NEVER WOLF

Four

Ian

Ian watched as shock rippled through the faces of the chamberlain and the members of the mating council, and a sense of satisfaction welled up within him. His wolf growled, wanting to come out. It had been a long time since he had felt this excited, and he realized his wolf felt it too.

“Don’t be still,” he commanded firmly. “Get the Luna Queen ready. Start working on her immediately.”

The maids rushed toward Lauren, their faces blank. He could still see the shock on Lauren's face as they carted her off. Everything about her amused him. His wolf growled again.

“Alpha King,” the head of the mating council, Elder Rhea, began, stepping forward with the intent to voice her concerns.

“I have made my decision,” Ian interjected confidently, a hint of finality lacing his tone. “That is final.”

The elders exchanged glances, respect overriding their irritation as they nodded and walked away. However, his beta, Blaise, and gamma, Jasper, remained, curiosity etched on their faces.

“Were you drunk or something when you made that choice?” Jasper asked with a grin, amusement sparkling in his eyes.

Ian chuckled, shaking his head. “No, I wasn’t, dear Jasper.”

Blaise, ever the serious one, leaned in with a frown. “But why a maid, Ian? Of all the wolves to choose from, why her? She’s definitely an omega wolf, the weakest of the pack.”

“Maybe it’s the fate of the goddess,” Ian responded, the words flowing without thought. That sounded like an answer Blaise would appreciate, but he wasn't as devoted as Blaise was. Sometimes, he wondered if Blaise was meant to be the actual alpha king since he was so committed to palace affairs and the war. Yet his wolf was stronger than Blaise's wolf, so he had to be the alpha king.

“Be serious,” Blaise pressed, furrowing his brow. “We’re on the brink of death, and you’re picking a mate on a whim?”

“She brings relief from all this tension,” Ian retorted, poking at his firm chest to illustrate the rigidity that enveloped even him. “Everywhere is so somber with the war raging. With her, things feel different. She’s not... uptight.”

“Are you saying that’s a good reason to choose her when you’re supposed to be searching for the ‘special’ wolf?” Blaise prodded, his eyes glimmering with curiosity.

“She is special,” Ian insisted. “She doesn’t smell like an Artemidian or a Selenite wolf—she’s different.”

“I had high hopes for Stephanie,” Jasper remarked, brushing off the seriousness of the discussion. “But I suppose I can’t blame you for not wanting to be so rigid. You could have turned to me when you wanted to relieve the tension. I’m fun to be with, you know, despite being the head of the warriors—unlike Blaise here.”

“Right, because there’s nothing to smile about when lives are being lost to The Grim,” Blaise shot back, his expression stern.

“They are my men, and I certainly care about them,” Jasper replied casually.

“I’m your beta, and you all report to me.” Blaise had an icy look in his eyes. “Do you realize how the darkness is extending daily? People are frightened; warriors are pulling back. There’s nothing to laugh about when we’re faced with this.”

Jasper shrugged, an easy smile still on his face. “Rigid or not, you haven’t found a way to deal with The Grim, have you? Why don’t you lighten up a bit?”

“I need to be serious for both of you,” Blaise replied, a glimmer of frustration flashing in his eyes.

“Which is exactly why I chose you to be my beta,” Ian said. “To keep us all grounded.”

With a slight nod, Blaise turned to Jasper. “Update the king on the situation regarding The Grim.”

Ian listened closely as Jasper began to inform them. “The Grim has expanded its darkness considerably and has nearly cut the Lunaria territory in half. Warriors are hesitant to venture into it; they are now skirting its edges and can hear the activity of grimers doubling the closer they get.”

“When will you visit The Grim?” Blaise inquired, arms folded firmly. “Especially now that you're mated to your ‘special’ wolf?”

“Soon,” Ian promised, feeling the weight of duty settle upon him. Once he was settled, he would enter the land possessed by The Grim, and if the grimer fled, Lauren would be the special one. “Are my parents here yet?”

“They should arrive just in time for the mating ceremony,” Blaise assured him.

“Great,” Ian replied, annoyance flickering within him at the thought of his parents berating his choice. He was sure they would go haywire once they found out about Lauren's position. Maybe he had really picked Lauren to annoy them rather than for his own pleasure. He didn’t relish the idea of hosting his family while navigating the chaos of his choice.

“Call for my squires,” he added, his mind already racing forward to the ceremony. He needed to prepare for this occasion.

In no time, Ian was robed in a complete white garment for the official mating and reveal.

With all the wolves of the royal pack gathered, Ian could sense their anticipation buzzing in the air. They were anxious to discover who the special wolf was. He spotted Stephanie among them, looking exquisite and proud—indeed beautiful as she has been described. Though she was highly recommended, she was not the choice that felt right in his soul.

He saw his father perched on his chair, and his mother leaning into him. He flashed them a wry smile and his mother returned the energy.

Then his gaze landed on Lauren as she entered the chamber, adorned in white. Her beauty struck him anew, and he was glad he chose her. She flashed a smile at the crowd and he wondered why he wanted to see more of her smile, her giggles.

It was until she was close to him that he noticed the tears glimmering in her eyes.

“What wrong?” he whispered as the elder asked them to hold hands.

“You should have told me,” she replied, her voice trembling.

“You don't want to be my luna?” Ian realized that she might probably not want him and the thought broke his heart. He had never thought there was a wolf that would reject the opportunity.

“You don't understand."

Before he could probe further, an unfamiliar shout erupted from the crowd. “Never wolf!”

Lauren’s tears began to flow more freely, and Ian felt his heart sink.

What was that he heard?

“That's unacceptable!” Stephanie shrieked, her voice cutting through the air like a knife. “A never wolf as the luna queen."

A murmur of shock raced through the assembled wolves. Ian saw his father almost tumble out of his seat.

Everything began to make sense. She was a never wolf, that's why she had a strange smell. She wasn't special at all.