Chapter 4 - Family and love.

Spenser

It took a couple of days, but I finally started to feel more like myself again. I could only guess that the omega died. It was the only explanation I could think of for the pain finally subsiding. The rumours about what happened spread through my pack and I had to quickly get us back on track. Those damn rogues could attack at any moment, and I was just lucky that they hadn’t.

I had survived the rejection and so had my pack. We could finally move on with our lives. There was a small possibility that I could get a second chance mate at some point in my life, but I didn’t count on it happening. We were fighting a war. I had to keep my focus on that!

Alison

It was incredibly strange at first. My father had my room redecorated with everything I so much as looked at, and I had to keep reminding him that I was used to a lot less. I also now have a cupboard filled with both new dresses and some of my mother’s old ones. I liked them even though they were apparently out of fashion. I liked to think that she was there with me when I put them on.

I grew used to the idea of being a princess much faster than I thought I would, but then again, I suddenly had people around me who cared about me. My father was incredible. We very quickly figured out more or less what happened to me and how I could have ended up where I did. Whoever stole me must have told the orphanage who I was, since they knew my name and used it all my life.

For the first time in my life, I was home. My father lost it when I told him about the rank trial, but not because of how I did. They had never heard of such a thing, and he couldn’t believe that the Wolf king was doing that to his people. If you fail, you are taken away from your family. Ralph was also a huge help, since I had no idea how royal protocol worked. I had always been Alison the orphan omega. Now I was Alison the rogue princess and people expected so much more.

I had been at the castle for a week when my father walked into the ladies' sitting room with an enormous smile on his face. I tilted my head to one side. I was still healing from my ordeal, but I was getting there slowly. I wanted to start training as soon as I was completely healed, and I wondered if the doctor had finally given me the all clear!

“We have missed eighteen of your birthdays, and I’ve decided that we are going to celebrate all eighteen of them in one night.” My father beamed, making me frown.

“That is really not necessary, dad. You’ve already given me so much!” I laughed, seeing his excitement. Ralph walked in wanting to know if I had heard the news! Their excitement was contagious, and before I knew it, they were planning a huge celebration. I was going to have eighteen birthdays in one night! I didn’t think it would be possible, but decided to humour the two of them and the pack. I was reminded again that I wasn’t the only one who lost out.

My parents and my pack lost out on having me around. My hatred for the Wolf King was slowly growing. As was my hatred for Spenser! I had vowed that if I ever saw him again, and I was strong enough, I was going to rip his heart out like he ripped mine right from my chest! I forced myself to focus on the party planning instead of my hatred.

Two days later, I walked out of the pack house and gaped at the stunning scene in front of me. People clearly had no idea how incredible rogues were. They weren’t wild mangy mutts like Spenser called them. They were proud, majestic werewolves just like any other. Only they were more special because they accepted everyone as their family. You don’t have to have a high rank to be accepted. They didn’t care about your past.

They all came together as one people with my dad as their leader, and they’ve been fighting against the injustices of the Wolf King ever since. This time, they were celebrating eighteen birthdays with me and I grinned as I walked down the aisle! On either side there were birthday cakes. Each with the number of candles for that year and I started blowing them out one at a time as the pack celebrated each of them.

I was nearly out of breath by the time I reached the end of the aisle. My father took my hand and made a little speech and I had never felt as loved as I did at that very moment. Colourful flowers were decorating the outside and all around us there were tables set up for the huge feast. I noted the gifts, but I didn’t want to hope that they could be mine even though I knew they were. There was dancing and food and drinks flowed like I had never before seen as everyone celebrated me. It was the best night of my life and I would never forget it.

Spenser

Something very strange was happening near the border. We hadn’t been attacked in weeks. I was beginning to wonder if the old rogue king had died! Why weren’t they attacking?! I sent scouts out to try and figure out what was going on, but I didn’t want them going out into the unclaimed lands too far. The last thing I needed was to restart the fight because we were on the wrong side of the border.

My scouts returned, and I was stumped when they told me they hadn’t seen one single rogue. It was as if they all disappeared the same day that Alison left. Where could they all be?!