The Masked Royal

Chapter 2 - Aedion

Aedion's POV

I was dragged from sleep into the darkness of the forest. We still havent reached the border when the war broke in my home, father and mother were left behind.

I kept on looking back but the two men kept on urging me to walk straight. We havent exchanged any words until we have reached the border and the two men relaxed a little from their stiff self.

I wore the cloak that mother made me, I have a strange feeling about the cloak but I didnt bother to ask the two strangers who I have entrusted with my life because father told me so.

We walked and ran into the night, avoiding roads and streams. We've been in the forest for I dont know how long, but I knew that its already been months that have passed.

We have helped a lot of my clan to seek shelter from other clans without them knowing that we have been helping them. We just decided to leave the border when we have ensured that all my clan that have survived and escaped are all safe from the roaming rogues.

We will be heading to the place where father wanted me to go, the Rieka clan. They all believed that I will be safe in Rieka, but its thousand miles away from Araceli. We have even travelled through boat to reach the border of the neighboring clan of Rieka. We cant use the roads and the usual ports, we have to divert our paths not to be followed by anyone who have ordered the attack of my precious clan.

I want to weep for the lost of my home but mother and father ensured that I will safely escape. They have their reasons, so I have to live to know that reasons. I have to survive.

We've been inside of Rieka's ground unnoticed for almost a month when the strangers approached the young hunter in the woods. He seemed courageous facing us but his arrow is weak, I can tell by the way his fingers trembled. Poor lad, he maybe just older than me by two years.

I just remained quite while the stranger begged our way to their ground when a group of hunters arrived. I knew instantly that the one with a piercing eyes is one of the lineage of the Rieka leaders. He is an alpha, a very strong one.

He approached me and I secretly smiled when I gave him the glimpse of myself and he was obviously startled with surprise.

Without any more words he brought us to their main house where the great alpha and his family are living. I can sense their very powerful aura.

Words are exchanged, questions have been asked and answered. They would occasionally looked at me but no one paid too much attention. I was introduced as a ten year old boy and no one questioned, I dont even wonder why. I just felt my heart constrict everytime I am made aware of the presence of the cloak. It was from my mother whom I dont know if I would ever see again with my father.

I was orphaned because of the war, a war that no one knew of the reason. Mother and father fought together side by side. It was crazy when father forbid me to fight when he fully knew that I can, instead he made me escape like a coward, abandoning my people.

Everyone gasped with obvious confusion in their faces when I took off the cloak. I dont know what they saw that made them such reactions.

"Aedion of Araceli" I politely introduced my self.

"I beg for shelter in your clan great alpha Quinn, omega Ariella and alpha Vidarr" I politely added, nodding at each one of them.

They stared at me with their intense gaze but I dont feel intimidated because Im waiting for their agreement. Im fulfilling my parents command, to be in this place no matter what. Weve been through difficult trek just to reach this land, I have to acquire their approval so I could stay and be safe here.

"We have to strengthen every part of this land if we will allow you to stay with us and I will be putting my people to the possibility of a huge attack" alpha Quinn announced while staring at me.

"I am aware great alpha, but I have nowhere to go. Im begging for shelter" I begged lowly, I need their protection.

"We are all aware of the consequences of all of these, but I cant turn my back on you now. You are almost my son" Quinn intently mumbled while staring at me and I felt so relieved.

"Thank you great alpha, I owe my life to all of Rieka" I bowed low to pay my respect to all of the leaders.

"Its our honor to shelter you, Aedion of Araceli" alpha Quinn tilt his head on me which I gladly acknowledged with my grateful smile.

"Thank you alpha Quinn" I bowed at him and his family.

"Prepare the chamber upstairs for our guest" alpha Quinn turned to omega Ariella who nodded with a smile.

*

I was comfortably settled in Rieka clan for a week now and alpha Quinn promised to know as much as he could about the attack in my home. I also wanted to know what happened to my parents and if they are still alive since its been months. My heart still hope that they are because I still need them.

Today I was summoned to the great hall and I am so excited to hear some news.

"Aedion, please have a seat" alpha Quinn gestured me to sit down accross him.

"Good day alpha Quinn" I greeted him politely before I sat down.

"Some words are being passed and rumors are spreading" alpha Quinn started with his intent gaze on me but I didnt say anything. Im just waiting for him to continue but my curiousity seemed to be killing me.

"Someone in the palace was behind the attack. The great alpha king is unwell and his sons are in chaos in claiming power to rule" alpha Quinn continued with his gauging eyes while I gaped at him in confusion.

"But why attack our clan?" I mumbled softly when I cannot understand the connection.

Alpha Quinn stared at me with his intent gaze while my brows are knotted in confusion with the way he looked at me.

"Alpha Quinn?" I called him in confusion.

"Does your parents are in any way, connected to the palace?" the alpha asked me and he is obviously very careful with his words to ask me.

I gaped at him when my mind went blank in a fleeting seconds as I remained quite with my eyes focused on my joined hands on my lap.

"There are rumors floating around Aedion and I fear that the palace is starting to move to gain custody to the only son of Araceli clan" the alpha said with his uncertain words and stared at me with his intent eyes, seemed waiting to hear words that he has been expecting from me.

I gasped in shock, gain custody? But it cant be, its not possible.

"Alpha Quinn, it cant be" I uttered weakly, my mind panicked and instantly in chaos.

"Words reached the palace that the son has survived and we are not certain that we have successfully concealed your presence here. They are moving Aedion, I have trust in my people but the power of the palace is immeasurable especially now that the alpha king is unwell. Its for you to decide, anytime from now they will be knocking on my door to claim their custody and I cant deny that, you know that" alpha Quinn carefully explained while he stared at me with understanding and intensity.

"My parents, how about my parents?" I felt panicked consuming me and I wanted my parents beside me. I will only feel better if I will be with my parents.

"The graveyard is totally turned to ashes, we cant find traces of your parents, Im so sorry" the alpha looked remorseful and I felt numb from the pain. My heart felt being stabbed and my whole body seemed too weak.

"Alpha, I cant be alone. I cant fight alone" I mumbled softly and I can feel my tears streaming freely down my cheeks. I felt so alone and hopeless.

"I have given you my word that I will protect you Aedion, I will fight against the palace if everything comes to worst" alpha Quinn tried to assure me but I know that it would be a hopeless case. Rieka is a very strong clan in war but if it would be against the palace, it would be a devastating war. Hundreds of clans, including Rieka, have pledged loyalty to the palace, they would clearly go against their loyalty if they will side with me.

"It would be a hopeless war alpha" I whispered softly as I wiped the tears in my eyes and cheeks. I wont put the people of Rieka into danger by protecting me.

"If it will just comes to worst but I still hope that it will not" alpha Quinn mumbled also deep in his thoughts. He knew too well the gravity of his action if he will go against the palace. His people will suffer together with his whole lineage.

"The best thing that we could do for now is to hide your presence in this clan. But I know that it will not be long before they would reached this place" he added with sureness in his voice.

"It could buy me some time" I mumbled softly while thinking hard while the alpha is just staring at me.

"We wont have that much time" the alpha stated matter of factly.

"I know, but I need all the possible time that I could have alpha" I stared at him with my begging eyes, I no longer knew what to do but I know I still need time to think and to plan. Father and mother will not be at my side to help me this time, I need to plan alone.

I have to find my mate, by then I will not be this hopeless. I need time to find him and Im praying that it will be soon.

"We will dally whatever invitations we will receive, that would delay them even for a short time but you should be more careful Aedion, no one must know that you are here" the alpha suggested and seriously warned me.

"Yes I will be more careful" I mumbled while feeling so determined.

Im so confident that I could be able to hide my presence from all the people of Rieka but if its true that the palace has been involved in all that have happened in my clan and to my parents, I felt afraid, I dont know who or what I am dealing.

The two strangers that have accompanied me here in Rieka left after I have settled and they havent come back. I havent received any words from them either but I know that they will try to find out about father and mother since that night and Im hopeful that they could find any.

For the meantime that I still havent found my mate, I need to be strong and to be more careful. I wont be leaving this place just like what I did in my own clan. This time I will fight if I needed to, these are the people who have protected me in my weakest, I will pledge my life for this clan.

I grabbed the great alpha's hand and cupped it in both of my hands.

"I pledge my life to Rieka, to all its people, to its leader and future leaders. I am Aedion" I chanted my pledge and I heard alpha Quinn gasped in shock when he felt the subtle spark in his hand.

I slowly released his hand as he is still gaping in shock while looking at me and I just smiled at him in return. He looked at his hand trying to find something but there is none but I know he felt it.

"What is that?" the alpha asked with his perplexed face while looking at me.

"My claim"

******tbc******