Pack Judgement

Chapter one

Anabelle Pov

“This lady is unprepared, according to our pack tradition, a lady cannot rule the Kam kingdom,” my Uncle, Aiden Raven, said in a cold, manipulative tone.

Standing before the council and elders, with his hands folded behind his back.

“A lady who cannot control her emotions, nor her father's legacy, would bring an end to the pack as Luna,” Raven's voice echoed through the wall.

Elders centred the wall, their faces carrying the tension of the hall. 

“That's true! We can't be ruled by a young lady,” one elder said with his face carved with tension.

"Our pack would be destroyed if such a thing were to happen." 

I knelt down in the middle of the hall, breathing heavily, my knee feeling the cold of the carved rock. This council has always been the place my late parents gathered, laughed and made decisions. But now it's filled with betrayal and tension.

Everyone in the hall held doubt… doubt carved by Raven.

“A Luna who can't control her emotions would bring danger to our people,” Uncle Raven declared.

My stomach tightened and my throat was dry.

A danger?!

What does that mean?

How would I be a danger to a kingdom I have always adored?

I wanted to scream at him, but I knew how manipulative Uncle Raven was. I cursed myself for breathing in the same atmosphere he was. 

I kept my gaze on each of them, scanning the hall carefully, trying not to shake in the midst of the tension. I'm supposed to be strong, my dad's only daughter. I'm supposed to be the next Luna.

“Why can't I be the pack’s Luna?” I asked, managing to counter my uncle's voice.” My voice ran out, shaky.

Uncle smirked, “is that a question?”

“But I've been destined for the future Luna of this pack, it's my right by birth.”

“I am Anabelle Aiden, the only daughter of late alpha Aiden. No one tried questioning my dad's decisions or actions. But why now?”

“Anabelle no one is questioning your late dad's decisions, but your uncle Raven's opinion is valid, as the beta of Kam kingdom.”

“And as a young lady, being Luna is a terrible decision. You have no control over your emotions nor your father's legacy,” the elders roared out!

“Anabelle you focus more on your artist designer talents, that's what you have control over.”

“Just focus on that. You are just a woman!” Raven said, his tongue out in disdain.

I looked at him in detest, my throat tightened, my wolf form was spiked by his constant manipulations.

It's either the elders have been threatened or manipulated by his word.

“My talent can never affect me being the Luna of this pack, I can control my emotions as well as you guys.” 

“Anabelle, don't question further, it's tradition. In our tradition, we can never be ruled by only a Luna; we need an alpha who stands and makes decisions that enable the growth of our pack.” The elders said.

With their eyes holding much conviction.

Since the birth of your great forefathers, we've been led by a man, Alpha. This is the law, women are to abide by.

“I was born by the Alpha himself. I have the bloodline of an Alpha. But just because I'm a woman, I can't rule?!” I said with a shaky voice.

“That's enough of the argument, Anabelle. I did not train you to question your elders!” Uncle Raven shouted.

I bowed my head in sorrow, my claws piercing the cold stone.

“There's only one way to bring Luna, Anabelle.” Elder Maros said lowly.

“The only way is to break through the cold-hearted Alpha of the fangspire pack.

That's the only way you can be the future Luna.” He declared.

“Alpha Roman is a cold-hearted man, with a strong estimation for women. Two of you are fated mates, betrothed before your birth. Being the Luna of this pack, means you have to get married to your fated mate.” Elder Maros declared.

The pack roared in agreement with that decision, and even my uncle cheered the idea up.

“This is a contract, Anabelle. You have five years to win his heart, to break his stone heart. After five years and you couldn't win his heart, all your father's legacy and kingdom would be taken from you.”

“This is the only way you can get access to his legacy as well as being our Luna.”

Elder Maros concluded.

The elder nodded in agreement.

“Staying with Alpha Roman will give you structure and control over your emotions. And we will have an alpha.” Elder Maros suggested.

My jaw clenched, and I could feel my wolf side burning with anger, the elders my dad once favored had betrayed me.

I lifted my head, but–” elders…”

“Our decision is final. You aren't allowed to counter that!” Uncle Raven cut me off.

The hall was filled with silence, tension at that moment. 

“It's a contract, we're giving you one day to think about it. Once you've made a decision, another meeting will be held tomorrow. Then you would sign the documents."

That's the only way you get your father's legacy.” Elder Maros concluded.

My mouth snapped shut, my body burning from heat, but only his name scared me off. Alpha of Fangspire, I have always heard about that name and how cruel he was to women.

After my parents told me that we are fated mates before they died. I already vowed never to be with him.

I hated him, before seeing him.

My eyes are almost dripping with tears. 

Not here, Anabelle. Not in their presence.

I won't show that I'm weak. I said to myself.

“You've heard them, Anabelle,” Raven murmured. His words meant a venomous whisper to me.

"If you want to protect what is meant for the Aiden family, you have to obey." He said innocently.

Five years of training wasn't going to make me strong.

Five years of exile.

My voice hammered, but I forced myself to be strong.

Kael Roman, allowing anything that isn't war hasn't been heard. Being a woman would even worsen it. 

“Why would he take me?” I asked myself.

Raven smirked, his lips smiling as he had already won. This decision benefited him a lot, sending me to Fangspire would give him power over my father's legacy.

One day to decide felt like years; either I lost my father's legacy, or I lived with the ruthless Alpha of Fangspire.

The fear of making a decision overwhelmed me. Leaving with Alpha Roman was like a trap.

A trap I don't know where it leads to, a trap that would tame me or strengthen me.

One thing I knew was that I needed to melt his cold heart.