Claiming the Alpha King’s Throne

Trance vibrations rolled wave after wave over Nix while sitting leisurely watching the warriors grinding and gyrating to the music. The club is a favorite local to blow off steam and pent up werewolf tension. The city belonged to the Alpha King Lorcan White however modern time and intermingling the species humans had become a necessity. The humans wise enough to know about paranormal happenings either kept quiet and avoided werewolf pack attention or actively tried to attract one. Once chosen, the human was brought into the werewolf pack as an omega or even a slave. Few humans ended up enjoying the status they obtained in werewolf society. The problem was, once in, there was no way out but death and the only way to learn how harsh the social ladder is, is to dive in. Not all packs are so cold, the White pack however was to set the example for all werewolf and human kind; who belongs on top. The club exclusively tended to werewolves or other non-human species; aka no risk of accidentally indoctrinating a human unknowingly. The club is darkened; multiple layers of blackout curtains block any exit points natural light could find entry and low immitentence black lights were used. Bodies grinding against each other were highlighted by speckles of body paint and body fluids, nearly all the species knew which was which with their olfactory system. The species that didn’t knew one one golden rule, black in the black light meant blood. Nix made out the movements of a tall poised male moving toward the VIP booth. Only Sloan dared to approach Nix so casually. Nix was short for Phoenix, general of White pack warrior wolves. The two most feared wolves in the city were Alpha Lorcan and General Nix. Many thought Nix was Alpha Lorcan’s Beta which was not the case. Beta Liam protected the White family since the Crowned Princess Niamh was murdered at five years old, leaving behind her little sister Princess Nora who was still in her mothers womb at the time. Princess Nora was born seven months later and Queen Erin passed away in childbirth. No one dared mention that the Alpha King sired two daughters, it would welcome death. Alpha’s are known to pass their pack on to their male heir. When his first born was a female the councils of alphas met and discussed marriage of an alpha to his daughter to have an alpha male take over the pack. When Queen Erin fell pregnant a second time, never before recorded in the White family line history, all thought it was surely to be a male. Everyone believed the Moon Goddess was correcting the scales, but then Princess Nora was born and she was meek in comparison to her sister, beautiful but not what the council was looking for as a ruler. The speculation on who would marry the Princess began in hushed tones, ‘who will claim the Alpha King’s throne’? Beta Liam had full time duty watching the Princess. The warrior wolves were thus governed by Nix, an orphan that worked up the ranks of warriors proving time after time an alpha lurked within. Orphans are given no title, no name, nothing. Beat down again and again until either they submit to being omegas or until they fight back and rise. Nix was given the name phoenix that fateful day; from the ashes rose hell on four legs, vicious and hungry. From then on Nix amassed followers and it was not long until opportunity arose to challenge for positions in the warriors. Take over was slow at first but in the last five years all the pieces to Nix’s plan had started sliding into place. Sloan’s 6’1” frame slid into the booth across from Nix. He was attractive for a warrior wolf, most were missing some critical part of the equation: looks, intelligence, and unmarked. Short brown hair matched his chestnut eyes and tanned skin that overlayed his muscled body. Sloan was Nix’s second in command and right hand. The two met early in Nix’s rise to power in the warrior wolf sector. A few wolves tried to get close to Nix before him but Nix embodied the aura of “f*** around and find out”. Nix never smiled, always spoke low, and never repeated a warning. The Alpha aura wasn’t always as palpable, but since taking the General position, Nix stopped suppressing it. Looking at Nix from afar, especially to humans, was not impressive next to Sloan. Nix is 5’8” lean, dark red hair shaved on each side, the top left in long warrior braids pulled back with a trimmed matching red beard and piercing green eyes. Nix didn’t blend well into the human population, was not trying to, wearing heavy leathers and armor. As General and one of the contenders for Princess Nora’s hand, Nix has been attacked multiple times and is always ready for battle. What the attackers don’t anticipate is the crushing pressure of the alpha prescience once within close proximity to Nix. Nix’s face and arms are scarred, which is not common for werewolves unless injured by silver weapons. Hunters were not foolish enough to come after high ranking members in modern times, they are identified and dealt with quickly. Werewolves if hurt after a shift are renewed back to their unmarred flesh and thus don’t carry scars; their body must recuperate the lost energy from being hurt and shifting can only be done a limited amount of times within a short time period. It internalizes the wounds which becomes problematic for some requiring healing or surgery before shifting to prevent closing off catastrophic injuries to have perfect skin on top. Nix though refuses to shift, handling everything in human form as a show of strength. All werewolves know when it comes down to an out right match hand to hand shifting to wolf form is best as the wolf form and side of all werewolves is physically stronger. Nix not only is out matched in size most times, but refuses to rely on wolf form. Knowing that what has been accomplished in purely human form, the threat of the unknown of the wolf is enough to make most second think crossing Nix. Sloan: “The council is set to arrive within the week. All accounts state male representatives from each family will be joining as well”. Sliding the small thumb drive across the table. “These are all the candidates my informants were able to pass along”. Nix made no move to take the drive. Nix: “Doesn’t matter who they bring, she won’t choose them”. Nix leans back in the booth. Too calm, way too calm for Sloan’s liking. Sloan: “Damn it Nix! We are so close to you getting the throne and you are getting lax at a time like this! Her mate could be in there! How can you be so nonchalant about all of this! All of your hard work down the drain and some other a** clown on the throne! Your love for her will mean nothing if her mate shows up and we both know you are not her fated mate”! Slamming his fists on the table. Nix’s eyes fixed on Sloan forcing him to swallow hard. There was something about Nix and Sloan’s bond, Sloan knew he was meant to be Nix’s Beta. Fate had a master plan for werewolf kind but Sloan was convinced somewhere along the line fate got drunk and squiggled some lines on the timeline of the ‘master plan’. Werewolf kind had not be right since the Great War and the ripple effects generations later. Nix: After a short but deafening pause, “Sloan have I led you astray before”? Realizing he would not win, he simply raised his hand for the server. After placing an order for two and lightning service Sloan and Nix held their glasses up tapping them into each other. Sloan: “All part of your plan Alpha”? Nix: “Going according to plan”. And they drank. ——————————————————— Lorcan: “I DON’T CARE HOW! GET RID OF HIM”! Liam: “They’ve tried, they’ve tried everything they can think of. He is an Alpha true and a General. Killing him short of a suicide mission where even you’d lose won’t get Phoenix out of the running for Nora’s hand”! Lorcan: “AARGGHHHH”! Shattering his desk in pieces. Lorcan didn’t hate Nix, he was a great warrior and a phenomenal General. Everything was perfect with their relationship until he dropped his name for consideration in front of the council for Nora’s hand since she had not yet chosen a mate nor found her fated mate. The council intrigued offered to see how the Princess would take to the General and she was SMITTEN with the male! The memories of the day enraging the Alpha King further, grabbing the nearest chair and smashed it on the wall. He wanted a successor he could mold to his will, Nix was anything but a pushover. When asked to go to war, no hesitation; asked to take over hostile pack, no hesitation; asked to eradicate rogues, done; asked to deal out punishments and contain strife within the city, lowest crime rate in last decade. Lorcan had thought if he’d went after innocent women and children and falsely accused them Nix would break; didn't even flinch. Kieran wolf-link: I warned you there was something about him that was off. Lorcan wolf-link: Shut up! Acting all knowing, high and mighty! What’s your great idea?! He has no weakness and the warriors are loyal to him so I can’t just kill him myself! Kieran wolf-link: If you want him gone you’ll have to, his only weakness is the girl and she’s off limits. As if struck by lightning, the Alpha stood up with his new found idea weaving its way into place in his mind. His wolf was right about one thing, Nix did have a weakness: Princess Nora. Kieran wolf-link: SHE IS OFF LIMITS! Lorcan shoved his wolf to the back of his mind so he was not distracted by the raging wolf's howls as he finished formulating the plot in his mind. Beta Liam grows alarmed by the sudden silence of the Alpha. Lorcan: “Have Princess Nora urgently prepare for travel to High Point Palace, I have thought better on the recommendation to meet her future suitors on neutral ground, she leaves in an hour”. Liam: “Alpha…” a cold sweat broke out over the Beta, surely the Alpha was not this mad. Lorcan: “That was an order Beta Liam, the car will be out front”. ——————————————————— Warrior Mind Link: Princess Nora is set to travel and leaves within the hour to High Point Palace for the upcoming Council meeting and will be staying there until a suitor has been chosen to begin her courtship by order of King Alpha Lorcan. Nix and Sloan nearly choked on their drinks and the dance floor stood still, heads turning to their leader. The council originally wanted High Point Palace for these meetings as it is neutral ground out of the city, but it was decided a long time ago Princess Nora was too delicate for that trip. During the American expansion, as cities became bigger and less room for wolves to run, packs would choose to move further West. The White Pack went as far as they could and settled in Seattle and as the city formed the pack became silent partners in the background having large shares in development. It was how the werewolves hid in plain sight within a bustling city; when needed the Washington forest provided sanctuary to their wolf forms. The other packs were scattered across the United States, well this half of the fall out after the Great War. The second half lived in South America, the Blacks their Alpha Magnus unheard of in over a century. Werewolves had exceptionally long life times if not interrupted, some speculate Alpha Magnus is nearly 200 years old. Alpha Lorcan is 253 and reaching the end of his prime which is why the council is insisting on a successor. The White family hold the responsibility of carrying the blood link to the Moon Goddess, the teether to barrier that allows new werewolves to receive their wolf at their first shift. If there is no link to her children wolves will stop being gifted to werewolves and they will remain human. After Princess Niamh was murdered the bond was shaken and there was a five year gap until the next wolf was gifted to a werewolf. The whole species had been shaken to its core. Nix: “HAS HE LOST HIS MIND”! The growl that erupted from Nix caused the sound system to falter. Sloan: “What’s our move, we have an hour, actually less”. He was already rising from the booth adjusting his vest and jacket that concealed his weapons. Nix: “I can’t ask this of you, it’s suicide” Stepping down from the booth and starting to make the way from the VIP area. Warrior: “Then it’s suicide together Alpha”. Referring to anyone other than King Alpha Lorcan as the Alpha was treason. These men were Nix's, everyone knew it. The moment the Princess showed favor to Nix the warrior became more comfortable openly calling Nix alpha. Werewolves are born with alpha blood or they’re not and from there they earn the title. Nix was an Alpha, the title was just a matter of time. Nix: “High Point Palace is…” Sloan: “On the Sierra Blanca Peak in New Mexico. We’ll face plenty of hostiles on the way and when we get there we will have to make the hike to the barrier on foot. We know what awaits us if we don’t make the barrier by nightfall. We are still with you, to the end”. Fists connected with their chest as a sign of respect to their leader, their loyalty unwavering. Each time the King had obviously sentenced an innocent person no matter man, woman, or child Nix had found ways to ‘disappear’ the person after their punishment had been ‘carried out’. Nix had no trouble removing true threats, but was not in the business of murdering innocent people. The warriors kept Nix’s methods quiet in hopes of better days for the White Pack ahead with a fair and just Alpha in charge. The warriors believed General Nix’s plan was to make Princess Nora Luna and they would go great lengths, as they knew Nix would, to protect their Queen Luna. Nix would move heaven and earth to protect the Princess that was true, but not because she wanted her as Luna. Nix wolf-link: We can’t let father kill Nora. Orla wolf-link: I am your wolf Nia, the Moon Goddess chose me for you for a reason. I will not leave you. Nix owed much to her wolf for staying dormant all these years, if she shifted the humans’ injectable testosterone that hid her female scent and features would break through. It had allowed her to grow a beard even making it that much more believable, but early Nix realized the process of shifting back completely burned through the hormone erasing it from her system. Her wolf was also a dead giveaway she was a descendent of the White family- pure white fur, it was too much of a risk. Rumors about her wolf the few times she shifted were all over the place, no one ever got a good look, not even Sloan. Nix felt she was leading her warriors to suicide based on the lie she’d been living for the last 30 years. Orla wolf-link: He already killed you Nia, we can’t let him kill our little sister too. Nix: “We leave in thirty minutes, be ready, those willing” guilt was over road by knowledge that at least one of them needed to be here to over throw their father.