Chapter 123

123 Chapter One Hundred Twenty Three

The Sirius pack was surrounded by three packs that had formed from the Royals of the past. They were the three that didn’t leave the Royals when the war had raged on centuries ago. And they were also the ones that knew the depth of the Royals’ mission. Partly the reason why humans in the capital of Sirius were so comfortable living with them.

A hierarchy had been established to maintain the order amongst the werewolves with the Royals at the very top. The King’s Beta alphas were ranked above all the other alphas in Sirius. They didn’t form packs either as their main priority was to serve the king. Beta alphas, albeit powerful, lacked the power to defy the king even if he was only voicing his opinion of something. It was cruel, but also a consequence of the Royals of the past trying to control the bloodthirsty werewolves.

The strongest of the alphas would be selected to become beta alphas which gave them more power over the rest but robbed them of their free will. As a result of this, the king was always careful around his beta alphas to keep his wishes hidden from them. This allowed them to retain their sense of self. Davin walked out the huge exit at the back of the palace and smiled at the finished preparations.

Cole had communicated through mind link that they would be arriving soon. Everything was going according to plan. Tonight was the announcement of the return of his daughter and one of the moon goddess’ chosen. Nothing could go wrong... or could it?

The mouth-watering scent of roasted beef wafted through the air. “Now that smells good,” Davin spoke more to himself.

“Yeah, definitely. I hope Katie loves it. Lina went out of her way to help with the decorations,” Martha said, walking up to the king. King Davin’s wife was dressed in one his most favourite white gowns, flowing to her feet and sweeping the floor. It might have been his love for aesthetics or just an odd obsession with the colour of peace. Nonetheless, the Queen looked nothing short of dazzling.

“Lina, really? Are you sure you saw the right daughter?” the man asked her, pulling her into his arms.

The queen giggled, “Yes, it was Lina. I almost asked why she was doing it, then I say Honour with her. That girl is quite the influence on dear Lina,” the woman chuckled, letting her husband shower her face with pecks.

“Have you heard from Katie yet?” Davin asked, ending his shower of love.

.....

“She is going to get changed,” a new voice came from behind them. Cole Lycaon was dressed in a black tux, fitting his bowtie... Martha could see a large difference between the time before he found out who his mate was and now... He was glowing.

“Someone’s happy,” she chirped.

“Oh, you don’t know the half of it. Something smells good,” Cole turned his face in the direction of the numerous bon fires that had been set up, “I hope it all goes well,” he said.

“What could go wrong? This event will be perfect. The return of my daughter and a better future for the werewolves once the moon goddess’ plan comes to fruition,” he said.

“I don’t know. I get the feeling something’s amiss. Maybe Katie’s weird mojo rubbing off on me,” Cole chuckled. Just then a group of female werewolves came up to the male and asked that he join them. Cole, politely bidding the king and queen farewell, followed the ladies, taking note of the one from earlier, Crysta.

They walked up to a counter that had been set up outdoors and was serving refreshments, “How are you liking Sirius so far?” Crysta asked him, crossing to the other side of the counter. Cole took a seat on one of the stools, ending his visual scrutiny of the girl’s skimpy outfit and focusing on other things like the smell of beef waiting to be devoured.

“It’s breath-taking. People are hospitable, I would say... I haven’t spent much time touring,” he said.

“Oh, why’s that? There is so much to see in Sirius. Have you heard of the Great river of Sirius? It has the most beautiful waterfall you could possibly imagine. It’s also a perfect diving spot,” the girl said, preparing him a drink and setting it on the table for him to drink.

“Oh, that sounds fun indeed. I have seen the river though. Just today actually,” he said, taking a sip of the cocktail she’d just presented him.

“Oh really... I could show you how to enjoy yourself there the next time we go,” she smirked. Cole was so occupied in identifying whatever was odd with the different scents that invaded his nose that he missed the smirks that spread across the girl’s face. Her friends, who pretended to be making finishing touches to the makeshift bar mirrored Crysta’s expression... Their mission had been accomplished.

...........................

“I don’t need all these things you are adding to my face,” Katie screamed at the girls around her for the umpteenth time as they tried to apply yet more makeup to her face. Courtesy of her sister, Lina, she was being forced to dress up to the nines.

“You need them if you are going to look your best, princess. Princess Lina was strict with her orders when she told us to make you look good,” one of them tried.

“What’s wrong with my face? I look perfectly fine,” she huffed.

“You look like you were in a fight with a tree, your highness. No offense, but where have you been? And your hair, it’s like you’ve been inside a tornado...” she continued.

Katie gasped at the remarks and preened at herself in the mirror once more. Her hair was indeed a mess, though a casual one that she was used to and her face, barely blemished was fine (according to her standards anyway...)

“I agree with the hair, but there is nothing wrong with my face,” she huffed grumpily. A melodious giggle filled the air, coming from a girl Katie had come to know as Honour. She was allegedly Lina’s best friend. Katie hadn’t found anyone in Sirius yet who had a soul purer than hers. She cared about everything worth caring for and carried herself in a way that was only deserving of Royalty... and yet she was supposed to be a commoner when placed among other werewolves.

“What do you think, Honour?” Katie asked her.

“I think we can put a bit of foundation on your face, but your hair really needs a makeover. I can tell you like it shoulder length, so we won’t be snipping any part of it,” she explained.

Sighing deeply, Katie gave in to their demands, “Very well, do as you may. Just don’t turn me into doll. Make sure I keep my natural look though...”

“So, is that the kind of thing Cole is into?” one of them asked her, prying into her affairs right at the core.

“I won’t engage in that conversation,” Katie chuckled...

“Oh, you’re no fun. I heard something from the other girls. He has quite a fan base,” the girl began.

“Oh, yeah. Although not many of them make themselves known because everyone knows Crysta has got her eyes on him. Rumours have been spreading about the two of them being mates,” another chirped in, working while Katie listened.

‘Did you really have to exclude yourself from this conversation?’ Ashley spoke up, clearly irritated by the information the girls were delivering.

‘I didn’t think they had information of their own. I’m just as curious as you are, but...’

‘Let me out so I can ask them personally. You are too calm in front of these people,’ she screamed, forcing her consciousness out.

“Umm, Katie... Can you stop doing that thing with your face? It makes it hard to apply makeup,” Honour’s once quiet voice made it through the girl’s argument with her wolf. She looked up to see white fur gracing her facial features. She’d never seen herself in a mirror before, but had felt it the last time she faced the rogue king.

The effect of Ashley trying to bring herself forward was a half shift that made her look less of a human. Her ears were longer, the fur covered the top of her forehead and fell down in a neat line to the top of her nose, reducing the closer it got to the tip. The rest of her face remained normal except for the eyes that glowed brighter. The changes were minimal but significant, giving her an entirely new look.

“I’d been told you were someone special, but you’re something else,” one of the girls spoke first, having watched Katie’s face return to normal.

“Was that the fabled half shift?” Honour asked.

“Yes, it is. I’m guessing Katie knows nothing about it, just like Lina said. It’s what happens when a wolf that’s very compatible with their other half merges in a shift with them. That’s what happens. They both take control of the human body and achieve that,” she explained.

“Why does Katie have to be the one with that kind of gift?” another asked, storming out of the room in frustration. ‘Being talented is going to get you in quite a bit of trouble,’ Ashley observed from the back of Katie’s mind.

‘I’m guessing we aren’t supposed to reveal the fact that I’m a hunter with both Prometheus gifts...’

‘Yeah, I think that might be safer...’ the wolf replied, sighing, ‘The price of having such an awesome wolf like me... Fame will soon be suffocating you...’

‘Are you being cocky...’