SUBMISSION: Rise of the Bastards

Queen Antionette's POV Flashback to four years ago "I am to be married to the Alpha King himself. You will not tell Mckenna the truth," I ordered Mckenna's parents. "She deserves to know the truth, especially now that you're dragging her to that awful place!" her mother shouted. "Watch your tone!" I growled. "I don't care who you are! Do not come to our home again! We can tell our daughter whatever we desire," her father growled back. "If you tell her of your own transgressions, you are surely the one who will relive the nightmare. I would have McKenna stoned to death and make you watch. I would let you live only to relive the moment your daughter took her last breath and the life leave from her eyes. Your farm will be given away, and you will have nowhere to live, but you would certainly work the land as slaves. Try me!" I threatened. "You wouldn't do that," her mother calmly said. "Don't you remember what I am capable of? Who do you think had you banished from court and called a st

McKenna's POV Two weeks later... I woke from my slumber to find a yellow daffodil planted on the pillow beside me. Instead of panicking, I called out to my wolf, Halo. My heart was thrumming in my chest though. "Halo, can you catch a scent?" I asked. sudden;y paramoid "The floral scent from the flower covers it pretty well, but there is a faintly familiar smell I am picking up on," she huffed. "Okay, let me get dressed for the day," I nervously said desperately scanning the tiny room only to find no one else here but me. The thought of someone coming into my room unannounced and undetected was eerily terrifying. I didn't have time to focus on who arrived in the night as I was due outside of the King's chambers first thing. If I had even the slightest of missteps I’m sure the news would travel to Queen Antionette’s ears before nightfall. "McKenna!" the King called out from his chambers. "Yes, my lord?" I asked, rushing in. "Have you seen my worthless fill-in squire? Ever since you

Two months later... Queen Antionette's POV "I haven't seen much of your favorite omega around here lately," Beta Vincent chuckled. "You are quite annoying. Why do I put up with you?" I scoffed. "We both know why," he laughed before leaving my study. I swear if Vincent didn't know my secrets, I would have probably had him hung long ago. "What's on that brilliant mind of yours?" Lincoln asked. "Nothing of concern. How was your day, mate?" I asked, leaning in for a kiss. "The Viscount and the Marquess are bumping heads over land titles, AGAIN. Why can't they just let their wolves fight it out?" he sighed, falling backwards on the bed. "Is there anything I can do as your Queen?" I asked, mounting him. "You could attend the Gala in my absence. I swear you have a tongue that convinces even the dead," he replied, rolling me onto my back. "I will attend. Will the Gamma or Beta accompany me to the Kingdom of Santak?" I asked. "Both," he answered, placing his lips on mine. Diplomatic missio

Queen Antoinette's POV "Judging by the way Mckenna is walking today, I would say job well done," I chuckled at breakfast sitting across from Beta Vincent. "She is a whore then. I never made it to that room. I was drunk off my ass," he angrily replied. "You're lying! The guards said they heard her cries all through the night. They were none she could pretend," I protested. "Someone else was there with her, but it was not me," he said adamantly. I just stood to my feet and threw hot tea in his lap. His tongue has been quite disobedient lately. The thought of Mckenna having a secret lover that I knew nothing about secretly bothered me. She was not only trash, but she was also a liar! "AHHH! My Queen?" He angrily questioned. "You better fucking figure it out, Beta," I said, storming away across the courtyard. I was going to find the little liar and strip her of that innocent faced she placades. "Going somewhere?" my mate, King-Lincoln, asked. "Yes, I am looking for McKenna," I replied

McKenna’s POV Mckenna?" Swan called out, opening the door to my room. "Swan? What are you doing on this side of the palace? They will have you hung!" I said, panicking for my friend. "Calm down. I had to deliver some tea to the King's study. I wanted to check on you. I know you heard their argument last night, as did I," she said, brushing my tear-stained hair from my forehead. "You must think I am a whore too. I swear it was not my plan. The Queen..." I tried explaining, but Swan shushed me. "It is okay, Kenna. I do not think that of you at all. I know the Queen set you up just as she did with the other handmaiden that suddenly disappeared. She is an evil she-wolf," Swan said, rubbing my back. "Why did you volunteer to come here if you knew this of her?" I asked. She abruptly stops rubbing my back. I could tell she was at odds with her wolf because she seemed conflicted. I sat up from her lap and just stared at her. "She's hiding something," Halo said in my thoughts. "I can see tha