Chapter 4 - Resistance
Eriks P.O.V
Adding new members to a pack is always stressful. As I sat in my office, I couldn't help but think of Athena. Everything always leads back to her crossing my mind. I told the hospital to keep me updated on any changes. I wanted her to stay in the packhouse, but she was in rough shape and would do better there until she was healed enough to be here. I didn't understand why my pull to her was so instantaneous.
There was a knock at the door that snapped me from my thoughts
"Come in," My voice sharp, revealing a hint of annoyance
My Beta entered my office with a smile on his face. "The new pack members have settled in nicely, Alpha. Doctor Turner also has some news on Athena." He spoke with a tone of pride.
"What did he say?" I asked a little too fast for my liking. I cleared my throat and leaned back in my chair, trying to through off the happiness I felt hearing her name.
Drake smirked at me. "She has finally woken up. Her wounds are healed to his liking. He said she would be able to be released tomorrow afternoon."
"Thank you, Drake. I am going to head out for a bit. Link me if you need me. "I said as I stood up from my chair, stretching out the aches from sitting for so long.
"Of course, sir" Beta Drake nodded as he left my office.
"Can we visit her again?" my wolf asked. He was also drawn to her.
"I need to clear my head, not fill it with more questions, Creed," I said sharply.
"There's something about her. Even you can't deny it. She could be our mate. We've been looking for so long." Creed
"Even if she is our mate, she isn't eighteen yet. Why would I waste my time on something that isn't ours yet? She could be someone else's, and I'm not doing that again." The words stung as I said them.
With that, Creed retreated, remembering what happened the last time I fell for someone. I would never let that happen again. If she were meant to be mine, it would happen, but I would keep my distance until then. I walked out of the packhouse and entered the training room. I looked around at the empty space. Everyone was eating dinner and getting ready for their nightly patrols. I enjoyed training in silence. It helps me think. Every time I came out here to train, it was like a new solution would appear.
I changed into my workout clothes and walked over to the punching bags. I wrapped my hands in bandages and did a few stretches before I started punching the bag. With my first punch, the bag swung up and hit the wall. I followed it with another hit throwing my weight into it.
Hours must have passed before a familiar voice spoke behind me.
"Save some for the pack Erik." They joked, their voice raised to catch my attention.
"What do you want?" I snarled as I took one last swing at the punching bag before turning around. Greeting me was my brother with a crooked grin plastered on his face.
"Who has you this pissed off?" He asked, eyeing the three destroyed punching bags thrown against the back wall.
"I'm just processing. Adding new pack members always comes with new challenges," I stated, annoyance clear in my tone. "Is there something you want, Phillip, or do you just come to irritate me?"
"That's part of the fun." He laughed.
"I hear you killed a rogue protecting a stray Mutt, one who clearly didn't want to join you. And had her placed in the hospital to be treated instead of the holding cells down in the basement." He looked at me with a smirk. "I thought I would never see the day, Alpha Erik going easy on a mutt." He laughed again.
Hearing those words come from his mouth made me see red.
"Put him in his place before I do." Creed Snarled
"Quiet Creed, he's doing it on purpose. He wants to challenge me, and I won't allow it. If I fight him, I have to, and as much as he pisses me off, I don't want to kill my brother to prove I deserve to be Alpha." While we both were irritated, Reasoning with him was enough to drive me to punch my brother in the face.
"Don't push your boundaries, Phillip. I wouldn't want to have to put you in your place." I snapped. Phillip's eyes darkened as his wolf showed through. I pushed past him as I went heading to the locker room to shower.
"Oh, I forgot to tell you, Rachel is pregnant. "I could hear the grin in his voice. Stopping me dead in my tracks
"Have a good night, Brother." He said as he patted my shoulder and left the room.
"That bastard, next time I see him, I'll rip his head off." Creed hissed
I ignored Creed as I started the shower. Phillip always knew how to get to me, but I couldn't let him win. The more I ignored him, the more he would push back. I tried to wash the thoughts from my mind and decided I needed to get some air. After getting dressed, I went for a drive. I zoned out most of the drive; when I realized where I was going, I was in front of the hospital.
"It wouldn't hurt to see her," Creed muttered.
"It's late. She's probably sleeping." My tone was stern.
"Even better, she won't know we were here." I could hear the excitement in his voice.
"Just for a minute to make sure she's good, and then we are done," I muttered.
I turned off the car and walked up to the hospital. Everyone was shocked to see me enter. The last time I was here was when our mother passed. I never stepped foot in the hospital after that. But something was drawing me in. I had to know, and I had to know her.
As I walked to her room, the sweet smell of vanilla and citrus filled my nose. It was something you couldn't miss. I wondered if anyone else could smell it or if it was just me.
As I entered her room, her scent wrapped its self around me, luring me in. She was sleeping so peacefully, her scarlet hair a mess on her pillow, some resting across her fair skin. Freckles perfectly spread across her cheeks and the bridge of her nose. Before I realized it, I was standing over her.
"I said we needed to keep our distance" I scowled at Creed
"She calls to us. Even you can't deny it." Creed whimpered
Something about her makes us different. More caring, soft as Phillip had stated before. As an Alpha, that worried me. How could I run a pack with such distractions? Her monitor beeping loudly snapped me out of my trance. With a loud gasp, her Blue eyes flew open. Her hand gripped my arm in fear.
"Erik." She whispered as she let go falling back asleep. Hearing my name escape her lips sent sparks up my spin. There was no doubt about it. She was my mate, and soon she would know this too.
"She is ours," Creed whispered.
*****
Epilogue Three weeks later Damon The pressure of the crown was building as Alora and I settled into our new roles. My father was no longer here to keep the council at bay with their demands. But despite it all, I had found that I enjoyed this new life I had been given. The new responsibilities allowed me even more control over the Kingdom than the Captain of the guards ever could. All be it; I did miss the battle prep and daily training. But I still found holes in my busy schedule to take Alora out to the training fields at least once a week. I knew that eventually, our routine would become steady, and we would have more time to relax, but new rulers came with change and to have change, you needed to vote on old and new laws to pass. Alora and I had already made some big changes, like incorporating technology from the human realm into our daily lives to allow us easier communication with other realms. But there were still a lot of issues with the old ways of running our Kingdom
Chapter 49 - To Love and Cherish ErikPeace was something that was talked about constantly. During wars, it was what we fought for. While ruling a Kingdom, it was what we strived to maintain. But I had never truly known peace until now. The thought of finally being ridden of this pain inside of me, knowing that soon I would be with my love once again, was freeing. The final night with my family started out slow, but it eventually picked up and ran right into the night. There was laughter and tears exchanged around the table as we shared stories of my past and everyone got a chance to say goodbye, getting the closer they needed.And as everyone turned in for the night, I found myself alone again; unable to sleep, I found myself outside. I stayed up looking out at the stars waiting for the sun to rise. I closed my eyes, letting the warm breeze brush across my skin, engraving it into my mind. "So you really are going to spend your last moments alive, sitting in a field of flowers like
Chapter 48 - GoodbyesErikI watched as the sun set beyond the forest, the oranges and pinks of the sky blending together as the sun bid it farewell. It had been a long time since I had nothing to do, no responsibilities with the crown or of the guards. I thought it might help me move on from the hell that the last year had been without Athena, but now I realize that was a stupid notion. It was lonely, and the weight of losing my mate weighed heavier on my heart now than it did while I still ruled.I kept as busy as a retired King could, helping Damon when he needed to seek council or helping Apollo if he needed a hand with training recruits, but I knew that they both didn't really need my help. They just didn't want me to feel left out. Apollo was a natural at his role, and so was Damon. Despite what Damon said when he first discovered he would be the next in line to inherit the throne. He took to it as a bird took to the sky. He was a born leader and shined when he was in control o
Chapter 47 - Home Alora It had been a month since I had been crowned Queen of Gardenia, the days seeming to slip away as the kingdom welcomed the summer solstice and our ruling.I was busy learning my new role, Damon's father and Grandfather helping ease us both into the important roles we both now held. However, it was easier having Helga by my side. I was happy to have her as my royal advisor, and Rachel had said she was a natural already. I knew she would be, though; she always loved to take control and never gave up the opportunity to tell someone off. It was also working in my favour because Lord folic was so busy fighting with her that he always missed out on voting for new laws or changes to existing rulings. Damon loved it, and it made the council meetings less gruelling. It was absurd how many times we had to have a council meeting. At least once a day, and most of the things brought up were trivial problems. By the end of the day, I was just happy to get some alone time
Chapter 46 - The CrownDamon It felt like an eternity had passed as I waited in the royal chambers with my father. It felt even longer when we exchanged goodbyes at the throne room, and I waited at the dais while he sat on his throne. Melody stood in front of my father, a smile stretched across her face, glowing brightly. The room was full of people, some from the council, others from royal families, friends, family, and people from our Kingdom. All watching and waiting for the ceremony to begin.I was in a black royal jacket that was made with silver threading, and our family crest stitched into my left breast pocket. The wolves were placed proudly amongst the roses and the sword that separated them as they howled at the moon. My silver crown was placed on my head, but that would be changed once mine and Alora's vows were complete and only after the mothers accepted us as the new King and Queen to signal the dawn of a new era. Drake stood to the right of me, his mate, my mother's
Chapter 45 - Long Live The Queen Damon "Again," I commanded as Alora worked to keep the wings she had summoned to remain on her back. She had learned quickly how to handle the phoenix flames since she had already worked with the fire element. But now came the hard part, only half shifting. I did it all the time, especially in battle, morphing my nails into claws and elongating my canines. But nothing about that was easy; it came with time and practice, but Alora wanted to have it mastered. With the coronation and our mate ceremony happening tomorrow, she wanted to be better at it. Not only to prove to the council and our people that she was a worthy Queen but also to herself. I didn't want to be the one to tell her to slow down, not after she had spent so much of her life ruled under someone else thumb. But I had warned her of the risks of exhaustion and told her that when I saw fit, we would end the training for the evening.Alora begrudgingly accepted my condition, and I kept tr