#Axel's perspective#"I will try to hint at this, Rose, but... It took them so long to admit that the attacks are a problem, even though endless packs fell in the last years. To accept there is any pack in the world that would work with the rogues... It would shake the foundation of their beliefs." I shake my head as I paced around the room."Their beliefs is the root of those troubles. The distance between packs, the distance between members of the same pack, between us and the rogues. Instead of a community that was created for the survival of everyone, it became the rule of the strongest.""Because that's what is needed to survive...""No, that is the easy way to exist, not what is needed to live, to thrive."We are running in circles at this point, with both being right and wrong at the same time. And I get what she's saying is right in a way, but just because it's right, it doesn't mean everyone will jump to accept it. Yeah, the weak will, seeing an opportunity, but the strong? T
" Another attack was prevented before it even happened. Goddess bless our future Alpha." Mrs. Tensel tells her friend.I smile as I pass by. It's been three months since we lost any warriors to the rogues and the moral of the pack increased tremendously because of it. That, and their trust in Axel as a leader."My day just got better." Axel smiles when he sees me in his room. I didn't catch him when he returned from his border duties, but that's no problem, as I caught him right as he got out of the shower, which is a treat for the eyes."Mine too. I heard some old ladies talking about how great you are. And not just them, the whole pack can't stop praising you. My mate is such a catch." I laugh and wink at him, but even though he smiles too, he seems a bit uncomfortable.I don't want to ruin the mood so I say nothing. In the last month, he has been uncomfortable every time the mate thing comes up and I am tired of asking why, only to start a fight with him arguing that it's only in m
#Axel's perspective#After half an hour talking about what kind of scented sheets each Alpha will have, I lost all my enthusiasm for this ceremony. For the love of the Goddess, we all spent some nights in wolf shape, sleeping in the forest. Is it really necessary to act like a spoiled princess now just because they can?"I know what's on your mind, but keep your opinions about it to yourself. This is not just about you becoming the Alpha, it's an opportunity for life-saving alliances that you will never have again." Father comments once the Beta gets out. He lights a cigarette, which is rare, and leans back on his chair. "Sometimes appearances matter more than facts.""I thought we were done with this conversation." I roll my eyes, but he puffs the smoke in my direction. He started doing that lately. Small things to show me that he is still the Alpha, clinging to the feeling of power for a bit longer. Harmless thing really, but I can't help but feel a bit sorry for him. It's pathetic.
"Armani, really?" I whisper to my mom, but she hushes me up. Goddess forbid one of them hears us making fun of their tastes and start a war over it.The Alpha holds his head so high I almost laugh. Goddess knows how he doesn't trip as he walks. Axel is standing next to his father to greet the esteemed guests one by one as they get out of their fancy cars in their fancy suits. The Alpha ceremony is tomorrow, so today, we celebrate the former Alpha's life before he steps down from power. An impressive event and an excuse to showcase money and power in front of others.I look around. The whole pack has to be here, grouped in different classes, careful not to touch each other. Omegas, exhausted after having to do most of the preparations, have to sit at the back, with their heads down, ashamed of their lack of power. The families of warriors in front of them. Then the warriors themselves, the gammas, the Beta's family and then, finally, the Alpha. The difference between rogues and packs i
#Axel's perspective#"I can't do it anymore! I have to ask. From what century are those stories from?" I hear Caroline through the link and almost spit my drink. Alpha Michelson was delighting the table with stories from his youth, but the man is one sneeze away from becoming dust, so a few people started to throw looks at each other. Of course, as host, I can't really afford to do that, but damn... He is… a problematic character. When an Alpha’s son reaches maturity, he takes his father’s powers and place so many Alphas avoid having sons until they are older so they can cling to power more. But Alpha Michaelson took it to an entire new level, having his son with a twenty year old gamma that he married a month after his wife’s death. The creep was fifty by then.Almost like he wanted to answer Caroline's question, the old Alpha starts retelling stories from his father about the fall of the first pack in front of the rogues. BlackBlood."My father went with some others to push the rogu
"You are so beautiful, sweetheart." My mother gushes around me, puffing my dress and making sure my hair is in place. She is dangerously close to putting a little tiara on top of this."Beautiful or not, it won't matter much."I have a bad feeling about this and the closer to the naming ceremony we get, the faster my heart is beating in my chest. It's like my body refuses to move. With all the Alphas, the pack hating on me while the prophecy of the Moon Goddess predicts the possible end of the world, I am a bit... stressed."They won't start throwing stones at you, Rose. Whether they like it or not, their Alpha made you Luna and they will respect that as they respect and follow all his orders. Isn't this the law of their kind?" My mother tries to soothe me, but I can sense that she is hesitant to go to the ceremony too.My grandma has to knock on the door, warning that we would be late to make us move.So just like that, full of dread, but also high hopes, I take my seat, at the very e
"Forgive me, my child. For all that you suffered, I am to blame." The Moon Goddess stands, surrounded by darkness, so lonely on the night sky."Is my mom... my grandma...?" I ask first, unconcerned with anything else."Your brave grandmother was hurt, but she survived.""What happened?""People are complex beings. I gave all my children free will to do as they see fit. So their actions, their decisions, have just as complex reasoning. Your grandmother may have been loyal to the pack and the old ways, but that loyalty held no weight in front of the love she feels for you. She thought protecting the pack was a way to protect you, until she saw how her pack hurt you. So when her former Alpha attacked you, she shifted despite her age and jumped to kill him. She managed to hold on enough for you to run away, but was hurt while doing so. The Beta was there and took her to the medic. She will survive. Your mother was unharmed." the Moon Goddess explains calmly, and it feels like a mountain w
"Hello." I am hesitant to say anything else as I don't know who else is with her, but my mother recognizes my voice immediately and bursts out crying. "I'm ok. I really am."I reassure her, but in fact, I start crying too. All the pain that this mess has caused everyone that I love. All this pain that they didn't deserve just because I was naive and I thought I could trust him. He showed me who he was. For all our lives, he showed me time and time again who he is as a person and I was stupid enough to think that the mate bond would miraculously transform him into something else."Is it her?" Someone asks in the background, but my mom can't answer through the sobs so she just passes the phone. "Rose? Oh, my dear, are you alright? Are you safe?"Her voice is weak and she's on the verge of tears too. It takes me a bit until I can answer."Yeah. I'm safe now. It's a long story." I manage to explain in between loud sobs and I hear her sigh in relief."Are you hurt? Do you need anything? To