Werewolf Queen

"Smart." He said.

"I think ahead." I told him.

He nodded and helped us with our luggage.

"So how does a full pack work exactly?" I asked as we walked to our new house.

"Well there is the Alpha which is me. Alphas are leaders of the pack. Then there is Geri which is second in command, in this case would be Darla and not because she is my wife. She was Geri before I became Alpha."

"How does one become Alpha?" I asked.

"One claims himself or herself as Freki and on the next full moon there is a fight to the death. The winner becomes the new Alpha." He answered. "The Alpha usually has protectors or enforcers of the law. Skoll and Hati. I don't have one of those because I don't trust anyone enough with my life except Darla. Then there is the Bolverk which completes the punishment that an Alpha wouldn't do himself. I believe that if I can't do it myself than it won't be done."

"I understand that." I said.

"There is Baugi who helps the newly transformed. If there are a lot of new ones there is the help called Suttung and Guunlod. And that's about it really."

"Simple enough. How does one climb the ladder?" I asked.

"Odd way of putting it. But one usually fights. Not to the death but until one or the other submits. If the other loses the one takes their place. If the one loses then they stay where they are but are most likely to be challenged soon. Unfortunately since you three are new to the pack you will have to fight your way up from the bottom. It doesn't always lead to a fight, there are those that just acknowledge the other's dominance and steps aside. That will most likely happen in the beginning but the higher up you get the more fights you will have."

"And who do we start with?" I asked.

"Your old friend Jessie." He said.

"Great." I said and rolled my eyes.

"She hasn't challenged anyone. I feel so bad for her. Derek has just shunned her. I was thinking about taking her under my wing but I don't want to show favoritism."

"Why does it have to be favoritism?" I asked. "You are showing someone new how to be a wolf since her maker won't. It's not favoritism unless you make it that way."

"I never saw it that way." He said and opened the front door for us. He turned the front light on and put the luggage by the couch. My guitar and box of VHS tapes were on the couch along with Brent and my bag of clothes that Jack had brought.

"Jack has moved in with Kira one block over in number 29. This is 32 just so you know. As soon as you can set up a P.O. Box in the city and we go once a week to check it. And are you sure about this money?"

"If I wasn't sure it wouldn't be in your pocket." I said.

He shook our hands once more and left us alone. I took my own tour of the house and ended at the bathroom. It was a huge bathroom. It had a his and her sinks and mirrors, a large claw bathtub that I had always dreamed of and a separate shower. The toilet had its own little room. I was in love.

I heard Brent strumming on my guitar a little tune. I went to the living room and leaned against the wall and watched him for a minute before I grabbed a bag to put clothes away.

The next morning I reported in to Darla at the diner. It was just simply called Lukoi. Jed had gotten Brent at the butt crack of dawn but I wasn't needed until eight. She handed me and apron.

"You know what to do." She said as the first customers came in.

It wasn't long before we were slammed. I had met half of the pack before noon and the other half after noon. It went on like this all week and I finally remembered everyone's names, what they did, where they were from, and how old they were. Jessie and Derek never came in once but his woman did. She was kind to everyone else but me which was a given. The new girl always hates the ex, wasn't it always the way? I didn't hate Jessie I was just mad at her. If only she would have told me I wouldn't have been so upset. Why did they have to hide it? She knows I'm a very understanding person to the ridiculous point.

The night of the full moon Brent and I followed the pack to a large and extremely old tree.

"Before the change is upon us do we have any challenges?" Jed asked.

I came forward. "I challenge Jessie."

"As do I." Brent said.

"Jessie do you accept these challenges or do you step aside?"

"I step aside for Brent and acknowledge him as superior and accept Jade's challenge." She said and her eyes narrowed.

"Then I challenge Larry." Brent said.

"Challenge accepted." Larry replied. He was tall and skinny with blonde hair and brown eyes.

"We shall begin with the bitches' fight." Jed said.

The moon rose from the horizon and the forceful change came upon us. Any other time we had the choice to change. Tonight we didn't. I was the first one on all fours and I got shocked looks from those all around me.

As soon as Jessie had changed she pounced on me. I wasn't expecting it so soon. I was taken to the ground and she went for my throat. She wasn't meaning just to fight. She wanted to kill me. My claws scratched her belly and she loosened her grip but didn't let go. I put all my strength into one kick and she went flying. She landed with a hard thud but was back on her feet quickly.

We circled each other with our heads low, ears back, and teeth bared. She made the first move and I dodged it and got a good shot at her rump and I heard wolves snicker. It was a very odd sound.

Her first move was a surprise to me but now she was being reckless and left herself open to too many shots. She tried to pounce again but I met her halfway in my own leap and she went to the ground with my teeth in her neck. I bit down enough to make her choke. She rolled to her back and showed her belly and I backed away.

She got up and stalked away and sat on the other side of the tree. She was embarrassed that her first fight had ended that way.

I watched as Brent fought for his place and win. They both came away bloody and Larry had put up one hell of a fight but eventually showed his belly as well. I would have to wait until the next full moon to challenge him.

I licked Brent's wounds as others went for a run or played. Some even mounted others. I hadn't had sex in complete wolf form. I wasn't ready for that. I don't think I could ever be ready for that.

Months went by and Brent and I climbed up what I called the ladder. Every chance we got we challenged someone but we never challenged each other. Jack was right behind us but once he got to Kira's place he stopped. He would have to challenge her to continue on and he wouldn't embarrass her that way. Brent became third to Alpha and stopped. He wouldn't challenge Darla and nor would I. A lot just stood aside most of the time after seeing how we fought. I became fourth.

18 months with the pack Jed came to us one day with Darla. I feared at first that he was going to kick us out of the pack, he might have feared how powerful we were.

I had made dinner for them that night.

"I appreciate you not challenging Darla or me, but I have to know, do you have it planned?"

"I don't want to run a pack but I also know that lower pack member's opinions rarely matter." Brent said.

"After what you guy did for us your opinion would always matter to me." Jed replied. "And you Jade?"

"I'm happy where I am." I answered.

"I want to name you to Skoll and Hati." Jed said. "I've taken notice to your loyalty to Darla and I and to this pack. You have helped the new members without being asked while others believe it is a chore. More want to join us. Our numbers have almost tripled since you two came here."

"It would be an honor." I said.

"But I want this to be different. It is why I have brought Darla with me. Brent since you are with me the most I would like you to be my Skoll and Jade, you Darla's Hati. It would mean so much to us."

"Wow Darla, I didn't know you liked me so much." I said jokingly.

"I've never trusted anyone before like I trust you. I honestly don't know why but as soon as you came here I felt like you were a daughter to me."

"I love you too Darla." I said with a smile. She smiled back.

"That is also why I am here. Darla has a bond with you like Jack does. She likes to be around you. She is drawn to be around you. It really makes me think more of the queen thing. I would like to see you as a berserker once more."

"I don't know if I can do that."

"Can we just try?" Darla asked.

Brent

That night the four of us went to the large tree. We sat there as wolves and watched Jade concentrate. She closed her eyes and a crease came between her eyes. And suddenly like a wind her fur bristled and changed to pure white. On her head was a tri-tipped mark that went passed her ears. When she opened her eyes they were amber colored instead of green. She growled and lowered herself to a defensive stance ready for a fight. Jade wasn't home anymore. This was her beast.

See? Jed said.

I see it. It is true. She truly is a queen. It is how Aurelia was just invert the colors. Darla said.

I looked at Jade and went up to her. She whined and stopped growling. Her beast knew mine. She rolled to her back and put her belly up and her paw playfully patted my muzzle like a pup would play.

We'll leave you two alone. We will talk more tomorrow. Jed told me.

I nodded and they trotted off toward the town.

I laid down in front of her and she patted my muzzled again. I rolled my eyes and patted hers back. She rolled over and moved closer to me. She rubbed her head against mine and then tugged my ear with her teeth. She was acting like a pup. She even wagged her tail.

I got up and bopped her on the head and ran. She followed after me. We played until almost dawn when her eyes went back to green and her fur changed back to blonde. She dragged her paws on the way home and I ended up having to carry her the rest of the way when she passed out.

I put her in bed and covered her up. Jed and Darla were waiting in the living room.

"So she's a queen." I said and sat down.

Jade

I woke up and Brent wasn't next to me. The afternoon sun shone through the window. I got up and went to the bathroom. I looked at myself in the mirror for a brief second before grabbing my toothbrush.

I glanced back up and stopped in mid motion. My skin seemed translucent. It was much paler. My hair had white streaks running through it.

"Brent!" I called.

He rushed in. "What's wrong?"

"What's wrong with me?" Tears streamed down my face.

"I can't answer that." He said and put his arms around me.

"I'm changing in ways I don't want to. I don't look like me anymore."

"You are you." He simply said. "There are things at work here that are only told in legends. Things I thought were just stories passed through the ages."

"But why does it have to be me?" I asked.

"Because whatever powers that be knew that you would be strong enough."

"But what if I'm not? What if I let everyone down?"

"Stop with all the buts. I'll be by your side no matter what happens, even if you want me there or not. I saw a queen last night, a playful one at that. But none the less you have the marking."

"So what am I supposed to do?" I asked.

"I don't know." He answered.

I walked through the town and people stopped to look at me. A truck drove passed with a large cage usually used for chickens came back. There were three men in the cage. I could smell rotting flesh. The truck went to the center of town. Jed came by and grabbed my arm and we followed the truck.

The man closest to the rear was looking at me. He bowed his head and then smiled at me.

Larry and Jack got out of the truck.

"We found these lurking at the edge of town. Lured them into a trap." Jack said.

"Good job." Jed said and went to the stage. "Not only do we have The Enlightened to fear but we have rogues to fear as well. They give us bad names. Mark us as the beasts we try not to be. You know what happens to rogues!"

"Burn them!" One said from the crowd.

I looked around at the crowd that had gathered. It was the first time that I had seen rogues come to town. I didn't know what they would do. Rogues were murderers that fed on human meat.

I looked back at the man that had bowed to me. His hair was matted and dirty but went to passed his shoulder blades but was so matted with dirt you couldn't really tell the color. His blue eyes shined on his dirt covered face. His hands were chained with silver.

I went closer and he smiled. His teeth were the cleanest thing on him.

"Hello." He said.

I ignored him and watched as they were taken to the outside of town. I followed them and metal poles came into view. There were ten of them standing in the sunlight. The tops still gleamed silver but the rest of it was charred. A few of the pack brought up tinder and placed it around three of the poles. I realized they were going to be burned alive. It was more humane then what I did to my rogue over a year ago but I didn't want them to burn.

"Why burn them?" I asked Jed.

"To prove a point and it keeps other rogues away."

The three were taken out of the cage and the one that bowed to me didn't put up a fight like the other two did. Instead he did something I hadn't seen since I came to the town. He prayed. It was in a language I didn't understand and I inched closer to him as he was chained to the pole on the end.

The other two snarled and yelled and even tried to transform but the silver held them back. I was the only one so far that could transform with silver on them. The man's eyes were closed as he continued to mutter his prayers.

"Is something wrong Jade?" Jed asked.

"No." I answered.

The first one was doused in gasoline and a lot of the crowd stepped back. The smell burned my nose. Jed threw a lit match into the tinder and the first one went up in a whoosh of flames. He started screaming at the top of his lungs and a green smoke came from him. The smell of burning flesh made me turn my head for fresh air but there wasn't any. I turned back and the praying man was looking at me. His blue eyes held something in them. The rogue I had met had empty eyes.

I went to the second one as he was doused in gasoline and he snarled at me. I looked into his brown eyes and no one was home. It was just the animal in him that fought to claim us all. His animal had won.

I made a realization then. If you aren't strong as a human, the wolf is stronger and takes control. At times it was a constant battle to keep your humanity. But what if these were never able to put up a fight? Was that their fault? Not entirely.

I went back to the third and Jed lit the second on fire. He just stared at me. I reached my hand up and hesitated for a second before I touched his cheek. He closed his eyes and I felt the air go out of me for a brief moment. The air around me got heavy and I couldn't move. The world spun and I let go of him.

"What the hell was that?" Jed asked.

"I claim this man." I said.

"He's a rogue."

"No he's not." I said. "I take full responsibility of him if something happens. Don't burn him Jed." I pleaded.

"We're out of houses until we are able to build more."

"He'll stay with me."

"And Brent?" He asked.

"He'll understand." I said and went around and took the chains off of him. I honestly thought he would try to make a run for it but instead he collapsed to his knees.

"You are bringing up things of the past that are just thought to be legend." Jed told me. "What passed between you two?"

"I don't know. I just don't want him to burn." I said and helped the man to his feet. He was weak and he put his arm around my shoulder. It was awkward because he was so damn tall. Sure, Derek and Brent were tall but they barely reached the 6'1" mark. This guy was close to 6'6" and I'm only 5'6".

"What did you do to me woman?" He asked quietly after we were away from the crowd and burning flesh smell.

"I don't know." I answered.

I got hateful looks as we went through the town. We made it to my front door and Brent opened it. He grabbed the man from me and helped him inside.

"No questions?" I asked.

"I've learned to trust your judgment." He said and lowered the man on the couch. "He needs food."

"I know that." I said already going into the kitchen and grabbing leftovers of whatever I could find.

The man was in the shower and I stood outside the bathroom door. Brent had left to get some clothes in the city. The man was far too tall for anything he had.

"What's your name?" I asked.

"Marcus." He replied from behind the door.

"I'm Jade." I said.

"Thank you for saving my life." He said. "I'll repay you some day."

"It's not necessary." I told him and leaned my head against the wall.

"How did you know I wasn't a rogue? I must have smelled to high hell next to them."

"Your eyes." I answered. "A rogue loses the humanity in his eyes, like there is no one home. There is someone home in your eyes."

"And how do you know I'm not a different kind of rogue?"

"I don't, but I trust my gut. You're not a rogue. Why were you with them?"

"I wasn't. Like the guy said, they lured them into a trap. Well that trap included bait, I was trying to save that bait but they wouldn't believe me."

"Who was the bait?" I asked.

"Girl, short brown hair, tan, I think they called her Jessie."

"Idiots." I said quietly.

"Something wrong?" Marcus asked as I smelled shampoo.

"Jessie is the lowest in the pack. She has no status."

"And that would be why she would appeal to the rogues. Easy to eat, easy to fuck."

"I hope not in that order."

He remained quiet. I took that as sometimes that's what happened.

"How did you know what I am?" I asked.

"Your power emits very high. I actually thought you were the leader of this pack."

"I just enforce the law."

"Hati or Skoll?" he asked.

"Skoll." I answered. "Brent, my mate is Hati."

"Do you plan on keeping me?"

"What do you mean?"

"Do you plan on keeping me here or letting me leave?" he asked.

"You're not a prisoner here. You can leave whenever you like." I replied.

He went quiet after that and I had no more questions. I went to the living room and laid down on the couch. I turned the TV on and turned it to the news. There was nothing interesting about it. I just left it on for noise as I closed my eyes.

The bathroom door finally opened and I sat up. Marcus came out with a towel wrapped around his waist. My jaw dropped. His skin was naturally tan; his hair was curly brown black. I noticed that he had cut it. It now went to just his shoulders. I composed myself and closed my mouth with a blush that made my face burn.

He smiled and sat down on the chair that was next to the couch. He adjusted the towel as he sat so not to flash me. I was appreciative. I flipped to a movie channel and we watched in silence.

Brent came back twenty minutes after that with Jed. Brent handed him the clothes and he went back to the bathroom.

"So what's your plan Jade?" Jed asked.

"What do you mean?"

"The pack won't accept him, he was with the rogues." Jed told me.

"I claimed him as mine, if he wants to stay then he stays. If he wants to go then he leaves. He's not a prisoner Jed. A lot of these new wolves have sketchy pasts, a lot of them are hiding from something. Who says he can't become a brother?" I looked intently at him, my gaze never leaving his. It was a show of dominance and he wasn't going to back down but neither was I.

"Are you going to challenge me?" He asked.

"No, I'm just putting my foot down as your Skoll. It is custom for brothers or sisters to become a part of the pack. Smell him Jed, does he smell like a rogue to you?"

"That's not the point Jade and you know it."

"Then what's the problem?" I asked. "If one cannot join the pack because he was caught in a trap with rogues while he was trying to save their victim then I don't think I need to be a part of that pack."