Asher's Choice

The werewolves of Wolvesbridge kingdom stirred to life as the morning sun shone in all her glory. Warriors changed shifts, and children ran off to the academy in groups, giggling as they went. The elders trudged to the castle in time for their meetings; one of which had succession as its main agenda. It was the third year following the war between the Hunters of the Lysorian clan and the werewolves of Wolvesbridge. Though the leaders of both species signed a peace treaty, the wolves were on edge, fearing a breach of that fragile peace following the recent death of their king, Alpha Marcus. As the sun climbed higher in the sky, illuminating the castle’s stone walls, a sense of unease hung in the air. The death of King Marcus had sent shockwaves through the realm, and now, with greedy eyes set on the throne, whispers of uncertainty circulated among the werewolf clans. Many feared that the absence of a strong leader would invite chaos and conflict, reigniting the flames of war. In the heart of the kingdom, within the grand cavernous hall of the castle, the elders gathered around a long wooden table, their faces shadowed by the weight of their responsibilities as they considered the right candidate between the late King’s son and His much more calculative brother. At the head of the table sat Elder Rowan, the eldest wolf in the kingdom. The late king trusted his judgment the most and his gray eyes reflected the wisdom of his years. He cleared his throat, commanding the attention of the room. “We are gathered here today to discuss the future of Wolvesbridge,” he began, his voice steady as he looked at his fellow elders one after the other. They all shared the concern etched on his face. “With King Marcus’ passing, we must choose a new leader to guide us through these uncertain times. We all know that the peace we fought for is fragile, and any sign of weakness could lead to disaster. I strongly believe it is time to crown Asher, the heir as our new king” Murmurs of agreement rippled through the council, punctuated by subtle whispers of dissent. Some elders favored the King’s wise son while others preferred Sebastian, his brutal younger brother who saw violence as the only answer to all conflicts. “A strong and decisive leader like Sebastian should be crowned king. With the Hunters lurking just beyond our borders, we cannot afford to choose poorly,” Elder Tyrion chimed in, his voice sharp as a blade. “Our next leader must be fierce, unyielding, and above all, trusted by our pack.” “We all know that we also need a wise leader—someone who has the capacity to continue the legacy of peace and unity among the different creatures in the realm. Only Asher can do this. Sebastian is not collected enough for this task.” Rowan re-iterated his point, making his loyalty to the Late king’s son evident. Again, murmurs of agreement echoed throughout the room. The dissenting voices scowled this time. “With the hunters threatening to breach the treaty made a few years ago, I stand with Elder Tyrion. This is not the time for a wise leader” another Elder disagreed. “We need someone cold-hearted and ready to vanquish those pompous creatures once and for all” “Our late king would disapprove of such a notion, Elder. A few years ago, you all supported peace. What has changed?” The lines of concern on Rowan’s forehead creased some more as he frowned at his fellow council members. He suspected foul play. Perhaps, some underground lobbying had been done. He long suspected Sebastian’s greed for the throne. Now, the divided house confirmed his suspicions. He made a mental note to warn the Queen about it. Without a clear concession on who the next wolf king would be, the agenda changed to the enlistment of more warriors as a pre-emptive measure against an invasion of Hunters. Meanwhile, Evelyn, the Queen of the Wolves and mate to the late king, paced restlessly in her chambers as she awaited news from Alice, her trusted maid. Just like the king, she was a direct descendant of Ragnar, the very first Lycan who prowled the realm. Her golden eyes reflected her strength, evident in the pure royal blood that coursed through her veins. Her youthful and elegant figure betrayed the number of centuries she’d lived and ruled. So did her agility as a fierce warrior. Evelyn had led a faction of the wolves against the hunters of Lysoria during the war that scarred both of their clans. She emerged victorious. But, she knew that the death of her mate could invite chaos- something she wanted to keep far away from her people. “Luna” Alice bowed, invading Evelyn’s trampling thoughts. “Cut right to the chase.” “The council is divided, my lady.” “What do you mean divided?” Evelyn asked as she realized that her worst fear lurked on the horizon. “Some of the elders favor Sebastian.” “But, Asher is the true heir to the throne of Wolfvesbridge.” “True, Luna. Still, the greedy ones think Sebastian is a better choice.” “Why would they pick Violence over peace.?” Evelyn wondered aloud, walking to the balcony overlooking the training grounds. She watched as her son expertly trained under the now scorching sun. In all of the realm, no one could boast of being as pure-blooded as he was. Even Sebastian could not hold a candle to him since his mother wasn’t a wolf. Still, Evelyn failed to understand why her son wasn’t the preferred choice. “I believe that Sebastian has had his eyes on the throne for a while now. The death of the king has provided him with the needed opportunity. We must not sit on our hands while the traitors among us connive against the heir.” Alice advised in a soothing voice. “You are right. We must act fast. "I will not let Sebastian ruin everything Marcus and I have built.” A beat of silence. “Summon Elder Rowan. He must have a solution to this”. “Yes, Luna,” Alice bowed and excused herself, eager to carry out the orders of her mistress. As she closed the doors and hurried off, Evelyn’s mind raced with thoughts of the future. She could not allow the kingdom to fall into the hands of someone who valued violence over unity. Asher was the rightful heir, and she would do everything in her power to support him and keep the legacy of her mate alive. The news of the council's division haunted her, and she knew that time was of the essence. Moments later, Alice returned with Elder Rowan, his expression serious yet determined. “Your Majesty,” he said, bowing slightly. “I suppose word of the trouble brewing in the council has reached you.” “Elder Rowan, we need to act swiftly. "Sebastian must not become the new king of Wolvesbridge,” Evelyn declared, her voice strong. “ It would betray everything Marcus stood for. Asher must be crowned king. Not only does he have the heart and wisdom to peacefully lead us into a new era, but he is the most pure-blooded wolf there can ever be. Something Sebastian cannot boast of.” Rowan nodded, his gray eyes reflecting his understanding. “I agree, my lady. But we face an uphill battle. The factions within the council are growing more entrenched in their opinions. They have allowed themselves to be swayed by Sebastian’s persuasive tongue. I suspect they stand to gain wealth and power from this treachery. We must find a way to sway them.” Evelyn’s mind raced with possibilities. “What if we organized a demonstration of Asher’s capabilities? A display of his strength and wisdom that would show the council he is the right choice?” Rowan considered this, stroking his chin thoughtfully. “A challenge or a trial could prove effective. It would allow Asher to showcase his skills and gain the respect of those who doubt him but it is not enough to strengthen his claim to the throne” “What do you suggest we do?” Evelyn asked, a sense of purpose igniting within her. “We have to find unshakable allies, and what better way to do that except through a mating ceremony?” Rowan smiled knowingly, his eyes twinkling with calculative strategy. “If I understand your train of thought, an arranged marriage should take place?” “Yes, my lady” Rowan slightly bowed. Pleased with the Luna’s quick thinking. “Do you have a suitable candidate?” “Sophia Lysander from Bluemoon pack has traceable lineage to Ragnar, our great ancestor. Her brother commands a great army of skillful wolf warriors. They also have wealth. We will not find stronger allies elsewhere.” Evelyn reclined on the rocking chair in her luxurious chambers, pondering on the information she’d just ingested. Beneath the warm glow of the sun lay shadows of doubt and division. The fate of the kingdom hung in the balance and the queen knew that the coming days would test the strength of their resolve.