I Am the Alpha and the Omega

The Uncivilised Civil

How does one really prepare for a storm? Batten down the hatches? Plan an attack and defence strategy? Train hard day and night? Make sure you take an umbrella with you when you go out? It is very hard to prepare when you don't fully know what it is that is coming. There were a swirl of ideas that were swimming around in Freya's mind and eating away at her. She needed to talk to Felix but she needed to get through this wedding first. There were an unending barrage of questions she had to ask Esme too, but most all, she had questions she needed to ask herself. What was it that she saw? What did her visions mean? Her wolf Anaya was getting restless by it all too. Freya was sat at her dressing table starring back at her reflection which was all dressed and ready for the biggest night of her daughter's life. Freya wore a deep green, backless, floor length gown, with emerald jewellery. Her blond hair was braided to the side and then up in a bun. Her blue eyes that stared back at her had a sadness to them.

"Are you ok my love?" Felix called out, interrupting her thoughts. "You seem to be very preoccupied today."

"Of course darling, just thinking of the million things that need to be done over the next three days. Everything has to be just perfect," Freya replied, with a smile.

"You are looking so beautiful today, I wish we could stay in our room," Felix growled kissing her neck gently. "So we better go now, before I change my mind."

"I missed you too honey, I still need to hear all about yesterday's hunting trip. But yes, you're right, we need to go."

Downstairs was in a completely different timezone to the rest of the pack house. It was mix of organised chaos and controlled hysteria. The event tonight was the civil ceremony where the couple exchange rings and were bound to each other in the eyes of the law. The ceremony that followed two days later is the spiritual ceremony where in front of the Moon Goddess and the Elemental Deities Ariadne and Arron bond on a spiritual level and are bound by blood as mates in the spiritual plane.

"My love, please go downstairs and check that everything is still in one piece, I just want to quickly check on Ari before I get swamped with other tasks," Freya whispered to Felix, and gave him a kiss.

Felix nodded and swiftly flew down the stairs because he could hear some shouting. Freya shook her head at the sounds coming from downstairs and tip toed into Ari's room knocking as she entered. She looked up and there by her dresser sat her beautiful daughter in her beautiful white wedding gown. However as she got closer she could see Ariadne's red eyes, a blocked nose and tear stained cheeks and rushed to her side.

"Ari! What happened? Why are you crying my baby? What's wrong?" Freya exclaimed, pulling her baby girl in her arms.

Ariadne had just recovered from crying and just when she thought she had cried herself dry, more tears surfaced and she became undone all over again.

"Arron's brothers Alex and Alastair *sniff* came up and told me the wedding is off. *Sniff* That I was not *sniff* good enough for Arron, that I was a gold digger *sniff* and just wanted him for his status *sniff*. I tried to explain to them *sniff* that I didn't pick Arron, the Moon *sniff* Goddess did and I have no control over that *sniff*. They don't believe me and *sniff* think I have him under a spell *sniff* because they think we Elementalists are like witches *sniff* and they are going try to prove it. I told you *sniff* there's something wrong and toxic about them *sniff* Mama, I knew it but I'm just so tired of their s**t *sniff*."

Freya's jaw dropped upon hearing her daughter's words and decided enough is enough.

"My baby, why didn't you come to me while suffering all this?"

"I thought I could handle it Mama, but I think it all got a little too much too quickly. I didn't want too add to your load."

"I know my love, I have raised you to be such a strong independent she-wolf and I'm so proud of you, but I will always be your mother. I will always be there for you no matter what. You and I are going to teach those arrogant Alphas a lesson they will never forget. Now let's wipe your eyes, clean your face and re-do your make-up. I will call Alexa to come and help you. You have to promise me one thing though, tonight no matter how crazy things get, you must trust me."

"I always trust you Mama."

"Promise me, tonight whatever I ask you to do, no matter how strange or unreasonable, you will do it without fail."

"I promise."

"Right my beautiful daughter, I will love you and leave you. We have big, bad Alphas who need to a big kick up their asses and we have a wedding to get to! It literally can't happen without you," Freya said, with a wink.

Both mother and daughter got up and gave each other a tight hug and then got down to business.

As the Luna walked downstairs into the chaos that awaited her, she took a deep breathe and let her wolf Anaya come to the surface. "Nobody threatens our pup and gets away with it! It is time to kick arse!" Anaya growled.

The house and garden looked exquisite, there were flowers and fairy lights creeping and twinkling over the door frames, verandahs and beautiful arches that had been constructed that led outside to the garden where the ceremony was being held. The chairs for the guests had been laid out. It was a full moon, an auspicious night and the pergola that stood at the end of the aisle had been draped with flower garlands, crystals and lights. It looked like stepping into a fairytale. However the scene playing out around this idyllic green space was the opposite. All of Arron's family had gathered in the living room and were causing a commotion.

"What do you mean the wedding is cancelled!" growled Arron.

"Exactly that, I spoke to Ariadne earlier and it is what I was telling you all along brother She confessed to me that she was marrying you for all the wrong reasons and that to save herself the humiliation, she would cancel the wedding," explained Alex.

"Yeah Arron, I was there, we went to her room and I witnessed it all," confirmed Alastair.

"YOU WENT TO HER ROOM? MY ARIADNE WOULD NEVER ALLOW THAT!" Arron roared. "THIS CAN'T BE TRUE! I DON'T BELIEVE YOU!"

"We did warn you, mother and father about her brother, she is just using you. You aren't really mates, you are under her spell. She is a powerful elementalist you know. We have saved you from a huge mistake brother," explained Alex, innocently.

"She is not a gold-digger Alex! She loves me, the family and the pack. She has already started making some excellent suggestions as future Luna and if only you saw the difference that it will make! You are blinded by your misplaced hatred. My wolf talks to her wolf, they are one."

"I will make you see Arron."

Meanwhile, Arron's parents were deeply hurt by the news and also refused to believe their Ariadne would be so underhand and deceitful. Freya and Felix had been rushing round ensuring the final wedding preparations were done so they would be ready to greet the guests in an hours' time. They were eventually sought out by Penny and Pierce who looked very distressed.

"What's the matter Pierce? Penny?" Felix asked, knowing he wasn't going to like the answer, Freya had already relayed the entire situation to him via mind-link and it was taking everything in him to stop Nox from ripping Alex and Alastair's throats out.

"We have received news of a most alarming nature, but before reacting to it, we wished to speak to you first," explained Penny, knowing full well there must an explanation for this, and attempting to diffuse an already tense situation between the families.

Freya quickly gave all three of them an explanation of what Ariadne had told her and how distressed she was. That she loved Arron with all her heart but couldn't be the best Luna for her Alpha and her pack when her new family didn't stand behind her. Penny and Pierce although horrified at how much the situation had escalated, weren't entirely surprised at their sons' behaviour.

"Freya," said Alpha Pierce, and he paused for a moment and took a deep breath. "I am deeply embarrassed and sorry for how two of our sons have behaved with your daughter. I thought they were getting better but I can see beneath the facade now. It hasn't been easy for the two of them being the older brothers, but not finding their mates yet. They have also been held back from stepping up as the Chief Alpha position for the province due to their volatile behaviour. I sense they feel jealous of their little brother not just because he found his mate, but such an outstanding lady for a mate. They also feel like they are losing Arron to her even though they aren't. This by no means justifies their appalling behaviour with her. We must set the record straight."

Felix and Freya looked in amazement at Alpha Pierce, as this is the most humbling, heartfelt and refreshingly candid speech they have heard from an Alpha. This also is probably the most Alpha Pierce has said to them for the entire duration of their acquaintance! Freya gave a little bow of acknowledgement.

"No Luna, it is I who should bow to you, for you have kindly dealt with all the tantrums and dodged all the bullets that have been thrown at you during the build-up of this event and you have handled yourself with the utmost grace. I can see where Ari gets her manners and sweetness from," the Alpha added with a bow.

"I am pleased we have been able to talk this through without losing any limbs," Felix joked.

"Although I am not sure Arron feels the same way," said Penny, suddenly going pale.

"Wait I have a plan," explained Freya and quickly explained what was going to happen. "You have to trust me."

"It's a bit drastic, but I approve," Pierce nodded.

The parents parted ways and agreed to congregate in the living room in a few minutes. Meanwhile, Ariadne who was dressed and ready to fight for her mate gracefully floated downstairs with Alexa helping her. She looked around at the decorated pack house in awe and admiration. She slowly walked through the vestibule into the living area, where she could see a lot of familiar faces, showing a wide array of emotions.

"Here goes nothing," she muttered to herself, as she confidently strode towards the crowd.

Arron, Alex and Alastair along with a few of their uncles and aunts were in the middle of a heated discussion, when they noticed Ariadne approaching. Her attire and confident glow only accentuated her beauty, and this forced them to stop and pause drinking her presence in.

"You have some nerve showing up here," Alex smirked.

"I should be telling you that. The last time I checked, this was still my house. Oh wait, it still is," Ariadne replied smirking back.

Arron took one look at her and fell in love with her all over again, his wolf was howling with joy that his mate came after all. That she didn't desert him or abandon him like he was told.

"I'm here to save my brother from making the biggest mistake of his life. Marrying a pathetic gold-digging b***h who is using him," explained Alex, in a sweet tone.

Arron growled at his older brother when he heard him disrespecting his future Luna; before he could reply Ariadne spoke up.

"Alex, I am sick and tired of you concocting these lies about me. Not only are they lies which you insist they are not, you have no proof to substantiate them. I love Arron with every fibre of my being and I have the Moon Goddess to thank for that. I admire your loyalty to your brother and he is lucky to have such a loving family, I even want to be a part of it. However, when you came to my room this afternoon filling my head with these disgusting lies and sought to destroy my only chance at happiness in life, I realised enough is enough! You seem to forget your place and your ignorance. You are in MY territory, disrespecting MY family, MY parents and MY pack and NOTHING gives you the right to do that. You are so sure I am a gold-digger? What if I could prove to you undoubtedly that Arron is my mate?"

There was dead silence in the room, the only sound that could be heard was the tick-tock of the grandfather clock.

"WHAT? CAT GOT YOUR TONGUE ALEX? ALASTAIR? I AM GIVING YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO PUT YOUR DOUBTS TO SLEEP AND NOTHING?" Ariadne screamed.

Ariadne stepped forward and pulled out a gun and pointed it towards her head. Everyone in the room gasped and stepped away a few paces.

"If I am not Arron's mate, he will remain unscathed. However, if I am his mate and if I die -"

"Stop talking nonsense Ari! You are my mate!" Arron shouted and rushed towards her.

Suddenly, Alastair dived in front Arron and blocked him from reaching Ariadne. Alex wrestled with Ariadne and pulled the gun trying to prise it out of her hands. There was a struggle for control and the sound of a gunshot resonated through the house.