IVORY: The age of Gloarian

Chapter 30

    It had become evident to Razaar that the day that lay ahead of him was going to be a challenging one, and he certainly wasn’t ready to face the wrath of not just one but two packs unleash upon him. It had not been known to creatures upon Zaleon that rejecting your mate was possible, and for both the Hybrid community and Razaar’s pack to realise that their leader/ Alpha was one to go against the order of the flame was not looking like a good reputation to uphold. 

    He had paced around Eliana’s office for what seemed like hours, rehearsing and re-rehearsing his lines for the two announcements he had planned for the day. Not only was his mate going to hate him for marking her without consent, but she would also have the freedom to rage upon him for announcing to her community that he is, in fact, her mate and their leader. It wasn’t a choice the Alpha had deliberately made to annoy his mate, certainly not, though it was something the community had been curious to get answers to. After all, why was the Alpha lurking around their territory for so long after the deal had been cut back? Why would he leave his pack in the middle of a war and aid the leader of Hybrids? But mostly, what was the drama going on with Eiva disappearing and Razaar still sticking around Eliana? Rumours had begun spreading like wildfire, and guards were doing their best not to reveal the truth they held with guilt inside them. Upon noticing the rumours, and hearing one herself, Armelia had decided that perhaps it was time to face the crowd and deliver the truth once and for all. Of course she secretly wanted Eliana to murder Razaar for all that he would be doing, though a part of her was being the best substitute she could for her leader and doing what was best for the community. Either way, the truth was bound to come to light at some point, and to the top guard, this had been the most opportune moment to unveil the true story. 

    The search for Eiva had been one that never took a break, though results were yet to make an appearance. Worries had calmed down in the mind of the Alpha, who currently was more busy worrying about his actual mate than his ex-proclaimed one. The mate bond had intensified over the past couple of days, and though the desperation to unite with her remained at the forefront of his priorities, he knew there would be a lot he would have to account for before any sort of relationship could take off for the pair.  

    As he paced, the door that had been left ajar opened to its maximum capacity, and the substitute leader and Eliana’s best friend tumbled in, chuckling at the nervous Alpha. She sat wordlessly on the chair as she continued to observe the man perspire anxiously while holding in her laughter.

    ‘You find this amusing, do you?’ he questioned, seating himself in front of her. 

    ‘Of course. The great Alpha of Gloarian, pacing around nervously in my leaders office, why wouldn’t I find this amusing? I’ve always just known you as the prick who rejected my mate and made her life hell. Now I’m starting to see you as the guy who's actually going to give my best friend joy beyond belief, this is more than exciting for me, to say the least’ she commented, leaning back in her chair. The Alpha had found no way to go against her words, for they had been true. The once upon a time intimidating Alpha was actually struggling to prepare for a public conference, something he was so used to doing. His thoughts wandered back to his visit to the Zubrek, and he gave himself hope, reminding himself that if he could convince those tiny creatures to help him, he could certainly convince his own people that he was a worthy leader and would now be a brilliant mate. It wasn’t his pack that particularly worried him, however, it was his mate’s community. How they would react to gaining a leader that was an upfront rebel and up until then a miserable mate to their leader, perhaps wasn’t the best first impression for his newly gained members. Of course, having this meeting against Eliana’s knowledge was a complete other level of blatant disrespect that the man pushed past him with a lame excuse he would soon have to deal with. 

    ‘I’m not as worried about my pack as I am worried about Eliana’s community. Not really the best first impression if I’m making an announcement without the leader’s permission, are you sure I should be doing this without her?’ he asked, somewhat out of nervousness though the other part of him genuinely did want the Hybrid leaders consent for the act. 

    ‘At this point it’s beyond my control Razaar. I think you should do it with Eliana, but the members of the community are not having it any more. I’ve had thousands of people come up to me seeking well deserved answers, and despite understanding that their leader is in a coma, they aren’t patient enough to wait for her to awaken to get them. I don’t blame them, they have every right to know what’s going on, and if the truth is going to come out anyways at some point you might as well let them know now’ she responded, bringing back her serious face. The Alpha nodded, taking a deep breath before elevating himself. 

    ‘Alright, let’s get this over with then shall we?’ he questioned, a grin appearing on the top guard’s face as she led the Alpha out to where the entire community had already been summoned for the public event. 

    Regret was clearly written all over Razaar’s face as he stepped outside, knowing this was certainly not going to go as planned and perhaps he would have a couple rocks thrown at him. The ample amount of people had been more than the Alpha had expected, though he remained silent as he stepped on the platform to face the rest of the crowd. Armelia trotted with him, and decided to address the crowd before Razaar brought upon the grand revelation.

    ‘Hybrids, I know you all have been seeking answers to several questions about your leader’s well being and the reason behind great Alpha’s Solonov’s involvement in our community the past few months. As much as we would all love our leader, Eliana Genova, to be here to make this announcement herself, I have decided to not keep you waiting and give you the answers you very much deserve and have been looking forward to. Alpha Solonov will explain the truth, and my only hope is that you can hear him out completely before coming to any conclusions’ she informed briefly, stepping aside for Razaar to get rid of the silence that remained in the air. 

    Pushing aside the last strands of nervousness, the Alpha stepped up, shaking his head clear to get the task over with. 

    ‘I know that most of you have been wondering what has been happening in this community in the last couple of months, and you are all interested to know what role I play in this war and community, and the truth is, that my involvement with this community has existed for longer than anyone expects it. Seven years ago, at the last Grontica before the demise of Eliana’s parents, and the late leaders of the Hybrid community, I found my mate. My mate is who you know today as your leader, Eliana Genova, and I rejected her at first glance’ gasps had already echoed around the audience, though the brave man continued before any further comments or judgments could be made. ‘My reason for rejection was merely the fact that I wished not to be a terrible partner to my mate as my father had been to my mother, and I shielded myself from that impact by rejecting her. Years later I accepted a woman by the name of Eiva Matouk -who some of you may already know- as my proclaimed mate to save her from the grief of losing her own mate, and gave my pack a Luna I knew I would have no real connection with. When I came to ask for protection for her on Hybrid land, I knew not that the leader would turn out to be my rejected mate, yet in the fear of obtaining her I followed through with my plan and maintained the most professional stance I could with your leader, requesting her shelter for my proclaimed mate. It took me months of idiocracy and 2 kidnappings to realise what a pathetic excuse of a mate I had been to Eliana, and come to terms that I was unconsciously doing what I had been afraid to do all along, all without even being with her. I understand that the impression I am setting is not one that most if not all of you are looking for in a leader, or co-leader, but I am here to assure you that I no longer intend on hurting or pushing away the woman that was destined for me. I have yet to discuss any sort of future with Eliana when she awakens, though in the meantime I’m here to apologise for the misery I have caused your leader and my mate, and promise to do everything in my power to right my wrongs. My only hope is that over time you all can see that I am open to change, and come to accept me as a co-leader if your leader allows me to obtain that right.’ He completed, silence still taking over the audience as he completed his speech. His mind was certainly blown at the lack of a reaction, and despite the heartbreaking expressions on the face of every single member, people had yet to speak, or react verbally to the revelation. 

    ‘Will you be taking over for Miss Genova until she awakens?’ a member asked from the middle of the crowd. Razaar had been taken aback at the lack of hate, and remained sincere with his answers. 

    ‘I have no right to make decisions for your welfare without having the permission of your leader. Therefore until her reappearance, Miss Armelia Sayona will be stepping in for Miss Genova.’ He responded, following yet another path of silence. Before he stepped away, however, he decided to add in a tiny conclusion out of good will. 

    ‘I know that you all need time to process this revelation, but from now on the doors to Werewolf lands will always be open to any Hybrid who wishes to come by. I have yet to be accepted by Eliana, but I accept her as my great Luna and the Hybrid community as my own and look forward to building strong, positive relationships with all of you’ he terminated, before stepping off the pedestal, and walking straight back into the office, Armelia on his trail. Once into the office, he watched the top guard in surprise. 

    ‘Why aren’t they throwing rocks at me? They should hate me yet they all just stood there in silence. Why?’ he asked with surprise. Armelia chuckled, seating herself on Eliana’s chair to get down to doing some work. 

    ‘The Hybrid community isn’t like a Werewolf pack Razaar. Our wolf is more dormant than our snakes, and snakes don’t start attacking manically like wolves do. Whatever they’re feeling right now won’t show on their faces immediately. They all probably hate you for sure, but they won’t disrespect Eliana by attacking her mate. Besides, if you really mean it when you say you’re going to change and be the best co-leader you can and make it up to their leader, then they’ll surely warm up to you too, all in time. So if you were expecting a bunch of raging hooligans to attack you, then you have a lot to learn about your newly earned community.’ She stated, getting back to the work she had been putting off for quite some time with the overwhelming amount of drama going on around the community. 

    ‘Right, well that’s one down one more to go’ he commented, sighing as he envisioned his second meeting going down. 

    ‘How are you going to publicly speak to all of your pack? You must have hundreds of thousands of members’ asked Armelia curiously, glancing up from the documents that had been ready to take up her time. 

    ‘I’m not addressing the entire pack. That would be a hard task to do, like you said we have a lot of members. I’m gathering all my Junior Apha’s of all parts of my territories and having a meeting with them. Once I announce the news to them they can go back and announce it to their corresponding pack zones. I will however, have the entire pack gathered to introduce Eliana if and when she’s up for it’  he responded, gathering his things and getting ready to depart for the second most annoying part of his day. 

    ‘I see, good luck Alpha’ she replied a final time before Razaar nodded in appreciation, and took off to face the wrath of his pack. 

    His journey had been quick as he arrived at his territory in no time. No doubt his people had been in equal amounts of confusion as the Hybrid community, and sought answers, though no one dared to face the Alpha in the same way on Werewolf territory. The faith of the people had been instilled in the Alpha, and despite being curious, silence and rumours had temporarily stepped in as the answers that members were looking for. The lack of Eiva’s presence had surprised them all, yet once again no one dared to question what the great Alpha and Luna of Gloarian had been up to. Razaar had been grateful to not have to directly face the members of his pack as he walked into his office, though he wondered if they would have a reaction worse than the Hybrid community, and would try to rebel and usurp him from his position. 

    Enzo and Demillo had already taken their seats in the office that had been converted into a conference room, and as their Alpha stepped in, they bowed in respect, and waited for the rest of the Junior Alpha’s to stumble inside. Within the next five minutes all Alpha’s had taken their seats in the tense room, and Razaar took it as his queue to begin the never ending process of the revelation. 

    ‘Thank you for joining me today Alpha’s. I’m sure that over the past few weeks you all have been questioning my and Luna Matouk’s absence from pack lands when we’re at the verge of a war,  and I’ve gathered you all here today for an announcement that I probably should have made a very long time ago. Most of you here believe that Eiva Matouk is my true mate, this information is not true. Seven years ago at the event of Grontica I found my true mate, the leader of Hybrid’s -Eliana Genova- and I rejected her. At the time I knew not her name or position. As many of you may already know, my father was abusive and was executed by my grandfather for mistreating my mother, and my reasons for rejection were plainly due to the trauma of my past. Eiva Matouk lost her mate a couple years ago, and I took her in as my proclaimed mate to give this pack a Luna, and because I knew I would have no real connection with her to concern myself with. However, during the course of this war, after all revelations have been made and my true mate has had a near death experience, I have come to realise that I have been a poor excuse of a mate and Alpha to both Eliana and this pack. Miss Eiva Matouk has gone missing, and search parties will continue to do their jobs to try and locate her, additionally Hybrid guards are contributing to this search, and so we hope to find her in no time. My mate and leader of Hybrids is currently in a coma due to damage done by Balthazar, and it has been because of this incident that I have spent so much time outside of pack lands. I have yet to establish any sort of proper relationship with my mate and get accepted as a co-leader of the Hybrids, though I’m here to inform you that from this day forward you will all accept and respect Eliana Genova as your true great Luna of Gloarian. All Hybrids are allowed on to our territories at any given time, and schemes will be in place to ensure peace and harmony between both species to exist simultaneously as one. I understand that this news may be shocking and disappointing for some of you, and as your great Alpha I apologise for this unforgivable act of rebellion and dishonesty, and promise to be the Alpha you all deserve from this day forward. I know it’s going to be a tough announcement to make, but I request that you all inform all members of the packs in a formal public announcement once you arrive back in your zones. Before I terminate this meeting, please feel free to share your honest thoughts and opinions with me and ask me anything you wish’ he completed yet again, taking his seat after his long speech. 

    The looks around the room had certainly been more menacing than the one’s on the Hybrids, though Razaar had expected a harsher reaction from his kind, knowing the value of a Luna to his pack meant more than that of the Alpha. The individuals each suppressed their growls as they faced their Alpha with respect, trying hard to put his crimes behind them. As much as they wanted to attack their own Alpha, they all knew that the man was more than capable of ending them all right there and then with an overpowering strength. An Alpha from the back of the room stood up from his seat as he bowed to Razaar before speaking. 

    ‘Alpha you said that our true Luna is in a coma, can I just ask, what happened to her exactly? Will the Luna be alright? And when will she be introduced to the pack?’ he asked, taking his seat immediately after. Razaar sighed at the calamity of the question, and rose once again. 

    ‘Balthazar kidn*pped her against my knowledge and tortured her to near death. The Zubrek have been kind enough to assist me in saving Eliana from tipping her to death, though she remains in a coma until she is fully recovered. Balthazar has been using human weapons to inflict damage upon her, which means new strategies will have to be made before we attack on his pack. However that is something I will get to in due time, in the meantime I must stay by her side and ensure she recovers well. As for introducing her to the pack, as I said, I have yet to discuss any acceptance of a relationship with her, and I highly believe it will be a while before I can win her trust back, I therefore believe it will take some time before she agrees to meet the pack.’ He concluded, satisfying the man who merely nodded at his superior. The junior Alpha’s all looked between each other, struggling to form any words, though they were interrupted anyways when the door burst open, and a messenger came running towards the Alpha.

    ‘Forgive me for the intrusion Alpha, I was told to deliver this note to you urgently’ he clarified, handing Razaar the scroll that immediately had his heart beating quickly. 

    He had been waiting for this moment for what seemed like forever, and had an idea what the contents of the letter would be, nevertheless he tore the note open eagerly, to confirm his doubts. 

    She’s awake. 

    The short note barely consisted of those 2 words, though they had been enough to push the Alpha out of his seat and address his pack rapidly for a final time. 

    ‘Your Luna is awake, I must return to her. You are all dismissed’ he hadn’t waited around to view the reactions of anyone as he made his way out of his lands quicker than he ever had, reaching Eliana’s territory in record time. He barely tugged on his clothes properly before jumping around to the medical facility where she had been.

    The doctor was found to be making her way out of the building as he made it to the entrance. 

    ‘Ahh Alpha Solonov, you heard the good news then. You better get up there, she’s been asking for you’ she commented casually, holding back her laughter that had given it away to the Alpha that she was most probably raging. 

    Holding his breath and keeping his calm, the man walked up towards the door beyond which lay the woman made for him, and with a final breath, he pushed the door open to face his fate with a fuming leader.