The Vampire Queen's Destined King

A date with disaster...

Iron Claw (Iroquois)-

Sometimes, the life you are given is easy. You know what is expected of you. The family is there to guide you. Mold you. Sometimes, you get a life that flips you on your ass time after time. That would be my life.

It’s weird now that I have a group of people I consider family. I came to the Black River Pack after fighting alongside Alpha Ronan in battle. He was well respected by everyone who knew him. His wolf is larger than my own. I was still with my original pack, but I always wanted an escape. I had reason to leave. Guilt made me stay. A chance at some form of normalcy let me leave.

The Silver Moon Pack is where I grew up. Where I was in line for a Beta position. Where I found my mate. We grew up together. She was my one and only love. This pack is also where I lost her in battle. When I felt her death, my entire soul left me. I refused to speak from that moment on. So you can guess it’s kind of hard to be a beta if you refuse to speak.

My vow of silence left me in isolation. I needed no one. For I knew when you cared for people, you could experience the greatest of losses. My father died when I was a pup. My mother tried her best to be there for me. She knew me like no other. Eventually, she accepted. I was too far gone but still remained by my side.

I was always the first to volunteer to fight. It was like I had a death wish. I figured the rougher the fight. The better my chances to get back to my mate. Yet it never came. So when I fought alongside Alpha Ronan from the Black River Pack, something about him spoke to me. He respected my stance of silence.

After we won the battle, he was by my side. Us both covered in blood. He offered me a spot with his top warriors. So there I went. Still silent, except I would speak to him when needed. But otherwise mute.

I had been put in charge of his mate. She just found out she was a wolf. Then, she found out she was a hybrid of four different species and also the Omni-Wolf. The most powerful of beings directly descended from the moon goddess herself. She stayed getting in trouble. I called it she was just trying to find herself. So I was assigned to her.

She has such a pure soul and tries, and she could; I refused to speak. I knew if I did, I would tell her my entire life story.

I eventually sired myself to her. As her protector. I wanted Alpha Ronan to know I would protect her with my life. A few months ago, it was tested. The Royal Lycan Queen, in a fit of jealousy, tried to kill Briar with a knife to the heart. I placed myself between her, and I was stabbed.

Bleeding out on the floor, I saw the moon goddess, and I got to see my mate. They said I died three times before Briar stepped in. She is part vampire. She watched me die and then jumped in, refusing to let me go. Damn, that woman is stubborn. She bit me, turning me into a vampire. It worked. After weeks in rehab, I’m good as new.

Now that I’ve told you a bit about me. Let’s get to why I just risked everything by drawing my claw against the neck of the queen of the vampires at this ball.

The night was nice. Luna Briar and Alpha Ronan had a ball to thank all the leaders and different species who helped in the battle to recover Luna Briar, who was kidnapped by the Royal Lycan King. They were resting when I walked up with her favorite snack, a fruit and yogurt parfait. Did I mention she is about four months pregnant with twin pups? Four months is how long a wolf carries. But she is the Omni-Wolf, so her pregnancy was more bordering at two months. Yep, super growing pups. Everything about her is pure magic. She has become the little sister I never knew I needed. Especially now with me sired to her out of respect, and now her DNA flows through me. We are family.

I give them space as many leaders want a chance to make deals with Alpha Ronan and meet the amazing Omni-Wolf.

Suddenly, I pick up on an increased heartbeat. I can hear conversations from people as I walk around. Mind links, mind you, that no one could hear unless they were part of that pack or very powerful. I was told that once you get any of Luna Briar's DNA, you will develop your dormant genes. I seem to be developing mine. My speed has increased. Hearing other people and things from a much farther distance has started. So far, that is it…but I feel more is due.

Moments later I’m at the bar getting a seltzer water with lemon. I don’t drink whenever I am around the Luna. I must always be in a position to protect her.

“Hello Iron Claw, am I going to ever get a word out of you?” Ilsa whispers seductively, leaning in. Making sure I can see down her dress. She is a beautiful woman don’t get me wrong, but most women want me just to break me. For bragging rights to say they had me and made me speak. Plus, I don’t have any interest in the women I’ve met. I need more. My dark side craves things these women would cry about. So I keep myself quiet. I’ll grunt a noise to answer and leave it at that. I smirk at her, raising an eyebrow. “You should really come back to my room tonight, and I’ll let you do whatever you want to me." She runs her hands down my chest. I grip her hand, pulling it away from touching me. Something about this interaction tonight especially feels wrong.

I nod to Ilsa and excuse myself as I move through the crowd. Watching everyone. Keeping an eye on the Luna. Those babies are very active. I can sense them. The ballroom of the pack house is full of people. Men on the hunt for a partner for the night. Women are looking for the same. Some hoping tonight they find their mates.

Not me. I have no desire for that. Plus, getting a second chance, mate, is very rare. I’m not fit for a partner. The moon goddess made sure of that years ago.

Then I hear a voice. I tune into a mind-link from across the room. It is the voice that is so soothing to my soul. It feels like it cracked the titanium case covering my heart.

‘Let’s make sure we introduce ourselves, okay? I have a lot of deals. I would like to broker with the Alpha.’ She says.

‘Yes my queen. I know he is a fair man. He will be a great asset to your rise on the throne.’ Some male answers back to her.

My ears tingle from her voice. I walk as if guided like a magnet to her. I see her from behind. Her beautiful brown skin. The delicious blood-red dress tapered to her curves. Her hair in thin braids just touching her plump ass. I want to grip those braids, forcing her to her knees. Watching her look up at me with her…damn I need to see her face. I need to memorize her face for my dreams later.

The crowd seems to part for me. I don’t know if it’s my size or the energy I’m giving off. I’m seven feet even and just as wide. I make my way towards the woman who is guarded by men half my size. They are vampires. I can smell them. So is she, but not only vampire I can detect. I move in as she speaks to the Alpha and Luna. Then she pauses as if she can sense me. She turns around, looking out into the crowd with a beautiful puzzled look on her perfect face. But she misses me as I blend in with a group of werebears. I continue moving in until I’m a few feet away.

Then the smell hits me. Not a fragrant one. A flashback scent. I know that scent. It is a scent I’ve searched for all of my life. Ever since I lost my beautiful mate. It was the scent of her killer. I found her bloody body in the woods near our pack. She had been ripped to shreds as she bled out in my arms. The woman before me was the killer of my mate.

I charge towards her, flinging her protection detail with ease. She really needs better guards. In two steps, I grab her by the neck, pressing her against the wall. Her head makes a thud as it hits the wall. I extend my claw to her neck, ready to end her.

“You!” I yell.

“Iron Claw! What is the meaning of this?” My alpha bellows using his aura. He stands between us mind-linking me. ‘What the hell has gotten into you?’

“She is the person responsible for killing my mate.” I grunt out loud. I hear Briar gasp. The Queen walks up to me and sniffs.

“Well, hello, mate.” She smirks.

“Mate? No…no!” I yell as my breathing is heavy. My chest rises and falls. The gripping pain pulsing through me. I must end her. Alpha Ronan blocks my vision, and I release her.

“If everyone will come to my office now. Please, Queen Mira?” Alpha Ronan asks as her guards attempt to hold me. I let them, but I could end all four of them instantly if I wanted.

Queen Mira, as I know her now, walks towards me. She touches her neck as she peers up at me. She is a little under six feet, but her presence is larger than life.

“As a courtesy to you and your mate, I will meet.” She squints her eyes and then punches the hell out of me. “That is for putting your hands on me.” Damn she has some strength in her. I could respect that if she wasn’t the brutal killer of my innocent mate.

We are ushered towards the office to have a private conversation. I did all of this in front of every head of every pack and coven. I have some apologies to make sure. Starting with my Alpha and my Luna. I turn to check on Briar, and I sense her heartbeat pick up.

“Ronan…my water just broke.” Luna Briar says as we all look down to the floor. A clear puddle of fluid at her feet. Ronan swiftly picks her up, rushing her to the hospital down the street. We have our own hospital on our pack lands. It’s one of the largest packs in northern California. I pull away from the guards as we all rush to the hospital. Beta Colton follows with his mate. Emerson, who is also pregnant. She is the sister of Alpha Ronan.

The guards try and keep up with me, but I have to make sure Luna Briar is okay. The Queen follows as well. Within one minute, we are at the labor and delivery wing of the hospital.

The Queen is chanting something under her breath while holding a medallion that is around her neck. I stare at her inquisitively. It feels as though our scuffle can wait a bit.