Fated to Reign: The Alpha King's Sacred Mate

Grayson's POV "I can't even rest my head a little because of all this noise," I murmured under my breath. I decided to just see what was happening outside. As soon as I opened the window, I was greeted by the scene of different pack members holding their mates and some doing PDA. "Hummmp." I just sneered and walked back to my seat. This is the annual celebration I have come to hate for years. And of course, there is a story behind it. It is an annual event called the mating ceremony. Young werewolves, between the ages of 16 and 18 years old, from different parts of Darkwood come together at the city center. They are addressed by the Alpha King, and as soon as the Alpha King is done, the young werewolves feel a sudden rush of strength, and their senses are heightened, making it possible for them to smell their mates from a mile away. Then the Alpha King blesses the newly found mates and gives thanks to the moon goddess for her mercy. My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the door opening. I looked over and saw my Beta and Gamma with their mates. I could tell with the mischievous smirk on my Gamma's face that he was up to no good, but I decided to play along to see what tricks he had up his sleeves. "Hi Gray," my Gamma, Axel, greeted me with a mischievous glint in his eyes, which seemed to shine brighter the more he looked at me. I chuckled, knowing fully well what was to come, as it has become some kind of tradition for him to annoy me on this day every year. "Your Majesty," Axel's mate, Elsa, greeted me while giving him a threatening look. "How are you doing, Elsa?" I asked her with a smile. I have learned to smile no matter the situation, as it is not ideal for a king to wear his emotions on his face. "How are you doing, Gray?" My beta, Raymond, asked. I just gave him a slight smile and looked towards his mate, who is also my cousin. "Hey, Sasha." I greeted her with a warm hug, taking care not to exert force on her body as she is heavily pregnant. "Hi Gray," she greeted back while supporting her protruding stomach with her arm. "So the Alpha King is going to come out of this room and officially open this year's mating ceremony," Axel began. "This is such a happy occasion, but our King is too grumpy and cold, so the Moon goddess didn't give him a mate to freeze to death," he finally ended his stupid sarcastic speech. "Do you have to repeat this damned speech every year?" I asked him with a sneer. "It is always fun to see how you look every time, and your reactions are becoming better and more enjoyable as the years go by," he said, and I could see the others trying to hold back their laughter. "Ok, that's enough, you two," Ray said as he walked towards Sasha and supported her waist with a hand. "Come on, Gray, it's time for you to officially open the ceremony," Ray said as he made his way out of the room with Sasha. "Let's go, babe," Axel said as he pulled Elsa into his arms and planted a soft kiss on his lips. "Tttchh," I sneered at him, knowing very well that he was purposely displaying affection in front of me just to irritate me. I walked out of the room and caught up with Ray and Sasha. They barely made it far due to Sasha's pregnancy. We made our way to the ceremony grounds. Ray and Elsa caught up when we were already at the ceremony grounds. "The Alpha King of Darkwood, Alpha Grayson Black, is entering the ceremony grounds!" A loud voice announced my presence, and the surroundings became instantly quiet. As I walked to the center in the company of Ray and Alex, respectful bows were made to me by my people. I noticed my uncle in the crowd; he just smirked at me wickedly. This is actually the only celebration he comes to Darkwood for every year, and it is simply to taunt and annoy me for not having a mate. I finally got to the center and turned to face the crowd. I saw the young girls and boys who couldn't control their anticipation as they literally wore it on their faces. "Today is the Werewolf Kingdom's most memorable annual celebration. It is a sacred tradition that has been ordained by the moon goddess from the beginning of time." I started addressing the crowd, and there was a pin-drop silence. "Today, mates will be united, and bonds will be formed. As your king, I pray to the moon goddess to bless your union and keep you all safe." I finally ended my speech. "I NOW DECLARE THIS YEAR'S MATING CEREMONY, OPENED IN THE NAME OF THE MOON GODDESS," I declared using my Alpha voice. My declaration was followed by howls of excitement and screams. The ceremony officially began, and the young wolves are expected to feel a very strong connection to their mates instantly. I walked out of the ceremony grounds and went back to the room where I had previously sat. I noticed several eyes on me, but I just didn't give a damn. Amidst the noise, a clear mocking voice was heard, and I didn't need anyone to tell me who it was. "A king who opens a mating ceremony but lacks a mate" my uncle started his yearly routine of insulting me. As soon as his voice sounded, the surroundings became quiet once more. I just ignored him and entered the house, like I didn't even hear what he said. As soon as I entered the house, the noise of excitement resumed outside. "Gray, are you okay?" Ray asked, looking worriedly at me. "I am good, Ray," I said, and I walked into my room to rest. I laid down on my bed, tossing and turning for a long time, but couldn't sleep as the memories of my coming-of-age mating ceremony kept haunting me. FLASHBACK! "I am literally dying of excitement," I said, as I couldn't stay still for even a second. It was the day of my coming-of-age mating ceremony. The 18-year-old me was so excited to find my mate, whom I have dreamed of and hoped for all my life. "Gray, let's go," my mom called, and I immediately bolted out of the house. "Hey hey! Slow down, lad," my dad, the then Alpha King, yelled after my sprinting figure. "I hope to get a really gorgeous daughter-in-law and some cute grandchildren soon," my mom teased me, and my face immediately turned red like it was sprayed with ink. "Okay, honey, stop teasing him now," dad said as he pulled mom towards the entrance of the compound, and I followed behind. As soon as we got to the ceremony ground, everywhere became quiet instantly as we, the royal family, made our way to the center with my dad's Beta and Gamma, each with his mate accompanying us. As soon as we reached the center, I saw my friends and immediately slipped away from our group. "Hi guys," I greeted while giving each of them playful punches on their shoulders. "Xup Gray" Ray punched me back. "Hey man!" Axel followed suit with his own punch. They are my best friends, and I plan on making them my beta and gamma when I become king. I could never forget the anticipation in me when my dad started the opening address and finally declared the ceremony open. I saw my friends run wildly in different directions as they perceived the scent of their mates. But I didn't perceive or feel anything. I just watched as everyone found their mates except me. At the end of the ceremony, I could already feel the tears streaming down my face and the painful whimpers of my wolf. My mom walked up to me and embraced me while uttering some soothing words. I just felt lost seeing my friends with their newly found mates and the people's sympathetic gazes on me. My dad gave the closing speech and prayed for the moon goddess's blessings on the newly united mates. We all went back home, and I remember staying indoors for a whole week as the news of what happened at the mating ceremony spread like wildfire, with everyone having different versions of the s********e believed that I committed a grave sin and the moon goddess decided to punish me by not giving me a mate; others said that my mate was already dead, which was the reason why I was very sick when I was younger. With the support of my parents and friends, I was able to come out of that shell with a newfound hope of finding my mate. FLASHBACK ENDS! I have kept this hope alive for the past ten years, and now it is starting to fade. Maybe I am really being punished by the moon goddess. My parents died still hoping for me to find my mate, and now I am already twenty-eight years old and still have no sign of ever finding my mate. I got up from the bed and made my way out of my room. I just need very good stress relief, and what is better to relieve stress than good s*x? I smirked and walked towards the room of my kept lover.