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The great hall falls silent as we enter, hundreds of wolves from every territory rising in unified respect. Not just for their king, but for the queen who has earned her place through sacrifice and courage beyond what tradition ever demanded. And for the child who represents a future none could have predicted when this journey began.From my position on the ceremonial dais, I can see the varied reactions as Alexander surveys the gathered crowds with that unsettling focus. Some wolves bow lower, instinctively recognizing power beyond his infant form. Others watch with careful assessment, measuring reality against the prophecy's ancient words. A few – very few – show lingering concern in tightened jaws and narrowed eyes.But none voice opposition as the head elder steps forward to begin the ancient rite of presentation. The ceremonial words flow in language older than any living wolf, acknowledging the heir to the throne that predates modern territories and alliances.When the moment com
The celebration continues around us, the entire kingdom acknowledging the heir whose existence represents both fulfillment of ancient words and the beginning of a new era none could have fully anticipated. Through our connection, contentment flows alongside a lingering wariness – joy in the present moment balanced against awareness that threats remain beyond the walls currently sheltering our family.But as night deepens and the ceremonial feast gradually transitions to a quieter gathering, a different energy builds between us. Sage's eyes find mine across the crowded hall, her thoughts flowing with crystal clarity despite the distance separating us – reminder of the promise whispered before the ceremony began, intention that has nothing to do with politics or prophecy and everything to do with the man and woman who found each other against all odds and expectations.When we finally withdraw, Alexander settled peacefully in his nursery under Iris's watchful care, that energy transforms
One year laterMorning sunlight streams through our bedroom windows, painting golden patterns across Alaric's sleeping form. I study him in this rare moment of complete relaxation – the powerful lines of his body softened in slumber, the weight of crown and kingdom temporarily set aside. My fingers trace the silver mark at his neck, my claim now as permanent as his upon me.So much has changed in the year since Alexander's birth. The kingdom that once viewed me as an unwelcome intruder now bows respectfully to their healing queen. The council that resisted my position now seeks my counsel on matters extending beyond traditional healing responsibilities. And the mate who once fought our connection now reaches for me even in sleep, his hand finding mine with an unconscious certainty that makes my heart swell."Watching me again?" he murmurs without opening his eyes, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth."Absolutely. Every chance I get," I admit, leaning down to brush my lips again
"We should get up," I say reluctantly after indulging in the comfort of Alaric’s arms longer than our mornings usually allow. But all too soon, the moment we’ve spent basking in our joyous news is overshadowed by the awareness of the many responsibilities waiting beyond our private chamber. "The council will be gathering soon."Alaric growls softly, arms tightening around me in playful resistance. "They can wait," he counters, rolling to position his body above mine with careful weight distribution that somehow manages to be protective and passionate simultaneously. "I've just learned I'm going to be a father again. There are matters requiring immediate attention before affairs of state can possibly be addressed."The desire flowing through our connection ignites a matching response in me, political obligations temporarily fading beneath more primal considerations. This has been an unexpected gift from all we've endured together – passion deepened beyond anything I could have dreamed a
That's a wrap for Sage and Alaric's story! Thank you so much for taking this bumpy ride with me! I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it! We'll see a bit more of Sage and Alaric in Alexander's story, coming up next right here on this thread. The Lycan Heir's Destiny"His violet gaze locks with mine, power crackling between us like lightning before a storm. 'I was born to rule a kingdom,' he growls, backing me against the ancient stone wall, 'but fate made me yours.' His touch blazes across my skin, healing and burning in equal measure. 'Why must you tempt me like this?' he demands, fury and desire warring in his eyes. Before I can answer, his mouth claims mine in a kiss of raw possession and rage—a battle neither of us can afford to lose, yet neither will surrender."As heir to the Lycan throne, Alexander Sterling carries the weight of an ancient prophecy on his shoulders. With his twenty-fifth birthday approaching, he must take a mate before claiming his crown.
Alexander I jolt awake, sweat soaking through my silk sheets, heart hammering against my ribs like it's trying to escape. The nightmare clings to me, fragments of images still burning behind my eyes—my body tearing in two, one half glowing with healing light, the other consumed by Alpha power, both halves reaching for each other but never connecting."Just a dream," I mutter, dragging a hand down my face.Except it doesn't feel like just a dream. It feels like a warning.The morning light filters through the royal blue curtains of my chambers, casting long shadows across the polished marble floor. Twenty-four years old, and I still wake up terrified like a pup. Some heir to the Lycan throne I am.A knock sounds at the door, three quick raps I recognize immediately."Enter," I call, pushing myself up against the ornate headboard.My father's Beta, Garrett, steps in, his face a carefully composed mask that doesn't quite hide his concern. He's been looking at me like that more often late
AlexanderThe training yard is empty at this hour except for Dominic, who's setting up practice dummies with methodical precision. He looks up as I approach, a grin spreading across his face."Well, if it isn't His Royal Grumpiness," he calls. "Come to beat the bad mood out of yourself?"Despite everything, I feel myself smiling. Dominic has been my shadow since we were pups, the son of my father's most trusted warrior, trained from birth to be my Beta. Unlike everyone else, he's never treated me like I'm made of glass—or nitroglycerin."Something like that," I reply, shrugging off my formal jacket and rolling up my sleeves. "I need to hit something that won't complain to the council about it.""Rough breakfast?" He tosses me a wooden practice sword.I catch it with one hand. "The usual. 'Take a mate, fulfill the prophecy, save the kingdom.'""Just another Tuesday, then." He positions himself across from me, sword at the ready. "The Northern delegation arrived.""So I heard." I circle
LyraI press my hands to Mrs. Hadley's forehead, letting my energy seek out the infection that's been ravaging her body for days. The other healers tried traditional remedies—herbal infusions, poultices, even bloodletting—but the fever persisted. Now it falls to me, as always when conventional methods fail."Easy," I murmur as she whimpers. "I'm going to help you."Closing my eyes, I visualize the infection as a dark cloud in her blood. Most healers in our enclave work with their hands alone, but I've always seen illness differently—not just as something to push away, but as something to transform. I don't just channel healing energy; I redirect the sickness itself.My fingers tingle as I guide the infection, changing its nature rather than fighting it directly. Under my palms, Mrs. Hadley's skin cools, her breathing steadies. When I open my eyes, her face has regained its color, the angry flush of fever replaced by the pink of health."It's done," I tell her relieved husband. "She'll
Lyra "Or another of your bloodline, though few remain." Thalia’s words bring me back to the present as she reaches for my hands, clasping them in her own. "The Northern delegation seeks a Silverspiral healer for their ritual. Whatever they plan, it involves the prophecy, the Lycan heir, and the disruption of the true mate bond you now share.""But why? What could they hope to gain?""Power," she says simply. "Control over the balanced power that the prophecy promises. If they can bind the heir to their bloodline instead of his true mate, they might redirect the fulfillment of the prophecy to serve their purposes."My mind races, connecting fragments of overheard conversations with this new information. "I overheard them speaking of a binding ceremony, of needing a healer of pure bloodline for a ritual to work properly.""A perversion of ancient magic," Thalia growls. "They would use your blood—your essence—to create a false bond between the prince and their princess, overriding the t
LyraI follow the hidden paths back to our secondary encampment, my mind still reeling from the encounter with Alexander. Every step increases the distance between us, and with it comes a physical ache I've only heard described in tales of true mates separated. The silver bond stretches taut between us, a constant reminder of what fate has decreed and duty denies.The dream flowers in my basket seem to pulse with their own soft luminescence in the fading light, their scent more potent than usual—or perhaps my senses are simply heightened by the awakening of the mate bond. Either way, their presence is a tangible reminder of my responsibilities to my people, responsibilities that now seem at odds with the pull of my heart.Our emergency settlement is well-concealed, nestled against a cliff face with natural caves providing shelter. Unlike our permanent enclave, this location is sparse, functional, designed for temporary safety rather than comfort. As I approach, I sense rather than see
AlexanderMy mother’s watchful eyes pierce right through me as she waits for me to speak. I consider lying, brushing off my questions as nothing more than curiosity. But I’ve never lied to her before, and I don’t intend to start now. "I found my true mate today," I say finally, the words both liberating and damning. "A healer named Lyra, from one of the hidden communities."Elara gasps softly while my mother's expression transforms from shock to a complex mixture of joy and concern. "The mate bond—you're certain?""As certain as you and Father were," I confirm. "The silver connection, instantaneous and undeniable.""Oh, Alex," Elara breathes, understanding immediately the impossible position I'm in. "The Choosing Gala, Princess Selene, the prophecy...""All pointing me in one direction," I finish grimly, "while fate pulls me in another."My mother rises, coming to me, her hands cool against my face as she studies me with those violet eyes so like my own. "A true mate is a gift beyond
Alexander The Grand Ballroom is even more crowded than the previous night, the competition among potential matches growing as the Gala progresses. By tradition, I should be narrowing my preferences, spending more time with those I find most suitable. Instead, I move mechanically through the required dances, my thoughts a thousand miles away in a forest clearing with a woman whose touch brought balance to my warring nature."Your Highness seems distracted tonight," observes Lady Mirella, the daughter of an influential Alpha from the Western territories, as we complete our obligatory dance."Forgive me," I say automatically. "Many matters require my attention with the coronation approaching."She simpers appropriately, but I can see the calculation in her eyes. All of them are watching, evaluating, strategizing—except Selene, who stands across the room in conversation with my father, her poise perfect as always but her gaze finding me repeatedly.I've successfully avoided her so far, pl
AlexanderEvery step away from Lyra feels wrong—physically painful in a way I've never experienced. The silver thread of our mate bond stretches but doesn't break, a constant pull urging me to turn back, to claim what fate has decreed is mine. My head pounds and my dual nature—healing and Alpha—roils inside me, more unsettled than ever before."Alex?" Dominic's voice breaks through my inner turmoil. "You need to slow down. You're practically running."I realize I've been striding through the forest at a punishing pace, as if physical distance might somehow diminish the connection I feel to her. I stop abruptly, bracing one hand against a tree trunk, struggling to bring my breathing under control."A true mate," I say, the words hollow with disbelief. "Now, of all times."Dominic says nothing, just watches me with concern etched on his features. He was there, he saw the connection spark between us, but he can't feel what I'm feeling—the bone-deep certainty colliding with equally powerfu
LyraMy healing ability activates instinctively, energy flowing through my fingertips into his arm. I sense immediately that something is wrong—his dual natures pulling against each other with increasing force, creating internal fractures where they should flow together."Your power is destabilizing," I tell him, medical concern momentarily overriding the more complicated emotions of our situation. "The Alpha strength and healing ability—they're fighting each other instead of balancing."He looks at me with surprise. "You can sense that?""I'm a healer," I remind him. "Diagnosing is what I do." I hesitate, then add, "But this is beyond my experience. I've never felt anything like the conflict in your energies.""The conflict has been growing stronger as my twenty-fifth birthday approaches," he admits. "Headaches, power surges, difficulty controlling either ability."His Beta watches our exchange with growing concern. "We should return to the palace," he suggests. "If you're unwell—""I
LyraThe moment I lock eyes with him, everything inside me shifts—rearranges itself around a truth I never expected to face. The legendary silver connection of true mates flares between us like a living thing, pulsing with recognition so fierce it nearly brings me to my knees.My basket tumbles from my fingers, precious dream flowers scattering across the forest floor. I rise to my feet, unable to look away from the man standing at the edge of the clearing. Even without the royal trappings, I would know him anywhere—the violet eyes that mark his heritage, the commanding presence that no plain clothing can disguise. Prince Alexander, heir to the throne, son of the king who descended from those who hunted my people to near extinction.My true mate."It's you," he whispers, his voice carrying easily across the clearing.I can't speak, can't move. Every instinct urges me forward, toward him, while every rational thought screams danger. The mate bond thrums between us, demanding acknowledgm
AlexanderAfter some discussion, Merrick provides us with a crude map marking the locations of reported sightings and the disturbance. With daylight still abundant, Dominic and I set out immediately, following the forest paths that grow increasingly wild as we move deeper into territory rarely traveled by royal patrols."This feels like crossing into another realm," Dominic comments as the forest changes character around us—older trees, more undergrowth, a stillness that seems almost watchful.I know what he means. There's a different quality to the air here, a sense of ancient presence. As we continue, I notice something else—a subtle resonance with my healing abilities, like a low vibration just beneath my awareness."There's power here," I murmur. "Old power."We reach the area Merrick marked as the site of the disturbance by mid-afternoon. At first glance, it appears to be nothing but dense forest, but closer inspection reveals signs of recent activity—broken branches, disturbed ea
AlexanderThe reports lie scattered across my desk, each more troubling than the last. For the past hour, I've been reading intelligence summaries from our border patrols—accounts of strangers asking questions about healing bloodlines, mapping remote areas where healing enclaves are rumored to exist, and in one case, pursuing someone through the forest near the eastern boundary."This can't be a coincidence," I tell Dominic, who stands by the window, his expression grim. "Not with the Northern delegation's sudden interest in the prophecy, their questions about Elara's abilities.""You think they're connected?" he asks, though his tone suggests he's already reached the same conclusion.I run a hand through my hair in frustration. "Three reports of strangers in Northern colors sighted near areas where healing communities might be hidden? During the exact week they arrive with prophecy texts mentioning both Elara and me?" I shake my head. "That's not a coincidence. That's coordination."D