The Rogue Queen

Welcome to the Pack

    Later that evening, we were gathered in the main common room of the pack house. No one was dressed up for my swearing in. Everyone was cheerful and grinning.

    Luna Daisy had given me a huge hug when we got home. I felt really badly about getting rogue blood on her dress, but she said it was worth it and thanked me for saving Cara. We all needed a long rest after and Yuri only bothered me a little at lunch and dinner. Now it was time to become one of them.  

    Olive looked on proudly as I stepped toward where the Alpha and Luna were waiting. There was a small golden bowl on the coffee table next to an obsidian bladed knife. I was nervous again. 

    I knew ex-pack could enter a new pack, but rogue-born wolves didn’t. I worried their bond wouldn’t take or the moon goddess would be angry about me giving my freedom away.

    In a way, being rogue-born was a gift. We had different abilities, we were more physically capable because we didn’t have pack mates to fall back on. I hoped she wouldn’t take offense at it.

    I moved forward and faced Kieran. Daisy picked up the knife and handed it to him, then held the bowl in two hands, waiting. I put my hand out and he held my wrist.

    “Bellamy Carrington, do you promise to uphold all the values and traditions of the Daylight Moon pack? Following our laws, accepting our punishments, and carrying on in a way which honors our pack and its leaders.”

    “I do.” I responded.

    “Do you promise to care for its members as if they were your own family? Joining with their happiness and helping heal them in their sorrow.”

    “I do.”

    “Will you lay down your life to protect your pack and its Alpha? Using your claw and tooth to ensure the lives and wellbeing of all our people.”

    “I will.”

    He nodded.

    “Kieran Moore, Alpha of the Daylight Moon pack. Will you vow to loyally join with me in the care of this territory, claiming all my enemies as yours, and fighting at my side in battle?” I asked. “Will you put the safety of your pack into my hands, trusting in my claw and fang to be your protector as I trust in your claw and fang to be mine?”

    “I will.” He responded.

    I nodded. He sliced a small cut in both of our wrist and took my forearm pressing them together. Daisy held the bowl under our dripping wounds and caught the blood we shed together. We held until the cuts closed. I didn’t feel any different. Wasn’t I supposed to feel different?

    “The bond has been forged. Welcome to our pack.” Kieran smiled.

    “Thank you, Alpha Kieran.” I bowed.

    “Bellamy? Could you hear me trying to mind link you?” Olive asked.

    “No. I can’t hear anything.” I whispered.

    I began to panic. I hadn’t been accepted. The goddess hadn’t let me join the pack. Tears began welling up in my eyes.

    “Do you smell that?” Cara asked.

    “It smells like the aftershave my dad uses.” Daniel replied.

    “No, it smells like the lotion my grandma used to use on her hands.” Tobin said.

    “It smells like my teddy bear that Jason threw in the lake.” Cara muttered with a glare at her brother.

    They all started sniffing and drew closer to me. I remembered one of the ex-pack in the collective saying that King Fuller smelled like the cookies their mom used to make. So Kieran’s pack got my protection, but I got nothing. I couldn’t believe it. Excluded again.

    “You’re not excluded, Bellamy. We can hear you. Can’t you hear us?” Daisy asked.

    I shook my head.

    “Try focusing on one person.” Galen said.

    I closed my eyes and focused on Olive. She’d tried to mind link me first. Maybe I could follow the path. After a few moments, I still heard nothing.

    “Well, we can hear everything.” Bruce laughed.

    Could the whole pack hear me or just the people in the room? I wondered.

    “We can all hear you.” An omega shouted from the kitchen.

    I need Dr. Hale to come sedate me. I thought. I can’t sleep when everyone is attached.

    “He’s on his way. Why can’t you sleep?” Olive asked.

    “I have nightmares. They’re really bad. I can’t subject the pack to them and I can’t risk trying. When I was sedated after the vampires, I didn’t dream.” I responded.

    “Just stay calm. Close your eyes and see a ball in your mind.” Daniel said.

    I followed his instructions.

    “Imagine lines coming from the ball and connecting to other balls. That’s the link from your mind to ours.”

    Nodding, I could see what he was describing. I imagined switches on all of the lines and started turning them off. He hadn’t really told me how to block, but I was betting it was something like a wall for most people. I mentally added a bell to each line. One started ringing shortly after I added it.

    ‘Hello?’ I linked.

    ‘Can you hear me?’ Cara asked.

    ‘YES!’

    I opened my eyes and grinned. It had worked. I needed to have a way to know I was being linked, it wouldn’t be automatic like a pack wolf. It was more like a phone on silent. If I didn’t know someone was trying to talk to me, it wouldn’t get through.

    “I don’t think we need the doctor anymore.” Cara said. “She heard me and responded. Did anyone else hear us?”

    They all shook their heads.

    “I’d still like to be sedated for the night. This is too new. I don’t want to have an incident.” I replied.

    As if on cue, Dr. Hale entered. He looked a little angry and had a metal box with him.

    “I was having a perfectly nice evening when I heard a child in my head. If you hadn’t asked to be sedated, I would’ve still shown up with it. A doctor needs his sleep.” He groused.

    “Sorry, Dr. Hale.” I blushed.

    “I’m going to come every night for a week. Work on your control during the day. It’ll help your control at night. Understand?”

    “Yes, sir.” I responded.

    Olive led me and the doctor up to my room and had him wait outside while I changed. She tucked me into bed and sat next to me.

    “I didn’t know if it would work either. I hoped and I prayed to the moon goddess to let you be a part of our pack and family. I’ve been asking her all week.” She said softly.

    “I think it’s like when an ex-pack becomes a rogue. It’s a shock to the system. I can adjust, it’ll take time. The closest we have to a pack is a collective, and we don’t have mind links outside our link with our mates. Don’t worry, mommy. I’ll be fine.” I smiled.

    “Now, that was the best thing I’ve heard all week. Thank you for joining my family. I promise to only embarrass you a little.” She chuckled.

    The door opened and Dr. Hale came in with Daniel. I was ready to let sleep come. A dreamless sleep for a whole week, would be a blessing of its own. Daniel kissed my forehead and pulled Olive away so Dr. Hale could reach me.

    “Thank you, doctor. I’m sorry I ruined your night.” I whispered.

    “Welcome to the pack, Bellamy… Did you know you smell like vanilla? My mom used to dab vanilla extract behind her ears instead of using perfume. My dad used to say she smelled like cherry ice cream when she did that, because he used to smell cherries around her.” He smiled softly and injected me with the medicine.

    “That sounds like a nice memory. Good night, doctor.”

    Everyone left my room. I knew it wouldn’t be long before I slipped into sleep. My life was finally coming together. From here, I would work to become a stronger fighter and be able to fight Kyle, if he decided to come for me.

    I would work to be a good friend, sister, and daughter, and I would try to find a place in the world of pack wolves. With luck, I’d find a mate down the line and maybe even have a family of my own. This was the first step to my new life, and I couldn’t be happier.