The Lost Alpha Princess

Chapter 92

Hope's POV

We have made our final selections on the Royal Guard and Royal Army and have sent them over for the Council's review, not that they have the final say but their advise is welcomed. Samantha's replacement is working out great his name is Seth Cooper, I met him a couple of weeks ago.

I think we were both impressed, he apologised for Samantha's behaviour. I let him know that her actions had not caused me to judge his species, I had to reassure him a few times that I had no hard feelings because of that bitch. We will make the final announcement in a few days, before that I have a few things that need attending and immediately.

Over the last couple of days my Father has been getting some disturbing reports of increases in rouge attacks, he has been trying to hide it from me and speaking with Hunter and Holt in private. They don't seem to know me at all if they think I haven't noticed something going on, so I may or may not have been watching in on their meetings. My Mother has caught me doing it, but luckily she is in agreeance with me I should be involved in these meetings. After my, Hunter, Blake and Ella's meeting ended this afternoon, Hunter went to Dads room and hasn't been seen since neither has Holt.

My parents along with Holt and Blaire came back with me, Hunter, Kane, Summer and the kids, my Grandparents are running the pack for my father. The latest rouge attack is quite worrying, and very close to our pack. So far any rouges that have been caught have swallowed so liquid and killed themselves, but in the latest attack the pack has managed to capture a rouge and stop him before he could drink the liquid.

There have been rumours going around that Hunter and I are behind the attacks, apparently we are trying to scare the Alpha's and their packs into following us. I knew we weren't behind the attacks and thankfully the latest pack attacked has an alliance with us, they trust that we are not behind it and have agreed to let Melissa and myself to examine the liquid and to hand the rouge over to Hunter and I.

Hunter's POV

We have been getting some disturbing reports of rouge attacks and the most recent is the next pack over, Arrow has been hearing whisper's that the Alpha's think Hope and I are orchestrating the attacks in order to scare the packs into following us, of course we know it's not us but who the f**k is it. We have been trying to keep it from Hope so we don't put more pressure and doubt in her mind, but I have a feeling she knows exactly what is going on.

I will tell her but I want more information before I worry her, the weirdest thing about the whole situation is any rouges caught are killing themselves before packs can even put them in cells. Rouges are selfish creatures, so taking their own life's is strange.

Hope's POV

Selene has already spoken to the rouge wolf and he doesn't know much, he was travelling to another pack to try and join. He was grabbed and something was stabbed in his neck, he was then ordered to attack the pack and drink the poison if he was captured. He never saw anyone but it was like he was compelled to do it, we both knew who was behind this. Well we have no evidence it is him but only a vampire can compel someone, the question is what is his plan if it is him. When the rouge is brought into our custody I will ask his permission to command him out of the compulsion, he seemed eger for help so that's what I did.

We will still put him in the cells but he will given clean cloths, fresh food and a decent place to sleep. I wanted to talk to him more when he arrives, but I wanted to talk to the other's first. I needed to tell them that I knew everything going on, and what I plan to do to the rouge once I can trust him.

After dinner the boys went to my Mother and Father's room again only this time they would know that I'm there as well, I'm already in the room hiding myself and my scent. I will let them know I'm here when the time comes, they have been discussing things for a while now "I think we should speak to Hope about all of this." Holt says "I fucking agree." I growl stepping out from the dark corner I was in.

Hunter and my Father gasp with guilty looks but Holt has a knowing smirk on his face, he knew I was listening. Of course he did, it was his eyes I was watching through. I was hoping our bond would hide the tingling feeling but clearly not "Hope how long have you been there?" Hunter asks with shame in his tone.

I look at him "Since you started these little meetings, you guys really need to hide things better. I knew something was up the first night, Dad you're not the most subtle you know." I finish was a chuckle. My father looks at me with a shocked expression, not really sure how to respond while Hunter looks at his feet guiltily.

When Holt starts laughing they both glare at him "You knew she was listening in the whole time didn't you?" my Father says with an accusatory tone. Holt stops laughing now looking guilty, Hunter still hasn't said a word. I huff "Look there will be time to deal with you lot hiding this from me, but right now we have a rouge problem we are being blamed for." I say looking at all three of them with a serious expression.

They all nodded as I sit down and we start discussing what our plan is, I explain what the rouge told Selene and I could see Hunter was not happy that I would not punish the rouge for attacking. If any of the pack he attacked had been hurt then the outcome for the rouge would of been a lot different, but according to the Alpha the rouges didn't look like they were trying to kill anyone merely hurt them unsuccessfully.

I think we all agree that Stephan is behind this, but what none of us understand is he wants more than just power. So why was he trying to turn the packs against me, they are my people and will always be important to me. If they hated me then they wouldn't follow me, in turn meaning they wouldn't follow him. He would have no power and that is all he really wants, if they lose faith in me why would they place it in him.

None of us thought it made sense, I don't get his end game in all this. We discuss everything for a while longer, but don't really get anywhere "Look I think we need to speak with my contact in Stephan's coven, if we can figure out what he wants then we can make a plan. For now there are two things he doesn't know, one, what Hope is truly capable of and two, that we know he is up to something." my Father says logically, we all nod in agreeance and leave my Father to make his call agreeing to meet again tomorrow.

When Hunter and I finally get into bed I can't help myself "So we're back to keeping secrets are we?" I question slowly getting into bed and being careful to stay as far away from Hunter as I can without falling on the floor. He looks down with an ashamed look "I'm sorry, in my defence you do have more than enough on you shoulder's already." he says thinking he has made a fair point, but he really hasn't.

I look at him with a raised brow "Really, you think that knowing you, my Father and Holt were all trying to hide something from me wasn't stressful. Then having to figure out what you were hiding knowing full well that yet again I'm at the centre of it all, but it's fine because you didn't want to add to the weight already on my shoulder's. No of course not, you only doubled it." I finish with a glare directed at Hunter, he can't meet my eyes and is looking at the sheet as if it's the best thing in the world.

To be honest I did just want to wide him up, but now I am getting angry with him because in all honesty there should be nothing hidden between us. He knows I notice everything, is he really so naive that he thinks he can hide anything from me. Sometimes I have to wonder if he isn't just plain old stupid, he still can't look at me.

"At least have the guts to admit you're wrong like the Alpha you are, you're not a child being scolded you're a Mate with a really fucking pissed off Mate." I growl at him in a low tone. His eyes whip up to meet mine "Are you calling me a weak Alpha?" he questions in a dangerous tone. I almost scoff at him "If you can't look me in the eye and apologise without some kind of excuse, then that is exactly what you are 'ALPHA.'" I emphasise the would Alpha with a warning growl.