It was some hours passed midday and Aurora called a gathering to her acquaintance outside the pack building to address them. They all assembled in a well-arranged consecutive line with vast poses making the hundredth warriors look coordinated due to how they practiced their tradition in the Lock Hearts pack.
Lock Hearts pack was one of the most effective packs in Austin, Texas. It had an enormous number of shifters of both adult wolves and pups. They were up to three hundred and they were ruled peacefully by their powerful and caring Alpha Cowell with his companions including Aurora, the brave commander of the pack fighters.Even when Aurora was looking minor, the toughest wolves and pups honoured her as their commander. They all hearkened to her and no one dared to defy their duties because she was a female wolf. As she ascended onto the altar located at the front of the pack building where decrees were made and given, instruments and chorus was played to give her a birthday ceremony as they did to other leaders of the Lock Hearts pack on their birthday. She was a commander and she had no choice but to let it flow.The wishes finally stopped when Aurora stood on the altar, her warriors facing her. Her hands crossed to her back like the way royal kings do while her legs spread five meters away from each other and her acquaintance did the same. Then, she started with incredible authority in her tiny voice yet, audible for shifters to hear with their potential. "Thank you, everyone, I'm indeed grateful for your wishes. The goddess blesses and protects the pack." She prayed and an 'Amen!' was chorused. She continued, "As you, all know that fifteen rouges came into our territory and a fight erupted causing eight of them dead and the remaining brutally injured_" She paused to watch their expression and as expected they were all looking elated with smiles curved on their brim. She loved the sight. "Thankfully no one from our pack got killed and those that were wounded had healed themselves back." She implied and returned the wink her best friend shared with her. She moved away from where she stood and began moving around the levelled altar as she discussed. "The rogues who are still alive will be questioned by the king by sunrise tomorrow, so for now, we have no idea what their wrath would be.""They should be killed!" Some warriors screeched, earning a chuckle from her. It was funny to see that the shifters weren't going to spare the rogues since they knew their King might want to. Alpha Cowell was a true King. "The king will decide." She enunciated and the murmur died out. That was the sovereignty she got over them. "Going for a run today?" She asked and a 'yes' and 'no' came out from the large crowd. "Fine." She pronounced. "I'll be going for a run tonight and if you want to join me, we could learn new skills in the academy." She disclosed and delighted howls were heard around. "So, for now, go home and prepare for training and be there before me so you won't miss a point." She told them. "Thank you so much again for the wishes and I look forward to seeing those who will attend the academy later in the day." She said and waved goodbye to them while their hails filled the whole pack. As she was about to climb down from the altar, she remembered there was an announcement she hadn't given out to them. She veered back immediately to her position and everywhere was quiet again since they knew she had something to say."I met with the King hours ago and he said I should relay this beautiful information to you." She voiced and made a slight cough. "Beta Craig's son is back!" Uproar. Exclamations. Screams filled the pack again as the wolf cheered in excitement. Their Beta's son was back and the news made their day. The pack's best friend was back after five years of leaving. She made a gesture with her hands to stop the holler but it took long before they ceased since the wolves were very much excited. She was too. Although she wasn't sure if she was going to recognize him, she could tell how well he had treated their pack before he left.She smiled and they chuckled but she had to continue her message. "Alpha Cowell said he'll be introduced properly to the pack by tomorrow after the rogue's punishment." She relayed and another wail came out which she didn't stop because she was through with her allegation. She finally glided down from the altar and made her way past the crowd as the expanse was being opened for her pass through. Aurora walked through the crowd and she finally reached the end of the passage. Instantly, the shifters formed back their line and turned to face her again. They bowed their heads in loyalty and the pack fighters began to dismiss them since that was their usual way of evicting after orders. King Alpha and his companions, after finishing a speech, evacuate the altar before any shifter was allowed to move away. When the fighters were all gone and everyone was back to their normal duties, Aurora clenched her hands with Fennick's hand as she began to run back home. She still needed to celebrate her birthday.Sage stood and watched the pack fighters from his house terrace which was some distance away from the pack building. He heard everything Aurora had said and was glad to see that she was happy when announcing his arrival and hoped that one day she might accept him as her mate if she knew who he was. He smiled at the beauty, elegance, and authority she possessed from the distance but his smile dried out when he saw Fennick wink at her and she returned it. His anger grew worse when Aurora hit his butt and he did the same. Was he dumb?! How could he touch her that way?! The pain of seeing them together almost flung his wolf out. He and his wolf were so furious and they imagined gnawing at Fennick's chest until they ripped out his intestine. He only needed to wait till he introduced himself, then Fennick would be gone from her if he didn't want to see his death early.He turned away into his room, restricting his wolf from coming out. He wanted to go for a run but he was exhausted. All he had to do was rest a little while, maybe he could join the troop at the academy.The room fell silent with disbelief. Each of them were frozen in shock. Fennick, Aurora’s best and lovely friend like a brother whose Grandmother was found in the forest years back, was the heir to the Autumn Pack, the very pack that had once threatened their peace? It was an impossible truth, yet the room could not deny the tension that suddenly grew between Fennick and his own identity.Sage was the first to break the silence, his voice low but firm. "We need to go," he said, his gaze never leaving Fennick’s face. "To the Autumn Pack. We have to find out what this means."The others were still in confusion, most especially Aurora. Fennick has always been like a brother to her even when she doesn’t know about his identity for long but his revelations cut deeply into her. She had thought he was with them, maybe he lost his scent but now that he was saying it made her think that she has never even known him. It was a difficult truth to accept. Fennick was their friend, their brother,
The Pack dining room was filled with the sound of laughter, clinking glasses, and the warmth of togetherness. After the heartache of the last few weeks, that night was a chance to heal, celebrate survival, and find peace in the company of one another. The scent of roast meat and freshly baked bread filled the entire place. Sage stood near the far end of the room, his hand resting gently on the back of Aurora’s chair. She had her chin tilted slightly down, her fingers playing with the glass in front of her, lost in thought. For a moment, Sage’s gaze softened, taking in the quiet beauty of the woman who had been at his side and his mate.He had been wanting to talk to her for days now, no, for weeks, but every time he saw her, the words escaped him. How could he put everything into words when everything had changed so much?Aurora felt his eyes on her, and slowly, she looked up. There was something in his gaze that made her heart skip a beat.Sage moved to her side, pulling out the cha
Beta Craig's tears and loud wailing alerted the whole pack that another tragic death had occurred. They could feel the sudden disconnection from their Alpha. The mournful howls echoed through the Pack as each of them expressed their own grief in their own ways. For a pack that had already endured so much, this final blow was just so unbearable. It was a big loss for everyone in the Pack.Gwen gently took Alpha Cowell’s lifeless body from Beta Craig’s trembling hands. He resisted at first, clutching his friend’s cold form until his strength gave out. His knees buckled, and a heart-wrenching sob escaped him as they pried Cowell’s body away. With solemn reverence, they carried Cowell’s body away. The same honor was given to Sora, whose ultimate sacrifice had saved Aurora. Their bravery was admired, for they had given their lives to protect another.Aurora sat beside Sage, her eyes fixed on his peaceful face. She had been waiting for what felt like an eternity for him to wake up, and she
Aurora slowly opened her eyes, coughing as the acrid smoke filled her lungs. Her thoughts were heavy, unsure of where she was or what had happened. As she struggled to sit up, memories flashed through her mind and as she remembered her fight with the witch, she assessed her body for injuries, expecting to find scars or stab wounds. But to her surprise, she found none.Confusion etched on her face, Aurora turned her head to take in her surroundings. The room was in shambles, furniture overturned, and debris scattered everywhere. But it was the body slumped on the ground that caught her attention.Aurora's heart skipped a beat as she scrambled to her feet, rushing towards the lifeless form. "Sora!" she cried out, her voice trembling with fear as she recognised the face.She reached her grandmother's side and soon her eyes welled up with tears. Sora lay limp, her eyes closed, and her face pale. Aurora gently shook her, calling out her name, but there was no response.Aurora's mind reeled
Ursula's cave was surrounded in darkness and the only sound that filled the place was a soft humming from her. Just in a flash, she sprang up from where she sat, seething her teeth in anger as she started to feel her powers draining out. She suddenly let out a horrible scream, throwing her head backwards as she shook vehemently. She paced back and forth in front of her mirror, her long, black hair swirling around her like a dark cloud. Her eyes, once bright with malevolence, now seemed dull and lifeless."How could this be?!" she spat, her voice venomous. "I used Octavia and Aurora to gain the upper hand. I manipulated them, used their innocence against them."Ursula's mind flashed back to the day she met the two of them. She has lied about giving her powers to Sora at birth Octavia. But in reality, she had been using them to further her own powers. She has indeed given Sora a child but it was with the aim to build her powers and the child was connected to those powers that she used
“We do not have any interest in that. We work for Alpha Dylan and now you are saying we should go against him? I’m sorry, we can’t do that,” the leader proclaimed. “Moreover, we have other important things to handle.” Then, he turned to one of his men, “Take her away and dump her back in the pack,” he commanded. His men immediately obliged, grabbing Rose and attempting to carry her away yet, Rose wasn't going to give up that easily.She had swore to leave with them, or die trying to do so. As soon as the men grabbed her and left an opening for their weapon, Rose reached for one of their swords. The sword was drawn from its scabbard and she swung it at the men but they were quick to move out of the way to avoid getting hit. Turning to their leader, Rose aimed the sword at his neck. “You will help my people, or I'll kill you and die afterwards.” She emitted with so much audacity. The fierce look in her eyes was quite scary, and the leader wondered if it was the same person that came in