Chapter 2: The Alpha King
1152 Words
The whole village seemed to come alive after Noah's words.
"The Alpha King is here."
People rushed past me, their voices filled with excitement. Mothers called for their children. Warriors straightened their uniforms. Young women hurried home to change into their finest dresses.
I stayed where I was for a moment, staring at the fading light above Silver Hollow.
The Alpha King.
I had heard stories about him since I was a little girl.
Some called him the strongest Alpha in history.
Some said he had never lost a fight.
Others whispered that he was so cold he could make even the bravest warrior lower their eyes.
His name was Caelan Draven.
Even speaking it aloud felt dangerous.
"Emily!"
Selene's voice pulled me from my thoughts.
She came running up the hill, slightly out of breath.
"There you are! I've been looking everywhere."
"I'm coming."
She grabbed my wrist.
"No, you're not coming."
I frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"You're coming with me."
Before I could ask another question, she dragged me toward the village.
People were decorating the meeting grounds with silver ribbons and white flowers. Torches had already been lit around the large stone platform where the Blue Moon Ceremony would take place later that night.
The smell of roasted meat filled the air.
Music echoed from the center of the village.
For everyone else, tonight was a celebration.
For me, it felt like standing on the edge of something I couldn't understand.
Selene led me into her family's house.
"You need to change."
I looked down at my plain grey dress.
"What's wrong with this?"
She gave me a look.
"Everything."
I laughed.
"It still covers me."
"It also makes you look like you're sixty."
"I'm only here to watch."
"You don't know that."
She opened a wooden chest and pulled out a pale blue dress.
It was simple but beautiful.
"I can't wear that."
"Why not?"
"It belongs to you."
She smiled.
"Exactly."
"I'll ruin it."
"You won't."
She pushed the dress into my hands.
"Go."
A few minutes later, I stood in front of the small mirror hanging on the wall.
The dress fit better than I expected.
It reached my ankles and flowed softly around me.
For once, I didn't look like the healer's assistant.
I looked...
Different.
Selene walked behind me and gently brushed my hair.
"You should wear it down."
"I usually tie it back."
"Tonight is different."
She carefully let my silver-blonde hair fall over my shoulders.
When I looked into the mirror again, I barely recognized myself.
"You look beautiful," Selene whispered.
I looked away.
"I don't."
"You really do."
Before I could answer, loud horns echoed through the village.
Everyone fell silent.
"They're here," Selene breathed.
Outside, wolves lined both sides of the main road.
Children stood on their toes to see.
Warriors lowered their heads respectfully.
Even our Alpha stepped forward with his Beta beside him.
I had never seen Silver Hollow so quiet.
Then they appeared.
First came twelve royal guards wearing black armor marked with a silver crescent moon.
Their movements were perfectly in step.
Behind them rode several warriors on massive black horses.
Then...
He appeared.
Caelan Draven.
The Alpha King sat on a midnight-black horse that looked almost as intimidating as its rider.
He was taller than every man around him.
His black hair moved gently with the evening wind.
A long dark coat rested over broad shoulders.
His sharp jaw, calm expression, and storm-grey eyes made him look more like a king than a warrior.
No.
He looked like both.
Power surrounded him without him saying a single word.
No wonder every pack respected him.
No wonder every enemy feared him.
As his horse moved closer, I lowered my eyes like everyone else.
It was the respectful thing to do.
The safe thing to do.
But curiosity got the better of me.
I looked up again.
At that exact moment...
His eyes met mine.
The world disappeared.
Everything around me became strangely quiet.
It lasted only a second.
Maybe less.
But something inside my chest tightened.
A strange warmth spread through my body.
My heart skipped once.
Then twice.
I frowned.
What was that?
Caelan's expression changed so quickly I almost missed it.
His calm face hardened for the smallest moment.
His grip on the reins tightened.
Then...
He looked away.
The strange feeling vanished.
I let out a slow breath without realizing I had been holding it.
"Emily?"
Selene nudged me.
"Did you see that?"
"See what?"
"The Alpha King."
"I saw him."
"No."
She leaned closer.
"I think he looked at you."
I laughed nervously.
"You're imagining things."
"Maybe."
But she didn't sound convinced.
The royal party stopped before our Alpha.
The two men greeted each other respectfully.
I couldn't hear their conversation from where I stood.
After a few moments, Caelan dismounted.
Every movement he made was calm.
Controlled.
Confident.
He didn't waste a single step.
As he walked toward the meeting grounds, wolves moved aside without being told.
Respect followed him naturally.
Fear did too.
One little girl accidentally stepped into his path while chasing her brother.
Before her mother could reach her, the child stumbled.
Caelan caught her before she hit the ground.
"You should be more careful," he said quietly.
His voice was deep but gentle.
The little girl smiled nervously.
"I'm sorry."
He simply nodded and helped her stand.
Then he continued walking.
I stared after him.
That wasn't what I expected.
The stories had made him sound heartless.
Instead...
He had stopped for a frightened child.
Maybe rumors weren't always true.
The village slowly returned to life after the royal guards disappeared inside the Alpha House.
People immediately began talking.
"Did you see him?"
"He's even stronger than they say."
"I heard he defeated three Alphas during the Northern War."
"They say he has never taken a mate."
"I wonder why."
Their voices blended together until I couldn't tell one from another.
As the sun finally disappeared beyond the mountains, the first silver light of the Blue Moon appeared above the trees.
The entire village gathered around the sacred stone circle.
Torches burned brighter.
The air suddenly felt different.
Heavier.
Older.
Almost...
Alive.
Every unmated wolf stepped forward.
My hands started shaking.
I rubbed them together, hoping no one would notice.
Selene squeezed my hand.
"Ready?"
I forced a small smile.
"As ready as I'll ever be."
High above us, the Blue Moon climbed into the sky.
Its silver light poured over the gathering like liquid.
Then...
A voice echoed inside my mind.
Soft.
Clear.
Ancient.
Mate.
My breath caught.
The voice wasn't mine.
It wasn't anyone standing beside me.
It came from somewhere deep inside me.
Somewhere that had been silent my entire life.
I slowly lifted my eyes.
Across the sacred circle...
Caelan Draven had gone completely still.
And he was staring directly at me.
- Writer
