One

It has been almost two hundred years since a shifter walked between the fire of the blue and red dragon without being burnt to a crisp. That was what Cole was about to do. Even knowing that he had defeated their masters and that he is now their ruler, he still needed to be crowned before all and the best way for him to be crowned and accepted as the new king of shifters was if he could survive the flames. He would. He knew he would but it did not change the fact that he was still regarded to walk through flames. 

“My king…” The lynx shifter croaked, the last of her kind, protected by other types of shifters because she was the oldest among all. Over a thousand years and with the gift of foresight, she was leaning heavily on her staff as she and the small band of witnesses all waited to see Cole survive, witnesses taken from each type of shifter that exist, witnesses that will go back to their people and tell them that a new king is crowned, the years of terror for the shifting community was over. “…sometime this year, I am not going to live much longer.” The woman ended while laughter sounded behind him. 

Cole smiled at the laughter, he knew that they were not really laughing at him, Shifters were filled with emotions and lived life the best way they can, including laughing at the new king because he was scared to take the throne because of a little obstacle after he had already killed the major one that was blocking him. 

Taking a deep breathe, Cole steeled his nerves as he took a step forward, time to accept his destiny. He had watched shifters die, him taking the power will ensure that he would move the entire race forward. Everybody was beaten down, thinking it will not be possible but he knew better. Even with the crisis the shifters were facing. The hunting of shifter by other Supernatural races and the humans moving on progressively. They could not hide among them anymore but it was okay, Cole had plans that will ensure that upcoming generations of shifters will not hide who they are but learn to be the best version of themselves, regardless of anything. 

With another step forward, he envisioned homes been built deep in the forests, filled with the best life has to offer, laughing children and smiling parents, a mixture of two legged and four legged forms. And so the dreams and aspiration builds until he could feel the heat of the flames and even then, keeping his eyes opened, he walked into the flames for his race because he was their king. 

The flames did not hurt the way he thought they would. Instead, it was like the hurt of the very first shift, your bones and skins melting and breaking, refashioning into something else, a transformation was happening. 

The flames stopped and Cole locked his knees in, aware that he was visible to the witnesses, he could not afford to show weakness in front of them. The Dragons transformed to their Two legged selves and gestured at the throne a little way away from him. Less than ten steps but he had no choice. He would go through this process and bear every agony because he was the king. 

Each step was torture but he did it anyway. Until he got to the throne and sank down on it gratefully. He looked at the witnesses and at once, they all went on their knees, including the Lynx, even as she started the chant. 

“Long live the Were King.” 

“Long live the king.” 

***********************

“I was expecting you.” The Voice that came from within the tent was so weak, nothing like the sarcastic woman from earlier or the strong voice leading the chant. 

“Of course you were.” Colle answered even as he moved to the bedside of the only mother he ever knew, he was going to miss her. Normally wolves do not abandon their pups but somehow, he ended up with a lynx who protected him and trained him in the king’s court only for him to reach maturity and kill the king to be the new leader. With her gift of foresight, Colle knew better than to ask questions or for explanations, especially when he knew that he was not ready for it. 

“You make it sound like I am death.” Cole joked and as he expected, she laughed. 

What he did not expect was her words after her laughter. “No, that would be much late tonight.” 

“You shouldn’t have stressed yourself.” Cole said deciding to ignore the words but as usual, the lynx who trained him with qualities not usually possessed by Lynxes did not let him evade the issue. 

“You need to deal with the fact that you will be alone without family.”

“I have always being alone…” Cole tried to act like it did not affect him but he was shaken. His mother would not experience the changes he was bringing into the world. She would not know of the difference because she would be dead. 

He was also aware that she did her best, hanging on to life to see him being King but could she not hang on for just a little more, he was not ready to let her go. He would never be ready for that. 

“You will be alone for a very long time, my son but it will not be forever, you will be alone when mental birds fly the air but you will find your mate in the presence of the Primordial Vampire leader mate.” She gripped his hands, her eyes wet with tears. “You will always make me proud and I would have never asked for a better son.” 

Cole started crying when he felt strength drained out of the woman, lying, she had used her shifter strength to pass that message and now she was weak and dying. 

Cole remained with her through the night and the next morning when he stepped out of the tent, he was truly alone in the world. 

But he had hope, he would wait, for his mate and then he would not be alone much longer. 

Three hundred years later, he was still waiting and much closer to having his mate than ever and how did he know this? Because Vincent, leader of the Vampire race finally had a mate and mental birds already existed.