Mated to the Wrong Alpha Prince

Treacherous path

As they trudged along the treacherous mountain path, Marcus and Darren couldn't help but discuss the political climate. The air was thick with tension and uncertainty, and they were all too aware of the precarious situation they found themselves in.

"Have you heard about the latest attack on the Western border?" asked Marcus, his voice tense with worry. "The rumors say that the Northern tribe is behind it."

Aurelius nodded, his own thoughts swirling with concern. "Yes, I heard about it. It's troubling news, to say the least."

The other man, a grizzled veteran with scars etched into his weathered face, spoke up. "It's not just troubling, lad. It's a sign of things to come. We need to be prepared for anything."

Aurelius knew the man was right, but he couldn't help feeling a sense of helplessness wash over him. What could they possibly do in the face of such overwhelming danger?

Aurelius and his grandfather’s men had been traveling for days through treacherous mountain passes, their horses struggling to keep up as they made their way towards the Huntington Pack.

As they were discussing the political situation, they came across a very old woman struggling to carry two heavy buckets of water. Marco and Darren wanted to press on, not wanting to waste any time, but Aurelius insisted on helping the woman.

"Let me carry those for you," he said, approaching the woman with a smile.

The woman looked up at him, her wrinkled face breaking into a toothless grin. "Oh, bless you, young man," she said. "I'm not as strong as I used to be."

Aurelius took the buckets from her and followed her to a small cottage nearby. As they entered, they were greeted by the warmth of a fire in the hearth and the smell of cooking food.

"Thank you for your kindness," Aurelius said. "We'll be on our way as soon as we've rested for a little while."

"Nonsense," the woman replied. "You're welcome to stay the night. It's not safe to be traveling these roads after dark, and I have plenty of room."

Aurelius and his companions looked at each other, unsure of what to do. They were used to sleeping in their tents, but the prospect of a warm bed and a roof over their heads was tempting. And the horses where weary.

"We would be grateful for your hospitality," Aurelius said finally.

The woman smiled and motioned for them to sit at the small table in the corner of the room. "Let me get you some food," she said, bustling about the kitchen.

As they ate, the woman began to ask them questions. "Where are you headed?" she asked. "What brings you this way?"

"We're on our way to negotiate some business," Aurelius replied.

The woman's eyes widened. "Ah, you meant to go to the Huntingtons?" she said knowingly. "I remember them well. My family used to live nearby, you know. I knew their ancestors well."

"Really?" Marco asked, intrigued. "What can you tell us about them?"

The woman leaned forward, her voice low. "Robert Huntington is a kind man. He once visited this village and break bread with us during the great starvation. That’s a decade ago. I’ve seen him in person, the man has the kindest smile."

"Indeed.," Darren said, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "What else do you know?"

Marcus shot him a warning look.

The woman continued. "And I remember one of their ancestors, a strong and noble werewolf named Lucian. He was a good friend of my family, and momma used to tell me stories of his adventures."

Lucian. The Vampire King slayer. So he was from this area.

Aurelius leaned in, intrigued. "What kind of stories?"

The woman's eyes sparkled with mischief. "Oh, all kinds of things. He once fought off a pack of bears single-handedly, and another time he saved a group of travelers from bandits."

Darren let out a low whistle. "What a man!"

The woman nodded. "Indeed he was. Care to hear the full story?”

And without waiting for a response, she continued.

"Long ago, in a pack of wolves deep in the mountains, there was a young wolf named Lucian. He was strong and clever, with a quick wit and a sharp tongue. He was loved by his pack, and he loved them in return.

But one day, a rival pack came to the mountain and challenged Lucian's pack for control of the territory. The Castel, at the time was just a small pack, were proud, and Huntington matches them in the aspect. The two packs fought fiercely, and in the end, Lucian's pack emerged victorious.

However, during the battle, Lucian were back stabbed by his brother, revealing secrets to the rival pack that nearly led to Lucian's defeat. Furious and heartbroken, Lucian banished his friend from the pack forever.”

“What kind of secret?” Aurelius asks, attentively.

“Paramour kind of secret.” Replied the old lady.

“Lucian continued to lead his pack with strength and courage. He led them on daring hunts, protected them from danger, and kept them strong and united.

But one day, a great threat came to the mountain: a fierce and terrible beast that no werewolf had ever seen before. It was huge and terrifying, with razor-sharp claws and teeth like knives with its skin white.”

“Vampire you mean?” Aurelius blinked. “I thought that was a myth. The Argentum destroyed them long ago, no one has seen them in a hundred years.”

“Sweet child.” Replied the old lady. “They would always lurk around. The day that the last descendant of Argentum draw their last breath is the day they come back.”

“Lucian knew that his pack couldn't defeat the beast alone, so he set out on a quest to find help. He traveled far and wide, facing many dangers along the way, but finally he found a powerful ally who agreed to fight the beast with him.

He found the Argentum of Serandon. Iris Argentum. The Argentum had the power to transform into silver at will, and they were the ones who established the werewolf empire and eradicated vampires. They also had the ability to kill werewolves if they contracted with their blood.”

“I thought it was a Lockhart, Richart Lockheart who found Iris?” Aurelius dug into his childhood memory. “That’s what I was told.”

“That’s the one who married Iris, not the one who found her, Auri.” Marco suddenly spoke up. Aurelius could almost hear sadness in his voice.

“Well, whatever you’ve heard, It all ended like this:

Lucian explained the situation to Iris, and she agreed to help him defeat the beast. Together, they made their way back to Lucian's pack, where they found the beast had already attacked and many werewolves were injured.

Lucian and Iris fought fiercely against the beast, but it was a tough battle. The beast was strong and fast, and its white skin seemed to protect it from most attacks. However, Iris had a trick up her sleeve - she transformed into her silver form, which could cut through anything, including the beast's skin.

Together, Lucian and his ally defeated the beast in a fierce and bloody battle. Lucian returned home victorious."

There were names for Lucian. The slayer. The traitor. The back-stabber. None of them were friendly or endearing. But the story that came front his woman’s mouth is not the same thing that Aurelius, Darren or Marco had heard since they were children.

Marco cleared his throat, shifting uncomfortably in his seat. "With all due respect, ma'am, we appreciate your kind words, but we have a mission to complete. We must reach the Hunting Ton pack as soon as possible."

The woman nodded understandingly. "Of course, of course. I didn't mean to keep you from your duty. You can rest here for the night, and I'll have a hot meal waiting for you in the morning. But for now, I'll let you get some sleep."

Later that night, Aurelius's eyes grew heavy and he drifted off to sleep. In his dream, he found himself in a dark, eerie forest. The trees were gnarled and twisted, their branches reaching out like bony fingers. The air was thick with the scent of decay and he could hear the distant howling of wolves.

Suddenly, he felt a sharp pain in his side and he looked down to see a dagger protruding from his flesh. He tried to scream, but no sound escaped his lips. The pain grew more intense and he felt himself falling to the ground, his hands bound tightly together.

As he lay there, helpless and in agony, figures emerged from the shadows. They were cloaked in darkness, but he could feel their malevolent gaze upon him. One by one, they approached him with knives in their hands, piercing his body with each blow.

Aurelius writhed in pain, his body convulsing with each strike. He tried to fight back, but his hands remained tightly bound. The assailants continued their assault, their blades glinting in the moonlight.

As the last of his strength began to fade, Aurelius felt a sense of defeat and despair. He knew that no one would come to his aid, that he was alone in this dark and treacherous place. The pain, the fear, the isolation - it all became too much to bear.

Suddenly, a silver wolf appeared in Aurelius's dream. The wolf's fur shimmered in the moonlight, and her eyes glowed like stars. Aurelius felt a surge of relief and hope wash over him at the sight of the magnificent creature. The wolf approached him.

As the silver wolf approached him, Aurelius's fear began to subside, and a sense of familiarity washed over him. The wolf's piercing blue eyes locked onto his own, and Aurelius felt a strange connection, as if he knew this wolf intimately.

Suddenly, he realized that the wolf's fur was the same silvery color as Astrid's hair, and he felt a surge of warmth in his chest. The wolf approached him, nuzzling his hand with its nose, and Aurelius felt a sense of calm wash over him.

"Who are you?" Aurelius asked, staring into the wolf's eyes.

The wolf let out a low growl, almost as if it were answering his question, and then began to transform. Its fur began to recede, and within seconds, the wolf had transformed into a beautiful young woman with piercing blue eyes and silver hair that shimmered in the moonlight.

Aurelius's heart skipped a beat as he recognized her. "Astrid?"

The woman smiled at him, but she did not answer the question.

Aurelius felt tears prick at the corners of his eyes. "I thought I'd lost you," he said, his voice choked with emotion.

She reached out and took his hand, and Aurelius felt a jolt of electricity run through him at her touch. "You'll never lose me," she said softly.

Aurelius closed his eyes, feeling the weight of her words. "But I did. but I did once. I dreamt that i did. I can’t afford losing you this time" he whispered.

As the silver wolf stood before him, its eyes seeming to glow with a fierce intensity, Aurelius felt a sense of familiarity wash over him. It was as if he had seen this creature before, but he couldn't quite place where.

The wolf's voice, deep and resonant, cut through the darkness of his dream. "Wake up, Aurelius," it said.

Aurelius's eyes shot open, his heart pounding in his chest. He gasped for air, his body slick with sweat. He took a few deep breaths, trying to calm himself down.

"What was that?" he muttered to himself, rubbing his eyes.

As he looked around, he realized that he was no longer in the cramped confines of the cabin. He was lying on his back in a large, open field, with the night sky stretching out above him. The stars twinkled like diamonds, and a gentle breeze rustled through the grass around him.

He sat up, his head spinning. It was all so surreal. Had it all been a dream? Or had he somehow been transported here?

"Aurelius," the wolf's voice came again, and Aurelius turned to see the silver wolf standing just a few feet away. As he looked at the creature, he realized that there was something about it that reminded him of Astrid.

"Are you... are you real?" Aurelius asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

The wolf let out a low growl. "Does it matter?"

Aurelius shook his head, feeling foolish. "No, I guess not."

The wolf paced back and forth, its eyes never leaving Aurelius's. "You need to wake up now."

Aurelius frowned. "What do you mean?"

The wolf didn't answer, but instead turned and bounded away into the darkness. Aurelius scrambled to his feet, calling out after it, but it was already gone.

As he stood there, alone in the field, Aurelius realized that his heart was still pounding.

Aurelius jolted awake, his heart racing and his body drenched in sweat. The sound of his dream dissipated, replaced by the sounds of rustling bushes and muffled footsteps outside the cottage.

He sat up, his senses on high alert, and saw that Marco and Darren were still sound asleep. He shook them both awake urgently, his voice a hoarse whisper.

"Guys, wake up. We're under attack."

Their eyes widened with fear and confusion as they sat up, quickly realizing the severity of the situation. They scrambled for their weapons and made their way outside the cottage, ready to face their attackers.

The moon was obscured by clouds, casting everything in a pale grey light. The wind was howling, making it hard to hear anything clearly. But Aurelius could make out the silhouettes of several figures approaching them from all sides, their weapons glinting in the darkness.

Aurelius felt a rush of adrenaline as he saw the attackers closing in on his friends. He leapt into action, feeling the power of his wolf shifting skills surging through his veins. With a swift movement, he shifted into his wolf form, his senses sharpening as he scanned the area for any additional threats.

He watched as Marco and Darren fought fiercely, their swords glinting in the moonlight. Aurelius joined in the fray, his own sword flashing in the darkness. He could hear the clash of metal against metal, the grunts and screams of their attackers.

The attackers were no match for the trio's combined fighting skills, but Aurelius knew they had to be careful. The assassins were skilled fighters, and their movements were quick and precise. Aurelius used his wolf form to his advantage, dodging and weaving around the attackers, delivering swift and powerful blows that sent them stumbling backwards.

Despite being outnumbered, they fought with incredible ferocity and skill. Aurelius could feel the strength of the silver wolf surging through him, giving him an otherworldly power and agility. He moved with the grace and speed of the wolf, his movements fluid and deadly.

With a powerful surge of energy, Aurelius let out a deafening howl that echoed throughout the mountains. The sound seemed to stun the assassins, giving Aurelius and his friends the opportunity they needed to finish the fight. With a series of quick and deadly moves, they dispatched the remaining attackers, leaving them lying on the ground, defeated and unconscious.

Breathing heavily, Aurelius shifted back into his human form, feeling the rush of energy slowly leaving his body. He looked over at his friends, who were also panting and sweating from the exertion of the fight. They exchanged a quick glance, a silent acknowledgement of the danger they had just faced.

"That was too close," Marco said, panting heavily.

"We need to be more careful," Darren added, his eyes scanning the surrounding woods warily.

Aurelius and his men quickly secured the area, making sure there were no other threats. They then turned their attention to the one assassin who had survived.

"You're not going anywhere," Aurelius growled, grabbing the assassin by the collar of his shirt.

The assassin sneered, " Try and make me stay."

But before Aurelius could even respond, the assassin had already pulled out a small knife and plunged it into his own chest. He fell to the ground, lifeless.

Aurelius sighed, feeling a sense of disappointment wash over him. He had hoped to extract some information from the assassin, but it seemed that he was willing to die rather than reveal any secrets.

Aurelius and his men gathered around the fire, their faces tense with worry as they tried to piece together the events of the night.

Aurelius took a deep breath, his eyes narrowing in thought. "These men are trained to kill and die. There’s a mark on his chest."

Darren scoffed.

"My unle?"

Marco shook his head. "I don't know, it seems too obvious. Maybe it's a distraction, to take our focus off of something else."

Aurelius considered Marco's point. "It's possible. But we can't ignore the fact that this attack was well-planned and executed. Whoever sent these men is a serious threat to us."

Darren leaned forward. "We need to get moving now"

"We need to gather information," Aurelius said firmly. "But before we could do that, pack and leave now. "

"Mount Kristantine?" Marco asked, his expression serious.

“No.” Said Aurelius. “I want to see Charlotte first and foremost.” “We’re not heading to Huntington anymore. We’re going to Vesmere.” Vesmere is a downton that was given to Charlotte by the late Huntington King.

Aurelius stood up, pacing back and forth in front of them. "We start by talking to our contacts. We have allies in other packs who might know something. And we need to keep a low profile for a while, until we figure out who we're dealing with."

Darren rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "That's easier said than done. We can't just disappear off the map, we have responsibilities here."

"I know," Aurelius said. “But we have our priorities. Contact your men and troops. We’d be needing them as soon as we travel back from Vesmere. I highly doubt that my uncle is patient enough to wait pass seven days of the wake."

Marco stood up, his expression determined. "We have four thousands at hand, Aurelius. That’s Robert loyals. We need more letters and messenger sent. The Castel, your father’s Lockheart, Eitipodia and Xu are wagering on your terms and your uncle’s terms."

Darren nodded in agreement. "If only we had more time."

Aurelius looked up at the moon, the clouds parting to reveal its pale glow. He could see the silver wolf once again, its eyes meeting his own.

I’ll try to stay alive to meet you again.