Chapter 4

"So mother, that is exactly how it happened." Leowulf excitedly narrated his ordeal to his mother. He selectively told her things that he knew won't get her angry. He couldn't tell her about the threat Aaron made. The words he said were something his mother would be worried about. If he mentions the threat, she would want to go to the priests to check if her son would be fine. Even though Leowulf knew most times, the priests only say things that she wants to hear. They might have every spiritual power. They might hear things directly from the gods, but they can't see the future.

"Oh my heaven! Heavenly goddess. You found a woman that interests you?" She asked, smiling and gushing over all of him. She stood up and began dancing the local Atilogwu dance. 

"No wait mother, I am interested in all women. She only piqued my interest. She really is a perfect woman." He replied. He drew her close just so she could stop dancing. His mother frowned at him. She sat down on the bed before him.

"You are nothing like your father. He was a loyal man."

"Have you seen me with other women? Can't I just like all women? I only appreciate them from afar," 

"You cannot. See, cheating isn't only when you have sex with other people." 

"But mom! I am not even betrothed to any of them yet. Even Mara, she is someone I like but not married to yet." He argued. 

"But that's being a womanizer. Except the priests, no one else is allowed to have two women." His mother replied.

"Not even the ultimate Alpha," Leowulf commented

"Not even your father." Leowulf knew why only the priests were allowed to have two wives. It's something he gets jealous of at times. They have a wife who is to be the mother of their worldly children and women, who will be mother of their spiritual children. These spiritual children are the ones who could become the next priests. Their children whom they had in order to satisfy their lust, were not worthy of being the priests. And this applies to every of the 12 priests who stand as mediators between the goddess and the people. 

"And about father, how is he faring?" Leowulf asked.

"He is well enough. He is even glad to know that in a few months time, he will be having a daughter." She replied smiling

"But mom, you really didn't have to let him have a daughter, isn't he sharing more of his will with you?"

"You don't understand it yet. You will understand the happiness of being a father when Mara gets you one." She said 

"Mother!" He cried from cringe. 

"But for an Ultimate Alpha to pass on his will, he needs to be at his happiest." 

"I know right. And mother, that's why I am scared." Leowulf looked at his mother.

"Mother, I am only a hundred and ten years old. When I become the Ultimate Alpha, I would have to live healthily for the next eighty years. And the strength of my will determine if I will live long enough to finish the remaining sixty years of my reign." He said.

"There is no death in your eyes son. It has been a long time since a succeeding Alpha has been the son of the preceding Alpha."

"All the more why we need to be scared," Leowulf argued.

"It's why you should be patient and be at rest. Your will was strong enough. You discovered your "void" at a young age." 

"Don't call it void yet if I am not the ultimate Alpha."

"To me son, you are my Alpha. My Ultimate Alpha. You have always been and will remain forever." His mother said. She drew him close, and kissed his forehead. She placed his forehead before hers. Leowulf smiled. At least before he gets his own Luna, the former Luna is perfect. She makes him happy. 

In one of his classes with the priest, he had been asked to ask for the kind of woman he wanted. Without any doubt, he had said he wanted a woman like his mother. 

"Boy! You are deluded. Blinded by your love for your mother that you perceive her to be the best among women." The Older wolf priest said. The priests are always in their werewolf form. Once they assume their spiritual journey as a priest, they shift to their werewolf form forever. Shifting back to their human form or their Dire Werewolf form is a crime, hence might be killed by blood moon. 

"But it is what I want." He argued with the older wolf priest. 

"What you want isn't what you need," the priest argued with his raspy voice. His raspy voice didn't come from old age, but it came from countless years of shouting. Calling on names. Chanting of praises and summoning spirituals made his voice become harsh.

"What do you think I need then," 

"You need the best woman for you. You and your father do not have the same personalities. So the women who will be able to handle both of you won't be the same."

"Despite that…"

"It's accepted that you love your mother. But you can ask for a mother like your mother for your children, but your perfect woman. Only your father knows the kind of woman your mother is." The priest had advised. 

"Be careful what you ask the goddess,"

But now, with his mother's forehead before him, Leowulf doesn't care. He wants the kind of woman who will make him happy. A woman just like his mother. 

"And you think your father would appreciate that you want to take his woman in addition to his life and title?" A voice interrupted their mother and son session.

"Elvis!" the Ultimate Luna called. She stayed away from her son and gave a broad smile to the approaching man.

"Oh! Uncle Elvis," Leowulf greeted. He stood up and gave his uncle a viking handshake. 

"My Lady! Good day. Be in peace," Elvis greeted the Luna

"Same to you, Elvis. I have asked you since, where have you been?"

"Places that required my presence," he replied. Elvis and Luna looked at each other. Creating a moment of silence. Leowulf expected them to say something. He thought they were going to keep talking and that was why he kept out of the conversation that he thought would ensue.

"And here he is," Leowulf broke the silence

"And here I am," Elvis quipped. 

"Leowulf! I have something to discuss with your uncle. Why don't you go to your father and tell him of your discovery," she advised.

"Of course mother," Leowulf greeted his uncle one more time and headed to the palace. 

Their palace is a different castle than their building. For most days, that's where his father is. His mother does stay at the castle, but once in a while she comes back to this castle. The palace is like an extension of the castle. It has few rooms for sleep and a large court for meetings between all the Alphas of Asark. 

Running at a human speed would take thirty minutes from the castle to the palace. Leowulf only had to run for five minutes before he got there, and that's still not while in his werewolf form. 

In one of the numerous classes he attended in preparation for his ascension, she heard the story of how the palace was created. Something that once served as a shelter for werewolves during the war of separation. 

He entered through the main gate as the guards bow before him. Today, he didn't notice the large depiction of a waning moon drawn on a cloth, placed above the entrance of the castle. 

"Lord Leowulf!" They all greeted him. Even people who were older than him. Every day, he understands the importance of being the Ultimate Alpha. And everyday, with the realization of what people expect from him, it saddens him and his fear of what the future holds compounds. 

"Where is my father?" He asked a maid of the castle. 

"I just served him in his quarters. He is on his way to the court," she replied shyly, hiding her face away from his gaze. 

"Do you notice Alphas? Are they having a meeting?" 

"No Sir!" She replied. He nodded to her, and she left. 

He turned to look at her while she was leaving, but he saw his uncle Audolf coming from behind.

"Were you following me, Uncle?" He jokingly asked. He did that to prevent his uncle from asking him if he was checking out a maid.

"Follow me," his Uncle ordered, ignoring Leowulf's question. 

"Is something wrong?" 

His uncle ignored him again.

He followed his uncle and they both hurried to the court where his father was. Leowulf hasn't seen his father since the past two full moons. He had been learning and training. His time of ascension is coming close and he needs to be accessed. 

"Am I going to die anytime soon? For my son to visit me it must mean you have nothing doing," 

"Father, Peace of the goddess be with you," he knelt before his father. His father sat on his throne, which is a chair made of different metals ranging from Gold, Iridium, Osmium, Bronze and steel. It also has diamonds used in some places for adornment. His father's throne is nearly five feet tall. 

"Is there peace for me at this age?" He asked, looking at Audolf. Audolf remained silent. 

"See? Even my brother knows. Leowulf, you see these 43 seats here, they belong to the main Alphas and other Alphas wait for the information from these Alphas." The Ultimate Alpha said. 

"I know, father." 

"And those Alphas of smaller packs have begun integrating together to take over. They want to be represented here in court. Do you see that this coming times won't be peaceful,"

"Father, why can't you make a tournament for Alphas to succeed. Let those who are worthy of keeping their seat in the castle keep it and those who aren't, should lose to those who are worthy."

"I see. You believe in judgment of strength. If it's by strength alone, why isn't your Uncle Audolf the Ultimate Alpha and I, the Alpha's right hand." The Ultimate Alpha said, and Leowulf was short of words. He didn't know what to say. His father is strong. He has the strength that comes with being an Ultimate Alpha. But his uncle has pure strength. His Uncle is more of a brawl than a brain.

"That aside, Lord Adalwolf. These werewolves who attack random places and leave inscriptions."  Audolf said.

"What inscriptions?" Leowulf asked

"Some of them leave things like 'the Ultimate packs are dictators.' some leave things like 'woe upon the Ultimate'" Audolf said.

Leowulf looked at his father. His father smiled. And for the first time since he got there, he noticed the posture of his father. His father had become weaker even physically than he should. His magical prowess, a characteristic of just the royal members of the Ultimate pack, also seem reduced. He wanted to say something, but he and his father haven't created such rapport in the past. Their relationship is more of a by the book relationship. A successor relationship and not a father and son relationship. He looked at his feet. He watched his father and his uncle. But he was no longer listening to the current conversation they were having. 

"And has there been anyone caught in suspicion?" Leowulf asked

"There hasn't been. It's orchestrated. They are a group of rebels trying to incite a civil war." 

"That would spell a bad thing. Father, if that should happen, fighting against more than half of Asark won't be easy. You are at your weakest. You barely have enough strength. I don't know if I am ready yet. Father, this won't be good." 

"Adalwolf," Audolf called the ultimate Alpha.

"My bad. I couldn't help sense pity from him. I only wanted to be sure of it." The ultimate Alpha while still sitting, inhaled deep and exhaled sharply. Leowulf felt a sudden rush of cold pass through every vein of his body. 

His father had just used a lower version of "the void" on him. He would have been angry, but the sudden return of all that he said calmed him. He was glad his father used it. 

"Maybe, and only maybe we will have to perform the ritual earlier than expected." His father said, smiling. Leowulf wished he could use the void on his father too, to know if his father has any regret or fears. He wanted to listen to his father's complaints, but at the level of his magic, it won't have any effect on his father. It would on any other person, even his uncle and the priests, it will be rendered useless by his father, and mother. 

"That aside, how about your hunt for a Luna?." Adalwolf asked

"That is why I am here, father. It's a success," He told his father.

"Audolf, is it true?"

"Yes! my Lord," 

"Who is she then?" 

"It's Mara. A Lady Mara of Volde Pack," 

"Volde Pack?" His father asked, alarmed.

"Yes!" Leowulf replied smiling

"Audolf, is it the Volde of Horgan?"

"Yes!" Audolf replied. 

Leowulf wondered what the sudden alertness his father just raised was all about. Truly, he knows the forty three main packs, their symbols, their motto, and their Alpha. But he doesn't know what happens between Alphas. He doesn't even know what happens in court.

"Is there something I should be worried about?" He asked, looking at his uncle. 

"No son. Everything is okay. Now come, take me to my room and you will tell me all about her. Audolf, those rogue wolves. Keep on pressing about their identity." The Ultimate Alpha said, extending his hand, waiting for Leowulf to come take him.