The Queen Within

Chapter 20

Ebonie

I try to be a good warrior. Everything I do, I do for my pack, for my Alpha. I owe everything to Alpha Roy. He has always been there. As my mentor, future Alpha, as my friend. Since I was young, he saw a great warrior in me. Even though I didn't see it within myself.

I was known as the trouble maker of the pack. Always pushing the boundaries and causing general mayhem. Without parents or anyone to care for me or about me, it never mattered to me what trouble I was causing. When Alpha Roy found me, I was being locked up in a cell, punished for starting my eighth fight that day. It was a particularly bad day for me.

Roy walked up to my cell laughing his head off. He told me that he had never seen someone fight with so much tenacity but that I was too wild with it. In his words, 'You're more like a raging bull than a tactful wolf.' I agreed to undergo training with him. Mostly to get out of that cell. But... It was the way he looked at me. Like I had a purpose. No one had ever looked at me like that before.

Before I knew it, I became devoted to him. Everything that I am, everything that I can give, it all belongs to him. Of course, when I came of age, I had hoped he would be my mate, then my sense of devotion could always only belong to him. Unfortunately, the Moon Goddess didn't see me fit for him. So, I was content with being by his side. I was content with my one-sided devotion. I was content with watching from the sideline and being at his every beck and call.

When Queen Alandra came to our pack, he was buzzing about her and her alone. Jonathan was a close friend of his and he was happy his friend had found his mate. I was happy for Jonathan because Roy was happy for Jonathan. When she showed up, it crushed me. The devotion I saw in his eyes, in his actions, in his words, all the devotion that I felt for him, he was giving to her. It nearly broke me. The one thing I wanted, I realized I would never get that devotion. Not even an ounce of it.

I get it though. She is his Queen. Our Queen. She deserves all the devotion and care in the world. She was beautiful, kind, smart, and brave. Everything a ruler should be. Though a little impulsive. Other than that, she was great. When Roy told me I would be a bodyguard to her, that I would remain by her side and devote everything to her, I couldn't help but feel betrayed. He was basically telling me everything I was giving to him, was to be given to her.

Everything in me shattered when he ordered me to leave his side. He reassured me that I will still be part of the pack, it would just be an extended leave. Of course, I agreed, and of course, I didn't let it show how crushed I really was. No matter how I felt on the inside, I am still one of the top warriors in our pack and I won't embarrass my Alpha.

So I did what I always do, I put on a stoic face and followed my Alpha's command.

Even though I miss being by my Alpha's side, Queen Alandra is kind. I do admit I haven't really said much to her, nor do I understand a thing that she is thinking and it frustrates me when she acts first... But, when she crumbled at the news of her family's death, something in me crumbled too. I thought that it was just me feeling sorry for her, but the more time I spend with her, the more confused I get.

I am devoted to my Alpha. To Roy. He is the only one I will ever give my devotion to. But then why do I feel like this? Like being by her side is what I need? I'm not sure and I don't know how to feel, but I won't stop giving my devotion to my Alpha.

Currently, I was accompanying Queen Alandra at yet another council meeting. The rogue in question is still being held in the dungeons and the questioning isn't going anywhere. Elder Steven wants the rogue eliminated and has been very adamant about it. Queen Alandra has, each time, tactfully shut it down in a way that he couldn't argue back.

The way he was condescending to her made me want to rip his throat out. She was our Queen and he constantly disrespected her. She may be new to this life still, but I have seen the type of leader she is. She put her life at risk for people back in my pack. Even if someone doubted her, they just needed to give her a chance to prove herself.

"Council Elder Steven, you constantly bring up the issue of eliminating the rogue. If I wasn't mistaken, it would seem like you have other motives for having this rogue killed." Queen Alandra said as she narrowed her eyes at Elder Steven. He only smirked at her and crossed his arms over his chest, but the twitch in his left eye was a giveaway.

"Well, it's a good thing you are mistaken."

I gritted my teeth and fought to keep the annoyed expression off my face. I had orders to play disinterested and dumb to trick whoever is after the Queen.

A maid came bursting through the doors suddenly and ran up to councilmen James and whispered something in his ear. His eyes widened in shock, but he quickly concealed it, plastering on the biggest smile he could muster before dismissing the maid and clasping his hands together standing.

"This meeting seems to be going nowhere for the moment. Why don't we all take a breather and reconvene after dinner?"

Alandra c****d an eyebrow but nodded in agreement. There was something in his eyes that said 'urgent'. After everyone painstakingly took their sweet time to leave, James rushed up to Alandra.

"Your majesty, there is an informant here to see you. They say they know who is behind all this and wish to strike a bargain."

Alandra gasped and got on her feet as quickly as her growing belly would let her. She seemed to grow an inch or two every day. She was still early on, but because of the rate in which shifters rapidly give birth, she looked more like she was five months pregnant.

We followed James down winding corridors and long hallways. Whoever this was, they wanted to be hidden. After what felt like forever, we finally made it to a wooden door and he knocked three times before someone opened it. A small woman with purple eyes and skin so pale you'd think she was allergic to the sun. She was so shapely and wore a black dress that stuck to her skin like a glove and draped down to the floor with a plunging neckline.

Something in me stirred. Looking at her, at this small vulnerable woman, I wanted to protect her. I wanted to pull her close to me and never let her go. But that was crazy. Absurd even. I had no loyalty to this girl. She wasn't my mate that I could sense. Not to mention, the energy dripping off her, it was obvious she was a witch and a dark one at that.

Nonetheless, my body went rigid and my mouth felt dry. Looking at those purple eyes, you couldn't help but be drawn in. She bowed low at our Queen and gave a tentative smile.

"Hello, your majesty, my name is Cathy. It is a pleasure to meet you." Her voice was so smooth I could just melt in it.

Alandra smiled back at the woman and gestured to the table in the far corner. They both walked to it and I helped eased Alandra into the chair. I kept my eyes averted from the woman, paying attention to her feet which happened to be wearing black stilettos and made her legs look deadly. She crossed her legs in the way you would see high society cross their legs at tea, one ankle tucked behind the other.

"Cathy, I am told you have information?"

That's our queen for you, straight to the point. I did admire that about her. She never wasted time.

"Yes, your majesty. I just have one request and I will tell you everything I know."

A maid came in pushing a cart with tea and little cakes. Everyone waited while she served Alandra and Cathy. Once she was gone, of course, Alandra couldn't help but devour the cakes. Cathy waited patiently as Alandra practically swallowed a tiramisu mini cake. After about two of those, and what looked to be a chocolate mouse cake, Alandra gulped down her tea and sighed happily.

"My apologies, those meetings always drag on and I am always so famished. So, what is your request?"

I looked up and watched as Cathy took a sip of her tea before speaking. "Protection. The absolute guarantee that you will have me protected till this problem is resolved."

"Of course. I would assume this kind of information puts your life at risk. Before we get into details, I have to know, why are you doing this?"

Cathy gave a sad smile and my heart squeezed. I wanted to embrace her and drive the sorrow away. "I've come to realize he won't ever love me the way I love him... I can't continue to be used and abused... I'm tired of being thrown away."

Thrown away? Someone would treat her like that? She seemed broken and defeated. Is that how I would look if Roy abandoned me? Would I be broken and defeated? Would I be that way if Alandra abandoned me? I had experienced the feeling of not getting the devotion I gave, but to be thrown away? It made me wonder if that was what this was. I shook the thought away. I didn't want to imagine it. Roy had saved me from that abandonment. But no one was there to save Cathy.

Alandra patted Cathy's hand. "I understand. I guarantee your protection."

Cathy nodded and snapped her fingers, a little book materializing in the palm of her hand. She handed the book to Alandra who had the same questionable look I did.

"That, contains everything I know. I am bound from speaking against him. But, the bind doesn't say anything about writing about him."

She gave a sinister smile and Alandra flipped through some of the pages. "Mal-"

"Don't! Do not speak his name! He employs a wide range of spellcasters, some of which who monitor his name. There is power in a name your Majesty."

Alandra looked puzzled but nodded, avoiding saying the name. After a few moments, and more flipping, Alandra put the book down and looked at Cathy.

"This may sound like a dumb question, but what are you Cathy?"

Cathy snickered and smiled, "Not a dumb question at all my lady. I am a spellcaster or witch as many call it. I specialize in the...Darker arts. Necromancy to be specific."

I knew it. I could smell it off her. Like roses and dirt. That earthly scent followed by a sweet scent. Necromancers always smelled like the earth since that's where the dead comes from.

"Necromancer? Like zombies?" Alandra asked innocently. I forget that she doesn't know much about our world still.

"Yes, your Majesty. In a way. We can bring things back to life and control them, but they can't infect others or go after random targets. They obey the wishes of their master."

Alandra nodded thoughtfully and traced circles on the book. Her eyes seemed to be staring into the distance, lost in her thoughts. Cathy quietly sipped at her tea while we all waited. It felt like an eternity before Alandra spoke again.

"I have my suspicions, so Cathy can't be known just yet. She must remain hidden in a room here or maybe a cottage somewhere close by, or just somewhere. No one can know. Ebonie and I will visit daily and bring you food and take care of your needs since no one is going to question me walking around with a basket of food. Can you agree to these terms?"

Cathy nodded. "Yes, your Majesty."

James sighed, reminding all of us that he was still there, sitting quietly in the background, "As you wish your majesty. Though I have to remind you that in your condition, you shouldn't take on too much. Lucas and I can also attend to her as well. We have picnics with Penelope on the grounds all the time."

Alandra nodded smiling. "It is decided then. Cathy, you are hereby under the protection of me, Queen of the wolf shifters, until further notice."

Cathy bowed, and with that official decree, no one could lay a hand on Cathy without sentencing themselves to death.