Page 2

Lucien

"How many casualties do we have?" I ask Liam as we step out of Aurora's house."No deaths have been recorded, but we have a few wounded soldiers and destroyed facilities."My fingers curl into a fist, and I have the sudden urge to hit something. Fucking Silver Pack. They've been acting funny for a while, wanting to gain control over the headquarters and access to pack politics, maintaining the balance between human and wolf shifters.The territory has been under the control of Blackwood for decades. Every once in a while, Silver Pack decides to make a fuss out of nothing, but this was the first time they were making physical contact and causing real damage. This spelled war in every shifter tongue.War before I am named Alpha. Could life get any more entertaining?

"And my father, is he aware of this?""Yes, he has called for a meeting to discuss the best way to tackle the situation," Liam answers, unlocking his car and slipping into the driver's seat.

I get into the passenger side, letting out a long string of curses. Getting grilled for not anticipating an attack or warding it off is the last thing I need from my father, and with him getting a hang of the situation before me, that is exactly what I was headed for.

"Don't beat yourself up over it, man," Liam says as he pulls out of Aurora's driveway. "You couldn't have seen this coming or countered it. Personally, I was in a bar when I got the call."I let out a snort. "I'm happy to hear of your liberties and freedom to do as you please."Liam has always had an easy life. Despite his father being my father's second in command and being raised to fit into the role of my second in command, he was never pressured by the burden.He was allowed to live life on his terms and do as he wished, provided he did not bring disgrace to his family.

I, on the other hand, was to live my life according to the will of the pack. I am expected to think about how my decisions will impact the pack and to think of the future of the pack before making the slightest decision.As my father would always say, "Contrary to popular belief, being alpha is not just about power. As the alpha, you exist in service to the pack, and you are a representation of your community. Every part of you must reflect that. You are for the pack before you are for yourself."

The words repeat in my head like a broken record day and night, reminding me that I cannot afford to make mistakes or indulge in some of the pleasures my mates do. A simple mistake from me can endanger the lives of my community, and right now, I am about to get an earful of how I should be everywhere at every time. Sometimes, I find myself wishing I had a different life.

"That's beside the point, Luc. This was out of your control, and despite your training and activities in the pack, your father is still alpha, and he will always get intel before anyone else. This one isn't on you."

Liam's words are supposed to relieve me of the pressing guilt on my shoulders, but I only end up falling deeper. When we arrive at the pack house, I am halfway out of the car before Liam parks, racing up the stairs to get a word in and maybe explain the reason behind my incompetence—as he likes to call my slip-ups—before the meeting commences.

I walk into an ongoing meeting with Liam's father and some other important pack members. My father's eyes twitch with disappointment, but he says nothing as I take a seat. Liam enters shortly.

"It's nice of you to finally join us. I believe you've been briefed on the situation at hand? My father says, his eyes moving between Liam and me.

"Yes, Alpha," We both answer. I was instructed at a very young age to learn to maintain professionalism and to never refer to him as Father in public settings.

"What do you suggest as the next line of action, then?"

The question is directed at me, and all eyes rest on me, heavy with expectations. I cleared my throat, ready to give an alpha-worthy answer. "I think we should seek help from the king before resorting to physical combat. I prefer to exhaust every diplomatic approach before putting the lives of the pack members in danger of a full-blown war."

"And if your plea for a diplomatic approach is met with resistance and Kaden keeps encroaching on our boundaries, will you put the lives of the pack members in danger of a full-blown war?" My father fires the next question, a look of challenge glowing in his eyes.My first question was satisfactory, and everyone agreed with it, but he wouldn't be Alpha William if he did not grill me to the point of death in front of everyone. More so, the question was a tricky one, and his choice of words made it even more difficult to answer.

After some thought, I came up with an answer. "Sometimes war is necessary to maintain peace, and choosing not to go head-first into war is not a sign of weakness but a sign of regard for the lives that have been entrusted to you. Blackwood is not weak by any standard, and if Alpha Kaden refuses to act right, we'll have to show him why we've been the leading pack for centuries. But I'd try a diplomatic approach first."

My reply is met with nods and grunts of approval, and a visit to the palace is scheduled for the next day.The meeting is dismissed, leaving me and my father in his office."Where were you at the time of the attack?" he asks, lighting a cigar. At fifty-eight, you'd expect the old man to quit most bad habits and embrace a healthy way of living, but he was as stubborn as a donkey, and I had already given up convincing him to do away with smoking.

"Training with Liam." I was expecting this, but I found myself searching for words.

"Hmm." he places his lighter on the table, puffing out a cloud of smoke. "What did I tell you about being a step ahead at all times?" His words are followed by coughing fits lasting longer than usual. My eyes fill with concern, but I quickly tuck the look away. With my father, sympathy is often perceived as an insult.

I wait for his fits to subside before responding.

"I'm sorry about that. It won't happen again." More than incompetence, my father has a burning hatred for excuses, and I have learned never to give one, no matter how justified they may be. To him, they cannot change the outcome of the situation and are useless.

"Say that to the victims of an attack that would've been avoided if you did your job. One more sign of recklessness, and I'll have no other choice but to send you back to the training camp. You're dismissed."

His words hit me like a punch in the gut, but I show no sign of hurt. God forbid I show that I possess emotions. "Thank you, Father," I say instead and head for the door.

"Luc," he calls on my way out. "You'll be accompanying me to the palace in place of my beta. Do not embarrass me.""Yes, Father," I reply, stepping out of the room and drawing in a lungful of air."How did it go?" Liam's voice comes from out of nowhere, almost startling me.

"He wants me to accompany him to the palace."

"Just the both of you?"

"Yup." I add an extra pop to the 'p', pushing myself off the wall and heading to the dining room with Liam falling into step with me.

"Tough business. What are you going to do?"

"Drown myself in every article I can find about pack conflicts and negotiation strategies before dawn." I pluck an apple from the table, biting into the fleshy red fruit.

The visit to the palace will be my first official one-on-one outing with my father, and my nerves are currently firing at an alarming rate. His threat to send me back to training echoed in the back of my head, but I didn't let it show.Tomorrow, I'll show him how good an alpha I can be.

*******

We arrive at the palace to find the alpha of Silver Pack, Alpha Kaden, already seated and waiting in the throne room.Apparently, upon receiving our complaint, Queen Alice summoned him for the meeting so she could hear from both sides. This might be the first time I'll be meeting her, but I've heard a lot about her and the changes she's been making in the community. She was discovered to be the lost princess three years ago, and since then, she's been a blessing to most.Shortly, we're joined by the queen. "Good morning, everyone. We're gathered here to mediate the dispute between Blackwood Pack and Silver Pack. Her gaze sweeps the room, pausing when they get to my father.

"This complaint was laid by the alpha of Blackwood, so I will let him go first," she says, indicating for my father to step forward."Thank you for your audience, my Queen." he says, bowing."As we all know, the headquarters is located in the Creek Territory, which happens to be under Blackwood and has been so for centuries."

"Lies," Alpha Kaden cuts in. "The Creek Territory first belonged to Silver Pack."

"That's enough, Alpha Kaden," the queen chastises. "I understand you have a lot to say, Alpha Kaden, but I would love for you to wait your turn."

A brief silence follows before my father continues, leading us through the history of Creek Territory and how Blackwood has been in charge of the headquarters, meticulously maintaining the balance between the human and wolf-shifter world while controlling the affairs in our favor.Many in the royal court nod in agreement, while some choose to stick with Alpha Kaden. When he is finally given the chance to speak, he dates the story to a time when not even the history books could account for, insisting that the Creek Territory was both founded and run by Silver Pack before they were intimidated by Blackwood and their numbers.His motive for a takeover is as glaring as the sun, but since no one could completely counter him and the dispute has been going on for centuries, the queen decides to suggest a common ground.

"This is a very delicate matter, and I understand that both have claims to the territory. But the issues pertaining to territories and their ownership is a dispute the King and I have been working on, and if you can call a truce and be patient, a new bill will be passed as soon as possible, and all territories will know where they fall."

The queen's decree might as well mean that the territory belongs to Blackwood. Territories were shared following the natural divisions of the land, and Creek was on the same side as Blackwood, while Silver Pack was on the other side of the river.Alpha Kaden must've come to the same realization as he put up his hand. "Your Majesty, I appreciate you making time to indulge our petty pack squabbles and your desire to help, but as we all know, we wolves are territorial beings." His gaze sweeps across the room, and noting the nods of approval, he continues. "While we appreciate the desire to pass a bill to maintain the peace, I and my pack prefer to stick to the old ways and be given an opportunity to fight for what is ours. Besides, a weak pack has no business controlling a territory."Scattered murmurs of clashing interest spread across the throne room as pack and court members disagree. I see the moment as my opening.

"Your Majesty, my elders," I address the court, getting on my feet. "Like Alpha Kaden said, we wolf shifters are territorial beings and would typically fight for what is ours, but we are shifters, not mindless beasts. We have a human part that enables us to think, unlike mere wolves. I don't know about the Silver Pack, but I prioritize the lives of all my pack members and would not subject them to the losses of a war if it is not necessary. I suggest we save ourselves from the bloodshed and follow protocol. I believe we have long evolved from blood lust."My remark is met with silence, and I can see the queen looking at me with approval. Some of the court members who were previously agitated reign in their claws, taking in the meaning of my words."The young man has spoken wisely. I suggest we wait for the bill," an elder from the court says, but Alpha Kaden declines.

"If Blackwood is too scared to fight, then that is the indication that they're too weak to have control over the territory. Prolonging the issue and waiting for a bill that might never be passed is not ideal. My pack and I have decided to fight to the death for what is ours, and the current law permits us to. Blackwood is welcome to surrender if they don't want to fight."

Tension returns to the room following Alpha Kaden's not-so-subtle insinuation, and I freeze. This is certainly not how I expected this to turn out. There has been no war in Blackwood for the longest time, and we have done everything to maintain peace. Even my training spoke at length about choosing to preserve the lives of pack members over ego-serving, mindless wars. This was the worst timing, but I know it takes two to clear a war, so I'll bank on my father refusing to indulge the maniac."I'm afraid I'll have to agree with Alpha Kaden on this one," my father says, his eyes blazing with silent fury. My eyes snap to him in surprise. I quickly mask my feelings with a nod of agreement, not wanting to appear scared and weak in front of the court. "Passing the law might take years, and we don't have the time for that. We'll settle this the way we know best. Blackwood will fight." The not-so-subtle war declaration sends a wave of silence across the room as everyone takes their time to digest the words and their implications. My mind is a jumbled mess, scrambling to adjust to the new reality, figure out the best approach to the situation, and be steps ahead.

The meeting ended on a tense note, with the queen promising to find a way to prevent the war, but we all knew that might come after an ample amount of bloodshed. Changing a law in the shifter community was not an easy feat by any measure. The drive back home was even more tense and uncomfortable."This fight is your one and only way to prove how capable you are, so I'll leave it to you," My father says as soon as we step into his office. I have no time to process the meaning of his words before he confirms my suspicion. "You'll have to be named alpha as soon as possible." This is the moment I have spent my whole life preparing for, but the feeling of freedom and euphoria I expected to feel following the declaration was masked by the bloodied taste of the looming war. Not my wolf, though. He was pleasantly pleased with the promotion.

I expected to play a vital role in the coming war. What I didn't anticipate was heading it. A fit of dry cough cuts through my thoughts, and I focus on my father's hunched shoulders as he coughs into a white handkerchief. He squeezes the piece of fabric and speedily tucks it into his pocket, but I catch the characteristic red stain of blood on it.His sickness is getting worse, and I know it's one of the reasons he is handing over to me. But the goddess will most likely turn mortal before he admits to any sign of weakness. It's probably why he won't quit smoking despite his worsening condition, to prove he is not scared.

He lifts his head, and the words he utters have me wishing his fits lasted long enough for him to wave me out as usual. "You'll announce your engagement to Selene Westwood before your coronation.""What?" I'm completely blown away by his words. Marry Selene? Granted, we were in a relationship during my first year of college, but that ended a long time ago, and I've not even caught a glimpse of her since then."I believe I did not stutter. You will marry Selene Westwood and be named alpha afterward." His tone is flat, and he is passive, as though he didn't just take over the reins of my future.I have sacrificed my whole life for the pack. The least he can do is let me spend what was left of it with a woman of my choosing. I summon every courage in my veins.

"Selene is not my fated mate.""Your mother wasn't mine either, but here we are."I opened my mouth to counter his point, but he continued. "The pack is at risk, and Selene comes from a long line of pure-blood warriors, one that takes their bloodline seriously. With her as your mate, you're bound to her in the oldest and most highly recognized way known—by blood—and they'll recognize you as one of them. Her brother being your second in command is an added bonus. You'll create an alliance that will have every pure-blood warrior in the community loyal and willing to fight for you. It is the best line of action, and it is final."

"What if I already found my fated mate and intend to marry her?"

He lets out a loud scoff, lighting himself a fresh roll of cigar. "The orphan half-blood that stays in the cottage close to the boundary? I only allowed you the liberty because I knew you had blood flowing in your loins and would want somewhere to experiment. You couldn't have thought she was Luna material."

"I am the one she is fated to, and she seems just fine to me. She's smart, empathetic, and has a lot to offer the pack." Anger blurs my vision, cursing through my blood like hot poison. My wolf scratches at my inside, pacing restlessly and fighting to be let out, but I fight back, holding him in, not willing to escalate things. He might be my father and the alpha, but disrespect to my mate is a direct insult."Years spent teaching to be what you need to be, and you stand in front of me to spew this foolishness? Tie whatever loose ends you need to tie and propose to Selene. That or you'll lose your position as the next alpha."

His words carry a tone of finality. I toy with the idea of presenting him with an alternative, but what good will that be? As much as I think Aurora will make a perfectly fine Luna, he is right about one thing. With the current situation, the pack needs someone who is more than just fine and won't require extra training to get into their role. Against my better judgment and my wolf's protests, I find myself slowly seeing the sense in my father's words. It has always been logic and practicality over heart for him, and years of training have shaped me into a less emotional being. He pulls out a stack of files and plugs in his noise-cancellation earpiece, indicating the end of our conversation.My wolf still wants to put up a fight. He does not hide his displeasure and disagreement about how I handled the situation, but I know better and understand the way things work. This isn't a fight we can win, so I leave his office with a cloud of defeat and distress hanging over me.How was I supposed to break this to Aurora? Just the other day, I promised to make her my Luna, and now I have to tell her I'm to marry another.Liam is waiting in my room by the time I get there, watching me like a hawk.

"I'll take it that you've heard," I say, reaching for the bottle of scotch on my table and pouring a generous serving."Marrying Selene can't be that bad. You both were once in love. I'm certain you'll find a way to make this work."

I struggle to decide if he's saying this to make me feel better or speaking for his sister. "We were in a relationship four years ago, one that didn't last the past six months. You can hardly call that love.""That's fair." He picks a glass from the rack and pours himself a drink. "But I recall you talking about your ideal woman and saying Selene is the perfect model of your dream Luna. Surely that counts."My ideal woman. I recall saying those words during one of the nights I went out drinking with boys back at the camp. They were trying to hook me up with some bartender, and I said she wasn't my type. The reply prompted them to ask about my ideal woman, and I filled them in based on what I thought a future Luna should be. One of the boys mentioned Selene as an example, and I agreed she would make a perfect Luna, but she wasn't my Aurora.

An image of her soft heart-shaped face and brown curls fills my head, and I can't help the painful tug in my chest. She wasn't meant to lead. She was nothing like the woman I was meant to be with, and I doubt if she knew anything about pack politics or could possibly have anything to add to me, but she was the one the goddess picked out for me."Is this about Aurora?" Liam's voice breaks into my thoughts, and I immediately raise my guard.

"What about her?"

"I know you've always been kind to her because of her situation, but I can't pretend not to have noticed that you've grown closer in the past years. Is she your fated mate?"The questions caught me off guard, and a strong "no" tumbled out of my mouth before I could stop it.A bitter cocktail of guilt and frustration burns down my throat, and I swallow a generous gulp of scotch to replace the unpleasant burn.My decision to keep the bond between Aurora and me quiet till I became alpha might have been under the guise of wanting to be done with training, but as I thought about everything, I guess a part of me always knew my father wouldn't approve of her. I wanted to wait until I was alpha and out of my father's control to bring her in.

If that is the case, didn't it mean she wasn't suitable to be Luna? A strong wave of displeasure flashes through me that is so intense I am instantly nauseous from its effect. The message was clear. My wolf isn't pleased with the current conversation and is doing all he can to stand his ground.

I grit my teeth, enlisting every bit of strength in me to hold him back. The last thing I need is him coming to the surface and giving Liam the confirmation he needs.

I tried to view Aurora from a perspective where my feelings for her were nonexistent to see if I'd find her worthy. But I was having a hard time conjuring the image. I didn't like the answer that stared back at me.I raised my eyes to find Liam still watching me with hawk eyes.

"If you squint harder, I'm sure you'll be able to catch a glimpse of my soul."

"I have no desire to find out what goes on in there, but I'll leave you with a few words that should guide your decision-making." He assumes his all-knowing posture, crossing one leg over the other and leaning into the sofa. "Selene was raised close to the very heart of the pack business. Her education and preferred hobbies were tailored to make her the perfect asset. She took extra courses on negotiations and mediation, including an extended study on leadership and people management. She was raised to rule. Aurora, on the other hand, sweet as she might be—""I told you. I have no business with her." I snap, my chest heaving with frustration. I can't have him knowing Aurora is my fated mate, not now that I am expected to mate with his sister. That'll only complicate things for me. More than ever, I need my relationship with her to stay secret. I cannot afford any level of messiness. "You said it yourself. I've only been kind to her because of her position in the pack. She's a charity case the pack adopted to keep from going rogue. Why would you think a person like that would be fated to me?" As soon as the words spilled from my lips, a loud crashing noise came from my door.I pause, making eye contact with Liam, who was watching the door with a raised brow. I rush and throw it open and am met with an empty hallway and the sweet smell of honey and peach lingering in the air. Aurora. I stand for a while, waiting to see if someone will make an appearance, but nothing happens. Eventually, I convince myself the noise is probably from the construction going on outside the pack house, and the current situation is probably causing my wolf to conjure reminders of her to sway my decision. Besides, she is not a big fan of the pack house. That's why most of our meet-ups happen at her house. Just as I am about to shut the door, a little picnic basket by the corner catches my eye. The woven basket proves to be heavier than it appears, and curiosity gets the best of me. I throw off the lid to find a delectable spread of my favorites. A chill that has nothing to do with the weather spreads through me. I look down the hallway and back at the picnic basket. Its contents are enough evidence to erase any doubt I have about Aurora coming around. She was here, and she must've heard a thing or two."Everything alright?" Liam calls from inside, and I immediately snap the basket shut, pushing it further down the hall."Yeah. Probably the construction workers making a lot of noise," I reply, trying to keep the sinking feeling in my chest out of my voice. I should go after her before it's too late. But how do I explain it all after claiming she means nothing to me?It takes every bit of strength to drag myself back into the room with my wolf thrashing and seeking dominance. The veins in my neck might be damn well close to popping with how hard I was fighting him back. His strength is something I appreciate in combat and other scenarios, but now that he is exerting it on me, I am not so appreciative.I take a quick glance at the clock and make a mental note to go see her once it's dusk. Hopefully, she didn't hear too much.