Betrothed to the Alpha

CHAPTER 3

The actual wedding was a week away. The whole town was even more alive than before. Everyone brought gifts, every family, every house was there for the event. There was food and drink and speeches and jokes and wishes of many lovely tidings for the newly wed couple.

The couple had spent a lot of time together for the last couple of days leading to the wedding. Derrick pointedly put in the effort to get to know his elusive soon to be wife and she got more and more comfortable with him each time.

Now they’ve said walked the aisle and said their vows and begun this new phase of both their lives. It was the most perfect thing in the world as far as the town folk were considered and they might have been right.

A week, two weeks , a month, three months, and like that half a year had gone by and everything was great. The town flourished as it always did and so did the new couple. Monica’s belly was bulging with life as was expected.

And nothing would have made the town and the families happier.

Derrick looked at his wife on the bed. Still as beautiful as ever only a little pale. Her significantly bulging belly Along with almost her entire body lay exposed to the cool morning breeze and the streaks of sunlight that graced their room.

Derrick was not very sure of what it meant to be a father but he knew there was nothing he wouldn’t do for his unborn daughter. He knew it was a girl. He didn’t know how but he was sure. He could smell it.

He could have spent the rest of the morning staring at his blossoming family and watching his wife sleep but he had been summoned by his father.

“…and how is Monica faring?”

“She’s fine father, her belly keeps growing with each passing day. She only seems to grow paler especially in the mornings “

“Yes the complexities of a woman heavy with child. I remember when your mother was heavy with u. She was as white as snow and as fiery and as fiery as a nothern bloodhound. I wish I could tell you it won’t get worse…”

“I get worried sometimes if she’ll be ok. She often is and looks so uncomfortable and…”

“You have nothing to be worried about son, yes with the humans pregnancy and childbirth can be difficult, even lead to death of the mother or the baby or both….”

Mr Sullivan was quite happy see the shock and fear in his loving son’s eyes as he said the words.

“But she’s a Wind winder and bearing a Moonstone. She and you are above such worries.”

Despite his smile Derrick could see a bit of pain in his father’s eyes. He was a strong Moonstone…the strongest he’s ever known. And has led their people for almost a century and maintained peace with the other clans and species. He looked at those old blue eyes and the wrinkles around it and wondered all the things they might have seen.

“Take a seat son”

This was serious, Derrick presumed. Since he got married, even before his father had never had him stay in his private study with him longer than a few minutes.

“Your union with the wind winders have solidified your claim as the Heir of the Moonstone and the head of the clan. And the responsibility on you have never been greater.”

“I understand that father . You’ve been preparing me for this since the day I was born.”

“yes, but it seems I did not do a good enough job.”

“What do you mean father? I’ve seen you give everything for the clan, for our people for everyone.”

“but it wasn’t enough.”

Derrick could not understand his father’s word or his sullen expression.

“Things are brewing among the clans. I’ve spent the past three decades trying to contain it, hold it from falling apart. But its gotten past what even i can handle. “

Mr Sullivan got up and paced the study. His form and grace told nothing of his age. In his three piece suit, he seemed to command respect even from the dust particles in the room.

“I was diplomatic, careful, precise, even intimidating. I threatened a couple of people, did some underhanded things, even got the witches involved. The humans were of little help. They’re weak and selfish and preoccupied with their own little lives. Untrustworthy”

“Father I have no idea what you’re going on about.”

Derrick stood up to meet his father. Mr Sullivan was quite tall . A hundred and forty seven year old man without a gait or a cane that was also six foot two was quite something. But Derrick was slightly taller and muscular.

“We’re the moonstones, you are our father, our head. There is nothing that could do us harm.”

Mr Sullivan put his hands on his waste and hung his head. He walked straight to the drawer on the side of his reading table and pulled it out. He first put on a black rubbery glove on his right hand before dipping it into the drawer to retrieve a sealed sachet of a brownish substance like ground dry leaves. He raised it up to his son.

It may have been sealed but the harsh smell attacked Derrick’s nostrils. He sneezed and coughed and slowly raised his hand to cover his nose and mouth

“Is that what I….”

“Wolfsbane. Yesterday Somebody tried to poison me at the council meeting. “