Chapter Sixty-Seven

Regan’s POV

By the time a member of Redclaw pack came to escort us to their dining room, Luke had come to terms with the fact that he would have to face his mate, whether he liked it or not.

I knew he was eager for answers to finally uncover the mystery behind his brother’s death. And so was I.

But unlike Luke, I had a greater desire than that of getting answers.

That desire was to see Luke finally happy, with his mate.

I had always been able to read people easily, or at least feel their aura.

From just our one meeting, I could tell that Luke’s mate, Zara, was not an evil person. Simply a protective and suspicious one.

As we arrived at the dining room, we were ushered to our seats.

Seated at the head chair of the dining table was who I knew was the Alpha of the pack, simply because of the aura I perceived from him.

He looked frail and I could easily tell that he would not last too much longer.

His daughter was seated to his right, and other ranked members of his pack alongside the sides of them.

I was led to the head chair on the other end of the table with Luke on my right and other members of my pack seated as well.

However, I did not sit yet, and since I did not, my warriors remained standing.

It was not customary for another Alpha to wait to be given permission before he could be seated. But it was the only way to pay respect to this Alpha, who I knew did not have much time any longer.

He watched me for a while, recognizing my action for the act of respect that it was. It seemed a few of his ranked members understood as well, along side his daughter, whose eyes began to glisten before she turned away to hide her face from view.

He gave a slow nod before his raspy voice spoke.

“Alpha Regan”, he said. “Please sit”.

At his acceptance, I bowed briefly, causing my warriors to boy lowly, before I took my seat with them.

Knowing he could not speak for long, I led the conversation, even as our food was being served.

“I have not had the honor of meeting you before”, I said. “I am glad to finally do so”, I told him.

He held my gaze, even as he leaned into his chair.

“Given the history between our packs in the past”, he said, with a glance at Luke who, he could no doubt see, had a striking resemblance with his late brother. “I doubt that you would have had any reason to come”, he said, not beating about the bush.

“As I was quite young when that incident took place”, I said. “I cannot say much on the matter, despite having many questions”, I admitted.

He looked closely at me, even as his daughter pushed a glass of water closer for him.

I noticed then that, unlike ever else, he had not been served food.

“Then you will understand that this is a surprise indeed”, he rasped. “When I received your letter, I could not help but wonder if this was a quest for revenge”, he said bluntly.

I had not touched my food despite nodding to my warriors to do so.

Though they acted like it, I had already heard Luke mind link them to not eat the food until they have received his go ahead.

“And yet, you let us into your pack?” I wondered aloud.

He gave a weak shrug of his shoulder.

“I am a curious wolf by nature”, he said before turning his eyes from me to Luke. “You can eat the food”, he said to him. “I assure you, it is not poisoned”, he said, and I refused to allow my surprise show, even as his gaze turned back to me. “I see no gain in any of your deaths”, he said. “You are my guests and will be treated as nothing less”, he said, turning back to Luke. “Especially as my daughter’s mate is a part of your company”, he said.

I felt Luke tense before I glanced at him.

He had a death grip on the spoon in his hand, and I knew it took more control to keep the spoon from snapping then to control his emotions.

‘Calm down, Luke’, I mind linked him, aware that he had not taken so much as a look at the weak Alpha for fear of what he might do at the sight of him.

‘He means no disrespect or mockery’, I told him. ‘See it for yourself’, I urged.

I knew that Alpha Zolan watched me, even as I mind linked Luke. I knew he could see how tightly Luke was holding on to his control. But he said nothing.

Simply waited until Luke lifted his head and looked at him for the first time.

At the sight of him, I felt the rage in Luke’s body slowly ease away, even as his tight-enough-to-hurt-it-but-not-break-it grip on the spoon loosened.

I knew he saw what I saw.

A wise werewolf who did not have much longer to live. But no evil, no killer.

As Luke turned back to his plate and took his first bite, ordering our warriors to eat, I knew he had seen what I had.

Alpha Zolan had not been the one to kill Luke’s brother.

Luke was a lot more observant than I was, and I believed he had inherited an ounce of Nana’s powers. He could read people accurately with just one look.

Alpha Zolan in return, watched Luke closely as if wanting to see beyond him.

I knew his observation was making Luke uneasy, so I decided to shift his focus back to me.

“Yes”, I said to his earlier statement of Luke being his daughter’s mate. “We found out earlier upon our arrival”, I said, with a glance at his daughter who hardly ever took her eyes off her father.

Her worry and love for him was clear as day to see.

“And as for revenge”, I continued, looking back at him. “That is not why we are here”, I told him. “On the contrary, we are here to seek your help”, I announced.

His daughter’s head whipped around so fast to shoot me a suspicious look that I could not help but smile at.

“You wish to seek our help?” Alpha Zolan asked, watching me closely.

I nodded and took a deep breath before launching into my tale.

“I am sure you have heard of the prophecy”, I said. “I had always believed it to be a tale concocted to preserve hope in the hearts of the werewolves, but I was wrong”, I told him. “I lost my mate as a very young wolf during the attack of Blackmoon pack”, I said, and saw the pain of understanding in his eyes. He too had lost his mate. “ I had given up on ever finding another before I met my current mate”, I said.

The look of suspicion had started to disappear from Luke’s mate’s face, as she listened to my story.

“She was a wolf that did not have any access to her wolf”, I told them. “She was rejected by her own mate for being weak. But she was not weak”, I said. “I knew she special from the moment I saw her”, I told them, already seeing her in my mind. “And my wolf would not let me be without her”, I said with a smile.

A weak smile appeared on Alpha Zolan’s lips.

“I asked her to be my mate, and she agreed”, I smiled. “Not too long after our mating ceremony, we completed the mating ritual, only to have my mate transform for the first time”, I shared, aware of the rapt attention from the werewolves of Redclaw pack.

“She had always had these birthmarks on her back, but once she shifted, they turned into markings”. I let that sink in before continuing. “My mate had shifted into a pure white wolf with the markings of the Royal Bloodline on the back of her wolf”, I said.

I heard gasps of disbelief and even noticed Alpha Zolan and his daughter’s shocked expressions.

“Impossible”, one of his ranked members said.

I shot him a glare.

“I assure you”, I said. “I am not in the habit of riding so far away from my pack, to request the assistance of every pack I come across so that they can fulfil their duty to the Royal Bloodline, simply for the amusement it brings”, I said.

He bowed his head immediately.

I turned back to Alpha Zolan.

“If you are aware of the prophecy, then you must be aware of the Vampire King”, I said to him.

He gave a weak nod and I went on.

“Gaia of Whitestorm pack was summoned”, I told him. “She is at my pack as we speak alongside her son, the Alpha Gaius of Whitestorm pack. She is the reason I am on this journey”, I said and leaned forward. “The Vampire King is aware of my mate’s existence, and he plans to kill her before she can give birth to my son”, I told him, my intense gaze locked in his.

I saw the understanding of my words dawn on him.

“You are saying your mate is already pregnant?” Zara asked from beside her father, drawing my gaze to her.

I nodded.

“He will try to kill my son before he is born”, I told them. “He will try to stop the prophecy from being fulfilled. He will try to take them from me”, I leaned back to rest on my chair. “But I will die first before I see that happen”, I said before looking around at them. “I ask that you do your duty to the Royal Bloodline”, I said. “That you keep the pledge of your fathers and answer in defense of the Royal family, when I call”, I requested.

He was silent for a long time.

They all were.

It was not everyday one heard that a long, almost forgotten prophecy was coming to fulfillment.

Alpha Zolan finally spoke.

“I fear I cannot be of help to you”, he said, and I felt my heart drop.

Redclaw was one of the largest werewolf packs in the East. Despite what I had told Luke, their numbers would mean we stood a good chance.

“As you can see”, he went on. “I do not have much longer to remain in this world”, he told me before turning to look lovingly at his daughter. “But my heir is strong and wise”, he said as her eyes began to glisten. “I have only one wish before I go”, he said, turning back to me. “That my daughter be happy and cherished”, he said and looked at Luke.

“If you will give me your word that you will take care of my daughter”, he told him and turned back to me. “Then you have mine on this day, that whenever you call, Redclaw pack will answer”, he said. “Whether I am here or not”.

I saw Zara grab a hold of her father’s hand, her eyes glistening but no tears falling.

She would indeed make a good mate for Luke.

I turned to Luke.

I could not give my word, it was not mine to give.

It was Luke he had asked, not me, so I waited in silence alongside everyone else for the what Luke would say.

He spoke after a short while.

“You have my word”, he said. “On this day, Alpha Zolan, I promise to protect, love and cherish your daughter. I will do all I can to make her happy, for as long as I live”, he said, turning to look at his mate with complete adoration.

That had taken much less than I had originally thought it would.

She smiled as her father nodded.

“Then it is settled”, Alpha Zolan said and motioned for us to continue our meal.

‘That did not take long’ I teased Luke through our mind link. ‘I thought you wanted nothing to do with her’.

He did not respond, simply shot me a glare and turned to watch his mate as she ate.