For Kingdom's Sake

Around a thousand years ago, packs of werewolves began carving out larger territories, joining packs together or annihilating neighbouring packs in order to take each other's pack grounds. There was much bloodshed during this time, but as the new, larger packs developed, they began to create more complicated hierarchies. No longer was there simply Alpha's, Luna's and Beta's. There were kings, queens, advisors, emperors, empresses, and all sorts of nobility that varied pack by pack. And the packs were no longer the close knit group they had previously been. Now, due to the far spread of them, most of each pack had never met all of the rest. Many began to lose touch with their wolf sides due to spending more time inside and not shifting regularly. There were stories about packs long ago being capable of sending each other their thoughts over long distances, mates being able to feel each other's emotions. There were some who claimed the barbarians living in the wilderness outside these lands still could due to being much more in tune with their wolves, but everyone was aware that those stories were just baseless rumours, persistent old wives tales from a more paranoid era. The barbarians were known to have much stronger wolf forms than the larger packs, though, as they spent much of their time in their wolf forms. While every civilised wolf could shift as a child, many lost that ability over time and lack of use. Wolves were no longer necesarry outside of fighting. Soldiers, guards, and other similar stations trained their wolves, but the average pack member did not need a wolf to sow seeds or weave fabric. Farmed animals would spook in a wolf's presence and most buildings simply weren't made to be used by large, furry predators. Luckily the barbarians were not as organised as the large packs, so they were rarely a threat. The kingdom of Loupfor had the longest shared border with the barbarians, but had never had much of a problem with them as their neighbours. Loupfor had a proud history of strong leaders, not only in physical strength, but also in their ability to do what was ultimately best for their pack. The late King Garlon died twelve years ago and his twenty-six year old son, Crown Prince Viktor, was forced to take the crown. He was one of the youngest kings in the history of the pack, most acting as beta's to their parents until their parents were no longer able to rule, usually at a very advanced age. It was while the Late King Garlon was still in power that I began working for nobility. I began as a maid, eventually becoming an attendant, and, after time, some years after King Viktor came into power, I applied to train to become a staff member at the castle. My best friend for over two decades also applied with me. We both entered into training at the same time, and graduated at the same time. "I cannot believe we can now work at the castle!" Winnie exclaimed, practically skipping. We were moving from the training facilities into the main castle. "What did you think you were training for?" Costas laughed, pulling along a cart with our luggage. He had undertaken the guard program at the same time we had been through the maid program. He had become fast friends with both of us, but anyone could see from how he looked at Winnie that he was much more interested in her. Winnie gave him a gentle nudge with her shoulder, earning a grin filled with adoration she was blind to. Poor Costas probably realised that there was no point in pursuing her, they would eventually meet their mates and whoever was not the first would be heartbroken. It did not seem to change his feelings though. "And what about you, Fidelia?" Winnie turned her attention back to me. "How did you think it would be harder? Half the girls failed to even finish the program!" "I told you, I probably just had an advantage because I had worked for different nobility before," I smiled. The program was supposed to be incredibly difficult, but I had coasted through it like and still achieved the highest scores, as if I was born for castle life. Honestly I had only applied because my last employer, an eccentric dame, had recommended me for the program. She said it would give me the pay and time off to travel that she could not afford but she knew I dreamed of. "At least the next two weeks will be plenty of time for you to settle in before the King's Ball," Winnie sighed. "I think I would need at least a month. Though I suppose I am not able to have a choice in that anyway." I laughed at Winnie. She complained, but she was a very good worker and the castle was lucky to have her. "You will be fine," I comforted her. "You shall have us if you struggle," Costas chimed in. "Though I doubt you will need the help." "It is essentially the most important event in the King's reign!" Winnie exclaimed. She was always much more invested in the comings and goings of the nobility than I was. "He is choosing a mate! That means that he has not found his fated mate! His fated mate would boost the power of the entire Kingdom hugely. A chosen mate barely. What if he chooses a Queen and then rejects his fated mate?" "Does it really matter?" Costas sighed. I had heard this whole tirade many times before, I felt no need to encourage her. "Some fated mates just do not work out." "But he is the KING! He does not have a second chance mate like the rest of us. And the barbarians at the border have been growing in number-" "Winnie, that has been said for decades now, nothing is going to happen," Costas laughed. I wasn't so sure. If it had been said for decades then something was bound to happen sooner or later, and the longer it went on the bigger the potential threat that gathered. But Costas was often very unconcerned with any real threats. He seemed to think that because we had enjoyed such a long period of peace that it would be eternal. That simply wasn't realistic. "Look, since he has been unable to find his fated mate in all this time, he likely never will. But if he did it could prove to be highly problematic." "Hoping to catch the King's fated eye?" I laughed, knowing exactly what her answer would be, despite Costas' suddenly solemn expression. "That would not be ideal," she winced screwing up her nose. "I like to hear about the politics of the nobles, I would not want to be involved in said politics. Queen would be even worse. Imagine how many people will covet your position, your mate, just for the power. Highly overrated fantasy if you ask me." "Well that is probably for the best," I laughed, taking note of the relief washing over Costas' face. "Somehow I doubt that a maid would be the Alpha King's mate."