3 Chapter III

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The path at one's feet fades as it leads into the darkness of the woods, the delicate young woman thought about this decision repeatedly. Clearly not knowing about the current lockdown upon the royal castle, Fawn nonetheless, stride along the path towards the castle, 'I don't know about this, her majesty can be busy...', fawn said to her wolf, Gracie. 'Don't worry Fawn I'm sure it'll be fine, I hope...', Gracie replied, Gracie has full confidence about this plan. Gracie talked Fawn into visiting Willow to thank her for her support at training.

Fawn didn't want nothing to do with training as she already knew she was going to get beat up and end up in the pack hospital, again. She tried to blend in the crowd as best as she could, but Willow called her out. Gracie whimpered as she thought the worst; Willow was going to beat her to death in front of everyone. Fawn did the best she could not to anger her majesty, she wanted to crawl under a rock after she said she would lose to Hunter. Fawn was no match to Hunter until Willow said something to her that made her have so much confidence even she didn't know she had. Willow leaned into Fawn ear, for a moment she let her beasts do the talking, two separate voices of Lola and Lucy had become one. "Fawn, Gracie, the people who consider you weak have not yet noticed the wolf hiding behind your eyes, nor the flames inside your soul. I want you to let them think you are weak and do what wolves and fire do best; Surprise them when they least expect it.", these words were burned into fawn's memories. Just from those kind and supporting words gave Gracie and Fawn the strength she needed.

Gracie wanted to thank Willow for what she said to her, 'You're right, Gracie. In fact, I think her Majesty would be glad to see us', Fawn said to her, she smiled as she continued her journey to the castle. A little more than 9 miles away was Willow running away from the rogue, trying to shake him off her tail but no luck. 'Ugh he just won't quit!', Willow said in frustration as she turned left on a dime causing the rogue to slide right into a tree as he failed trying to follow her moments. 'Wait a minute Lucy he stopped', Willow said to Lucy who stopped in her tracks and turned around see the rogue getting up and shook the dirt along with leaves off him. He lifted his head up and sniffed the air smelling the delicious scent he was longing for, without a second thought he dashed the opposite way heading straight towards Fawn. Willow also smelled the air, 'It's fawn, what on earth is she doing out here? She could get killed!', Willow she as she began to trot to where the rogue was going but Lucy stopped her. 'NO! You saw the look in his eyes, we've seen it before, he is Fawn's mate...', Lucy said in a bit of awe.

'Doesn't matter you know how frighten Fawn would be. Besides our objective stays the same he is a Rogue!', Willow said and went in a full sprint following the scent of Fawn. Fawn was making left and right turns on the path, 'Huh, I could have sworn that I'll be at the castle by now, maybe I took a wrong turn...', Fawn put a hand on her chin as she looked around. 'Wait someone's coming this way, run Fawn!', Gracie yelled as she tried to move Fawn's body. 'Ok but who am I running from and where do I go?', fawn asked but it was too late. Out from the bushes the brown rogue wolf pounced towards fawn knocking her over, Fawn screamed in complete terror and she got into a protective fetus position covering her head.

The rogue growled at her reaction; he lifted his paw in attempt to uncover her face, but Willow came on the right side of him. She charged at him head butting him on his shoulder which sends him flying across the forest floor. Willow roared at him displaying her dominance, but he only growled back as he got up, he tried to go around Willow, but nothing would make her budge and move from Fawn's side. He snarled in frustration and just charged at her; Willow did the same she dodges each of his attacks. They were both soon on their hind legs trying to knock the other down or take a bite at the neck. The rogue got exhausted as he stood back on his four legs, Willow took her chance and bit the back of his neck skin trying not to hurt him as much. He tried to turn his head and bite her, but she wasn't having it, she dragged him by the neck causing him to lose his balance and he fell on his side. Using her strength, she swung him by the neck and lets him go causing him to slam and knock over a tree, he fell to the ground. Willow lifted her head, howling at the moon getting the soldiers attention. Willow then turned to a shaken Fawn, she trotted towards her and fawn bowed her head as a thank you. Willow displayed a wolf-y grin, she lowered her head and sniffed Fawn from head to toe making sure she is not injured.

Everybody makes mistakes even Willow, her mistake was turning her back on an enemy. "Princess look out!!", a guard said as he arrived on the scene seeing the rogue coming at her from behind. Willow just turned her head, immediately feeling pain at her tail. She roared and whimpered in pain as the rogue bit down on her tail causing blood to be spilled. The rogue pulled her away from his mate, Willow curved her body and bite his back leg making him let go of her. She then made her attack at his throat, she knocked him over onto his side and threaten to bite down. Willow growled and snarled at him causing him to fully submit to her, 'good choice...', Lucy commented then whimpered in pain as she tried to heal the wound. Willow back away letting the guards swarm around him, they injected him with a small dose of wolfsbane to force him to shift back in human form. The guards forced him to kneel before Willow, Willow roared loudly in his face asserting her dominance and her victory. The rogue only bows his head admitting to his defeat, "Your Majesty I'm afraid she has twisted her ankle...", a guard said examining Fawn's leg. The rogue whimpered as he hurt his own mate, Willow sighed as she turned and walked towards Fawn, "Don't you dare touch my mate!", the rogue protested but Willow ignored him. She wrapped her tail around Fawn's waist, lifting her up and sitting Fawn on her back, 'Take this rogue back to the castle and lock him up', Willow mind liked the guards. They all bowed their heads "Yes, your Majesty", they replied, they began to drag him towards the castle as two guards stay behind. They both lead Willow another way to the castle, "Thank you, your Majesty", Fawn said resulting a grunt from Willow.

They made it to the castle, guards helped Fawn off Willow's back, "Get her to the doctor, and your Majesty the king has requested your presence...", Audrey said handing Willow a change of clothes. Willow groaned in annoyance, taking the clothes from Audrey into her mouth, 'good luck Willow...', Lucy giggled making Lola join in as well. After changing into her clothes Audrey lead her to Ethan's office, Audrey didn't have to knock as Ethan already sensed them. "Come in, Willow", he said, Audrey turned to look at Willow with worry in her eyes, but Willow reassured her with a smile. Willow held up her head, opening the door revealing Naomi, Landon, Ethan, and Athena her mother. Audrey bowed her head and closed the door behind her as she left, Willow opened her mouth to say something, but Ethan stopped her. "Don't! Just don't Willow, I have given you a direct order not to be involve...", Ethan said, and he walked around his desk and towards her. "Well it wasn't really a direct order...", Willow said under her breath causing the king to growl. "I am the King! And as the king's daughter, you are to do as I say!", he said stopping a few feet in front of her.

Willow shook her head, "This has nothing to do with Landon and Naomi, just you and me. Now go!", Willow said to her friends. "But Will-...", Naomi started but Willow stopped her, "Just GO!", she yelled. Landon grabbed Naomi's hand and they both walked out, "It isn't their fault, dad. It was all my idea I went out on my own, I have brought the rogue to you. He is in the cells as we speak, I did something that your guards couldn't, and I-…" she was stopped. "Enough! They follow my orders, something that you can't seem to do!", Ethan yelled causing Lola and Lucy to growl. "So that's how you treat your daughter, keeping me in the dark, always holding my hand. I am not a little girl anymore dad, I could take of myself...", Willow said to him as she calmed her beasts. "Yes, I have no doubt that you can't but when you become queen like I have been preparing you for, you won't need to take care of yourself you will have limitless armies laying down their lives for you.", Ethan said trying to let her see from his point of view.

"Dad are you listening to yourself!? You're right you have been preparing me to become queen but not in my way but yours.", Willow argued, Athena came by Willow's side. "Please Willow listen to your father...", Athena pleaded her daughter, "I have mother, but now it's time for him to listen to me. I will never be like you.", Willow said letting her beast take over. She walked towards him her eyes were a brilliant gold, her face was inches from his, "WE will never be you; WE would rather fight alongside our soldiers against the dangers other than to be inside and safe, because WE will not be a coward!", they said in unison. "Willow!" Athena yelled disgusted at her daughter's words, "I'm sorry but willow's not here...", they said as Willow turned to Athena.

Naomi paces the floor worriedly, "We should have stayed, and now Willow is-….", Naomi said thinking the worst, but Landon had her by the shoulders, "Calm down I'm sure the king will understand Will's choices...", Landon pulled Naomi into a hug. Willow walked towards the window and looked up at the moon, "It's been many years since we emerged, it was only Lucy or Lola to emerge but never together...", they said. "Willow please forgive your father; he was just trying to protect you", Athena said coming at her side. "Protecting us from what?", they said looking at Athena but they both said nothing, "Fine, then WE shall find out ourselves...", Willow walked out the office heading to the doctor's office. Ethan groaned as he shook his head, "You know she get her stubbornness from you", Athena said as she comforted her king, "No, not from me..." he replied to her.

The rogue thrashed back and forth in his cell; throwing what he had in his cell at the bars that kept him prisoned, "Take me to my Mate!!", he yelled. He stopped as Willow came into his view, "You! Tell me where's my mate, or so help me I'll-…", he began to threaten her, but she stopped him. "Or you'll do what? Kill your future Queen?", Willow said as her beast gave her back control, the rogue paused not knowing this small information. "Now that I've got your attention, I want to ask you some questions. Name? Title? Pack? And what happened to it?", Willow asked him, but he stayed quiet. Willow shook her head in disappointment as she came closer to the cell, "I WANT MY MATE!!", he screams at Willow's face. Willow scoffed, "Then why didn't you say so...", Willow snapped her fingers, Fawn was escorted in by the guards. The rogue growled possessively making Fawn hide behind Willow for protection, he immediately stopped and whimpered instead. "Tsk Tsk is that any way to treat your mate?", Willow said shaking her head, "Now if you don't want to answer for me, then answer to your mate", Willow said as she moved aside revealing Fawn but she only clung onto Willow's arm. The rogue sighed as he looked at his frightened mate, "My name is Alex, Alexander Rynes (Rains). I was the Gamma to my pack who was the Shadow Rock Pack...", he paused thinking about what happened, "It happened three days ago everything was perfect ..."

Young shifters were running around without a care in the world, a girl with gills on her neck, bended water from a small pond and splashed it on her friend. "Hey, no fair you used water...", the soaked pup said as he shook off the water, "It's totally fair. You get to turn into a wolf; I get to use my mermaid powers", she said giggling. He smirked as he tagged her while she had her guard down and ran away in the forest, "Hey! Now that's not fair!", she whined as she ran after him. "Kyle! Where did you go?", she called out but couldn't find him. "Come on Kyle this is not funny anymore...", she whispered out, soon she heard a gurgling mixed with a whimpering sound, "Kyle?". She walked closer to the sound and pushed back the bushes to find Kyle on his side, an arrow in his neck, blood endlessly spilling. "Kyle! Stay with me!", she said panicking, but he soon stopped moving, the young shifter screamed a blood shot scream. A shadow stood behind her, and snapped her neck with ease, "Ugh I hate fish...", the shadow said as one of his followers wiped his hand off with a cloth, "Kill if not willing to join...", he said as he gave the signal to attack.

"We heard June scream and that's when they attacked, taking members of our pack who were willing to join and killing the rest, but I escaped, I ran for days until I arrived in your territory. I apologize for injuring you, your Majesty. My wolf, Jax, can be unpredictable", he said as he bowed his head, "Guards give a guest room for Alex...", Willow said as she leaned into Fawn's ear whispering something to her. Fawn looked up to her and nodded and followed behind Willow like a lost pup, Fawn occasionally looked back at Alex as they both left the dungeon.

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