The Chosen King

While I think about the dream, the future, I run through the woods. I feel how my throat is swelling and it is getting hard to swallow. NO! This is not happening, *MOM! I need you. Don’t let go of me! Please, tell me where you are. I’m coming to save you!*

I mindlink her, trying to find my way through the darkness. Trying to smell and feel mom’s energy. She’s not responding. I mindlink Levi, I know he was there. He was north.

*Levi! What the hell happened? Where is your Luna?*

*Adam! You’re here, Oh my Gosh. I was worried about you!*

*LEVI! WHERE IS YOUR LUNA?!*

I don’t care he was worried about me, I want him to keep his Luna safe.

*S-she was with Morris in the packhouse, we’re fighting off those damn hunters. They’re fucking strong! I don’t know where their powers are coming from. We’ve lost good man, Adam..*

*Keep going! More warriors are coming your way. Find out why they’re so damn strong. I’ll have to find mom!*

*Is she gone? Do they have her? These rats.. AARGH!*

I feel his anger radiating through his words. That’s good. It will help him fight. But I’ll have to focus.

*MOM! ANSWER ME, please…* The environment feels familiar. I’ve been here before...

Shit. No. I stop for a moment and feel how my emotions are getting the upper hand. My heart is aching, my throat is closing. This ‘dream’ cannot be true! *Please, mom?*

*Adam! Don’t do this - I’ll be fine!* I hear mom’s voice.

No, no, no nooo!! It’s starting… NOO!! I start running again.

*Adam, you can’t change it. Quinn is right, it’s happening. She sent you that dream to prepare. Let go, son.* Ace says.

*NO! I’m not going to let this happen!*

---

***Flashback:***

*“Adam! Don’t do this - I’ll be fine!”*

*My heart rate goes up, my vision is blurred. “Mom! Hold on! I’m coming!” I’m running towards her sound. Leaves are hitting my face while I run through the forest.*

*“NOOO! Adam, stay there. Please, it’s not safe.”*

*I see her. I’m staring at mom. She’s covered in mud and she’s bleeding in several places. But it’s not only her, he is standing next to her. He’s holding her. He looks confused, entangled.*

*“Mom?”*

*“It’s OK, sweety. He doesn’t know what he’s doing. But it’s fine. Aura says this is the way.”*

*“NO! Mom, please…” I’m whimpering.*

*Mom’s looking at him, her eyes full with love. He looks back and smiles. “I’ve missed you so much, my queen. Let’s go, together!”*

*I’m starting to yell! “MOM! Don’t let him do this, please.. I need you! Use your power! You can let him do whatever you want him to do. Stay with me, please…” I’m trying to walk towards her.*

*“Adam! S T O P!” Her Luna voice. “I don’t want to. I need him, I feel finally complete again. Forgive me, my son. I will always love you! Don’t forget: we, werewolves, never leave earth. We are the watchers. Just think of me, and you will feel me.” Mom starts to cry. “You’re my moon and my stars, you’ve enlightened every day from the first moment I saw you. Thanks, my son. Don’t forget me!”*

*Tears are flowing, my cheeks are completely wet. And before I can say goodbye, they put their foreheads together and they disappear in the void behind them.*

---

I run towards the edge and look down. I only see darkness. I feel how my heart is ripped apart, it’s the feeling of a beloved one that died in the pack. I fall down my knees, my hands before my eyes. I have no idea when I shifted. I cry. I cry an endless flow of tears. She’s gone. I hear wolves howl around me, I yell with them.

---

*** 2 days later ***

We will never know what happened between mom and her mate, Ethan. Ethan knocked out the warriors who were with her in the packhouse. It always will be a mystery. But I like to think that he recognized her, that they found each other again. Maybe they fought, maybe not. But I know for sure she's happy right now. She's in peace.

It turns out that Mike is the headhunter. Mike, the father of Cliff the hunter who was killed at the attempt to coup, was the main ascendent of the hunters. When his son, Cliff, was born, the powers of them grew together. With the hunter’s venom, Mike killed Ely - Ethan’s wolf. After killing Ely, Mike controlled Ethan’s mind. Not only his, by the way. It turned out that Mike controlled his whole damn pack. Every wolf was killed, so Mike was able to control their human minds. He had a hunter’s spell, to make them connect with each other. The moment their main mind, Ethan, died; their strengths weakened and they became ‘just’ humans. Mike controlled the whole pack by using Ethan’s mind as the main connection.

I sigh. I’ve never felt this horrible. I’m glad I have Joshua as the Beta. He made sure everything was handled with Mike’s pack. Mike is killed while the humans were offered to live in freedom. Most of them returned to the city, trying to live their lives in peace. Some of them had families in other packs, and returned to them.

It makes sense why the Shadow Pack didn’t show up themselves. As soon when werewolves find out that they’re fighting Chosen Ones, they’ll stop. It’s in their genes. That explained why Talon Shade ‘hired’ someone else to do the job. And Ted was not enough wolf to have that problem.

All’s well that ends well, right? Well, not exactly. We’ve lost our Luna, my beloved mom. And together with her, we lost 36 good warriors. 36 spirits are added to nature, who will guide us in our journey on earth. 36 people, man and woman, are gone; leaving holes that cannot be filled. Our pack is mourning.

I look at the woman next to me: my mate. My gorgeous mate. We’re going to let the spirits go. The moment we burn their bodies, the spirits are able to fly away. I still don’t understand why she had to go, why mom left this place with Ethan. She shouldn’t have to! Now her pack has no official leader. Yes, I’m old enough to take over. But I don’t feel like it, right now. The elders promised to help Joshua handle all the important stuff while I have the time to process all this. One day I’ll be ready. It’s just not today.

I’ll listen to Eve, how she’s leading this ceremony. But I can’t hear a word. I just look at those bodies, how they catch fire, one by one. The families are standing behind their beloved ones, crying - but proud. It’s because of them we survived. The first spirits start to fly, a blue~ish cloud with the appearance of the warrior floats above the body. They have a last moment together, the family and the warrior, before the spirit flies away with the wind.

I watch the sight in front of me. I have to be strong, once I’ll be their leader. I cannot break down right now. The sounds of mourning are getting louder when the fire spreads further. Eve squeaks my hand. When every spirit has flown away, I look at the crowd and clear my throat.

“Dear people, we’ve lost good warriors. Good man, strong women. Their spirits will guide us, forever. They’re not gone. The moment before my mom… “ my voice cracks and I have to pause for a moment. “...my mom told me to remember that werewolves never leave earth. Their spirits are always here to guide us, they’re our watchers. Remember them, honour them. Love them.”

Eve and I stood there, in front of the crowd. It’s tradition for the Alpha and Luna to watch their bodies burn down to ashes, so that their spirits can watch us when their bodies are gone. And because we are the ones that will once lead this pack, we are the most fitted ones to do this part. Some pack members joined us, but most of them left before the bodies were completely burned down.

I want to walk away when Eve suddenly grabs my arm and says: “Look!”

I turn around and follow the direction her finger is pointing to. It’s mom. Her spirit is flowing above the scene, together with Ethan’s. They look happy, in peace.

I hear her voice for one last time: “I love you, my son. And remember: you are the King, now. The Chosen King!”

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The end

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Author’s note: Here’s the end of this story. I love you, dear readers. I thank you for your support during this journey. Please let me know in the comments what you think about the story! I’m planning to write an epilogue, but don’t forget to check my page once in a while, too! There might come some more! <3