Chapter 7

Rowan

I sat in my office with my beta Seth, my delta Gale, and my gamma Connor.

"What did you wish to discuss, alpha?" Gale asked.

"We need to stabilize the kingdom." I said, drumming on the desk with my fingers.

"Yes, sir! ...But, may I ask where the sudden interest comes from?" At these words Seth immediately smacked Gale over the back of his head with a binder. The relationship between the brothers never failed to amuse me.

"It's about time. I have a mate now, I should make sure she's safe." Gales eyes lit up.

"So the rumors were true! What's her name?" Once again came a binder flying. Gale was the youngest one out of us four, only thirty, but had proven his worth many times thanks to his gift. About two percent of the werewolves born get gifts, varying in power and use. I had met people with gifts like turning invisible while happy, or people able to turn into a pig. Gale was one of the most useful ones I had ever met, he could change the temperature of all water around him- hence being able to freeze a hoard of people if it was raining or if someone sprayed water on them. Sadly he wasn't too good at controlling it, and he was incapable of not freezing wet allies as well. Hence I had forbid him from using it outside of controlled battle.

"Her name is Nymeria. Red hair, golden eyes, you can't miss her. Treat her with respect and don't unnecessarily bother her." Seth and Connor nodded, Gale only pouting.

"Either way we need to deal with the alphas. Especially alpha Greysen of the west, but also alpha Thane of the East. Our first choice is to negotiate a truce with most of them, but I wouldn't mind beating their smug asses if they refuse to co-operate.

Connor, send people with invites to all the alphas of the land. Make sure that the ones going to east and west are stubborn and know how to stay alive." Connor nodded his understanding.

"And Seth, compose invitations. Place it next week. You can tell them that we are celebrating the new queen luna." Seth immediately started scribbling on his notepad, which had been nowhere to be seen moments ago. I sometimes wondered if he had some sort of gift making him able to pull it out of nowhere, but I knew that wasn't the case.

"Yes sir." Seth said.

When I dismissed them, Connor stayed behind. I knew what he was going to ask.

"Are we inviting the rogues?" Connor was a rogue for a long time before I offered him a position in my court, and still had close ties with many rogues.

"Not this time. Currently the rogues don't pose a threat, and you know just as well as I that they avoid negotiations." Connors brow furrowed. "For the queen. We wish to never go against the queens will." The 'queen' hadn't had a will for over 500 years.

"You guys really believe in that story huh." Even when Connor swore me his loyalty he had made it clear that his true loyalty lies with the queen, no matter what.

"She is no story. A legend indeed, but a living one." I rolled my eyes. "Very well. If that is all, you are dismissed." He nodded and left. I made a mental note to talk to Nymeria about it before getting back to work.

Nymeria

I was in the library, studying modern day high society culture, politics and management. I had surrounded myself with every book I had found on the subject and started reading, making notes along the way. I understood surprisingly little in the start, but quickly figured out most shorts. As I sat there in peace, a blonde boy suddenly appeared. He was a full grown wolf, but there was something young and innocent over his eyes, something unbroken and curious.

"'A lasting politician' huh? You're really going hard at it for a newbie." His green eyes met mine, but something told me to ignore him. "You're Nymeria right? I'm Gale, nice to meet you!" I sighed but nodded.

"How old are you? Sorry, is that rude? Either way, are you younger than Rowan? You don't look older than I am." He couldn't be more than forty. A young and naïve child.

"Old enough to think of you as a child." I said casually, looking back to my book. Something about him seemed harmless.

"Gale! Gale! You should be working!" An oddly familiar voice called, and the blonde in front of me froze in a childish, almost comical fear. Like he had never faced true fear.

"There you are! Who are you bothering this time?" The voice said, now much closer to us. He came around a bookshelf and it was as though time had stopped. Connor, son of Cain. He and Abel had been friends back in the good times. His hair was the same raven black as his fathers, the resemblance was striking. His turquoise eyes met mine and I knew he recognized me too, saw what I had become, a shadow of my old self. Emotion flashed through his eyes.

"Ethenn." My middle name. My mother had called me it, as had my people. I shook my head at him. Now was not the time or place for this. His jaw clenched, but he bobbed his head slightly and grabbed Gale by the collar, pulling him away, leaving me in silence. He was alive. There was a chance my people had survived.