Chapter 6 Alexander
1424 Words
In five cells were five rogues, scrawny, dirty, and sickly as they moaned on the floor. I was instantly drawn to one cell where a man with familiar eyes was curled up.
“Reid Cooper.” I snarled at the man who looked up with glassy eyes.
“Who are you?” He asked, crawling across the cement floor.
“King Alexander Cooper Storm, your nephew.” I answered with a snarky attitude. The man’s eyes widened,
“June.” He whispered my mother’s name like it was a far off memory.
“She’s had her eyes out for you since you fled after trying to kill my father and take over the realm.” I snapped.
“None of that matters now.” Reid sounded exhausted.
“Why would you attack with such small numbers after all these years?” I asked, getting to the point.
“To gauge Cypress’ response.” Reid answered without hesitation.
“It was a test?” I asked, looking back at Alpha Rebel who looked pale.
“By our Alpha, Mistress Brittney. Another woman of your mother’s past.” Reid said with an unwavering expression.
I did, in fact, recognize that name. It was the great-granddaughter of my parents' most epic enemy, Cohen, Lord of the rogues. Another one of the few survivors of my parents’ assault on the pack formally dubbed the Outskirts Rogues.
“She’s planning a large-scale attack?” I asked.
“She wants to take over the pack.” Reid answered easily.
“You don’t seem to be hiding any of this information.”
“She doesn’t want the information hidden. She wants you all to know what is coming.” He spoke ominously.
“Your capture was planned. This attack was meant to be a failure. It’s a warning.” I said, urgently speaking to Alpha Rebel, “Ready your warriors. A battle is coming.” Rebel nodded and ran back up the steps to his office, leaving Carter and I alone with his Beta, Elias.
“My mother still wonders about you.” I said, softening my voice.
“Wonders if I’m dead, no doubt.” Reid spoke bitterly.
“She told us stories about you.” I said,
“So, you must hate me as much as she does.”
“Mom doesn’t hate you, she feels sorry for you. She hated your father and everything he did. But, she knew you were just trying to please him. She hoped you would show up one day so she could speak with you.” I spoke truthfully.
Reid looked up at me with a different kind of expression, tilting his head to the side in confusion.
“I can call her for you so you two can talk.” I offered. Reid looked like he considered it for a moment before his face went dark again.
“I allowed myself to be captured to deliver the information and then receive my punishment.” He said in a plain voice.
“Receive your punishment? You want to die?” I asked.
“I’ve lived long enough.” He mumbled quietly.
“Your highness!” Someone shrieked and Beta Elias started running towards the staircase with Carter and I hot on his heels.
“Luna, get yourself to safety!” Elias ordered his Luna who was cradling her stomach, likely pregnant with the pack’s heir.
“Take your Luna to safety,” I said to Elias, “Where’s Rebel?”
“He’s out front. Rogues have been spotted on the border.” Luna Koda replied, trembling from head to toe.
“My men and I will help in any way we can, Luna, go to your people and protect them.” I squeezed her hand and motioned for her to follow Elias to safety. They ran off down the hall and Carter and I went towards the front door.
By the time we made it outside, the field was already alive with fighting. More than a hundred rogues attacked the Cypress packhouse this time, engaged in battle with an equal number of Alpha Rebel's warriors. My warriors quickly, and eagerly, joined the fight. Carter and I shifted as well and dove into the action.
My wolf, Derek, fought his way through the crowd with our Beta on his flank. Lashing out and killing any rogue wolf in our path. While Derek was distracted with finishing off a rogue, another one managed to get past Carter’s wolf, JJ, and swipe at Derek’s underbelly. I cried out and Derek whined as his belly was slashed open and blood coated his fur. Derek whirled around to lash out at the dog who attacked him, when a vision filled his mind.
The same redhead from before, the one who Steph and Angel tried to shove in a locker, was in my head again. She was sitting at a desk inside what looked to be a classroom, her eyebrows furrowed as she focused on something in front of her. All of the sudden her dark, olive green eyes were wide and full of pain. Her face whitened even more than it already was and scrunched up like she was being hurt. She doubled over and cried out in pain, falling off her chair and convulsing on the ground. She wrapped herself protectively around her body and sobbed uncontrollably.
Derek shook his head and snapped at the rogue, biting through his jugular and killing him in a second. We didn’t have time to process what had just happened, Derek was still engaged in battle. In less than an hour, the battle was won and Cypress’ pack grounds were covered in bodies. The leader, Brittney, was captured along with a handful of other rogues who were made to kneel in front of the castle.
I shifted and accepted a pair of pants and a T-shirt that one of Cypress’ pack members handed me. I walked up beside Alpha Rebel who was standing, with his arms crossed, in front of the survivors.
“My Goddess, you look just like him. You must be a Cooper.” The one who must’ve been Birttney called out, glaring at me.
“Like who?” I asked curiously.
“Like Reid.” She bit his name.
“I’m his nephew.” I clarified and her expression changed with recognition,
“You’re her son.” She snarled and I growled at her defensively.
“You dare speak out against my mother!” I shouted.
“You have the same aura your father did the first time I met him. One of arrogance and vanity.” She spat.
“Alright, that’s enough,” I grumbled in frustration, done with playing her games, “Alpha Rebel, our Archers can take care of them from here if that’s alright with you. If there’s any more information or any other rogues out there, they’ll find out.”
“We would appreciate the help, your grace.” Alpha Rebel nodded. I motioned for my guards to round up to the rogues, including the ones in the cells, and deliver them to the Archers.
We said our goodbyes to Alpha Rebel, and left him and his Luna to deal with their fallen pack members. Carter and I walked back to the portal at the front gate.
“What happened to you back there? You got hit by one of the rogues and froze up.” Carter asked, eyeing me curiously.
“I don’t know, it was weird.” I shook my head, still dazed by the vision I had, “I saw a girl and she was screaming in pain. I saw her once before, in a dream, a few weeks ago.” I realized that I sounded crazy.
“s**t, man, sounds like your mate is calling out to you.” Carter said and my head snapped towards him,
“What?”
“I’ve heard stories that when a mate is close to turning 18 and is near enough, the mature mate starts to get visions and feelings about them. It’s supposed to be even more common for strong matebonds, like the one formed between two kings and a future queen.” Carter explained, actually offering up a little nugget of wisdom.
“Where did you hear that from?” I asked,
“I’m a Valentine, we know things.” Carter shrugged with a cocky grin, back to his usual pain in the ass self. I faked a laugh,
“Right.” But, deep down, I wondered if he was right.
- Writer
