Rise of The Lycan Queen

CHAPTER TWO

Fog and Echo

Silas POV

The words are barely out of my mouth before a sharp pain, unlike anything I have ever felt, tears through my chest as I watch Emery fall to her knees. A hot pressure builds from the back of my skull and intensifies until I start to see spots in my vision and I begin to feel like my body is on fire.

I can feel my wolf’s fury as he roils and tries to snap at me for my decision, but I stand my ground, clench my fists and swallow the pain.

Noelle comes to stand beside me and I wrap an arm around her shoulders, and it is then all hell breaks loose.

“How dare you?!” Alicia roars in outrage, glaring at Noelle. “Get away from him now.” She screeches and I barely register it as I can’t look away from the figure hunched and huddled on the ground, her shoulders shaking. The sight sends my wolf into a raged frenzy again, trying to claw his way to the front of my conscious mind.

“You might want to consider your next actions and words, Alicia. I am to be your Luna, after all,” is Noelle’s reply, her hands running down my arm to prove her point and I barely stop myself from recoiling from her touch.

The crowd of pack members start to murmur at the commotion and I catch whispered uncertainties. I look toward the group of the three Pack Elders standing off to the side of the front of the gathering, the one in the middle, Nero, dips his chin at me and I recall the meeting I had with them earlier today.

“Do you think you are capable of making such a hard decision if it comes down to it?” Nero asked me that morning and I turned to him and looked him dead in the eyes as I responded.

“You know I am,” my tone is clipped and direct and he immediately averted his eyes in submission.

“A powerful Luna would alleviate this pack in ways that are almost unimaginable. It would be good for the pack,” Irina said, trying to diffuse the tension but it only made me more agitated.

“I have defended and taken care of this pack from the moment I became Alpha after defeating the tyrant before me,” my voice had taken on a dangerous edge as I surveyed the room, the air becoming suddenly charged.

“Under my leadership, we have expanded our borders, risen in rank and power among the other packs and have not seen a loss or defeat from outside forces in a very long time. Do not speak to me about what is good for the pack as if I do not know.” By the time I’m done speaking, their heads are bowed and I had to take a breath.

It wasn’t fair for me to take my frustration out on them, even though they are trying to convince me to possibly give up my right and destiny of claiming my mate in the event that she is not a strong wolf.

It would be an inconceivable notion normally, but as we have grown in prosperity as a pack, we are receiving more and more wolves wanting to join our pack, we need more space, more land and that would only work if we had more influence as a pack.

The easiest way to gain more influence in the Lycan kingdom was more power and a strong Luna would be the first step in that direction. I have been without a mate for long enough and for all my power, it would be fairly easy to take control from me if I don’t find the balance that comes with bonding to someone who completes you.

The decision to pick Noelle was fairly easy, she had a power our kind hadn’t seen in centuries and she was outstanding in a fight. Alicia and I grew up together, our families were very close and we had history, but I never really felt anything special towards her.

She didn’t stand a chance when it came to picking someone appropriate for the Pack’s Luna.

“Do you need a moment?” Mathias, my best friend and Beta of the pack whispered to me and I shook my head before I addressed the elders.

“Noelle Vance will be my Luna, she is the best possible option and the Vance bloodline has a historic reputation for producing the most powerful werewolves,” I don’t mention the exception of all that, which is her sister Emery.

I had seen her about, always keeps to herself and doesn’t speak to anyone. I had the idea to meet with her a few times to talk to her and see how she’s doing but it always managed to skip my mind.

I felt a certain protectiveness of her but what Alpha wouldn’t want to protect the most vulnerable of their pack?

My thoughts of the past are interrupted by a sharp pain in my chest.

Mine. My wolf roars at me pushing so hard that I stumble towards my mate still on her knees. I wrest control of myself from him and stop myself from taking anymore steps and turn to the crowd.

“You don’t know the first thing about being Luna, that was supposed to me,” Alicia is standing dangerously close to Noelle now and I see Mathias move closer to them, ready to intervene if things get out of hand.

I shake my head at him to stand down. If Noelle is going to lead this pack by my side, then she would have to prove her strength in front of everyone sooner rather than later. I make sure to keep Emery within my line of sight as the pain in my chest intensifies and spreads to my head.

I feel my wolf bang and claw hard at my defenses and it takes all of my will to hold him back. Mathias notices something is wrong and moves to my side. He looks down at Emery, still hunched over and shaking, her arms hugging herself and he looks to me and what he sees in my gaze has him connecting the dots.

“What do you want me to do?” He asks me quietly while everyone is distracted.

“Get her…” I don’t finish my sentence as Alicia comes crashing down at my feet. Noelle is on her in a second, her hand closing tightly over Alicia’s throat.

The pack becomes restless, hungry for violence and it fuels Noelle. She throws Alicia to the ground and moves up to her in slow, menacing steps.

“Submit,” she commands and with a whimper, Alicia bows, exposing her neck.

Noelle smiles to herself and turns to face us. “Everyone, relax.” Her voice washes over the crowd in whispered echoes and I am stunned at her power as the pack immediately quotes down.

She walks to stand beside me and my body tenses as she slides her hands into me, her touch is cold and foreign and I want it to stop and that is when I feel it. A sudden warmth seeping in and engulfing my brain, my wolf growls apprehensively against the sudden intrusion but his voice becomes distant, I lose all my senses as I lock eyes with Noelle and her smile and sharp as a knife.