Queen's Guard

by S. Dalambakis

  Don’t you fucking dare talk like that. You fight Callie. Do you hear me? You shift and you peck their god damn bodies apart if you have too. You can tell me that you love me in person.

  I’ll try. I’ll fight until I can’t anymore. I love you.

  I send each of the others the same message and got similar responses from them. I’ll fight or die trying. I turn my attention back to the Elders.

  “See, that’s where you’re wrong. I have every intention of leaving this room.”

  “Do you really think that you’re any match against us? You really are foolish.”

  I shrug my shoulders. “Maybe, but I have something to fight for, and it will be over my dead body before I continue to let you rule over the shifters.”

  “You have no way of surviving. It’s one against three.”

  “Actually, I think you need to revise those numbers.” I look over at the door where the new voice comes from and there stands Cat and Elder Harris. When they step forward more people file into the room. Among them were each of the boys’ parents, some teachers at school, even some students. “You are now severely outnumbered. It’s a shame that you sent all of your followers elsewhere.”

  Elder Greaves growls. There is no way they can win this fight, and they know it. “You might have won this round, but this is far from over.” Both, him and Elder Caine shift and take off like a bat out of hell.

  “Callyn, are you alright?” Elder Harris questions.

  “I will be. How did you know where I was?”

  “Fortunately, someone saw Kelsey take you. They followed you here, and got ahold of Cat, who in turn told her parents. They told the person who followed you here, to keep an eye out and to not make a sound, and that help would be on the way. Your aunt noticed that you never came back in after answering the door. She got ahold of all the boys’ parents, and they got ahold of me. From there it just spiraled.”

  “Speaking of Kelsey, where is she? She was just here,” I question.

  “She took off the second she saw us standing here,” Cat answered.

  “We can’t let her get away with this.”

  “We won’t but it will be hard to get to her. The Taylors can buy their way out of almost everything. Getting back on track, as quickly as I could I called as many people as I could and in turn everyone did the same. I had suspected something was going on, it may have taken me a little bit at first, but then I saw the signs. You have a lot of people behind you Callyn. You will need more, but this is the first step. You know Greaves and Caine will be trying to gather more followers. We need to do the same.”

  I nod my head, then I remembered I left the boys hanging. “Crap, we have to go and help the guys. They are being ambushed at the Michaelson's.” I rush out of room and through the building. I don’t waste any time before I shift, and I’m in the air. Flying is faster than going by car. I need to get to them now.

  Hang-on guys I’m coming. I send to all of them.

  Graydon

  I knew something was off with having the North Pack in town. The second we pulled into the drive we were surrounded by its members, with Owen in the center. I knew he was trouble and no surprise Kelsey’s boyfriend is standing next to him. I feel stupid for not putting it together sooner. Callie isn’t the only one who got lured into a trap. Though to be fair, we knew this was more than likely what was going to happen.

  When we got that message an hour ago telling us to meet them here or they would kill Callie, there was no other option for me. I was coming here whether the others wanted to or not. No way was I going to stand back and let my mate possibly be tortured, again. We tried calling her and each of us tried to talk to her telepathically. Nothing. We knew something was wrong. Callie would have answered us back by now, if she could. We need to find her, now! As soon as the truck is in park, none of us waste time getting out. I don’t see her.

  Where is she? You would think they would be parading her out in front of us, gloating. Then it happens. I hear from her, and it’s to tell me that she might die and that she loves me. I growl. She’s not even here. She better make it out alive, or I’m tearing everyone who hurt her apart limb by limb. It’s game on now.

  “I see you got our message,” Owen says as he steps forward.

  “Where’s Callie?” Trying to play this off like we don’t know that she isn’t here.

  “About that. She’s having a nice little visit with the Elders Greaves and Caine. Well, it might not be so nice. The poor thing is probably dead by now,” he says with smile.

  “You better pray that she isn’t.”

  “That’s all part of their plan. She dies, you all die, they completely take over and change the rules. No more hiding in the shadows. No, you see, the Elders want to take over and put the humans in their place. It’s about time shifters take over. The whole world is going to know about us and do our bidding.”

  “And what did they promise you?” Lucian questions.

  “Power and authority.”

  I couldn’t help it, I laugh. Which only seemed to piss them off. Good, they’ll make a mistake.

  “What do you find so funny?”

  “That you actually believed what they told you. They sent you here to die. If you do make it out of here alive, the second the humans become aware of our existence, they will hunt us down and kill us.” This time they laugh.

  “Have you taken a look around? There are more of us than there are of you. You don’t stand a chance. I’m not worried about the pathetic and weak humans. They’re no match against us.”

  This guy is completely nuts. Does he not realize that humans have weapons? One shot and he’s dead. I don’t like my odds about that. I hear the whisper of Callie’s voice in my mind.

  Hang-on guys, I’m coming.

  I hope you’re bringing help.

  I am. Just stall a little longer.

  How the hell am I supposed to do that?

  Maximus

  I’m on my way with help. Help Graydon stall.

  How?

  I don’t know, anything will do. I just need a few more minutes.

  You got it, angel.

  “You guys are just puppets on a string to the Elders,” Graydon says. “They don’t give a shit about you.”

  Okay, I don’t think making them angry is the best way to stall them, but maybe we can keep them talking.

  “What did they say to convince you to take on the Alpha Queen and her mates in the first place? I mean not to toot my own horn but we’re like really powerful.”

  “Didn’t you know, Max. It’s easy to manipulate the simple minded. There is no way they could have come up with this on their own,” Graydon says egging them on.

  They growl. “Enough of this. It doesn’t matter what they told us because you’re not going to live long enough to care.” In the span of a blink of an eye, they shift.

  Now, when I say I tried hard not to laugh, I actually mean I didn’t try, at all. It was comical. I didn’t realize how big my wolf looked next to others. We don’t shift that often. Their wolves are downright puny looking next to mine. Wait until they get a load of how big Graydon’s bear is, they’ll run with their tails tucked between their legs.

  The only downside is, I’m laughing too much to notice that one of them has lunged at me. The wolf lands on top of me, and I barely manage to throw my arms up to protect my face and neck. Now, I’m pissed. I shove the wolf off of me and quickly shift. The dirt feels good under my paws. The wolf was quick to regain its balance.

  I saw the slight hesitation before he lunges again. This time I was ready for him. I roll to my back and use my claws to rake down his belly, leaving deep gouges behind. I’m back on my paws in an instant. I turn to face him down, but he doesn’t move from where he lands. I make my way over and tower over him and he lets out a whimper. Like I would show him any mercy. No, instead I clamp my jaw around his neck and bite hard, tearing his throat out in the process.

  I back away from his lifeless body and l
ook around me. Graydon is in his bear form slinging animals around left and right. God, I almost feel bad for them, but hay, you want to be stupid enough to take on an animal four times your size, go for it. Zeke is in his wolf form currently trying to defend himself against a tag team of coyote shifters. Lucian is holding his own, in his fox form against a hyena shifter.

  There doesn’t seem to be as many shifters here as when this first started. Since Graydon and Lucian are doing fine on their own, I’m making my way over to help Zeke when I hear the first squawk. The second was louder and closer. Callie just drops out of the sky and lands in the middle of all us. Swooping in like a red and yellow avenging angel. Have I mentioned how glorious her phoenix form is? Because she really is a sight to behold. Her phoenix isn’t some little bird either. She’s almost as big as Graydon’s bear.

  She lets out this ear piercing screech and flaps her wings a couple of times before pulling them back to rest against her body. She causes just enough of a distraction that I hear cars pulling up the drive. It wasn’t long before there was enough shifters behind me to help take on those here. They were the first to move. One of the panther shifters dives right for Callie’s leg. Callie screeches before turning her head to the panther who was now clamped on her leg.

  I don’t think I’ll ever get the sight of Callie pecking the shifter to death out of my head. By all means it didn’t bother me. I just never seen something like that, and I was not expecting that from my own mate. But, get it Callie. I would have whooped in my human form, but since I’m still in wolfy form, I howl. Zeke quickly follows, then a yipping noise from Lucian, and a roar from Graydon. The other shifters behind me follow suit, all of them standing up for their queen.

  Zeke

  I couldn’t be more grateful for the arrival of Callie and her cavalry. I was getting doubled teamed by a pair of coyotes, and I was starting to lose control. After Callie kills the panther, everything just snaps. It’s a free for all. The sounds of growls, snarls, and screeching can be heard. But, so could the sounds of whimpering, yips, and pain filled howling. But I don’t have too much time to think on it. I have shifters coming after me left and right.

  I felt the air through my fur before I saw red feathers in my peripheral vision. Callie. With her help, we dispersed of a few more shifters. Then it all got quiet. A quick look around and I see that what is left of the shifters who are attacking us turn tail and run. I see Callyn shift next to me.

  It’s okay guys. You can shift back.

  “Everyone can shift back,” she says. I look around to see she had gathered quite a few people. Then I notice my mom standing among those in the crowd. I rush to her side.

  “Mom, are you okay?”

  “I’m fine Zeke. Not a scratch on me.” I pull her into my arms and give her a hug. “Really, Zeke, I’m fine. I think you should be more worried about your mate.” She pulls back. “And just when were you going to tell me you claimed each other? Don’t think I didn’t see the mark on your neck.”

  Leave it to my mom to chastise me minutes after winning a fight. “It didn’t happen that long ago, ma. I swear was going to tell you. It’s just that everything keeps happening, one thing after another.”

  “Oh, don’t you give that excuse. It’s not that hard to pull me aside one night to tell me. You still come home and sleep in your bed every night.”

  “Are you mad that I did it?”

  “No, I’m not mad that you did it. It was going to happen anyways. Callie is your destined mate, I’d be a fool not to think this would happen. I’m disappointed you didn’t tell me. I love you. I just want what's best for you and to be included. This is a big event.”

  I cringe. My mom knows right where to hit me the most. I hate that I made her disappointed in me. “I’m sorry, Ma.”

  “I know. We’ll talk about this later. Go make sure your mate is okay. She needs you more than I do. This is the first time she has seen anything like this or taken part in it.”

  I pull her into another quick hug. “I’m glad you’re okay. I love you.”

  “I love you too. Now, go.”

  The others are already surrounding Callie by the time that I get there. The second I’m close enough, she launches herself at me, much like she did the night after my football game, only this time I get a kiss. She pours so much passion into this single kiss, and I give her just the same back. After a few moments, I place her on her feet.

  “Everyone seems okay. Are all of your parents okay?” she questions.

  “My mom’s good.”

  “My rents are good,” Max says.

  “My dad’s one tough S.O.B. He’s the one who taught me to fight. He’s fine,” Graydon answers.

  “My grandparents are good. What about your aunt?”

  “She’s okay,” she gestures to where her aunt is talking to our parents. “She’s human, but held her own. I told her she should have stayed home, but she wouldn’t hear it. She said it’s her job to help protect me. I know she’s not really my aunt, but she feels like it all the same, and I don’t want to lose her.”

  “I understand that, but if you exclude her, she’ll just find some other way to help and possibly get hurt in the process. This way you can keep an eye on her,” Lucian states.

  “Yeah, and you’ll have us to help,” I add. “How are you feeling after all of this?”

  “A little numb honestly. I know when this finally sinks in I’ll probably be a mess.” We form a protective circle around her. Each of us places a hand on either her arm or shoulder as a sign of comfort.

  “If you are, we’ll be there to help. This isn’t the end.”

  “I know,” she sighs.

  I wish I could take all her worries away, but it doesn’t work like that. All I can do is help prepare her for what's to come and be there for her when she falls apart.

  Callyn

  I’m standing in the middle of my mates, covered in blood. We had no choice, it was either our lives or theirs. We had to stop them and to send a message. Send whoever you want, but we will fight or die trying. There were some who turned tail and ran once the real battle began. I know they will meet up with Elders Caine and Greaves. I know they will send more shifters after me, but next time I’ll be ready. The boys were amazing in battle. I’ve never seen anything like it. It did more things to me than I’m willing to admit right now.

  I look to the carnage that surrounds us. All of this could have been avoided, but the Elder Council, minus Lucian’s grandfather, had set this up. We knew, it was right there in front of our faces the whole time, and we choose to ignore it. Well, not any more. We know who our enemies are now. Now, is the time that we train, plan, and strategize.

  What’s to come isn’t going to be easy, but I’m not taking this lying down anymore. No, the old Callyn is officially gone and buried. You came after my mates, my friends, my family, and think you’re going to get away with this? No. I guarantee we are going to come back stronger. We’ll be prepared next time. We got lucky that this was only a taste. I don’t want to see what’s to come, once they gain more followers. Zeke is right, this is not the end. It’s only the beginning.

  I’m tired of people coming after me. I’m tired of fearing for my life and having to constantly look over my shoulder. It’s about time that I do something about this... that we do something about this.

  “The next few months are going to suck,” Max whines. “It was pretty cool to see people rally behind you,” he smirks.

  “It’s a good start, but we need more,” Lucian declares. “We need to come up with a plan, set things in motion. We can’t be caught off guard again.”

  “Don’t forget, Callie gets the last word. She is the queen after all,” Zeke smiles.

  “What do you want to do, Callie bear?”

  It may not have officially been announced, but Zeke is right. I am a queen, and it’s time I start acting like one. I glance around me, getting angry all over again. I turn my hard, cold eyes to Graydon. There is only one th
ing left to do.

  “Let’s go to war.”

  Kelsey

  It’s been a couple of weeks since the Council chambers incident. I haven’t had any visions since that time. As per my parents and their lawyers, I have been hiding out since then too. Too many people know what I’ve done.

  I left the Council chambers the second I saw Elder Harris and the rest walk in that night. If they didn’t come in I would have taken on the Elders Greaves and Caine with Callyn. Oh, don’t get it wrong, I still don't like her. No, I would have helped long enough to take them out then I would have turned on Callyn. No one makes a fool of me.

  I’m up and pacing around my bedroom. I need to get out of here. I’m so lost in my thoughts, that I don’t realize the entity in my room.

  “Kelsey,” the ghostly voice makes me jump. I look over and realize that I can see through the guy.

  “What are you? Who are you?” Something about that white-hooded cloak seems familiar. Then it hits me, my dream. “Oh god, that dream was real. I remember seeing you.”

  “Yes, the dream was real. I made you see what I wanted you to, but that is not the reason I am here right now.” The entity stands before me and places his palm on my forehead. There is a slight twinge, then nothing. He steps back from me.

  “What did you do?”

  “None of that matters. Not to you anymore. You have dishonored the gift bestowed upon you. As a consequence, to your deplorable actions, your visions have been taken from you.”

  “WHAT? You can’t do that.”

  “Yes, I can and I have. Your visions will be given to someone worthier. Someone who has proven her worth to the Alpha Queen.”

  “Who?”

  Without another word the entity leaves, leaving me alone, never answering my question. I scream at the top of my lungs and destroy everything in my path. I’m standing in the middle of the destruction, my chest heaving. See this only makes me hate Callyn more. She. Is. Mine. If it’s the last thing I do, I will destroy her and everything she loves.