The Cursed Alpha And His Sacred Golden Wolf

Meet Maximus...

The Golden Wolf

Maximus-

I am Maximus Alexander Vasilakis. I am over four hundred years old. Cursed to rule this world until the gods see fit. I don’t age anymore. I’ve been frozen since my late twenties. I'm stuck at this age, so I never forget. It's not like I ever could anyway.

Besides the curse, I also have several gifts. I have the strength of five bears and five wolves on my weakest of days. I prefer to keep to myself. I don’t belong to any group, coven or pack. Though I am asked constantly. I am a shape shifter of species. People see me as a were-bear, but that is only the cusp of it.

I am solitary by nature. Never craving the need for others. Until lately. I have been drawn to this area of sacred land in northern California. The Black River Pack and the Red Moon Coven reside on this land. The people are extraordinary and gifted. I work to stay away, not wanting to form attachments, but it seems inevitable. I am a hunter. A rescuer, you could say. I work with bounty hunters who search and rescue stolen women and children. I appear in the dead of night to free the victims and return them. Then I kill the kidnappers, leaving nothing but pieces of them for the cleanup teams. We are all one well-oiled machine.

Right now, I have been visiting the Red Moon Coven. This is the new headquarters for the new vampire queen. She is a skilled warrior. She has had several attempts to her throne. She has overcome them all. I thought that was the reason I was pulled back here. To help alongside her mate Iroquois, whom I knew from the Black River pack.

Today, the king and queen need me to do a scan of a female being held. She claims to be a half-sister to the queen. I follow them up the spiral staircase to the room at the top of one of the towers. As the guards open the door, I smell her scent first. Then I see her. She is beautiful, to say the least. Her golden-brown skin, brown eyes, and dark brown hair seem unearthly.

“Hello Dalia, this won’t hurt at all.” I whisper, standing behind her. Her sent makes me want to find a reason to touch her skin. So, I keep my hands about five inches from her. I can feel the heat radiate off of her. How her blood flows through her body. Her heartbeat tries to control itself. I can even hear how she swallows. I take a deep breath and chant to the gods to get my answer. I am never wrong. I seldom share my gifts because I don’t want to have everyone asking me for favors. But of course, at seven foot two inches and just as wide people don’t find me as the type to ask for favors. I like it like that.

As my chanting ends, I am hit with a vision, but it's hazy. It is a vision of an animal. Maybe a dog or a wolf? It happened too fast. Then, I feel a bolt of energy around us. It takes the vision back and shakes the room. My connection is ended.

“What the hell was that?” Dalia yells.

“She has a shield around her. Some kind of cover.” I tell Queen Mira and King Iroquois. “But she is not a threat to you, my queen.” I notice the queen exhale. I feel that she wants this to be good. She has lost her mother, father, and sister by her own hands. This would be the last link to any of her DNA that she could have a relationship with. No matter how tough she is, I know a part of her wants this, and I may be able to tell why. But it’s too soon to speculate.

I can feel Dalia. Her heartbeat is picking up again. She is slightly aroused and I can not be the cause of it. There is no mate out there for me. I am a species that will only imprint upon someone. If I keep moving, I won’t give myself the time to do so. It's better this way. Safer for her dark chocolate eyes. Her slender hands that I want to hold. From her scent that has started to become a part of me.

Damn it, I need space from this woman. She is making me think of her, and I don’t like that. This leads to nothing but heartache and pain. I have had my share of that too many times. I’d rather pick up some missions and go save some people. I think that is exactly what I will do after I am done here.

We leave her in the tower waiting for the witches to give us information on if they can cleanse her of the spell that seems to be placed on her. They are en route from another realm and will notify the queen upon her arrival. Over the next few days, I leave for another mission. This time, a pair of rare twins will develop special gifts. I got to them before they were sold off. I needed the escape from the castle. I swear, when I am there, I can smell her everywhere. It’s like the only place I don’t smell her is my room or the daycare I like to assist at. The woman who runs it is a friend. I saved her niece some years ago from another coven. When I am here, I like to spend time with the kids. Teaching them stranger danger and defense moves they can use. While I was out, I did get another glimpse of the vision. The wolf again. This time, it radiated a hue I’ve never seen before. I knew I needed to get back to Red Moon Coven. After speaking with the king, we go to update the queen. Finding her in the company of Dalia and Erin. She is a close friend and assistant to the queen. I enter seeing them pigging out on snacks as I smile.

“I see congratulations are in order?” I pat Iroquois on the back. I can instantly tell the queen is pregnant. That was my original hunch in the tower. Iroquois is such a proud poppa-to-be. I try to remain as stoic as possible as I take the only seat left. Next to Dalia. I hold my breath as my larger-than-life frame takes up the entire couch we are sharing. I try not to even notice as she eats a damn strawberry. It's utter torture, and I need to leave. I don’t know why this damn wolf brought me here.

“Maximus, can you take this food to the daycare? This pregnancy already has me full. But I ordered too much.” Queen Mira asks me. There are three trays of fruit and two trays of sandwiches and cheeses.

“Yes, my queen.” As I jump up quickly to get away from this siren next to me. Erin helps pack it all up. Then joins Dalia with help.

“Hey, mind if I join you. Now that I have been verified and cleared, I would love to see more of the coven lands. I haven’t seen the daycare yet.” Dalia asks me, and I feel my were-bear Beast stir. So much for getting away from her. I nod, and she hurries along with me. Once we are outside, we see that we both can tell when someone is pregnant, usually before they know. Dalia said she picked up on her sister’s pregnancy a few days ago. Her skills are sharper than mine.

‘She is beautiful, don’t you think?’ Beast mind-links me.

‘Yes, she is, but she cannot handle us, Beast.’ I reply.

‘Yet you keep thinking about her. What if she was the reason we were sent here.’

‘Do you feel eminent danger for her?’ I question.

‘No, calm down. I was just thinking…’

‘Don’t say it. Don’t you dare say it.’ I warn him as he chuckles

‘I won’t say what we are both thinking. This will be fun.’ He closes the link between us as I exhale, knowing he is right. I am almost sure I am here for her. I just need to figure out what a wolf has to do with Dalia.

“Are you always this quiet?” She asks me

“Depends on where my mind is.” I smile.

“That couple we just passed is expecting too. Is there something in the water here? Because I need to order strictly bottled water if that is the case.” I laugh as we make it to the daycare. It is a beautiful sunny day outside. I can hear the children playing in the back of the large cottage. Dalia rings the bell and Ms. Vivian smiles and looks between myself and Dalia.

“Ms. Vivian, are you going to let us in?”

“Oh, my goodness, my manners! Get in here! It is so good seeing you again, Maximus! I didn’t think I would see you so soon!”

“Hello Ms. Vivian, I am Dalia, sister to the queen.” Dalia speaks.

“Oh well, blessings to you both. I know the queen surely deserves it.” She welcomes us in.

“We come bearing gifts from the queen.” I tell her.

“Well, I will call the queen to thank her! Come inside. The kids would love to see their favorite giant.”

After some time, we finish playing with the kids. One kid tries to make a move on Dalia. Another girl tries to claim me as her future mate. These kids really keep you on your toes.

“Thank you for letting me tag along. I know you’re usually a loner.” Dalia tells me as we head back towards the castle.

“What makes you think I’m a loner?” I begin. “Have you been watching me?”

“What! No, it's just obvious. How you carry yourself.”

“Oh, I thought it was from all the times I caught you watching me in training out in the courtyard from your window.” I tease her. I have seen her watching me spar several times but ignored it.

“I was so not watching you, sir!”

“Oh, I’m sir now?” I tease.

‘You’re also a ‘f**k you’ but I’ll keep that to myself.’ I hear her speak to herself. Instantly my hand goes to her forearm.

‘Good girls shouldn’t say things around people who can match their gifts.’ I mind-link her as her eyes go wide.

“How? Never mind. Thanks for today. I’ll see you on your next visit.” She takes a bee-line for the forest. I’m right behind her.

“Dalia.” I say in a warning tone catching her in two steps and pulling her close to me. Too damn close. My were-bear almost f*****g purrs. “I was kidding. But watch what you say around me. Never know when a channel may be open.” I wink while she smirks jerking away from me.

‘You couldn’t handle my thoughts anyway.’ She continues to challenge me. I growl pinning her against a tree. My large hands blocking her on either side.

“What is your endgame little flower?” She seems to melt a bit at my new nickname for her.

“No end game. Just enjoying pushing your buttons.” She smiles up at me.

“Be careful what you ask for little flower.” I lean in to close. I can almost taste her. She all but melts into me. Then dips under my arms for the castle.