Prophecy: The Alpha Kings and Luna story

ANNA

Wet leaves and dirt stuck to the bottom of my paws as I ran through the soiled forest floor. There’s nothing like a run through the forest before dawn, my wolf thought. Pure silence and fresh scents surrounded me. Nature served as an escape from the monotony that was my life.

Normally, I would be inundated with duties by now, all by the hand of my father. He made the role of “alpha’s daughter” sound more like “royal princess,” as if I had the weight of the world looming over me.

Lately, he’d occupied my time with training; I didn’t mind that. I enjoyed a good grapple before studies, and the studies were daunting. It was a combination of werewolf history and old wives’ tales. Culture, my father insisted.

There was an old tale about a new-age prophecy and children with special abilities that haunted me. They were like fairy tales in a way, but for werewolves.

“Anna,” the voice chimed through my mind.

I ignored it and kept running. I’d get cursed out later for disobeying the command, but I didn’t care. I needed the space to breathe, if only for a few more moments.

Nothing could ruin the forest for me. The forest was where I truly felt free.

“Anna!” the voice boomed. The tone was a command, and a fierce one at that. It was never disobeyed. Nevertheless, my feet kept plummeting into the soft earth toward the top of the Rocky Mountains.

“Anna! You will come back now!”

Ooh, he was angry! The thought of being forbidden to run solo in the forest slowed my strides to a halt. I took in a lungful of free air.

“I’m heading back, Alpha,” I said through the mind link.

A frustrated growl came through in response, and I trudged my way back to the pack house.

I stopped at the pile of dry, crisp leaves where I had abandoned my clothes, shifted back to human form, and dressed.

Before I reached the pack house door, it flew open and two golden hazel eyes glared at me. I rolled my eyes, which made the alpha even angrier.

“Get in, now!” he growled.

I ambled in and was met by the piercing eyes of the alpha’s council standing before me. I play-curtsied, almost mocking them. I was covered in mud and wearing what they’d consider rags, which were leggings and a tank top.

I heard a chuckle out of Victor, who was the alpha of our neighboring pack, the Midnight Pack.

I was met with the usual look of disapproval from my alpha of the Moonlight Pack.

“You know better than this, Anna,” the alpha sneered.

“Fath—Alpha, I needed to allow my wolf to run. And in silence! Besides, how will I find my mate if I’m cooped up here the rest of my life? We have barely had any visitors lately, and I still remain unmated.” I spoke frankly. There was no reason not to.

At eighteen years old, pack members often found their mates. At twenty-three, I was still mateless. My father, brother, and the council never ceased to remind me of this. An alpha’s daughter should not be unclaimed at this age, I could hear their voices echo.

My brother, Anthony, found his mate at twenty years of age after attending every mating ceremony for two years straight. Eventually, he found his mate, my beautiful sister-in-law, Charlotte, who was the alpha’s daughter of a pack in Germany.

When I was eighteen, I’d attended every single mating ceremony up until I was twenty. I never felt the mating bond. Since then, I’d convinced my father to give me a good three years in the pack to train and learn, and quite frankly, be free.

Against his better judgment, he’d agreed, probably because my brother had aided in my case too. Anthony had given my father three grandkids, who would become future alphas. And I was committed to my studies and training. Mateless, it was the best way I could serve my pack.

I figured both would serve as enough for my father not to question my lack of mating for a bit.

I wasn’t sure why there was a sudden switch and interest in mating now.

“Enough, Anna—you will not find a mate roaming in the woods alone or in our borders. You will attend the alpha kings’ mating ceremony in two weeks.” My father was curt today; something must’ve happened at the council meeting.

“But Father—Alpha,” I corrected. “I’ve already been to the alpha kings’ mating ceremony a few years ago.”

The Midnight Pack alpha’s eyes sank a hole through me. I glared at him. He smirked and sent me a wink in return.

I could not stand the guy.

Sure, he wasn’t bad-looking. He was tall and muscular, but he reeked of cockiness and entitlement. My skin itched at the way his eyes leered over my body. I wanted to tell him to wipe the drool off his face and go kick rocks.

Unmated werewolves could sleep around. It was part of our culture. But Victor took it way too far for my taste. Monogamy wasn’t our thing unless we were mated. But I seriously doubted even the mating bond could keep Victor faithful to his mate.

“That ball was held by the previous kings,” my father said. “They have recently passed the kingdoms onto their sons, Ares and Apollo. The new alpha kings are requesting the presence of select unmated alphas and alphas’ daughters. You have been extended an invite.”

My lungs were tight, and my stomach flipped. I knew where this was going. I thought I had a little more time before they would ask this of me.

“Anna, this ceremony is of great significance,” my father continued. “The new alpha kings are unmated. This is a great opportunity. Must I remind you that I met your mother at that ball?” He slammed down his hand, leaving a pounding echo ringing through the room.

“Why is it so important to you and the council that I find a mate all of a sudden?” I said evenly despite the fire growing inside me. “And why is he here?” I pointed at the Midnight alpha and scowled.

“Anthony—escort the council and Alpha Victor to the dining room. Have the pack send out light refreshments in my wake,” my father spoke.

Victor’s eyes refused to leave me. I cringed.

I mean, the guy was like a decade older than me.

There was slight graying in his trimmed beard. I didn’t know why his eyes were fixated upon me like I was to be his.

Not even for a season. I smirked to myself.

My father’s voice sounded again. “Anna—this is serious!”

“What is, Father?” I spoke coldly.

“Anna—being a mate is more than being a wife or mother. It’s about finding your other half and leading a pack!” His voice softened. “Your mother would want this.”

“That’s if I find a mate who thinks of me as an equal,” I growled at him.

“Is that why you’re so resistant to finding your mate?” He sat down. His eyes were soft now.

I placed my hand over his. “It doesn’t bother me being without a mate now. I still have a lot of years left to find a mate and have pups. I am trying to become a better fighter and learn as much as I can. There are lots of ways to serve a pack.”

“I wish that was the case.” He shook his head. “This year, I’m stepping down as alpha so your brother can take over. He’s stronger now that he has a mate and pups of his own. Without your mother, I don’t have the same counsel. Your brother will excel with his mate by his side. I made a promise to your mother that I would help you find a mate.” His eyes held a different account. He was keeping something from me.

“What else are you not telling me, Father?” I grabbed his hand in mine and urged him to look into my eyes.

His gaze shifted, refusing to meet mine as he studied the window for a moment. Finally, our eyes connected, and he formed his grip around my hand. “If you do not find your mate at the next ceremony, then you will mate with the alpha of the Midnight Pack.”

“Victor!?” I sneered, ripping my hand from his. “I would never agree to that, and you know it!” I paced the room, dread weighing down my every step.

“If you do not find your mate, then you will be his. Maybe this will help you see the value of your studies and the importance of this matter,” he growled, letting me know his decision was final.

“Why would you do that to me? Anthony would never allow it!” I yelled, holding back angry tears.

“He’s an ally, our closest neighbor, and is still mateless himself. Taking you as mate will help ensure he doesn’t test Anthony once he takes over as alpha.”

My anger disappeared.

“He has expressed his interest in you,” my father continued. “It’s the most suitable option. He is an alpha and a strong one at that!”

“The second mating isn’t as strong as a true mating—you know that.” The words kept tumbling free as if it were my last chance to say them. “He would easily lie with another wolf without the true mating bond.”

My father’s teeth shone as he seethed from my defiance.

“What’s done is done. You will be promised to him if you’re unmated when you return in two weeks.” And with that, he got up and left the room.

I lay waste to everything in my surroundings, destroying half of the pack room in my anger.

Is my happiness really more important than the safety of my pack?

It wasn’t. I knew it in an instant.

My mother would’ve wanted me mated and with pups of my own. She would’ve wanted me to be strong and reasonable during moments such as these, not childish and defiant.

I worked through my options. The ball itself had always seemed archaic to me. It was a flimsy attempt for the two kingdoms to show “unity” for an evening. Some definition of unity. We have never been more disjointed as a society.

If the alpha kings really wanted unity, they should join the kingdoms into one, not live with the illusion that two kingdoms would be able to create a power balance.

But there would be hundreds of unmated wolves in attendance at the ball. There was the potential to find my mate, someone who would see me as an equal.

And for Victor to find any other mate than me.