The Mills Pack sprinted halfway to Royal Pack territory...until they hit the snow. Sura didn't even stop as she plowed right through it and the others followed in her path. Regina conjured a boat to quickly take them across the water. There were more boats there when they arrived. Sura lead the way across the frozen tundra. The sounds of battle reached their ears and they came upon at least 100 wolves swarming the doors of the Winter Den. The Royal Pack poured something on them from above and many of the enemy wolves collapsed or backed away.
"They're surrounded." Lycia whispered. The doors were splintering, ready to burst any moment. The Royal Pack didn't wait for them to do so. Roque and a dozen others fell on them from above before Tala lead the charge through the doors. They didn't see Lucia. Lycia announced their presence with a howl to let the Royal Pack know they weren't enemies, but that only caused the enemy wolves, some of them Regina even recognized from the festival, to attack them. It was a bloody conflict. Their enemies were fighting to the death and for Regina, it was no hard decision to give them what they wanted. They'd threatened her daughter and now they needed to pay. If they wished for death, so be it. All around her were the sounds of battle, cries of pain and hot blood staining the snow. Regina nearly got her eye slashed and she was bleeding from multiple cuts on her right side. Still, she and Lycia pushed on until they made it into the den where the fighting was the thickest. She was suddenly flattened and yelped as teeth bit into her shoulder causing searing pain to shoot up her arm. She struggled to lash out magic, hitting two other wolves who thankfully were the enemies but nowhere near enough to be the one attacking her. Lycia shifted into human form and wrapped her arms around the wolf's middle and crushed it. Regina heard bones crack and Lycia tossed the body aside before assessing her wound.
"I'm fine, go. Find Lucia."
Lycia nodded and raced up the nearby staircase. Regina turned to throw herself back into the fray. She found herself back to back with Tala. The she-wolf gave her a nod of acknowledgement before turning back to the task at hand. Regina did likewise. A minute later, an explosion ripped through the castle, blowing a hole above the doors and showering them with rocks and dust. "They have cannons? Why don't we have cannons?" Another followed suit and the building shook. Wolves ran to get to cover, but she ran up the broken stairs in hopes of finding her daughter and her mate. She arrived just in time to see the wall and floor collapse, taking a dozen enemy wolves with it...as well as her daughter. Lycia leaped forward to try and catch her, but she was pushed back by Lucia. The side of the castle just crumbled. Lucia disappeared within the darkness and dust.
/
It was an incredibly long fall. Lucia counted to 10 before she crashed through the ice of the lake that was nearby. She struggled to avoid the falling rubble. One rock hit her in the back and knocked the meager amount of air she'd managed to catch right out of her lungs. The surface seemed to get farther and farther away no matter how she tried to reach it and she was tiring out fast. Then she felt him. One arm wrapped around her neck while the other pulled them awkwardly through the water. He broke the surface first and threw her onto the bank where she upheaved a gutful of water.
"What's up, Princess?"
Lucia looked up at the man who'd saved her. He was barechested, showing off a toned abdomen, despite it being freezing outside. Tight leather pants encased powerful looking legs and he wore slim black boots. She recognized the tattoos on his shoulders and the bearclaws around his neck, and of course those beautiful eyes. "Kovu?"
Kovu grinned. "I knew you wouldn't forget me."
"What are you doing here?" She asked, standing up, shifting into her human form.
He swept unruly dark locks back onto his head, looking every bit like the dark and sexy savage that he was. She frowned. When had she ever thought someone was sexy? Besides the usual suspects of Brangelina, Scarlett Johansson or Liam Hemsworth. "Saving your ass apparently. I came to warn you when I caught wind of their plans but obviously I didn't get here fast enough. You okay?" She nodded. "Then let's go." He shifted and she followed suit. She had to do a double take at how big he was now. In the past few months, he'd doubled in size, still possessing a slender build but he was now thicker and stronger. She shook her head to keep herself focused on the task ahead. They raced across the ice covered land back to the castle. Kovu paused and gave her the signal to wait. There were a group of wolves, about 10, hanging back from the fighting. They must be some of the reserves. Kovu lead the way behind them, flexing his extra long claws in anticipation. Lucia bunched her haunches underneath her before diving right into the middle of them. She snapped one's neck with ease and fell upon another. Kovu sliced open the bellies of two as they tried to jump on him, his claws slicing through thick pelts like knives through butter. His pack were ambush masters and it took no effort at all for them to defeat their surprised opponents. The battle was dying down it would seem, then the last of their enemies tried to retreat. Trina lead the charge after them, making sure none made it to their boats.
"Lucia!" Lucia flinched at her mothers' cries before both of them started furiously licking her all over. "We feared the worst."
"Mom, I'm not gonna die from falling off a cliff if a bear and a bull couldn't finish me off." Lucia scoffed. Cailan limped over to make sure she was alright. "I'm totally fine, just a little bruised." She noticed her bleeding paws. "And I might be missing a few claws, but small price to pay because we won!" The wolves let out wild cheers of happiness. The enemy wolves didn't make it to the basement so the mother and her pups were safe. As well as the oil. It was a joyous occasion until they noticed the two white bodies among the many others. Loki and Luna hadn't made it. They'd fought side by side to protect the basement and the little ones hiding inside. The pack set to work honoring their bravery with a burial. Even battered, bloodied and sore, they honored those lost. The other bodies were put onto the boats that brought them here and pushed into the lake where Regina set them alight with fire. A silent vigil for the lost lives was held for all that night. The morning yielded only more cleaning, repairs and restoring order. Lucia was kept on her toes throughout the entire time, so she was unable to speak with her family much. Besides sleeping and following orders, she didn't do much else. The wolf that had broken Lucia's mirror to stop Regina from warning them, a young male by the name of Tyko, was thrown into a prison cell until further notice.
It wasn't until the next night that the Royal Pack celebrated their win, busting out the expensive wines and champagnes and cooking all of their food on the spitroast. Everyone even got a good laugh as Sura slammed Talia on the ground and sat down on her back.
"You have been back for almost a year and you never thought to tell me?!" Sura growled. "I should bury you in the snow!"
"Mom, would you please-"
"Don't! I'm not moving for the rest of the night. How dare you not at least send a postcard. I finally see you and you're in the middle of a battle?!"
Lycia crouched down in front of Tala. "Sura is your mom." She said in awe.
"Yeah, I know."
"Why didn't you ever tell me?! One of the most famous wolves in history is your mother and you just happen to forget to announce that? I asked you about her all the time when we were little." Lycia growled.
Sura frowned. "One of?"
"Mom, please get off me." Tala tried to power her way out but Sura was far stronger.
The she-wolf looked up at a smirking Roque. "Hello Roque, dear. My, have you grown. Are you dating my daughter? Did she tell you when she got back to the Enchanted Forest or is it just her mother that she neglected to inform after a 10 year hiatus."
Tala sighed. "Mom, I swear to-" Tala started thrashing to get free and managed to roll over onto her back, but Sura merely crossed her legs, now sitting on her daughter's stomach. "I am sorry, please get off me."
"No."
"Mo-"
"No." Sura growled to punctuate her point. She shifted into wolf form and started furiously covering her daughter with licks, no matter how hard Tala tried to get away, she was always pulled back and slathered with kisses. "You are my only child and you know I am a protective mother. This is your punishment." Each word was punctuated with a swipe of her tongue and Tala laughed and continued to try and escape.
Regina smiled at the affectionate display but she noticed that her own mate had slipped out, looking almost sad. What was going on with Lycia now? Regina suddenly felt something in her heart, as though it were breaking apart. She immediately raced away to their bedroom for the night. Lycia was sitting on the bed, crying. "Lycia?" Her mate looked up at her, but broke into tears again and Regina went and wrapped her arms around her. Lycia buried her face in her neck, still shaking. She didn't answer when Regina asked what was wrong, so she continued to kiss away her mate's tears and hug her until she cried herself to sleep. The ordeal of the past few nights took its toll on the queen and she was soon out as well.
The next morning, Lycia rose before her mate and took a long hot shower to wash away the remains of the battle and the cleaning. She went downstairs to find most of the Royal Pack still asleep, as well as her own pack. She found her daughter with Tala, Roque, Sura, and Keeva sitting on a balcony, talking strategy it would seem.
"I don't understand. They're doing all of this to burn down the Infinite Forest? Aren't there other ways to do that besides a ton of oil and gunpowder?" Lucia asked. She looked different. Her hair was much longer and wavier and no longer pale blonde or nearly white. It was almost a dark cream color, a blend of the white of the Royal Pack and her natural hair color that mirrored Lycia's own. She carried herself differently as well. Her daughter was no longer untouched by the world. It was her first true battle and already she'd lost a couple friends. But there was a certain shine to her now. It reminded Lycia of Regina, the way she glowed even through darkness. Now, Lucia had found her own glow and she couldn't be more proud, even if they weren't on the best of terms right now.
"Getting an army through the Infinite Forest without getting lost is a tough thing to accomplish." Keeva said. "It would take weeks using the path and there could always be risks and casualties."
"So burning down the forest, besides potentially turning into an unstoppable inferno that destroys our lands as well as those they're trying to take over, seems like a good plan." Tala said, very sarcastically. She leaned back against Roque's chest on the couch they were sitting on. "What's next?"
"Identifying who 'they' are, is virtually impossible. One of our own was corrupted and we had no idea." Keeva murmured as she thought. "For all we know there could be more."
"There are certainly more." Sura added. "But this whole taking over the world thing is stupid. Do they know how many wolves are going to die if they try this? People could die just from them trying to burn down the forest and even more against the other kingdoms."
"Pride is the ultimate crutch for our kind apparently." Lucia sighed.
Keeva sighed as well. "There is much to be done."
"What are you going to do with the oil?"
"The Winter Den is easily the best defensible place in the lands. With some repairs it could be sufficient." Tala shrugged.
Sura scoffed. "And who will defend it? The pack was barely back on its feet before this and now they've taken another hard blow."
"Hard blow?" Lucia laughed, sitting forward. "Miss Sura, we won. We survived. They didn't succeed. If anything, it was just the boost we needed." she said excitedly.
Tala and Keeva exchanged looks. Lycia moved away from listening in and returned to the bedroom to find Regina just starting to stir. The queen rolled onto her back and looked up at her mate.
"Morning."
Lycia smiled. "Good morning."
"You okay?"
She nodded. "I just...I realize what an ass I've been." Regina propped herself onto her elbow, looking at her mate critically. Lycia sighed. "This isn't me. Ever since we got back, I've been acting like a wolf, the way I used to be instead of who I became when I met you. That me is the person I want to be. I've never fought with Lucia before and I've never kept things from you...until now and i'm going to stop it. I love you, Regina, and i don't think I tell you enough, but i do. You used to tell me how I changed your life, well you changed mine."
"I agree the circumstances of being in this world and in the middle of some kind of civil war can cause a person to act differently." Regina said carefully. "And I'm pretty sure that I act different too so I won't hold anything against you."
"I love you."
"I love you too." Regina sat up and kissed her mate's lips. Lycia asked her to change her own hair color, back to the way it was when they met, a blend of browns, blacks and golds. She felt more like herself, like the person she truly wanted to be. It would seem that she needed to find herself just as Lucia had done.
"Sleep some more if you need it, I'm gonna go talk to Lucia and Tala." Lycia kissed her forehead and waited for her to roll over and settle before walking back out. Lucia hadn't moved. She was staring out over the land, not even minding the cold air. Tala was next to her, talking to her.
"It is your life mission to give me a heart attack." Tala said firmly.
Lucia smirked. "It is not."
"This is the third time you've nearly died on my watch."
"I'm sorry, T."
Tala grabbed her in a hug and kissed her temple. "Don't be sorry, kid. You won the day for us. Anyways, I've been talking with Keeva and she is thinking about stepping down as alpha and giving the position to me and Roque while she goes to get us a spot on the Council."
"Okay. You're basically leading anyway."
"Right. And I'm gonna need some betas. I'm thinking you, Storm and Trina."
Lucia immediately whipped around to look at her, making her jump. "You're serious?"
"Yeah, you're young, you're strong and you are loyal. You have a lot to learn, but I believe you're going to be a great alpha one day."
Lucia grinned and tackled the woman out of the chair.
"Okay. Okay. Chill out, dear." Tala laughed. Lucia got back to her feet and pulled Tala up as well.
"I won't let you down. I swear. No more crazy stuff."
"I don't believe that for a second, but we'll see." Tala chuckled. Lycia decided to make her presence known. Both women looked up at her and she smirked a little as Lucia's eyes grew wide as she took in the sight of her mother's hair. "I should leave you two alone." Tala said.
"Wait." Lycia touched her arm to stop her. "I need to talk to the both of you." She took a deep breath and glanced over her shoulder, finding Regina standing in the doorway. "I have trouble letting things go. Whether it being a feud, or my children. Tala, I want to apologize for being an ass and blaming you for things you had nothing to do with. And Lucia, you are a strong, independent woman and you are smart enough to make your own decisions in life. I don't ever remember being more proud of you than I am now."
Tala grinned. "No problem. I did mess with your mate, and you guys saved our asses last night. Let's just call it even."
"Thanks Ma." Lycia sighed as Lucia gave her a hug.
"Also." Lycia said. "With the permission of my mate, I want to propose an alliance between our two packs."
"Really?" Tala looked shocked. "You really want to tie yourself to the Royal Pack?"
"Really." Regina added. Lucia ran to throw her arms around her neck. "Besides, we're gonna have to have an ally against these crazy wolves who want to take over the world."
Lycia nodded and shook Tala's hand. "Should we make the announcement?"
"About the alliance? Not yet. But there will be a ceremony for our new leaders. You guys should stay for it."
"We wouldn't miss it." Lycia smiled at her daughter. Lucia ran off to tell her siblings and Lycia turned to punch Tala in the shoulder.
"Ow! What the hell-"
"After all these years, you never thought to tell me that Sura was your mother? You couldn't get me an autograph or something?"
Tala rolled her eyes as she laughed. "It never crossed my mind. She's not the captivating entertainer to me." She smiled. "She's my mom, which is even better."
"That's so sweet...but you still could've gotten her to sign something for me."
Tala rolled her eyes again and they went back into the castle as the other packs were just starting awaken. Breakfast was brought out and that helped the aching warriors a little. Afterwards, the new ranks were announced and Lucia received congratulations from her family. Regina and Cara used magic to hide the oil and gunpowder beneath the floor of the basement and Regina herself would go on to place defensive wards around the island. The packs split up again. There was much to do over the next few weeks and it was best to get started on it.
Lucia watched her family sail away again, feeling so much love bloom in her chest at how they'd dropped everything and come to help her. They were truly amazing. Even Lycia had come to her aid, even after the things she'd said. She knew things between them were far from perfect, but she felt proud to be her mother's daughter. Tala's call alerted her to the pack gathering and she turned to head back to the castle. She made it about halfway there when she spotted Kovu, plodding through the snow, making funny tracks due to his bear claws.
"Kovu! Wait up!" He paused until she made it to his side.
"Another new look? Which one is the real you, princess?" He asked.
"This is the real me." She said firmly. "You don't like it?"
He snorted. "I didn't say that."
She smirked. "I owe you my thanks."
"Don't mention it. We're even now." He shrugged.
She looked around before turning back to him. He was studying her quite closely in that relaxed, yet calculating way of his. "What are you going to do now?"
"Hopefully find the others of my kind. If not, then rebuild. I won't let Shadowpack die with me. Not until I find the murderers who took my family from me." He gave her ear a light touch with his nose. "Don't worry, princess, we'll see each other around. Once you're done taking over the Royal Pack." He started walking away and she briefly wondered to herself how he was allowed to just walk through anyone's territory.
"I have a name you know." She called.
Kovu paused to look over his shoulder. "And it's a beautiful name too. But Princess annoys you, so I'll stick with that."
She rolled her eyes and turned to head back to the castle. She was immediately greeted by Cailan. Tala was separating the patrols for the next week. She wasn't surprised when she was told to stay in the courtyard and monitor battle training. It was a minor task compared to the others, who would be leading border and hunting patrols, but she didn't mind. Trina gave her a disdainful look. Ever since those days of constant trudging through snow, she got the impression that her older cousin didn't like her very much. Not that she really cared because Tosca was much more amiable than her sister, but she wanted to smack Trina sometimes. She held her cool though and went upstairs to her room, finding Regina sitting on her bed, examining the bull antlers.
"Mom?"
"Hello dear." Regina smirked.
"What's going on? I thought you guys just left."
"Uh, they did. Tala asked me to stay until tomorrow because of some kind of pride building exercise or something. She needed magic and plus, I repaired your castle so there's plenty of room. Magic is wonderful, is it not?" She looked around Lucia's room. "I didn't know you brought any pictures with you."
"Cara sent them to me." Lucia would never leave home without some family photos and memorabilia. She sat down on the pristine white bed and watched her mother look over her things. Regina paused to look at a picture of her and all her siblings.
"You all are growing so fast. It's barely been a year." She sighed. "Soon, you're all gonna have families and pups and I'm gonna have thousands of grandchildren."
"None from this direction hopefully." Lucia smirked.
Regina chuckled. "You have two men already breathing down your neck. Tell me you've noticed."
"Noticed what?"
"Oh, my dear, never mind then." she grinned mischievously and turned back to the pictures. "I do hope that once you've all achieved your goal in restoring the Royal Pack that you focus on having lives on your own." Tala happened to peek in at that moment. "Tala, I expect no less than two litters of pups from you."
She frowned. "What?"
"You and Roque are a sure thing, yes?"
"Yes." Roque said as he passed the doorway. Tala glared after him.
Regina laughed. "Yes it is then."
The next day, Regina stayed to help them build an ice bridge across the lake and a small fleet of ships if necessary. Then she conjured new furniture, throw rugs, and tapestries, a forge and made any any other repairs that were necessary. When she left, the Royal Pack kicked into high gear.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
3 years passed by in the blink of an eye. Regina saw a change come over her family and her life. Things became more settled and quiet after the attack. It was decided that they wouldn't speak of what happened to the Council, in case some of them were indeed members of the Others. Regina and Zelena, when she wasn't tending to the children, focused on work with the city, cleaning it out and burying the dead within. It was a long, arduous task, but they were helped by many other wolves who all volunteered to assist. She didn't speak much to Lucia, only at least once a month but sometimes once a week. Her daughter's time was preoccupied with being a new beta. The Royal Pack didn't even attend the festivals held over the years. Her children flourished in the span of the few years. Ariella and Bron became much closer and were usually inseparable. Daniel and Kodi made it official that they were mates. Their three leading ladies, Natasha, Anita and Red, left to form a pack of their own, along with about 6 other females. They simply slipped into the space left by the neighboring pack who fled, so they didn't go far at least.
Regina tore her study apart trying to see if she'd taken Ruby's memories at any point in time, but she couldn't find anything that would suggest she had. Tempers continued to flare between her and her apparent children, especially Petra. She tried to help her friend as best as she could, but neither knew exactly what to do.
Lycia changed as well, becoming more relaxed. Her dramatics did not change in the least, especially when the girls formed their own pack. But after seeing that they would be right next door, she calmed down a bit. Regina would often watch her doing her workout routines, something she'd started doing to get back in shape. Regina was glad that she was doing better. She should probably join her mate working out, but she was too lazy and only did so once a week. Things were changing, for the better. But now that the Others had actually made a move in attacking them, they needed to start working on returning the favor.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Arriving at the festival, Regina knew something was off. Everyone seemed to be on edge.
"Mommy, I'm hungry." Serra whined, walking between Scarlett's legs. Regina and Lycia let out a purr at their grandchild, who'd inherited her father's appetite.
"You're always hungry." Lycia said.
"I just fed you an hour ago." Scarlett looked down at her little one.
"I know, but I'm still hungry."
Seth chuckled, walking next to them, Asha and Aria riding on his back. The rest of the pack trailed behind, laughing and joking with one another. Natasha and her new pack had joined them and she was skipping next to her mothers, excited to be going to the festival as a new alpha.
Regina looked down at the festival grounds, every wolf on edge. There was no music, no talking, no laughing. Everyone seemed to be waiting. Then they heard the howl. It was the powerful baritone howl of none other than Roque. The Royal Pack were finally coming. Sura pushed her way to the front, tail wagging excitedly to see her daughter. The pack of white wolves emerged from the trees, their numbers had almost doubled in the last few years. Tala and Roque were at the head and Regina easily spotted Lucia, the only one with her cream colored fur. New wolves had been added to the pack.
"Mommy, it's Aunt Lucia." Asha said, bouncing on her father's back. "Can we go see her?"
"In a minute." Scarlett looked at Regina and Lycia. "What are they waiting for?"
Sura raced forward and quickly merged into the other wolves already at the gathering. She stepped forward to welcome the Royal pack to the festival. Slowly, the others started to warm up to the white wolves as they started to relax and the Royal pack revealed the peace offerings of elk that they'd brought for everyone. Lycia lead the way forward and Lucia almost immediately found them and she and Natasha started happily bouncing around at sharing the news of their pack positions. Despite being 21 now, she was just like teenager, racing around and taking in the sight of everything. It warmed Regina's heart and Lycia chuckled as she took them to where they could find a place to claim for the night. Things seemed to going well as the Royal Pack, once traitors and enemies were reinstated to the Alpha folds. That is, until one more pack made their entrance. A pack thought to be long dead. The Shadowpacks. Regina's jaw dropped at the sight of the massive bulky warriors, all of them thickly built sporting thick manes around their necks. She recognized their lead alpha as the one who's saved Lucia. It would seem he'd been busy. Now that all the packs were finally together, it took Sura's impressive people skills to ensure there was peace and a special performance created unity among them. Regina was surprised when Lycia didn't even get up to watch the show. The grandmothers were babysitting while Scarlett and Seth enjoyed the show.
"You don't want to watch?"
Lycia shook her head, cuddling closer to her mate. "I'm looking at the most beautiful woman in the world right now. Why would I need to stare at someone else?"
Regina purred. "You're too sweet." She supposed that knowing that Sura was a wolf like any other had caused some of her magic on Lycia to fade. She turned her attention to the fact that it was the first time that their family was together at a festival. Her daughters and Red made sure to show Lucia everything. She and Lycia got along much better than she expected. It would seem that they had repaired their relationship. And yet, there were a number of things weighing on her mind. A couple days later, during the day where everyone was sparring and testing who was the strongest, she managed to get Sura away from the others.
"What'd you want to talk about, Regina?" Sura asked.
Over the last few years, Regina had been steadily and secretly practicing with the Sight. Progress was slow and at the moment, she could barely call on it at will. She needed to know more about it. "Do you know who Dal was?"
Sura thought for a moment. "He was a member of the Royal Pack, right? One of the beta's sons. I didn't know him personally if that's what you're asking. Why?"
"Okay then, do you know what the Sight is?"
"The power to look through the eyes of others, yes. What's this about, Regina?"
Regina looked around and sent out a spell to make sure no one was in earshot and could hear their conversation. She told Sura about the first attack in Storybrooke and using the Sight. "There are so many questions, and so few answers. Someone tried to assassinate me. Dal came straight for me. I want to know why."
"I wish I knew." The older she-wolf said. "I was exiled decades ago."
Regina sighed. "I suppose it was too much to hope for. Everything is shrouded in so much secrecy nowadays."
"Ask Keeva. She might know. If not, then I can ask around. At least now you have allies in the Shadowpack wolves. Kovu's offered his support and the others followed suit."
Regina nodded. At least that was good, although she thought it was more of Kovu's obvious affections for her daughter than his actual desire for an alliance. She looked down at the sparring field and easily spotted Lucia with Cailan. It would seem that they were dating so to speak, but she knew attraction when she saw it and Kovu and Lucia, although only being good friends, clearly were attracted to each other. Whether or not they were aware of this or not, she wasn't sure, but she held her tongue about it. She and Sura returned to the festival and Regina squeezed in next to Zelena as Alyndra stepped into the arena to fight. She was in human form and wore only a leather cuirass and shorts. Lycia stepped out with her, clad in something similar. Tala followed suit, except her outfit was white. "What's happening?"
"Some dumbasses issued a challenge." Ariella said, popping up in front of her. "Lycia's gonna kick their asses."
The three challengers were from three different packs and all of them were indeed about to get their asses kicked. They attacked and Lycia ran to meet them, slamming into one and beating them into the ground. Tala ducked her attacker and hit them twice in the neck, making them collapse. She laughed and held up her fists, exciting the crowd. Alyndra had not moved at all.
"I need more of a challenge." She announced. "Send a few more please." A dozen more wolves leaped into the ring. She grinned. "That's more like it. Lycia, Tala, you guys can just take a seat."
Regina scoffed. "Such a show off."
"Such a badass." Zelena replied. Alyndra proved her mate's words as she easily defeated her opponents using a wicked combination of speed, flexibility and agility. She didn't even need Zelena's enchantment.
Then it was Lycia and Tala's turns as they stood together against a dozen more wolves, fighting as one, in a way Regina had never seen them fight before. After they won quite handily, Tala turned and called out to her mother. Sura had never struck Regina as much of a fighter, but a diplomat, more skilled in rhetoric than war. But Sura answered the call. The Battle Royal was announced and all the alphas took their places. Technically, Regina and Zelena both were supposed to be among them. However, Zelena watched the children and Regina simply enjoyed watching her mate work. It wasn't too much of a contest… Sura destroyed everyone.
"You know, I've been thinking." Zelena said softly as they walked back to their tents. "What if we're wrong about this whole thing?"
"What do you mean?" Regina asked.
"What if the story is wrong. I mean, Royal Pack is known for their cunning and efficiency and yet they blatantly attack an entire city and slaughter everyone inside? They could've just bought all the oil and moved it bit by bit."
"You think the Wolf Wars were just a hoax to turn everyone against the Royal Pack?"
Zelena shrugged. "I don't know. Things just don't add up. Maybe the wolves inside the city were some of the Others and the Royals knew what they were doing."
"The ones in the Council who supported the taking over the world madness could've changed the story since there weren't any survivors. It would've forced the Royal Pack to fight back."
"Since no one would believe them anyway." Zelena paused to look at her. "Who would do this?"
"Whoever They are." Regina answered.
/
"This place is so amazing." Lucia cried, walking next to Cailan. He had his arm wrapped possessively, but she hardly noticed because she was too busy trying some kind of snack that consisted of meat that was really sweet. "I've met so many different people. And this is amazing. You should try it." He reached to take it from her and she smacked his hand away. "I meant get your own."
Kovu scoffed as he walked up, still shirtless and wearing only black leather pants. "You should try some Brihoshge."
"What the hell is that?"
"Come on, I'll show you." He grinned and motioned for them to follow him to where the Shadowpacks were lounging around a large firepit about 20 feet long with a giant gator roasting over it.
"That is one big ass crocodile." Lucia commented.
Kovu chuckled as he accepted two bowls from an old woman tending the food and lead her over to her fur lined chair. She sat next to him and accepted the bowl of sliced meat laying on a bed of grilled vegetables. "Try it. Tastes like chicken."
"They have chicken here?"
"There are some agricultural packs and farmlands." Cailan answered, watching Kovu closely. Kovu simply ignored him and started eating. Lucia took a bite. The meat was surprisingly good, although it did not taste like chicken at all.
"If you think this is good, you should try my mom's lasagna." She smirked, quickly devouring the whole bowl.
"Lasagna?"
"Brihoshge isn't a strange word, but lasagna is?" Lucia scoffed. "There is so much food I need to introduce you to. I should get Mom to whip a banquet."
"Make enough for the rest of us, eh?" A group of Kovu's friends came by and leaned on the back of her chair. "So, you're the famous Lucia, huh? Why don't we put that rep to the test? Cliff diving contest."
"Anyone can dive off a cliff." Lucia said.
"Not like we do it."
She looked at Kovu, who only smirked. "What the hell. Let's go." They raced off and she was about to join them when Cailan grabbed her arm.
"Lucia, we should head back to the others."
"It's a festival. We're supposed to be having fun." She replied. "What's wrong with you?"
"I don't think you should be running off with some random wolves. Especially without me and especially not with Shadowpacks. They're savages."
Lucia sighed and pinched her nose. "Cailan, I think you should understand something." She said, looking up at him. "We are not mates. And I have no intention of mating anytime soon. I'm 21, and I'm going to live. You can come if you want to. If not, please let go."
"Lucia, I'm not about to let you go." He said firmly. "But it has been 3 years."
"I didn't ask you to wait, Cailan. If you want to go ahead and find some other girl and make her happy, then have fun. I think Trina has a crush on you. That's probably why she's such a bitch. But yeah...later." she turned to catch up with the other Shadowpack members. Kovu arched an eyebrow when he spotted her.
"Everything alright?"
"Everything's fine."
"Nah, I know you. What's wrong?" He asked.
"He's just being a little possessive." She shrugged. "He also wants to mate and have a litter of pups."
"How old are you?" Kovu frowned.
"Does age really matter here? For all I know he could be a hundred." She scoffed. "I ain't got time for that. I just got to be a beta."
"Don't worry about him, Princess. You've got too much to do before you settle down with some lucky wolf." Kovu put a hand to her back and lead her down to the cliffs where a whole line of people were jumping off. "Focus on the now." And those were the last words she heard before he pushed her off and she heard him laughing as she plummeted into the water. She hit it hard and stayed submerged for a moment as her senses rewired themselves. Just as she swam back to the surface, she let out a scream of satisfaction as her newfound friends pitched Kovu into the water after her. "Traitorous bastards." He frowned as he resurfaced next to her.
"You're an ass." She replied.
"A little bit." He grinned as he dunked her head in the water.
Later that evening, she returned to the rest of the pack and smiled at seeing their two youngest members playing with their mentors. Trina and Winter had been chosen to train them. She wasn't too worried at being left out. There would be other opportunities. She didn't see Cailan, but she did grin at Tala cuddling with Roque. She mouthed the word when and Tala quickly leaped up to take her hand and pull her away from the others.
"Never."
"Come on, T. People are going to notice sooner or later."
"She's going to freak."
"They're all going to do that anyway."
Tala sighed and glanced back at Roque. "He's so proud. He doesn't want to keep it secret anymore."
"I'll round up the gang." Lucia grinned excitedly as she raced to where her family pack was settling down for the night. "Tala has some exciting news." She said, diving on top of her Aunt Ruby and hiding behind her.
"What is it?" Sura asked. She looked concerned as Tala and Roque approached with Trina and Tosca. "What-"
"I'm pregnant, Mom." Tala said. The women all immediately got to their feet to congratulate the soon to be mother. Sura nearly lifted her off the ground in her happiness. "Thanks guys." She smiled shyly. The guys got up to shake Roque's hand and clasp him on the back in congratulations. They celebrated the good news all the next day since soon, they would be going back to their own territories. Lucia managed to catch up with her mothers as they were taking a walk across the open meadow.
"Um, guys, can I ask you a serious question?" She asked.
"Of course." Regina smiled. "What is it?"
"What does love feel like?"
"You're too young for love." Lycia replied immediately. Lucia rolled her eyes, not having expected any less from her wolf queen mother.
"Is this about you and Cailan?" Regina asked.
"No. He's just like nearly every other male Alpha. They just want a woman to have sex with and pop out some pups." She shrugged. "Not my cup of tea." Regina had this little smirk on her face that was really starting to annoy Lucia. She wondered what exactly her mother seemed to know that she didn't.
"Love feels like magic." Regina finally answered.
"It's wonderful and terrible at the same time." Lycia added.
"How so?"
"It was once said that love is giving someone all the power to destroy you, but trusting them not to."
Lucia nodded slowly. "I haven't felt like doing that with anyone."
"Then you're not there yet. Don't try to rush into things too fast."
"Believe me, I won't." She turned her head as she heard Tala calling. "Looks like we're heading back early. I'll see you guys later." She gave her mothers each a hug before shifting and racing off after her alpha.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The Mills Pack had returned home, but things were far from peaceful. Ruby knew it was a dream as soon as she found herself back in her old cottage. Blood was everywhere and what could only be the remains of her first love lay in front of her. She wanted to vomit, but instead she ran into the cold. The mob was coming after her with pitchforks and torches. Granny grabbed her hand and pulled her away into the woods. Terror laced her blood and she wasn't even sure why. A pain was growing her stomach. It forced her to her knees. Granny kept calling her. The mob was growing closer, surrounding them. Ruby screamed and looked up as her mother's pack leaped out of the bushes to defend them. Meanwhile, Granny urged her onto her back.
"What's happening? What's going on?"
"When I tell you to, Red, push. Okay?"
"No, not okay! What's-" The pain made her cry.
"Push!" Granny yelled. A hand took hers. Her mother, smiling proudly down at her, giving her an encouraging squeeze. Ruby gave birth t two twins in the midst of the battle.
"They're as beautiful as you are." Anita smiled, holding boy while Ruby cradled the girl close to her chest.
"Is this what happened? How I lost them?" The children were indeed cold, even for werewolves, but she wrapped them tighter to keep them warm until they found safe shelter. She couldn't get up before her mother yelped as an arrow hit her the chest. She had enough wherewithal not to drop the baby, but a magical spell froze her in place. Granny turned to receive the same treatment, her hand an inch from her crossbow. "Stay back!" Ruby screamed, ready to go wolf. She reached for her cloak with trembling fingers. A hooded figure stepped forward and waved her hand in front of Anita and Granny, stealing their memories. She was powerless as the same thing happened to her and her children were taken right from her arms.
Ruby shot awake in bed, trembling and covered in cold sweat. Quinn, who slept like a log anyway, didn't even stir as she got off the bed and went out into the night air, rubbing her shoulders frantically and trying to clear her head. She couldn't stop shaking.
"Ruby?" She turned as Pietros walked up behind her, concern evident on his face. "Are you alright?"
"Uh, yes." She said quickly. "Perfectly fine. Just...a little restless, I suppose."
"Nightmare?" He asked. "I heard you whimpering in the other room."
She nodded. "About what happened the night you born. If it's right, someone did take you from me. I would never willingly give up my children, you have to believe that."
"I do."
"Your sister isn't exactly so easy to convince." She'd actually gotten to know Pietros quite well and he got along with his other siblings, but his sister was not so easy to talk to. She was on constant guard and hated Ruby with a passion. She was often alone and only allowed Pietros to come near her at all. Ruby was sure that Petra would never have stayed, were it not for her twin.
"I'll keep talking to her." Pietros assured her. "Since so many of her family is gone, we only have you and Granny now. I would rather have you than...no one."
"We'll get to the bottom of this. I don't care if it takes forever." She promised. "Someone will pay for the pain you suffered."
"I know." Pietros stepped forward so that he stood at her side. "Perhaps a midnight run would do us both some good, yeah?"
"That sounds nice." She shifted and he followed suit, leading the way into the woods, moonlight pouring from the sky around them. Soon, mother and son were lost within its shower.
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