The Dragon's Grace

Grace

I could hear the thoughts of the Omega Delivery employee as he scrambled to his work van. They can’t shift, so Alphas send them across borders… Alpha Ron had sent him with this year’s peace agreement, and all was in order, but what wasn’t, was how he thought of me as a freak of nature…

I mean he wasn’t Wrong, and I’d be lying if I said it ‘hurt’ my feelings… After all, the Horned One, The King of Hell is my literal grandfather, and I held horns on my head to prove it.

I’d been careless and forgot to put them away this morning… but to be fair to myself, I was still in my pajamas.

I watched the sunrise with coffee in hand, standing in front of my Gamma office window.

It was my last night here after all.

My uncle was taking me to train with him if I could prove I was ready. As a Warrior, I would have it no other way. As only the wolf, my desire showed itself for the first time this morning… Regardless of how well the Harvest Fest did, or how many came, that I didn’t get My one signaled that I was going about this the wrong way, as traditional as it may be.

Last night was a large success, being one of the biggest fests we’d ever thrown with the best visitor turnout yet…. It was to venerate and send prayers to the Pale Lady, my grandmother, the Moon Goddess….

In her divine light she shined on all, but she did not pick favorites…. She chose who got a mate and When… and this year was not the time yet… nor for the past 52 years since I turned 18, the age I should have found him. It was the age I still looked, being immortal.

I can’t lie, I don’t feel the connection other wolves do, so I did have fun last night. There were games, rented rides, and a petting zoo before the bonfire ceremony of throwing prayers into it, though now the only thing left of it was a bit of trash and tire marks in the field just past the shopping district.

The Warriors laughed and helped with high spirits, though I looked on. I’d have to open my office soon for my likely temporary replacement, but I’d change out of my pajamas when the time came.

Most people think that being Gamma is the easiest of the executive pack ranks, however, it is stressful. I am the liaison between not only the Omega Delivery Service, the Warriors, both pack patrol and border, but I also deal with Delta in ways that my brothers do not, being Alpha and Beta.

Deltas deal with finances, and it’s my job to assist in anything that he can’t finish. Be it keeping up with taxes, payroll, billing and payment for pack services falls on us. We are the ones who pay the Warriors. I am the one who helps organize the pack’s budget….Tyson and Kaizen train, discipline, and protect all within our borders. I am also the one who pays the packhouse invoices, organizing upkeep and repair as well.

Beta Kaizen is Tyson’s main physical support, and I am the one who typically is last to deploy. If I was honest, I was Never deployed. I was smaller than those two by a few pounds. There was enough of a difference that they had to be careful when sparring with me, even though I trained and they didn’t.

What wasn’t expected however…. was unexpectedly feeling alone this morning… It was almost as if deciding to leave was the catalyst for it…

It made me feel stagnant here.

I’d lived my entire life as part of a set. A triplet. My entire adult life has been This position. Gamma of a pack…. Sister to Tyson, the Standing King, the Crown Prince, with Kaizen holding the position of Third Council Seat Heir… But I held no royal position, being born a wolf made and blessed by the Horned One, my grandfather… holding ram’s horns, something only we three and father had…. One would think that I would have a mate, or at least a mark mate. One would think that since I was so successful being one of only two known female Gammas, that I wouldn’t feel somewhat empty here.

Yet as I looked down at the Warriors, I was almost jealous. They had their mates, helping each other take down the rented rides with the mobile carnival attendants ….

It made me glad that my Uncle was coming over… he too was a king. In our world, the different races of supernatural creatures were ruled by their king. Each supernatural king or queen had their own councils, cultures, and laws. However, He ruled over us All. His magical ability and physical prowess was Not matched. He held the title of the All King, being a full god who didn’t make any real attempt to hide it other than keeping humans ignorant.

Unlike any other mate circumstance ever documented, he had to wait for Harmony, my favorite relative, to be born. He slept at least ten thousand years for the promise of having her…. It was for his actions to be fair. The Moon Goddess, his mother, was held captive for only the Horned One knows how long. But in that imprisonment, war raged… our world was destroyed to the point to where all life, every tree, every animal, is a third or fourth attempt by the gods to let life be on this world.

However, Uncle Xaxas was a laid back, carefree man now. He ruled that humans remain ignorant, maintaining a treaty the original, sleeping Wolf king signed with the Church of the Light in 1605 and 1607 with all the other races since uncle slept. The only way they stopped him was a promise of a mate. He agreed, and woke up back in my mid 20’s or so. He sparred with us, me especially, since we were in our late 20’s, though my brothers didn’t maintain their practice like I did.

I would ask him to let me train there until I figured out my next move… Being part of a set got me nowhere… It was time to be my own wolf. My phone buzzed, and I walked to the table to check if it was important.

My uncle texted that he’d be here in 15 minutes as if on cue. It was like him to come so abruptly, but I didn’t mind.

I figured I may as well get ready.

Training with Uncle Xaxas was going to be the highlight of the day. He was the only person besides father or my brothers that I truly test my limits. He ruled earth, the Horned One Tartaron, and Haven was ruled by Arviel, the Lord of Light.

My father ruled himself. He chose to forsake his fourth of Hell for my mother..., so did both my 2 uncles… a love so great I couldn’t imagine…. And just the thought of it made me feel lonelier if only for a brief moment.

I could swear it was almost as if Xaxas knew I was upset in here….

He probably did to be fair.

I untangled and braided my hair while I was in there. It went to my hips being bone straight, but I got it done. I got out and brushed my teeth too. Like my father’s side, my fangs were always out. It was something I couldn’t help, but I could at least hide the horns, something strange and stigmatized in the supernatural community…

Not many creatures had them… but those with ram’s horns were of the Horned One, and not to be trusted…. I took a dry hand towel and buffed them a little bit before dismissing them. They turn into hair that they be hidden in plain sight. I may not get that reaction with pack or family, but I still didn’t like people staring at them.

Today was an old clean, but dirty looking white t shirt and my ripped up jeans. I’d already destroyed these and they were ready for the trash. That’s what made them perfect for training in the first place.

“Get your ass down here!” Yelled my uncle excitedly. The whoosh of his teleportation magic shook the house.

Magic was as natural to him as breathing. I never tried it…. But I’d ask him to teach me. Though before I could, I noticed that he was in just a plain blue shirt and sweatpants. I also didn’t see Harmony, my favorite relative to be honest besides him. I stood there at the top of the stairs a moment, and smiled wide.

He only brought himself, which was a little strange, but it meant he was going to seriously train today. Regardless I ran down the stairs to give my favorite uncle a hug. The Warriors downstairs kneeled to him, yet he was likely the most casual man they’d ever meet.

With a title of Tyrant king, with a flaming crown that floated between grand ram’s horns, and his passive, natural aura of power, one would think that he was some stern, serious man of stoic mystery. In reality, he was just a huge clown.

My brothers also came from their floors to greet him, looking identical down to the same white t-shirts and ripped jeans too. They looked so much alike that the only way others could tell them apart was scent. Thankfully I knew at a glance, as did Xaxas. Their expressions were different, with Tyson being less relaxed. They also wore their hair differently, but no one ever noticed that either. Tyson almost always held a manbun, while Kaizen preferred the traditional Warrior’s braid.

“You look ready. Morning Grace.” He said teleporting outside. “Hurry up so I can kick your ass!” He shouted.

“Not if I kick yours first!” I shouted back.

“Grace wait!” Said Tyson, but I was already gone. The very first thing I did was summon my horns to headbutt him. Our horns clashed, sounding like billiard balls…. I was completely comfortable with close family after all… they were the only ones I could do that with.

“So that’s how you want to play today? Dirty.” Xaxas tisked falsely as if he were ashamed. “And I came ALL this way just to bring Love.” He lied.

“How is it playing dirty?! Headbutts aren’t cheating.” I protested. “Your horns are literally double mine.”

The sound of the cracks echoed off the brick, and I know it could be likely heard by the pack in the shopping district, but I didn’t care. We interlaced our fingers for a pushing match, and I couldn’t get him to budge.

“Now you’re assaulting me…” He said as if he were hurt. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were trying to challenge me for real today.” He said with a grin.

“Oh I challenge stink-butt.” I growled. “If I land a hit, I want you to teach me magic,” I said seeing my brothers get lawn chairs. Warriors also came out, and they already started placing bets before he even accepted.

“One hit, and I’ll train you up for the annual MMA tournament.” He said with a smirk. “But to be honest, I’ll have to arrange a spot in the finals for you. We don’t need accidental deaths.” Xaxas said as if he were thinking out loud.

…I mean he wasn’t Wrong… My mother may be a titled old one, an unkillable, but beatable mortal force… but my father is a full god, the God of Retribution and Justice….

“Oh?” He had my interest. The Warriors that increasingly joined also perked up. There had to be at least a hundred curious officers out here. Wolves that I’d already bested, and people that supported me already.

“It’s a private tournament about 8 hours from here. You’re paired up at random until you fight last year’s winner. Anyone can join, though most don’t since the Champion holds the title of ‘The Fallen One.” He said wiggling his fingers as if he were talking about the boogeyman. “He’s been undefeated since he first entered.”

Titles were only held by royal blooded individuals or old lines from the time period Xaxas ruled before he got his mate. Those titles indicated that they had a special ability. My title of ‘Charred One’ signifies my fiery, ash causing bite, but I had no idea what his title meant. Mine was literal, but his was almost elusive…. Meaning that ‘the Fallen One’ would be a worthy challenge…

“Deal. I was going to ask you to train me anyway.” I said taking a small jump back. “And magic too.”

“I won’t go easy on you.” He said picking up a stray stick. It was long, and he held it like a longsword. “I won’t use any magic, or powers. Come at me.”

I also picked up a stick. I held mine like one would a staff since it was longer. He was the third strongest being in existence, holding the seat of 3 in the pantheon, while my father is 4…. I could probably have every magical weapon known and still not land the tap on him.

But I would Try. He came over here to see me…. And this was his way of trying to cheer me up.