USELESS?

22

I'm a bundle of nerves as I settle on Anthony's lap in the chair in our private sitting room. Angela and Xavier share the loveseat, as Joseph, Victor, Archer, and Jeremiah share the couch, with Archer on Jer's lap. Sensing my nervousness, Anthony rubs my back and clears his throat.

"Jeremiah, you and Archer already know most of this, but the rest of you do not. Some of you know more of this than others, so I'm going to start from the beginning so that everyone is on the same page. Forgive me if I repeat something you've already heard.

"21 years ago, the firstborn son of the king and queen was kidnapped by a nurse from the delivery room. She ran with him, and made it as far as the rogue territory just outside our borders, where she was killed, and the baby held captive, not knowing who or what he was, until two months ago. A week before the full moon, our oldest pack member came to me, saying she had received a vision from the Goddess that a werewolf of high importance, both to me and to werewolves as a whole, was being held, and must be rescued at the full moon.

"I gathered all our warriors, and we quickly planned a raid. We fought our way into their headquarters, and to a room my wolf was adamant we had to reach. When I opened the door, the wolf I saw was the most beautiful I had ever seen, and I knew this was who we were looking for." Anthony gives me a kiss on my cheek as he pauses.

"That's a beautiful story," Angela says. "And I can see how Hunter is of high importance to you personally, Anthony, but as your mate, I'm assuming he has chosen not to take the throne when King Orion retires, so how is he important to our species as a whole?"

"That's why we've asked you to join us today," I say. "You see, the day of the raid was my 21st birthday, and when Anthony saw my wolf, I had just shifted for the first time."

"The first time?" Asks Joseph. "That's unusual. Most shift at 13 or 14. Historically, only Guardians shift later than that. Hunter, do you happen to have a birthmark?"

"I didn't know I did, until Anthony told me." I answered quietly. I take a deep breath, and stand up. Turning around, I lift the back of my shirt up to my shoulders.

I hear shocked gasps, and then the silence behind me is deafening. Someone stands, so I let go of my shirt, letting it fall into place as I turn to see their reactions. Joseph, Victor, and Xavier are standing at attention, and as I turn, they kneel, bowing their heads over their raised knees. Angela has her hands over mouth as tears stream down her cheeks.

"Please," I say, flustered, "you are all our closest friends and family. I don't want you to treat me any differently than you have been."

Angela stands and comes over to me, and wraps her arms around me tightly as she says "My son has truly found favor with the Goddess. Not only was our pack chosen to rescue you from the rogues, but he was granted the honor of being your mate."

"Thank you," I whisper.
We all retake our seats, and I continue, "The group of rogues I was raised among had very specific, and restrictive, rules about mates. Their 'pack law' states that a mating ceremony must be held either on the first full moon after meeting, or the one after the younger partner turns 18. If a warrior claims that an unclaimed omega or submissive is their mate, the submissive partner has no choice whatsoever.

"The former leader of the rogues, who called himself Alpha Todd, and his son, Dale, claimed that I was Dale's mate when I was 15, and, as per pack law, our ceremony was held just after I turned 18. Because my mark from Dale disappeared when I shifted, I hoped that he was among those killed during the raid."

"King Orion and Queen Grace were not aware that Hunter was a Guardian," Anthony says, "and we don't know if the nurse who kidnapped him knew or not. However, we have to assume that this Alpha Todd knew, and it's possible that Dale was informed. We do know that Dale is alive, and is now referring to himself as Alpha, and has found out where Hunter is."

"How do you know that?" Xavier questions.

"Because of the note and folder we found with Ty's body." I answer. "We can't share those with you at this time, because my father is sending a special team of Elders to review and investigate the contents of the folder. They are due tomorrow morning, which is why we have you here today."

"Because of his condition when he was rescued, we had decided to keep the fact that Hunter is a Guardian among those who needed to know," Anthony picks up, "which was the king and queen, Jeremiah, Hunter, and myself. When it was discovered that Archer was Jer's mate, he was told as well.

Now that he is stronger, healthy, and trained as well as Jer and I can manage on our own, the time for secrecy has passed. We intend to hold a pack meeting to announce it when the Elders arrive." Anthony concludes.

"I wouldn't do that," Angela says. "I know it's an honor, but Hunter, you don't seem like the type to enjoy the attention. I would suggest simply aligning his training with the rest of the warriors, as most know the legends about the mark of a Guardian. As for the rest of the pack, when was the last time we did a pack run?"

"That's an idea," agrees Jer. "We haven't had a run since before Hunter arrived. We're actually overdue. I say we arrange one for the next full moon, which just so happens to be in two days."

"The other reason why we brought you here is to tell you that I intend to issue a royal proclamation accusing Dale of treason, and challenging him to trial by combat. If the next full moon is in two days," I interject, "then I'll arrange to have the challenge delivered to him directly afterwards, which will give me a month to prepare."

"Are you sure that's a good idea right now?" Archer asks, worriedly. "With the pregnancy?"

"We figured that it's best to get the challenge issued and done as soon as possible," Anthony says. "I don't like it either, but if we wait, we risk them trying to attack and members of our pack getting hurt. Hunter's wolf assures us that he can make sure that the pups won't be harmed."

The others all share a glance, and maybe thoughts, and respond in unison. "Go for it."