Continuing Jossie's POV:
We walked through a secure heavy metal door where I was taken into the hall of familiar cells. They were holding cells with nothing in them besides two bunk beds to sit on and a sink/toilet system. I couldn't believe they were actually going through with it. Jude's anger forced a growl through me as I felt slowly falling out of control of myself. My heart sped up as I felt a rage growing deep inside me. I fought against Zeke suddenly as I tried to get away from him. I felt him lift me off the ground as I went to kicking. I couldn't stop myself as I fought to break free. But, Zeke was much stronger than me and was able to keep control of me. Matthew blocked any chance of exiting this place even if I were to get away from Zeke. I had to calm down. I knew I did. I dug my heels into the ground when I faked surrendering. He shoved me forward anyways as his strength outweighed my own.
Zeke pushed me into a door where I would be surrounded by plain cement blocks. The doors were as heavy as the previous I was brought through. There was an opening to pass food through. There was even a bar window on the door that allowed me to peer outside of the cell and even across the hall into the next. Zeke locked me in the cell before walking off. I flipped around to go up against the door. I could see them leave the hall as Matthew asked him, "I didn't think she'd be capibal of betraying her father and actually assist someone in killing the man."
"I don't think anyone really believes it," Zeke said to comfort him.
"Please don't leave me in here!" I yelled as I banged on the wall. They didn't answer me as the hall fell silent. I sunk low down to the ground as my heart began to beat fast. Then his scent hit me. Casimir's familiar scent was nearby. So close I felt aroused to have such a familiar scent here. I wouldn't be stuck alone. Even if I hate his guts. His feelings were high in the air. He was angry about something... But, they changed to aroused all of a sudden. He smelled happy for some reason I couldn't explain. Cas' scent was comforting. I couldn't explain how much I felt happy in the same way. I felt like I wasn't alone anymore.
"Jossie?" I heard his voice break the silence. It came from across the cell. He was in the one facing mine! His voice irritated me suddenly as I remembered I couldn't like this man.
"Don't talk to me!" I shouted as I soon lost my patience and bacame angry at him. "You killed my father! N-now they think we did it together." This was somehow all his fault. There wasn't a doubt in my mind I shouldn't believe anything he said. He was a liar and a murderer. I could have been his next victim. He came after me specifically. He made me look even more like a suspect instead of the victim. No wonder he's happy. He'll be the reason still as to why I will die.
"Jossie please listen to me!" He begged suddenly. I felt my heart race.
"FUCK YOU!" I growled out. I couldn't help it as a rumble ripped through my chest. I was radianting with rage at him. I felt my skin crawling as I felt the sensation of being on the verge of shifting into a wolf. I tried to calm down my anger as I saw the room darkening. "You're a murderer!"
He killed my father!
He killed him!
He's a murderer!
"Jossie I did not kill your father!" Casimir shouted.
"YOU'RE A LIAR!" I screamed at the top of my lungs. My heart raced as I took in deep breaths and focused on not trasforming. I didn't want anyone to know I could become a wolf. Especially not my family. Not my mother. I have to try to calm down.
"I saw you needing help!" He shouted through the wall...
"Please hear me out- no I will continue talking because all you can do is listen... On the day we first met... I was in your pack's territory because I was invited to come! I just happened to hear your struggle with that white wolf. I figured you needed help and I did- I helped you. You was able to get away."
"If you were invited... who invited you? Why would you come in wolf form?" I asked in alarm. I can't believe him. I'm just looking for answers.
"Your mother invited me, Luna of Rabidcrest. And... wolf-form is typical for rogues. It's a natrual form to us. We rarely use vehicles."
"What? Why did she invite a rogue to the pack?"
"She sent a letter to my father. I was sent here directly to arrange a marriage between her eldest daughter and myself. I take it... that's you... right?"
"W-what?" I asked softly. I felt calmer as I heard him out. I couldn't believe it... But, I could at the same time. It's not like mother ever cared enough to ask what my feelings were about soulmates or marriage. "W-who are you?" Why the hell would she marry me to a stranger though?!
"I'm the rogue king's son."
"I- I don't believe you."
"Well you should! I'm just as confused as you are. Your mother tried to set me up as your father's killer. Even though I was supposed to come here to become engaged to you... Now she's setting us both up as consirators? I don't understand her motive." I felt utterly confused as I looked out at my room. I felt my heart racing as I thought about what he said.
Is he telling the truth?
How can I trust him?
He's a rogue.
What if he's telling the truth?
What if he's not?
Why would I trust my mother though?
Oh...
Did my mother have something to do with father's death?
"Why... Why would you follow me?" I asked softly as I felt tears coming to the surface. What kind of person follows somebody after seeing that kind of experience that day?
"Isn't that a bit obvious?" He asked softly. "I want to protect you, Jossie. When I followed you I didn't really understand what was happening in your pack entirely. But, I knew they were accusing you of killing your father. Then I became a suspect too. I wanted to approach you and offer you sanctuary back at my father's territory."
"I can't trust you," I whispered out. I can't trust a rogue... can I?
What if the reason he was following me was to take me back to his father's territory and kill me there? What if I'm some crazy domino effect that'll cause the packs to go full out in war? Was he using me? Is he using me now?
"That's ok... You shouldn't have to be forced to... But... please think about it. If I was your father's killer I would have killed you when I had the chance. To clean up the last piece of evidences. I would have killed your whole family to prevent anyone from coming- no I would have killed your whole pack to make sure nobody would come after me for revenge. A rogue is a plotter. You shouldn't undermine one. Josephine Cromwell... I swear I only mean to protect you."
"You're lying. Why would a stranger want to protect someone?" I asked in confusion.
"I'll follow you through the endless night in order to protect you."
"Why?" I choked out in alarm.
"I think I'm in love with you."
What if this is all because I'm a Cromwell daughter? What if the reason they killed my father is because he's a known desendant of a rogue Alpha? What if this is some crazy revenge? Why would my mother try to marry me into a rogue pack? She hates rogues! I can't trust him. I can't trust the fact I'm a rogue by bloodline. Even with the simple facts... I can't help myself as my heart flutters from his confession. I felt my cheeks growing rosy as his voice stayed in my ears. I felt light as a feather now. I felt like I was soring high. Casimir said he loves me. Is that enough to believe him? Is he as innocent as I am?
Juliette's POV:
"Your sister is back," my grandma Della said as she dropped the call. "Your sister was dropped off down at the station. That was Matthew."
She placed the phone on the table. Here we were eating brunch when my Uncle Matthew called her. There was a basket of buscuits sitting in the middle. Which was completely useless because neither of us ate that sort of breakfast food. It was something an omega baked this morning. We employed a personal chef several years ago. Mother hated to cook and father never was around long enough for meal prep.
I was drinking my bottle FIJI water and eating a fruit salad for breakfast. Grandma was snacking on an egg sandwhich and drinking a mimosa. "...They did a polygraph test on her." Gram said as she grabbed my attention. "Turns out she was associating herself with the rogue after all. They were in league to kill your father."
"You don't believe that crap, do you?" I asked her as I rolled my eyes. My sister couldn't kill a fly even if she wanted. Grandma Della raised an eyebrow as she gave it a thought.
"What do you know?" She asked me.
"I think my mother is trying to commit my sister," I told her quickly. Knowing my mothe she paid the polygraph tester off to give answers she wanted Matthew to hear. It was obvious mother never liked her. Jossie was beautiful with her raven black hair. She got the best of our parent's looks. But, my mother couldn't stand her. Jossie was wolf-less. She was a first born that embarassed the family. She was obviously a mistake. But, she didn't deserve to sit in a cell and rot because mother found a way to get rid of her. "To give me a bigger advantage. I also think Jossie couldn't do something that serious to father. That rogue did it alone... Unless he did have help. If so it did not come from my pathetic twin."
Jossie wouldn't even kill a fly growing up...
Why would she kill our father?
"You're right about your sister," grandma Della muttered. I looked into her eyes as we shared an understanding in that second. "Your mother... April needs to step out of authority. The quicker the better," grandma Della muttered as she picked up her mimosa to sip. It was clear to me as we exchanged looks. It didn't matter if Jossie did it or not to her. Jossie was her least favorite grandaughter. She only wanted Jossie back to hand down the Alpha's position formally. Now that Jossie is being set-up as an accomplise... It was even better than we expected.
Honestly it didn't matter to me. I wasn't about to stop my mother. Whatever she does she's doing it for herself in many ways. As long as she's got an imagination to give me an advantage in life... I won't step into her way of things. Our goals are the same. I want to be the best of what I can be. I want whatever I can get from life... and I want more than it. If Jossie has to disappear to secure my future... That's pefectly fine with me.
I just feel sorry for her being born without my ego, good looks, or a wolf. If she had half of that mother might not dislike her as much. I'd have to actually kill the brat myself to get what I want. As long as mother roots for me...
"They have the rogue in a holding cell as well. He came in right before Josephine."
"Did they get anything out of him?"
"They're going to interogate him this afternoon to make sure the rogue wasn't working for anyone. It would be bad if it was a set-up from another pack. Like the rogue pack from down south."
"A pack of rogues? I didn't know they formed packs. I thought everyone of them was all about themselves. Or, too busy killing everything in the forest to care about killing an alpha."
"I thought so too," she said gently.
My phone buzzed on the table and I picked it up quickly. My mother sent me a text, 'We need to talk. NOW!' I heard a horn honk outside. I straightened up my back and got up from the table. I looked at grandma Della. "Its my mother. I'm sorry, I have to cut brunch short," I told her as I gave her a slight nod out of respect. She was worth my patience. I idolized her work as a luna of the pack for so many years. I wanted to be like her growing up.
Not like my mother. I would never marry a rogue. I want a king. I don't understand why she called me after-all she knows today is my day with grandma Della.
"I wonder what your mother is up to now," grandma Della said as she finished the mimosa off before I could walk away. "You better not keep her waiting." It was a sign I was dismissed.
I left her at the kitchen table as I went down the hall. I stopped by the hall mirror to check myself. I was in a white snap crotch body suite made from sheer mesh but it was only a one shoulder. I dressed it in a silk skirt and off colored heels. My hair was up in a beautiful twin braid. I leaned into the mirror and checked for any flaws on my face. I left from there to meet my mother out by the garage. She sat in the back of a limo. I got in with her as I greeted her with a half hearted smile.
What is it you whore?
A whore was a perfect description for my mother. She was having an affair before my father passed away. The man was another Alpha from a neighboring pack. She doesn't know I found out. But, mother was fucking the Alpha of Blackridge. Blackridge is a rogue's pack. They seperated a week before father's death. It only makes sense he'd send one of his rogues to come and kill my father. I hate her so much... She only thinks about herself. But, at least she wants me to have everything. Probably because I resemble her so much. I won't give her away for being the main cause of father's death. How could I? I won't get my way if I do that.
"So Jossie is in league with the rogue?" I asked when the door was shut. My mother lit a cigarette as she sent a glare to me. I assumed she'd know the whole thing. Probably was there in the room when it happened.
"It's how the polygraph turned out," she told me as she opened a bottle of champaign. "I have better news for you." She poured us both glasses as she handed me one. "Your future is secure."
"What happened?" I asked and raised an eyebrow. Something more happened then just the polygraph test?
"The King's future mother in law is sitting right in front of you. I just got off the phone with Annalise Ramirez. She told me my daughter is the king's future luna. She asked me to bring her specifically to the masqurade as that's where the offical announcement will be held at midnight."
"Wait..." I trailed off.
"There is nothing to wait about," she told me quickly.
"No... I'm serious... How was I chosen?" I asked. I want to know how he came about in choosing me. Am I really that good of a choise? Is there something more to it? What does she gave in the role of me getting the queen's position without lifting a finger. I haven't even met the guy. Not that it matters. I hear he's hot.
"You wasn't chosen," she told me. She puffed on her cigarette.
"Actually she requested your sister."
"Jossie?" I asked in disbelief.
"Yeah. Apparently they're soul mates."
"Well he's not going to want to see me then," I said quickly.
"You better dye your hair black," she said as she thought about it.
"Mother if he declared her as his mate just by her scent..." I trailed off. I have no chance. My whole life's dream will be crushed. This sucks. I want to be queen. I want to have everything. The crown is mine. Jossie shouldn't have it. She can't even trasform into a wolf! How would she know how to handle an alpha like Camren? This isn't fair. I will not let her win. I can't let her have him. She has to go away. "What are we going to do?" I asked curiously. "If we're going to pull it off we have to fool him into believing I am her."
"I know how to change your scent," she told me as she hit the roof twice and the car started to drive.
"Mother... that's impossible. I've never heard of such a chaotic situation. Do you want me to drench myself in her pee?" I asked as I thought about how hunters have done it before to blend in and camouflage their scent to the woods.
"It's quite simple. We go to the town's witch for advice."
"T-Town witch!?" Since when did this town have a witch? I never heard of a witch let alone thought one would live here amongst the pack. Usually we're so strict about who we let live here. Especially in the city's limit.