Chapter 12
1095 Words
Cheers and applause greeted us as we came into view. I was used to being looked at and scrutinized but even then I felt some uneasiness. The females in the crowd narrowed their eyes at me and whispered amongst themselves while the males kept their eyes on me. Rickon pulled me closer as I slightly objected but I ended up giving in, not wanting to draw even more attention. There were two chairs behind us, one tall enormous embroidered in gold and next to it a smaller one with rose gold embroidery.
"Behold the newest member of The Luan Pack! My mate and the new mother to us all, Tegan Riverwind." Rickon shouted to the audience. He grabbed my hand and raised it above our heads leading everyone to cheer.
"Our numbers have dwindled as less and less humans are acceptable to turning but Tegan brings hope as the mother of the pack who will give an heir to us." He continued. "There is still hope for this pack. With the coming of a new heir so does the coming of a new generation. Our child will ensure the survival of our species." The crowd cheered as he spoke. He truly had been a king in his past life.
He walked us to the thrones and we sat down, side by side. Erik brought out two crowns adorned in jewels and golden pictographs of stags and bears. He laid the bigger crown with stag antlers on Rickon's head and then proceeded to place a smaller crown on my head.
"Behold your new Queen!" Shouted Erik. The crowd erupted and they stood up clapping and shouting in excitement. Music began to play and everyone dispersed to tables that were neatly set up outside by a garden. Plates of food and and barrels of mead followed as the pack became lively with enthusiasm. Several of the women held hands and danced in circles in their bare feet, their heads adorned with crowns made of flowers.
Rickon held my hand as we made our way to the garden. This was a foreign concept for me, such couplings only weakened one. With possessions came complications, there was nothing to celebrate, yet these barbaric creatures were indeed celebrating. What if they knew what I was? Who I was? Would they still be celebrating?
We sat down at a table which was decorated with flowers and fruit. Pints of mead were brought to us along with plates of assorted meats. Rickon happily picked up his cup and drank heavily from it shouting and jeering. I ripped my hand from his beastly grip not wanting to be associated with the barbaric being. A young man with black hair and grey eyes approached us. His eyes narrowed down at me, disgust in his face.
"Where does she come from?" He asked in a raspy disapproving voice.
"Tegan, this is Varek our historian." Rickon's voice was calm but he glared at Varek as he said the words.
"Where are you from?! Rickon has spent centuries trying to find his mate with no success. What makes you so special?" He glared at me with suspicion.
"Varek, this is your queen, some respect for her is highly recommended." Rickon said in a low rumbling voice. Erik walked to Varek's side and grabbed his shoulder trying to pull him away. I sat back in my chair starring at the lanky man before me. I thought about ripping his head off, "Varek your concern should be for the insurance of your pack's survival. As it looks your pack could really use me." I said sarcastically.
"Varek come, lets drink brother." Erik said trying to pull Varek away. Varek stared at me, he looked to be holding back words. In the end he reluctantly followed Erik away. "Tegan please play nice." Rickon said nervously between swigs. "Nice is not in my vocabulary or character mutt. I suggest you keep your subordinates in check or I will do it for you." I snapped back defiantly. He reached over to hold my hand but I pulled away, suddenly getting up and walking away from him.
I walked through the garden surveying the land, ignoring everyone around me. "Hello!" a sweet enthusiastic voice said from behind me. I turned around to see a small statured women, the size of a child, looking up at me. "My name is Lorna! Welcome to our pack." She smiled showing small canines. I was immediately disgusted by her sight, her happy manner displeased me greatly. I scoffed before turning around and walking away.
I walked past her and back towards the mansion. I took my crown off and threw it on the ground as soon as I entered the hallway, feeling indifferent about the celebration. I had no interest in any of it, I would rather be researching the pack. I made my way to the library sighing as I felt the silence surround me. I walked over to the books brushing away cobwebs, running my fingers through their leather spines.
Canvases on the wall I hadn't noticed before caught my attention. I walked over to the paintings which depicted castles and monstrous wolves. One of the paintings caught my attention, it was of a large ferocious white wolf, his face was in a snarl with drool running down its mouth. The wolf's blood red eyes looked familiar and I racked my mind trying to remember the creature.
The door swung open and Rickon walked into the room narrowing his eyes at me. He walked over to me and the painting. He turned his attention to the rabid werewolf painting, staying quiet. I sighed in disapproval of his presence. I was annoyed by his persistence, I wished him away.
"His name is Athelwolf." Rickon said, somberly looking at the painting. So that was who it was! This was a wolf I had definitely ran into before. "He was the first of our kind, the first werewolf." He continued.
I had fought that ferocious wolf before, he had been the most troublesome monster. Five centuries ago, long before I had taken over the Crow team, I was assigned to kill the barbaric beast. Athelwolf had turned out to be a fearsome and savage creature who fiercely challenged all the other supernatural races. He was a powerful ancient being and his strength was nothing I had seen before. We lost three teammates that night and even then the beast managed to escape.
"The one who cursed you all." I said in a disgusted voice.
"Indeed." Rickon's voice echoed.
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