Ch. 2 - Destiny

Sebastian POV

"Good! That's what I like to see." My trainer clapped me on the back, ignoring the blood dripping from my mouth. I had just finished my last battle, the final test to prove myself as Alpha, and I couldn't wait to leave this place behind. I didn't exactly want to go home; too much pressure and uncertainty awaited me there, but after a year of nonstop fighting, I was done.

As the future Alpha of not just my pack but all the lands of the North and South, I was expected to be strong, fearsome, and dominant. But I didn't feel any of that. Sure, I was built like a beast, just like my fathers, but my soul was all my mother's. I hated fighting, cried when my people were hurt, and even got physically ill when I had to yell at someone. Pathetic, right? Not exactly the qualities of an Alpha or a man.

My parents showered me with love and attention, my siblings clung to me like I was some kind of rock star, and my pack looked to me as their fearless leader. I had to be all those things for them, even if it wasn't who I really was.

What I wanted was a peaceful life, quiet days with my mate and children. I loved animals, and even my wolf wasn't keen on hunting them down like some primal beast. I would've walked away from the crown if I could, but I was destined for greatness, a destiny I couldn't escape.

"There's my handsome boy!" My biological mom, Kiera, came running into my arms as soon as I stepped off the bus. I lifted her in a tight hug, realizing how much I had missed her.

"Is he taller than us? This isn't right!" Papa grumbled, arms folded as he stood next to Dad and Father. Yeah, I know it's confusing. I was the only kid I knew with three dads and two moms.

"He's our future King. He should be taller and stronger," Father said proudly.

"He's damn handsome, too. We make perfect Alphas," Dad smirked, all three of them eyeing my moms up and down.

"Ew! I just got home!" I groaned, knowing exactly what they were thinking.

"They're like toddlers. Ignore them," my other mom, Elizabeth, said as she wrapped her arms around me.

"Horny toddlers. It's gross." I kissed her cheek. She was the stern one, disciplined, but with a heart of gold.

"Get over here and give your papa a hug," Chase, my papa, grabbed my arm and pulled me into a tight embrace, patting my back. I heard him sniffle and shed a tear.

"Are you crying, Papa?" I chuckled.

"No! Alphas don't cry," he snarled, quickly wiping his eyes.

"You're an idiot," my dad, Drake, muttered, smacking Chase upside the head before giving me a hug. "We've missed you, son. You look good, strong." He squeezed my bicep.

"I could definitely kick your ass now, Dad," I teased. We all knew he was sizing me up. All three of my fathers were. It was natural for Alphas to be competitive, even with their offspring.

"I doubt that," my third Father, River, pulled me into his chest with one arm. "There are three of us anyway. You can't win." He tried to sound certain, but I caught the hint of doubt in his tone.

"Whatever helps you sleep at night, old man." I chuckled. It was so good to see them; all five of my parents were here to welcome me home. For a brief moment, I felt proud of my family and maybe a little of myself.

Then, flashes of my recent dreams invaded my mind. Blood and death surrounded me, suffocating me, but it was the sight of my hands covered in the blood of my family that nearly knocked me out.

"Are you okay, sweetheart?" Kiera was at my side immediately, her voice soothing my heart and reassuring me I was fine in a way only a mom could do.

"Yeah, it's been a long year." I let out a long breath, looking around at my parents' concerned faces. "It's good to be home." I forced a smile, a facade to hide the fear gnawing at me.

"Let's get you home. The pack can't wait to see their Alpha back where he belongs," Mom said, linking her arm with mine. My other mom did the same on my other side.

"Yeah, I can't wait," I muttered, uneasiness settling in my soul.

In my dreams, my loyal pack, people who loved and worshipped me before I was even born, lay dead around me. All because of me. Night after night, darkness consumed my soul, urging me to rule over them. It was like a force within me demanding blood and retribution for things I didn't even understand. I didn't want to be that demon in my dreams; I didn't want to rule anything or anyone. I just wanted a simple life with the one girl I knew was mine.

"Hey, dipshit!" Ruby's quirky smile greeted me the second I got home. I didn't say a word; I just pulled her into my chest. I missed her more than words could express.

"You smell good," I blurted out like a total fool.

"What?" She tensed, her face scrunching up.

"Sorry, I've been surrounded by sweaty, bloody wolves for a year. It's nice to see a normal face." I tried to cover my embarrassment with a faint chuckle.

"Okay, weirdo. I'm glad you're home, but no more sniffing me," she shuddered like the idea of me having a massive crush on her was repulsive. We grew up like family, though we weren't actually related.

She was also the hottest thing I'd ever seen. She was short, oddly short for a werewolf, with arms like tiny sticks and legs that seemed too weak to run for more than a minute. But she was supernatural, born not only with a wolf but with unknown magics. Her strength was impossible, and it made her that much more appealing to me.

"It's good to see you. Want to play some hoops out back?" I thumbed over my shoulder. I just wanted everything to go back to how it was. My normal life of lounging around the pack house and hanging out with Ruby, us usually getting into trouble. She was so high-spirited, with a dangerous sense of adventure. It was never a dull moment with her by my side.

"Hell yeah! I love making our future Alpha look like a total chump," she punched my bicep and winced in pain. "What the fuck happened to you?" She shook her hand, eyes scanning my body. I don't think she realized I'd grown over a foot and bulked up twice my size since I left.

"I grew up!" I smirked with a shrug. I liked how she checked me out. "Looks like you're still just a short she-wolf who hasn't hit puberty yet. It's okay; many kids are late bloomers." I pinched her cheek, feeling a playful spark inside me.

"Fuck off! I'm all woman, and you know it." She scowled, making me laugh out loud. Ruby had anger issues, the kind that made her light up in hot white magic. It could kill others, but it only tickled me.

"Sure you are. Let's go play some ball." I nodded toward the door and walked outside.

"I am!" She shouted after me. "I'm almost twenty, for goddess' sake!"

I grabbed the basketball, holding it at my side as I watched her tense little body with arms crossed approach me. I would kneel before her anytime she asked. She was so damn sexy.

"What are you staring at? Loser!" She snatched the ball from my hands and shot it right through the hoop. It amazed me how her short legs could jump so high.

"Nothing special," I winked at her, dribbling the ball back past the halfway line. We were both riled up now, and a good game between friends was exactly what I needed.

Being with Ruby was the only time I felt at peace. My anxieties about my future disappeared, and I was just a kid hanging out with his best friend. But I was eighteen now and determined to make our friendship more than it had been.

She was hung up on the fact that we'd known each other since birth, even calling my parents her aunts and uncles. But we weren't meant to be cousins. We were meant to be one, and on the next full moon, I planned to show her exactly what being fated mates meant because I knew, without a doubt, that she was mine.