If word gets out

Cyrus’s wolf, Marcel called out to its pack. He stood at the top of the mountain and howled out. It was 5.00 am. The howl called out to the senior members of the Lake Moon Pack. Marcel turned his head around and howled out a third time. That was the sign. That was the language. The one that said, “get in here for an urgent meeting.” All the wolves, in their various homes, heard, but only the seniors responded. They howled back and within minutes, they had all gathered at the mountain top, where their Alpha, Marcel had called them from.

The fifteen senior wolves gathered at the mountain top. Speaking to each other. In their wolf language. The war chief, Dagrin was the first to speak.

“Alpha Marcel, this is rather unusual, why have you called us here? Is our clan been threatened?” Dagrin furrowed his brows and paced around Cyrus’s wolf, Marcel.

Marcel barked, “we are faced with a tragedy, our future Luna is dead. She died on my son’s bed this morning. My son had nothing to do with her death. It was a coincidence. I wanted to inform you all myself. Before telling the people of lake wood kingdom.”

The wolves started to howl again.

“so what does this mean? For our people?”

“We need to present a united front. We cannot be seen as weak. We cannot be vulnerable. Our enemies may want to attack us, to use this opportunity, but we need to stand firm.” Marcel growled.

“And the prince? How is he?” Dagrin asked again.

“He is a bit shaken, but he will survive. He is a strong wolf.”

The group nodded.

But someone didn’t agree. The most rebellious member of the pack, Gedoni. Gedoni was Cyrus’s Cousin. His father had combated with Cyrus’s father for the throne, but Cyrus’s father had won, Gedoni’s father had been killed. Gedoni still carried the hurt. But that was the law, anyone who contested the Alpha would go into a fight-to-death battle and the winner would be the new alpha. Gedoni’s father knew the rules, he had thought he was going to win, but he didn’t.

Gedoni still held his position as a senior member of the pack, but he always challenged his leader at any opportunity he got.

“He needs a mate, Marcel. He is almost eighteen and if he is to succeed you as the king and Alpha, then he needs to get one.”

“I know the rules, Gedoni. He will get one. Soonest. He just needs to get through this loss.” Cyrus’s wolf explained.

“Loss?” Gedoni grunted. “The prince should get himself in order. The kingdom isn’t going to wait for him to grieve. We have enemies waiting to take over our territory, and if word gets out, that he is eighteen and yet to pick a mate, we should expect the worse.”

The group muttered, some of them agreeing to what Gedoni had said.

“We will give the prince one week to find another mate. We will announce the death of Rochelle today, and by the weekend, we will perform another mating ceremony.” Marcel informed them.

They agreed.

The pack went on a short run around the mountain, before leaving for their various homes.

Gedoni trailed Marcel behind, marcel noticed. He turned around to face Gedoni. His temper rising. Wondering what the hell his cousin wanted.

“What?” he snapped at his Cousin.

Gedoni shifted. Back to human form. Gedoni was a fine, tall, devilish man. His name, Gedoni was the same name he had, even as a man. It was a rare one, most wolves had a different name from their human form, but Gedoni’s spirit wolf had the same name as his human.

Marcel shifted back to human. Cyrus towered three inches above Gedoni. His shoulders were broader. His legs were stronger.

Cyrus’s eyes carried a glare as he stared at his cousin.

“Tell me you realize what is going on here,” Gedoni spoke.

“What is going on?”

“You know Cyrus. Do not pretend with me. I am family.”

“Gedoni, get straight to the point.” Cyrus snapped. He was tensed, because like Gedoni said, he knew or suspected what was going on.

“it’s the curse Cyrus, Yemanja’s curse. You cannot deny it.”

Cyrus gave Gedoni a dirty look.

“Gedoni, you can’t take that seriously. Yemanja is a bitter old woman. How can her careless words hold any meaning? You can’t be serious.” Cyrus denied it, but he could sense the feeling. The fear that was growing inside of him.

“You can’t rule it off Cyrus. And if word gets out…”

“Word would not be getting out. Darius will get another mate. As a future king, his spirit has many mates tied to him. Our forefathers held several wives and maidens. So, Darius has a host of mates to choose from.”

Gedoni laughed, a dry humorless laugh. “you’re right about that Cyrus, our great grandfather had sixteen wives. Let’s hope for the best for our future king.” Gedoni bowed to his cousin and left.

Back at the palace, Cyrus summoned his son, Darius into his chambers. Darius came in looking like nothing had happened. He had gone for a good run, blown out some steam and he was ready to continue his duties as a prince and future leader of the lake moon pack.

“I see you are better,” Cyrus sat on his mini throne and Darius stood in front of him.

“Yes, I am better.” Darius acknowledged. His face was drawn straight as he stood before his king.

“Good. we will be having another mating ceremony in one week, this is a first for our kingdom, but it has to be done. You are to find a strong woman on that day, stronger than Rochelle. You should train again, go round the kingdom, get Adolf to go with you. Do what you must, this kingdom must not suffer this setback.” Cyrus commanded.

With his straight face, Darius gave his response, “I will father. I will make you proud.”

“You can go.” Cyrus watched Darius leave, but the words of his cousin, Gedoni, echoed at the back of his head. Yemanja’s curse. He brushed it off. It couldn’t be.