Chapter 03

On this cloudy morning, there are growing patches of blue, the sort of hue that is soft and bright at the same time. Though beneath the sheet of the cloud is a grey that deepens to steel, the leading edge is a brilliant white, as if it is the pages of a new book ready for any curious eye. So, on this day that could bring rain or sunshine. Though the sky seems sad today, it seems to grieve the pain and agony with the whole crowd gathered here grieving the loss of a great Alpha and Luna of the Blood Moon pack. The sky got cleared last time after the assassination of the Alpha and his Luna but when his pack started howling expressing the pain and agony of losing their Alpha and Luna the sky decided to grieve with them. Since then, the sky is wearing a dark gloomy blanket of clouds. The whole pack, neighboring packs, and the Royal Pack have gathered in the Blood Moon Pack for the funeral of the late Alpha and Luna. All the werewolves that were gathered in the Blood Moon Pack held their head low staring down in honor of the late Alpha and Luna.

Cars came to a halt in front of the Packhouse gate, one after the other. A very attractive and powerful figure stepped out of a car. Two more mighty men trailed behind him. He walked with confidence and authority, and a potent aura emanated from him, making everyone present whimper in fear and acquiescence. They knelt on their knees and bowed their heads in submission. No one dared to look him in the eyes, no one dared to look at his face. His nomad-blue eyes twinkled as he walked with a tiger-like tread. He had perfectly coiffed jet black hair. He was dressed in a dark three-piece suit that accentuated his well-built masculine figure. He was the epitome of a Greek God.

He walks towards the packhouse's main door, where the Beta, Gamma, and head warrior were standing with their heads held low in respect and fear. He holds his head high, looks down at the men, and asks, "How did this happen?" He asked with absolute authority in a booming voice. A shiver ran down their spine when they were asked a direct question. The Beta, gathering all his remaining strength and courage, responded,

"Your Highness, we still don't know, there was a patrol team..." Before he could finish his sentence, his feet were suspended in mid-air, his neck being held by the Prince. He gasped for air as the beast suffocated him, cutting off his air supply. He looked into his eyes and saw yellow emanating in them; he was furious, and it was his beast pleading with him to let him out so he could end his life right there and then.

"Please, Your Highness, release him!" A sobbing woman pleaded with him from the crowd to his right. He turned fiercely towards the voice, only to find a very pregnant and beautiful woman screaming, weeping, and pleading with him. The sight of the Beta's pregnant mate had given him some control over his beast. He returned his gaze to the Beta and relaxed his grip on his neck. The Beta staggers to his feet, gasping for air "I'm only letting you go today so your pup can see your fucking face. If the next time someone dies right under your nose, you won't be able to stand on your own. Is that clear, Beta?" Aiden spoke in a bizarrely calm tone that made everyone shiver in the hearing distance.

"I want the entire murder and patrol report in my office." He gave the order to his men and turned to walk back towards his car. While his men said 'Yes, Alpha,' and went to work on the task that was assigned to them.

Throughout the ride, Aiden was trembling with frustration and anger. The journey from Blood Moon Pack to the Royal Pack castle was long. Aiden stormed out of the car with his Beta on his toe, who had been silent the entire ride when they arrived at the Royal Pack Castle. He stormed into his office, slamming the door shut, completely unaware that his Beta was following him. Nicholas, his beta, stops the door from slamming in his face and says,

"Alpha, take it easy. Relax, please.”

The Prince did not return his gaze until settling into his chair and smashing his fist on the table.

"This was the third Alpha, and Luna died in less than a week! In less than a week! And no one knows who is responsible for these deaths! The kingdom is terrified for their lives' safety. I, their Alpha and soon-to-be King have no idea how to stop this, and you want me to fucking calm the hell down!” He growled

"Look, Aiden, you're doing everything you can. We've both been working our tails off since you received your father's title. You can command people to go on patrol and take safety precautions, but it is not solely your responsibility to ensure everyone's safety. It's also up to the other packs, you know. Don't worry, we're looking into it and will get to the bottom of it."

"Even so, I am their Alpha!"

"You cannot keep all of the packs safe out there by yourself. Incidents occur, and we will track down the perpetrator."

Aiden exhaled deeply and sighed.

"Can you contact the Gamma, and where is the investigation report?"

"I'll take care of it." Nick's eyes became cloudy, implying that he was mind linking; his eyes quickly returned to normal, and he said,

"Liam should be here with the report any minute now." There was a knock on the door just as he finished the sentence.

"Come on in," Aiden said authoritatively. Liam the Gamma entered his office with a file in his hand, bowed before The Prince, and handed him the file, saying,

"Alpha, it contains everything that happened that night. Time and other factors are included. Also, Alpha..." he paused and looked down.

"What's the matter, Liam?" Aiden took his gaze away from the file and turned to face his Gamma.

"In this entire week, only the most powerful Alpha and Luna's have been killed, implying that they are deliberately targeting the powerful Alpha's, which makes.."

"I'm their primary and next target." Aiden completed his sentence on his behalf.

"Yes, Alpha and our patrol team have picked up on rogues' trails and smell."

"This can't be the work of the rogues," Aiden said, holding up a photo attached to the file.

"Isn't the Alphas' room on the third floor? And the murderer did not enter or exit the house!" Beta Nick stated as he noticed the open window on the third floor.

"The Blood Moon Beta informed me that that window, like all other windows and doors, was closed as they always do every evening." Liam was informed.

"No rogue can enter their territory without being directed, let alone climb three floors, enter through a window, kill a guard, and break into Alpha's chamber."

"The lock on the door wasn't broken," Nick said, and Aiden raised his brows, asking, "What do you mean?"

"The door lock was unlocked, not broken, and there was no blood in Alpha's body," Nick said, holding up a photo of Alpha's dead body.

"You've noticed this mark!" Beta discovered a fang mark on the dead Alpha's neck.

"It's the Vampires!" ", exclaimed Gamma "This cannot be the work of the vampires alone. The wolves would have picked up on a scent, but they didn't find any. Unless..."

"Witches are actively helping them!" Beta and Gamma both said it at the same time.

"Yes, they are assisting them in masking their scent, and I'm assuming that there was more than one person present on the night of the murder."

"A witch assisted in masking the Vampire's scent and aiding him in unlocking the door and entering," says Nicholas

"And the Vampire killed the Alpha and Luna before sucking the Alpha's blood. I'm assuming They are attempting to weaken us before declaring war!" Gamma Liam said it with a tinge of tension in his voice.

"Alpha, we need to secure our land." Nicholas voiced concern for their safety.

"But first, we have to deal with these bloodsuckers," Liam exclaimed.

"We can't do anything unless we have enough evidence against them; otherwise, the Council won't let us go." He said this while rubbing his chin, lost in thought.

"Inform all other packs about the possibility of future attacks, and make them lock their borders and capture any vampire or witch who comes near their territory and take them in for questioning." He ordered his Gamma.

"Yes, Alpha." "Gather our witches, the faithful ones," Aiden said

"Yes, Your Highness." Nick bowed and his eyes became foggy, someone was mind linking him.

"Alpha, Queen Olivia, and King Bruce have arrived," Liam informed and Aiden frowned, baffled as to why they had arrived so unexpectedly.

"Send them to my office." He said to his Beta who nodded and bowed before leaving.

It's been five years since Aiden took over as Alpha and King from his father, King Bruce. Nonetheless, he did not receive his coronation. He has yet to find his mate, and the council is constantly pressuring him to simply choose some noble she-wolf or Lycan and succeed to the throne with a Queen by his side. According to their beliefs, a King is not strong enough to rule a kingdom without the aid of a queen, more like a mate to use as a sex slave. Queen is essential to providing the King with physical pleasure, so he does not take any other female to his bed in the heat of his need, making him vulnerable to attacks. A revolting thought, but what else can he expect from a council of ancient supernaturals?

He knew they were here when he heard a knock on the door.

"Come in," he said matter-of-factly.

King Bruce Dalton, a man standing 6'4" feet tall and dressed in a black suit well fitted to his well-constructed body, is a replica of Aiden except he has brown eyes and blond hair. Behind him came a woman in a mid-thigh length pastel pink well-fitted dress, with dark brown shoulder-length hair styled to perfection and almond-shaped blue eyes that sparkled with esteem. Queen Olivia has rosy full lips that sit beneath a small well-defined nose. Even at the age of 47, she could put any young woman to remorse. They were the dynamic duo, and they radiated a significant aura.

Aiden is their only son, and he resembles both of them.

He rose from his seat and approached his parents to greet them. He shook his father's hand and kissed his mother's cheeks before taking his seat.

"So, what brought you two here?"

"Can't parents simply come and see their child?"

"Cut the crap mother, I'm really busy, if you don't have anything important to say, leave," he roared.

"Keep your tone in check, young man. This is your mother and your Queen you are speaking to!" His father growled

"What brings you here?" He asks again, taking a deep breath to calm himself down.

"We've come to talk about you selecting your mate, Aiden. It's high time for you to take over as King, with your Queen." In a firm tone, his father stated “.

"I don't want to to choose my mate father; I wish to find the one the Moon Goddess destined to me. And as for the title, I'm willing to wait." His father was agitated that his son was disobeying him.

"Regarding that! The council instructed me to inform you that if you do not choose a mate before taking over my title, the throne will be passed to your cousin Grayson."

"What!! THEY CAN NOT DO THAT! They're going to give Grayson my throne, my birthright, just because he has a fucking mate!!" He was trembling on his feet, clogged with frustration and anger.

"Yes, they will and watch your language. The council can overrule us, and you are well aware of that, and they will hand over your throne to Grayson if you do not choose your mate and introduce her to the nation by the end of the month." In a commanding tone, his father said.

"And we endorse that you choose Julia." The Queen proposed.

"What! Julia! What the hell are you guys thinking? I can't even stand being in the same room as her for five minutes, and you want me to choose her as my mate!"

"You have heard us. She comes from a noble family, and she will strengthen your position and power, so we suggest you choose her. Unless, of course, if you find someone better by the end of the month." Bruce snarled. Aiden was trembling with rage, and he was gradually losing control of his beast. He was staring into his father's eyes. They were locked in a stare-down, with no one willing to back down. But after a while, he had to look away as his father began to release his Alpha pheromones. A ghost smirk arose on his father's face as he looked away, defeated.

"Now, is the time for us to say our goodbyes." King Bruce exited the room, but Aiden's mother remained.

"I am praying to the Moon Goddess that you find her," she said as she approached her son's side and placed her hand on his shoulder. But if you don't, choose Julia or Victoria. Victoria is a good girl, and from a noble family and she adores you. You both look great together. Don't let them usurp your throne." She kissed his cheeks and walked away. In frustration, he sat in his chair and raked his hair.

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The curtains add an orange glow to the morning light, every morning a perfect sunrise. It reminds Him of the times he slept in a beach hut, watching the ocean emerge under the golden shimmer. For a moment his mind conjures the rhythmic waves, soft on the sandy shore, and feels his heartbeat at the same slow pace. He breaths in deeply. A new day has begun. He reaches his hand out to the fabric, noticing how up close the light pours through every open space between fibers, no different from how it once came through the beach-hut walls, illuminating like brilliant fireflies each dawn. The material is warm beneath his fingers, and when the sun floods the room, painting the colors anew, he feels a little of those golden rays soak into his skin. Oh, how blissful those days were when all he had to worry about was who his playmate would be, what gift he would receive, when he would grow up, he thought. Away from all this stirring world.

Another morning has arrived, bringing with it a new day of work and opportunities. He sighs as he returns his gaze to his empty bed. He was with another female the night before, and he had her leave before the sun rose. He longs to wake up next to his forever one, and he prays to find her, but the Moon Goddess may have other plans for him. A century has passed, but his forever one seems to relish hiding from him. Perhaps she doesn't exist at all? He pondered. He shakes his head, attempting to shake all these thoughts away.

This is not the time to think about it. It's been two weeks since he gave his words to his parents and Julia. They will be introduced as mates on national television tomorrow. He gazed out the window, heartfeltly praying to the Moon Goddess.

"Please send her to me, Goddess. I'd take a log for a mate if it meant Julia would leave me alone."

He sighs and looks down. He was already irritated enough when his Beta mind linked him.

"What Nick?"

"Alpha you are needed here. We found a body in our territory river. We don't know how it got here. It still seems to be breathing. It's a human girl."

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