The Rogues Who Went Rogue
Chapter 37

Margaret followed Tate's sights to Azalea, and she scoffed before saying, "No. Azalea is an old friend. So is Zane, the one in front of her. Azalea and I were lone rogues before we ran into each other. We found Zane about a year later. Inseparable ever since."

"That's nice."

"Hm. They are the more trustworthy ones. They've even helped look after Stella when I'm sick or out hunting." Margaret stopped herself from saying anything more. She trusted Azalea and Zane more than anyone in the pack, but she never learned to trust them fully. She never trusted anyone fully after her rejection.

Tate studied the ponytailed blonde woman and the olive-skin man pointing out the window with large smiles, and he found himself matching their smiles when he muttered, "I'd love to meet them later." Margaret's surprise was quickly replaced with a small smile. "You've already won over Az. I doubt Zane would have a problem with you either."

Tate's sights returned to his mate, and he placed his hand over hers before he said, "That's good to know."

This time, Margaret didn't retract her hand, and she bit her bottom lip to press back a shy smile before choosing to look out of the window when she knew that she failed to hide her blushes.

Tate gazed at his mate and couldn't stop smiling. He had already found her stunning from the first moment they met, but after learning about her past, he didn't just replace her stunning. Margaret was phenomenal! How did he get so lucky? He thanked Goddess for bonding him to Margaret, and then thanked karma for not being too hard on him after the years of messing around. Sitting next to her, Tate had never felt happier.

The police and warriors kept their guard up, and Phelton was eavesdropping on as many conversations as he could to see if any rogue would pose a threat to their safety. As his predatory eyes scanned each rogue, he found his heart softening at the sight of a larger than average rogue wolf. She was looking at him from her seat, and averted his gaze as soon as Phelton's eyes found hers.

His lycan became curious, and he started studying her. Her almond skin appeared smooth from where he stood, and her bob hair allowed that beautiful neck of hers to be exposed. No mark. Mateless. Her black orbs shone despite the trace of fatigue in them. Phelton had never seen a creature this attractive. Who was she?

###

In the police station, Deputy Chief Laurent uncuffed Greg Claw in front of the king and queen after the paperwork was settled. As Greg rubbed his wrists and embraced the return of his lycan senses, Xandar subconsciously held Lucianne closer to his body as his eyes fixed on the cousin he thought was locked up for a longer period of time than this.

Greg noticed his cousin's glare, and his eyebrows raised before he decided to have some fun. "Nice to see you too, cousin. And looking at me like that is not going to burn me to ash or put me back behind bars. Be grateful that I'm helping the queen clean this shit up. After that, I'll r-"

Xandar's voice sent a shiver down the deputy chief's spine when he cut Greg off, "One misstep and don't think I won't throw you back in there after breaking every single bone in your body. Your request better not mean trouble, Greg."

Greg scoffed darkly before stepping toward Xandar and looked him dead in the eye as he boldly declared, "Brain is still as slow as it always was."

Xandar was about to throw a punch before Lucianne pushed Greg out of the way, and the duke steadied himself when his back hit the wall. Lucianne swiftly caught her husband's clenched fist that almost flew in her face before she pecked a sweet kiss on his knuckles. His fist loosened, and his eyes softened.

Lucianne's voice came out stern, "Darling, I love you. But for the next few months, I need you to behave. Not only are our people counting on us cooperating, diplomatic relations are at stake. Living, breathing creatures are relying on us getting along in the next few weeks. We are their best chance. Every time you feel like beating up your cousin or anyone we'll be working with, remember to breathe first. Alright?"

If the concoction was successful, the worst case scenario would be making Lucianne control the kingdom while the inventors controlled Lucianne. They couldn't let anything like that happen.

Xandar was already gazing at Lucianne dreamily, and he pecked a kiss on her forehead before running his fingers through her hair as he promised, "Okay." His response was rewarded with his wife's small, adorable smile.

Lucianne then turned to face the duke. "For the record, Your Grace, your cousin helped in arguing FOR the granting of the conditional pardon. And when I told you to play nice, I meant play nice with everyone - your cousins, the ministers, the police, the warriors, the rogue wolves, me. Everyone. Do I make myself clear?"

Greg didn't mind playing nice with Lucianne, but the long list of people she mentioned before herself made his animal groan. With an arm stretched across his chest and a slight bow her way, he uttered in a gentlemanly manner, "As you wish, My Queen. I apologize for my earlier misbehavior...and every other misbehavior prior to that."

"Head up, Your Grace. It's time to discuss business."

Greg raised his head and nodded in obedience. Lucianne began in the same serious voice, "Knowing you, you'd already have a plan in mind. Care to enlighten us?" Enlighten her? With pleasure.

Enlighten his dim cousin? Ugh. Did he really have to? Wait, where was the other dim cousin? Never mind. The fewer fused bulbs, the better.

Shoving those thoughts aside, Greg said, "With your permission, My Queen, I'd like to mind-link 4 out of the 98 lycans first, to meet you."

Lucianne shrugged and responded with a smile, "Alright, sure."

Greg instinctively matched her smile, which made Xandar glue Lucianne to the side of his body again before Greg's eyes glazed over. 'Get in here. Four of you.'

When his eyes cleared, Lucianne asked, "So, where are they? Where do we meet them?"

Greg watched his people walk in through four separate doors as he answered Lucianne, "Here."

"Here?"

Greg explained matter-of-factly, "You're the queen, Your Highness. There's no need for you to travel to any corner of the world to meet creatures, especially not rogues. They come to meet you." Officer Katie suddenly yelled out, "THAT'S IVORY HOFFMANN! ARREST HIM!"

"Oh no," Lucianne muttered.

"Damn it," Greg cursed.