Chapter I
“Queen Day, we will arrive in approximately twenty minutes.” My driver and bodyguard, Anthony informed me.
“Thank you, Anthony,” I responded without moving my eyes from the window. It was not often that we left the mountains, most cases only being with extreme danger affecting the area.
“Anthony, go over the information once more. I want to make sure I am not wasting my time.” I sighed looking towards the front of the vehicle. Our eyes locked and I saw the amusement playing in them.
“The Alpha of the Golden Falls contacted us three weeks ago asking for assistance, this is our yearly meeting with the pack as we have an alliance with them. Alpha Jackson contacted us requesting a meeting in which we will be here for two weeks to assess the current situation, which is the possibility of pulling out of the alliance..” Anthony spoke clearly as his eyes never left the road.
“I wonder what the reason will be this time, you’d think that Jackson would have learned by now.” I chuckled thinking about the weak man.
“Queen Day, are you sure you want to meet him? We may be walking into a trap. We’ve only brought Tiffany, Madelyn, and Aaron, do you think we will be enough to protect you on our own?” He inquired with a raised eyebrow. I rolled my eyes, becoming annoyed with his attitude.
“We will be fine.” I simply stated and turned my attention back to the window. Anthony may be good at his job, but that does not mean he doesn’t irritate me from time to time. Dragons don’t have assigned mates, we choose who we want to mate with. Like many others in my kingdom, Anthony wants to be my mate which I have declined on multiple occasions. I did not need a mate at the current moment, I was only focused on protecting my people.
We arrived within their pack lands shortly after, it looked like a regular human neighborhood. Houses and shops lined the streets with people moving about their business. I admired how in sync the wolf community was, they were made to function in communities compared to other species. They worked in harmony to keep peace among themselves and their surrounding packs. We kept driving for a few more minutes before we arrived at a large building. The building looked like a master cabin with large wood oaks making up a majority of the structure. Large bushes lined the driveway all the way up to the cabin.
“We are here.” Anthony parked the car and stepped out. I waited patiently for him to open my door, the car door clicked open revealing a grinning Madelyn. The cool air kissed my skin prompting my body to regulate its temperature.
Madelyn was the head of our defense team, and also my best friend. We basically grew up together since her parents served as part of the kingdom’s security. Madelyn was aware of everything that went on around my kingdom, as well as my ‘lack’ of a love life. Madelyn was adorned in her royal army garments which consisted of a white robe that draped around her body and gladiator sandals. Her neat red hair hung down her shoulders and draped around her black horns that curled forward from the back of her skull. Her wings were large and pulled close to her body, the deep black contrasting with her porcelain skin.
“Anthony looks pissed.” She whispered with a chuckle. I rolled my eyes and stepped out of the vehicle. I glanced over to where Anthony was standing with Tiffany and Aaron. Tiffany looked exactly like Madelyn, they were twins after all. The main difference between the two was that Tiffany preferred to keep her red hair short with a pixie cut, she mentioned something about not wanting her hair pulled in battle.
“He can stay pissed. I told him no.” I shrugged. I let my wings stretch to their full size a good five feet apart which were a light brown with golden scales indicating my status. My hair was a long deep brown that touched the tip of my waist with accenting braids draping from my brown horns that curled loosely from my forehead down and around my ears.
“Let’s get a move on, we don’t want to be here any longer than necessary.” Anthony’s booming voice caught my attention. I frowned at him, earning a smirk. He was not bad looking, he was actually considered the most attractive male dragon in my kingdom. I just...didn’t want to be with him. I wanted to rule my kingdom on my own for as long as possible.
I took over my parent's kingdom three years ago when I was seventeen, making me the youngest dragon queen in history. My parents were murdered by a rogue group of witches that stumbled into the palace. Since I didn’t have any siblings it was my job to protect my people or risk extinction. As I get closer to the age of marriage more dragons have been trying to court me, which would be nice if they weren’t all older and trying to steal the crown.
“Come, my queen,” Madelyn begins. “The Alpha awaits.” Maelyn stepped to my right, Tiffany to my left, Aaron behind me and Anthony in front placing a protective shield around me. We approached the cabin, just as we reached it the doors opened to reveal the Alpha and his beta.
“Jackson Wright, it’s lovely to see you again.” I commented as Anthony stepped to the side revealing me. Alpha Jackson Wright, the head of the Golden falls pack. He’s tall and lean with golden blond hair and smooth tan skin, with accenting ocean blue eyes. He was definitely attractive, but he lacked proper leadership; his aura did not scream ‘alpha’. His father didn’t train him thoroughly to become alpha, that was for sure. Unlike wolves, dragon royalty trailed their children from a young age ensuring they will be at their best when they take over from their parents.
“Queen Day, it’s lovely to see you again. Shall we head inside?” Jackson replied. I nodded letting him lead the way through his pack house towards his office. I scrunch my nose in disgust, it reeked of wolf in here. I had nothing against wolves, but Jacksons' packhouse always had an odd scent. It was actually something I had been trying to investigate for a while now.
“Katherine…” Madelyn whispered, grabbing my attention.
“Yes?”
“Something seems off…” she commented, keeping her face forward. I grunted in response, something did seem off but that was the least of my worries. We entered the large office with an oval table in the center. Jackson took his seat at the head of the table and I took mine at the opposite end. I shifted in my seat moving my wings around in an attempt to get comfortable. Madelyn and Tiffany took their positions flanking my sides and Anthony and Oscar took their stations outside of the office door.
“Katherine Day...I know we do this often, but I would like to pull out of the alliance.” Jackson started as he clasped his hands in front of him. I chuckled, I knew this was going to happen.
“Jackson, listen...if this alliance ends not only will you lack protection and be vulnerable but you’ll also have to explain to your pack why you pulled out. I’ve been in contact with your neighboring alphas and they have informed me that there are a group of rogues planning an attack on your pack. The only reason they have not attacked yet is due to our alliance. Now, pick your next words carefully.” I glared at the cowardly alpha, there was no way he would pull out now, not with the threat looming over his head.
“I am well aware...However, I must cut my losses.” Jackson gave me a cocky smirk. Fed up with the conversation I rose from my seat at the table.
“I’ll be here for two weeks, you have until then to make a decision. We have this conversation often Jackson, don’t make a mistake now.” I smirked turning and leaving the fuming alpha. Every pack had guest houses on the edge of their territory for visitors, that was where I would be staying. As we walked through the pack I greeted each member, most have become familiar with me since I came to visit so often.
“He’s hiding something.” Tiffany spoke from my left. I glanced at her, she always had such a hard exterior even though she was a total sweetheart.
“I know, we’ll figure it out soon.” I smiled at another pack member, who bowed their head in respect.
“I need to go for a fly…” I sighed, shaking my stiff wings.
“Why don’t you? Madelyn and I will tail you and give you space.” Tiffany suggested. Without hesitation I let my wings spread out and launched myself into the air. I spun in circles a joyous laugh leaving my lips in the process. I felt the freest when I was in the sky, any other time I was suffocated with security. My wings flapped the sound of wind breaking echoing around me. Taking my time I took a nice slow fly towards the guesthouses we stayed in when we visited. The wind rushed past my face calming my soul as I reconnected with my spiritual side.
As I lowered myself to the ground I noticed the most enticing smell, cinnamon. I glanced around as my feet touched the ground lightly. I kept my guard up, not letting the unknown feeling overtake me.
“Who’s there?” I called and waited for a response. From inside one of the cabins a man walked out. He couldn’t have been taller than Jackson, who stood at a good six foot five. The man had long fiery red hair that was pulled back into a neat ponytail, his eyes a deep forest green that is hidden by wireframed circular glasses, and his skin as pale as snow. He wore a black long sleeve shirt that hugged his toned body, and dark denim jeans and went the barefoot route. Was he a wolf? Wolf shifters were known for having a slight tan and dark colored hair.
“My apologies, I was assigned to this cabin by Alpha Jackson. I’m a rogue, I was previously part of the Wintergreen Pack up north.” Despite his looks, his voice was a deep baritone, and it shook me to my core.
