul has stolen the opportunity from me. I should have told him, but it's too late now.

Elder Garrick remains unmoved. It's as if he expected this, or he knew it from the very beginning.

But for Rowan I can see he is deeply disturbed by this development. He almost jumps out of his seat when he hears that but he quickly gets in control of himself. Then something hits me.

All through, I had seen how Rowan behaved around me and it now dawns on me that he secretly admired me. I had seen how he was so protective of me, always near me, checking on me.

At some point I heard someone asking him when he will ever make his move. He replied and said soon. Now I get what it was all about.

I quickly realize that maybe he was waiting for the opportune moment to make his move on me, to request me to become his girl. Now that Paul has beaten him to it I am sure he isn't impressed.

Throw in the fact that he is the one who rescued me from the beast attack and I feel that I am indebted to him. I feel some guilt.

I look at him again. His face is now calm, but I can see the disappointment in his eyes.

“Rowan,” I say softly.

He looks at me.

“Are you okay?”

“Of course I am.” He says, forcing a smile. “You are our Queen, and whatever makes you happy should make me happy too.”

His words make me feel even worse. That submission.

I know Rowan. He is not a man who hides his feelings easily. For the first time, I wonder whether I have been blind to what has been happening right in front of me.

Paul clears his throat. I bet he has seen and understood what has just happened.

“My friends, I understand that this may come as a surprise. But I want you to know that I have no intention of taking Lexie away from you or interfering with her leadership.”

“That is exactly what I want to hear,” Rowan responds, his eyes fixed on Paul's.

His voice is firm. The two men hold each other's gaze for a moment before Rowan proceeds.

“Our Queen belongs to the Black Forest pack. She has responsibilities there.”

Paul nods.

“I agree. That is why I am proposing a peace agreement between Stormridge and the Black Forest pack. No attacks. No raids. No interference in each other's affairs.”

Elder Garrick who has been silent all along finally speaks.

“And what guarantees do we have that this peace will last?”

Paul looks directly at him as if he has just noticed his presence. Then he looks again, as if he remembers him from somewhere else.

“My word as Alpha is enough.”

Garrick remains silent for a moment, then he looks at me.

“What does our Queen say?”

Suddenly, all eyes turn towards me.

I take a deep breath.

“I say we accept the prisoner exchange, Rowan can speak about the peace proposal.”

Rowan's eyes widen slightly.

“I agree with our queen. Also, we need to think about your peace proposal and get back to you later.”

Silence reigns for a while as everyone digests Rowan's statement. It's elder Garrick who breaks the silence.

“Alpha Paul has shown great goodwill and I say we should trust him. Let us not drag issues unnecessarily. I believe that when he says no more attacks he means exactly that. I should warn him however, if he goes back on his word...”

“I won't. Besides, you are now my family.”

My eyes are on Rowan, and I don't fail to notice his reaction. Paul is still speaking.

“I agreed with Lexie that she will be gone for only two days. To bid her people goodbye, because now that she's my mate I want her by my side.”

“That is perfectly in order.” Garrick tells him.

“And by the way Garrick, have we met before? You look familiar.”

“I don't think so. You must have seen a lookalike.”

From the look on Paul's face, he has his doubts about that, but he never talks about it again.

After the talks we are treated to a late lunch. Rowan and Garrick get on their way back to our pack.

As for me, Paul promises to drive me later. Then he asks to talk to me alone in his office.

“Look Lexie,” he says over a cup of coffee, “I have been thinking, and after asking for advice I think I need to hold a party.”

I remain silent. The coffee is good.

“My pack needs to know that I now have a mate, they're soon going to have a Luna. What do you think?”

“Sounds like a good idea.” I say.

“Then you will come back after the two days and I will throw a party in your honor. There will be guests, fellow Alphas, pack officials and friends.”

“Will you be able to gather them in such a short notice?”

“Don't worry. I got this.”

“Fine. But I have a confession.”

“Really? What is it?”

“Deep down I don't want you to go. I am getting jealous. I saw how Rowan was looking at you and I got the feeling that I ruined his plans. I dethroned him, took what he thought was his prize.”

“I noticed too. I never knew that he had feelings for me. He secretly admired me. But he is a good guy, he will adjust. And with time he will meet his mate.”

“I hope so too. Something else, your pack is strong. It will survive without you.”

“Yes it certainly will.”

In the evening Paul drives me back to the Dark Forest pack where I am welcomed back by Mara. She gets the opportunity to greet Paul before he leaves.

I left here as a prisoner, but I am coming back with a mate, victorious and with a mysterious dream that I must figure out.

THIRD PERSON'S POV

Andrew Hale, Lexie's brother walks into Alpha Nate's office and finds him still going through the maps on the table. As usual Nate ignores his presence for a while and only looks up when Andrew clears his throat.

“Good of you Andrew. Before we proceed, how is your progress?”

Andrew was hired by Nate to train a group of rogues with a camp deep in the woods. Nate, against the agreement of other Alphas, has been training the rogues who terrorize other packs.

From the day when he became Alpha, he has managed to destabilize at least three packs and now he wants to invade the Blue Moon pack, led by Alpha Nathan, a friend to Alpha Paul.

Once the rogues take out a pack, Nate profits by getting paid by the unstable packs to help them stabilize. What they don't know is that the same Nate is the cause of the instability. It is a business module that pays him well. Andrew gets his cut too.

“We will be ready to move soon. In two weeks.”

Nate gets up from his seat and moves to the window.

“Tell me Andrew, do you know anything about the Dark Forest pack?”

“They are secretive but at least I know that they are now being led by a woman. They call her the queen of rogues. I hear she is ruthless. The Stormridge pack attacked them yesterday and they got beaten up and several of their fighters taken prisoner.”

“The woman, do you know her real name?”

“No. But I hear she is one hell of a fighter, with a long scar on her cheek.”

“It is your sister Lexie. She is that woman. That's why I sent for you.”

“What? Lexie is alive? We all thought she died?”

“Apparently, she is alive and healthy. And now you will abandon that training session for a while. Find Lexie for me.”

“I thought you rejected her?”

“I need you to find out where she is. I may have rejected her but now I want her here.”

“So I bring her back?”

“No. Get me the information first. Where she is, and what she is doing.”

“Okay Alpha.” Andrew says as he prepares to leave.

“And Andrew.” Andrew looks back to face Nate.

“Keep an eye for the Black Alpha.”