The Alpha King's Rebellious Queen
The Alpha King’s Rebellious Queen Chapter 16

Cassius’s POV

“Jemma!” I called out to my fleeing mate. I stood to run after her, only to have my mother instantly in front of me with a hand on my chest. “Mother, move. I have to go after Jemma.”

She growled at me. “I will go talk to your mate. I have a feeling you are the reason she is upset.”

I narrowed my eyes at her, but she returned my look with one that told me arguing was futile. I may be king, but I knew better than to argue with my mother. Still, I had to try. “Mother,” I growled, only to have her slap my face.

“Growl at me one more time, Cassius Alexander, and you’ll get more than a slap.” She glared at me. “Now, sit and finish your breakfast.” She turned and walked away from me.

My fists balled up from frustration. I ignored the silence from the patrons in the room. Without a word, I walked out of the dining room, trying my best to ignore the pain in my chest. I felt her crying, and it was my fault. I made it to my office and slammed the door shut, and sat in a heap in my chair. I buried my face in my hands as someone knocked. “WHAT?!” I bellowed.

The door opened to reveal Deke. He walked in even though I hadn’t permitted him to enter. He strode to one of the chairs in front of my desk and sat. “Want to talk about it?”

I shook my head. “I have work to do.”

He nodded and sat there silently as I turned on my computer. A few minutes later and Maria walked into the office. She sat beside Deke, and they just sat silently. I was comforted by their presence. Just knowing my two best friends were here was enough for me.

After a few minutes of silence, we got down to kingdom business as usual. I did my best to concentrate as I felt Jemma’s range of emotions. From complete heartbreaking sadness to relief and then happiness. No doubt, my mother was somehow working her magic on my mate.

The door suddenly slammed open to reveal my furious mother. Deke and MAria both tensed. Despite being two of the best warriors in the kingdom, they too feared my angry mother. “CASSIUS ALEXANDER FURY,” She yelled. “I thought I raised you better than this.” She stormed into the office and glared at Deke and Maria. “You two out!” She barked.

“Mother, you can’t just dismiss-“

“I said out!” She cut me off with her hand as she growled at Deke and Maria, who scrambled out of the office. I was left to face my mother’s wrath alone.

“Come on in, Mother. It’s not like I have work to do.”

She waggled a finger toward me. “Do not sass me, Cassius. Don’t think that just because you are king now, that I will not pull you over my knees and tan your hide.”

I sighed as she placed her hands on my desk and glared at me as the door opened. My father walked in and tried to calm my mother. “Isabelle, why are you screaming at our son?”

“Your son is a dumbass.” She growled at my father while pulling away from him. “All this time, you waited for your mate. And when you finally meet her, the first thing you do is break her heart. Do you realize the damage you did?”

I tried to open my mouth, but no words came out. She was right like always. I shuddered under her harsh glare. “Your actions may cost us everything, Cassius. That girl wants nothing to do with you. We are about to lose the crown because of you.”

“Mother, I thought I was doing the right thing.”

“How the f**k is tearing a pup from his mother doing the right thing?” She snarled. My mother rarely ever curse. I glanced at my father, who was just as speechless as me.

“I couldn’t have the result of her infidelity-“

My mother threw her hands in the air and paced in front of my desk. “INFIDELITY? Cassius, you i***t. She had that pup three years ago. She had no idea you were mates.” She scowled at my father. “You damn males and your possessive nature. Look, I know you think in the eyes of the goddess, having a pup outside of the mate bond is cheating. But if it happens BEFORE you know you are mates, it is not cheating.” She explained. “You males w***e about, and no one says a word. But god forbid we females take control of our s*x lives.” She folded her arms and sighed. “The moment I knew I was pregnant with you, I loved you. The urge to protect you with everything I had started that instant, Cassius. And the thought of being separated from you or your sister would have sent me into a rage. If your father had thought of taking my pups from me for any reason, I would have castrated him with a rusty butter knife and fed him his testicles.” I saw my father’s eyes widen while crossing his legs. “You never come between a mother she-wolf and her pups. Our wolves are protective of our pups no matter who the sire is.”

“I’m sorry, Mother.” It was all I could muster out. Everything she said stung like a thousand bees. I had hurt Jemma. “How do I fix this?”

She sat on the chair in front of me. “I told Jemma that despite what you did, you are a good man. Or at least I thought you were. Do you want Jemma as your queen?”

“Yes, there is nothing I have wanted more. She is my other half, and even though she hates me right now, I love her.”

She managed a slight smile. “Then you are going to do as I say If you want to save your relationship. Jemma is the ideal fit to be queen. We can’t lose her. But if this doesn’t work, we will have to replace a surrogate to provide us with an heir. So, we can’t afford for you to f**k up again.”

I nodded. “I’ll do anything for her.”

“You get down on your knees and beg her forgiveness. In the meantime, you will replace a way to allow her to have contact with her son, whether it’s through video chats or allowing her to go to Zephyr Moon to visit or have him come here. You will figure it out.”

“But what about his father?”

She rolled her eyes. “You will have to just get over the fact that another male popped your mate’s cherry.” I couldn’t help the growl that rumbled out my chest when she said that. She glared at me as her finger pointed at me. “What did I say about the growling?”

“Sorry,” I mumbled.

“Good. Now, I will give Melinda a call so Jemma can video chat with her pup. And you will sit here and think about all the ways you are going to work on earning her love.” She stood up and smoothed her dress before walking out of the office without another word.

I leaned in my chair and heard my father clear his throat. “What?” I asked him.

“I know it’s hard, son. But you can do this. The key to saving the crown and the kingdom is that pup.”

My eyes closed as I pinched the bridge of my nose. “I know, father.” I heard the door close as he walked out. For a few moments, I just sat in my chair, thinking. ‘Enoch, will she ever forgive us?’ I asked my wolf. ‘Leonora has. Jemma has agreed to give you a chance, thanks to your mother.’ I smiled, feeling thankful for my mother. ‘Deke, Maria,’ I mind linked my second and third. ‘You can return to the office now. My mother is gone.’

Moments later there reentered the office with looks of concern. “That was intense,” Deke said as he sat in the chair in front of me. “Do you want to talk about it?”

“Not really,” I mumbled.

Maria sat in the chair beside Deke. “I can’t believe you took her pup from her.” She growled lowly. “If anyone tried taking my pup from me-“

I cut her off. “Yes, I know. I f****d up big time. But hopefully, I can fix this. I will fix this.” I was determined. “I love Jemma. And I want her to love me back.” I placed my hands on the desk. “Now, let’s get to work. Kingdom business isn’t going to wait for my relationship problems.”

“No offense, Cass, but your relationship problems affect the entire kingdom,” Deke remarked.

I growled. “Thank you for pointing that out.”

He shrugged. “Just saying.”

Sighing, I looked at Maria. “Tomorrow, I would like you to start training with Jemma.”

She stiffened. “Me?”

“Well, you are my best warrior. I want you to evaluate Jemma’s skills and see what she needs to improve on. I know you have other duties so appoint others to assist you. I prefer no males. If that is not possible, then no unmated males until I mark her.”

Maria cracked her knuckles. “As you wish, Cass. I cannot wait to see what the granddaughter of The Hand has to bring to the battlefield. And I know a few trusted warriors whom I think will work well with her.”

“Thank you, Maria.”

Deke’s eyes clouded over for a moment. “The two alphas you set up a mediation with have arrived with their children.”

“Good, have them sent to the conference room. I’ll be there soon. I want you to be there, as well.”

He nodded. “Of course.”

As he spoke, I felt a euphoric sense of joy. I knew it was coming from Jemma. Hopefully, that meant she was talking to her son. I held my hand over my heart as I felt Deke and Maria looking at me. “Sorry.”

Deke smiled. “I take it Jemma is feeling better.”

I nodded. “Yeah.” I stood up. “Let’s get the mediation over.”

They both stood up. “I have other duties to attend to,” Maria remarked.

“Okay, see you at lunch.” I smiled at her as she walked out of the office first. Deke and I followed but then went in the direction of the conference room. We could already hear the two alphas growling and arguing. Taking a deep breath, I looked at Deke. “This is going to be fun.” I slammed the doors open, and immediately, the arguing stopped, and heads bowed. “Let’s get started. Everyone take your seats.” I said while taking my seat at the head of the long table.