The Alpha Kings Fairy Princess

Chapter 4

Lucian POV

“Look man, I know you don’t want to, but we have to. You’re the new Lycan King, you know how this goes. You are required, by royal law, to introduce yourself to all the shifter ran packs under your rule as well as any non-shifter ran pack who wishes an audience during your tour. I’m the i***t who took the job as your second in command, and as much as I may not like it, where you go, I go.” My Beta reminded me. Stressing the fact that he’s been pulled into this too.

I take a deep breath and sigh knowing that he is right. “How long is this going to take? Who are we leaving to run things here while you and I are gone? Jace?” I ask arching a brow.

“Man, that’s a scary thought. He’s so… so… immature.” He cringes.

“He steps up when he needs to. Besides, Jules already handles a big part of the traditional Luna duties until I find my mate, so her too. I know you don’t want to be apart from her for that long but I need you with me and we need her here.” I reply reminding him of the responsibility his own mate has taken up in an effort to help in the interim.

He knows I’m right, and he also knows that if I’m being dragged through the mud, he’s going to be right there with me sticking it out. What’s the fun in having your best friend be your Beta otherwise?

With a loud groan of acceptance, my Beta stands and hands me a clipboard.

“We leave in two days. Here’s the schedule Jules put together. We should be done in five to six weeks if we keep to the schedule. We can visit multiple packs on these days marked here as they’re all within thirty minutes to an hour of each other, only needing to stay a night over in these packs here as we pass through. We’re also booked at a few hotels in the areas of the smaller packs.

Once we get those out of the way we have Red Dawn, Blue Ridge, Highland Peak, and Cresent Moon. These are the four packs we have long standing alliances with and will have to spend 2-3 days in each pack going over the current alliances and sealing the terms under your rule, adding amendments as needed, like the other meetings we’ll have over the weeks.

The first three have requested an additional day for a lunch or dinner celebration that’s been built into the schedule. Cresent Moon will be the longest stay at about a week, there will be a gathering and the Alpha is handing the pack to his son during our stay as well.”

My beast, Axle, perks up at the mention of Crescent Moon, curiosity filling his bones. Wonder what’s up with that.

'Something.’ He mutters a growl from the depths of my mind. He’s been very quiet these past few weeks, and normally I can’t get him to shut up.

At first, I thought it was due to the change in position, change in power from taking the throne. When the transfer of power hit, it brought even me to my knees and I’m the strongest Lycan alive. I thought that perhaps he was just adjusting to our new role, but the longer it goes on the less sure of that I’m becoming. It may have been true in the beginning but now I think there’s more.

“The alliances are iron clad; clauses were included to protect the alliances between those four packs upon my taking over. Father assured it the last time these were reviewed. Why go over them again? Also, I’m not doing this for lunches, dinners, parties, or meet and greets. I want to get this done as quickly as possible. I have a kingdom to run.” I state flat.

“Well Red Dawn and Blue Moon have been having issues with Rogues. Red Dwan wants to integrate a witch coven into their pack, or what’s left of them, to protect the surviving members. They suffered a brutal attack and lost over half of their members recently. The pack is more than willing to take them in, however, the integration process happening over your visit has required some additional time to be spent there. The Coven would like an audience with his majesty, their oracle needs to speak with you.”

I perk up at this information and signal him to continue. An oracle requesting an audience is not to be ignored, King or no King.

“Blue Moon would like our assistance in training their upcoming group of new warriors, their trainers would like a review and a few pointers. They have sustained a reduction due to some recent rogue attacks and have a rather large group ready to enter the warrior training.

Highland Peak needs financial assistance to fund the crystal mine on their land. They are in dire need of tool replacement and various upgrades around the pack. The Cresent Moon Alpha is stepping down and handing the pack over to the Alpha heir, you need to be there for that on principle but also to re-sign the alliance with the future Alpha. The Ascension is happening the weekend after we arrive on the Full Moon.

Valley Pack is near them too so another box checked as I understand their Alpha will be at the Ascension ceremony and has requested a meeting the afternoon before. All standard stuff, and yes, we have to attend the dinners and festivities at the packs we are hosted overnight at. It’s custom, part of the gig man.” My Beta rattles off.

Heaving a deep sigh, “Okay. We leave in two days. Call Jace up here, we need to let him know he’s in charge, along with Jules, while we’re gone.”

I rub my temple to alleviate the migraine that’s threatening to consume my mind. Axle is growling and pacing in my mind again and it’s driving me near insanity.

“I’m going to lay down, fill Jace in, let Jules know, send word tonight to the packs with our schedule. Link me if you need something.”

‘Crescent Moon.’ My beast growls lowly in my head.

I shake him off and crawl into my bed, the throbbing in my head almost too much to bear. Soon I’m plunging into darkness, into a forest I’ve never seen before…

I throw my nose in the air, sniffing for any sort of scent I would recognize.

‘Nothing there human.’ Axle growls in my head, which startles me. We can never communicate in my dreams, or at least couldn’t before.

‘How are you here right now, Axle?’ I ask, confused.

‘Where’s the moon?’ His only response.

I look up and realize I can’t see a shred of sky, the canopy of the trees so thick it’s blocking all light. I can’t even tell if it’s day or night.

“Where are we?” I ask aloud, before I see movement out of the corner of my eyes.

It’s quick, almost too quick. A streak of white and then it was gone.

Axle perks up and urges with a primal growl, one I’ve never heard before.

‘Go!’

I didn’t hesitate and headed in the direction I saw the white streak disappear. It doesn’t take long to start seeing light in the trees ahead of me; it looks like daylight. I stopped and looked around me once again, thinking to myself that there’s no way it’s daytime. I had to use my Lycan sight just to see my way around in that forest, I looked up at the trees once again before I walked towards the light. I slowly reach the end of the tree line and discover the most beautiful clearing I’ve ever seen.

I emerge into a lush meadow filled with tall grasses, all different shades of green. Flowers, bushes, fruit trees and more planted at random, but fitting in a wild way. A large cliff in the distance, covered in vines and other greenery and flowers, an elegant flowing waterfall that flows into the bluest pool of water I’ve ever seen. A rainbow runs through the mist coming off the waterfall. Birds bathe in the pool of water, frogs sunbathe on lily pads, butterflies and bees bounce from flower to flower.

I feel like I’m in a trance. I can’t pull myself away as my feet lead me to the edge of the pool and I look down. Immediately, I notice a beautiful woman standing to my left in the reflection. I swear I was just alone. I can see a pointed ear poking through her auburn hair, and she’s smiling at me through my reflection in the water.

Startled, I jumped back and trip over a rock sticking from the ground. When I landed, I realized she’s not just my imagination. Did I not see her standing there? How did I miss her when she was right next to me. My thoughts rattle faster and faster until a second voice came from behind. “He’s one of mine Mab.”

“How did he get here Sel?” Mab asks the woman behind me, her voice laced with intrigue.

“Sel? Wait…” I say as I swing around and come face to face with a woman whose beauty is equal but vastly different to the woman I now know, is called ‘Mab.’

Mab has deep olive toned skin, braided long brown and red hair pulled in a braid along with vines and flowers. Her eyes are a brilliant orange and brown, and they seem to glow. When she smiles, I notice most of her teeth are slightly pointed and I know I’ve never seen anything like that before.

I look at the other woman, her skin is a pale milky white, her hair a silver-white that shimmers blue in the light. Her eyes are wide, and a fascinating cerulean blue encased in a silver ring. My eyes grow wide, and I bare my neck instinctually. It’s the Moon Goddess! Internally, I am freaking out.

“Axle, my dear. How are you? You as well Lucian?” The Moon Goddess asks us.

“You know me?” I looked up, our eyes locking. I’m stunned.

“Of course, I do.” She says, c*****g an eyebrow and placing her hand on her chin thinking. “But how you got here is a good question.”