[RUKIYA]
Standing there before her people, Rukiya Greyson couldn't remember the last time she had publicly addressed her people. She had been occupied most of the time and only ever got to interact with the warriors.
However here at the assembly hall, with all her wolves staring at her curiously, Rukiya couldn't help but wonder if she had failed them. She was sure they wouldn't tell her to her face, and it wasn't because they refused her but because even they had seen the chaos around Greyson.
Even then, Ruru wished that she hadn't taken that long to come to this hall with her people. She knew they had so many questions that she would address her general statements before she gave them a chance at questions and answers.
"Hello, Greyson," Rukiya greeted as she looked at her people. These people had willingly gone into war with her despite the fact that they were so sure some of them would never be back home.
The mothers and father sent their kids after Rukiya to help her with her mission. They had been loyal to her, way too loyal and she swore to herself that she would do everything possible to make sure that they never once felt alone.
She knew her people deserved honesty and as they responded to her, Rukiya knew that she had to do this, come hell or high water.
They were her home after all.
Besides, it wasn't like even she wasn't a part of the mess her mother had ever so graciously created, right?
"You guys are looking a little too frail and hungry... Have you had your dinner?" Rukiya asked as she looked at Sherry beside her.
She knew the address would take long and it was just a matter of time before they lost focus and began thinking of their rumbling stomachs. It was something that would be involuntary and Rukiya wouldn't be able to hold it against them.
"Sherry?" Ruru asked as she looked at her pack's chef.
"The assembly call came before dinner. We can eat lat—" Sherry began and Hawi just smiled at the courtesy.
"They will probably be broader, and muscular, but that doesn't sound so bad for our girls, right?" Alpha Rukiya said and her wolves let out amused laughs.
Only the Greyson kid would be able to make them laugh at institutions so tense. However, they would get used to it eventually so this wasn't an issue for them. If anything, it was encouraging for them.
They hadn't known what to expect, especially with the radio silence from their alpha but now that she was here, they hoped they could get more information.
"They love her so much," Malika commented softly as she watched Rukiya and her people. She could tell that her presence was calming for them more than anything she had ever seen.
"They do," Hawi said earnestly.
Rukiya's current position reminded her of the time she had been Sicario's best alpha. The girl everyone feared and loved at the same time, not to mention the girl they had respected.
Everyone in Sicario had once revered Hawi, but now, all there was left of that bond was pain and immense darkness. The kind that could take a lot longer to deal with. It wasn't exactly the best thing of all time, but Hawi wasn't bothered by it, right?
Well even if she was, there was no telling whether she wanted to be a part of Sicario once again. Perhaps they would figure that out once they closed both cases, and had the freedom of choosing where to go.
If anything, just because a queen's palace was burnt down and she was banished, never meant that she couldn't go back home and rebuild it back up and be there for her people. Oh, but it was tempting.
"With that done, please allow me to introduce our allies henceforth," Rukiya said, snapping Hawi out of her thoughts. She looked at Hawi before she realized that he had been in deep thought.
'You okay there, my beautiful?' Ruru asked in the mind link and Hawi just smiled in response.
"First we have Mbali, the leader of the Lycans, and one of the strongest warriors alive in our time. She is best with everything she does, from manipulation to war. She is the ultimate killing machine and never misses.
"She is a tad bit crazy, but we all know that is expected. Please, everyone, show some appreciation to Mbali, or as the realm knows her, Jabali Lihle!!"