Save Me Mr. Alpha

“I’m not a mother. And I never will be.”

The pack meeting wasn’t what I was expecting. I had pictured people sitting on benches, throwing things, yelling at us, and demanding answers regarding Yakunda and our move back to the castle, which I learned was named Castle Salix Babylonica. It was a pretty name that apparently the witch from Cassandra’s story had given it.

The pack sat in a large horseshoe shape with Tyson and I standing with Babe behind us at the entrance. The pack sat quietly, small signs in their hands, one side green, one side red. Each pack member also held a yellow card in their hand.

“Thank you for gathering here today for our first pack member since returning to Castle Salix Babylonica. The return was difficult for us all as we left to get away from the shadow that the former King and Alpha left on us, but now with the return of that same threat, we must stand firm and strong to defeat our enemies. Once we get through our general announcements, there will be a series of items I would like our pack members age 16 and above to vote on or against. Afterwards we, your Queen and I, will be taking questions before we dismiss to dinner. Does everyone understand?”

Tyson’s voice rang out around the large room and the pack nodded. The only confused faces in the room were my brothers who were being allowed to participate as new wolves.

“Firstly, I would like to announce that I have officially found my Queen, Miss Cassandra Meyer,” I nod as the people around me clap enthusiastically. “Per tradition, we will host a ball for our pack as well as the other kingdom’s royalties to attend. I expect that the festivities show our new Queen and our allies our strength and our allied front.”

“Secondly, we will be increasing patrols and training for all pack members with a revealed wolf. Any pack members without a wolf will be working around the pack as well, helping prepare for the ball in two weeks.”

Heads nod around the room and Tyson looks pleased at the result.

“Lastly, repairs are being made to some of the older buildings in the town. Those who have been misplaced will be living in the lower level of the Castle and the spare barrack buildings. Any questions thus far?”

No hands raise so Tyson continues down the agenda list.

“Announcements have ended, now we will discuss some topics up for voting.”

The voting was quick, little argument was raised regarding the curfew vote and the budget for the hospital being increased with war on the way.

Finally it was time for the questions and this was the part I was dreading.

The first couple of questions were rather tame and directed at Tyson. With his years of experience doing this he was able to deescalate any worry and answer them with ease.

The next few questions were regarding war preparation and Tyson and Babe answered them and calmed the people and everyone else with their answers.

A young man, about 22, maybe 23, with shaggy, blonde hair and dark brown eyes was called next, his yellow sign signaling his question never wavering while he patiently waited to stand. He bowed to Tyson and Babe deeply and barely nodded his head in my direction and I knew where he was going to go.

“Your majesties, my question is directed towards our new Queen," his words are not friendly and I can see Tyson tensing, his eyes shifting between the comforting hazel and the intense black color.

I place my hand on his arm and he shifts his gaze to me. I nod at him, reassuring him with my gaze that the man’s tone hadn’t insulted me. He nods in return and I feel a warmth in my head that alerts me to Tyson connecting to me. The link forms and Tyson doesn’t speak, just reassuring me through the link with his warmth.

“What is your question...?”

“Mark, Your majesty.”

“Alright, Mark. What is your question for me?”

“How are we to expect our Queen to protect us if she couldn’t hold her own against a human who was beating you?”

Silence fills the air as people gasp at Mark’s question. People look around and I feel myself shrinking at their glances. My brothers rise, anger and betrayal written on their face as they glare at Mark. Katie rises as well, holding them to her so they don’t pounce on the offending man.

I can feel Tyson’s anger permeating the air, waves of power rolling off of him in tsunami waves.

“Tyson,” I warn, my hand grabbing his arm, my nails piercing his skin as I try and pull him out of his rage. “Tyson.” I snap when he doesn’t move or acknowledge me.

Tyson looks at me again, his eyes completely black.

“James, let me handle this,” I murmur, knowing that Tyson was in no position to listen to me. They give me a nod and I turn my attention to Mark who is staring defiantly at me.

“Do women scare you, Mark?” I ask.

“No,” he coughs out a chuckle.

“Do women intimidate you?”

“No,” he repeats.

“So, I’m assuming that since women don’t scare and intimidate you, you’d never need to hit a woman to feel some sort of dominance or manhood.”

“Of course not,” he spits, his face flushing.

“Well unfortunately for you, and for me obviously, not every man is confident in his masculinity to not hit a woman to feel powerful.”

Mark doesn’t respond.

“When I first met Tyson he sent 7 other wolves over to take me back to him. I managed to take them down and Tyson as well all to protect my brothers who I have loved and taken care of since our parents were killed in a car accident. I stayed with an abusive man because he was threatening to hurt my boys if I left or said anything to anyone about what was happening to me. This was in the wake of losing a child... a CHILD! I am not a weak, small, defenseless human who can’t protect her pack. These people around you, yourself included, are part of my pack and I’ll be damned if anyone tries to hurt them or my family without having to take me down first.”

I stand tall at my statement and watch as Mark goes to his knees, lowers his head, and bares his neck to me in submission. Soon everyone else follows his actions and submits to me in a similar fashion until Tyson and I are the only ones standing. Tyson’s eyes are back to hazel and he sends me a bright smile, pride coursing through the link between us.

“Does anyone else have any follow-up questions regarding my competency as your Queen?”

“Dinner was delicious. Thanks for organizing everything, Luna Cassie!” a young woman smiles at me as everyone leaves the dining hall.

After the questions had piddled out after Mark’s submission to me, we followed the meeting up with dinner and dessert. Tyson and I sat at the head of the table, side-by-side, as we joked and laughed with my brothers and Babe. Marie had even joined us and chuckled at the stories of Chase and Charles’ misadventures growing up.

“You’re welcome,” I smiled at the girl as she left.

“All in all it was a very successful pack meeting,” Tyson’s deep voice says from behind me.

“I was surprised at how well it went given...”

“They all recognize you as the official Queen Luna.”

I hum in response.

“Are you going up to bed now?” Tyson asks.

“I think so. Any objections to that? It’s been a long day.”

“I was wondering if you’d like to see the joint suite before you went to bed.”

“Is that your way of inviting me to see your bedroom?” I mock, thinking back to his teasing of being invited into the Queen’s tower.

Tyson blushes, ever so slightly.

“Maybe.”

“Fine, I’ll come look, but let’s make it quick, I’m exhausted.”

Tyson and I go up the main staircase and instead of going right to the tower where my comfy bed and billowing curtains await, I follow Tyson up the main staircase where two majestic doors wait for me to enter.

“Here, take my hand.” Tyson instructs, holding out his hand.

I grab his hand without arguing as he pushes the door open with his left hand, allowing us entrance into the Royal Suite.

As we enter, warmth fills my body and tingles shoot down my spine. They feel different than before, not electric like when Tyson comes near me or touches me, but like soft sand sliding down my skin.

As we walk down the hall in silence I look at Tyson and see him focused on leading us ahead down a hallway similar to the one to my tower, this time the walls are covered with paintings of each royal family, the ages of the children pictured varying from picture to picture. His face is soft, a small smile lifting his lips as we walk, hand in hand.

“Why does the barrier force us to hold hands every time we go somewhere new?” I ask, finally breaking the silence.

“Before you were Queen, it was necessary, a sign of trust between us. Now it’s just because I like holding your hand,” Tyson smirks.

I gasp and pull my hand from his, playfully hitting him in the arm at his trickery.

“If you wanted to hold my hand you should’ve just asked.”

“Would you have said yes?”

I hesitate, “probably not,” I tease. “But it’s more fun that way.”

“And it’s more fun my way.” Tyson flirts.

A small blush fills my cheeks at the realization that we are flirting with one another, each party as guilt as the other, and I’m unsure what that means for me.

“So when was the Castle built?”

Tyson sighs, my changing of the subject away from flirting more than obvious.

“It was built after the first war back in 1507. Humans, for the most part, were pretty scarce in this area. When the 4 Kingdoms were at war, the werewolves gained the most at the end. We were able to hoard wealth and start building a sanctuary for our kind. It took us 10 years to build. After the last war that Yakunda started, we obviously left the castle and town behind to try and rebuild elsewhere, but it didn’t feel right until we settled in Northbrooke. Knowing what I know now, it was the mate bond that was calling me there so I could find you.”

“I see.”

The hallway ends and we enter a room with light gray walls. The room is darker than my own, but still light and welcoming. A large king-sized bed with gray satin sheets and a fluffy duvet cover sits against one wall with large windows on either side letting in filtered light. Tyson’s massive desk sits in a corner with a leather, overstuffed chair behind it, papers strewn all around the desk and drifting to the floor. Next to the desk is a massive fireplace that I could easily stand in without hitting my head if I wanted to.

Two doors, presumably leading to a closet and a bathroom sit on the other side of the fireplace and on the opposite wall sits an easel with a large sketch pad and a small table full of charcoals for drawing rests neatly. The easel and sketchpad were partially covered and as I went to lift the sheet, Tyson grabs my hand and pulls me away from it.

“I-I...”

“Don’t,” Tyson says softly, his voice firm, but I can hear the pleading in his voice. “Not yet.”

“Alright.”

I look around the room and feel a sense of Déjà vu fill me as I look at the gray and white room.

“I’ve been here before...?” I question, unable to place the room.

Tyson blushes and looks at me, a secret hidden in his eyes.

“How would that be possible?” Tyson coughs, rubbing his neck nervously.

“I don’t know.” I mumble, looking around and trying to place everything. “I must’ve imagined it.”

Tyson nods, relief swallowing him as he looks around the room.

“Do you like it?”

“Yes. It’s very... calming.”

“Thanks. It’s been this way since I took over as king. Before it had maroon walls and gold arches and was so... prestigious I was afraid I’d break something.” Tyson jokes.

I smile softly before yawning, my exhaustion overtaking me.

“Well, I should be off to my own bed. I’ll see you in the morning.”

Tyson pauses.

“You could stay you know?”

I look around the large room and my eyes rest on the sheet covered easel.

“I think it’d be best if I sleep in my own bed tonight. Alone.” I respond.

Tyson nods, not pushing me any farther as I walk back down the hallway to the two golden doors and back to where my own bed was patiently waiting for my return.