Chapter Nine

Amante POV

                The hallway is bare and only the thick carpet that wards off the freezing coldness of the ground can be considered as adornment. Werewolves are resilient to cold but the freezing point in this land goes beyond our limits. A little warmth the carpet provides is appreciated. Without windows and lighting, it could be dark for a human peripheral vision. But werewolves are nocturnal. Our night vision is 40-50% higher than average human eyesight. Thus, it was never an issue for me to walk my way down the narrow passage. Winter wolves used to live in ice caves before having shipping containers from sunken ships becomes useful as low-slung buildings to accommodate more pack members with their respective privacy is put into consideration. The make-shift office is located in the farthest-end room. I was in the middle of my self-reflection when an Omega she-wolf named Irna calls me out and tells me about Alpha King Henrik’s bid to have a meeting with me in his office. I was reluctant at first but decided to brave my way and face him for a talk or two. I never had to knock before opening a door. It is just a screaming sign of respect to the people on the other side which I defy to do so much. I am the one to be respected the most! I slide open the steel door and walkthrough, I am numb to any emotions as of now. Inside is Alpha King Henrik and Beta Emir, seriousness pasted on their stern faces. I warily take my seat. Even Amaltheo feels distressed inside my mind.

“You left in haste and skipped the announcement of your preferment.”, says the Alpha King that breaks the awkward stillness of the room.

               The chair I am sitting on squeaks when my body involuntarily jerks at the news. It wasn’t what I had in mind when I came here. But it stirs up my interest.

“I-I haven’t heard. What about it, though?”, I ask, excitement is building up my throat which I keep at bay to look dignified and formal.

               Beta Emir hands me a paper and I read through it attentively. Now, I comprehend the situation. A transition in the ranking system is required after Delta George died. His son is barely able to walk and there is no other direct family to inherit the position but his mate who is now in a deranged state. Unfortunately, even if she wasn’t in her current condition, it is unlikely for the pack to have a she-wolf as Delta. A promotion to a higher rank level is inevitable. The Delta position is fourth in command. The then Head Warrior Aeron Zahlt assumes this position and Maziar Brennan take over in his preceding rank. I found my name listed as the new Lead Hunter of the pack, and I’m becoming uncontrollably ecstatic, though I express no intense emotions to be perceived as simply amused. I put down the paper and stay quiet for a while.

“Any problem?”, Alpha King Henrik ask, visibly worried about my lukewarm reaction.

“This means I will be responsible for the food of the whole pack, right? I had been idling around all my years of stay here. I know nothing about hunting.”, I express hesitation to conceal the ultimate agenda I have in mind. I watch their every move, trying to decipher what is hidden behind their anxious faces.

“You don’t have to worry about that. The council already gave their approval and Maziar will help you with it. He used to be your trainer, wasn’t he? He told us you got talents.”, the Beta said with a smile that looks genuine at least.

“That was from a long time ago!”, I persist, shifting sideways on my seat.

“I saw you! Back in the city, when you head strikes a man and step on his baby. You were cruel, merciless, and deadly back then. You got fire within you!”, Alpha King Henrik states the facts I had been meaning for him to acknowledge. He is gradually falling victim to my next murderous trap.

“I need time to think about it. I’ll be back!”, I said and walk out of the room hurriedly like a suffocating moth inside its cocoon of silk.

               I know exactly where to go. My mind is a rumble of thoughts but I am feeling lightheaded. The interrupted agendas are ultimately falling in the right direction. I walk past Irna who is currently busy with her house chores, giving her an amiable smile like I used to, as part of my niceties. I was taught to be generous and considerate to pack members that work under me. Their loyalty holds an indispensable part in maintaining ascendancy over the pack. Demanding respect has a striking difference from being regarded with reverence. A revered Alpha King is what I desire to be. That’s why I covertly do betrayals. It wouldn’t be good for me to be tagged as the king who stole the crown. It was mine to have from the very start. With this in mind, I rigorously scan my surroundings. I am going somewhere tricky so I need to make sure it remains confidential. My plans will be jeopardized once someone else found out about it.

“Just go back to the room. Let’s stop from here. You are going to put Allyssa in danger with your schemes.”, I hear Amaltheo's pleading voice inside my head. ”Let’s go now!”, he is instructing me which irritates me more.

“You have no say on this wolf! Be quiet!”, I hear me yelling at him inside my mind. I even pounce on the ground in annoyance.

“Everything is changed now that we have our mate. Accept your fate!”, he growls back, a defiant wolf is now clawing on my walls.

“What happened to you? Are you really my wolf?”, I ask him in doubt and I feel his uneasiness. “You used to have my back ever since we met. You were always supportive of me. What happened now? You’ve changed a lot, just because of that human mate!”,   am so disappointed in him and the memories of our first meeting flows unsuppressed inside my agitated mind.

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               The sleeping little boy suddenly stood up. Confusion is visible on his small, chubby face. He heard a voice called out his name. It was a man's voice so he thought it was his dad, the Alpha King Simon of Sagrada Luminati Kingdom. He looked around the room but his dad is nowhere to be found. It was quiet, the midnight moon was the only source of light. His searching gaze fell on the regalia attached to the suit prepared for the celebration of his eighth birthday tomorrow evening. It’s his very own Royal effigy, a gold coin about as big as his small fist where a howling wolf under the moon is stamped on. At the back of the coin is his name:

Amante del Fuego

      Royal Prince of Sagrada Luminati Kingdom

8^th Birthday to you!

               It was a gift given by his mother Queen Geronima just before he went to sleep. It made him excited for his coming birthday party.

“Fascinating!”, said the mysterious voice and it was coming from inside of him.

               The boy was terrified and jerked out of his bed to run into his parent's adjacent room in the palace. He found them in deep slumber, cuddled into each other’s arms. He went directly in between them and they were woken up. The mother although surprised instinctively hugged his trembling son.

“Don’t be scared now. Mom is here!”, she whispered lovingly into the boy's ear. The tenderness in her voice calmed down the hysterical prince.

“What is it, son? Were you having a nightmare?”, asked his father while stroking his lush Auburn hair.

               The boy was too freaked out to respond. His parents patiently waited until their precious son completely settled down.

“I-I heard a voice! It’s coming from my head!”, he said afterward.

               His parents were stupefied. They gape at each other. They have an idea of what their son was talking about, but they found it impossible to believe. The boy turned eighth just about a couple of minutes ago. It is rare, rather extraordinary to meet his spirit wolf at this particular young age.

“Come, my son!”, the Alpha King said. He carried his little son in his arms and walked out to the balcony, followed by his Queen. The moon is hiding behind the clouds making an eerie visage to the lurking darkness below. A humid breeze passes by oh so quickly and dissipated without a trace. The family stood silent for a while, savoring the serenity of the night.

“Son, we are werewolves. We transform into wolves whenever necessary or at our whim. It was a blessing from our divination, the Moon Goddess. You’ve met my wolf Reign and mom's Luluwah, right?”, the boy nods his head.

“And you might have met yours tonight!”, he smiled at his son's confused face. “Why don’t you try to ask him his name?!”, he encourages his son. The boy looks back to his mother who nods approvingly with a sweet smile on her lovely face.

“Who are you?”, asked the boy out loud that made his parents laugh.

“My name is Amaltheo, your wolf! Glad we met, though early.”, answered the gruff voice inside the prince's innocent mind.

“Can I transform now? I want to be a big wolf, as huge as dad's!”, asked the boy excitedly. His fear simply disappeared.

“In time! You have to grow a muscle or two first before you can do that!”, replied the wolf, then settled himself inside his comfortable confinement.

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