THE ALPHA OF SHADOWS.

Moans. High pitched painful moans filled the air as Prince Ryder made his way to the mistresses champers. He had heard that Lady Nadia was in labour few moments ago and had hurriedly rushed to come be by her side.

  He had previously promised to be by her side during her birthing process and was agitated as he listened to her cries from her distant chambers. She had been the only female he was interested in, in all of alpha Than's mistresses.

  Unlike the other ambitious ones, she was different. Soft and humble, and reminded him of his late mother Luna Aria goddess bless her soul, whom he had lost ten seasons ago to the fever.

  His heightened hearing picked up the sound of Nadia's painful groans before the room fell silent and that alone further increased his fears as he began to run to her bed chambers. 

  By the time he got there he could already hear the cry of a youngling and heard the voices of the physician and mid wives. It was a boy, thank the goddess. But then he panicked again, why couldn't he hear her breathing.

  He rushed to her side and held her wrist, no pulse. Took his ears closer to her nose . Maybe, just maybe his heightened hearing was failing him. But no sound was heard, it dawned on him like a snowball, she was dead.

  ALPHA THAN'S QUARTERS:

  Alpha Than's quarters was filled with jubilation and merry making as wolves from different packs came to celebrate the birth of the new prince, forgetting the fact that a life was just lost. 

  As he walked into of the banquet grounds, as usual he drew attention like flies, and murmurs flies behind as he walks by. Amongst those words that flew by as he passed, he could hear smatterings of it.

  “He’s so pretty,”

  “It’s the feminine prince,”

  “No man should have a hair that gorgeous”

  Prince Ryder ignored them all, feigning relaxation and nonchalance as he move forward, with his head held high. Yet, his sense remained on alert. 

  He felt infuriated as he watched his father the alpha celebrate and make merry, making out with mistresses in public. His wolf threatening to come to the surface and that was bad. Turning around he quickly left the venue before he would do something stupid. 

  Entering his room he quickly shed his armour, walking up to the mirror he takes of his clothes reveling his chest bindings and he sighed as he took them of to, freeing his breast and standing in his full glory. A woman disguised as an alpha successor, how ironic. 

  He quickly pulles on the strings binging his brown hair and it falls freely behind his back, In soft, thick waves.

  A knock on the door soon interrupts his sanctuary. "Who is it" he questioned as he quickly wrapped up his chest bindings and put on his armour. 

"My prince, the alpha has requested of your presence immediately".

  'what on earth does he want from me this time around' he muttered dryly as he packed his hair up and put on his boots.

  Getting to the alpha's chambers, he knew something was wrong the very moment he saw all the guests rushing uncomfortably towards the exit. What in the moon was happening here.

  He spotted his father smiling awkwardly towards a figure dressed in black cloth. He still couldn't see the face of the man in question, but judging from the unease he caused the tyrant alpha, it was obvious he was someone of power. A little too much.

  "Ahh! May I introduce to you my son and crown prince, Ryder". Came the strained voice of alpha Than. The figure hesitated a moment longer than necessary before finally turning around to acknowledge the young prince.

  As soon as he caught sight of the young prince, his grey eyes remained glued to him. Intrigued, or searching for something, Ryder couldn't quite tell. But he knew he caught his interest all right.

  "Prince Ryder, meet Alpha Ethan, Lycan King and alpha to the night shade howlers". And that was when it downed on the young prince. He was a Lycan King, the Lycan King. 

  "It is an honour to finally meet you Alpha Ethan, I've heard so much about you". Came the prince's voice as he bowed deeply.

  His heart was skipping multiple beats. What does the Lycan King want. He was known to cause chaios in any pack he visits. Rumour has it that he was going feral. But that was that, rumours.

  He acknowledged his greetings with a nod but kept his gaze solely on the young prince, and that alone made the young prince feel more and more uncomfortable.

 Minutes stretched to hours and Prince Ryder sat still as he listened to his father talk endlessly.

  It was already past Ryder's bedtime, but sleep was the last thing on his mind right now. He had learnt that the capital needed a qualified candidate for the position of a beta in training, and his father alpha Than semmed to be greatly interested in the topic. But that was far from the case.

  His father immediately volunteered for Ryder without his consent what so ever. He was already the crowned prince here in his pack, but his father being the greedy male he was, wanted him for the post so he could have a right hand man in the capital. And let's not forget he now has another successor.

  That would be killing two birds with one very large stone. He was soon pulled out of his thoughts by his father's voice. 

 "Prince Ryder, could you escort our guest to his room. I still have a lot to take care of and it is late as it is". 

  "Yes father". Came his tiny voice as he stood to escort alpha Ethan.

  "This way your highness" and with that they walked away. 

  They walked quitely through the grand halls as the awkwardness was so thick in the air it could be cut with a scissors. He soon noticed that the king along with all his men had no scent. Weird.

  He showed them to their various rooms before heading back to his chambers, what a night. 

  He shed his clothes and bindings before heading to the bath tub. And just as he was about to get in, the door to his room was flung open and a tall figure walked in.

  "Young Prince I......" 

  Prince Ryder eyes widened, as he turned abruptly and was met with a set of gray eyes.