Alpha King, Unknown Mate

Chapter 3 The Last Moon

The wind carried the scent of pine and swamp through the old trees in the Shadow pack's territory. The forests to the north bear silent witness to the decline of Alpha's power. A solemn atmosphere prevailed In the great hall of the pack's ancestral home, and every shadow seemed to carry a burden.

Alpha Herald, leader of the Shadow Clan for nearly two decades, has been the epitome of strength and power. His shoulders exceeded the limits of the wolf pack, and his arms and wings had repeatedly won battles with the poor wolves. But now the base of that shoulder was covered with long-standing wounds, and the hard blows he had once given had turned into painful coughs.

His son Ralph stood in the doorway, his eyes gazing at his father with a mixture of devotion and sorrow. This was no child, no. Twenty-three-year-old Ralph was a grown wolf—a warrior, a leader in training—but even the most seasoned heroes grappled with the reality of losing their master.

"My child, you must choose." Herald's voice was low and sickly, but the command was firm.

Ralph swallowed hard. The idea of ​​choosing a mate is almost impossible to fathom. But the word alpha is not a request; they are genetic. Shadow Pack rules require it. The next Alpha must have Luna reign at his side, a companion who will help lead and protect the pack.

Ralph looked at the thick parchment his father had written weeks ago, saying that Una was the chosen one. Una was young and strong. Her blood was old, her spirit as old as the north wind that swept through the forest. She was perfect in every way... except for one thing: Ralph had never spoken to her. She was as foreign to him as a mountain in the sea.

But his father had been insistent. “She is strong. You are strong. Together, you will lead the pack,” he had said.

Ralph's gaze shifted toward the window. The full moon was rising, casting pale light over the hills, its glow rippling through the darkening woods. Soon, the ritual would begin. The wolves would gather beneath the moon's light, and the pack’s future would be sealed.

The night was cold, biting even, but Una felt the warmth of the pack’s bond settling around her as she entered the clearing. She could hear the whispers of the trees and the low growl of the wind, but all she could focus on was the silhouette standing at the edge of the clearing—the Alpha’s son, Ralph.

Una’s heart pounded, but she held her composure. She had been raised for this moment. She was a servant, skilled in the art of survival, and knew how to mask every emotion beneath a carefully controlled exterior. But her mind was a tangled mess of confusion and anxiety. She had seen Ralph from afar many times. But she had never spoken directly to him, Never.

As Ralph’s eyes locked onto hers, something stirred within her—a primal pull, almost magnetic. But she was not one to be ruled by instinct alone.

“Una,” Ralph's deep voice broke through the night, rough, like the sound of a boulder scraping against stone. He stepped forward, his large frame casting a long shadow in the pale light.

“Ralph,” Una replied, her voice steady, betraying none of the fluttering uncertainty inside her.

There was a brief silence between them, and then the words Ralph had dreaded spilt out.

“My father is dying. He wishes for me to mate before he passes, to ensure the future of the pack. The choice has been made. I will take you as my Luna.”

Una’s breath caught in her throat.

She had heard the rumours of Herald’s sickness, but to hear the confirmation in his son’s voice was another thing entirely. She nodded, her heart heavy. She understood the weight of the role. But was she ready?

“I accept,” Una said, the words falling from her lips before she could reconsider. They were spoken not just out of duty, but out of a strange, undeniable sense of destiny. She could feel it, the way the air seemed to hum with possibility.

The wind shifted, howling as if to seal their bond.

The next few days passed in a blur of preparation. The pack’s customs were old, steeped in ritual and tradition. The moonlit ceremony was only the beginning, the formal acknowledgement of their bond. But even as Ralph and Una stood together beneath the ancient trees, Ralph’s mind was clouded with the thought of his father—how his strength had slowly ebbed away in the silence of their home.

And now, the silence was final.

The Alpha was dead.

The wolves gathered, standing quietly in the clearing. Their faces were calm, but their eyes were filled with sadness and respect. Herald was a true Alpha, and his death left a deep hole in their hearts. According to the pack, Alpha's body was laid on a stone altar in the middle of the forest, under the shade of a tall pine tree. The members of the pack formed a circle, each praying for the fallen leader.

Ralph stood in front, his hands shaking despite his efforts to remain calm. Una stood beside him, her eyes fixed on the horizon as if searching for some sign of what was to come.

The ritual ended, and Ralph approached the altar. His hands touched the cold, lifeless body of his father. The moonlight above his head shone, casting a silver light on his face. He could feel his father's legacy, centuries of Shadow clan history weighing heavily on his shoulders.

It's about time.

He turned to Una, and at that moment a thought came over him--stronger than all fears and insecurities. He leaned forward and pulled Una towards him. Their relationship, although new and unfinished, was strong, like the smell of the first rain after a long drought.

"First," he said, his voice firm now, full of authority.

Una nodded, her eyes fixed. "Alright," she whispered.

The days that followed changed when Ralph took on a new role as Alpha. The wolves accepted, despite their fear. The weight of his father's legacy weighed heavily, but deep down Ralph knew that more than blood or tradition would

As his Una-to-be, she stood by his side, fierce and unwavering. Together, they faced the challenges of leading the pack through a changing world. There would be trials, of course—there always were—but for the first time in his life, Ralph felt ready to face them.

And as the moon rose once more, casting its silvery glow over the northern forest, Ralph stood tall, knowing that the future of the Shadow Pack was secure. He had his Una by his side, though not completely bounded jet and together, they would drew a new path for their people—one born of strength, unity, and the eternal bond of the wolves.