Chapter Twenty-three

The Brignoff's finally made contact the next day and Jason was leaving with Macie. She had settled down some but she still blatantly despised us for keeping her locked in a room for days on end with only Jason and Carlos taking care of her. I'd be pissed to, but I couldn't make myself feel bad for it, because she was going back to her family. She was going to be okay.

"I'll see you in two days little warrior," Jason smiled and pulled me into a hug.

"Just make sure she ends up where she belongs, I failed her two too many times already," I say.

"You can always count on me Jez, it's going to be alright," Jason promised.

"I'll miss you," I breathed out as he hugged me tighter.

"Two days, Jezzy, that's hardly enough time to start missing me," he said chuckling as he released me and climbed into the car.

I waved to him as he drove off to make his meeting with the Brignoff's. I could care less if they decided to help us, I couldn't live with myself if Macie didn't feel loved in this world and sometimes loving someone made them hate you for doing what was best for them.

I sighed and leaned onto Stefan. One bird was taken care of and now, only one thing had my attention; taking down the Ulfric. It had been ages since I had been outside it seemed like.

"Let's go for a run," Stefan suggested, probably reading my mind.

I smiled cheekily at him and darted into the tree line shedding clothes and shifting seamlessly in my gait. I turned around and tauntingly trotted around Stefan's legs as he was still in his clothes.

Can't catch me. I teased and darted into the snowy pine trees of the valley.

Stefan was on my tail in no time and we circled each other playfully nipping at one another. We rolled in the powder and play fought for dominance like pups until we finally collapsed in a heap.

Do you really want to go back to the pack? Stefan asked.

Of course, they need us. I reply.

What if we just traveled the world together and it was just this?" he asked.

That isn't what you want. I answered.

I see the way you are out here; you love the freedom of being rogue even though you are stuck up here. Stefan declared.

But it makes you uneasy being in my world, so we go back to the pack and take vacations every couple of months. I compromised.

We'll see. Stefan evaded.

I held the coffee cup like a lifeline repeating the conversation with Stefan over and over in my head. Could he really commit to the rogue life? Did I want to stay rogue forever? I had more choices to make after all of this was over and the stress was going to eat me alive. I usually had Jason to talk to about these kinds of things, but he was busy and would be back in two days anyway. The other guys didn't really get it. They'd only known me when I was a rogue, they hadn't met their mates yet so they wouldn't understand what it meant to want to do whatever you could to please your mate.

Red, I had to talk to Red.

I knocked on Alex and Red's door and waited patiently. Alex opened the door in a rather embarrassing state of undress. I covered my eyes with my hand knowing Red, she wouldn't appreciate me seeing him this uncovered.

"Red," I called out.

"Oh, hey Jez," she giggled and took my hand stepping out of the room.

"You can uncover your eyes now," she laughed. "I'm not so possessive that I would be upset about you seeing my mate without a shirt on," she chastised.

"Yeah, but I would," I answered.

"What's up?" she asked.

"Can I talk to you about something kind of personal?" I asked.

"Is this about Stefan?" she asked a twinkle of mischief in her eye.

"Yes," I sighed.

"Come with me, you look like you could use a drink," she giggled taking me to the kitchen and pouring two glasses of bourbon.

"What seems to be the problem?" she asked.

"Well, Stefan is the Alpha of Il Duce Luna," I reiterated. "And I was prepared to go back there with him when all of this is over."

"I still can't picture you as an Alpha Female," Red laughed.

"I know," I smirked.

"Wait, was prepared? You can't leave him," she gasped.

"No, no, I'd never do that again," I say.

"Again?" she asks.

"Long story," I sigh and rest my head in my hands.

"He says he wants to stay rogue with me when all of this is over, but I know he wants to be Alpha again," I say.

"Ah the ultimate mate dilemma," she smiles with understanding.

"You want to make him happy, and he wants to make you happy, but you guys aren't necessarily going to make each other happy until you figure out what exactly it is you want together."

"Exactly,"

"When this is over, lock yourselves in a room for a week together, only come out for food, and then talk about what you want to do," she suggests.

"That's a terrific idea," I sighed in relief. "I won't think about this now, I'll think about it all later."

With a nod and pat on my shoulder she pushed the glasses of bourbon to me.

"I can't drink so while I'm eating for two, you are drinking for two." Red chuckled and moved to the fridge for what looked like leftovers.

I smirked at her as I shot the bourbon one right after the other.

"I can definitely drink for the both of us," I smiled devilishly.

"So here's where the party is," Cece chirped and plopped herself down on the stool next to me and poured a glass. "Why wasn't I invited?" she asked feigning hurt.

"Because I needed to talk to someone who knew something about mates," I answered bluntly.

"Oh, I can tell you all about mates," Cece smiled. "I had a mate, and he was in a pack," she said nonchalantly.

"What happened?" Red asked.

"Oh, I never crossed into their land, but I watched him on patrols a couple times before I left, I am so not ready to settle down," Cece swore off taking a drink.

I poured us both new glasses and just sat back to watch Cece. She was like in home live entertainment.

"Lucky for you, your mate was already rogue, Red." Then she turned to me, "You have to be the most unlucky person with the most horrendous sad story I have ever heard, but at least you have a sexy mate," Cece giggled at my growls.

"What pack is your mate from?" I asked trying to redirect her antics to her own story. Although getting answers about Cece from Cece was about as pleasant as pulling teeth.

"I think it's called sweet moon or something," she waved her hand around like it wasn't about the biggest news she could talk about.

"Il Duce Luna," I said.

"Yeah, that's the one." She nodded.

"That's Stefan's pack," I whisper and down another shot.

"Jez!" I heard Tommy call from the ops room.

I whipped around and yelling "What?!" in response.

"Get in here, I need you to hear this!" he called with anxiety in his tone.

I entered the ops room to see Luc, Dean, and Tommy around the table. The tension in the room was palpable. Luc seemed like he couldn't believe we didn't know already, as he usually looked. He often forgot his age. Tommy looked like the information was about to pour out of him. Dean looked like he was ready to throw punches.

"I was talking to Luc, and asked how someone could do these kinds of things to their own family all for keeping their throne," Tommy began. "Luc, tell her what you told me."

"I was just saying that this happens to most Shifters that are turned after so many years, it takes longer when they are mated to a Royal, but inevitably they lose all humanity and in a word go crazy," Luc says again.

"What do you mean that he was human?' I asked.

"I mean he isn't a Rezzori by birth, he was mated to your grandmother who was of the royal line, the sole heir as a matter of fact," Luc explained. "You look a lot like her," he smiled.

"So the Ulfric is just another sociopathic Shifter that has no cognitive recognition for authority," I sank into a chair and pondered the facts for a moment.

This explained everything. He was okay for a few years, and when his mate died, the one who turned him and loved him was lost, he couldn't hold out anymore. His greed had gotten the best of him, ultimately the side of him that was flawed and selfish.

"How did he hide this?" I asked.

"Only a few were privy to the information of his heritage, it wasn't announced that the princess was mated until after he had been successfully turned. They assumed he was a rogue. After his mate died he would punish anyone who questioned him, or mention his lost love," Luc explained. "He broke off ties to the covens, the rogues, the vampires and after a couple hundred years people just didn't talk about it. Your poor mother, I imagine she never got to hear about her own mother as you did," Luc talked and talked until I wished that he would hush. I had heard enough damning my grandfather and the more I heard the more I pitied my enemy and that was dangerous.

"I'll catch up with you all later," I said softly and left the room.

I went to the training room and I was pounding on the heavy bag when I felt Stefan enter the room. I wasn't the only one there. Luc and Dean were sparring, something about an age old argument about vampires versus shifters. I personally couldn't care less as I was infuriated with Cece. She had a damn mate and it was probably someone Stefan knew. She acted like she couldn't care less about being with him or not. I couldn't say anything to her right not because it would jeopardize the job. If I was being honest, I could care less about Cece, I was fuming about Vasile lying to everyone, and keeping my birthright from me, and the truth from my mother.

"Did I do something to make you angry?" he asked.

"No," I replied, not missing a beat in my pattern.

"Who made you angry?" he asked smirking a bit as he crossed his arms.

"Cece," I growled.

"It's not just Cece," Dean called out.

"Shut up Dean," I yelled.

"Make me Jezebel," he taunted.

The rage I had felt before reuniting with Stefan surged forward and I was looking for blood. Dark thoughts of violence and murder plagued my thoughts as I ran toward him. Before I could reach him cold arms of steel wrapped around me like iron chains. I was thrown to the mats and stars danced around my vision.

"Come on, Luc," Dean called. "We were just having a bit of fun,"

"Something is wrong, Dean, look at her eyes." He warned.

The storm within me rose like a deadly wave. I wanted obedience. The insolent wolf challenging me was a bug to me. He needed to be taught.

"That is how her eyes looked when she healed me," Dean said. "Shit."

Luc let go of me as I stood up in front of Dean.

"Jez," Stefan called out to me.

I looked and the power within me was swimming in his eyes as well. He took my hand in his and the storm calmed from the point of being untamable to a honed spear ready to strike.

I turned my attention to Dean.

"Watch your tongue," I spat and turned away. I would not strike my comrade. I chanted it in my head no matter how much the power wanted allegiance and respect; I could not bear to force him to kneel to me.

"You've changed," Dean warned. "You used to joke with me like this all the time, but now you demand respect as if you are a queen."

I stopped at the door of the gym and looked at Dean. The problem was, he was right. I had changed. The power Stefan and I harbored was not conducive to rogue life. It wasn't productive for pack life either. I was going to have to leave my rogue mercenary life. There was no question now. My people needed strong leaders to pull them away from the muddled mess that had become the Court.

"Dean," Luc warned him. "You don't understand, she is a queen, or at least she will be."

Dean glared at Stefan and I as if we were crazy. "Do you expect me to bow?" he snarled.

"No Dean, she doesn't expect anything from you," Stefan replied turning me from the room.

I couldn't bring myself to apologize, I just felt drained. My entire world was changing again. Sure I had Stefan to help me through it, but I was losing the only family I had ever truly known. Carlos, Tommy, and Dean would never stay in Court. Jason would stay for me, but eventually he would tire of the confinement and leave as well. I was not just a rogue anymore.

Stefan squeezed my hand and I knew that he was connected to my thoughts. With a slight nudge I could tell that he had come to the same conclusion. The only path for us was the destined one we were falling into.

I walked through the house, Stefan's hand in mine, with the confidence of a Royal. Broken were the shackles of my constraining past, yet the responsibility of my people weighed on Stefan and I to erect a new age of prosperity. My allegiances were changing as well as my loyalties, but deep down the driving force behind my perseverance and tenacity was still the promise of vengeance. Justice needed serving for my mother and father for never getting to see the beauty of having a life together. I needed the Ulfric to suffer for robbing me of a decent childhood full of love where I could have been prepared to receive my destined love. Just for that, Stefan needed to see him suffer for bringing him such heartache for my shortcomings. Above all of that suffering, Jason deserved justice all the more. He got to watch his mate loved by another, her belly swollen with another man's pup.

I moved into the ops room with Jason by my side, the authoritative power surging like a current between us.

I am tired of waiting, we move to strike now. I told Stefan.

I'll handle the arrangement; I assume you are going to call Jason. Stefan replied.

I nodded and moved to our room as silent as a wraith. I packed in a daze; my only thought was taking down the Ulfric. It would take a day to maneuver through the country to get to Court. I'd call Jason as soon as we were in cell range.

The house was moving like a fire had been set. Pent up energies be praised that everyone's tensions were raised high enough to hurry their asses. I waited in the garage by the car.

Everything is ready to go. I told Stefan.

I'll be down in a minute . He replied.

I watched patiently as everyone in the house spilled into the garage as if a fire had been set under their asses. In my haste I had had plenty of time to dress for heavy battle. My arms had knives strapped to each forearm. My legs were clad in heavy leather and holsters for different size knives. My favorite side arms were in my boot and on my hip. I was prepared for anything.

Deadly sexy. Stefan's thought drifted through my mind as Stefan descended the stairs next to Lucas.

I smiled at him for a moment before turning to the group looking to me with questions in their eyes.

"Our kind have been oppressed, manipulated, and coerced into submission for too long!" I roared. My voice echoed through the rafters. "It is time to rise and bring back the laws of the wolf. I have run through my life running from my enemies until I found you," I began looking to Carlos, Dean, and Tommy. "You taught me to fight those who oppress the weak. I could have lived the rest of my days fulfilled with the work we did, but Fate has called me to a higher cause for all of us. Let the freedom of rogue be a journey for those who wish to take it without judgement, and commitment to pack be as understandable as accepting family. Let us unite our people so we may know true peace."

"They say you must have war if you want peace," Carlos spoke up first and put his hand to his heart to salute me. "You have my fealty, and I would follow you both anywhere," Carlos nodded to Stefan.

"We're with him," Dean and Tommy followed Carlos. I chuckled at them.

"My place is with the arma, and I know a true leader to follow when I see one, so as much as it would be an honor to lead our people after this, I wish to spend time with my mate for the rest of my days. You have a good mate, and you both can do this," Lucas said saluting us before entering the car with Carlos. They seemed to have gotten to be great friends.

"We are honored to serve with you," Alex said with a salute of his own. "And we are planning to settle down somewhere after all of this to start our family; we've never been to Romania." Red smiled at me as they made their way to their own car.

"It's been a pleasure seeing you grow," Luc smiled flashing a bit of fang. "It will be even more of a pleasure with our future dealings, I see a long alliance forming between our families." Luc nodded to us before straddling an American Harley.

"Jez!" Tommy called, a tablet in his hand. "There's someone outside, but it doesn't look like a guard."

Stefan and I walked over to Tommy and looked at the tablet. It was a woman by the looks of it. An old woman with a green cloak and gold designs I couldn't quite make out from the screen.

"Open the door," I said unbuttoning the clip on my holster.

The door opened and rattled the rafters overhead as the rock of the mountain made room. The cold air blasted into our faces that was as rejuvenating as morning coffee. The woman came into view and when I saw her eyes, I knew this was no enemy.

"I had dreamt that you would depart today," she called out and entered the space as if she was just supposed to be there. As a witch, she probably knew she was supposed to be here.

"And what else did you dream?" I asked.

"That you were the wolf of true blue," she answered vaguely. Damn witches spoke in code.

"Why are you here?" I asked.

"To assist you," she said simply and made her way to Luc. "Hello old friend." She greeted with a smile.

"Hello Syeria," Luc greeted.

"Lucero," she smiled at Luc the kind of secret smile you see in lovers.

She turned back to Stefan and I, "I came to tell you the Order will meet you before the battle to bless your union to your mate, and bestow upon you the blessings of Fate."

"Thank you, Sy," I smiled at her. She had helped me heal from many wounds and given me many tattoos. She also kept me pretty well stocked on belladonna for long plane rides with rowdy boys.

I held Stefan's hand and handed the keys to Stefan with a smirk.

"You're letting me drive?" he asked.

I nodded and slid into the passenger side.

"Here I thought that I would never drive one of your cars," Stefan teased.

"Well, what's mine is yours now," I smiled at him sarcastically. "I need to focus on comms so you are driving," I explained flatly.

"Of course my queen," Stefan leaned in and kissed my cheek with a smirk. I rewarded him with a small smile that I only showed around him.

I slid into the car and turned on comms. Tommy had made sure everyone had been given one.

"Jez and Stefan checking in, Carlos and Lucas please respond," I began.

"Carlos and Lucas checking in, Tommy and Dean respond," Lucas answered and so on it went until the entire team had answered.

"Carlos, do you have a count of who will meet us outside the territory?" I asked. I held a pen and a piece of paper ready to find out exactly what our numbers would be.

"Let's see, ten for sure," he responded.

"Lucas how many of the arma?" I asked.

"All of the men and women trained for combat, a hundred and twelve in total," he answered.

"Damn, that's already more than I could have hoped for," I added.

"Dean, Tommy, You guys got any?" I asked not expecting much.

"Yeah, the Dingoes are coming to play," Dean answered.

"So around sixty," Tommy cut in.

"Luc, what about you?" I asked.

"The vampire council has thrown in their support and are eager to renegotiate treaty agreements with you after the shift in power has occurred." Luc responded.

"I need a count Luc," I reiterated, hoping that I was hiding my shock.

"At least fifty," Luc laughed.

"Alex and Red?" I asked.

"Sorry honey, all of our contacts are either thieves or you guys," Red answered.

"No problem," I answered.

"Put me down for seven hundred," Stefan interrupted.

"What?" I balked.

"I called every pack in the States, love" Stefan answered. "And they are more than willing to support us."

I felt weightless, like all of my worries were going away. Not only was our cause supported, but we actually had a chance at pulling this thing off.

"Okay, is everyone clear on their roles?" I asked.

For the next few hours we went over the plan until we all had it memorized front to back. It was like a well-choreographed dance. Cece started the night off with a grand entrance and very public flirtation with Eugen the fraud. After he is indisposed, the troops make a surprise attack on the fort drawing the attention of the guards from the Throne room to the West side of the courtyard, while Stefan and I make our way in through the secret passage on the East side with the arma as our backup to validate our claim to the throne. From that point forward, I publicly execute the Ulfric and we claim the seat.

The chatter on the comms had turned into white noise, and I kept running through my head over and over.

"Carlos," I called out, forcing all other conversations to silence.

"Yes?" he asked.

"To officially claim the seat from a legitimate ruler I have to challenge him according to the old ways, in wolf form right?" I ask.

"Yes, to claim the throne from the current ruling family you must challenge him as a wolf," he responded.

"But he isn't technically part of the ruling family, he is not a Rezzori."

"No, but he does have a legitimate claim because he was true mates."

"So I can't just shoot him in the head like I would any other bat shit crazy human turned looney wolf," I state.

"No you can't, although it would make this easier." Carlos admits.

"Well the secret will be out as soon as he has to shift on a new moon," Luc cut in.

"What are you talking about?" I asked.

"Humans who are turned are weakened at the new moon," Luc deadpans.

"I thought that the whole connected to the moon thing was a myth," I answered curiously.

"Not for a human who has been turned. They can't shift on a new moon and are forced to shift on a full moon." Luc informs.

"How do you know so much about wolf history and we know so little?" I ask more of a rhetorical question.

"I'm older and have perfect recall," he answers smartly.

I chuckled at his well-deserved ego and counted myself lucky that he had all the information that could help me.

"So what happens when he can't shift?" I ask.

"He will have to yield by the old laws, but I think he is far too gone to see such reason," Stefan answers.

"So then can I shoot him?" I ask.

Dean and Tommy's laughter filters through the speakers and it brings a slight smile to my lips. This was starting to feel like a job instead of a life altering incident.

"If he breaks the old ways first, then by all means blow the fucker's head off." Lucas answers with a growl.