Chapter 1

Alpha Kanen’s POV

The fairly lit room illuminated the faces around the long council table. Everyone looked from one another, conversations needn’t be made with the mouth as eyes travelled from across, motioning the situation to each other. The tension in the room was thick and outstretched, you could almost see it with your own eyes.

It has been like this for the White moon council members since the past months as I projected my plans to them and requested an immediate effect, that my men be prepared for war against the other packs across the continent.

There would be no other Alpha except for me. There can only be one Alpha King and that will be me. This has been my vision since I was a boy and there was no stopping it now.

“Don’t just sit there, council man,” I hissed at Elder Coron and saw through the corner of my eyes how he shook in surprise and quickly tried to compose himself before speaking.

“I am sorry Alpha Kanen but the whole city is still in shock over your victory against the Azharan Pack,” he replied, trying hard to hide his stutter.

“Yes Alpha,” Jared spoke up “the whole city has been talking about how you concurred one of the most powerful packs in the whole nation.”

I snickered before replying, leaning back on my high chair. “Spread the words, council members. Let my people stretch far and wide across the Azharan territory. Whoever doesn’t want to meet the same fate should surrender.” Leaning over the table, I watched each person’s faces and added, “Your whining hasn’t given a response to what I said. Prepare the men, we invade south tomorrow.”

That said, I leaned back on my seat and watch my council members whisper amongst each other, fear in their eyes.

Everyone knew the south wasn’t a joke. Among territories, south was known to have the strongest defense against invaders. But I spread the words of their will to surrender long before. They either surrender willingly or do that in a blood bath. There’s no turning back.

I will be king. I will build a nation. The reign of packs must end in my era.

***

Rose’s POV

I watched the water running down the steep rock gathering below my bedroom window and heaved a sigh. I moved my gaze up towards the sky and wondered what it felt like. Finding your mate, feeling that magnetic pull towards each other, knowing he’s all yours and nothing could ever take him away from you.

Annie found her mate last month and he was all she talked about whenever she came visiting.

A smile crossed my lips as the thoughts spiraled in my mind, my eyes glued to the clear sky outside. My best friend, Joe, thinks that I’m just being stupid. He says I’ll realize there was no such things as having electric pull towards each other when I finally meet him, or loving each other so much till it hurts. I think he’s the ridiculous one.

The slamming of my door brings me back from my fantasies, causing me to jolt up.

I turned fiercely around to ask whom the intruder was but my lips hung loose, open and speechless as I saw my mother standing at the door, fear contorting every inch of her face. We must have watched each other like that for hours before either of us could get a word out.

“Why does father want to see me?” I asked as I walked next to my mother through the open hallway leading to his council room. “I thought he was supposed to be off fighting?”

My mother turns around so fast, I didn’t see when she made the circle. She holds my hand and leans closer. “Dear, this is very important for your father. For all of us.”

Fear set into my chest as I watched her eyes.

She pulls me into the room where I met my father seated in his usual seat, three of his other council men standing around him.

I could almost see the tension in the room, cut through it with scissors. They all shared the same worries in their faces.

“What’s going on?” I asked carefully.

My father looks at me and I could have sworn I saw pity mixed with untold feelings in them. My mother stops at the door, refusing to walk further inside with me.

The silence has never been so deafening. I turned around to find my mother’s gaze thrown away.

Turning back to look at the council men watching me predatorily, then my father, I asked again, “Can someone tell me what the hell is happening here?”

“We are under attack, Rose,” my father replied with a half scream and my shoulders quickly tensed, and then dropped.

Yes, there was a fight happening at the border.

“Yes, yes, I know about the fight happening,” I replied, trying to make sense of what he just said. “You were supposed to be there fighting. And taking back our territory.”

“That fight isn’t what it seems, Rose!” my father yelled through gritted teeth and rose up, causing me to step back.

I waited for him to speak again but he doesn’t. I waited but he turned his back to me. My heart was pondering inside my ribcage and I didn’t even know why. If this was a war we would fight it and win like we have so many more. Why does this one feel so different?

As the silence grew uncomfortably, I decided to break it and asked, “What’s happening, father?”

After a long wait, he replied. “Alpha Kanen is invading us today, Rose. He is going to take over our territory, take our people as slaves and have his men slaughter our children.”

What? I felt the tear sting my eyes and I drew back my steps. That can’t be true.

I tried to voice my surprise but I heard nothing.

“Which is why we have agreed to make an agreement with him. Be allies,” turning around, my father added.

“How?” I asked gently, finally finding my voice.

“By offering you to him as his bride,” my father replied. But his words cut deeper than I imagined.