Chapter 38
Eclipse
“I knew I was close to his strength, but I didn’t want to test a challenge over something so small… he was disrespectful at times, but never to the point of killing him.” Alpha Lemon grumbled.
“Woa… but you two look like you’re from the other continent.” I said looking at them closely.
“We are; we’re from France… it’s just the humans we tried to keep this place secret from.” He chuckled. “I arrived in Quabec first, we followed Alpha, and we planted here for the well water and much milder winter. I found out that I was strong enough to lead a few miles away, but we never stopped being friends. It was safer too, as we would be more spread out, and I was closest to the humans. He was a great Alpha, though he hated being loaded with work like someone I know.” He shot Kaiden a playful glare. “Shame those trigger happy mortals killed them.” He grumbled.
“How did that happen?” I asked. He looked at Kaiden, then at me.
“It was the early 1800’s, Luna Lusa had just pupped that fall, Kaiden was a young teen. Beta Ababio went with them…. Gamma Branson was Gamma.” He chuckled, and Luna Pearl clarified some.
“She holds Eric’s name to honor him in a way, and also to spite the Council since he is an Omega. The elders wished she chose an Alpha.” Said Luna Pearl. “But go on dear, tell her why they left in the first place.”
“A small war here actually broke out a week before. A good number of wolves got killed because a small group of humans had seen ‘wolves bigger than grizzlies’, automatically assuming that we were hunting them, but they were dying from scarlet fever. But when something you can’t explain is at your doorstep, humans’ first response is to blame that thing. They formed a posse, torched my pack up pretty good, and then cried they were the victims. To make peace, Alpha made a deal. They would receive monetary compensation for their dead, and a truce to never hunt on their grounds again even though I Know none of mine had done such a thing…”
“How could you be so sure?” I asked.
“Someone would have been caught by Alpha. He was good at… getting the truth out of people without hurting you physically, but you’d have a splitting headache. They went to Bison to sign a deal with the humans there, and they were offered food. As you know, tradition demands that you partake of the food of your hosts…. The escort with them survived to kill them all. They died in such number, he razed that town to ashes so badly, that the survivors Named that town After him as a nickname at first, but it stuck after a while. It used to be named Lewisvile.”
“After that, me and Derrick didn’t hang out anymore, as I had to assume the role of Beta until I defeated Shelly.” Said Kaiden.
“And I became Beta when I was 50.” Said Beta Connor chiming in. “Oh, and here’s the incident report from Horizon.” He passed Kaiden a sheet of paper, and he skimmed over it.
“Give him 5 lashes and no dinner.” He said firmly. “Use the normal one.”
“Alright.” He said going upstairs and coming back down with a leather whip.
This interested me, because I had never met wolves so old with power, at least I don’t think. I never thought to go around asking for people’s ages. I also wanted to hear more, but I couldn’t keep my eyes open.
-----Kaiden-----
She had fallen asleep holding that t-shirt. It was traditional to give small gifts to friends and family that find their mates, and mine came in the form of my siblings doing my patrols for me. It’s funny how a simple gift is, in a way, better than an elaborate one. You never use your best fine China, or tailored shirts out and about doing chores or running errands, but I would ware this if she asked me, and I knew she would.
“Thank you.” I told Leon. He was my father’s friend and I had known him since I was born, but honestly, that didn’t mean anything to me anymore. The most important thing is that he came to me here in submission, knowing that I was stronger than him.
It also helped that my Luna did not see the eye flash of my link to him. She was not ready to know. She needed to ease onto who I was, as to normal wolves, who I descended from was a fairy tale… there was also the fact that I had no idea what to tell her. For now, I had time, and I would use it.
“Anytime neighbor.” He said cheerfully. “I also came for one more reason,” he paused, I sat up a little more, interested in what he had to say. “The Wolf King was seen in his court yesterday.” I froze. No one had seen that man since the last new Alpha had been acknowledged. “Headhunters attacked the WinterMoon pack, but they weren’t after the Alphas… they stole his pup”
I was shocked to say the least, I knew they did so many terrible things to our people, but why steal a child? Were the very skins off our back not enough? I clenched my fist, and allowed him to continue.
“The Charred One will handle it himself, may the Lady have mercy, because he will not.” Neither of us talked for a while. The pack began to pick up on this as well, wondering what was said to turn a friendly conversation into something serious.
“Well Shit…” I mumbled. The Wolf King, the Charred One was roused from years of inactivity.
“Sorry to ruin your mood your highness, I know you’re with your mate.” He said quietly.
“No I’d rather know. And don’t call me my title.” I said seeing him bow.
“You remind me so much of Alpha.” He chuckled getting up. We shook wrists.
After that, he left, and I honestly thanked him again for the warning. I looked to my sweet little mate. She had never killed anything. She had never been in a fight; she never even asserted her dominance. Her instincts for fear, and who to fear are very vivid, but everything else was weak. And she was so small, I thought she would grow, but her wolf has not changed size, so it likely won’t happen.
What the fuck am I going to do if he pops up here, pissed off that she isn’t pregnant? He is only the wolf; that’s what they understand. He won’t get that I want her to choose me, because in this relationship it’s the only thing she has left, she was marked by force. She was taken from her home by force, she lives here by a thread of choice; no one would house the mate of an angry Alpha, and now that I had her I would Not let her go, not willingly... He won’t understand that I feel complete with her here in my arms, not on my bed. The bed would be great, but she deserves to be treated with care. She deserves to have some say. And most importantly, she shouldn’t feel rushed to do so… She is my Luna, and I want her to feel like she is, not a slave to tradition.
“What do you suppose we do?” Said Beta. He’d made tea for himself while I freaked out on the couch in silence. He placed some in front of me, but I didn’t touch it. I knew if my sister were here, she’d bring up our small argument… That she wasn’t Ready to lead as Luna.
She was untrained being born of low rank, but that was ultimately my fault. I wanted her to get comfortable to the impossibly large power change that happened around her so fast…. I wanted to gain her trust, and I wanted her to get used to being with me, instead of overloading her with responsibility. We both sat there quietly for a moment. I rested my cheeks on my knuckles, fighting Rakaam who wanted to take over since he felt I was taking too long.
“There is literally nothing I can do except stall, and hope his attention does not fall on us. If I am summoned, as Crown Prince I Must appear.” I mumbled.
“It will…” He said taking a gulp of his tea. I could smell the sugar from here. He was trying to be calm and supportive for me, and it was times like this that made me glad we were littermates, even though I was a little older than him.
“I know.” I looked at the clock, it was only 7. Babygirl would be out until morning likely, but I didn’t mind. She needed her rest, and tomorrow she would be out her cast, and hopefully well enough to be with me.
“Honestly, I’m glad I don’t have your job.” He said quietly.
“I know.” I mumbled.
I was never one for groveling, people calling me your highness, or even special treatment…. That place changes me…
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
