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Feeling the power infused in my blood from my mates, I know what I need to do. Racing through the castle, my paws barely gain purchase on the tile floor as I head toward the front doors. Thankfully, my guards are smart enough to fling the doors open wide and let me out. Standing at the top of the stairs overlooking the road below, seeing the peaks of the houses down in the valley, I know from here my voice will carry.
The air is calm and still, and the wind is not blowing. This is the perfect time to let my voice ring. Tilting my head back, I howl with everything that I’ve got; calling, no screaming for my wolven brothers and sisters to come back into the fold. I know, without a doubt that the other Shadow Wolves and Death Wolves have gone into hiding, trying to get away from the Fae and the Vampires that have taken over the castle. I howl for the others, knowing my tone easily carries for miles.
When my mates join me and lift their voices in harmony with mine, it’s almost as if a surge of power overtakes me and our combined voices carry further. It’s unlike anything I have ever heard or done before. I feel like a wolf possessed, as I feel surge after surge of power every time I howl. After several moments dozens a black wolves emerge from the cedar forest running toward me. Not long after that, the troops my mates brought with us follow suit. I am almost amazed by the sheer numbers that are gathering in front of the castle.
My old nurse that used to take care of me as a pup shows up with a robe for me. I shift back to my human form as my mates stop howling. Looking out over the wolves that have gathered, and watching the ones that are approaching, I raise my hand and get everyone to relax. “Welcome home, my brothers and sisters.” I pause, watching as the wolves’ glance at each other.
“It has been a long time coming for us all to return here.” Pausing again, I watch for more reactions. One by one, the wolves shift back to their human forms, revealing who they are and what pack they truly belong to. “They have divided too long us, but no more. Gone are the days that we remain separated from each other.”
Moving forward flanked by my mates, I descend the stairs and walk among the wolves and humans present. “It’s the dawning of a new era. One where no pack is held above the other.” Murmurs move through the gathered crowd. I see more wolves approaching on the horizon as I speak.
“Gone are the days of needing approval to take a mate. Gone are the days that they limit whom you may love!” I scream, the last part knowing for far too long same-sex couples had to hide their relationships for fear of being hunted.
Some pack mates look shocked while others look relieved. The newcomers shift and move forward toward me. “What of those imprisoned by your father?” A tall, dark-haired male asks. The vein in his temple pulses in time with his heartbeat.
“Past crimes in all packs will be weighed and measured. If they were unjustly imprisoned, then they will be freed and compensated.” Egon places his hands on my shoulder answering before I have a chance to. He too, notices the threat in the male’s posture and steps in.
Leaning back against Egon, I find solace in his powerful embrace. His thick arms band around me and rest just under my breasts as we face the packs. Kaedyn approaches and stands to our right, and Hollis to our left. Presenting a united front, the packs relax.
“Where’s the prince from the Water Pack?”
“Was one chosen?”
“Why isn’t he with you?”
Multiple voices call out questions, and that is when shy Sebastian steps forward and raises his hand, drawing attention to him. “I am from the Water Pack. I am a commoner like you, and Belladonna’s fated mate.” Grumbles erupt among the wolves, some expressing their concerns for a commoner on the throne.
Growling, I stepped forward to silence the crowd. I will not have them shunning my mate because he’s not of noble birth. Raising both hands and allowing fire to erupt from them, the crowd silences immediately. “Isn’t it half the problem that the monarchy doesn’t care? It doesn’t know what you guys need most, does it?” Posing my question, I study the crowd before me as Egon slowly backs me up the stairs. Some townsfolk agree with my statement, while others do not feel that it was fair for Sebastian to have been chosen and not them. There’s the crux of the problem.
“The mate lottery should be for all!” One man said.
“Everyone should have a chance and a choice!” A middle-aged woman says as she clings to her small child at her side.
“There was nothing ever held here for us!” another young, handsome and muscular man calls out.
Breaking away from Egon, I step forward, closing the distance between the man and myself. I extend a hand out to him. “Take my hand if you’re brave enough. And let me prove that there was no one here meant to be mine.” He takes my hand reluctantly and when the truth of it comes out that he is not a mate of mine, his look turns sullen and depressed. I really don’t want to upset my people, but I need to dispel any chance of a rumor starting that doesn’t need to start.
“We have enemies all around us!” I shout, imploring my people to be more vigilant. “We have hidden enemies and we’ve yet to uncover all of them. I have been fighting since the day that my brother was hurt to figure out who’s trying to kill us.” Murmurs move through the crowd quickly because this was a fact that we had hidden from our people.
I never wanted to hide the truth from them, but my father thought it was best. To pose the monarchy as something not safe and secure would only cause discord among the rabble. It saddens me to think that they have hurt my people this long and there’s not much that I can do to make them trust us anymore.
“What of the Orcs?” One of the young men hollers, and that question alone catches my attention. I stare at him and see that he is marked by scars that litter his body and it looks to be that he survived a lost battle.
“We will handle the Orcs as they come up, but I’m not gonna go hunt them down and lose people for nothing.” The young man nods, agreeing with me and then shrinks back into the crowd among the others. It wasn’t until him mentioning it I realized that the Orcs have been quiet lately. Glancing back at my mates, they have come to the same realization that I did.
“Spread the word. All are welcome here and no one will be turned away.” I try to make it so that everyone knows the borders are not closed to them.
“All elements?” A young woman with almost white hair states.
Studying her, I know she’s either of the Air or Water Pack. It’s not very difficult to tell since both of them have wolves of mostly of white fur.
“Yes, all elements.”
“Why is that all of a sudden?” Another woman says as she clings to her three children.
“I am not my father’s daughter,” I say as I raise my hands and the earth rumbles beneath my feet.
“I am not like him at all.” Throwing my hand forward, a wave of wind goes over the crowd and people stand there shocked, watching.
