Ch. 211..220

Chapter 0211

I grab a plate and start eating. Luna Anne’s note said that a car would be by to pick me up, but no time or other direction was given. It did say I would have breakfast, but I don’t want to impose and I don't know what she’ll have. I don’t want to be rude and scarf down all of her food, warrior training has definitely increased my appetite. Oliver would be proud of me.

My heart clenches a bit thinking about him. I can’t wish away the fight or what was said. I said it and I meant it, but things went so wrong before we could work through anything and come to some kind of understanding. He took his role as my protector so seriously and even furious with my decision to leave he still watched over me and made sure I had what I needed, even from a distance. I have to get a message to them, even if they couldn’t respond I would feel better knowing I, at the very least, tried reaching out and letting them know I’m okay. Maybe Luna Anne can help me get a message to them, or even Xander.

Around seven thirty the same guy in a fancy gray suit came into the common room where I took up residence with a book trying to get some school reading done, since my weekend time was going to be cut short.

“Are you ready Miss Skylar?”

“Yes! Lead the way… umm, I’m sorry, I don’t know your name.”

“You can call me Barty, Miss Skylar.”

“Thank you Barty. You don’t have to call me ‘Miss’. I don't have any kind of title.”

“Any friend of the Luna deserves a title, Miss Skylar.” He winks at me as we walk out the door where a very fancy black car sits waiting. It’s not a limo, but not your standard sized car either. I’m sure the Luna Queen, Alpha King and Xander could all ride comfortably in the back.

Barty opens the door for me and I slide into the soft gray leather seats. I could easily take a nap here. Once I am settled and stop gawking at the inside of the car, Barty slides in next to me, his phone up to his ear, letting someone know we are on the way.

Interesting. “Why do you use a phone Barty? Is it too far to mindlink?”

“Actually, I can’t mindlink any longer. When my mate passed away, my wolf could not handle the separation and he got sick. I barely survived the loss of him. The Luna Queen and Alpha King have been very generous to me and I work as a kind of assistant to the Luna Queen. So, I do communicate like a human, but I am still as strong as I was when I had my wolf, so don’t get any ideas.” He smiles and winks again. “I’ve heard a lot about you and your skills. You will be an asset, to whichever pack you are a part of.”

“Whichever pack? Do you think I won’t go home then? That my mate is not in my pack?”

“I think you are very special based on the way the royal family describes you and any wolf would be lucky to be mated with you.”

I just nod my head. There really isn’t a response to that. “I’m sorry about your mate. I have never heard of someone losing their wolf and surviving. How did that work?”

“It was actually Doc Ganon who figured it out. His research and experimentation extends very far and wide. He and his wife were able to help me through the transition. It was the most painful experience I have ever had, including losing my mate.”

“Wow! Doc Ganon and Doc Sylvia are my best friends' parents. They helped me recover when I got here.” I froze for a second. I never openly share any story having to do with my trauma from Kaley. “Umm, yeah, my arrival was not under the best circumstances. The docs were great though, I got back to training pretty quickly with their help.”

“Just so you know, I am privy to lots of information. It comes with the job. I am aware of your situation here. I kept the Luna Queen updated when she couldn’t visit you.”

“Oh, man. Thank you, I guess, for keeping tabs on me.” I just feel awkward now. I don’t really know what to say. He has seen me at my weakest. Not something I want anyone seeing.

Chapter 0212

“Hey, don't do that. You are not weak.”

“Are you a mind reader too?”

“It’s my job to anticipate what the Luna Queen needs, which has me interacting with a lot of different people, including warriors. You all have a look when you feel inadequate in some way.” He gives me a look like when Alpha Lucas is trying to get a point across without giving a direct answer. “I have seen warriors come back looking far worse than you from battle. It is just part of the dynamic here.”

I nod and try to change the subject. “How old is the Royal Pack? Some of the buildings look like they grew out of the mountain.”

We spend the next thirty minutes talking about all the different histories of the Royal Pack that Barty knew of. It was really fascinating. Alpha Reggie’s Great Great Grandfather was the first Alpha King of the Royal Pack. Which doesn’t sound like that long ago, but as wolves we age more slowly than humans, so many Kings, who didn’t die in battle, made it to close to a hundred before they even considered retiring. It sounds like they were all well loved and respected Kings too. Meaning Xander has some big shoes to fill.

“So, since you are so well informed. What is my role exactly? Everyone at the warrior camp seems very confused that I would be invited to protect Prince Xander, but I can’t think of any other reason anyone would want me there.”

“Well, first, it is rare for the Alpha Prince to make friends as fast as he did in your pack. He talked of nothing but the couple of days he spent with you and all of your friends. It was a welcome break from all of the parading around he usually does. Second, you are a gorgeous female that any guy would probably cut his left arm off to have the chance to call his date for the evening. Third, you can handle yourself. These pompous assholes seem to think that because they have been elected as an elder, they are entitled to a piece of the royal family, among other luxuries. Those with daughters

will not appreciate the Alpha Prince having you on his arm all night, and that is where the Prince will keep you. You are a trusted friend, so he might actually enjoy himself. You can help protect him as a warrior, but also as a woman, blocking unwanted advances.”

“Politics sound awful. I’m kind of glad my brother, Cmeron and Dakota have to deal with all of that and not me.” We both laugh. Before I can ask any more we pull up to the castle I saw from a distance on the hospital drive and my jaw hits the floor.

The castle is a whitewashed looking stone that extends from the side of the mountain. Another structure that looks as if it just grew out of the side of the mountain. The circular drive pulls up to a set of double doors made of thick dark wood with black metal accents and handles. This seems to be a theme on all of the older buildings I have seen on the territory. There is nothing else but the entrance doors on this lever of the castle.

Above that is a balcony with a stone railing, maybe for greeting guests who are really important. The wall of glass behind the balcony is either tinted to not be able to see in or the glare is just to strong for me to see anything in the morning light. From here the castle extends left and right with many windows and doors attached to various outdoor stone staircases. Going up there are at least five levels, but its kind of hard to count since they stagger upward toward the sky, several ending in tall turrets and towers.

“This way Miss Skylar, I will let the Alpha Prince give you the grand tour.” He smiles at me from a bent position at the door of the car. I didn’t even realize I had stopped midway of getting out.

"Wait, Xander is here? I thought he was at training."

"He, like you, has to fufill other responsibilities. So he is missing training too."

 

Chapter 0213

Hey Guys!

Sorry I disappeared. This summer has been crazy as I’m sure it is for most parents. I coach 2 sports and both my kids play sports (that I don’t coach). Just when I thought I was catching up I caught the worst case of the Rona I have ever had. I have been down with a blinding migraine for a week.

I don’t know how many of you have experienced full on symptoms, but I never had this was ridiculous and mad respect goes out to people who have had this over and over again.

I can actually look at a computer screen now, so give me a couple days to catch up and edit the next chapter. I should have something up by the end of the week.

As Always, Thank you so much for your support and your feedback.

Chapter 0214

We walk inside to a grand entrance and I am immediately wrapped in a hug. I can’t see anything around the soft material covering my whole head, burying my face in a chest.

“You have no idea how good it is to see you. I thought we were all going to go crazy not being able to check in or see you at all this summer.”

Xander releases me from the stranglehold he has on me and holds me out at arms distance, giving me a once over clearly checking for lasting damage.

“Xander, I'm okay.” I pat his arm awkwardly, his tight grip on my shoulders making it difficult to do anything. “I promise Doc Sylvia and Doc Ganon patched me up and cleared me for training.”

He doesn’t say anything, he just grabs my hand and drags me off without a word to anyone around us. I guess he’s my tour guide now. We traipse through the main halfway that could easily fit hundreds of people, like a banquet hall. But got no better look at it before he had me flying up the grand set of stairs to the balcony overlook. Just when I thought he was going to stop and show me something exciting he turned another corner and started down a hallway that was dimmer than the entryway. We flew past doors and I thanked the Goddess for my endurance, no mere mortal would have been able to keep up with his pace.

“Where are we going, Xander? Are you trying to rip my arm off?” I went for a joke to see if I could get him to respond. Nothing.

We just kept moving. Like he was trying to get away from someone, he dodged in and out of hallways and doorways, up stairways and every other kind of ‘ways’ you could think of in the humongous maze.

We finally came to a stop in a little alcove in who knows what part of the castle. Then he spins me around and grabs my shoulders again.

“Who hurt you, Skylar? We want to know, now!” He looked a little deranged at the moment.

“Excuse you!” I shrugged him off. “Who is ‘we?’ And what makes you think I will answer to a demand like that? No friend asks a question like that. You have been hanging around Cameron, Dakota and Oliver a little too long, I think.” I’m angry now. I was so excited to see my friend and the first thing he thought to ask me is who attacked me over a month ago, he’s just as bad as the guys.

I shake out of his grasp and turn to the window, wrapping my arms around myself to stifle the chill that just ran through me. It felt like the same wall of separation that was between me and the guys before I left shot up between Xander and I at that moment. I don’t want to do this here. I’m a new me, I’m away from all of that for just a little while. I want to pretend that the whole situation doesn’t exist. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath to calm my nerves and bring back my patience. He has been with the guys this whole time, I’m sure they have asked about me or if he can get any info on me from his parents. I don’t want to be ‘checked-up’ on for my brother and his friends' benefits. I want someone to check in on me because they want to see me.

“Hey, don’t be like that. We have all been terrified and no one would tell us anything, but that you were alive. You have no idea how excited we all were to hear that you were going to be here today. All the guys tried to get a pass, but…well…”

“Your title got you special privileges.” I supplied his answer without looking at him.

He walked over in front of me and just shrugged. “It has its advantages sometimes. I really am glad to see you, though. And I really appreciate you doing this for me. You have no idea what some of these vipers can be like, if they set their fangs they don’t let go the whole night, no matter what I do. Usually my parents can get me away from them, but it takes no time for another to latch on. The Elders have this wild idea about choosing my mate for me, which is ridiculous to even entertain the idea of a chosen mate, let alone someone I don’t even get to choose.” He enunciated the last part.

Chapter 0215

“So I am your arm candy for the evening then?” I ask, trying to lighten the mood and move on from my attack. “Should I be warned of anyone in particular?”

“There are several, but right now we seem to have a lot of available females that are directly related to the Elders, like daughters, nieces and granddaughters.” He rolls his eyes. “Many of them have no type of rank. And before you yell at me about the rank thing.” He holds his hands up in surrender, “I mean, no title, obviously, but also no other skills, like at all. Many of them seem to have been schooled in how to look good standing by me and that’s all. No training physically, politically, or as a humanitarian. They literally want to stand next to me and pose for photos. Manners are a big thing, and I don’t even want to know what that training looks like. But, they aren’t intelligent enough to hold a conversation. So you are here for several reasons.” He has steered us down another hallway as he explains. “You can obviously protect yourself and me discreetly.” He rolls his eyes like this is unnecessary, but I see the appeal immediately. “You can engage with other Alphas and Lunas present, again setting a good example. You can also defend yourself against the almost certain social attack of these handful of women who have been set upon me. And to top it off you are my friend and will greatly increase my personal evening experience rather than just having any warrior with me.”

Before I can respond though, we stop at a door. “This is my mother’s office, she will be anxious to see you too. Thank you for doing this, I mean it, you are a lifesaver.” He leans down and kisses me on the cheek, then knocks on the door.

Before I can say anything, it opens and I am draped in another cloth filled hug.

“Umph!” I giggle a little into Luna Anne’s arms. “It’s good to see you too.” I mumble awkwardly into her very soft jacket.

“Oh, sweet girl, you have no idea how hard it has been to stay away, but Reggie said it would be worse for you if I came in and showed any type of favoritism toward you. This has been torture and Warrior Brogen and Warrior Nickolas won’t say anything about your training either. I don’t know if that is my husband’s doing to force me to separate or if those boys really do take their warrior code that far.” She’s like a tornado walking around the room, waving her hands and talking. I’ve never seen her this animated and it must show on my face. “Oh, stop looking at me like that, I can be myself here. I don’t have to worry about who’s listening or looking. I don’t have to be poised and dutiful like the Elders believe a ‘good queen’ should.” She used air quotes.

“I’m starting to get the feeling this assignment to Xander is going to be way less fun than I anticipated. Xander mentioned me basically cock-blocking some of the potential chosen mates they have lined up for him. I’m about to be a target aren’t I?”

“You’re not far off.” She chuckles. “Come sit, we’ll eat and I will explain a little before we get the fun stuff started.” She pulls me over to a table laid out with a ton of food. Meats, cheeses, fruits and vegetables of every variety were at my fingertips. I could feel my mouth watering at the sight. Well, she at least knew I would be hungry training the way that I did. “How much do you know about the Luna Queen’s role in this whole situation?”

“Not much, really. Like any other Luna, but somehow you have a connection to the Moon Goddess. I don’t think I’ve heard anything else that is unique to being the Luna Queen.”

 

Chapter 0216

“You’re right, I do have a connection to the Moon Goddess.” My eyes went wide.

“Can you just have conversations with her? Or how does that even work? I have so many questions!” I blurted, leaving the bite I was about to take hanging in the air and thinking of all the things I would want to know having that kind of access.

“Hold on , hold on. It’s not that easy.” She giggles at my excitement. “I can talk to her, or rather make requests to talk to her, she’s a bit busy.” Luna Anne winks at me. “But mostly she comes to me with things that I need to know or things that need immediate intervention. She mostly lets us handle ourselves, but occasionally she needs our help. She told me about you actually, it was the reason we chose to visit your pack.”

“Wait, what? What do I have to do with anything?” I was afraid I had done something so bad that I needed to be watched.

“Relax, child, you didn’t do anything wrong, but the people who could help you had their hands tied, and that is all that I am allowed to say about your situation. The Moon Goddess knows you well and has special plans for you. We needed to get you out of your pack before anything else escalated.”

My jaw was on the floor and I’m sure the look on my face was hilarious. I wonder if the Moon Goddess told her about all the things I went through with Kaley. I wonder if she knows who attacked me in the locker room after training?

“Close your mouth, you look like a fish. Don’t be surprised when people take notice of you. You work hard for it. It’s okay to be seen for the amazing things that you do.”

“I don’t know how to respond to that, I literally have no words.” I mumbled at her and she just laughed again.

“So say nothing and just listen. You need to be trained for whatever is coming. ThRogue King is trying his best to take over. He wants total control over all of the territories and our is the biggest in our region, so he’s starting here. There have been smaller attacks going on for a while, and that usually isn’t cause for alarm. Packs have feuds and disputes all the time that lead to fighting before it’s resolved. But many reports that we are getting are of attacks that seem to be unprovoked and upon further inspection is not the work of a neighboring pack, but an outside group. This is what most of our warriors are researching and gathering information on for us when they go outside the territory.”

“What does all of this have to do with me though? I’m only 15, barely old enough to be a warrior let alone make any kind of impact.”

“That’s where you're wrong. You are so much more and you started blooming so early no one knew what to do with you, so the Goddess let you keep yourself hidden until the time was right to reveal your talents. When she thought you were ready, she came to me and we brought the trials to you. You have no idea what kind of impact you had at those trials do you?”

Chapter 0217

| just shook my head, this was so much information and nothing | expected.

“Well, you confirmed what your Alpha and Luna have suspected for a while. You came out, just this tiny little thing, amongst all of these warriors who have probably trained for longer than you have been alive, and took on everyone and won. No contest, no bias, nothing but you and your instinct to survive. Then you did it again with your wolf, who you got so early. That's when Reg and | knew you were special. He has some theories and wants to see you today before you go, but we are done talking about your amazing Trial run, let's get your armor for the battle that is the Elder’s Conference.”

She claps her hands and Omegas come from all over moving trays and rearranging the room.

Soon the big food is gone, replaced with little snacks and three racks of dresses have been set up with a privacy wall for changing, a full length gilded mirror, that looks like it weighs a ton, and a pedestal just like the one in the dress shop Sierra dragged me to with the guys. With that thought my heart squeezes a bit. | wish | could have said goodbye to them all and hugged them, and just gotten that closure instead of being ripped away unconscious.

“What has that look on your face?” Luna Anne asked.

“Um, this just reminds me of my birthday when Sierra dragged me to a dress shop and forced me into anything and everything while my brother and his friends just waited and watched.” | looked down, it was silly when I said it out loud like that. I’m a warrior, | can't be sentimental, that kind of sh*t was what would get me killed. | shook the thought from my head and looked back at her and she was smiling.

“| thought you may want something familiar and a second opinion."

Just then the door burst open and wild brunette hair was flying at me. “I told you that you will never wardrobe shop without me ever again!"

“Sierra!” | squealed. “| am so glad to see you! | got to see Xander too, did he catch you on the way in?"

“Nope, you are the only one special enough to get the Prince to greet you at the door.” She laughs at me. “Now, let's get this party started, shall we? Luna Queen Anne, you have amazing taste, I’m not worried at all, but | hear there are some people we need to impress, so the dress has to be perfect.” She is flailing her arms dramatically as she talks.

And just like that | was swept up in all kinds of material, lengths, cuts, styles of dress you can imagine. | let Sierra and Luna Anne have their way with me and we giggled and laughed the hours away.

We finally settled on this light blue dress, that was so pale it was almost white. The color brought out my eyes and my tan from training outside. It was a silky, flowy material, but not shiny.

The waist was form fitting and accentuated all the curves | was developing from proper food to go along with my heavy training schedule. The top was a sweetheart cut with a deep V cut down the middle to my belly button.

The V all the way up to my clavicle was covered in different sized beads and crystals over a skin toned mesh material. There were little peeks of skin through the beading, but nothing that could be viewed as scandalous or make me uncomfortable.

The beading went up over my shoulders, giving me a sleeveless look, and across the top part of my back where it was attached.

The beading flowed down my sides and along the seam at my low back bringing it all together and leaving the majority of my back bare. There was a slit up the front of my left leg, but hidden within the soft pleats of the fabric, so it could only be seen when | walked. It went all the way to the top of my thigh, which made me a bit nervous, but Sierra assured me was exactly right. We chose thin strappy silver shoes to match and Luna Anne said she would have jewelry and hair and make-up taken care of for me as well.

Chapter 0218

Just as we were getting settled into a late lunch, there was a knock at the door.

“Is everyone decent, before | enter?” Alpha Reggie’s deep baritone voice called out from the crack in the door.

“| already told you we were done and cleaned up dear.

Come on in. Silly man.” She muttered the last part under her breath.

“Hey now, no making fun of the old man. | don't have daughters and | don't know the protocol for entering the room after a clothing session.” His cheeks were a little pink as he said this walking up next to his mate. He was just as cute as Alpha Lucas in dad mode. He kissed her on the top of the head and then looked at me. “| was wondering if | could steal you away for a bit before you go?"

| nodded, what else was | going to do? If the King wants to see you it’s not exactly a request. | wiped my face and thanked Luna Anne. | turned to Sierra and told her | still had to ask about study times at the bunkhouse, but | would let her know Tuesday at school, then followed Alpha Reggie out.

Once the door was closed we took a right and headed down a long hallway, walking in silence for a very long time. We made it to a large set of glass doors that looked over a patio. A couple of Omegas | hadn't even noticed opened the doors for us and we continued outside. This ‘patio’ wasn't just a patio. It was a huge landing that spanned the whole length of this side of the castle. To my left, it extended to the rocky surface of the mountain the castle was built into and to my right it curved around in a large arc, almost disappearing to the front of the castle. Still we kept walking. Alpha Reggie led me to a set of stairs that was so well designed, you wouldn't notice them unless you walked over here to look over the railing. We descended to the lawn that was lush and green

and so well maintained. And still we kept walking. | was getting nervous, he hadn't said anything to me since we left Luna Anne and we have been together for almost ten minutes. | think | could see our destination now though, in front of us is a hedge, similar to what Luna Ava has in her backyard at home. Having a maze in your yard must be an Alpha thing.

My suspicions were confirmed when we headed straight towards it and took a quick right into the large, squared off bushes. Alpha Reggie was tall enough to see over the top of the hedgerow, but my height made that impossible unless | jumped, which was not happening in front of the Alpha King.

“Sorry, for all of the secrecy, but | never really know who is listening. These hedges are grown in a way that the wolfsbane plant is grafted into it so it muffles the sounds of our voices, even for me with the best hearing as the Alpha King. We cannot be overheard here."

“Ah! | thought | was in trouble. That is so cool though, who

thought of grafting the plants together?"

“I'm pretty sure you can guess the crazy genius behind this."

He smiles over at me.

“Doc Ganon and Doc Sylvia are scary sometimes.” | laugh back to him.

“| believe on one of their expeditions they found something similar and brought it back here. It's almost better than the soundproofing we have in the conference rooms and it’s hard to place listening devices here, because the maze is so big and people tend to naturally wander while they talk."

“I'm not gonna lie, I'm still a bit nervous, now that | know you brought me to basically a soundproof, remote location on your grounds. Am | in trouble?”

He chuckles a bit under his breath, “No, child you are notin trouble, but | didn't want anyone listening in on our conversation. | have a few questions for you and then | think | have some answers too.”

Chapter 0219

“Okay, shoot."

“| obviously know your father, he was born in your pack and we have his lineage on record, but what do you know of your mother?"

My heart seized and | stopped walking. | just stood there and stared at him. Of all the wounds to rip open, this is not the one | expected. | could feel the tears pool behind my eyes, but | was not going to cry. | am a warrior, | had to remain in control of my emotions.

“| don't know anything about her actually, | was never allowed to know or to ask.” | took a deep shuddering breath and started moving forward, hoping to move past this and onto another topic. | was not so lucky.

“This has a lot to do with your mother, but the story starts further back. | think it’s time you know where you come from Little One."

| just look at him confused. “I'm just a Beta’s daughter and second born. There really isn’t much more to it than that."

“There’s actually a whole lot more where you are concerned. Do you remember all of the extra testing and blood samples the Docs took from you while you were recovering?” | nodded. “Il had my theories then, just based on all of your natural physical skills and leadership qualities. Everything that | observed during my time at your trials."

“What do you mean ‘my’ trials? Those were for everyone, | had to get permission to participate."

“| needed a reason to test your skills without you knowing what was happening. | wanted your natural reactions to various situations. Osiston, Nickolas and | came up with the trials to be able to

put you in the situations we needed while simultaneously testing other warrior candidates. Side note, now that we have done it that way and seen the quality we got in this round, we will probably continue to run trials like that from now on, so thank you for that.” He winked at me. “I knew Alpha Lucas wasn't exaggerating your skills after the first day, but the second day, in your wolf form, when you took out Xander without even breaking a sweat, | knew you were who | have been looking for for a very, very long time.

Even though he is not a full Alpha King yet, Xander should have been able to hold you off. The only people who can truly best him have Royal Alpha blood. Even Osiston struggles in a match with him. What saves Osiston usually is experience and patience and his royal blood."

“Wait, what are you saying? | don't understand. Are you suggesting | have Royal Alpha blood?"

“lam not suggesting it.” | take a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I’m confirming it.” | choke on the breath | was letting out.

“How is that possible? | have no relations attached to the Royal line.” | ask through my coughs.

“It is completely possible and took me some time to confirm, and | didn't want to give you any false information before, but | have confirmed, without a doubt, that you are my second cousin’s granddaughter. For the ease of my mind though, I’m not doing all the second, third, twice removed crap. You are my niece for all intents and purposes and Xander's cousin."

Chapter 0220

My eyes bug out of my head, and | think | forgot how to breathe. | am only still walking on auto-pilot following Alpha Reggie around the maze.

“That makes Mateo your..."

“Nephew, naturally, but in the Royal bloodline, it's the first born female that is special."

My heart rate has skyrocketed and it feels like my heart is trying to physically leave my chest. Can he actually tell me something about my mom? No one, not even Luna Ava, has ever told me anything about my mom out of fear of my dad's reaction. The only thing | have ever heard is that | look exactly like her and my brother has her hair color too.

Nothing more than that.

“Come here, this may be better digested sitting down." He leads us over to a small ornate concrete bench. Where did this thing even come from? | was so distracted by his information, | stopped observing my surroundings. | couldn't let that be a thing. | mentally shook myself and took a look around as he led me over to sit down.

We seem to have come into the center of the maze with at least six exit points. The hedge size didn't seem to change here, but there were little manicured areas with flowers and shepherds hooks holding small wind chimes, crystals catching the light or other little wind catchers, giving a whimsical fairytale vibe to the place. The concrete benches were set in a circle surrounding the clearing. | could see my six year old self sitting here with Mary having a tea party and giggling the day away. ~ “| thought you might like this place, my mother and my aunt spent a lot of time here.” He smiled at me. “Let me start at the beginning, but jump in with any questions you have. It will help you to understand if you have the whole of our lineage as far back as we can trace it."

| nodded, vibrating with the idea that | was going to hear about my mom and a part of my family | didn’t even know existed. | gasped and sat up straight. "Does Xander know?

That we are cousins, or I'm family, or whatever is going on here?"

“Yes, he knows, so does Anne and Alpha Lucas and Luna Ava. But, no one beyond that knows and | want to keep it that way for a little while. You'll understand why when | finish my story.” He tells me softly watching my face fall. | wanted to run and tell Sierra and we could process the whole thing together, but something in his voice made me understand there is a vital reason for the secrecy, now | just had to be patient enough to hear it.

“Okay, let me hear it. How do | fit into your world?"

He chuckles, takes a deep breath and begins.

“When the Moon Goddess decided our population on earth was getting too vast for her to manage on her own. She chose Alphas to rule areas, the idea was that we were all responsible together for the packs as a whole. She knew with our human half came certain complications and flaws, so she also instilled our Lunas with the ability to communicate with her and to help control the possessive and aggressive natures of the Alpha males. It was a way to have checks and balances. No Alpha King could rule properly without his Goddess given mate and we were all evenly matched so it was less likely for us to go to war with another kingdom.

Over time we evolved and got better for the most part. I can only speak to my line, so this may not be accurate for all, but my great-great grandfather noticed that the first born females had special abilities. Things like the ability to heal injuries while in wolf form. Some had additional strength or speed, even by Royal blooded standards. Others had power over the mind and could control others differently than what an Alpha aura would do. Things like that. He also discovered that every generation alternate between having a pure black or pure white wolf.”