Zion

“I’d advise a closed mouth tonight,” Penelope comments as we greet each other, passing through the entrance of a massive dinning room, a long wooden table upon a massive Persian rug, elegant chairs spread around the table as it stretches on for yards. “That was no one dies, only some blood and broken bones.”

I frown at the female Alpha, parting was as Zion motions for me to go towards him. Following the King’s gaze, it lands upon the chair besides him, telling me where to sit tonight. Some Alphas move out of the way for me, many still looking at me with bitter stares as my rogue scent can be picked up.

Tonight I wore scarlet red, the dress beautiful as it sweeps the floor, the slit exposing all the way up to mid thigh, a dip in the back and modest front. To say the most, I think the color represents what I’m expecting tonight. For some odd reason, whether Zion finds out who my mate is, someone’s blood is going to be spilled tonight.

I know it.

Zion stretches out his arm, offering his hand, staring me in the eyes, telling me to take it. And I do, obeying the King’s wish as his larger one wraps around mine, pulling me closer to him as I remember the color his eyes turned in the tunnel.

“Let us sit,” Zion announces to the guests, the many Alphas awaiting the King to sit before they can. As Zion takes his seat, we all follow, the sound of chairs moving echoing across the massive room. “And dine.”

Maids rush to please as the drinks are served, alcohol poured in one glass and water in the other. A hand is placed upon my thigh, moving under the material of my slit, the touch of skin upon mine making me jump a bit in my seat. Looking to Zion with a scowl, I see him raising his glass, everyone else following as I do the same.

We drink, the champaign going smoothly down my throat as I’m rather impressed. Maybe because I already had two shots of tequila before we got here. Setting my glass down, the course begins as the first section is brought out, the chatter beginning.

Zion turns to me, offering me a lopsided smile as I reply with a forced one, pulling my leg quickly away from him. “I assume you don’t want to be here,” Zion comments, his smile becoming a smirk as he already knows his answer. I turn my head away, catching up on the conversations already started as the salad is brought over.

Politics are spoken along with the war tactics as I listen along, pretending to be interested. Penelope takes a dominate side in the matter, silencing many who oppose her opinion on the matter. She says no to the rogues, some say yes. Sebastian takes her side on the matter, expressing disgust for rogues. His mother died due to rogues. He made me become something he hated.

“They are the low life. You do not see the humans calling upon the worst criminals for aid. They cannot be trusted either,” Sebastian snaps to one Alpha, taking a bite of his salad as I follow. They do not care that a rogue sits among them. They say we have no respect for them, yet they have no respect for us. Touché.

“I hope you all understand calling upon the rogues would also prove difficult. What do we do? Just put up random signs that read ‘Hey, the werewolves who kicked you out, they want your loyalty for a war.’ It’s fucking stupid!” One Alpha expresses in hate as I’m taken back. He does have one hell of a point.

“We do not need their loyalty, we need their fighting skills, their numbers,” another argues, Zion watching as the Alphas still discuss business.

“You find this amusing?” I ask, watching as the King pushes his crown down upon his head a bit, keeping it centered and on tight as another ten minutes pass. The soup is next, some Alphas taking to it better as the salad.

“Rogues are liars!” Penelope shouts, standing to her feet as I’m shocked just like everyone else around the table. Zion sits back in his chair, loving this scene before him.

“And yet you sit around a table with other liars!” Sebastian snaps back, surprising me as I thought he did not care for the rogues. “We are all liars, every damn individual here.” He’s paused, his eyes locking upon mine as I raise an eyebrow. “Rogues are no different from us in that, that are different because they have no loyalty, they will not commit to a side.”

“Are you imposing we as no better than rogues?!” An Alpha shouts. “Are you saying your King is no different from a filthy rogue.”

“I said we all lie,” Sebastian snaps. “It doesn’t matter who is who, we all lie.” My jaw clenched as I can sense the whole room become tense, not to mention the anger of the King building.

Not even to the main course yet.

“I’d be wise with your words,” Penelope hisses across the room, knowing the argument is getting far to carried away. “You are a guest of the King and the woman who sits beside him is a rogue.”

“A rogue is also what you are insulting!”

“At least I am not doing it directly nor saying she is like them.”

“Right, because every rogue has a different reason for being outcasted besides deceit and betrayal,” one Alpha shouts, slamming his fists upon the table as many stand to their feet, the King following as he growls for them to calm down. My heart pounds in my chest as many eyes are upon me and the Alphas in the argument.

“You are saying that every rogue has the same downfall. So, I shall prove you wrong.” My skin pales as Penelope turns to me, causing the King to growl. “Tell us, Lady Sybil, why were you made rogue?”

My mouth runs dry, my legs shaking as I take to my feet, wanting to get out of these heels and just run out of here. The beat of my heart is all I can hear as my body goes on its own accounts. I’m standing full on now, my mouth opening as the room awaits.

“Because my mate did not want me.”

The room goes silent. Pity fills the room as I’m thought of nothing more than weak before these Alphas.

“So your mate must be here, only an Alpha can banish one of their own,” Penelope comments, causing many Alphas to look around, wondering who was the one to reject a Luna. “You are not a liar nor betrayer. Those were not your reasons for being outcasted, you were outcasted because an Alpha was foolish and misusing their authority.”

The King stands, the room going once more silent as Penelope takes her seat right away. “So, I guess we want an answer.”

Zion takes his seat, raising his hand as the footmen take away the soup and go back for the main dish. “I believe we should settle the matter of deceit first,” Sebastian adds, rising to his feet as eyes are widened. Zion gets to his feet, his eyes turning pitch black as my secret is revealed.

“You’re the foolish Alpha,” Zion snaps, looking Sebastian straight in the eye with a death glare. “The one who I want dead,” Zion remarks, a smirk growing as I turn to the King, shaking my head. “You made sure this innocent woman would never see a happy ending.”

“No!” Sebastian roars. “You used deceit here. You made sure she would never gain happiness.”

“And how did I do that?” Zion asks, cocking his head to the side as the other rest of the hundred or so Alphas back away from their plates, knowing a fight is on the rise. “By taking her from a miserable life and offering her my love?”

“No,” Sebastian begins, taking a step towards the King, guards once around the entrances now rushing to aid their King.

I’m grabbed by my side, pulled tightly to his side as I beg with my eyes for Sebastian to drop it.

“She has no happiness because you ordered the death of her parents.”

My world stops, the very world around me spinning as everything becomes slow. Everything moves slowly, but yet in my head, quickly, how I push the King away, tears leaving my eyes as the Royal guards slam Sebastian to the floor, arresting him. Zion pulls back upon my arm, causing me to be near him once more as I hit him, slap him, knee him, try anything to get away.

I believe Sebastian. I believe the Alpha who I never wanted to believe. “You speak lies, Alpha Sebastian,” Zion yells. “You’ll look for any reason to make her hate me and run back to you.”

Zion orders everyone to leave, and they obey just like servants afraid of their master.

Sebastian’s hands are bound by silver as he roars in pain, pulled to his feet as Zion looks with a lifted chin at the Alpha. “Why would I want the woman I rejected back by my side?”

“Because you’d rather watch her suffer,” Zion growls.

Zion orders Sebastian to be locked away, brought to the throne room tomorrow for his trial.

I scream, telling Zion to let him go. He doesn’t do anything but say Sebastian it getting what he deserves. But who do I believe here? The boy who rejected me or the King who claims he loves me?

Just as I plead again, Zion lets me go as I stumble back, watching in horror as Zion jumps over the table, landing a harsh hit right at Sebastian as I scream. Running over, I jump upon the King, pulling him away from the Alpha, or at least try as my blood boils.

I need to get out of here.

Gaining enough gut, I let go of trying to make peace, springtime out of the room as some Alphas part for me to get through. I know I cannot escape the King, how he will always be on my tail, but I know where to head, where to go, and I only pray I can get there. I do not know who is speaking the truth, who really killed my parents. But I do know one thing: to get our before I’m forced to stand beside a man as I wonder if he killed my parents, or if he speaks truth.

“Sybil,” the King growls, the walls of the palace shaking as my feet loose their footing, falling over as I can hear the heel of a shoe breaking. I kick them off, getting to my feet once again as I hurry into the throne room, making a sharp turn, only to find a group of ten warriors of the palace blocking my way.

I let out a deep breath, my eyes once again brimming with tears, the presence of someone behind me making my anger only become more.

“Did you kill them?” I ask, a sob escaping my lips as I run my hands across my face, wiping away the tears.

He stands beside me, just like everyday, just like what he wants. I stand in his shadow as the moon glows tonight, the moon bright. The warriors leave their guard, opening the massive doors, my freedom. “You would believe a man who misuses his power over a man that claims he loves you?” I look back to the open doors, pondering his words.

“If you take your flight, Sybil,” he begins, taking a step forward as I long to escape. “Then you shall never find peace.”

“You think I will find peace with you?!” I snap, my blood boiling even more as my wolf wants to tear her canines through his neck. “I don’t knew if I believe you or not. I don’t know I I should believe someone I hate or someone who says he loves me.”

“I think, Sybil,” Zion begins as he turns to face me. “That this is the only place on earth where you will be welcomed, where you will be trusted, and your opinions respected.” As for now I focus on his last words, about where to go.

He’s right. He’s always right. I’m a rogue to the rest of the world, an outcast. I’m parentless, meaning I have no money to gain a better education. I have no home, no pack, nobody. But I have the palace, a place where I am wanted.

He’s right. I have no where to go. “Well, Sybil, what will you do.”

He has my answer with my gaze.

“Good girl.”