The Emerald Queen

PATRICK

Running my finger along the rim of my glass, I stare at the gold liquid inside. It has become a part of me. Every night I drink that whiskey, and every night I welcome the burn in my throat and the numbness that follows. Blackness takes me away. I put up no fight. Sinking into the abyss every night is the only relief I get. My life is mundane and painful. Every day I run the pack as Alpha. Every day I wish I had my mate, my Luna by my side. I will not be complete until I find her. I've been searching for two long years. Two years of hell, of feeling incomplete. 

The Emerald Moon Clan is the biggest Werewolf pack in all of Ireland. The daily tasks keep me busy. I distract myself with business and money schemes, but the quiet always comes, and when it does, I wander miles and miles, just trying to pick up her scent. To find my Love. But no such Luck.

I swig the last drop of whiskey down my throat and let the darkness overcome me. Moon Goddess, let me find her. 

                                                                                    ***

As the sun comes up and pours into my room, I can feel the all too familiar thumping in my head. Though this has become my wake up call every day, it never feels any less painful. I drag myself from the bed, slip on some shorts and decide that a run in the forest will help clear my head. It is a beautiful sunny day; generous for the month of May. Once I reach the edge of the forest, I take my shorts off and shift into my wolf. I run as fast as I can in no particular direction. I love nothing more than running free, the wind through my fur and the mud beneath my paws. I can escape my problems, even if only for a short time. After an hour, I head back to the tree line, shift back to my human form and put my shorts on. Getting back to the house, I realise that it is already 8am already and I have a meeting to get to at 10am. A meeting with the most unbearable woman I have ever met. She is the head mistress of an all girls school. My great Grandfather built that school and it has been financed by our family ever since. Why? I don't know. Doesn't seem like we get anything in return.

The yearly meeting is usually attended by my father, but since I took over as Alpha last year, it is now my duty to make sure that the school is running smoothly and to keep the connection of all the rich families that decide to send their daughters there. When I attended the meeting with my father last year, the rich school girls swarmed around me like bees to honey. They held no interest to me. Only my mate could get my attention and it definitely wasn't any of those stuck up, pompous school girls. 

After I shower and dress into some of my finest clothes, I run down to quickly grab some breakfast before I leave. 

"Good morning, Alpha. What can I get you this morning?" Asks Mrs Murphy.

"Just a coffee and some soda bread will do today. You know how Dorothy tries to overfeed us".

Mrs Murphy rolls her eyes and lets out a chuckle. Mrs Murphy is an omega in our pack. Married to James Murphy who, despite his status, is one of our best warriors, and Mrs Murphy, the best cook. Despite my cold demeanour, she knows that I love her dearly. She has a motherly aura that makes everyone feel at home. 

I finish my bread and wash it down with the last of my coffee. 

"Thank you, Mrs Murphy. I'll see you later at dinner." I say while heading for the door. 

"No problem, Alpha . Good luck today. You know, I've got a good feeling about this sunny May day."

"Mmmhmm." I retort. She has always been an optimist. Another reason she is so loveable.

When I step outside I see that my carriage is ready to go and I climb inside. The trip to the school will only take 30 minutes, so I decide to use this time to relax. The scenery here really is something else. Rolling green hills, stone walls lining every field, wild flowers that go undisturbed and the wildlife bathing in the sun. Pulling up the long driveway of the school, I feel uneasy and my wolf is anxious. I look around to see if there is any danger, but nothing seems out of the ordinary. The carriage stops and I step out. That's when it hits me. The sweetest smell of honey. It is warm and enticing and I can't get enough.

"Mate." Finn, my wolf says in my head.

He is pacing. He has waited just as long as I have to find our Mate, and finally, it seems we may have done just that. I practically run to the front door and knock. Dorothy, the Head Mistress opens the door nearly immediately. It takes all I have not to push her down and run to my Mate. 

"Mr Wolffe, it is our pleasure to have you today. Please, do come in. Follow me to the dining room, we have an array of food that I'm sure will satisfy your senses."

I couldn't even answer her. I was too focused on that smell of warm honey. As we approached the dining room, the smell became stronger, I knew she was close. Very close. Entering the dining room, I locked on to a pair of emerald green eyes. She has deep red hair that reaches her waist and perfectly plump lips that I want to kiss. Moon Goddess, Thank you. She is Perfect. 

"Nora, can you hear me? You can leave now. My apologies Mr Wolffe, some girls just don't know their place." I heard Dorothy hiss from beside me.

"DON'T EVER TALK TO HER LIKE THAT AGAIN!" I growled. How dare she talk to my Mate like that!

I raced to be in front of my Mate. It was all I could do to not claim her here and now. I gently brushed her cheek with my fingers and felt the sparks take over my body. I muttered the only word that seemed to exist in my mind.

"Mine."