The Rise of The Royal Rogue

Through the rabbit hole.

Xander gave my question some thought and I was starting to think that asking him this question wasn't such a good idea.

"The first time I fell in love was when I was 17... her name was Angelina. We all called her Angie. She is a year younger than me, She is the daughter of an Alpha in Brooklyn... was - her father died, she is now the alpha of her father's pack.... Well it was young love and she had to return back to her father. She was sent to live with us during an uprising that occured within her pack. Her father died during an attack and she was called back to her pack. I couldn't stop her - oddly enough, I've never seen her since then. Our parting was not clear. But we understand that we were young then and hormonal as every other teenager. ", he began to add humor to this depressing conversation.

"Was she your first...? ", I asked nervously.

He sighed... I'll take that as a no. I frowned and looked down.

"Hey, Rebecca...I'm sorry - I really am. I should have waited for you- I'm selfish and inconsiderate -", I interrupted him.

"No, you're not. You're honest. I don't care about your past. I love you for who you are right now. ", I smiled and he kissed me.

"Your turn. ", he said after a while.

"Ask me something... anything. ", I said excitedly.

He traced his finger up and down my arm while he thought about what to ask.

"Describe your perfect day. ", he said.

"That wasn't a question. ", I laughed.

"Fine, let me rephrase it. What is a perfect day? ", he raised his eyebrows.

"That's easy, a day in. No work, no stress... just relaxing inside. ", I reminisced.

"You're so lazy. ", he laughed.

"I swear, if it wasn't for your injuries I pinch you. ", I laughed.

"Pinch me where? ", he smirked.

I scowled at him.

"I can't always count on you to turn a serious topic into something sexual. ", I gav him a glare and he laughed.

"You can. ", he smirked.

"Alright mister, back to the game. What is your biggest fear, " I asked, "and don't say spiders. "

"Loosing you. ", he said within a heartbeat. He didn't have to think about that one.

I just looked int his eyes. It held so much of trust.

"I'm not going anywhere... ", I smiled.

We just sat in silence for a while.

There was a knock on the door and I woke up.

"Why did you get up? ", he laughed.

"What if it's the doctor? he will have my head if I lay next to you. "

"You're my mate. you can lay on top of me if you wanted to. ", he smirked.

"You're hurt. It's different. ", I laughed.

The door opened and in walked Storm, Liam and Kiara.

Why does she have to be here! - I complained.

That's his family. Play nice Rebecca. Deep breaths - Grace spoke monosyllabicly through gritted teeth.

It's hard to play nice when every time I see her I just want to rip her head off- I complained.

Smile and greet - Grace reminded me.

I smiled at them. Liam carried a few 'get well soon' helium balloons and a 'it's a girl! ' helium balloon.

"I told him not to bring it. ", Storm referred to the balloon.

I began laughing.

"Liam, you're on another level of stupid. ", Xander muttered.

"You need the humour. You're always so serious. ", Liam protested as Xander folded his arms.

"You can say that again. ", Storm and I said at the same time and laughed.

"On to more pressing matters, How are you feeling, Alpha? ", Kiara ruined the moment.

Storm and Liam gave me a look. of disgust and I coughed in agreement. Storm was unable to control her smirk so Liam playfully nudged her to focus. Those two are such clowns.

"Fine, thank you Kiara. I'll be out in the next few days. ", Xander spoke.

"Good. I've brought you something to read while you're in here. ", she handed him a story book.

"Where did you find this? ", He said with wide eyes and a huge smile.

"An omega was cleaning my room and she found it in an old trunk. ", she smiled.

"Talk about fossils.", Xander smiled.

"I'm glad you're ok. I'll be on my way. Take care. ", she left.

Finally!

Storm and I peered towards Xander for a better look at the book.

"What is it? ", I asked politely.

"This book has all the stories we made up as a child. Stories about people in our pack, it has pictures of our childhood as well. "

I made an O shape with my mouth.

"I remember that book. So many memories.", Liam said with enthusiasm, "Look for the story about the guard who lived under the staircase. "

The book was held together by a very worm out spine. It was a brown leather book. It had seen better days

Xander flipped through the pages and a photo fell out onto his lap.

He looked at it with pain. It was a picture of his parents.

Storm and Liam realised that, that was their cue to leave so they did.

It was just Xander and I.

"Penny for your thoughts? ", I smiled at him.

"This picture was taken the day they died... ", he said, "here, keep it for me. "

He handed me the picture and nodded. I looked at it. His parents looked so happy here - so unaware of what faith had in store for them. I wonder what they would have done differently had they known they had such little time together.