Serena quickly paced the floor of Ravenna's room constantly looking at her phone checking the time. "Dammit, where are you?!" She grabbed her phone to call again when she heard the shuffling of the leaves in the tree outside.
"WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN," she shouted as Ravenna climbed through the window.
"Well MOTHER I just got back from getting some of the worst news of my life," Ravenna retorted as she placed her hands on her hips. "What is wrong?"
"Well while you were trying to fix your hurt pride; I had to stop Patrick from asking for a transfer, and watch as the heads of our border guard's rain down on the ball!" Serena exclaimed walking behind Ravenna to close the window she just entered though.
"Wait... What?? Who did that?!" Ravenna demanded spinning around to face her sister.
"Someone trying to make a point obviously, look I'm not going to argue just get some sleep. Dad will be calling another meeting tomorrow." Serena informed her as she turned to leave the room.
"Serena wait... I figured out what was going on with the humans earlier at the mall," Ravenna dropped her eyes and looked down at her hands.
Serena turned and looked at a visibly upset Ravenna, "what's that?"
"Their queen was murdered a few days ago. I didn't miss the fact that she was killed by a wolf," she said looking up at her sister.
Serena gasps, "you have to tell Dad right away!"
"And give up the fact I've been tavern fighting for years? You know I can't do that!" Throwing her arms in the air, Ravenna stomped over to the other side of the room and looked at the wall.
"Raven, we are in a constant war with the Rogues, Blue Lake is trying to wage another war on the Vampires with no complaint from your bodyguard, and now the humans could attack at any point but you won't tell anyone because you don't want to give away your alternate personality!"
"ALRIGHT, I GET IT!!" Sharply turning around, she glared daggers at her sister knowing Serena was right. She was still hesitant to tell because there was a lot to lose if her father reacted how she figured he would.
"I'm sorry; I know this is a lot on you. Get some sleep, we will discuss this tomorrow." Serena turned and left the room, leaving Ravenna with only her thoughts.
Nighttime brought only restless sleep for Ravenna as she tossed and turned in bed. Knowing she needed to tell her father the truth was the easy part, actually telling him was the hard part. She knows he would force her to stop fighting. But, if by some minor miracle Titus could get her back in the ring, she would take it. Her head began hurting from all the thinking. Rolling her eyes at the situation she rolled over and looked at her clock: 3:30 am.
"Ugggh, tomorrow is going to suck!" She said defeated. Deciding to force her eyes closed and clear her head until sleep finally took over.
Her alarm blared in her ear at 7 am, after rolling over to shut it off; she threw off her blankets and jumped out of bed. Walking to her closet she picked out a pair of black torn jeans and a red V-neck T-shirt. "I may as well smell good when Dad banishes me," she sarcastically said to herself as she turned on the shower. Once she finished her shower and got herself dressed, she completed her outfit with black combat boots and her new leather jacket. Looking herself over, she took a deep breath and headed downstairs.
Feeling her heart about to beat out of her chest she went into the kitchen, where her parents, David, Rose, Serena, Patrick, and Serena's new bodyguard Maurice were eating breakfast and taking away. Looking at Maurice she couldn't help but think he would be a good bodyguard for Serena. He's close to 5'9" and full of muscles. His brown skin was flawless except for one scar running down his cheek. As she watched his brown eyes light up in interest at the conversation, she couldn't help but miss Kevin. Taking a deep breath, she walked up to the table and sat next to Serena. "Good morning everyone," she said faking happiness. Her greeting is returned by everyone in the room but she doesn't miss the sadness in Patrick's eyes. "Dad I need to talk to you..." The sound of the door opening when Marcus entered the room stopped her mid-sentence.
"Your Majesty, I am sorry for interrupting your breakfast, but I have some urgent news."
"No problem Marcus, what is it?" The king asked as he looked up from his paper.
Stepping in the room he bowed to the family, standing up and looking at the king he took a deep breath and spoke. "It was just brought to my attention that the Vampire Prince Alias was murdered a few days ago by Hunters."
A slight gasp was heard at the other end of the table, as everyone in the room turned to look at its source. Trying to divert their curiousness, Ravenna pretended to drop her napkin and was picking it up.
"Let's go discuss this in my office, the king stated as he stood to leave the room." Turning to Ravenna, he looked at her with concern, "you needed to discuss something with me?"
"It can wait, go to your meeting, I'm going for a walk."
He nodded at her as she quickly stood up and hurried out of the room before the tears started falling. Managing to run to the clearing where they met, Raven collapsed and cried. She cried for Kevin, she cried for her border guards who lost their lives at the ball, and she cried for Alias. As she kneeled there lost in her thoughts and tears, an arm wraps around her shoulders and pulled her into a hug.
"I'm sorry Raven; I know he meant a lot to you," Patrick said hugging her tightly.
"I loved him, Patrick, we knew we couldn't keep going we would eventually find our mates, but he didn't deserve that."
"I know, Kevin didn't deserve it, neither did the border guards. It's a result of war no matter how bad it sucks," he replied as he continued to hold her close and let her cry. Finally, her tears stopped, as she adjusted herself to sit next to him, she put her arm around him and just enjoyed the comfort he was providing her.
"It's my fault you know, if I hadn't have asked him to meet me here to discuss the Vampire who killed Kevin, he'd still be alive."
"It's no one's fault but the Hunters who killed him." He said looking her in the eye.
Nodding with uncertainty, she took a deep breath and wiped her eyes. "I guess I better get back, this day getting more and more complicated."
Standing to her feet, she turned towards him and held out her hand to help him to his feet. Accepting it, he stood up and wiped off his jeans, and turns to look at her. Running his fingers through his wavy brown hair sheepishly, he takes her hand, looks at her, and takes a deep breath.
"I owe you an apology; I was a total ass last night and I didn't mean to take it out on you. A lot is going on right now and I was drunk and impatient. You are my best friend and I don't want that ruined because of my big mouth."
"You are angry and grieving of course I'd forgive you, Dork." She smiled at him and put her arm around his shoulder. "I guess it's time to have that conversation with my father. Want to go with me to tell Dad about my tavern fighting?"
"Why do you have to tell him?" He asked in disbelief.
"I heard something last night that could very well be an issue in the future and he needs to know."
"Of course I'll go."
Waking hand in hand she noticed the cars of the Alphas pulling in for Alpha Mitchell and Kevin's funeral. Dragging Patrick to her Dad's office she heard that her father and Marcus are still in there talking. Taking a deep breath, she knocked sheepishly on the door.
"Come in Ravenna"
"Dad I need to talk to you and Marcus." She stated as Patrick closed the door. "But before I get started, I need you to listen and not interrupt or yell at me." She said as she took a seat in a chair across from his desk next to Marcus.
Sitting back in his chair with concern etched on his face, King Alistair looked at his daughter.
"Ok, I won't yell. What is it?"
"About three years ago I started sneaking out of my room at night and started fighting in the Midnight Tavern under the alias of Raven." She replied looking at her hands.
"YOU DID WHAT?!" Marcus yelled.
"You do know you could have been killed Ravenna do they know who you are?" The king asked her with concern evident in his voice as he stared at her curiously.
Grateful her dad kept his word; she relaxed a bit. "No, I have always worn a mask and most don't even know I'm a wolf. As far as getting killed, I need to lose first, I'm 36 and 2."
Smirking the king looked at Marcus: "I think you need a raise."
Marcus snickered and looked at Ravenna. "Ok, so what is the point of telling us this?"
"Well, I went last night, due to an all-fighters meeting, and we were told that the human Queen was murdered and all shifters are now barred from entering The Rose or Alaria."
"A standard precautionary measure with the Queen being killed, what does this have to do with us?" The king asked her as he leaned back in his chair looking at his daughter.
Shuffling nervously, she took a deep breath. "Well, it seems that the queen was ripped apart by a Werewolf."
Three gasps were heard and Marcus finally broke the silence.
"Well.... shit."