Alpha Hunter

"I beg your pardon?" Alpha Hunter asked. 

"Just an old Wanix saying. Um, great! Thank you for sharing that. How about I get back to you tomorrow about that? So just...uh go home and we'll be in contact yeah?"

"We have no home to go to. The Aleni destroyed it. We are to stay with you while we defeat this evil." Alpha Hunter informed me, stepping closer.

He smelled like pine and firewood. Kinda hot.

"Oh, you're gonna stay...here? With us. Um...Posy, will you lead them to the Great Hall? And I'll gather the royals?" I asked. 

"Of course Empress." Posy nodded. "Follow me."

When I tried to walk away, Alpha Hunter grabbed my hand. "You'll be coming to this Great Hall also right?"

"Sure will." I forced a laugh, pulling my hand out of his and hurrying off to find my family. 

My parents were thrilled.

"Oh I knew it was the time of The Prophecy!" Mother exclaimed. "My own daughter, the savior of Uquix!"

"Or I could really mess this up!"

"You won't." Zeke assured me. "I'll be here to help you. I can be like your bridge to these werewolves. I understand both people."

"Hm, I suppose you are slightly useful."

"Zelda, we've been waiting for this moment for so long." Father said seriously. "I know you are new to this, but we believe in you."

Glad someone does.

"Alright, we should go speak to the Luan Pack. Be aware, their Alpha is a little intense." I informed them.

"Oh we won't be going." Mother smiled.

"Huh?"

"We are retired, Zelda. This is your and Zeke's fight."

"Well baby birds are getting pushed out of the nest today! Come, Zeke."

He followed behind me, muttering to himself as though he was practicing what he was going to say. 

I entered the Great Hall and was surprised by how empty it was. "What's going on?" I asked Posy.

"Alpha Hunter sent his pack to the Throne Room. And he's having their um...slaves set up their rooms for them. He said this conversation was only for certain ranks."

"I see. Let's do this."

We approached Alpha Hunter. He only had two other men with him. One wouldn't even meet our gaze. The other was...stunning! His eyes widened when he saw me, just like Hunter's had. His eyes were a piercing green like the plants I controlled. His dark hair fell over his forehead, I think to cover a scar that I could see near his eyebrow. There was a smile on his pink lips and he had a jaw that could cut glass.

Certified hottie.

"Ah there you are! The man in charge!" Alpha Hunter announced, shaking Zeke's hand. "I am Alpha Hunter. Wonderful kingdom you have."

"I'm Duke Zeke and it's not exactly my kingdom." Zeke informed him.

"Oh a humble leader you are! That's different. I personally like to lead with confidence." He turned to me. "This isn't your wife is it?"

"My sister, Empress Zelda."

"Perfect. Now Zelda I'm sure you are very useful in many ways and positions, but could you wait over there with my Betas while us leaders talk?"

"Oh my!" Posy whispered. 

The only people allowed to address me by just name was my family. Alpha Hunter was not family.

"You heard him Zeke, he wants the leaders to talk. Go see about the Betas. You too, Posy." I stated. 

"Of course, Empress." Zeke smirked. 

"I am confused." Alpha Hunter stated. 

"Oh, you thought Duke Zeke was in charge? No, darling, that's me. The Empress rules the kingdom here."

"A-a woman in charge?"

"Well a pig did fly by my window today." I laughed. "As they do every day. So what did you want to discuss Alpha Hunter? And by the way, do not ever refer to me as Zelda again. I'm an Empress and will be treated as such."

"Um...yes, of course Empress Zelda." He nodded, still seeming a little thrown off. "It is the opposite for me, please call me Hunter...it's more intimate that way."

"Huh. Okay. Catch me up."

"The Aleni attacked us three days ago. Empress Zelda, they are vicious hybrid creatures. They started their attack in their human form and when they turned...it was horrific. They wiped out half of my pack. I have never seen my pack so...helpless. When we got away, this appeared."

He handed me a glowing scroll. It was the pact made between the Luan and the Wanix all those years ago.

"So we set off here to gain your help." Hunter finished. 

"Do you know who was leading the Aleni? A name? A face?" I whispered. 

"They called him Cedric."

"Are you absolutely sure that was the name?"

"Positive. I'll never forget it. And his eyes...they were red like the devil."

I looked over at Zeke and Posy who looked alarmed. This was worse than we thought it was.

"So what's the next step?" I asked. 

"Training." Hunter said. "The Aleni will come to Gynem last. They know we have come here and that together we can stop them. But we must work together as our people did all those years ago."

"Only that didn't work so well, did it? Considering your pack slaughtered my great grandfather and many others."

"Empress Zelda, we must put that behind us. There is no room to be petty."

"Petty is my middle name."

"Is it really?"

While Hunter is very cute, there's not much going on upstairs. 

"No, it's actually Alanis. That was a joke." I rolled my eyes.

"Oh." He gave a booming, hearty laugh. "You are very funny, Empress! And illuminating. If we're done with business talk, I was hoping we could get a little more personal."

"Oh my! Um, I would love to meet your...Betas was it? Just so we're all cozy and friendly."

"Well of course." Hunter smiled. "Oz, Penn. Please come meet the Empress."

"Your Highness," the one who wouldn't look at me bowed. "I am Oz, brother of Alpha Hunter. Pleased to meet you."

I suppose he did look like a watered down version of Hunter. They both had black hair, though Hunter wore his a little longer and he was also definitely more buff than Oz was. Hunter commanded respect, while Oz seemed to shy away from it. 

"The feeling is mutual." I allowed him to kiss my hand and turned my attention to the hottie. "And you?"

"Empress Zelda, I am Beta Penn." He brought my hand to his lips, and heat spread throughout my body. 

There was something about the way my name sounded rolling off his tongue that sent me into a frenzy.

"Well if you're Penn, I'll be the paper." I whispered.

"Beg your pardon?" He smirked slightly. 

"Um...I said...hm I can't think of anything that rhymes with paper to save myself from this. Pleasure to meet you. Immense pleasure."

"The pleasure is all mine, Empress."

"Then give some to me." I bit my lip.

"Empress Zelda aren't you going to officially introduce me to your handmaiden?" Hunter asked. 

"She's not a handmaiden, she's my Royal Vizier. This is Posy."

"Pleased to make your acquaintance, Alpha Hunter."

"She is not one of you, and yet holds a high rank? This is a very strange kingdom."

"Probably because they let women be in charge." I stated. 

"I find a woman in charge...refreshing." Beta Penn smiled.

Okay so I'm picking up some serious vibes from him.

"I love taking charge. In all areas." I grinned. 

"Empress Zelda!" Posy whispered. "Stop that."

"Sorry."

"So why doesn't Posy show Oz and Penn their sleeping arrangements, while you and I get to know each other?" Hunter smiled. 

"Sure, of course. And Posy, let me know which rooms they'll be staying in. I want to keep tabs on them." My eyes flicked over to Penn's. I gave him a wink before Posy and Zeke led them out of the Great Hall.

"Finally, some time alone." Hunter gently grabbed my hand. "You are a shockingly wonderful leader for a woman."

There was a compliment in there somewhere I think.

"Why, thank you, you seem to have a good grasp on this leader thing too. How long have you been doing it?"

"Only a year. It's been strange leading without a mate...a Luna to support me."

"Really? I rather enjoy ruling alone." I laughed. "Um, so when do you find your mate?"

"I already have. It's you Empress Zelda. You are my mate. I felt it the moment I laid eyes on you. And I, Hunter Alder, accept you as my mate."

"Oh. Um hm. You seem nice, really...but we've just met! I don't even know how you like your eggs in the morning.” 

"What are you saying?" Hunter questioned. 

"I just think we should slow this down. I'm not really interested in being your mate, Hunter."

"Are you rejecting me, Empress Zelda?"

"Yeah, I think so." I whispered. 

His eyes widened and the veins in his neck popped. I think I've made him furious. He's going to yell at me! His fist clenched and his nostrils flared. 

I prepared myself for the wrath of an Alpha. This was arousing beyond belief. Maybe being his mate wouldn't be so bad.

Suddenly his face scrunched up and a wail escaped his lips. Hunter wasn't yelling at me...he was sobbing.