Chapter 4: The Alpha King

***Godric

Another day of this shit. Finally, we had made it to the last town after two weeks of courting. Always the same women... bland, basic whores in every pack.

The first few years of Courting Day were thrilling, suggested in fact by the Red Witch. Something new and exciting to fill my days. But now, the girls had caught on and every decent maiden worth considering was mated and wed by the eve of their 23rd birthday. I was now left with whatever leftovers each town had to offer.

I wore my navy suit today, affixed with the High Moon crest. It was tailored to my broad, wide shoulders, and made my way through the village. The townspeople quickly moved out of my way and bowed in respect. Some tried not to stare at the gash under my eye. The battle took place years before. If the beast had been an inch higher, I would have lost my right eye. My dark obsidian eyes... The Goddess gave me these eyes to match my stoic face and furrowed brows. My hair was wild and unkept. I cared little what people thought of me and made no effort to hide my disdain.

The town looked poor... worn and shabby. Buildings were aged and run down, paint fading and stone siding chipped. I didn’t expect much from this place. Just a town that fell at the bottom of my list and needed to cross it off so I could head back home by nightfall.

I instructed half of the warriors to stay in back of the crowd, to watch for any disruptions or upheavals. Courting Day sometimes led to emotional... weakling behavior.  Sometimes a former mate of one of the women or family member. They, of course, would be beaten or imprisoned if they chose to stand in my way.  To test me.

One year, a girl’s father pounced on my Gamma’s back after he escorted my chosen to the car. Without shifting, I lunged at his neck, snaping it easily with my bare hands. I left his body, twitching, on the pack grounds as a reminder who they were fucking with. His empty eyes still calling to the sky.

Now, I wasn’t always this heartless bastard everyone described. My true mate and childhood friend, Luna Roselyn was the love of my life.  I was different with her. A different man. With a different heart. But tragically she died in childbirth, leaving me with the only heir to my throne, Lucas. But my resentment over my mate’s death wouldn’t allow me to get close to my son... anyone for that matter. The boy looked so much like his mother. I loved her and with her death, anything good inside died with her.

I took on lovers over the years but never brought myself to choose another Luna. By then, I had carved my warriors into the most formidable pack known in the territory. We were 10 times stronger than anything my father ever created. I plunged myself into battle after battle. Covered myself in the blood of my foes, hardening any lingering weakness. That was when I met the Red Witch.

The one to whom I would sell my soul.

She was found among a coven, beyond the eight realms. She sniffed out my misery and chittered with excitement. The witch willingly cut her own veins, offering a blood oath. She devoted absolute loyalty, promised ultimate protection, and above all... granted me limitless power. I lapped greedily at the possibilities.

And over the years, she led me into war, disclosing enemy lairs... divulging traitorous secrets. I always had an advantage with dark magic at my side. She was more effective than any Beta I had ever chosen. More beneficial than any rogue spy. 

And my need for power grew. The Counsel of Advisors stopped advising, terrified of any retribution.  If an opposing Alpha questioned my reign, I devoured him.  Plotted the demise of entire towns.  Eliminated entire clans.  

No one questioned me.  No one denied me. Everyone feared me.

I wished... no, demanded undeniable authority.  And the Red Witch made that possible.