Beyond A King

Filtering out the weak

(Theo pov)

Marcus took another swing at me and missed, I dodged his hit and skirted around him he stumbled but regained his footing quickly before lunging again but I dodged that one two landing a jab in his ribs as he passed me. It was easy to see both of us were not on point this morning although I had no idea what was bothering my brother.

The early morning m******e had shaken me to my core, the clean up was still ongoing and we hadn’t heard back yet as to how many pack members had perished in the slaughter. I couldn’t go home and talk to Stella about it. She was packing everything up so we could relocate to the palace to be closer to the king now I was his beta. Stella had been so proud of my new title she had been skipping and singing around the house all evening, I couldn’t burden her with the horrors in my head. I could talk to dad but his house was like a second pack house with the amount of people in and out of that place and I didn’t want to cause panic and there would be panic. Someone out there was able to rip apart the claw tooth pack without so much as a single fatality on their side.

The fact that one lone pup was left alive was incredibly suspicious, the culprit certainly hadn’t left him alive out of kindness no other pups had been spared. The fact that he remembered nothing other than the attack was rouges was another strange circumstance. Lucas was looking into a witch contact to examine the pup but that would take time. I wanted to ask lyla for help but dad had advised me not to, although my father had been privileged to the truth with the royal family the new king had been estranged from his parents for several years and we weren’t sure he would share the same views on witches as his father. I didn’t want to put lyla in potential danger if king Lucas decided to banished her from the pack.

Since the war with the witches our pack was particularly hatful about witches. It was the whole reason king magnus had insisted on secrecy about my sister's origins. The pack had welcomed her as a human with open arms but if they were to suddenly learn she was a witch they would soon forget she was the daughter of their beloved gamma family. Hatred ran deep.

My sister had already been through enough, I wouldn’t put her in any more danger. She deserved to live in the pack and build a life here where she could be safe. This place had been the only real home she’d ever had, goddess knows the life she had endured before us was filled with pain and misery. She still hadn’t told me the worst of it. I'm sure, all I knew was you didn’t suffer with nightmares they way lyla did if you’d come from anything good before.

Marcus and I paused to rest for a moment, it was just the two of us now group training had finished but Marcus and I had been sparring on the side for months, I knew he wanted to become an elite warrior, which was the highest honour for a warrior, he was dedicated but today something was off with him “ What’s with you?" I asked my brother as we picked up a drink taking a big gulp, Marcus wiped the sweat from his brow and sat on a nearby log.

it’s not like him to take a beating so easily, usually he’d give me a run for my money but today I’d gotten the upper hand a few times without any trouble, I knew his head was elsewhere.

“ I’m fine, just thinking about stuff” he said curtly, trying to dismiss me.

“Careful your brain will overheat” I chuckled while getting another drink. When Marcus didn’t laugh I checked to see he was still deep in thought and hadn’t even heard my little dig.

“Ok come on let’s hear it, what girls got your head in a twist?” I sighed sitting down next to him. Usually it was Tyler that got too involved with girls, Marcus was more hit it and quit it kind of guy.

Lyla” he said, ok not what I’d expected.

“ Oh this will be good, she’s back five minutes and already affecting your groove” our sister always was good at putting men’s heads in a spin. She just never realised the effect she had on people she always thought she flew under the radar but instead she stood out like a bright light.

She went away for two years and became heavily involved with silvermoon pack and became a beloved friend to its alpha and Luna. Lyla was like gravity; she drew everyone in with her kindness and devotion. Unfortunately she also had a habit of making people see the real them and let’s just say they didn’t always like what they saw. That moron sensation had certainly compared himself next to her and I knew from the way he tried to put her down by highlighting her humanity she outshone him, in the long run he would have resented her drive and caring nature.

I was secretly glad when he mated with Delilah she was the head warriors daughter and used to being doted on by her daddy, she had no ambition to be anything other than a kept woman that looked after her mate and popped out pups which was perfect for sebastian who basically wanted a mother, someone who would look after him and look at him like he held the moon. That wasn’t lyla, my sister was destined to shine bright and find a man that would stand beside her while she conquered the world.

“ It's just, she made me realise a few things” Marcus said bringing me back to the conversation he kept staring into space but then suddenly looked at me “why don’t we have any female warriors?” I looked at him puzzled. Marcus never cared about things like this, he was actually rather simple, he trained hard and was well on his way to becoming a elite royal warrior, sure he liked to have fun but he was dedicated to his role in the pack.

I sighed “ We have rules in place that always prevented females from training” we also didn’t train omegas. It wasn't something I particularly agreed with in my opinion. It just meant less to protect the pack and more that needed protecting but the elders thought things worked as they were and king magnus never disputed that.

“ but now with the new equal rights laws females will be able to train right?” He asked hopeful. I couldn’t answer that it was King Lucas’s decision but I was hopeful.

“ What's with you, normally you don’t think about anything beyond the next pack party?” I asked, his usual conversation topic would have been how many new hot unmated females would be coming into the pack with the ball happening tonight, I loved Marcus but he was a party guy, he was someone you called for a good time not a serious conversation, I’d expect this kind of thinking from Tyler.

“ yea well lyla and annie gave me a bit of an earful the other day and it made me think maybe I shouldn’t be such a party guy anymore” he sounded solemn but not about the party more like he finally realised how empty it really was.

“ Sounds like an ear bashing from our sister finally made you grow up little brother” I clasped him on the shoulder. “ What did she say?”

Marcus huffed “ we talked about the new laws and I never realised that there was a law against female warriors, she also asked how I would feel if my mate was fooling around like I was, honestly just the thought made me feel like someone was tearing chunks out of my heart” I sighed, trust lyla to be the one to make our little brother have deep thoughts.

I couldn’t tell Marcus that his messing around with other females wasn’t going to hurt his mate. Unfortunately that was a choice we wolves all have to make.

Some of us stay pure until we find our mates so that we only give ourselves to them and others fool around with no care as to the damage we are potentially doing to the mate bond.

I hate to say I was the latter like Marcus. Although I wasn’t as bad as dad, I hadn’t saved myself for my mate. My wolf Cyrus had always voiced his opinion when I had been with other females and it was never good, he always said I’d regret my actions.

When I found Stella I was so relieved she had saved herself for me but I hadn’t given her the same respect and the look of heartbreak on her face when I told her I’d been with other she wolves is something I have to carry with me forever.

I wish I had listened to Cyrus and saved myself but at the time I was young and I didn’t think it would matter. We were fine now and I couldn’t be happier but my actions had affected our initial mating. I had to work hard to convince her I was worth taking a chance on and not just a player like my father.

“ you can’t take back what you’ve already done brother but I’m sure your mate would appreciate it if you wanted to make the effort now. When I had to tell stella I hadn’t saved myself for her she almost left me” I told him and his eyes widened in disbelief.

“ But I’ve been with lots of she-wolves from the pack, you're saying I’ve already screwed up with my mate?” The worry in his eyes made me sad for him, had he not honestly thought about when he would meet his mate.

“ I’m saying, I would spend the rest of my life grovelling to my mate over sleeping with all the females in the pack” I answered honestly, I didn’t know what his mate would think, she might not care the way Stella had, she may have a reputation of her own, she may be just as heartbroken as Stela was with me but I did know I wouldn’t take back the work I had to put in if it meant spending my life with Stella by my side. She was my everything.

“ even Cressida Littlewood?” He chuckled, smart ass, Cressida was the most desired she wolf in the pack for our age range and coincidently the last female I’d been with before I met Stella. She’d caused some trouble goading Stella about our indiscretion. Rubbing in her face that I had pursued her hard before we slept together, it wasn’t a lie but it had hurt stella deeply to hear it. I’d hated Cressida ever since.

“ jackass!” I smacked him on the back of the head and stood up again,” come one get your ass up you're not slacking on training just because you have developed a brain” we laughed and took up fighting stances before Marcus charged me again.

(Lucas pov)

I had been working in my office since we had gotten back, if I was honest I had been hiding, everyone was preparing for tonight’s ball and I couldn’t get in the festive spirit after what I had seen this morning. Something I think everyone that came to the claw tooth pack would be feeling too.

I didn’t even realise it was past lunch time till my stomach began to growl so I decided to stretch my legs. As I reached the dining room I could see lunch had already been clear away so I headed for the kitchens. As I passed through I could see decorations being hung for tonight.

I entered the kitchen and thankfully only the head omega amelia was there, it still made my head spin as to how she never seemed to age. She was still young and her hair was long and luscious. Her years had not tavangwd her body as it should have, we didn’t age the same rate as humans did but still amelia looked like she had been tasking youth elixir.

When she noticed me she stopped chopping and bowed her head “ your majesty”

“ Amelia you practically raised me from a pup” I smiled at her. She gave me a stern look but there was a hint of a smile there too.

“ Yes, so you know then that I believe everyone should show respect for those in power” she moved to the fridge and pulled out a plate covered in foil.

“ I figured you were avoiding the preparations so I made you lunch” she said, handing me the plate. I smiled, thanking her and leaving the kitchen before anyone else saw me.

As I reached my office once again believing I was home free I was stopped by a voice I didn’t want to hear “ your majesty may I speak with you?”

I groaned internally “ not now vanessa” I couldn’t deal with this today.

She moved forward with pleading eyes “ Please, I just want to apologise” I sighed and nodded curtly, opening the door for her to enter my office.

Vanessa came in taking a seat opposite my desk. As I moved round to take my seat I noticed she was not wearing her usual skippy outfit which I appreciated. Maybe she had finally given up this silly notion of becoming my queen.

She sat there for a moment nervously playing with the rip in her jeans until she finally spoke up “ I’m sorry for my behaviour at the summit, my father is very determined for this marriage to take place”

“ and you?” I wasn’t sure if it was all her father but i didn't want to take the chance by letting my guard down around her.

“ You know as well as I do alphas daughters aren't given much choice, I had to do as my father instructed or he would disown me, I’d be forced to become a rogue but the truth is I don't want to be your queen” I didn’t say anything so she continued.

“ I want the chance to meet my mate and now my father has lost his support here with elder Stephan being under arrest..”

I put my hand up already having heard enough “ if this is what you want why not just go back to your pack like you said since you’ve lost your support here” I wasn’t buying it she was free to leave at any point there was no reason for her to be here and I had made myself clear to her father enough times. I’m sure even he could see it was futile at this point.

“ My father is insisting I seduce you at the ball tonight” I said nothing in response, like I hadn’t been expecting that. I was the unmated werewolf king. I'm sure that every leader planned to have their daughter seduce me tonight.

“ I’m hoping that my mate will be at the ball tonight but I need time to find him so I was hoping if we appear friendly at the ball then…”

“ Your father will back off seeing that we are together and I can introduce you to all the unmated leaders ” I finished seeing she had finally gotten to the point. I was sure now she was hoping that she would still be mated to an alpha to please her father but what if she was mated to someone with lower rank. That wasn’t my problem though.

She became excited and smiled brightly “ exactly it will give me the time I need to find my mate and my father won’t be breathing down my neck the whole evening” I didn’t see a problem with her suggestion there would be many people around me wanting introductions to night and if it meant getting Vanessa and her father out of my pack faster even better.

“ very well I agree” vanessa smiles like she had won a trophy she began to rise when I stopped her “ but if this is just another ploy to try and mate with me it won’t work and if I find out your lying to me I’ll

have you and your father thrown from my territory before you even knew you’d made a mistake and then I will proceed to destroy your fathers pack so be sure that this little conversation is because you want to find your mate” I watch as Vanessa’s face paled before she nods and stands straight

“ I promise you your highness this is all so I can have my mate” I say nothing else as she leaves. Goddess please let her mate be at the ball tonight so I can be free of her and her father once and for all.

She’s up to no good. Ace said through our link.

Tell me something I don’t know. I replied.

(Gwen pov)

I was in my office when a knock came at the door. After I said enter, a servant came in carrying some tea. I smiled, taking it from her and sipped it. A few moments later I heard commotion at the door and Nerva entered without knocking or waiting for me to say anything.

She stomped into the room like the immature little tirant that she is. She even had the nerve to roll her eyes before I had a chance to speak.

“ You summoned me mother” another eye roll, my daughter had no respect for authority and her current attitude gave confidence in my decision. I had already spoken to the coven elders and they had agreed nerva was too unstable to be allowed to wield the power she had.

“ thank you claire you may go” I smiled at the young girl ignoring nerva, the girl nodded her head and left quickly. I sipped my tea a while before turning my attention back to my daughter.

“ show me your magic nerva” I said noticing the flicker of panic in her eyes.

“W..what? Why?” She stuttered sitting straighter in her chair.

“ I’m reckoning your magic is as black as it comes now, I’ve tried my best to raise you the right way but it seems I’ve failed ” I heard her scoff and she interrupted.

“ Oh please, come down off your high horse Gwen, what kind of mother have you been you can barely stand to look at me most days” she shouted but I could see the pain in her eyes before her mask came back on.

I sighed, feeling the guilt over the years seeping into me “ Nerva I know I wasn’t the mother either of us hoped but I have done my best by you” I knew she had hoped for more affection but I had given what I could she was my blood, I had been good to her in my own way.

I hadn’t abandoned her to strangers or left her to the mercy of her father and his people. I may not have loved her the way I’d wanted to but I had given her everything else she had needed. More importantly I hadn’t let Julianna use her as an instrument in her schemes the way my parents had let her with me.

Was I a perfect mother, no but I had given her everything I could. I had spoiled her because of my guilt for not loving her the way a mother should and doing so I had ruined her.

It was my fault she was like this which was why I had to stop it “ it is with a heavy heart that I do this nerva” I took the vial from my desk drawer. Once the seal broke the liquid would bind her powers.

I was about to throw the vial at her feet when nerva stood with a hateful look in her eye “ and it’s without a heavy heart I do this mother!” She sneered.

I frowned at her not understanding when she just sat there unmoving, I had expected her to attack me. That’s when I suddenly felt weak, my limbs didn’t seem to be working and the vial slipped from my hand. I gasped when it smashed on the floor by my feet.

Smoke moved up my body engulfing me and I was powerless to stop it as I felt my magic being absorbed.

“ how?” I whispered, feeling all the energy drain from my body. The potion would only have taken my powers but I felt like a parasite was absorbing my very soul.

Nerva smirked and looked down at the tea on my desk “ your coven doesn’t have much loyalty for you mother, it's far too easy to bribe the servants around here” how could I have been so stupid. She had put something in my tea. My own coven had betrayed me. I fell to the ground unable to bear the pain of it all.

Nerva shocked me one last time when she went to the door to reveal Juliana smiling wickedly, the old hag was in on it too. How could I think otherwise? I always knew the evil witch would end me one day I just hadn’t realised it would be today.

I didn’t see the blade until Julianna stood over me “ you were always weak” she sneered.

I sighed I may die here but will not die on my knees in front of her this woman took too much from me already, with every ounce of strength I had left I pulled myself up to stand but found I couldn’t so resided to sit in the chair and glare into the eyes of the monster that had ruled my life for too long “yes I was weak, I was weak when I let you mould me into a version of yourself, I was weak when I let you force me to rejected my beloved , I was weak when I did nothing after you murdered him and I was weak when I let you w***e me out to that monster,but you have made a deal with the devil and the great mother will not show you mercy for the betrayal of your own kind” Julianna was many things but she knew the crime for betraying your own coven leader it was a line I thought even she wouldn’t have crossed. Now she would have to answer to the great mother.

I looked to my evil spawn who stood there with no emotion on her face as Julianna raised her dagger. I should have killed them both to prevent the coven from falling into the hell that they will no doubt unleash after I’m gone. I was not perfect and I had done things I would no doubt pay for when I met the great mother but my people were still innocent and I wouldn’t be here to protect them.

‘ great mother please keep my people safe do not fail them where did’ I closed my eyes surrendering to my fate. My only hope now is that after I have paid for my sins I might see my beloved again.

( Nerva pov)

I watched as the old b***h leered over the woman that gave me life and pushed the blade through her chest.

My mother did nothing to fight it. As weak as she was it almost seemed like she welcomed death. I could almost scoff, she must be the only person in the world without any will to survive. She fell from the chair she had crawled back into and lay on the ground coughing and choking for a few moments before succumbing to her wound. Good riddance.

Sometimes it was hard to believe we were even related and as the blade went through her chest I found myself disappointed.

I was disappointed in Gwen's lack of fight and my lack of emotion. I expected to feel loss, pain, anything. This was the woman who gave birth to me, I watched the light leave her eyes and her blood pooled around her soaking into her white blouse turning it crimson but all I can think is how long before we remove the body so it stops staining the carpet.

Disappointment was all I felt for the woman I had betrayed in every way since the day I left her womb but the truth was she was weak, too weak, she didn’t have what it takes to truly lead.

Juliana began to rise, I wanted to laugh. She actually thought she was still in control. She had been all too eager to betray my mother after Gwen had convinced the others to go against Julianna's attempt to start another war with the wolf kingdom. Juliana’s only loyalty was to herself; she only cared about two things: power and the purity of the bloodline. If had been Gwen I would have shoved a dagger through her heart years ago.

“ Now we have filtered out the weak, we can work towards bringing the covern’s back on side, we will stop this stupid talk of alliances with the mutts ” she cackled, I’d heard enough I raised my hand the second she turned her back to me. More fool her.

I was never one for fighting fair. I was an opportunist if I had the chance to stab someone in the back I would. Better them than me I say.

As the bolt hit her, Juliana fell to the ground rolling onto my mothers dead body. She turned in shock with her hand against her back when she brought it back to her face it was covered in blood “ w..What..a…are….”

“ filtering out the weak” I smiled down at her she didn’t miss how I used her words she had just used against my mother.

“ your done you old hag, it’s time to pass the torch”

She began laughing “ you think our people will follow a half breed like you, your dreaming little girl” she sneered coughing and spitting out blood onto the ground.

She stopped as soon as she saw my smile was bigger “ oh I don’t expect them to follow me”

At that moment the office door opened, my smile grew wider at the sight of Juliana’s face turning a deathly pale, her mouth hanging open like she had seen a ghost.

“ Serveena” Juliana whispered as saying the name would cause her to combust.

“ this was all you?” She stared at me and then back at my mistress, I had no idea how but Julianna knew serveena. Had serveena come from the midnight circle coven.

Serveena crouch down towards the old hag sneering at her with a smile that made me shiver “I thought you’d be pleased, after all I am the monster you created”