Second Son

“Torin, you don’t have a choice. You will be accompanying me to the ball, we need to get this sorted out and your brother needs to stay here to watch over the kingdom! You are a prince, you must start acting like one.” King Aeginar shouted across the throne room at his son. Torin rolled his eyes.

“Why? It’s not like I am needed. I am simply a second son, useless to you accept for politics. You have your Heir. Let me be.” Torin spat back. This was not a new argument. The king thought his son was wasting his years. He had turned down three potential brides from powerful Fae families already. His father wanted him to marry for advantage, to strengthen the family lines. He just wanted to be left alone. He dated quite a few women, each one chosen to make his father angry. Torin had built quite the reputation for himself. The playboy Fae prince, and his father hated it.

“Fae are going missing. We need to find out if it’s those wolves. If not for me, do it for our people. Either way you are going.” King Aeginar stood and walked out letting the throne room doors slam behind him. Torin swore and stormed out. He went to the fencing court to blow off some steam. By the time he was done there were quite a few ladies watching on the sidelines. Grinning he winked at them and they started to giggle. He knew he was good looking. He was tall with wavy sand blonde hair that fell over his eyes. He liked it unkempt mainly since it was one more thing to piss off his father. His crystal blue eyes were piercing, he knew the ladies loved them.

“Brother stop flirting with the girls. Spar with me.” Torin sighed and closed his eyes. Of course his father would get his brother to come out.

“Thuldruil.” Torin saluted him with his sword and took off his shirt tossing it to the side. The girls all giggled again whispering. Thuldruil shook his head and held his own sword up.

“To what do I owe this pleasure brother. Aren’t you busy learning to rule the kingdom or some such?” Torin swung in low Thuldruil blocked and spun to the side, bringing his sword up, slashing at his head.

“What, a man can’t have a friendly spar with his younger brother?” They exchanged a few more blows deftly blocking each one.

“I know father sent you.” Torin looked pointedly at him, he smirked back at him.

“Ah yes, but I didn’t think you would be so stupid to pass this ball up.” Thuldruil raised his eyebrow.

“Why would I want to go to some werewolf ball?” Torin asked parrying and sidestepping letting Thuldruil’s blade slice right past him.

“What better way to anger father than to flirt with wolves. Everyone knows you are a shameless flirt, and good looking. I am sure the wolves will throw themselves at you. Father wants you to make a marriage to a noble fae house.” Thuldruil shrugged, as if it was plain as could be. Torin thought about it for a minute, unfortunately his brother was right. His father would be livid watching him flirt with wolves. Torin grinned and spun striking out to the left, he knew Thuldruil always favoured the right. He stopped the blade right above his heart. He nodded in defeat holding his sword to the side.

“Match. I think you are right brother. A fresh group of ladies is exactly what I need. Do tell father that I will go, but only because you begged it of me, and after such grovelling I couldn’t handle it anymore and caved.” Torin blew a kiss at his spectators and sauntered off towards his rooms to shower and pack.

The next day Torin found himself atop his favourite horse waiting for the rest of the party to get ready. The portal to the human realm was a two days ride from their capital and then another full days travel from the portal to the Scotland Pack Castle. Torin couldn’t help but feel a bit curious and excited. He had never been allowed on the other side before and he had only met a small handful of werewolves who had come across to their side either by accident or for more diplomatic reasons. Torin was over 100 years old, he was due for some adventure. Last night he had a maid sit on his lap during dinner to feed him. Father was already angry with him and that only made the trip more exciting.

“Torin, try to behave at least a little bit will you?” Thuldruil’s voice cut through his thoughts and he grinned down at his brother who stood by his horse.

“Thuldruil, you have no faith in me. I will be on my utmost best behaviour. When father isn’t watching.” Torin chuckled as he watched his brother rub his temples.

“I mean it. We have lost six Fae in the last three months. They were on patrol and then they were gone. We need to know if the wolves are taking them. If they are, we need to find out why. They believe we are going in part because of the boundary dispute, as well as his formal introduction to his Heir. Perhaps you could try to get close to her. See what she knows. Just don’t do anything stupid.” Thuldruil explained under his breath. Torin looked at his brother with a more serious look.

“Six? I didn’t realize we had lost more. Wait did you say her? His heir is a female?” Torin’s grin was back. Well this just made the trip that much more interesting. He didn’t realize that they would be going to formally meet a woman. “I thought they passed these things down to men? The whole big bad Alpha thing?”

“This is his granddaughter, she’s a twin from a strong Alpha line. They have declared she will be taking over as Luna once she finds her mate to become the Alpha. You get the girl and the title I guess.” Thuldruil shrugged and raised his eyebrow at his brother. “I know that look. I said get close to her, don’t sleep with her.”

“What better way to get close to someone than to sleep with them though?” Torin winked. His brother was about to respond when a large commotion at the front of the party caused them both to look forward. The king was finally ready.

“Alright! Let’s move out!” The king announced. Thuldruil shot one last warning glance at his brother as Torin heeled his mount to start moving with the rest of the party.

“Don’t fret brother, I’ll try my best to behave.” Torin saluted him and chuckled to himself. This could prove to be a rather interesting weekend after all. He wondered what she looked like. He found it curious that they would wait for her to find her mate to pass the pack down. Would they have her choose a mate if she didn’t find her True Mate? Also why was he suddenly thinking so much about her having a mate, and why did it make him feel restless. Probably because if she finds her mate at this ball, it would be a lot harder for him to get close to her. Yes that must be it.

Torin sat thinking about different strategies he could use to try and woo her into spending time with him without looking suspicious. Or having her actually develop feelings. He was very good at keeping feelings out of his flirtations. Little did everybody know, he has never actually slept with any of his conquests. He was simply trying to anger his father. In truth he was hoping to find his own Goddess given Fated Mate. He would settle for no less. He has seen the difference between chosen and Fated. The love from a true bond seemed so much more than a chosen one. Look at his brother. He could barely stand his wife, they had been arranged since birth to keep the Fae royal lines strong. They hardly knew one another. Torin wanted what his father and his mother had. They were lucky enough to have found one another before father took the throne. The love they shared was legendary throughout the Fae world. Torin remembered the laughter, her sweet smiles, his father’s look when she walked into the room. The way his eyes lit up at the mere thought of her.

That’s what he wanted. However being 100 meant he got a little lonely from time to time, so he started to flirt. After his mother died, his father became agitated at everything. He wanted Torin to grow up and find a wife for the realm. By the second offer Torin had started to get a reputation simply to keep the noble ladies at bay. Who would want to marry such a playboy. He just hoped his Fated mate would see past his reputation and not go screaming for the hills.