The Nymph of Black Forest

Derek’s POV ~

I know the shit’s about to hit the fan, if this girl doesn’t start talking. Rhiannon’s temper is simmering just below the surface..and when she explodes..it will make Hiroshima look like a bursting water balloon. Innthe silence..as we wait.. a resounding *slap* echoes in the room.. “For every minute of silence, That will be your reward. So, please, keep holding your tongue! I can do this all day!” And Tom snickers..shaking his head saying “I have no idea how you’re even related to my mate! Thank God the stupid gene passed her up!” And that brought a chuckle out of me.

Rhiannon mutters “Time’s closing in on the next slap.. and I promise you..each one will be harder” Within seconds another slap resounds and Donna whimpers, as her lip splits “Oops” She cries several minutes, an then, apparently, rethinks her entire existence and starts talking “ I told the rogues about your ability to make animals do what you want. That the birds were tracking the movement of their camps. I let them know you control the Black Forest..and that you have to invite someone in, before they can pass. But, that’s all. I swear it! I don’t know how they knew the osprey are gone. I don’t even know what they ever planned on doing with the information I provided! I just wanted to be Eric’s chosen mate! Why is that so wrong?” And Rhiannon slapped her again. She cried “I told you everything..why did you slap me again?”

Rhiannon grins “Thought it might slap some sense into you? You’re an idiot! Wanting something you can’t have! What of your true mate? Did you give a single thought to him?? Noooo! You wanted what is not yours!” I smile at my mate..she is concerned about this bitch’s mate suffering.. yep! amazes me every day!

We have Tom take Donna back to her cell..and we decide to interrogate some of the rogues. Edward is joining us for that. Hopefully, his command works on them. But, I am in the mood to rely on brute force to have a conversation.

I snatched the rogue from the first cell and dragged him to an interrogation room. Chaining him to a chair, I spun mine backwards and sat down. Resting my arms across the back. “Tell me..who in their right mind, attacks a pack with nearly a thousand warriors and expects to escape? You do realize all but five of you died..right? And that situation will be rectified tonight..when my pack turns you into minced meat.” And he spit in my face. I punched him. “Well! That was fun! Let’s try this again..shall we? Why. The. Fuck. did you attack?” He snarls “we was following orders! Your Alpha says do…you do!” I laugh “Alpha?? You are rogue! Newsflash! You don’t have an Alpha.. we know this..by your goddess-awful stench! So try again!” Edward speaks “You haven’t renounced the kingdom. I can feel your bond..it’s tenuous..but it’s still there. I Command You! Tell us how you knew to attack last night..and order whose order!”

He stutters and stammers..trying to fight the command “We was paid. Alpha Bart wants to test your defenses. We been hunkered down in a cave..watching those stupid birds and when they all left together..we knew it is our shot. We took it. We did good, too! Made it almost to the pack house.” Edward laughed “You all DIED! You idiot! I bet you had to wait for payment until you returned to Bart! Right?” And the rogue looked confused a minute then says “Yeah. He s’posed to pay us tomorrow!” And I cracked up! “So Bart learned two things.. one..Our pack is not easy access! And Two…Rogues really are stupid! Any requests for your last meal? …..Don’t answer! That was rhetorical! You’re formal introduction to the pack is in a few hours!” And we left.

Walking back to the pack house, Edward says “I want a video conference with Bart..ASAP! So, let’s get that out of the way. It’s time to play offense, for a change!” I nodded and linked Monty to get it set up for after lunch.

Rhiannon runs up to us just before we enter the back doors “Come on! Hurry! Some of our friends are arriving.” We follow her through the trees to a mountain stream..and there..on the opposite side lay nine of largest cats I have ever seen. A huge male steps forth and bows to Edward. His face is a study in astonishment and he looks helplessly at Rhiannon.. she says “His name is Pietro. This is only a fraction of his clowder. He is paying homage to you as leader. He is saying another hundred of his males will be here by nightfall..the females stayed in the mountain with the cubs and younglings.”

I am speechless. I ask him if the situation has been explained and he nods his huge head, telling me he understands and they are ready to fight. Cat shifters were killed off in the last war..when the demons broke free..and nearly wiped all species from the earth.” Then he told me something I believe none of us are aware of. I looked at Edward and asked “Were you aware there are still surviving bear shifters?” His shocked face tells me he wasn’t.. He asks “Where are they? Where have they been hiding all this time? It’s been centuries!” Rhiannon says “Pietro says they will be here by morning. So, possibly, we will have more to go on! But how frickin cool is this! Another shifter species has survived! Ohh! I am so excited!!”

Turning to Pietro, I tell him “There is some larger game further to the east. Please.. hunt! Feed your members. You are welcome to join the pack this evening to meet everyone. We are having a memorial for members we lost in an attack last night. I only ask you don’t eat the mice” And Edward busted out laughing “Yeah! Never getting used to this bizarre as fuck shit!”

Rhiannon was telling Monty about the cougars..and it took everything in him..not to charge to the stream to meet them. I finally had to order him to sit..and all he could say was “But..but…Cougars, Bro!” Which had us all laughing. I dialed Alpha Bart’s Skype line and when he picked up, he tried to act surprised..until he actually was surprised, when the King sat in front of the screen.. Edward wasted no time “Bart…you have exactly thirty seconds to convince me not to strip your entire family of all rights and privileges of Alpha blood. The legacy of your ancestors..even your father..will be null and void.. Stricken from the annals of history to become a footnote in the documented journal of traitors. So, tell me…what possessed you to commit an act of war against a sovereign pack without official proclamation or cause of declaration?”

He sputtered and stuttered “The King of Rogues.. your majesty. He is promising to elevate all lesser packs to members of the sovereignty.. All of us will share and reap the same benefits only five packs enjoy now! We have a right to be recognized by the crown! We are entitled to the same benefits as Mountain Moon and the others!”

To which Edward replied “Are you of royal descent? Is your bloodline that of the Gods? You do know you have thrown your lot in with the bloodline of a Demon God..correct!? In any history book ever written..has a demon been proven honorable? Trustworthy? Dedicated to anything other than murder and mayhem? You are aware that demons were responsible for the near annihilation of all living species…ofwerewolves?? Who, in their right mind, would ever consider a demon wolf to be on the side of right? Seriously, are you That ignorant?”