Ch. 411..420

Chapter 0411

2-104

I nod my head, my eyes still closed. I want to cry at the idea that someone could possibly get away with the kind of crimes against our kind that the Rogue King has done.

"I did notice my dear that you said Mike and the Rogue King, reports have indicated that they are the same person. Why do you think differently?"

"Mike's sole focus with us was to sire an heir. It was almost an obsession." The thought sends a shiver down my spine. "If he was only intent on taking over, he would not have focused quite so much on that part of it. Yes, if he was an Alpha King, he would need an heir to continue the line, but continuing the line doesn't matter if you don't first have the throne. I am not sure if he thought that part through, telling me he is not the total brains of the operation, but he is clearly the front man, which makes the Rogue King more dangerous if he's hiding behind lieutenants posing as higher leaders. We don't know how many 'leaders' he's hiding behind making capturing him more difficult. That's what I would do if it were me. Set several layers of protections up, giving my adversaries work to do and wearing them down in the process."

"That's my girl." He says proudly. "I know you want justice, but I don't want you to burn the world down to get it. You all have your assignments, the more quickly we can sift through information and follow concrete leads, the faster we will get through these layers of protection that the Rogue King has set up. You are all free to roam the castle and the grounds until lunch. We have one more obligation today then we will get started." Alpha Reggie claps his hands and rubs them together. The smile on his face is one of mischief and trouble.

Our group was somber as we left. So much information was revealed and I think each of us was emotionally raw. I was ahead of the group not wanting to explain my time with Mike, not wanting to explain my scars. I don't want to focus on what happened to me, on the things I can't go back and change. I won't be the victim. These things happened to me, but I will learn from them and get better, nothing like that will happen to me again. I won't allow it, I can't allow it. If I ever make it home, Kaley will not dictate my behavior, that Skylar is gone. This new Skylar is strong mentally and physically. This Skylar has seen too many things to be afraid of a useless bully. This Skylar will not hesitate to put that bully in their place, publicly if it will send the message that it won't be tolerated any longer. This Skylar needs to stop this Rogue King and get home to fight off the demons of her past.

I didn't even realize I had walked outside until I blinked as I came up to the entrance of the hedge maze Alpha Reggie showed me when he first told me about my connection to the royal family. I took a deep breath and moved to step in, longing for the comforting silence the magical plants brought, when two hands grabbed me and spun me around, enveloping me into a tight hug, his scent wafting around me, warm and secure like a blanket right out of the dryer.

"You know I want answers, but you know I won't ask. When you're ready, please tell me, don't suffer alone anymore, you don't have to. Okay?"

I just nod into Xander's chest. He releases me and takes my hand and we walk into the maze, our friends following.

"So cousins, huh? Does that mean I'm going to have to start bowing to you and calling you princess, Midge? Wyatt is teasing me and it has the effect of breaking the negative path my mind was on. "Or should we just stick with 'Elite Warrior Midge' or is it 'Luna Midge'? Or maybe 'Her Highness Warrior Princess Luna Midge.' Damn, if you get any more titles or distinctions it's going to take multiple breaths to introduce you to people." He laughs as he jumps out of my reach as I try to kick him.

He runs into the maze and I chase him with the rest following, laughing at our antics. Once we all get to the center we are playing some sort of chase tag hybrid thing, then Wyatt dodges Oscar by diving to the ground and taking out Mina's legs. Effectively changing the game to sparring. Somehow Xander took off his suit jacket and button down shirt. I don't even remember that happening, but he wasn't shying away from the fun. Who knows how long we were messing around, but at some point we all ended up on the ground looking up at the sky, panting.

"So, real talk. We all have jobs to do, but we are all working toward the same goal. I know neither of you want to say anything, because, clearly, you both went through hell while you were captured. But, is there anything that we need to know? Any details that might help us find these f*ckers and get rid of them faster? We know they want to take over and this Rogue leader, I refuse to call him 'king,' wants to take the Alpha King's position. We know they feel inferior and are trying to take the female's powers. Is there anything else about these guys that we can use against them? Do they have a weakness, a vice, something that makes them vulnerable?" Wyatt asks.

"Sky is their weakness." Jena whispers.

"Huh?!" I tilt my head to look over at her.

"You are their weakness. Especially if they know you have royal ties. The Rogue K..leader," she stutters her words at Wyatts grunt. "Will want your powers, but Mike wants an heir, he wants a son to carry on his line, he was most obsessed with that while I was there. For some reason, with you he hesitated, he didn't do what he did with every other girl he brought in. You are a weakness, you made him change his behavior. I still don't know the connection between the two, but I think you are right, Mike is not the leader, but somewhere at the top and you will be a point of contention between them if they both want something from you." She shrugs.

"So, is he going to continue looking for females or is he going to come after Sky or both? What are you saying?" Nathaniel asks.

 

Chapter 0412

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"I think both. He made it clear he was having s*x with several girls, trying to get them pregnant, but he was different with Sky." Jena clears her throat.

Xander rolled over so fast, it was a blur and he was hovering over my face before I could even react.. "You said he didn't touch you!" He spit at me. "Doc Sylvia said she didn't see any sign of...that!"

"And she wasn't wrong, I didn't have s*x with him, if that is what you are asking, he never got that far with me." I said it loud enough for them all to hear so I didn't have to repeat it. I didn't have any fear of evesdroppers inside the maze and I really wanted this part of the conversation to be over. "And I won't be the only target, especially if they want Alpha Reggie's title. Xander and Oscar, you will be a natural target as well as your Luna when you find her." I say looking right into Xander's eyes. "Which means we all need to be on the lookout for any signs of their female mate as much as the rogues probably are too. Once you find her, all three of you will gain your full powers which will help with the kingdom's safety, but also put you at a huge risk."

"You think we are just going to slide past the no s*x comment? What did he do to you Midge?" Oscar is getting more bold the longer he is with Xander.

"Far enough for it to be memorable and to still have nightmares." I look back over to Jena, whose nightmares end in screaming and waking up in a cold sweat. I can't complain, because my pain is nothing like hers, it can't compare. She looks at me and blinks once then looks back to the sky. We both want to pretend that those things never happened and agreed that if we ever have to talk about it, we stick to the absolute bare minimum facts, no emotion or feeling of any kind.

"What did you two just do there?" Nathaniel asks. “You had a conversation, but without words and you didn't mindlink." He looks not quite offended, but not quite amazed either. Somewhere in between. "When you share a dark stone cold cell, chained to the wall by your ankles and wrists with sliver manacles, lying in your own excrement, constantly given different kinds of poisons to suppress the inner wolf so mindlinking isn't a possibility even if we were connected. And then to be subjected to and witness the kind of tortures that we did. A bond is forged in that kind of fire, that no one else can ever understand. Talking about it and reliving it is something neither of us want to ever do again. Please don't ask anymore about our personal experience in that level of hell."

There was a long moment of silence as her words sunk in.

"You have my word." Nathaniel rolls over and gets up dusting himself off then puts out his hand to help Jena up. The rest of us follow suit.

"Well, speaking of hell, are you ready for the next version?" Xander asks, putting on and buttoning his shirt. "It's time to get ready for lunch and I told Olympia and her father she was not allowed to attend due to her behavior last night."

"Oh sh*t! You took our advice?" Mina sounded surprised.

"You were right. It's the best way to start setting an example. Then we can say we have tried gentle discipline if it continues and then I can ban her." His smile grows wide at the idea.

"I like the sound of that phrase, 'you were right,' it's music to my ears." She laughs taking his arm. "In that case I think we should attend lunch like this, showing that training is important, even though we have social obligations."

"My father will laugh, my mother will pretend not to care and we should take bets on which elder mentions it first." Xander replies laughing along with her.

Lunch was exactly as we expected.

Alpha Reggie was giddy watching us walk in, clearly disheveled from training, although we all did try to minimize the amount of dirt we tracked in At least the maze was dry and not muddy. Jena, Mina and tall attempted to tame our now tangled and unruly hair. Luna Anne rolled her eyes, but didn't say anything to the warriors about our appearance. Xander, however, she gave a hard time about his shirt being tucked in properly and his jacket being wrinkled, adding that if he was going to train, not to do it in his nice suits.

Elder Bastian was the first elder to cite favoritism and mentioned inclusion of more people at an informal get together like this. He did stop his endless ramblings when Mina cut him off.

"That is an amazing idea!" She shouted. "We should invite different villagers to join us. They would have the most insight into the inner workings of the territory and how the pack is really doing." She smiled at him, but gave me a wink.

"These meetings are serious affairs that ranked and decorated members are invited to only..."

"But that's the thing. All of you are so

busy in meetings and whatever else you do, that none of you have time to venture out into the pack to help with any of the labor. This would be a way to bring that to you all. It

vel.

would give you a chance to understand your pack's needs so much better." She interrupted him again. "We should even do tours into the different parts of the pack and work alongside all the laborers. Then we would really understand their needs."

"Work? Like, outside, with common people." Charlene asked and then yelped as if someone pinched her. At least one of her parents understood the trap that was set by Mina.

"I think that idea is excellent, Mina.

We should work on that together."

ग्राम

Luna Anne praised her and you would have thought that someone put a sour lemon in Charlene's mouth and both her father and Elder Bastian looked appalled, but were Smart enough to keep their mouths shut.

After that, talk was mundane, but pleasant around the large ballroom. We all got up to leave, saying our goodbyes to Alpha Reggie and Luna Anne very informally in front of everyone present. "Mina? Would you mind staying? I have a few other things to discuss with you before we send you back to the training compound." Alpha Reggie announces.

"Of course, sir. I'll see you guys later." She hugs us all and sits back down while we head out.

 

Chapter 0413

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Training has been brutal, but getting better everyday. I don't know if the trainers are hard on us because they know our attention has to be divided with our individual team training assignments from Alpha Reggie, or if we really are that out of shape. I personally feel out of shape.

We have gotten a decent schedule down over the last six weeks. After a very early and aggressive morning training and breakfast with the whole warrior compound the six of us literally run our five mile route to our assignments.

Nathaniel and Jena run to a building outside the warrior leader's house and work with the cyber team, developing methods of tracking using every form of web knowledge they have. They are also really close to developing a similar tracker to the one Mike had placed in Jena and I. The focus has been on making it easy to administer and remove as well as less detectable. Doc Ganon and Doc Sylvia have been having far too much fun playing hide and seek on all of us as guinea pigs.

We have even talked Sierra into helping us by working with her parents to discover the different combinations of herbs and poisons that were used on Jena and I. She is actually really smart with all of this stuff and possibly more crazy than her mom when it comes to testing on us. She is actually trying to get us all to build a tolerance to wolfsbane, by sneaking it into our food to see if we or our wolves notice a difference. She has been having fun consulting with witches on the properties of plants and their uses in magic. I think she is also excited about getting out of regular school work as well. And I get to see her more since she is on the training grounds more regularly.

Wyatt and Lillian have teamed up with Tracker to learn, well, tracking. He's such a big guy so it doesn't seem like that would be the best thing for him to do, but he has a natural flare for it. And he is a ninja when he wants to be, constantly sneaking up on all of us. She is his opposite in build, but an amazing warrior and after hearing about the girls who were taken along with us, she wants to be one of the first in line to help with recovery in situations like that. They are both beasts when it comes to training. Neither slacked off while we were away. And I love the workout they both give me when we spar.

Mina and I head to the castle almost everyday to play buffer for Xander so he can actually get some work done. Like my guys back home he is taking on jobs and responsibilities from his day to make the transition to Alpha King almost seamless. He is currently in charge of all the things that we need to bring in from outside the kingdom or from human manufacturers. The coordination and secrecy involved with supplying our people with basic first world items is a big job and he has done spectacularly at it. Mina and I help when we can, because, let's face it, sitting around looking pretty is boring. It is fun watching the faces of the many girls who just 'happen' to stop by the castle offices and they find him very much not alone.

Luna Anne has taken to showing us how to deal with the never ending parade of people that need or want something from the royal family. Sometimes the needs and wants are legitimate, sometimes they are selfish and others are downright entitled and rude, but she handles each one with the same grace and dignity. No one ever talks about the job that the Luna or Luna Queen holds. So many of these girls think it's just the planning of parties, ceremonies and celebrations and looking the best in the most lavish fashions, but there is so much more to what they do and it's so amazing to watch Luna Anne do it. Like a wel rehearsed dance with Barty flitting in and out of the room, gathering things that are an easy quick solution and the three of us taking notes on things that need more time.

I also get pulled away to work with Alpha Reggie. He still has people digging into my mother and grandmother since they were both hiding from the royals. He has found that my grandmother most likely knew of her abilities and royal affiliations, but no one knows if my mother knew her lineage or of her abilities. Alpha Reggie and Alpha Lucas have been working on getting my father to open up about her and her history, but they haven't gotten very far yet and Alpha Reggie keeps those interactions to himself. That at least tells me that my father doesn't ask or talk about me at all or is still spouting his 'you killed my mate' hate towards me.

I have learned that my grandmother was a twin and had some use of magic, which probably helped her hide from the royals and the rogue leader. Her twin sister could communicate with the forest which Alpha Reggie and I were looking into since that seems like a weird ability.

Alpha Reggie did bring in a witch from Gentry's coven. She still hasn't returned and Nickolas hasn't been able to feel her, but he says the bond hasn't snapped either, meaning she's still alive just under a spell most likely to keep her hidden.

"Alright let's focus on your elemental energies today." Elena says to me. We are out working in the maze where we can be disturbed or overheard. There are many who wouldn't understand this training because, aside from being able to transform from a human to a wolf, we have no magic. Eye roll with me now. It's just not typical for my species to be able to control magic in any way, even if a werewolf and witch mate the kids usually get one trait or the other, not both. I'm so lucky.

 

Chapter 0414

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We did mention my great grandmother's twin sister's ties to the earth and the forest so that is where Elena started. She is everything I thought a witch would look like. She is a fiery red-head with emerald eyes. Her hair is so deep burnt orange it looks like it's on fire in the sunlight. She has different braids flowing through her medium length locks. Some with beads or feathers attached, some just braids tied off with thin leather straps. She is taller than me, like pretty much everyone, but only by a couple inches, but her personality precedes her into a room, like an Alpha or Beta of a pack. She is very calm, but I feel like it's a calm she works hard to maintain and if someone presses the right button she could shoot fireballs out of her fingers. Her build is womanly with curves in all the right places, but she doesn't hide behind frumpy dresses or dress like a sl*t either. She is classy and natural. It's hard to tell her age because of the way she carries herself.

"Sit straight and place your palms flat on the ground. Tell me what you feel."

"The dirt is gravely but soft. It's warm from the sun." I press my palms further to the ground and take a deep breath slowly in and slowly out. Concentration has been the hardest thing for me. Sitting still and just being quiet isn't something I ever thought I would have trouble with after spending so much of my life secluded and alone, but I don't like the not moving, not thinking part of this whole thing. Another deep breath in and then out. The grass is cool and silky under my touch. I concentrate on feeling further below the surface. "It's buzzing! Why is it buzzing?" My eyes shoot open and I look up at her. "Close your eyes and feel, try to listen with your hands."

We have had several sessions and it has become frustrating because I have never felt anything. I don't think magic is a thing that was passed to me. This thrum is the first time I have felt anything other than the obvious physical things around me.

"It's like a heartbeat or a pulse, but there is a buzz with it, what is that?" I take another breath and try to mentally follow the pulse and the buzz, but before I can get too far with it, I lose the whole sensation and everything snaps in me like a rubberband. My eyes fly open and I jump up like something bit me in the ass. "What in the hell was that?!"

"You felt the trees connecting, they speak to each other through their root systems. What I think the buzz might be was a call of urgency, to prepare."

"Prepare for what?" I ask just as a loud clap of thunder rocks through the sky and I look up. How long have we been out here? The sun was burning on my face not that long ago.

"A storm." She says dryly. I think that is the first joke I have ever heard her make.

We both laugh as we run back to the castle trying to beat the rain that is now chasing us down and sweeping over the open yard. We get inside the doors of the balcony, but not without getting soaked first. The storm was faster than we were.

One of the castle omegas came to us with towels, clearly anticipating our very soggy arrival.

"Can I try again? Can we train from inside? I don't want to lose the feeling now that I have an idea of what it is." I say excitedly. "I still might not have magic, but if I can detect it, if I can feel the difference between good magic and bad magic, I could help with our missions. Maybe find the witches that have been imprisoned...'

"Hold your horses there, girly." Elena grabs my shoulders. "The Alpha King did say you were excitable when learning something new. I'm glad to see he did not exaggerate. Your education will go faster outside with the elements. It would be best if I could bring you to work with the coven as a whole, in our space of learning, but you are needed here as well. Come let's go find the study and we can do some magic history so you can understand what and why you are feeling the things you are."

We make it to Alpha Reggie's study where he and I have been going over royal family history trying to fill the gap of my mother and grandmother's lives. As a member of the royal family, I have been learning some of the protocols and the pomp and circumstance requirements of being a royal. I did find out that I am fifth in line to the throne. Which I laughed at when Alpha Reggie told me, but he stopped me short saying that some kingdoms have had to go that deep into the family for the next Alpha King. Xander is first, obviously, then Osiston. Which is a crazy thought. Then there are two other warriors that currently serve as liaisons with other Kingdoms, then me.

"Sit, let's talk about magic basics. First, magic itself is neither good nor evil. That is the first and most important thing to remember, no matter what anyone says about light or dark magic. It is easy to blame the magic, but forget there is still a human wielding it. The intentions for the magic are what make it dark or light. Elder witches can change and cast from dark to light and vice versa. It is difficult and requires a lot of concentration and mental strength, so it is a last resort, but possible."

She pours herself some tea from a pot, I didn't even see before, making me think she somehow magicked it here. After she pours a second cup, she sits and gestures for me to do the same.

 

Chapter 0415

She gestures toward a massive, weathered book that seems to emanate a soft glow. I know that wasn't here when I sat down. "Let's start with a little history. I thought a crash course would be better, but you seem to be the more in depth type of person." She winks at me so I know she is just teasing, but I can't always read her expressions. She opens the book to show pages filled with ornate, handwritten script covering every inch of surface on each page. It is like a diary, with notes in the margins and different colored inks splashed everywhere. The additions show the passing of time and how magic has adapted with the changing world around us.

"Magic is the essence of the world itself, a force that binds everything together. It has existed since the dawn of time. It's an energy that flows through the earth, the air, the water, and the fire. We witches, we are but vessels that channel this power. Which is why all new witches start with elemental magic. You will learn to harness this power to shape reality, to heal, to protect, and sometimes, to challenge the very fabric of existence."

I take a deep breath in, not breaking eye contact with her. She seems like she is looking into my very soul and testing it to see if I am one of those light or dark people.

She goes on like we didn't just have a staring contest, turning the page slowly and dramatically. "Magic is a responsibility, a dance with forces beyond our comprehension. It requires respect, balance, and an understanding of the delicate threads that weave our reality. Elemental magic is a dance with the forces that shape the very core of our world. It is our most basic and yet most important knowledge. There are four primary elements, each with its unique energy and essence." She turns the page again, this time to a beautiful page that looks like it was hand painted with the finest metallic paints depicting the four elements. The pictures almost come to life off the page. "Earth, Water, Air, and Fire. Mastering their interplay is the key to unlocking the depths of elemental magic. Earth is in your blood, so it should be the easiest for you to tap into, but they all connect and interweave with each other.

She turns the page. "Earth, the foundation of all. It holds the stability of mountains, the flexibility of forests, and the resilience of life itself. To connect with the earth is to harness strength and grounding." She turns the page again and I swear I see dirt slide off onto the table. "Water, the source of life. It flows with the tides of emotion, adapting to every contour. To master water is to understand the ebb and flow of energy, to heal, cleanse, and find serenity." Another page turns and this time I smell the sea. "Air, the breath of existence. It carries whispers of the past and dreams of the future. To command the air is to harness the power of thought, communication, and the unseen currents that shape destiny." A piece of my hair blows with the next page turn. "Fire, the spark of transformation. It consumes and purifies, giving birth to new beginnings. To wield fire is to embrace passion, creativity, and the ability to forge one's own destiny." The final page turn sends a wave of heat towards my face. I don't know if that was the book or her emphasizing the element's powers, but I am hooked. I want to devour this book. "But remember, true mastery lies in finding the harmony among these elements. Their balance is the key to unlocking the ful potential of elemental magic. Now, embark on this journey with respect and reverence." She closes the book and passes it to me.

"Thank you for this, for everything." I can't take my eyes off this book, something is drawing me to it like a magnet.

"This book is enchanted so only you will be able to read it, but I would prefer that it stays here at the castle. While it is a book for a beginning witch, it does contain histories of our coven that must be protected." I nod, finally looking up at her. "I understand. It won't leave this room. Thank you, for everything."

"Now, we should go. You seem to be needed for a small scuffle in the hallway."

"What?" I jump up and run out of the room and sure enough, at the end of this hallway, which is in the Royal family's private wing, Olympia and Charlene have Xander cornered. He looks frustrated, but also not doing anything to make them leave. He looks like he's trying not to come into contact with them at all. He needs to stop being wishy washy with these two. He needs to set clear boundaries that they can't talk their way around.

I hustle down the hallway, but I don't run, looking desperate is not a part of my plan.

"I know you are avoiding us, we are lonely without you and no one satisfies us the way you do. Is your dad forcing you onto that Sky girl? My dad said he picked her up from some wh*rehouse in another pack as a plaything to keep you busy while the Elders decide on your mate."

Oh f*ck no! This girl is about to get her ass beat. I'm done being called a sl*t because I get the attention others want. I work hard for that sh*t and if she and her father are spreading those rumors, I'm done with both of them. I'm also sick of this 'Elders deciding mates sh*t.' They need to be put in their place and reminded who actually is in charge and making decisions.

"Hello, Olympia, it's so nice to see you again. I'm so glad you served your punishment gracefully and are able to join us again." I take Xander's arm and he is fighting a smile.

"You really need to learn how to tell these girls off. They are taking advantage of your need to be politically and socially nice."

"Shut up, Midge, and get us out of this."

 

Chapter 0416

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I roll my eyes at him. "We are due for a meeting with Alpha Reggie, Luna Anne and Mina. Sorry, have to run, a kingdom to take care of and all." We start to turn and they both begin to protest when Mina comes around the corner making the same assessment that I did.

"I have been looking for you two everywhere. Ladies," She gives the girls the briefest look, then turns back to us. "We need to get to Luna Queen Anne's office immediately." Then turning toward the dumbstruck girls. "Make sure you find your way back down to the common areas where guests are allowed. We wouldn't want you to get in trouble again and be banned from another royal function." She takes Xander's other arm and we all walk off.

I could barely contain my laughter and I for sure could not look at Mina. It is far too much fun to mess with those girls, but damn, they were exhausting sometimes.

We make it to Luna Anne's office and all collapse in chairs.

I let my head fall back on the comfy low-backed chair. "We need to find your female mate. I am so tired of being called a sl*t and a wh*re by girls who are just mad that I can hold a conversation with you and keep your attention for longer than thirty seconds. They don't attack Mina like that."

"What did you say?" My eyes fly open, I didn't even realize Luna Anne was in here. I thought we just came in for an escape.

"I am so sorry, I did not mean to talk like that in front of you." My eyes went wider when I noticed Alpha Reggie was there too. I look down at my hands, really not wanting to repeat my comment. "Charlene and Olympia cornered me on my way up to get Midge from her lesson with Elana. They had some choice words to say about her." Xander tried to smooth over for me.

"Alexander, explain, now! I want to know what those two are up to. They are not allowed up here, and I will not have them spreading rumors or bad mouthing anyone inside this castle. If they cannot maintain a certain level of decency I will remove them myself."

I don't think I have ever heard her use his full name before, outside formal events. She's just as scary as Alpha Reggie when she needs to be.

Between the two of us, we explain the situation with the girls and let Mina tell her addition to the story. I noticed while Mina was talking that she kept scratching at her arm. After we were done talking I could tell that the Alpha and Luna were having a discussion over their mindlink, so I took the opportunity to ask about Mina's arm.

"What's wrong with your brand? You keep scratching at it, like you're allergic to something."

"Not sure, but it has been like this since I woke up this morning. I have felt kind of off all day too, like I am getting sick or have a fever."

"Do you think someone put something in your drink or food?"

"No idea."

"Mina, can I borrow you for a moment?" Luna Anne interrupted our conversation. "We'll be right back." She was clearly still angry about what happened with Chalrene and Olympia. But I'm not sure if the anger was directed at them or me.

Once they left Alpha Reggie looked

at both of us. Your Luna Queen doesn't take kindly to her family being insulted and she is fed up with the behavior of our elders as much as the rest of us. As soon as Xander can take the throne we can actually start to replace some of our older or unhelpful Elders with those who will actually take the job seriously, until then we are stuck."

"Can Midge here be on the council? She's the only other person I will trust outside you and my mates at this point."

"Once you are king you can set up your council how you see fit, but I would not disband them all, you will need the experience on your side as well."

"Honestly, there's only two who don't seem to pull their weight and yet have the most opinions on everything."

I have no idea what happened with Luna Anne, Mina and whoever they went to see, but Olympia and Charlene have not bothered us for several weeks now. It doesn't mean that we let our guard down at royal functions, but it has made them more pleasurable.

One of the mid-summer meetings

the Alpha King hosts the Alpha Games. The Current Alphas are paired up with an Elite warrior and they have to find a designated hidden-item in the forest. They have to search over a hundred acres of forest and are given minimal clues. It's all good fun and for bragging rights, but something that I've heard talked about a lot since I have been here. I guess it's an honor to be chosen as a warrior partner.

Mina and I are actually on guard duty tonight. We aren't with Luna Anne, Alpha Reggie or Xander. But, we really weren't needed since this is an exclusive event for the Royal family, the Alphas participating and their Lonas and the warriors participating. It's something where they can let their hair down and have fun. Apparently the sh*t talking is epic and noteworthy. So we are watching the elevator to the Royals floor since many of the castle guards are chosen to participate in the event.

Mina is still itching while we are standing here. "Sky, it really burns now. I don't know what is happening, nothing seems to help. She is doing her best to not draw attention to herself, but looks like she is really in pain. I have not had any issues with my brand.

"We're coming. Keep her calm."

"Doc Sylvia? I need you, something is wrong with Mina. Her warrior brand has been itching for a few weeks and she says it's burning her now. She's in a lot of pain. We are in the castle, guarding the main elevator."

 

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"Help is coming Mina. Hold on just a little longer okay?" She just nods at me while she is trying to hold her position and taking deep controlled breaths.

About five minutes later several things happened all at once. Mina drops to the ground in the fetal position, panting and holding her arm, but not making a sound. She is trying to be brave and stay calm like Doc Sylvia asked. Then she let out a blood curdling scream and went limp in my arms as a pulse of magic burst out of her and expanded away from us like a ripple from a drop of water. Then I heard the most feral gowl I have ever heard in my life.

Doc Sylvia comes running at me from the front of the castle, a door bangs behind me but I can't be bothered to look while my friend lays here limp. The next thing I know I am lifted off my feet and tossed aside I slid across the floor coming to a stop only because I hit a wall.

"What did you do to her?!" Xander's growl and menacing look told me his wolf was almost completely in control.

"Xander? I...I didn't do anything. Please let Doc Sylvia help her."

"Stay back! No one else hurts mate!"

Mate?! Oh sh*t!

"Xander, please. Her warrior bond broke, but it wasn't supposed to do that. She's in pain. Let Doc Sylvia help her. Where is Oscar? He's going to want to be with her too. She needs both her mates." I try pleading with his wolf, staying right where I am. I don't need his wolf attacking me or shifting right on top of her.

"Oscar?" His growl is still there, but less as the thought of his other mate calms him.

"Yes, call for Oscar." I plead. "He needs to be here too. You both together can help her heal. She's been having trouble with her warrior brand for weeks. Maybe your bond caused it to break since you have been spending so much time together."

"That's a good theory, Skylar. Can You call Oscar though, I don't know if Xander's wolf is going to give him enough control to do that.”

"Oscar, we need you. We found your female mate and Xander is losing his mind here. Please try to calm him or a lot of us are going to get hurt. His wolf is on a warpath."

"I'm on my way Midge, I thought I felt something in my chest open up. Who is she?"

"Mina, your Luna is Mina."

"Really?! What happened?"

I told him about the itching and the warrior brand bothering her for a while. It didn't take him long to get here and the moment he touched Xander, the tension surrounding the room evaporated like fog.

"We have her my love. We are complete now." Oscar kisses the side of Xanders head and they both hold her while Doc Sylvia works around them.

"It's been two days! Why is she still out?" Xander snarls the same question he's been asking for the last 48 hours while pacing a hole in the plush carpet.

"Her brand was not designed to

leave her like that, it took its toll. You

need to be calm for her. If what

Skylar said is right they should have their brands until next summer, she

was forced out of hers because of how strong your connections are. You should be proud of her f f her for

enduring that." Doc Sylvia both

scolded and comforted in the same

statement.

"I am proud of her, I just need to see her eyes, open and alive. It's different now that she is our mate." He sits down for the first time in a very long time and I place a glass of water in his hand.

"She is a fighter and you know that.

Let her heal and come to terms with the idea of being the next Luna Queen. Do you know the kind of pressure that is? We used to laugh about it when we would stay up

talking when I couldn't sleep. Thonet

Luna Queen had the ultimate pressure. She has to be strong and independent, but also kind and soft, while supporting the Alpha King and all their subjects, but at the same time have her own identity and calling in life. There's no way anyone who really understands what the

Luna Queen's expectations are

would choose to enter into that

position."

He stops to look at me for just a second, and then walks over to me and wraps me in a hug. Thank you for being here and keeping me sane through all of this. I don't know what any of us would do without you Midge."

"That's what family is for, right?" I hugged him back. "Now go and be by your mate. She is resting, getting ready for the likes of both of you." I wink at him. "That takes a little mental preparation. No one plans to have two mates and you and Oscar have had time to wrap your heads around this, who knows what she is thinking."

"You are the first person I am going to add to our advisory council. You will be the youngest person to be called an elder." He laughs as he gives me one more squeeze and then lets me go, to go and lay by Mina.

We had her moved to the room he

and Oscar share to make her more comfortable and in the hopes that their scents would help her heal and wake faster. She's in a kind of coma. SHe's breathing and responds to basic muscular manipulations, but is stuck in her sleep. She moves and

е

turns, but it doesn't seem fitful or like she is frightened, just moving. She cuddles to both Oscar and Xander when they sleep next to her, but she will reach out if I am near. Elena thinks that is because we got our warrior bonds together and we have a connection forged from that experience.

 

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Finally on day three we got a reprieve from her coma.

"Wha...Where am I? What happened? I feel like I am moving through sand.”

We all jump up. Xander and Oscar have made her a sandwich every night. I have been sleeping on a recliner and not loving it, but the alternative was worse. I found I got sick if I was away from her, trying to sleep in my own room. So here I am.

"My head hurts. Sky what did we do at the Alpha meeting? We didn't take shots did we?"

She still thinks it was days ago.

"No, we didn't do shots." I smile at her, at least her humor is still intact. Do me a favor, take a deep breath and tell me what you notice."

She looks at me funny but does what I ask. "Oh, my what is that?" She sniffs again and then looks around, just noticing Xander and Oscar sitting next to her. "Oh, sh*t!"

I giggle and she looks back at me. "You found your mates and it seems you weren't ready for that surprise."

"No way! There is no way I'm their mate. That is not possible, I cannot be the next Luna Queen. No one would want me as their queen." She's still talking to me like the guys aren't even there. "You're our Queen." Oscar purrs behind her.

"Oh, no! I'm out, ya'll need to talk...or whatever." I got up and tried not to run out of the room.

I did not see Mina, Oscar or Xander for a couple weeks after that. I have been spending more time with Sierra though, which has been a bonus.

We were hanging out in the castle,

she's been helping me review the grimoires that Elena left for me now that neither of us are subjected to regular school hours. I'm actually getting the hang of some basic element manipulation. I was able spark a fire yesterday and blow

Sierra's hair around. But it wo

takes lot of energy out of me. Elena thinks that might be because I don't actually have witch blood, just access to the use of the magic. Something I will have to work on, because it won't make sense for me to use the power at the cost of weakening my whole body to the point of not being able to protect myself. Elena thinks that I might be able to build up my use with time, like a muscle.

"I can't wait!" She beams and slams a book closed. "The guys should be here within the week. I haven't seen Sam since my birthday, they have been so busy. I mean I guess we have been busy too." She gives me a look. It's the same one she always gives me when we get close to the subject of my capture.

"Sierra, I'm not going to break or run off crying about what happened. Stop doing that. I have always been able to count on you to treat me the same no matter what has happened to me. Please don't change now." I walk over from my seat to give her a hug.

"It's easier said than done. I have seen so many of your injuries, but it was always after the fact. This time I got to see you right after, barely alive and it was really scary, and super impressive at the same time. I don't want to treat you differently, it's just different here. You are a leader here and so many people want your attention or your advice. You're kind of a big deal."

I laugh and nudge her. "You have always just seen me for me, even before people who have known me my whole life, don't let that change." I take a deep breath and look over at her. "And speaking of the guys, do they know? About any of it?"

"I actually don't know what they know. Obviously Alpha Lucas and Luna Ava have some kind of idea, but I don't think even they were told the whole story. ALpha Lucas would have had you back home just as fast as the guys." She smiles at me with her little joke.

"You'll have to give them hugs for me. Technically speaking, I am still in training and can't have contact with the outside world. And we are gearing up for our next rescue mission."

"How long are you going to hide behind that excuse? You will have to see them eventually."

"It's not an excuse, and I know, but I

don't even know what I would say to them now. It's been a year, but it feels like forever and the only contact we had was a letter and the necklace they sent for my birthday, that still brings up rough memories. I was attacked, poisoned and beaten within an inch of my life all because of something as minor as wanting me to go to a dance. That's the last actual memory we all have of each other. It's so stupid, but I still just struggle with that. With being beaten by her, again, with them not noticing what is really happening right under their noses. With the imbalance of discipline and justice from them and even Luna Ave and Alpha Lucas. Ugh!" I rub my hands over my face.

"So it is Kaley. It took you two years to tell me that." She huffs.

"That's the part that you caught in the whole conversation? Damn. I must be tired or you are getting better at your interrogation techniques, Yes, Kaley is my problem. She wants to be Luna and has always had a target on me even before you came along and forced the guy's notice my way." I gave her a half smile. "We are the same age so there is still time before she finds out if she is mated to any of them. But I don't think she will care, she will try everything to be Luna. She's worse than Olympia and Charlene."

"I gathered that. She threw quite the tantrum when the boys left the mating ball. Broke a few things... very Luna-like, I might add." She laughs at her own sarcasm. "You didn't tell me that! Actually I don't think I heard anything about that night. Everyone was focused on what happened to me, we never talked about everyone else."

 

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"Well it took you weeks to heal and you returning to health was everyone's main priority and then we were all told to leave you alone and let you focus on training. Everyone was really worried about you and your safety. I was actually surprised that the Alpha King let you go to school and train."

"I see it differently. No one wanted me to train, but they also didn't want to 'waste my skill." I rolled my eyes. "Just because I was too young to do the full training. So the obvious choice was the hybrid thing, that no one else does, which brought even more attention, negatively, to me. Audrina saw fit to spread rumors that I slept my way into the training program and even went so far as to try and haze me out on my first day. That was super fun. Then it got more weird when I started attending functions at the castle, again something no other warrior does, inciting more rumors both in the castle and on the training compound. No one knew I was related to Alpha Reggie, so some of the rumors I heard were a little gross. Then, I was sent on a mission because my age and intelligence conveniently fit into a bracket that served their purpose, so then my age wasn't an issue and I was allowed to be branded. Oh and I went into the mission with the intention of getting captured, might I add."

I took a deep breath in slowly and out slowly.

"I know I sound like I am complaining, and maybe I am a little, but it just feels like I am a walking contradiction. Everyone is worried about my safety and wants to keep me in a bubble, but my skill set requires me to be on the frontlines. I'm too young to participate, but my knowledge is needed. Things need to be kept from me because it's assumed that I might be triggered, but no one thinks to ask if I want to know and everything comes back to me dealing with it anyway. Oh and to top it all off I am related to the royal family and have special abilities, but no one can really explain them because I have multiple, again unlike anyone else before me. It's like a bad pattern. Like I told the guys, I know you all mean well, and it's coming from a place of love, but at some point I really do want a say in what I am going to do with my life. Do you realize that the only thing I actually asked for was to do warrior training when I turned 18?"

I sit down in a squishy reading chair by the window and rub my face again, leaning my elbows on my knees and pressing so hard into my eyes I see colors behind my eyelids. It's the first time I have said any o these things out loud before. All my worries, all the jumbled thoughts in my head. Everything that is overwhelming me. I feel drained all of a sudden.

She comes over and pulls me up and into a hug. We just stand there for a few long minutes. “Come on, we need to run, you need to burn some energy. Maybe some sparring for old time's sake and we will make sure to take extra warriors with us because you seem to be a magnet for trouble. Call Wyatt and Nathaniel, oh and Lillian and Jena. You all need a break. None of you have really had down time that didn't include being unwillingly unconscious." I huffed a laugh into her shoulder. She isn't wrong.

We meet up at the sparring grounds on the warrior compound, because as much as I said I want control over my life. Sierra is right and I have become a magnet for trouble and I will not be caught off guard again if I can help it. The compound is the safest place for me to let go and just be.

Sparring was fun. We laughed and gave each other a hard time, but actually worked and got sweaty too. Jena and Nathaniel told us about the information they found on some members of her pack and once everything has been confirmed she might be able to go out and see them and give them the invite to follow her back here or officially join the pack that took them in.

They have actually done a really good job working together. We have located about twenty people. Only five families have taken her up on her offer to come to the Royal pack, but they were all ecstatic to see her and promised to reach out as well, letting people know she is safe and looking for them. Many of them found homes and even mates in other packs, but the more people we talk to the faster word is getting out to her pack members who want to come home to her. The reunions have been heartfelt and tear filled.

They have also been searching for signs of the rogue king's operation, now that we have a better idea of what their needs are we have started tracking those things. Like ingredients that are specific to the spells they are using or large quantities of food being sent to what seems like the middle of nowhere. Many witch covens are on our side as well, now that they know what is being done to their kind. "So did you figure out Mina's brand? Do you know what happened and will it happen to you guys, since yours are temporary too?" Lillian asks Sierra, Jena and me as we are stretching.

"We have some theories about that, but I think my parents agree with Sky and it was the proximity to her mates and the fact that the bond to the Alpha King is so strong, it literally disintegrated the brand." SHe looks at me. "The both of you were spending so much time here too, between all the c*ckblocking events and actual learning, you were with him more here than you were ever with me back at Blue Crescent.

 

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"I actually miss all of them, but I get needing time to form the mate bond. Has anyone seen them since the bond kicked in? I've been spending so much time holed up in the study and I didn't want to disturb... anything." I can feel my cheeks heat up.

"You are so funny!" Sierra laughs at me.

"What?!"

"You can say s*x, it's okay. They are probably having tons of baby making s*x. Why are you blushing?" Sierra scolds me. "It's normal."

"I'm not blushing, and I just don't really like talking about it. It's personal and private, no one else should be discussing it." I try to shrug it off.

"Of course we should, how do you think anyone learns? I can bet all the guys discuss it, Right Wyatt, Nathaniel?"

"Probably not as in depth as you think, but yeah, I guess so." Wyatt says and I can't keep my eyes from going wider. I do keep my mouth clamped shut.

"It has helped when some girls struggle with getting the memo that it's casual, even when you tell them many times before anything happens. Clingers are the worst and we usually try to help each other out before a situation gets rough.." My jaw did drop, that was the most I have ever heard out of him at one time. "I mean, it's been a couple years though. The full warrior brand makes it impossible to do anything." It was his turn to look shocked, he didn't mean to let all that slip out and I had to giggle. At least I wasn't the only one to feel awkward in the conversation.

"Really? Nothing at all?" Sierra asks. "I don't know if I could handle that."

"It's not a big deal, honestly. There isn't any desire to have s*x. If we were just banned, but had all the urges I would have been kicked out before we even started." His booming laugh carries across the field and we all join in. "Like I don't even think I could get it up if I watched the hottest porn all day. Or if you all stripped right here and started rubbing one out." He shrugs. "Nope, nothing, and you all are hot, the idea alone should have me all worked up." He shrugs again.

"That was graphic." I mumble

"What don't act all sweet, you're probably the most kinky out of all of us. The shy ones usually are." He winks at me, and I just sit there with my mouth shut. How do you tell people that you haven't done anything with anyone, ever?

Sierra knows my inexperience, but she is a great friend and keeps that to herself. Before we dive any further down this rabbit hole the dinner bell goes off and I am the first to jump up and head in.

Morning training has been better now that we have been put into teams. It's so weird to think that I have been a part of this program for a year already and there is another string of new recruits coming in. Now that we have the basic training done, Osiston and Nickolas have divided us into tactical teams. These are the teams we will go on missions with primarily. There are always exceptions if someone extra is needed or a special skill is needed, but this is our go-to team.

Lillian, Jena, Wyatt, Nathaniel and I have been teamed up. And because of our personal experience with the chemicals, poisons and spells from the rogue king, we sometimes get Sierra to work with us as an onsite liaison to her parents. Our primary missions consist of finding Jena's pack members and tracking down this rogue group.

It's an obsession that both Jena and I have. Some have mentioned that it is borderline unhealthy, but they weren't there. They didn't have to witness or experience the things we did. This f*cker will pay for his crimes, with his life, if it is the last thing I do.

We have been gone for a week, which was helpful, cause Xander, Mina and Oscar still haven't been seen. This mission is interrupting a supply of herbs needed to perform the cloaking spell that they have. When it didn't stop and off load where our information said it would, we decided to follow.

We made it about six hours away and I am so glad that I learned how to shift without shredding my clothes or having to change at all, because we have been sleeping outside following this convoy around. Sleeping as my wolf haset been way more comfortable. The two semi trucks would not have caught anyone's attention except Mike's face showed up on one of the facial trackers Jena set up and now that we found them, they have picked up another semi and an entourage of black SUV's following them like a protection detail. So it's either very important spell ingredients or they are transferring people. They are heading back in the Royal Pack's direction.

Our orders are to follow and report and nothing else and Jena and I have been having a hard time with that since we have seen Mike walking on his own a few times. The cocky asshole. He thinks he's untouchable. I'm holding it together better than she is, but barely. Nathaniel and Wyatt only need to monitor one of the crazy girls, not both.

Nathaniel was able to get trackers on the original two trucks, but not the third. There have been too many people patrolling to get in and out undetected. I want that third one. They only added extra patrols when it joined them. We did notice all the guards are wolves, but they are all carrying guns and few have knives strapped to their legs. Why do wolves need so much weaponry?

"Alright. I think I see a window." I say from my spot up high in a tree. “The patrol has a hole in the route. In about thirty minutes there is going to be a five minute gap between one guard and the next. Nathaniel is that enough time?"