The Indigenous Wolf Princess

Chapter 1 I stood in the woods, staring out at the foreign Alpha King from across the Ocean. My senses were being assaulted by his amazing scent. Tears sprang to my eyes as I watched him converse with my parents, who were waiting to introduce me until later tonight. After the Ball. I was standing downwind. He had no clue I was here. He couldn’t scent me as I did him. He smelt of a mixture of Evergreen pines and the Sea breeze. In any other instance, I would have been moving swiftly and willingly into his view. I’ve longed to find my Mate. My heart has yearned for him. But, I never thought I’d be mated to someone who would take me completely away from everything I knew and was familiar with. Are the wolves in Romania really descended from the Lycan species? Is that why he’s so huge? My Father is not a little man. He stands easily at six foot five. The man standing beside him is over a foot taller. Now, I was not short for a woman. I was a decent five foot seven. But I would barely make it to this man’s chest. I grimaced at the thought of catching myself being eye to navel with him if he didn’t reject me and we did bond. I took a step back cautiously. I wasn’t ready to face him. I wasn’t ready to let him find me. This was overwhelming. Making up my mind to just ditch the remainder of the Ball and go back to the Packhouse, I turned, but stopped when I hit what felt like a rock, effectively stumping my toe, and tripping unceremoniously, sprawling in the forest foliage. Closing my eyes, I took a deep, cleansing breath, trying to prepare for him to know it was me. I’d be stupid to think they didn’t hear it. My worry was confirmed when my mother’s voice reached me, “Meridia?” I heard their footsteps as the moved to stand behind me. “Are you alright, child?” His scent grew stronger. I could feel his eyes on me as surely as I knew my Father was about to demand I stand and greet our guest. Deciding to not give him a reason to say anything, I stood slowly and turned to face them. My eyes lowered, answering softly, “I tripped.” I hear my mate closing the distance between us and I clench my eyes shut, preparing for him to chastise me for trying to run. Instead, his forefinger presses gently below my chin, urging me to look up at him. As I let him guide me, I opened my eyes to meet his. For a moment, we simply stared at each other. His eyes were almost an Indigo blue and I could feel myself drowning in them. “Are you hurt, my little mate?” His voice was like liquid silk with his foreign accent and wrapped around me like a magic sheet, making me feel safe and already treasured. At his words, I hear my Mother’s quick intake of breath and my Father’s whispered repeat of that one word, “Mate?” The Alpha King didn’t break eye contact with me, even when he responds to my father, “Yes. It would seem your daughter is my Mate.” I stood frozen before him. I waited for my father to tell this tall, tan, blond haired Alpha that there was no way I could be his mate. In all the centuries of my Pack, we had never had anyone bonded to someone not of this land. Different packs, still in America, yes. But someone from across the Ocean? Never. I waited. But although I heard my mother stifle a sob, both her and my father surprised me by bowing to this foreigner with respect. “Congratulations, your Majesty. I believe the Goddess has honored us by blessing you with Meridia as a Mate.” It was my turn to gasp. “Father…” I spoke softly. “I don’t understand. Why would you allow me to go so far away?” My mate, who I did not even realize what his given name was yet, turned to look at me with a raised eyebrow. “You don’t want to be with me?” His voice held a hint of humor in it, but also a strong Alpha power behind it. “You’ll be becoming my queen.” Thankfully, as his Mate, I was immune to the natural command that would make most weaker wolves bow. Instead, my chin lifted slightly as I turned my gaze to meet his. “I have no use for your titles. I am proud and happy with who I am already.” My mother hissed my name in a hushed tone, as if my words dishonored her. But I didn’t acknowledge her as I continued to stand up to him. I may be small compared to this giant, but I refused to apologize for the way I felt. His gaze held mine for what seemed an eternity. I caught myself wanting to melt into the ground below me because his eyes were so intense. His face held no trace of the smile he had given me just moments before. Then, suddenly, he reached out and tingles erupted where his finger traced my jawline. “You are a feisty she-wolf. I am glad. You will be an excellent mother to our pups, and an amazing Luna for my Pack.” Despite the blush that spread through me at his compliment, I shook my head stubbornly. “I didn’t accept you.” His smile was back then. “You will. The Goddess does not make mistakes.” He turned back to my father. “I assume we will not be imposing too much if we extend our visit to your pack for a while longer?” I watched as my father, bowed his head in a submissive manner. “Of course not. As Alpha of Tribal Moon, I am honored to have you as our guests for as long as you like.” With a smile and a nod, my mate answered, “I cannot neglect my Pack for too long, but it seems I must spend some time convincing my new mate she wants me.” With a last lingering look at me, he graced me with another beautiful smile before he turned and walked back toward the festivities. I released the breath I’d been holding as I watched his retreating form. I was in shock. My wolf, Celtic, hummed in my head. Oh my… he’s intense. I scowled even as I answered, he’s a freaking giant! To which she giggled, And he’s all ours! I rolled my eyes with an inward sigh, Of course that makes YOU happy. As if she meant to really piss me off, she sighed dreamily and sent an image into my head of prancing in happy circles around him, when he first sees her. “Ugh!” I growl under my breath before realizing both of my parents are staring at me. Turning my attention to them, I lowered my eyes and held my hands as I waited for either of them to speak. My mother was first. “Meridia, I know you are frightened, but you must realize what an amazing honor this is? You will be queen over all of our kind. Not just the daughter of One Alpha, of one pack.” I felt the trembling of my bottom lip. “I don’t want to be queen. I don’t want to leave everything I know to go Goddess knows where and be an outsider.” My father spoke up then, “This doesn’t sound like my daughter. You’ve always been fearless, and a leader.” He chuckled. “I’ve watched you battle some of our best warriors and seen them cower away from your power.” He closed the distance between us and took me into his arms, hugging me. “ You are meant for great things, my darling girl. We’ve always known that the power you held inside was meant for more than our little corner of the world.” I released the tears I’d been holding back as I returned his hug. “I’m afraid, papa.” It was then, I felt my mother stroke my hair as she spoke, “ Bravery is not an absence of fear. It is working through it to do what you must.” I took a deep breath and sighed, nodding. “I understand. I’m sorry if I embarrassed you.” My father laughed. “Of course not. I was more embarrassed over not being able to find you to make introductions to our esteemed guest. Who knew you’d be so good at hiding?” Despite myself and my fear, I found myself laughing at his words. “Oh, it wasn’t easy. I didn’t want to be close to him, but I was fighting to stay close enough to inhale his scent.” I felt myself blush. “It’s almost intoxicating.” My mother looped her arm through mine. “Well, now that it’s finally settled, can we go enjoy the Ball? I already have my mate, but for some reason he hasn’t danced with me once tonight.” Reluctantly, I nodded. Part of me was still scared. This wasn’t what I expected it to be like when I found my mate. But as my father had said, I never was one to hide from my fate. It would do me no good to start now.