The Claimed Promise

Stronger Than A Wolf

My next wake up call wasn’t as calm or gentle as the previous ones; pain radiates from my knees and elbows as I’m pushed forward. Balance isn’t my friend from all of the drugs and there’s no way I can stop the painful collision. Hissing in pain, my eyes blink open and I’m kneeling in front of the thrones. A woman and man I do not recognize stand in front of me, Samara stands directly to the right and to the right of Samara is Liam, Claudia and Drake. f*****g Claudia. Anger rushes to the forefront of my emotions and I’m instantly wide awake and aware of my surroundings. The entire throne room is packed, shoulder to shoulder, wolves sit and whisper amongst one another.

“Silence!” The sound of a powerful voice I don’t recognize yet radiates through the room, and soon, the entire room is quiet.

“Kora, future Luna Queen of The Lunar Crown Pack. You are accused of treason, the sentence being either exile or death. How do you plea?”

As soon as the word treason leaves his mouth, I’ve already forfeited control on Arezu. Us being accused of treason almost sends her into a frenzy, and by the time we’re asked for our plea, my body begins to snap as it changes and contorts into my wolf.

We stand there, our height better then 7’6 inches, claws sharp as any knife and long sharp canines bared at the accusing.

“Oh, my Goddess, it’s a Lycan! “

“There hasn’t been a Lycan in over a thousand years…”

Chatter echoes through the entire room and the sound of our powerful growl silences the chattering wolves.

“What evidence do you have to accuse me of treason?” Another powerful growl follows my question and clearly the two unknown wolves in front of me and Samara fight to not submit.

“How dare you talk to the Alpha King in that manner!” He roars, his wolf clearly coming to the surface.

“If I was you pup, I’d stand down before I show you what true power is.” My voice comes out in a threatening growl and for a moment, he complies. Arezu takes advantage of the moment and takes over the conversation as our voices merge as one. “We are not guilty of treason. Yes, we took thirty thousand dollars from the pack, and I used that money to help my parents because they were looking at losing their business due to my ex. However, I left a note for Samara letting her know I’d pay the pack back and I never told a single human my true identity. If you want to condemn me for helping my family, fine, but I would have never made this decision in this manner if I had not caught my mate kissing her chosen mate. That’s what drove us away from the pack and continues to do so.”

Loud growls echo through the throne room and clearly my words have taken many of the pack members by surprise. The female I hadn’t recognized lifts her arms into the air to regain control and soon, the pack again quiets down.

“This information presented to my husband and I is new, and we intend to fully investigate this matter…”

Before she can continue, a growl cuts her off and Claudia steps forward.

“How can we even consider something a human says to be true? No matter the form she takes, she will always be a human and not worthy of leading this pack!”

Control over Arezu is almost completely gone as Claudia speaks. We listen intently and consider which part of her throat we should rip out before responding.

“If a challenge is what you desire, then know, we accept.” Our canines are fully visible as we snarl, and our imagination is running wild with the possibility of how to end her life.

From the back of the room, another male and female pair of wolves we don’t recognize steps forward.

“Claudia, you embarrass us. Be silent and respect the new Queen Luna. This is clearly her rightful place for our pack and clearly a gift from The Moon Goddess.”

The assumption that this is her and Liam’s parents is made, and I decide to wait and see what her response is. To the surprise of everyone, she steps forward to argue. Before she can continue, Liam is quick to silence her.

“Shut the hell up. You are not going to be our Alpha’s mate or our Queen Luna. Her destine mate is not only here, but clearly a gift from The Moon Goddess herself presented in the form of a Lycan. Stand down.”

Claudia looks around at the unfriendly glares she’s receiving from the crowd.

“One day, I will take my rightful place next to Samara. This filthy human does not belong here, and I’ll prove that to this pack!” Before anyone can respond, Claudia quickly storms out of the room.

Silence engulfs all of us as we process the events. Eventually, the man I’ve come to learn as the Alpha King and Samara’s father, speaks up.

“Kora, future Alpha Queen of The Lunar Crown Pack. Please accept our apology not only from the pack, but from a very disappointed and embarrassed set of parents. We taught our daughter to not only appreciate but respect their mate.” The current Queen and King bend their heads to me, and I can’t help but try to stop them.

“Please do not bow to me. You are not the ones who wronged me and my Lycan and I refuse to start off on that note with our potential in-laws. Raise your heads as the King and Queen and trust that The Moon Goddess guides me in my choices.” My head bows to both the King and Queen and Arezu quickly fades to show submission. As a Lycan, we have no need to submit, but in order to reassure the pack of our relationship, we try to be as unintimidating as possible.

Samara stands and finally decides to add to the conversation. “A grave mistake in selecting a chosen mate was made long ago, but please trust in my words when I tell this pack and you, Kora, my beautiful mate, that kiss was not consensual nor will anything like it happen again. The Moon Goddess has given me my true mate I don’t plan to baulk at this gift. To my pack, my parents and most of all, my mate. I am truly sorry.” Samara’s head dipped down and my lycan whined for me to go comfort her. Anger is still coursing through the human part of me, and I silence her.

“How do I know that this thing with your chosen mate is done? I do not. Actions could have been taken to prevent this outcome, yet you never intervened before when she made it clear she felt you were hers. So, no matter how much this hurts my lycan, I’ve come to a decision. That decision is to not let you ever hurt or betray me again. I, Kora Cybil, lycan not belonging to any pack, reject you, Sama……” Before the words are fully out of my mouth, Samara’s wolf has taken over and tackles me to the ground.

“Don’t you dare finish those words. You are mine and I won’t allow a rejection!” Yuri let’s out the most powerful growl I’ve heard yet and every part of my body has come to life. Arezu begs to be set free, but I suppress her.

“If I was yours, I’d bear your mark.” Each word is laced with venom even though my body is on fire with lust.

“Just because the human side was too stupid to mark you when she should have, doesn’t mean you aren’t mine. I’ve already warned the human side of me that if she doesn’t mark you, I will take control and do so.” Yuri talking about taking control and marking me causes Arezu to try and push forward once more and my internal struggle becomes more difficult.

“Arezu, please. I would let Yuri mark us if it weren’t for the hesitation of the human side. That needs to be figured out first. We both have to be happy.”

For a moment, my plea seems to fall on deaf ears, but finally Arezu stops pushing. “You are right. Our mate needs to be committed in both forms and I promise I won’t allow Yuri to mark us.” There’s a pause and then I again feel Arezu pushing for control. I trust my lycan and I decide to give her what she’s asking for.

Arezu takes control of the situation and begins to speak to Yuri. “We believe you and we want nothing more than to bear your mark and for you to bear ours. However, the human side must be in agreement and make the mark or we will not accept it.” Not only does her voice put an end to any possibility of Yuri marking us, but she also swiftly kicks Yuri off and we stand to face our mate.

Before the situation can escalate further, the king quickly steps forward. “Everyone, we have found your future Queen Luna to be no guilty of all charges. Furthermore, the money given to her human family is to be excused due to extenuating circumstances as long as the pack agrees.” As the final words leave the king’s mouth, the pack explodes in cheers and it’s clear what their answer is. Samara’s eyes return to normal, and she is again in control.

As she stands and collects herself, the pack goes completely silent. “Tonight, we join together as a pack around the bonfire and celebrate the gift of a lycan to The Lunar Crown Pack.” For a moment, the silence continues after Samara finishes speaking, and I worry they won’t celebrate her declaration. Thankfully, the moment passes and they all cheer as they flood the doors to exit the throne room out to the pack grounds where the bon fires are held. As the room empties, only six remain aside from Samara and myself. Liam and Lindsey, the two I assume are Liam’s parents, and the two I assume are Samara’s parents.