Blood of the Silver Moon

"That is absolutely ridiculous! There is absolutely nothing in the bylaws that state a female heir has to be married in order to rule the Northern Kingdom!" My father, Alpha Marcus, roared as the council elders sat there with smug looks on their faces. They had just dropped a huge bomb on my father's plans for succession. I was his only child. After his mate died, he refused to mate any others, meaning the only child he had was me, a female. It was said by my aunt Talia I was blessed by the moon and would rule as the greatest queen this country had ever seen. I would be the only Queen to rule on her own. The other three kingdoms all had kings, and their "queens" were only consorts. It was an unspoken rule that females didn't succeed, that only male heirs could take the throne, but it wasn't written down. So when my father sat here and set up the plan, the elders burst in and made the proclamations. After hours, and I meant hours, of deliberation, it came down to two options, pick my third male cousin, Henry, as his successor, or, I get married, so I have a male at my side to rule. My father was still arguing. "It is unspoken, Marcus, but we all know the weaker s*x could never rule us the way a male can." Elder Rodgers said, folding his hands in front of him on the large red oak meeting table. My father's quill hovered over the paper where it had been since they entered. His half signature on the transfer documents for the kingdom is still waiting to be finished. His fingers tightened around the pen tube, snapping it in half. "Women are meant to give us heirs, not rule us. She must be married before she takes the throne, or you will sign the papers of succession over to Henry. That is our ruling." Elder Emberos came next. I could see his ears turning red, and his temper filled the room. My father was the strongest Alpha King in this entire side of the world. No one messed with him. I understood pack politics better than anyone in this room. We could go against the pack elders, but that would most likely mean a war with their prospective packs. Without a powerful ally, we would lose that fight no matter how strong we both were. We couldn't take on all the northern packs who would be vying for the throne once it was declared open season on the royals and the title of alpha King would be open. I put my hand on my father's arm to stop him from exploding and stood up from my spot at his side. "I agree, but I get to choose the man I marry. That is my only demand." I spoke matter-of-factly, giving my dad a look and said, we would discuss this later. My father was dumbfounded by didn't fight me over it. The council deliberated, consent looks of distain and hate kept looking back at me, but I kept my head held high and didn't let them get to me. Eventually they broke apart and looked back at us. "You will have ten years to decide who you will marry. That is when your father will be at the age of retirement from the throne. Make your choice wisely." Elder Embrose replied, speaking for all the council who nodded their heads. I nodded to them, and waited for them to leave before letting out a slow breath and sinking back into the chair I stood from. My father sat back, slack in the chair, with his hand on his head. His eyes were closed in deep thought as he tried to think over everything that had just happened. "It's okay, they said I had to marry, not give up the throne. I just have to have support. I will choose someone who will support me, not fight me. Ten years dad, I can do this." I said softly, I already knew who I wanted it to be, but I knew my dad. He would set me up on dates. He smiled and looked up at me. "Of course, sweetie. I am just sad for you. I will set up a date in a month. You will tell me your decision then, and then we will make it official to the packs." He sat up and I stood first, shaking my head . "I want to marry for love, not power. So, I am going to keep my identity a secret until it's time for me to take the throne. I need him to prove to me, he loves me. I need whoever marries me to want me for me and the throne second." I smiled at him, and despite the protest in his eyes...he agreed. I already knew who i would pick, but I would humor my father and the council by vetting the others presented to me. There was only one male for me, Lukas Blackpaw, alpha of the Bloodmoon Pack at our southern borders. We have known each other since middle school. He was the popular boy, and despite my high ranking, I kept it under control and was labeled as the choir nerd. We started dating in freshmen year of high school four years ago after he saved me. Now...he would be my husband and king.