Hybrid Warrior Luna

The Fire

"Well you managed to make that a quick and painless ceremony," Ryan laughed, handing her a drink. As the crowd of pack members settled into their usual groups around the courtyard, and spreading out into the yard.

"Now to make it through the coronation," Alina sighed and Ryan rolled his eyes.

"You're so dramatic, you're great at this stuff dork, you'll be fine."

"Of course I will, you'll be up there with me!"

The music was louder now as people began dancing, drinking, and feasting to celebrate their new Alpha. Alina smiled watching Ryan dance, his partner constantly changing as everyone wanted the handsome Beta's attention. His infectious smile, golden brown eyes, dark hair, and strong build combine with his personality to draw most people to him. They had been best friend's for years, though if you didn't know them and their banter you'd probably think they fought constantly. Neither had found their mate yet, and many were shocked they weren't mates.

Ryan twirled an omega woman to squeals from her friends, winked at Alina, and grabbed Bryn by the waist in very quick succession. The group of omegas made noises of disappointment, and Bryn yelled out and slapped his arm, looking annoyed. Alina laughed and shook her head. They never got along, but put up with each other for her sake. As Ryan let go, Bryn flipped him off, rolled her eyes, and went back to her friends. Ryan came to join Alina at her table with a round of drinks and a plate of food that he set between them.

He pulled his chair right next to hers and wrapped her up, both watching the party without speaking. They were in charge now. Their parents had stepped down and retired and it was up to them to run the Kingdom, their pack, and everything that came with it. They had been preparing their whole lives, they new Ryan would be her Beta before they reached middle school, but it still felt heavy and suddenly real now that the ceremony was over and it was official.

An older man walked by and scoffed at their closeness, "and you're not even mates!" and continued walking. Alina sighed but didn't move, he was visiting from another pack, his daughter had mated with one of Alina's warriors, and though his pack was in her Kingdom, it was one of the few that held onto old ideals and customs, including the concept of female wolves "staying in their place" and being "chaste" until finding their mate - the same groups who wouldn't think twice about a high ranking wolf having pups with any omega who would have him. Ryan kissed her head and squeezed, reminding her not to let them get to her.

Athena squirmed in Alina's brain and got louder as the tired Queen tried to ignore her. "Okay fine!" Ryan laughed and loosened his arms, Ares was restless as well. "Let's let them run," he suggested, as Alina shoved a too big piece of brownie in her mouth making him laugh at the sight. Alina nodded and they headed off toward the woods to shift.

They left their clothes in one of the clothes boxes built into the trees around the castle, and mind linked about movies to watch later as their wolves stretched and greeted each other. They ran off toward the lake, chasing and tackling each other as they went. It had been a long day of being inside and dealing with people and business. The wolves were delighted to be free, their power and strength heightened by their official new titles. They ran into the lake and splashed around, taking a moment as they swam under the moonlight to thank Goddess and Fenrir for their gifts.

"Knock knock," Ares tapped into Athena's mind.

"You're as dorky as your human!" Athena teased him.

"And you're beginning to overthink like yours!"

"Ugh I know! She's in here plotting the next week and planning the upcoming meeting and the changes to be made! Alina! Shush! Let our mind chill, for Goddess sake!" Ares nudged her with his snout, and she ignored him, knowing he'd continue. He walked away and just as he was about to return and splash her, Athena jumped up, landing on Ares and dunking him. Ares growled playfully as he resurfaced and tackled her, playtime officially in full swing now.

-----

It felt like hours later when the wolves were finally worn out and ready to walk back to the castle. Ryan and Alina had settled on a movie they'd seen endless times so no one would be sad when they inevitably fell asleep 20 minutes in. They were mere feet from their clothes when they smelled the fire. Alina and Athena howled for their pack, and Ryan and Ares determined the source. The Blackstone Pack on the other side of the lake had multiple buildings engulfed in flames! Ryan mind linked their fire crew and several warriors and they rushed off around the lake while Alina tried to contact the pack's Alpha. When she got no response she went down the line to the Beta, then the Luna, and finally to the Alpha's son who would be taking over next year. He responded as they reached the pack, and began putting the flames out with those who were already working.

"What happened?" Alina asked as she shifted.

"I have no idea, my parents and their Beta and his wife all went to some meeting, and everything was fine until there was a loud crash and when I went to check it out I found this fire!" Mark responded, clearly stressed by the situation, which was fair, given he was barely 19, and fires were not common for them, especially in the cooler September weather with as much rain as they'd been having.

"Is there anyone inside these buildings?"

"Everyone accounted for via mind link, this is our storehouse and records building, no idea why anyone would bother lighting it up," Mark scrubbed his hand over his face as he finished.

"Okay, they've got that under control then, you're positive there's no chance anyone is inside?"

"Yes ma'am."

"Okay perfect. Tell me about this meeting."

-------

Awhile later, the building had been put out, cleaned out, and everything salvageable was moved into the packhouse for now. Alina and her pack said goodnight to Mark and his pack and they headed back around the lake toward home. Alina tapped Ryan's mind and began filling him in.

"So apparently, they had a visitor a few weeks ago who smelled like a hybrid. His father was super secretive about it and he had to work extra hard to dig up any information. He found a meeting on the calendar a few weeks ago and again tonight, neither of which he was invited to. His mother and the Beta's wife were both included tonight, but not at the last meeting, and the first one, when the woman showed up unannounced, was strictly for the Alpha. He said she was blonde and pretty, but made him uneasy, he doesn't trust her. He has no idea where the meeting is tonight except that he was told they'd return tomorrow, not tonight." Ryan was silent as Alina shared, then looked at her and stopped walking.

"You think it's her? You think she's stupid enough to come back here? After everything?"

"No, I think she's crazy enough though. She'll definitely have a plan though. And if she's getting our packs on her side, we're looking at a war. She'd delight in causing a war."

"You're not wrong, I just can't believe she'd choose now, as you take over and come to full power -"

"That's exactly the right time though. We still have packs with older members who don't trust me. I'm a woman, I'm a hybrid, I don't abide by all the old outdated traditions, and even for those who love me, this is still a transition period."

Ryan sighed, loudly enough that the other wolves looked at them, "Fair, ugh, okay so what, you want to figure out who's most susceptible to her?"

"No, that's a waste of time. Let's strengthen our relationships with the packs by following through on what we've said, doing mass training events, and ensuring our army is ready and hopefully not needed. I think if we do that, we'll find that list too."

"Okay, I'll get it set up. What I don't get though, is why they'd follow her if their issue is you being female or a hybrid."

"She's probably convinced them that she wants what they want, and is only in this position because of me, and that she'll happily mate and support her mate once she helps them remove me."

Ryan growled as Alina mentioned being removed. They had reached the castle and thanked each wolf who went with them to help, then said their goodnights and headed inside.

----

Alina walked into her room and flung her clothes into a pile on the floor as Ryan did the same. They groaned as they climbed into Alina's bed, and pulled the blankets over their bodies, their minds working overtime turning over all the possibilities of tonight's information.

Ryan pulled Alina to him and kissed her, her lips parting as her body began to relax for the moment. She put her hand on his cheek and he kissed her deeply. He grabbed her hips and slid her on top of him, his hands wandering down her back and squeezing her bottom before rolling them both over and slipping inside of her, causing her to gasp softly as her hands gripped the backs of his shoulders.

"F*** Ryan," Alina moaned as he slid his hand through her hair, and pulled it firmly before kissing her and leaning back. Ryan pulled her leg over his shoulder and rubbed her cl** with his thumb in slow circles, moaning as he slid in and out.

"C*m for me," he moaned, looking in her eyes. She closed her eyes, and he pulled her other leg over his shoulder, thrusting deeper until she reached her peak and he joined her, the pulsing of her release milking his.