Shadow Pride

Chapter 1 - Gabriel

“Gabriel!” Alpha Aiden roars, making me flinch. I drop the rag into the bucket of now murky water and take off at a sprint toward the sound of his voice.

For the last twenty years of my life, I’ve been a slave in the Crescent Pride, deemed unworthy of even a soft bed to sleep on. The day my parents died, when I was ten years old, I went from being the alpha’s son and next in line for the position to slave.

The first to die was my father. I still remember the red tinting his normally tan hide as Aiden’s beast tore into him without mercy.

My father put up a good fight. Each time Aiden was able to catch him with his sharp claws, he gave one right back. But Aiden was younger than my father by a couple decades and so much meaner. I remember clinging to my mother’s legs willing my father to get up as Aiden pinned him to the ground, Aiden’s bloody mouth wrapped around his throat. My father’s golden eyes flare to life when they make contact with my mother first and then me, allowing his body to go slack, submitting to Aiden in that moment. But instead of obeying the rules of an Alpha challenge, Aiden roared to the heavens before striking hard and fast, ripping my father’s throat out.

My mother’s scream echoes in my ears, the way she clutched her chest, falling to her knees.

She tried to live for me despite the pain of her true mate dying. I know she did, but in the end, she allowed herself to wither away, joining her true mate in death a month later.

My heart gets lodged in my throat at the thought of my parents. The only time I allow myself to think of them is when I’m alone in the middle of the night. And even then, it’s only for short amounts of time. I blamed my mother for leaving me. Cursed her name to the heavens for subjecting me to this life.

I reach Alpha Aiden's grand office, a room filled with opulent furniture and the scent of power he exudes. Aiden stands by the window, his back to me as he looks out at the pride lands.

"You called for me, Alpha?" I keep my voice steady, a skill I learned through years of enduring his wrath.

Aiden turns around slowly, his piercing green eyes locking onto mine. "You're to accompany me to the council meeting tonight," he states coldly, a smirk playing on his lips.

I nod obediently, hiding the surge of dread that courses through me at the thought of being in the same room as him for hours on end. But I know better than to show any sign of weakness. It only excites him. And when he gets excited, I tend to suffer.

As we make our way to the meeting hall, I catch a glimpse of my baby sister, Felicity, her blonde hair falls in soft waves around her face, framing her sharp cheekbones and piercing blue eyes. Despite the dirt smudged on her face, she exudes a graceful elegance that sets her apart from the other slaves.

Felicity's once bright hazel eyes are now dull with exhaustion and pain, her long golden hair tangled and matted, but her posture remains regal and proud.

Her eyes meeting mine for a brief moment. There's a flicker of understanding between us, a silent exchange of shared suffering and longing for freedom.

The walk to the council chambers is long. There was a time, when I was younger that all council meetings were held in the alpha house, but once Aiden took over, he refused to let those ‘entitled pricks’ an open invitation to his home. Instead, commanding the construction of the council chambers on the edge of pack land.

I can’t help but think it’s a subtle dig at the elderly members who have a hard enough time walking to and from the store, let alone marching the thirty minutes through the forest. But I dare not say anything like that to him for fear of what he would do to me.

We arrive at the converted barn and step through the doors. Like all other times, I cringe as we walk past the ten council members, sitting at the u-shaped desk and follow Aiden to his throne. A large red velvet chair sat upon a raised dioses showing everyone just how he feels. That he is better than everyone else…

As I stand stoically behind Aiden, I can't help but feel a wave of anger rising within me. The council members sit there, their faces filled with a mixture of fear and irritation, knowing that Aiden's presence is a constant reminder of their subordination.

"Today, we stand on the precipice of great change," Aiden begins, his voice echoing through the room. "We must decide the fate of our pride, and it rests on the shoulders of the council members before me." His eyes scanned the room, taking in each person's reaction.

I swallow hard, my hands gripping the arms of the chair tightly. I glance over at Felicity, her eyes locked on Aiden, her posture rigid with determination.

"We’ve been given a rare opportunity," Aiden continues, "Some of the prides to the west have come to me requesting the opportunity to meet with our females in hopes of meeting their true mates."