Ghost

Note: Contains Off-Screen Death, Implied Murder, Mentions of Infidelity, Bad Relationship Dynamics

A chorus of growls alerted the Queen to the visitors. She huffed and turned her head to the commotion, not even bothering to get up from her nest when growls turned to snarls. She watched impassively as a big bruiser of a wolf shoved his way into the den, paying no heed to the guards that bristled as his entry. He had an entourage with him, several wolves almost as big as himself snarled back at the ones in the den.

One carried a tiny pup in her jaws.

"It's not polite to just barge in, you know," the Queen sniffed.

"They found her." The big wolf growled without preamble.

"Oh?"

"She's dead!" He snarled. "Drowned! They found her body on the lake-shore." The fur along his back was raised and stiff, his teeth bared in his rage.

"Well, that's a shame." said the Queen, voice tinged with cool disinterest. "She wasn't a very good swimmer, was she? Poor dear."

The wolf stepped closer, threatening. "That's all you have to say?!"

"You're awfully worked up about this, considering she was one of mine. Curious."

The wolf glared at her harshly, lips quivering. "One of ours! Our packs are one now! Of course I'd be concerned," he growled. "Especially if I suspected foul play!"

The queen regarded him dispassionately. Then she stood gracefully and stepped out of her nest, turning to her guards. "If you would please, my King and I have things to discuss. Alone." When they hesitated, she huffed. " Go," she said firmly. She turned and looked at the King expectantly.

He growled lowly for  a moment before turning to his entourage. "Go. But leave the pup." The she-wolf with the pup padded forward and gently placed the squirming pup by the King's feet before retreating with the others.

The Queen turned her gaze to the whelp with a sneer. "Well," she started, "It looks like your little tryst went on longer than I suspected."

The King sputtered. "So you're admitting it then?"

She tilted her head. "Admitting what? That I knew you two were betraying me?"

"Don't give me that!" The king stepped up, towering over her. "Don't act like you aren't doing the same thing! I know you're cozy with that healer of yours!"

The queen sniffed dismissively. "Please. It's not the same at all. For one thing, these pups I'm carrying are definitely yours. You on the other hand..." She nodded to the pup on the cold ground who whined and squirmed in search of warm comfort. "There's proof right there of your betrayal."

"So you had her killed? What, were you jealous? That I went behind your back?"

"Jealousy has nothing to do with it, you oaf," The queen sighed. "Honestly, it's a wonder your pack lasted so many generations when you're all brawn and no brain." She turned her gaze back to the King, eyes half lidded and posture relaxed. "You and I," she started slowly, "made this deal to put an end to that senseless war between our packs. We agreed that we would present a united front, to show everyone that if the leaders can get along, then rest of them can too. And it's been working hasn't it?"

She shook her head. "But this?" She glared at the pup. "This could ruin everything. This is living, breathing proof that we've been lying to our packs. The peace we have is fragile as it is. What do you think will happen if that got out, hm? It'd be war again. It'd be bloodier now, what with everyone so close."

All at once, the King deflated. He was quiet for a long time. "I loved her," he said hoarsely.

"We don't have the luxury of love." The Queen replied, not gently but near to it. "The good of the pack comes first." She sighed as she gazed at the pup coldly, eyes hard. "This one shouldn't exist."

The King stepped in front of the pup protectively. "Please," he said, not quite begging. "I'm sorry, you're right, I shouldn't have done it in the first place, but..." He didn't grovel, exactly—his pride wouldn't allow that—but he laid back his ears and lowered his head to look imploringly at the Queen. "She's all that's left of..."

The queen sighed. She supposed she could take pity on his bleeding heart. "I'll tell you what, my mate. I'll keep her."

He looked taken aback. "You'll—"

"We," she interrupted, "will keep her hidden until my pups are born, and we'll pass her off as ours. I trust your little entourage can keep a secret?" At his affirmation, she continued. "Good. So can my guards. But, as soon as she's old enough to fend for herself, she will leave. she will not be allowed to return. And we—you and I as well as everyone in our pack—will never speak of her again. We'll let the memory of her fade like the ghost of the past that she is."