The Wolves of Ossory

4. A Good Morning

Present Day

Maeve

Aila sprinted through the forest, following the familiar path we had come to love in our years together. It wound its way up the mountain behind our palace, stopping right at the flattened top, which in my opinion, had the most beautiful view. The sun had not yet come up, our favorite part of the day to make this run. My wolf needed this, and so did I after being cooped up inside and bombarded with lessons on all the duties Alma and I would be gifted come next week.

Also, giving Aila control let me sit back with my own thoughts without interruption while she was able to work out her pent-up energy.

I reflected on the past 5 years and how different things are now. How naive I had been! Expecting this role to be easy!

Years of perfecting our every move, perfecting our every decision and sometimes it felt like perfecting US as well. It was so exhausting never being able to just make a mistake, just once not put on a facade that everything was fine.

It was not fine. Alma and I had not found mates, even after countless balls and meet and greets all over our kingdom and country. Even all the extravagant ceremonies we throw yearly which brought in wolves from all over the world brought nothing. I felt like a failure; not being able to find my match and produce an heir.

Alma, on the other hand, seemed to float through life without a care for finding a mate. Never batting an eye at all the suitors that fell at her feet. The only quarrels we seemed to have these days were centered around her lack of concern for continuing our bloodline and my desire to fulfill this duty and find my fated mate.

I had to.

I was a perfect princess.

I devoted all my studies to learning as much as I could at university about subjects dire to our kingdom's ability to strive.

I sat on the ever so long boards meeting with our father to better understand issues in our kingdom and in our country as a whole while my sister spent her days with our mother planning whatever event was coming up.

I went to the warrior trainings to better protect and serve.

I endured political disputes that seemed so childish.

Sure, you may wonder, "Why not step down from being a queen?" "This is your job, suck it up buttercup!"

I agree. I really do. But haven't you ever just been so close to your breaking point and the one person who is supposed to be by your side through this all, isn't? Alma and I are to lead together. That was the deal.

To clarify, I love my kingdom. I love my people and this is what i have been raised to do. I would never abandon my subjects. Aila and I have done a stupendous job thus far. But as much as I worship my intelligent wolf, having a non-biased third view is one thing I feel neglected of. Try as i might, I cannot seem to hold any of this against my sister. I know she has her own secrets and crosses to bear. If she would only let me in like she used to, maybe we could share the burden...

I snap out of my thoughts as the sound of paws hitting the ground slows. Aila strides forward to the rocky peak and sits, panting.

You doing all right in there? You've been more quiet than usual. She voices to me.

I am just burned out is all. I am sure you feel the same. I respond to her.

Of course I do! Our emotions are tethered, human. She barks back and I smile internally in her subconscious. I don't care if you feel like you aren't enough, you are to me. I am so very blessed to be gifted a human like you and I thank our Goddess for that every night when I see her through the moon. Reassurance fills my heart and I feel a bit better. No one can pull me out of my own pity party like this mutt can. She huffs as she seemingly hears my thought and turns to find a small pool of water off the side of the rock we are sitting on. We glance at our reflection and again, I am reminded at how beautiful my wolf is. The fawn buttercotch color of her fur gleams with the rising sun behind us bringing her green eyes out.

You are a true beauty Aila! I compliment her softly and she lolls her tounge out, smiling back at the image in the water. She returns to the rock we were sitting on, gazing out so we can both take in the sunrise as it engulfs our land in warm scarlet rays.

We stay like that, watching the colors of morning change and bonding in silence. The woods are beginning to wake up, birds chirping their good mornings to each other and Aila turns to head back, knowing our peaceful morning would be coming to an end.

It is Monday, and we have 6 days to prepare for Alma and I's coronation on Sunday, which means a busy week full of trying on gowns, guest lists, food preparations, ceremony rehearsals and crown fittings. Every girl's dreams, right?

Aila releases control back to me as we made our way back to the castle and I shift back, scurrying into one of the gardening shacks where I hid my clothes so I could dress. I pull a ratty shirt on, a pair of leggings and my favorite lifting shoes and head to the western wing doors where we have our gym, pool and aerobics studio.

The west side of the castle was primarily where our pack would frequent. It houses the King and Queens' Beta and Gamma on the second and third floor and our pack kitchen on the main level. We also had a lavish library and education center open for anyone to use if they went through the proper security back round checks.

The Palisa Kingdom prided itself on equal opportunity for education for any being. We have even had a few humans enroll in courses and come out with skills to market them anywhere they choose.

Yes, humans know about us. They do not know much but after the War to End Wars, many seeked sanctuary within wolf packs. The population had deteriorated significantly since those times in darkness amongst all species and they all came to a pact of peace. Witches, shifters, vampires and humans came together to rebuild what was left of the world before us, together creating a sort of utopia. Through generations under this Pact, the population of all our kinds began to thrive again. We are nowhere near where we were, but every year we progress, as a whole.

I push open the doors to the gym, seeing it empty except for Alma and our Beta, Benson. Alma was running on the treadmill while Benson was reading on the elliptical. I hopped onto the treadmill next to my sister and she smiled warmly at me.

"Good morning!" she greeted.

"Good morning, Alma," i returned the smile to her. "5 miles? That's it? Someones slacking," I playfully prodded her.

"Look, I was up half the night trying to figure out what to get you for our birthday on Sunday. I can't decide if I want to go all ceremony themed or have it be something completely surprising and then I couldn't decide on if I want to match you in any way or wing it. I am at a loss," she huffed, slowing her stride just a bit. Her long dark auburn hair was swaying in two perfect French braids down her back. Even running she looked like s queen.

"I told you, I don't need anything special. If anything, you helping mother out with the decor is helping me out because I am at a loss when if comes to that," I started my warmup run, stretching each arm up over my head and shaking them awake.

"Ugggghhh don't remind me. She has had me read the same book on the ceremony history and how to perform it properly about 40 times, Maeve. 'Oh honey, you know the golden drop curtains must have 2 equal swags and tied to the side with the white ribbon.' 'Honey, the swags!' 'No, 3 feet drooping swags!' 'Chapter 14, Alma! Did you not read about the SWAGS?'" she mimics our mother, huffing out in frustration. "I swear to Goddess if I hear one more damn 'swag' comment I am going to off myself,"

I bust out laughing. "Oh trust me! She has been grilling me about the wardrobe selection. 'The mantles, Maeve! It's tradition!' 'Honey, make sure you and your sister follow chapter 3 on how to wear them right' 'Teal, Maeve! They must be teal, follow the book! Did you read that book i gave you?!'" I shake my head. "The woman is manic!"

Alma laughs, slowing her treadmill to a cool down pace. "I understand how much this means to her, given she married into the royalty and did not grow up learning all the ins and outs. But she's worrying herself away! I don't even remember seeing a photograph or painting of any ancestor of ours wearing such attire. Of course, I would do it all over again for her. This may be a day for us but she is kind of losing a part of herself as well,"

My heart sank a bit. "I didn't even think of that. But I agree, I would go through all of this again for her. Hey! What if we forego our gifts for each other and get her something special instead?" I offered. Alma perked up, excitement flooding her face.

"Maeve you brilliant devil you! I know the perfect gift!" she clapped her hands together and hopped off the treadmill.

We chatted a bit more, brainstorming ideas while she spotted me during my lifts. Alma was not one to lift weights. She had taken our mothers physique, tall and slender, whereas I was tall but had a more toned athletic build. I finished up and Benson approached us, letting us know our mother had linked him asking him to send us her way.