The Alpha King

King Lucien Ashthorne had never believed in fate.

He believed in choices.

A kingdom was built on choices. A king survived because he knew when to compromise, when to fight, and when to destroy an enemy before that enemy became a threat.

Fate was simply a word people used when they were too afraid to admit they had no control.

At least, that was what Lucien had believed.

Until his wolf woke him before dawn.

Lucien opened his eyes.

The room was dark.

For several seconds, he remained still, listening.

Nothing.

No footsteps outside his chamber.

No alarm from the palace guards.

No sound from the courtyard below.

Yet something had awakened him.

A low growl vibrated inside his chest.

Lucien sat up.

"What's wrong?"

His wolf answered from somewhere deep inside him.

Find him.

Lucien's brow furrowed.

"Who?"

Silence.

Then the wolf growled again.

Find him.

Lucien swung his legs from the bed.

He was the Alpha King of Blackfang.

At twenty-eight, he ruled one of the most powerful kingdoms on the continent.

His kingdom was home to thousands of wolves, most of them Alphas and Betas. Blackfang's army was feared beyond its borders, and its territory stretched across mountains rich in iron and silver.

Lucien had inherited the throne young.

His father had died during a border war when Lucien was twenty two.

Six years later, Lucien had transformed Blackfang from a kingdom constantly threatened by its neighbors into one of the strongest powers in Elaris.

He had done it without a mate.

That fact had become a problem.

A king without an heir was considered a weakness.

Especially an Alpha King.

Lucien walked toward the window.

Blackfang Palace rose from a mountain of dark stone. Towers surrounded the central keep, and thousands of lights burned below.

The kingdom was already awake.

Soldiers trained in the courtyard.

Betas carried messages between the administrative halls.

Servants hurried through the palace.

And everywhere, Alphas bowed when Lucien passed.

Not because he demanded it.

Because his presence naturally commanded respect.

Every Alpha possessed an aura, but the strength varied from person to person.

A powerful Alpha could use that aura to intimidate or command weaker wolves.

An Alpha King could do far more.

Lucien's aura was said to be strong enough to make an entire room of Alphas instinctively submit.

But he rarely used it.

He had learned early that fear created obedience.

Respect created loyalty.

He preferred the second.

A knock sounded.

"Enter."

The door opened.

General Darius stepped inside.

Darius was a Beta, something unusual for a man who commanded Blackfang's royal army.

He was tall, broad-shouldered and exceptionally skilled with a sword.

Unlike Alphas, Betas didn't possess a dominant aura.

That didn't make Darius weak.

In fact, Lucien trusted him more than most Alphas in the kingdom.

"My King."

"What is it?"

"The Council is waiting."

Lucien sighed.

"Of course they are."

Darius hesitated.

"They've been waiting for almost an hour."

"Let them wait another."

Darius almost smiled.

"That may cause a diplomatic incident."

"They'll survive."

Lucien walked toward the wardrobe.

"What do they want?"

Darius's expression became serious.

"The same thing they've wanted for the last two years."

"A mate."

"And an heir."

Lucien's jaw tightened.

"Tell them no."

"I already did."

"Good."

Darius followed him toward the door.

"There is something else."

Lucien stopped.

"What?"

"Reports from the southern border."

"Raiders?"

"No."

Darius lowered his voice.

"Moonwood."

Lucien's wolf immediately stirred.

Moonwood.

The reaction was so sudden that Lucien nearly lost his composure.

"What about it?"

"Royal scouts from Valerion have been moving through the area."

Lucien looked at him.

"Why?"

"We don't know."

"Who authorized them?"

"The Alpha Council."

Lucien's eyes narrowed.

"Without informing me?"

Darius nodded.

"Apparently."

Lucien walked past him.

"Take me to the Council."

The Council Chamber was already full when Lucien entered.

Nine Alphas sat around the long black table.

They were representatives from the most influential packs and territories under Blackfang's authority.

At the center sat Lord Merek, the oldest Council member.

He stood.

"My King."

Lucien didn't sit.

"You sent soldiers into Moonwood."

Merek's expression remained calm.

"We sent scouts."

"Without my authorization."

"It was necessary."

Lucien's aura stirred.

The room became noticeably colder.

"Explain."

Merek exchanged a glance with another Council member.

Then he said the words that changed everything.

"The Moon-Chosen may have been found."

Lucien went completely still.

His wolf slammed against his consciousness.

Him.

Lucien's fingers curled.

"Explain."

Merek placed a document on the table.

"Three days ago, Valerion's scouts detected unusual lunar activity near Moonwood."

"Lunar activity?"

"A silver light was seen over the forest."

Lucien stared at the report.

"And?"

"Several hunters were sent to investigate."

"What kind of hunters?"

Merek hesitated.

"Shadow Hunters."

Lucien's eyes hardened.

"Those men aren't under my command."

"No."

"They answer to Varek."

"Yes."

Lucien turned toward Darius.

"How many?"

"At least twenty."

Lucien's voice became dangerously quiet.

"Find them."

Merek stood.

"Your Majesty"

Lucien looked at him.

The Council member stopped speaking.

"You sent armed men into territory near my kingdom without my permission."

"We believed the Moon-Chosen was too dangerous to leave unguarded."

"An eighteen-year-old Omega is dangerous?"

Merek's expression tightened.

"You know the prophecy."

Lucien did.

Everyone did.

For centuries, the prophecy had been passed from one generation to another.

But Lucien had never considered it relevant to him.

Until now.

Merek continued.

"If the Moon-Chosen truly exists, every Alpha kingdom will seek him."

"Then let them."

The Council stared at him.

Lucien leaned forward.

"He is not a weapon."

Merek frowned.

"Perhaps not. But an Omega capable of bringing Alpha Kings to their knees cannot simply be ignored."

Lucien's wolf growled.

Mine.

Lucien closed his eyes for half a second.

The word disturbed him.

Not because he didn't understand it.

Because he did.

A wolf did not use the word mine casually.

It used it for a mate.

A true mate bond was rare.

Among wolves, mates were believed to be chosen by the Moon Goddess.

When two compatible wolves met, their instincts could recognize one another through scent, touch, and the response of their wolves.

The bond could be powerful.

But it did not automatically mean marriage.

And it certainly did not mean ownership.

At least, that was what the ancient Moon laws stated.

Unfortunately, many kingdoms had twisted those laws over generations.

In Blackfang, a mating bond required consent.

Lucien had always supported that law.

He had never expected to be tested by it.

Merek looked at him.

"My King?"

Lucien straightened.

"Increase patrols around our borders."

"Should we capture the Omega if we find him?"

"No."

Merek looked surprised.

Lucien's voice was firm.

"If the Moon-Chosen is found, he is to be brought here safely."

"As your Omega?"

Lucien's eyes flashed.

"No."

The room went silent.

"Then why?"

Lucien didn't have an answer.

Because his wolf was screaming inside him.

Because something deep beneath his ribs was pulling him toward the forest.

Because every instinct told him someone was waiting.

Someone he had never met.

Someone he already felt he needed to protect.

He simply said:

"Because he is a person."

That evening, Lucien stood alone on the palace balcony.

The wind moved through his black hair.

Below him, the kingdom stretched toward the horizon.

He should have been thinking about trade agreements.

Or the northern border.

Or the Council.

Instead, he could think only about the strange scent that had haunted his senses since dawn.

Moonflowers.

Wild honey.

Fresh rain.

He had never smelled anything like it.

His wolf paced restlessly.

He's close.

Lucien closed his eyes.

"How close?"

No answer.

Then the scent came again.

Faint.

Almost impossible to detect.

But unmistakable.

Lucien opened his eyes.

His wolf surged forward.

Moonwood.

Lucien's heart began pounding.

He turned toward the stable.

"Prepare my horse."

A guard bowed.

"Where are you going, Your Majesty?"

"Moonwood."

The guard froze.

"Tonight?"

Lucien looked toward the dark forest in the distance.

"Tonight."

Deep within Moonwood Forest, Kael woke suddenly.

His breathing was uneven.

His wolf was awake.

Alert.

Restless.

He sat up in bed.

The scent was back.

Cedar.

Smoke.

Winter rain.

Stronger this time.

Kael pressed his hand over his chest.

His heartbeat was racing.

"What are you doing to me?"

His wolf answered.

Mate.

Kael shook his head.

"No."

The Moon Seal beneath his collarbone began glowing.

He pulled his shirt aside.

Silver light spread across his skin.

Outside his window, something moved.

Kael immediately reached for the knife beneath his pillow.

"Who's there?"

Nothing.

Then came a sound.

A howl.

Deep.

Powerful.

Unlike anything Kael had heard before.

His wolf stood inside him.

And instead of fear, Kael felt something far more dangerous.

Recognition.

His breath caught.

Far away, somewhere beyond the trees, another wolf howled in response.

Kael stared into the darkness.

He didn't know the name of the Alpha coming for him.

He didn't know that Alpha was a king.

He didn't know that their meeting would change two kingdoms.

He only knew one thing.

For the first time in eighteen years

the Moon was calling him toward someone.