05 - To Worship the Dowager

Alpha Kai’s POV

There’s always been this looming darkness in me. Something indescribable and dangerous.

This made me feared, my ability to be brutal and cruel to core.

“Alpha, we’ve captured them all!”

It was my Beta Abramo, informing me. We had left for another territory, to meet our other warriors who we sent out.

“Very well!” I mouthed off, with a smile. Following my Beta to the sight of the tied slaves, and the new territory in our possession. It meant our land had just expanded, by claiming theirs.

“Good job, everyone!”

I announced, to the Valmore pack warriors, who hailed and jeered in support.

“It’s our pleasure, Alpha Kai!!!”

The warriors bowed down at me, submitting. I waved my hands at them, bringing it to the middle of my chest, just as it was done in our tribe.

"I curse your clan!" someone suddenly gasped, from the captured slaves. It was a woman, with a fuming expression of withheld anger.

"Your descendants would kill themselves, for what you did to us! Your Kingdom would be burnt to the grounds!! You will kill your children with your own hands!!!"

Bringing my silver sword out, my beast sped towards the woman, beheading her immediately.

As he head rolled to the floor, the rest of the slaves gasped, in terror, shaking on their spots.

"The could curse, yet, their men raped our female wolves. Abducted our children, stole our horses." I seethed to my warriors.

"They deserve a life of misery!" My Beta Abramo supported.

Nothing made me happier than being looked up to. Even if I bore a secret they didn’t know of. Something more darker and bruising…

"Exactly!!!" Our warriors exclaimed saying.

“Prepare your horses, fellow Valmore pack warriors! We would set to our main territory now!”

I proclaimed, moving to get mine, returning my sword back to its sheath.

The Valmorean pack warriors made use of horses, not to wear off our wolves by shifting. Shifting was only for battles.

They immediately did as I said, preparing the captured slaves.

“Dowager mother would be so pleased to know this,”

Abramo, my Beta remarked.

I got on my horse, and he did too, riding just my side.

“There is still lots to do. We are going to be the mightiest empire, just watch.” I seethed.

“Yah!” I whip the horse, riding faster, while he kept up to my pace.

Abramo was a natural wit, as me. Knowledgeable and skillful, he barely made mistakes. With a dark hair, which was trimmed in spikes, his face was locked in a frown most times.

This twinge of white in his eyes, which rumors said it was because he was related to the Seekers (a tribe of Oracles).

But I chose not to hear from that, obsessed with the idea of him being my Beta.

“Lock up the new slaves, till the distributions.”

I seethed an order, as we arrived Valmore’s territory. Signaling to Abramo, who knew what to do, as we came down from the horses.

Quickly, I went inside to pay my homage to the woman responsible for my power. Leaving my guards outside to wait, as usual.

“Mother!” I called out, walking into her room, which was decorated as a noble mother’s would— flamboyant and powerful. Bearing the paintings, of she, with her late husband, the ex-Alpha of Valmore.

“My lion, you’re back.” Dowager mother responded, standing up to receive me.

“As seen, I am. Captured the Vipers as you asked, without a scratch.” I stated in pride, while she laughed out, reaching for me.

“You make me proud every day, mia.” she said. “Keep up with this and I’ll gift you something higher.”

At her words, I respectfully looked down, once more. This was the only woman I bowed to, after I came into power as Alpha.

A reason, there was, for it…

“Thanks, for your faith in me. I won’t let you down.” I breathed out.

As I made those words, I recalled the last time I said something similar. Flashbacks of red curls, sprung into my head instantly.

Katara.

“Did you meet my mate yet?” I echoed out my thoughts, asking her.

“Mhm, the reports were right, I see. You brought your Luna home, my lion.” she answered.

“Finally.” she added, while I looked at her with wandering eyes. “Your gifted half, by your side.”

“Burnt down an entire pack for her." I confessed with a mischievous glint. "Her father is an asshole."

“Hm, I see…” Dowager mother replied. “What pack is she from?”

“Artic wolves.” I responded.

“Led by the wanton Alpha Alaric?” she arched a brow asking.

“Not anymore. I killed the Alpha off."

“Proud of you, my lion." she smiled, saying.

"Heard the female wolves do the kitchen and breeding, maltreated… anyway, forget about that, my Kai.”

“How’s your mate? Coming from there, she definitely thinks low of herself. Did you tell her, how things are run here?”

“She has no idea. Still like a newborn to it. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure to enlighten her.” I mentioned, almost immediately.

I’m not a good man. I’m one with a brutal wolf, a demonical darkness.

As I thought of these, the Dowager kissed my forehead. Looking at me with her warrior eyes, which had seen lots of battles in the past.

“Rumors say she was treated badly by her clan, which is rare for an Alpha’s daughter. Still intend to find out why but she won’t trust me…” I trailed weakly.

“I want the best for her, but she won’t open up.” I added.

Right from the jungle, I sensed that she was hiding something. Listening to the conversation she had made about not deserving a happy ending, made me want to hug her.

Tell her sweetly, that it would be okay. That she would have it, if she put her faith in me. That I had looked for her all my life, and now that I found her, I won’t let her go.

“She was definitely broken from birth.” she replied sadly. “The poor thing fragmented by that narcissist Alaric.”

I placed my hand on my forehead, imagining the humiliation and suffering she had gone through. And, still choosing to protect her pack, that day…

A pack that scorned her.

That was rare. So much unusual.

“What do I do?” I voiced out.

“No worries, my Kai. Just be a good companion to her. I will help her become a powerful Luna.”