Submitted to Love

Chapter 9

--Mary—

“Arthur ...we need to talk.” I told my mate. He was engrossed in a book about the ancestors of wolves and vampires. Often when he is free from his Alpha duties, he would search among the old books in our library.

“After all these years, that sentence still makes me feel guilty” Arthur mumbled closing the book while I rolled my eyes at him.

“Its about Adrian. I have a fair idea who his mate can be.”

“That is excellent news Mary! Why do you look worried? “Arthur asked holding my hands.

I took a deep breath and continued.

“I think it is Isabella. One of the village girls.” I eyed my husband warily. He has forever been against Adrian choosing a human as Luna. He is not against human mates when it came to any other member but for Adrian it is different. “Before you go berserk, just listen to me for a while. That girl is special …I can feel it…may be Adrian would be a better leader with her by his side.”

“Mary, I have told you thousands of times before. The future …the survival of this Pack or perhaps the whole werewolf community in this country depends on Adrian. It is unfortunate it has come to this. But you of all people should know what happened to Lisa, your best friend. The prophecy, the threat looming …we cannot afford to have a human as our Luna. “Arthur answered in a heavy voice.

“And take our son away from his true other half? Make him go through a pain that is almost unbearable? Break his heart? …How can we do this to our son?” I asked Arthur, with panic in my voice.

“You need to survive to have any half Mary. If Isabella is indeed Adrian’s mate, Adrian needs to reject her. Yes, the rejection will be painful but what is any pain in front of the pain of losing your life and life of others around you? We are sometimes blessed with second chance mates. I hope Adrian is blessed so too. Tell me Mary, do you want this whole community to be destroyed because we did not have a strong Luna?” Arthur answered in a tired voice.

I decided not to push it any further at the moment. But I clearly needed to figure out some way to get Isabella out of Adrian’s sight before his birthday. If Isabella is truly who I think she is, then she needs to be protected. None the less that girl is precious. I need to figure out a way…

Meanwhile, Arthur is sprawled naked on bed with one leg dangling from the knee in air while he is smoothening the sheet beside beckoning me to join. I am sure it is meant to be some form of seductive gesture, but the way he is moving his hips and jerking his member throws me into a fit of laughter.

“Really Arthur? You are nearing fifty-five? Really?”

“Oh, my lady …cometh and join me and let me bask in the warm of your sweet body…madam.”

“Oh Arthur…you fool….”  Soon, I was pulled into the embrace of my dear husband and drowned in sweet bliss.

………….

--Adrian—

With Justin’s wedding around the corner, we are all gathered here in the conference room with my mom, the Luna heading the meeting. It is hard for me to concentrate in the meetings not knowing how Isabella is. I am in agony knowing that I behaved so rudely with her while she was in pain.

“Austin, I said you would be managing the security of the guests. Isabella will be assisting you in taking care of the guests. You will have a group of people to whom you may assign all requests from our guests.” The sharp voice of my mother broke my musing.

“Yes mom. Will Isabella be up to the mark to handle any assignment, given her frail health?”

“I believe so…but we may ask….” My mother’s sentence was cut short when an enticing smell of Lavender and honey entered the room. My wolf was on high alert. Reactions on my body informed me it was Isabella.

“Apologies Luna, I have been kept back at the clinic due to an emergency case of Dr.Nora.”

“Not a problem dear, please join us….as I was saying before, Isabella will you be up to taking assignments from all the guests who will be attending Justin’s wedding?”

“Yes Luna, I will be fine.”

“Lovely, that is settled then. You will have a team of people to carry out the task. I am hoping it would not be too hectic for you. We do not want you compromising your health. In any case you will always have Austin to share the task with.”

Isabella did not turn at me, neither did she show any reaction. I expected her to protest, to let me know that she has not forgiven. But she did not move a muscle. It irked me , made me uncomfortable and even filled my heart with worries…has she had enough? Am I just another someone in the castle?

But is that not what I aspired to do? My wolf has not matured fully as I have not reached eighteen. But my birthday being close, it can feel and understand emotions quite well. I have never seen my wolf howl in anger and then whimper in sadness because there was no reaction from someone. My believes are stronger now that Isabella might be our mate and my wolf unable to completely pinpoint, being immature, is frustrated being away from her.

My mind drifted to the conversation I had with my father yesterday.

----

“You summoned me father.” I asked as I entered my parent’s chamber. They have their own residential complex with attached servant’s quarter, study office , personal library and emergency meeting rooms. I one day will be residing here.

“Yes Adrian. Your mother and I need to discuss something important. A few days short of your eighteenth birthday, I believe it is time you are apprised of some occurrences before your time.”

I looked perplexed, staring at both my parents.

“Take a seat Ady. It might shape how you choose to lead your life”. My mother smiled kindly at me ,sitting by my side.

“Adrian. This dates back to when your grandfather was the Alpha. Your grand mom was the true mate of Alpha and the Luna to the pack. While I was in my mother’s womb my Dad went on a month-long trip to help an allied pack who were attacked by witches and other hybrids. The leader of the coven was Layla who took a fond of my dad. She concocted a strong potion which had put dad in a trance and at her bidding. He fathered a child with Layla who was named Kahn. There were moments of clarity in father’s days and on one such moment he took off from the coven. He had tried escaping before as well but his wolf being weak, he could only go so far before being caught. This time was different, he fought in his mind against the spell and was able to shift and escape. A few months later, Layla came back with baby Kahn and demanded to be made the Luna of the pack which she believed Kahn would lead one day. Obviously, my dad refused to accept a child which was brought to this world against his will. However, he made an arrangement to provide Kahn all the financial support necessary, till he was eighteen.

Days passed to years without the knowledge or even hint of Layla or Kahn. When I turned eighteen, there were already rumors of mysterious disappearing, death of a whole pack overnight, r**e, killings among other things. These were scattered events, seemingly without any pattern. One peculiar nature of the attacks was that many of the women disappeared while the men were killed. Any human girl of the pack was also kidn*pped. The human males were captured. It is still unclear what became of them. But my father’s theory, after a few years of observation, was that these ladies would have been impregnated because there was an exponential increase in witches / wizards and hybrid children.

Your mother’s pack Blue Moon Pack was the strongest in the region and our ally. Shortly after I had formally taken the responsibility of Alpha, I invited Blue Moon pack in a social celebration to rejoice the continued treaty of our packs. I met your mother and we instantly knew we were mates. She was the daughter of the Gamma. Lisa, daughter of the Alpha of Blue Moon Pack was Mary’s best friend. She found her mate while she was roaming in the village with Mary. Needless to say, her mate was human. While she was preparing to share our secrets with the man, Blue Moon Pack was attacked by Kahn and his coven. It was one of the most ruthless attacks our kind has witnessed in the near past. Kahn was unstoppable. His power undeniably stronger than any forces we were and still are equipped to deal with. The purpose of the attack was to kidnap Lisa and make her his wife. Our packs joined forced with the Blue Moon Pack, but we were too late. In a matter of hours all the ranked wolves were slaughtered. Rest were either kidn*pped or they escaped.”

I sat there, bewildered at the information that has just hit me. Most of us have grown up, unknown to the horrors of the past. Our elders have protected us, and we have had a more or less uneventful childhood. 

So, what happened to Kahn? My father started speaking again after a pause.

“As I said our pack also was no match for Kahn and his power, but we were saved by Dr. Nora. I know you are surprised, but Nora is a hybrid. Her father was a wizard. Her father lost his life because he went against the immoral and brutal regime of Layla. Nora was raised by her mother in this pack. But she has known some magic as it is in her blood. Nora was able to thwart Kahn’s army momentarily and I was able to sink my teeth into his throat. Kahn however was more powerful that we ever believed was possible. He seemed to leave the mortal body and form a hallow of grey smoke that disappeared into the darkness of that moonless night. Most of our pack members rejoiced at the news but my father, who died shortly after the attack, warned us of magic beyond our reach and realm. He believed Kahn has survived. Honestly, me and Jared also think the same. You do not become smoke when you die. This is different. This is lethal and beyond our knowledge. “

These are some serious disturbing facts being revealed. But why did Kahn attack? It seems odd to put yourself in so much trouble just to get at the strongest pack.

“Adrian, there is perhaps one more thing you should know. There is a lore, like a prophecy. The prophecy was, in fact, made by Nora’s grandfather who was one of the most erudite wizards ever known. The prophecy goes like

-       Evil will sow seeds in the most evil way ….. Evil will open eyes to darken the days….

-       The Moon’s children will be the feast … but they will rise to stop the beast

-       Blessed is the color of the sky… hear the music of the only princess’s cry

-       For it shall be the lady who adorns the crown….in her wrath shall the Evil drown

It is believed Kahn wanted Lisa for two things, firstly he took a fond of her and secondly Kahn strongly believed the prophecy was meant for him. He was not sure of which pack or who the prophecy refers to. But color of sky prompted him to think it was any pack with Blue in its name…Blue Moon pack, Blue Blood pack, Blue Stone pack etc all were attacked and all their princesses either killed or taken hostage. Mary helped Lisa to escape with her mate and she lived with a new name in some far away land. After a few years of this incident, your mother tried a lot to find her best friend but to no avail. We know not what happened to her. But rumors are her mate has passed away and Lisa followed immediately after. She could have ruled perhaps, could have started her own pack but having a human mate barred her from entering the supernatural world again. She feared for her mate’s life and lived among humans as one.” My fathered paused to take a deep breath before he spoke again, looking directly into my eyes.

“Adrian, one day you will have the choice to make someone your Luna. You must be careful whom you choose. It is perhaps extremely difficult to rule with a human by your side. Choose carefully son, many, many packs depend on you. Kahn might have obliterated most packs with Blue in their name, but he also met his downfall in one of those. He will rise again Adrian. His aim has always been to subjugate the werewolves and make hybrids and wizards the center of power of the supernatural world and of the whole world in general. He has zero regard for human lives. We face not only loss of our fellow wolves but our fellow humans as well.”

I sat there incredulously. It is hard to digest… My duty is not only to protect my pack from rouges and other fringe nuisances, but it is to protect against a much darker force….an unknown…how much do we really know about the powers of Kahn?

“I know it is a lot to take in munchkin. But we are all with you.” My mother smiled reassuringly at me.

My father left the room while I sat with my mother. Mom was staring distantly at the setting sun.

“You look troubled mom. Is it because of all these? But surely you knew all along.”

My mother turned towards me, smiled and cupped my face in her hand.

“I have always believed love makes you stronger and better. My life with your father strengthened my belief. How then do I tell my son to give up love to protect his kind? I do not know Adrian…I do not know what is right….” My mother whispered softly, while her mind seemed far away.

“I have not found my mate yet mom. And I will do whatever it takes to protect our pack and our villages. No matter the cost. “

“What if the cost turns out to the one thing you were trying to protect?” My mom sadly mentioned. Before I could respond, however, she ushered me out of her chambers and dragged me to some story telling evening event which I always found super boring.

----

“Adrian Basset, are you even listening?” My mom’s angry voice broke my reverie and I found myself growing red to see all the faces in the hall staring at me…all except the one whose face I desperately wanted to see…she was looking down at her hands on her lap….

“Yes Luna. Please continue.”