Rise of the rogue queen-Chapter 11 -

Zephrine's POV

"Bring him out."

Alpha Kilian was dragged from the cell into the open clearing, where both pack members and rogues gathered around to witness his fate.

The rogues threw him to the ground, beaten and half dead. Roland went over and slapped him hard jolting him awake.

He squints his eyes from the harsh sunlight hitting him. A mocking grin formed on his lip and Roland gave him another blow, leading to a small cut on his lips. The metallic taste of his blood made him groan, "Ouch. That hurt." He muttered spitting out blood.

Roland wanted to hit him again, but I lifted my hand stopping him.

"Killian, any last words?"

The execution platform was already prepared and any guard who dared opposed my judgment was given a free will to join his fate, but none was even ready to die by their Alpha.

"Even your most trusted guards and pack members left you. What a loser."

He grinned, still having the strength to laugh.

"Do you have any idea how your fate will be?"

He scoffed, "What? Kill me?"

I shook my head, "No, behead you."

He let out a shaky breath and quickly tried to mask it, but I could feel his fear.

I turned to the pack members to address them. Some looked at me with hate, but none dared to oppose me.

"The rogues are now one of you, accept them. Alpha Killian will die today with Silver moon and whosoever thinks my judgment is unjust, speak now."

I waited for anyone to stand up and just when I wanted to continue, a young girl from the crowd raised her hand shyly.

I blinked surprised, "Is there something you want to say?"

She hesitates looking at the lady behind her which I presumed was her mother. The lady wanted to resist her from speaking, but the young girl gave her an assuring nod and turned to face me, this time with confidence.

"Will you be our new Alpha?" she asked.

I understood that question must have been lingering in their minds.

I smiled sweetly at her and asked her name. "Dara." She replied.

I turned to Roland to bring her. She was probably around the age of thirteen or fifteen, but she looked thin and her clothes ragged, her face smudged with dirt. I wanted to touch her and noticed the way she stepped backwards. I gave her an assuring smile and held her by the hand. Some pack members gasped.

"She's an outcast". Someone muttered. "They bring bad luck."

They all turned their sights as if they had just witnessed an abomination. I hadn't noticed it before but the pack members who looked more sophisticated and rich stood aside from those who were poor or looked ragged.

The young girl lowered her gaze, trying to remove her hand from mine, but I held it firmly.

"Silence." I commanded.

The murmured died instantly.

I felt annoyed at how bad they discriminated. I raised the young girl's hand up in the air and looked at them.

"I will be your queen from now on. Not an Alpha, not a Luna. But I will be your queen and in my pack, there is no discrimination. Everyone will have equal rights and gets treated the same. There will be no 'outcasts'. This is no longer Silver moon that you know. This is SILVER ROGUE PACK." The crowd erupted in a loud applause, while some still looked displeased.

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As I turned back to the execution, an elder stepped forward.

"This is not how things should be done," he said, "You execute Alpha Killian, take his place, and expect us to fall in line? You say we are equal, yet you rule alone. How are you any different from him?"

A murmur of agreement spread through the crowd.

I met his gaze. "The difference is, I do not hoard power for myself. You will see that soon enough."

The elder studied me for a moment, then stepped back, saying no more.

Satisfied, I turned to Roland. "Proceed."

As I walked away with Dara in hand, the sound of Kilian's piercing cry resounded in my ear. He kept pleading to die by poison instead, he was stripped before he was beheaded.

**********

While some thought my judgment was cruel and others celebrated our new pack. They decided to remain blind about the reason I had ordered that Killian should be taking around naked and beaten, and he should be beheaded.

Killian made life miserable for those who were poor in his pack. Those who could meet his standard were the lucky ones, leaving lives of luxury. The pack was strong, but Killian's brother had been the root of it all. I wonder why Caden sat and watch while his brother unjustly ruled the pack. I believed he was the one controlling the pack then it could mean he also supported Killian.

"My queen." Roland called behind me, I was just ordering the maids to give Dara a good bath and good food.

I followed Roland to the grand hall where pack meetings were held. I saw four men dressed in white robe holding a staff. One of them held a scroll. From the symbol of crescent moon on their robe, I could tell that they were from the white council. A council that governs all werewolves packs.

I've seen them a few times at blue moon pack when my father was still alive, they either come for trouble or with bad news. I wonder which one they've come for now.

"You must be the one they refer to as queen Zephyrine." The one holding the scroll said.

"And to what do I owe this visit? I assume, you are not here to congratulate me."

They ignored my words, going straight to the point.

"We are from the white council of werewolves and we have come bearing a message. You've been ordered to come to with us to the grand council of werewolves." He said, reading from the scroll.

I raised a brow, "On whose command?"

"From the second lord of the west himself." He replied.

I scoffed, there were high lords who ruled over other werewolves, but they are hardly seen. As my father said, there are two territories with two high lords, they don't belong to packs instead they control the packs and every alpha in each territory are under their command.

The second lords are more like the second in command to the high lords, they represent the high lords in meetings and give orders on their behalf.

"Our queen is following you nowhere." Roland snarled at them, ready for a fight. The other guards also joined in, shielding me from them.

The one holding the scroll who seemed to be their leader turned to the others. They held their staff facing it at my guards, a bright light came out of it, hitting Roland and the other guards. They fell backwards, the light temporarily blindly them.

"You don't want to start a war with the white council," the man warned. "Come with us."

I ordered Roland and the other guards to stand down, starting a war with the white council will only result in countless shedding of blood and that's not something I'm willing to risk, at least not now. I smirked and asked them to lead the way.

Roland rushed in front of me blocking the way, "My queen, you can't let them take you. It might just be a trap."

I tapped Roland on the shoulder, connecting to him with the mind link. "Don't worry, I'll be safe. Manage the pack while I'm gone. I'll definitely return soon."

Then I turned to the messengers, my gaze fierce, I walked out of the hall and entered the flying carriage they brought.

I looked down below to see the pack members staring at us as we leave, I moved closer to the window and saw Dara running, tears streaming down her face. A maid tried to hold her back, but she fought against her grip.

I clenched my jaw, pressing my palm to the glass.

"I promise, I'll be back."