The Shattered Queen

Chapter one

As Allurah ran through the woods in her wolf form she couldn’t help but think about the last few years she had with her father. What seemed like every night she would wake up to her father crying for help as her mother lay in bed doing nothing. It infuriated Allurah that her mother would lay there out of spite as her father begged for air.

She remembered how she would get up and sit behind him to pound on his back to break up the phlegm that had built up from the day. She thought about how she would rub Vic’s on his chest to open his airways. She even used what little magic she had learned to try and help him, but she just wasn’t powerful enough in her teenage years to do anything permanent.

She ran deeper and deeper into the forest as tears began to pour down her cheeks, burning the places her mother smacked her earlier in the day. At her father’s funeral just an hour before, Allurah and her mother got into an argument about her fathers throne. Being the former queen, Allurah’s mother didn’t want to give up her title.

She was a selfish queen, taking from her subjects behind the king’s back. She constantly broke her promises to her children, and often would be seen sending messages to one of her former suitors.

But this fight was more then a family squabble, this was a fight for what rightfully belonged to Allurah.. her father’s kingdom. Right before he died, king William bestowed his crown on his middle child. The child that was there for him through his hardest years. Allurah.

When the queen found out, she was furious. She had always tried to persuade king William into blessing her eldest son with his crown. And finally when the royal adviser, James, declared at the king’s funeral the new monarch, queen Julianna went rabid. She ran towards her daughter in lightning speed and pushed he to the ground. Her eyes had furry in them as she smacked Allurah multiple times before being dragged away in chains to the dungeon.

That’s when Allurah had enough. She couldn’t take it anymore, she had to get away from everything. She shifted into Esmè her wolf, and started running.

Everything about the last day hurt her to the core. All she wanted was to make her parents proud. She would do anything to bring her father back. He was the only one in her family who truly understood her, and now he was gone forever. Allurah knew she would never be good enough for her human mother. Humans could never understand what it was like being connected as a pack.

Allurah was her father’s only werewolf offspring out of the nine children he had. It was rare that a werewolf would be born from a human mother, especially one with magic. She gave her father hope that his kingdom would prosper another generation.

As she started to slow her pace, Allurah realized she had ran to her secret meadow where her father used to train her with such pride in her accomplishments. It was their special place, just for the two of them.

Allurah shifted back into her human form and began to run her fingers along the singular oak tree tree where her father use to put special notes for her to find. As she closed her eyes, she could almost hear him humming her favorite lullaby to her. It was their habit to hum the sad tune after a hard day of training. Without knowing it, Allurah began humming along with the melody in her head. It made her feel so close to him.

She opened her eyes as her fingers grazed a piece of paper. It had her father’s seal stamped on with wax, and was addressed to her. Her heart raced as she carefully opened the letter and began to read.

Dearest Allurah, when you open this letter, I will be with the angels. I have instructed James to take this letter to our secret training meadow for you to find. I don’t trust your mother and I believe she will do anything in her power to take what is rightfully yours. She has always resented you for the bond that we have shared and I am afraid she will try to hurt you to get what she wants.

The day after my funeral, I need you to do something very important. I need you to go to my observatory and open the tiny music box with this key I have placed in my letter to you. Inside the music box will be three enchanted objects.

The first object is a fire garnet ring that will grant you extraordinary healing abilities far beyond what our wolfs can do.

The second object is a pink sapphire belly button ring I have hand crafted for you. It will strengthen the magic that flows through you, but you should never take it off because of the immense power I have infused it with. All magic beings will be after it unless it stays on you.

The third object is a falcon feather earring from atop the highest peak in our kingdom. This will allow you to cloak yourself in dangerous situations. But be warned, it will only last fifteen minutes from each time you use it. So use it wisely.

I know you will miss me when I am gone, but try and be strong. I am with you always. Never forget my love for you my little warrior wolf.

Love, your father, king William.