Chapter 2 Lunareth's Choice

Kaelen

Leoric's coronation invitation had arrived this morning, hand-delivered by one of Father's pack messengers.

He had simply held out the envelope and waited for Althea to take it and said that every member of the pack was required to attend Leoric's coronation.

“I'm not going” I huffed immediately Althea shut the door. She didn't react.

Simply laid out the invitation and walked over to me by the desk.

“Don't convince me otherwise” I shunned as she reached to touch me.

I watched her face drop with utter disappointment and she recoiled back her hand.

I hated that I put that look on her face, but I hated the reason even more. Althea had been nothing but a fabulous partner for the last four years.

Despite coming from a pure-blooded lineage, she accepted my alliance, never gave me a reason to cuss my fate. On our wedding night when I told her about my wolfless and cursed nature.

I had expected her to throw a fit, but she handled it with grace, promising to be the best partner irrespective.

And she had never been anything less, staying up to wait for my return whenever the rival pack laid ambushes at night, attending to my wound even when I said it was okay because I healed quickly. Althea still insists on doing it.

And on the nights when my bad fate gnawed at me, she was always there to talk me through them.

“Is no problem. Kael” her voice hummed. “But refusing a direct pack order is not a small thing. You should know better as the Commander.”

“I don't care”

I grunted and walked back to the room.

She followed me almost immediately, standing at a safe distance. “We go and congratulate Leoric as the leader of the troops. We show respect to the office then we come back home.”

“Easier that it seems”

“Yeah. I know, but I'm sure your father wouldn't notice if you slip out early from the ceremony but he will notice if we failed to appear tonight.”

I went quiet, and she took it as the perfect opportunity to get close. I felt her hand around my back.

Then,

“Please. Just tonight”

Now in this Running Court, regret slipped into my resolve. Tonight Leoric was finally receiving all that I never held.

A wolf.

A pack.

A future.

I'm happy for him of course, because the last thirty six years has taught me to live without the three.

And since the last four years my father never invited us for any important gatherings, the only appearance I ever made at the Brannock’s Estate was as a Commander.

And even now when we do, he cares less for us as his family.

Every second was suffocating until I caught a breathtaking scent. It made my mouth water and I could feel something inside me pacing, excited.

I shook myself back to my senses and stood. Althea noticed my unease and stopped me when I tried to leave.

“Leoric already found his mate. Wait a little bit longer” she coaxed.

Against my better judgment, I sat back.

The pacing inside me didn't stop, it went on to pushing against me with a desperation I'd never felt before. I wanted to turn around, and when I did.

Nothing.

I kept trying to build my attention towards the center of the ring but it broke loose when Morwen the little thrall girl from my family's household dropped the jar she was holding and passed me. Screaming.

“Stop this nonsense.”

Her scent swept around me. Peonies, spring rain and something warmer like Cherry blossom.

Every rational part of me knew going after her was wrong but I stood and reached out instinctively. My hands closed around her wrist even before I realized I had moved.

Hot sweat surged through my palm and raced up my arm. Morwen sucked in a breath and turned and that was when I saw the reflection of my glowing eyes through her.

“Let me go”

Her eyes flashed with fury.

The constricting pain in my chest felt like a generous description of what I felt.

“You don't get to decide that.” My voice came out softer than I intended.

The urge to pull her into me rang like a war horn, but I forced that thought hard enough that pressure formed behind my eyes

Behind me, I heard Mother Isode say my name, followed by another voice that belonged to Althea asking if everything was alright.

As I turned my attention, Morwen used that opportunity to slip off my grasp.

“I won't let you choose her”

She charged toward the new couple, her attention fixed on Leoric's mate.

I heard footsteps, and it was Althea running to my side. “Kael. Are you alright?”

I nodded but recoiled away even before I knew it, her perfume had always been familiar and pleasant. But right now my body was treating it like an intrusion.

Morwen smelled better. Infinitely better.

As the argument between the two escalated, every eye turned on me. I was the commander. Security and order were my responsibility but I was doing nothing.

I excused myself from Althea and continued out but my body had other plans.

The pacing inside me had stopped but got replaced with something like disappointment mixed with anger. Its attention kept jerking towards the center.

By the time I made it through the running square and down the front valley of the Thorne's Estate to the orchard, my hands were shaking hard enough that I had to curl them into a fist.

The cool evening air hit my face but it did nothing to settle the panic clawing through my chest. This wasn't happening.

Morwen!

I thought I buried those feelings all through the years, especially when I started noticing she only had eyes for my little half-brother Leoric.

It couldn't be.

The moon Goddess can't play such games on me.

No.

I refuse to finish that thought.

“Mate. Go to her”

A voice stretched vividly in my hearing.

“Shut up” I snapped looking around for the owner of the voice. “We are no mates. I'm married to Althea.”

“Morwen is mate”

The voice pressed harder, fighting to take over my thoughts completely.

I gripped a nearby tree tightly, bending over and letting out a growl I never knew was there.

Sadly, fighting against an unseen rival was the worst pain I've felt in my entire life. I tried recollecting my resolve and sense of judgement but the force pressed on and overcame me.

I fell to my knees powerless and the need to return to Morwen coiled seamlessly through my muscles. It was no longer emotional.

My chest tightened and my hearing and sense of smell sharpened.

I stood quickly,

I could sense Morwen being dragged away by the Alpha's order. She was being scorned and I didn't like that. I began running back to the square.

This time not because I was being compelled to but because Leoric had publicly destroyed what remain of her dignity and I'm now left with two choices.

Either I remain silent and let the palace destroy her or I step into the middle of the ceremony and stop this madness.

Unfortunately I chose the latter.

Within moments, I reached the center and cornered the gamma wolves dragging her away.

My throat burned and I instantly lunged forward, attacking without warning, taking her into my arm. The closer I pulled her in, the more settled I felt.

The pressure in my chest eased. And I heard that voice again. “Mate!”

My body moved before my mind could stop it. I leaned down and claimed her lips.