Submitted to Love

Chapter 11

-- Adrian–

I can feel the excitement of the wolf. I can feel it coming alive. Tomorrow is my birthday. I have been forlorn the last couple of days, I missed Isabella. Almost like I miss someone I have known from my birth. I really hope I find my mate tomorrow…. someone else, a she wolf. Though chances are slim, but I hope. I do not want to reject her. The thought itself makes my wolf agitated and churns my stomach with gripping fear.

It is perhaps better Isabella is away…..increases the time till I reject her. For I cannot afford to have a human mate as my father said.

“Dude….the Alpha is calling you.” Joseline called out to me from the balcony. I growled lowly at her

“I am also Alpha.”

“Yes . But the actual Alpha is calling the fake Alpha.” Joseline stuck her tongue out at me and disappeared.

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“Adrian, as I had mentioned earlier, I would be inviting all the allied pack in and around our territory for your birthday. I hope you find your mate. If not, you may find someone you might want to make your future Luna. Spend quality times and choose carefully.” My dad was peering intently at me.

I nodded quietly and waited for him, patiently.

“We have had some fringe unnatural activities at our border. Patrol will be on high alert given the large gathering of powerful werewolves in one place. Inform your team to get eyes and ears on the guests. We do not want trouble unit amidst us. Have proper contingency plan in place…..Adrian enjoy your birthday and shifting to your wolf for the first time.” My father dismissed me with a warm smile and pride in his eyes.

I gulped loudly after leaving his chambers. I will do whatever it takes to make my father proud of me.

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“Ready munchkin?” Luna Mary smiled warmly at me. Coming of age is a special day for any wolf, especially for an Alpha. The ground is buzzing with guests from all our allied packs. Standing from my room, adjusting my collar, I can see the hanging lights that adorn the ground, giving a soft glow all around. On one side there are various classic spreads from different cuisine around the world. My mom is particularly fond of French cuisine. A large part of the ground has been trimmed and cleared for guests to mingle. I can spot the kids running around, causing occasional hiccups in the merriment. Joseline is easy to stop in a silver dress, caressing her baby bump unconsciously. Justin is standing by the temporary dais, along with Dad, ready to be introduced as my Beta. It is a while till I take charge formally as Alpha, but it is customary to introduce the next in line. Probably because due to the nomadic lives and unceasing battle for being, in older times Alphas were required to take charge as soon as their wolves became alive. One area, just behind the stage, has been covered for me to change for the first time and run towards into the forest.

I took a deep breath and smiled at my mother. She took my hand and ushered me into the ground. As we made our way to the ground surrounding the castle, all the buzz gave way to hushed murmurs. I can already see some unmated she wolf giving me coquettish grin….I rolled my eyes internally at that.

My father beamed his brightest when I reached the stage and bowed to him. He clapped by back and both me and Justin followed him up the dais.

“Welcome…. Welcome to the grounds of the Dark Moon Pack”. Boomed the voice of my father through the microphone.

“We are all gathered here today for my son Adrian who has come of age and as the tradition demands Adrian should be having his first shift tonight. Adrian Basset belongs to a line of Alpha Bassets who have for long reigned the pack with all their integrity, courage, dedication, honestly and love. We expect nothing less from Adrian, the future Alpha to the Dark Moon Pack. I thus introduce my son to you, who will be introducing his Beta and hopefully find the lady that captures his heart.”

A few giggles followed the speech amidst all the clapping, cat calling and hooting.

Will I find the lady that captures my heart? I thought while taking the microphone from my father. Because my wolf has not found his mate and both of us feeling lonely in all this glitz and crowd. Isabella……..while my mind knows we cannot be together , my heart yearns for you like a Bedouin yearns for waters after days of walking in the sand, alone , battered and exhausted.

I force my mind away from her. “Evening everyone. I am honoured to have all of you celebrating this special day with me. Let me introduce Justin, my Beta and my best friend. We hope to lead this pack together one day and prove ourselves worthy of your trust. Please extend your blessings while I make my first shift. Enjoy the evening to the fullest. I wish to mingle among you all and interact personally after my run.”

The first shift is painful as well as joyous. Before long I had shifted to a jet-black wolf and howled powerfully towards the moon. An alpha’s aura is always awe inspiring, power radiated around the wolf and lower rank wolf automatically acknowledges superiority.

After one last look at the ground my wolf broke into a run, thundering through the wood. It is exhilarating. Adrenaline pumping through the veins, my wolf can see and feel the forest almost as if for the first time. With heightened senses, I could see the deer running away from me in fear, the owl hooting loudly , perhaps looking curiously at its natural predator, a rabbit picked its ears and whizzed away to its burrow , birds are asleep in their nests…all around the bright moon lights creates a mystic hallow, stars shinning bright…

We plan to explore the woods in the morning…it would be a sight worth seeing, I thought excitedly.

Just before I shifted, I could hear my wolf thinking wistfully “I want to run with you, mate”. I do too but I am quite sure Isabella is our mate since we have not found the one today. But alas she is human, we can never race through the woods and watch the sunset together as our wolves… “Can we not?” came the distant thoughts of my wolf while I shifted.

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“Adrian, babe, you looked so handsome in your wolf form.” The sharp voice of Clara hit my ears while my wolf barked at her at the back of my mind. Snaking her arms around mine she tried to sway me away from the gathering.

Before I could free myself though …...

“That is Alpha Adrian to you from today Clara.” My mother’s voice came like a whip. Clara jumped around and bowed. “Your presence is requested at the dinner table to coordinate the plating. I believe you should head there.” Clara opened her mouth to protest but the glare from the Luna was enough to shut her up. She left with a peculiar sour face and made controlling laughter a real challenge.

“She will combust one day mom.”

“What exactly did you see in her Adrian?” I mother scoffed while leading me to groups and introducing me, majorly to all the Alphas.

It is turning out to be an exhausting evening with all the she wolves flocking around trying to grab my attention. Not one tried to know me…. not one tried to listen to my dreams, understand my personality, talk about their view of life. The most common areas of interest were when I would be taking up the role of Alpha, when I would be choosing my Luna and what businesses we own.

Justin and Callum , sensing my distress, were coming to rescue me from the flock of young ladies when suddenly a blood curdling scream stopped us all in our track.

The scream came from the darker side of the wood.

The guard rushed in to guard the crowd, while me and my father hurried to the front towards the woods. But we were stopped midway by Dr. Nora.

“Alpha stop. I sense dark magic.” She screamed making us halt our steps.

“Well ..Well Nora….you seem to prove yourself useful even now.” A raspy voice came from the dark……