A Kingdom of Wolves

Chapter Two.

Chapter Two.

Two Months Earlier.

Eliza’s legs bounced with nervous excitement as she awaited her parents’ arrival from their patrol duties. She bit down gently on her bottom lip as a smile lit up her face. She could hardly believe the day had finally arrived when the world would witness Greyson and her love for each other.

Time had passed slowly since her eighteenth birthday. Each day, feeling like a lifetime, the permanent knot in her stomach twisted as she feared guests arriving at the pack. She had prayed, day and night, that Greyson, or even herself, would not find their fated mate on such visits.

Each time her love left their lands to meet with other Alphas in the Snow Kingdom or was summoned to the Royal Court, she had prepared herself for the heartache of his arrival, a mate in tow. But, by some miracle, he always returned to her, his love for her steadfast and still intact. Finally, her long wait was over. Today was her 21st birthday, the three long years of anxious waiting behind her.

Perfectly wrapped gifts from her loving parents sat unopened on the small dining table. Eliza had waited to open the tokens of love until they could all be together, and Greyson would arrive to announce his intention to claim her as his chosen mate. The birthday gift she was most excited to reveal. It had been three years to the day since they made their secret plans, under the light of the moon, which had peaked through a small gap between the blanket of clouds, on a snowy night.

She nervously awaited the arrival of her Alpha, the man whom she loved with her whole heart. He was a respectful man, something she loved about him, expressing his wish to ask her father’s permission to claim her. She knew that her father, Aiden Whitestone, would not refuse his consent; he had a huge respect for his Alpha, and it was no secret that Eliza had lost her heart to him at the tender age of 16. He was two years older than she, and had convinced her that he felt some sparks, but his wolf would not make a declaration until she, herself, turned 18. She had waited for two years, spending every spare moment with the handsome Alpha with hair as white as snow, and eyes as black as night. Greyson was a fine figure of an Alpha, he towered above her five-foot three-inch height, her heart filled with love for the man she truly believed was fated for her.

Her mother had held her the night of her 18th birthday as tears had flowed unchecked down her cheeks, when it became apparent that Greyson was not her mate, despite their belief to the contrary. However, late that night, they had met in their secret place a small pulpit rock halfway up the Eastern glacier and made a pact. To wait for three years, and if neither of their mates appeared, they would forsake them and chose each other. That pact had dried her eyes that night. Now, three years on, her dreams were about to come true.

Eliza was barely able to contain her utter excitement, a small squeal erupting from her lips. She had waited for what felt like an eternity for this moment, and now, once everyone arrived, it was finally here.

She had spent the day helping at Elder Maisy Starlight’s small cottage, on the outer rim of the pack lands, delivering her groceries. The advanced years of the Elder making it difficult for Maisy to do basic tasks, for fear of slipping and falling on the thick ice. Elder Maisy had been a valued member of the pack leadership, many generations ago, But. As was common, the pack had all but forgotten the frail woman’s existence. Eliza though, made it her mission to remember the elderly, and serve them as best she could. Life was hard in the Northern territories, when of able body, but never more so in the twilight years of a werewolf’s long life.

Elder Maisy’s wolf had long ago entered its final hibernation, something that would transpire in the last decade of a snow wolf’s long life, which spanned hundreds of years. Her mate, Elder David Starlight, had entered his final rest two years prior. Since then, as was common, Maisy’s health had deteriorated at a rapid pace, putting her at risk of attack from the fierce snow bears, that roamed the glaciers. Eliza believed the kind elder, was not long for this world, and wanted to inject some joy into her final months. She had enjoyed the conversations they had, talking of times gone by, as Elder Maisy reminisced about her life as a young werewolf, meeting her fated mate at the King’s Winter Ball, where the unmated wolves would gather, with a view to finding their fated life partners. Those balls had happened four times a year to mark the beginning of a new season, even though the Northern lands of Mythicalia were a permanent blanket of white, only the slight thawing of the glaciers indicating that spring and summer had arrived. The practice of the Kings balls had long since been disbanded. The old King, deeming it being outdated, too time consuming, and dangerous for the packs located in the far extremities of the Snow Kingdom, to attend. Elder Maisy also had tails of times when she had faced off in battles from long ago, with the fae queen, and dragon kings. Her life was always interesting, and Eliza felt they had barely scratched the surface of her long years on their planet.

Eliza had unpacked the canned meats, and vegetables she had brought into Maisy’s kitchen, placing them in the Elders cupboards, and putting the freshly caught fish that she had managed to hook that morning, into Maisy's fridge.

“I will see you in two days,” Eliza had smiled at the frail, elderly woman as she had moved to leave.

“You are the only person who bothers with this old woman. Without you, I would have given up my will to live, long ago. You are the sunshine in my life, and a credit to your parents,” Maisy’s deep wrinkled face, lip up in a warm smile, her cloudy green eyes gaining some of their old sparkle.

“Here, this is for you. Happy Birthday Eliza,” Maisy pressed a small box into the kind beautiful girl’s hand. Elder Maisy had a promise to keep, and she felt that she was not long for the world, and may not see Eliza again.

“You remembered it was my birthday?” Eliza asked, shocked that the Elder had given her a gift.

“Yes, I remembered. My David and I were blessed with just one daughter, and she left these harsh lands for Neutraliss long ago, never to return. Not even for the passing celebration for her father. You are the closest person to me, and I am proud to call you family,” Maisy had smiled once more. Eliza felt the tears of happiness stinging her eyes. The elder’s words meaning so much to her, and she held them in her heart.

Neutraliss was the city the size of a small country, directly in the centre of the lands of their world. It was made up of one hundred miles of land from each of the four areas, that often warred against each other. It was a neutral zone, a place of relative safety, where the different species who inhabited the world of Mythicalia, were forbidden to attack each other. To the north of Neutraliss, where Eliza resided, was the Snow Kingdom, occupied by the pure white snow werewolves, ruled by the new young snow King Fitzgerald. To the south, was the Sand Lands, home to the Dragons ruled by four Dragon kings. Currently on their throne, was the proud Dragon King Johan. To the east were the Lands of Man, a metropolitan landscape, not ruled by a King or Queen, but by a president, elected to power every decade. To the west were the lands of the Fae, ruled by the Queen Juliette, who was as ruthless as she was beautiful. Many of the werewolves of the Snow Wolve’s kingdom, had moved south, preferring the milder climates in Neutraliss, than the harsh weather of the Northern Territories, away from the constant threat of war, between the other lands that covered Mythicalia. Elder Maisy’s daughter was not the first to make the move and would not be the last.

Eliza’s fingers went to undo the bow that held the small box together, as Maisy shook her head, placing a wizened hand on top of hers, halting her action.

“Please, open it tonight, under the light of the moon, it will bring you good fortune,” Maisy had smiled, patting Eliza’s hand.

The door to the small wooden home, which stood on stilts, overlooking the icy lake opened, as Aiden, and Meradith her father and mother entered. They shook the freshly fallen snow from their long white hair, and removed the white snow bear pelts, which had been fashioned into cloaks, exposing the gnarled skin from the deep scars on Aidens face and neck. The scars which covered over 80 percent of the werewolf’s body, told of a time when he had fought valiantly against the Sand Dragons.

“Happy birthday my beautiful daughter,” Meradith smiled at Eliza, bending over and giving her a soft kiss on her cheek in greeting.

“Thank you, Mum,” Eliza grinned up at her.

“You waited for us to open your gifts,” Aiden smiled warmly at his youngest daughter, and light of his life.

“Of course. But we are waiting for one more guest,” Eliza smiled, as Meradith giggled slightly.

“Would that be a tall, white-haired, black-eyed Alpha by any chance?” she teased her daughter.

Eliza flet the blush on her pale cheeks, as she looked down to her lap, feeling overcome with a sudden shyness. Why? She did not know. Her love for Greyson had not been a secret in the confines of her home.

The loud knock at the door, made Eliza’s heart jump with joy, the familiar scent of her Alpha, and soon to be mate filling her nostrils. Her heart pounded in her chest, until her brow furrowed.

It wasn’t the only scent that she could smell. A vaguely familiar smell caused her to gasp as she looked at her parents, both sitting wide eyed, their pale skin becoming ashen as the instantly recognised the scent, as hope for a peaceful future, turned to horror.

The joyful atmosphere darkened, as Aiden and Meradith glanced at the door, then at each other.

“How?” they questioned, fearful trepidation filled the room, as each of the family turned toward the door, waiting for it to open.

Alpha Greyson walked inside, hand in hand with Rein, Eliza’s sister.

It had been ten years, since Eliza had seen her only sister, who had terrorised her young life, to the point of almost killing her. Rein was sent away to an institution in Neutraliss, the matter hushed up. Not even the Alpha knew what had happened to Eliza’s elder sister, only the former King understood the complexities of the situation. He had personally intervened, as a favour to Aiden, the man who had once saved his life on the battlefield, taking the impact from fire breath of the Dragon King Markus, over two centuries ago.

“Mum, Dad. I have met my mate. Isn’t it wonderful. I am going to be Luna of your pack!” Rein trilled, as Eliza looked up at Greyson, feeling her heart splutter in her chest, as if it had fallen onto the cold ice floor, and smashed into tiny pieces. Hope turnned to sheer terror, as Rein gave her the unmistakable sneer she remembered, all too well, from her childhood.