The Future Alpha's Forbidden Love

A pair of brown eyes peered at a gift box wrapped in silver and golden striped paper. " Go on, Belle. Open it," her father insisted. Knowing that her father's gifts are always special, Lysabel clawed at the wrapping paper just like any other 3-year-old would. " Open the gift like a grown-up, Lys. You are not Bigfoot!" Her brother exclaimed, rolling his eyes, arms crossed over his chest. Lysabel ignored her brother's comment and carried on with her task, barely able to keep her excitement at bay. But when the gift box was finally open, her brows clenched. Her head tilted to the right as she stared at the gift with question in her eyes. She looked at her father, who let out a chuckle. The gift was so heavy that she couldn't take it out of the box and, by the looks that her mother and father witnessed, she didn't want to either. Her father calmly took it out. A book. Bounded in brown leather and a stone embedded at its center, the book seemed ancient and mystical. The girl's eyes were drawn more to the stone than the gift itself. She started scratching at the stone with her tiny forefinger. Her mother took her away from the gift as her father explained, " Lysabel, this book is extremely special. If the stone is removed, the book will lose its enchantment." " What's a shentanment?" Lysabel asked her father, making her parents burst into laughter. " Enchantment. There is an enchantment of protection on this book." Her mother clarified while untangling a knot in her hair. " Why does this book need to be protected?" Lysabel queried, baffled by the information. " Because it contains stories. Incredible stories that need protection from evil minds and hands, so that our world remains peaceful." Her father answered, which replaced her confusion with curiosity. "Stories? I love stories! " Lysabel’s ears perked up. Immediately, she jumped from her place and ran closer to her father. " I know, my belle. However, only the Alpha and Beta families are allowed to read the book, and they have to guard it with their lives." " Beta family is us, right, Papa?" Lysabel's eyes twinkled with excitement. " Indeed. It is us." A delicate smile spread across his lips. " Are these the same stories you read to Anzer every night?" She gasped with realization. " Yes, my clever girl. Your brother knows and remembers almost the entire book by now." Her father chortled, picking Lysabel up and placing her on his lap. " But you won't remember half of that thing. Everyone knows you have short-term memory loss." Anzer mocked his sister, his chest trembling as he stifled a snicker behind his palm. Lysabel jumped from her father’s lap, aiming to throw punches and kicks at her brother. But before she could reach him, her mother picked her up from the floor, leading her punches to land in the air and never reaching her brother’s cheek. " Nuh Uh. No fighting. No one is scratching their eyeballs out," she warned. " But Mama, he was the one who started the fight!" Lysabel reasoned, pouting her lips. Anzer blew raspberries at her which didn't go unnoticed by their mother. " Anzer, you are grounded for the week," she declared, frustration twisting her lips. A groan from Anzer took a snort out of Lysabel. Their mother glared at both of them, which put an end to the fight. Their father cleared his throat to ease the tension and continued, " So, starting tonight, I will be reading these stories to you too. Your brother will join us." Anzer opened his mouth to protest. A stare from their mother made him shut his mouth. When night greeted the Garcia family house, Lysabel was tucked in by her parents. Anzer sat beside his sister in his bright blue rocking chair, palms resting on his chest, waiting patiently to listen to the stories. The air, crisp and soothing, drifted through the window, tickling Lysabel's nose. Moonlight peeked at the stone, causing it to change colors from reddish to purplish-red, then to green and bluish-green. The shift in colors widened Lysabel's eyes with delight. It made her wonder if the book's pages would also change color. Her father opened the book and began reading," There was a time when werewolves were going extinct. In order to save the packs, five Alphas came together and forged a plan to escape. During their search, the Alphas found Salvantine, a place that offered us salvation and soon became our beloved home. However, one of the Alphas was blinded by power and made rules that the other four Alphas didn't agree to. His rage was a bitter consequence and hell befell our peaceful home." "Father, please read the part about the stones first. Lys would love it!" Anzer pointed out, sitting straight in his chair. Their father’s face lit up with a gentle smile as he listened to his son. With a nod, their father turned to the chapter that held the stories of stones. He read aloud, "The cave of stones is what it is simply called. Four stones were placed on their carved pedestals, protecting our four kingdoms. But these stones need to be guarded as moving the stones from the places where they belong will wreak havoc in Salvantine. Hence, four guardians were selected to guard the stones from evil hands. Ruby, Emerald, Sapphire, and Alexandrite are four stones shielding us. Due to the enchantment, the guardians were provided powers in order to help them safeguard the stones." "I LOVE Alexandrite. Its powers are incredible! Oh! How I admire the Phrynges." Anzer dreamily confessed, gazing at the ceiling as if the stone was staring back at him. "Papa, please read about the Alexandrite first then! I want to know why Anzer loves it. Please, Papa." Lysabel made puppy eyes and pursed her lips. "Oh, you two are such trouble. Can't you sit quietly and listen to the stories?" Their mother scolded the children. "Sorry, Mama." Both of them muttered under their breath. "No worries. We can read about Alexandrite first." Their father succumbed to the children's wishes, pulling out a huff from their mother. "YAAAYY!!" The children exclaimed. " The fifth stone is Alexandrite. The Phrynge who protects the stone has royal purple-colored fur. " "Whoooaa!!! I have never seen anyone with purple-colored fur!" Lysabel stared at her brother, eyes widening with elation. "Told you it is interesting. " Anzer commented with a smug smile, leaning on his chair once again. "Oh, Please Continue, Papa." Lysabel grabbed her father's shirt and shook him lightly. "The stone would bestow enormous power on the Phrynge. The Phrynge can separate the soul from one's body and can emit a shield of protection. That said, an Alexandrite Phrynge must always stay on alert because, even though they are the deadliest, their fate is almost always ominous. " Their father's voice turned dark and eerie, barely a whisper when he enunciated the last word. " What is Ominous, Papa? " Lysabel felt her throat dry up. " It means the Alexandrite Phrynge might be in danger if they are not careful enough," Their father explained carefully. " I never want to be an Alexandrite Phrynge." Lysabel pouted, crossing her arms over her chest. Their mother chuckled, patting her head. " You got scared over that minor detail?" Anzer huffed. " I wish to be the Alexandrite Phrynge, ominous fate and all. I would make a great guardian! Bravery and courage are the two most important keys to being a guardian after all, is it not, Father?" He stared at their father, hope brimming in his eyes. " Yes. It is. But a new Phrynge is chosen only if the old one passes away. We already have an Alexandrite Phrynge. And he is still vibrant. It would be years before an Alexandrite Phrynge is chosen or wished upon. " " Wished upon, Father?" Sitting straight, Anzer questioned, fascination pouring from his voice. " Yes. You can be a Phrynge if you are chosen or wish to be one. You have to be worthy, nonetheless. " Anzer nodded his head with determination. He was so focused on their father's explanation that he didn't see the fear in his sister's eyes. Lysabel kept staring at her brother, hoping that he would forget about being an Alexandrite Phrynge when the time came for him to shift at 16.