SIERRA

I barely check in my gasp of surprise when he announces my name as Sierra Vlček. Whatever happened to permission and proposals?

I need to talk to him about his behaviour. How can he assume that I will agree to me being called by his last name and not by my father's? He is partly correct that I will accept his name but he should have asked me.

A lot of Congratulations are heard from various Alphas and Betas and I keep a frozen smile on my face not wanting to screw it for Fenris.

"You all knew my father as Prince Lucian of Recrania or as the Alpha of Crimson Shadow but unfortunately my family was ambushed and murdered by the rogue named Xavier. He still lives and is now planning on attacking us along with his son, Xanthos. I want to avenge my parents' death by killing him. However, vengeance is not what drove me to call such a big meeting but the fact that there have been many rogue attacks on individual packs as well as kidnappings of young unmated females." He pauses a bit to look at each Alpha in the eye and then continues. He has every alpha's attention, now.

"The reason for the kidnappings is that he's looking for my mate that is a young female with the mark of the royal mate. He plans to end my family line and I can't let that happen." Again, a pause. He turns to look at me and offers me a small smile which I return nervously not knowing what else to do. He then turns back to look at the Alphas and then continues.

"I ask you all to fight with me against Xavier to finish off his legacy and his evil intentions. I want your support in this so that we all can live peacefully without the threat of losing our freedom or our future mates. That is the main reason why I called the future Alphas of the respective packs as well," says Fenris. He waits patiently for the Alphas to reply.

Everyone nods their head and then look at their mates probably having a telepathic conversation privately. It is a gift obtained after the blood bond of mating is forged which me and Fenris haven't yet done. I am not sure if he wants to have it or not.

"You ask us to fight for you, not with you. On what basis do you come here and claim to be the prince? Why should I give you my best warriors to be used as pawns in your personal vendetta against Xavier?" sneers Alpha Conan. That's Conner's father.

I turn to look at Tatiana who's now standing behind her father beside her brother. They both shake their head with a sad look on their face as if this kind of illogical thinking is Alpha Conan's forte. She lifts her head to look at me and then smiles sadly.

Aren't Blue Moon and Mystic Shadow best friends? Then why is Alpha Conan rejecting this decision?

"It is not me who's seeking personal vendetta here, Alpha Conan. It is you who cannot overcome a fact that an orphan like me who didn't know who his parents were, who was blindly living on breadcrumbs his entire life, is standing here claiming to be the Prince of Wolves and asking for allegiance," speaks Fenris calmly without even a hint of emotion. Only the slight tightening of his fingers on my waist tells me that he's agitated.

What happened between these two? The hate I see shining in the eyes of Alpha Conan goes deeper as if he's remembering something. All around us I hear muted gasps from the Lunas but the Alphas just widen their eyes trying to minimise their reaction.

"Conan, you should believe Prince Fenris. He sacrificed his blood for my son's mating ceremony that's why the moon goddess blessed him and his mate and accepted their bond," speaks Alpha Chris as he comes forward with his Luna beside him. The couple first offers me a small smile and then the Alpha bows in front of my mate before looking at Alpha Conan.

Alpha Conan continues to maintain that enraged face and looks down his nose at my mate. His attitude doesn't sit well with me and I want to defend my mate but Fenris's hand on my waist holds me firm and I feel that he needs this touch to calm himself, so I stay put.

"It was because Prince Fenris gave his blessing for the mating that the mating bond snapped in place," adds Alpha Zacharias, Zion's father. Fenris nods at the Alpha but otherwise maintains a cool and stoic expression. His eyes are also clear blue unlike the darker shade which comes out when he's angry.

"I don't ask you to fight for me. I hope that the war ends before it has even begun. I wouldn't want more werewolves to die at the hands of Xavier's cruelty and the only way to do this is by attacking him. For that I need your support. I don't want Xavier using the rift that is present between all the Alphas today. The main objective of this meeting is to form an Allegiance." Fenris says in his final tone not offering any excuse or any sweet sugar coating. His speech is short and factual, very much like an Alpha.

"What does this Xavier want anyway? Last time the rogues attacked after King Adrian was killed by poisoning. Prince Lucian was then ambushed in his own home by the rogues. Why did the rogues surrender if Xavier wasn't dead?" asks Alpha Christopher.

"I don't exactly know the reason why the rogues surrendered but I think that after Xavier killed my father, he called back his rogues to go on a hunt for Lucian's child. I was well-protected by elder Raoul and the mystic shadow pack, that's why I stand here alive today but I no longer wish to live under the threat of Xavier and his impending attack. He's becoming impatient and won't wait for long now before attacking. It's better if we are prepared," explains Fenris.

After a few seconds of silence, Alpha Chris comes forward with Aztec and Avery following.

"We offer our support and loyalty to you, Prince Fenris. May the Goddess bless us with victory," praises Alpha Chris and then he and Aztec both go down on one knee and bow their heads in front of Fenris while their mates keep one hand on their mates' right shoulder. Female wolves aren't allowed to bend or bow in front of any other male so the hand kept on their mate's shoulder is equivalent of their support to their mate's decision. The support of an Alpha is the support of the entire pack.

I am surprised to see Alpha Chris who I once thought was egoistic, bowing down in front of my mate and then I feel immense pride in my mate for being so strong that the Alphas bow down to him. My wolf also prances in my mind at the dominance oozing out of our mate today. It's palpable!

Alpha Conan is shocked at Alpha Chris's behavior and it looks like he's bristling his teeth, clenching his jaw and his hands are fisted.

Lycidas walks forward, repeats the same words as Alpha Chris did and then goes down on his knee to offer his support to my Fenris. Caliana looks at me as she puts a hand on her mate's shoulder and smiles, silently congratulating me on my mating. They are the new Alphas of the Moon Stone pack after Lycidas's father stepped down from the Alpha position.

After a long minute, I watch Alpha Zac pledge and then bow down on their knees. Zion follows suit and as soon as he does, Tatiana makes a move probably to go to her mate but is stopped by Alpha Conan who has, by the looks of it, a bruising hold on her wrist.

How dare he stop his daughter from going to her mate? The sight angers me and surprisingly Fenris is quiet beside me but I can't tolerate the Alpha's attitude towards his daughter.

"Release your daughter's hand right now, Alpha Conan. You have no right to hold your daughter away from her mate. It is the right of every female to go to her mate irrespective of what her parents think about him," I say loudly even my voice sounds different.

I am shocked and now I am worried. I hope I didn't do anything wrong by speaking in such manner to an Alpha.

Alpha Conan as if shocked at my words, instantly releases Tatiana's hand and she smiles at me gratefully before walking to Zion where she lands a hand on his shoulder silently offering support to her mate's decision. Zion lifts his hand up to his mate's fingers which are on his shoulder.

I look back at Alpha Conan who's staring at me in shock and I don't know maybe murder in his eyes?

"You did nothing wrong," whispers my mate from my side. I turn to look at him smiling down at me. I sigh in relief and lean in his embrace a little as we both stare at Alpha Conan's next move.

Connor has started fidgeting now and it looks like he is not at all agreeing with his father's decision to go against my mate. He glares at his father and then walks ahead to stand in front of us besides Aztec and smiles at me sadly before going down on his knee and bowing to my mate.

"What are you doing, Connor?" shouts Alpha Conan as he watches his son offer his loyalty to some other wolf.

"Alpha Conan. You cannot impose your views on your son especially when he's the future Alpha of your pack. You don't want him challenging you for the Alpha position now do you?" Elder Alarick speaks for the first time.

I see Alpha Conan's mate watching around herself nervously before walking forward to her son and laying her hand on her son's head first and then his shoulder. I don't understand the gesture but I hear numerous gasps echoing from the other Lunas who are watching with me. It is a very rare sight where a female goes against her mate's wishes.

"The Luna of Blue Moon Pack has gone against her mate and supports her son in offering their loyalty to the Prince of Wolves," announces elder Raoul and I watch as Alpha Conan's face morph into that of anger.

Alpha Conan watches, no glares at his mate as he makes way towards her and then goes down on his knee quite grudgingly offering his loyalty.

"Do all the Alphas present here offer their loyalty and support to the reigning Prince of Wolves of Recrania?" asks elder Alarick. At once, a deafening answer of "Yes" is heard and I itch to put a hand on my ear to check if it isn't bleeding.

"Now, I announce Prince Fenris Vlček as the Alpha of all the wolves and as the High Elder, I now announce Fenris Vlček as the Alpha King of Recrania," says elder Raoul.

I turn to look at the elder in shock. I never knew that this meeting was to announce my mate as the King of Recrania. What the hell?

"I object, Elder Raoul. The Prince isn't claimed yet in an official ceremony. Without that no wolf can claim the position of being an Alpha no matter his inheritance," speaks Alpha Conan and I narrow my eyes at him. He has to cause a problem everywhere, I guess.

"Very well, Conan. To resolve this issue, I announce that Prince Fenris will claim his mate, Sierra Boris in presence of all the Alphas on the eve of the next full moon which is in the next two weeks. After that we will all bow down to the King and Queen of all wolves of Recrania," replies elder Alarick and I look at him to see a slight smirk on his face. The elder's speech is rewarded with an applause from all the Alphas.

Was this claiming already planned?

~~~~~~~~~

"You both look very good together, my child. May the Goddess bless you both with abundant happiness and pups. I'll sing to the Goddess to grant you this gift," whispers Fenris's adopted mother as she leans in to kiss my cheek. The gesture is very welcoming and I feel very good that she likes me, after all she's my mate's mother no matter adoptive.

"Thank you, ma'am," I reply.

"Oh no, there will be none of that. You call me Yuki okay? We are staying in one of the cabins to your right. You can come visit anytime. I will tell you a lot of Fenris's childhood stories," she offers and I immediately accept.

"Okay, mother. Now's not the time to be discussing my childhood," Fenris interferes and I pout. He looks at me sternly but it doesn't have that much effect on me as it does on Yuki. She leaves after a quick good-bye, with her mate.

"Why didn't you ask me first before changing my last name?" I ask Fenris as soon as they walk out of hearing distance, an attempt to distract him.

The meeting's main part is over and now we are told to wait so that every Alpha can congratulate us and then we can retire for the night. It has been a long night!

Alpha Chris already left after congratulating us and with them my parents left too. My mother's very happy with my mate. One would say that he's her son and I am the daughter-by-mating instead of it being the other way round.

"Would you have said yes?" he asks me with a smirk on his face. I feel like wiping it away from his face with a kiss.

"I would have told you to wait, definitely," I mutter. He laughs at my answer and pulls me closer turning me so that I am standing in front of him. Keeping a hand on his chest I stop him from bending down to kiss me. He pouts but settles for a kiss on my temple. I sigh in relief not wanting to put on a show for others.

"I wanted to put up a united front for all those Alphas. They were ready to pounce on any of my weakness so I showed them that I have none by claiming you in the most obvious manner. I, of course, asked your father and he heartily allowed it," he replies quietly. Wow! My dad sure likes Fenris a lot, probably more than he liked Aztec. Anyway, doesn't matter now.

"So, we are making it official," I say cheerfully. He looks down at me playfully narrowing his eyes and I control the shiver of pleasure that runs down my spine. Oh! Goddess! I am wet.

"Don't tell me you have second thoughts about it?" he asks and bends down to kiss the shell of my ear and then he nips it. I jump in his arms at the shock of the slight pain.

"Fenris! Not here," I scold but he only laughs and shakes his head then stills all of a sudden. I look around to see what made him stand all serious and find Aztec and his mate walking towards us. Is Fenris still holding a grudge? What am I thinking, of course, he holds a grudge!

"Congratulations on your mating, Prince Fenris. May the goddess bless you with happiness and fertility," smiles Avery while greeting us. Aztec offers a big smile to both me and Fenris, quietly ignoring my mate's icy smile.

They both leave after a small chat and I nudge my mate as soon as they go. I look up at him and see that his eyes are troubled as if he's fighting some inner battle. I go to ask him and to reassure him that I am over Aztec when Alpha Conan interrupts us.

"Congratulations on your mating pup. I didn't know your mate had the guts to speak in front of an Alpha," sneers Alpha Conan looking down at me.

I automatically form a reply in my mind but Fenris pulls me back and gives me a look which effectively shuts me up.

"Thank you for the blessing Alpha. My Luna should definitely know how to put a rancorous wolf in his place," replies Fenris in a very soft voice and I barely stifle a laugh.

Alpha Conan's expression turns bitter as he glares at me but I shrug.

"Correct me if I am wrong, Prince, but wasn't she disloyal to you when she invited some other wolf in her bed? Pity that such a wolf will rule over the werewolf community," sneers Alpha Conan. I widen my eyes in horror at his words and then in the next moment my mate has left my side and has Alpha Conan's throat in a tight grip which turns the Alpha's face blue.

"Fenris no, leave him. Please," I plead as I run to my mate and try to pry open his fingers from the Alpha's throat. As soon as my fingers touch the Alpha's throat, it burns and I flinch at the unexpected pain. Fenris senses it and immediately releases the Alpha to pull me at his side.

Taking my hand in his, he massages my fingers and lifts my hand to his mouth, kissing it.

"Tell me, Princess would you accept the orphan boy here if your lover hadn't found his mate?" The Alpha speaks again and this time even I can't stop Fenris from damaging the Alpha's throat.

"Do not speak to my mate, Conan," growls Fenris. Goddess! His voice has changed turning heavy and more growly, his wolf more prominent.

I look around to see Lycidas and Connor standing there and everyone else has left. Elder Raoul and elder Alarick come rushing inside the hall and rush towards my mate's side.

"Release the Alpha, Fenris," speaks elder Raoul. Fenris growls loudly staring in Alpha Conan's fear filled eyes while his own eyes have turned black. I look at him feeling guilty. This situation was brought upon by me. I gave Alpha Conan a chance to point a finger at me, I realise as I watch Fenris fighting my battles and making enemies because of me.

Now, its Alpha Conan pointing at me maybe tomorrow the entire werewolf population will turn against my mate. How can I allow that?

"Alpha Conan, you purposely provoked the Prince by speaking rude to his mate. Apologise to the couple and we will sort this matter here itself. This incident won't be repeated again," orders elder Alarick startling me from my thoughts and I look up at Fenris who's walking towards me. His eyes are still black and he stares at me with an unknown expression. Does he regret mating with me now?

"Whatever I said wasn't wrong neither was it some false information. Still being the bigger person here, I apologise to the Prince. After all it isn't his mistake that he got paired up with such an unfaithful mate." Alpha Conan coughs out and then walks out of the hall and this time Fenris doesn't stop him. Does this mean that he agrees with what Alpha Conan said?

"Come on. The meeting's dismissed. The other Alphas have already retired for the night. Alpha Lycidas and Connor please return back to your cabins. Fenris you also. Take your mate and go to your cabin. We will discuss this tomorrow," orders elder Raoul.

Everyone leaves but Fenris is still standing beside me, taking deep breaths trying to calm down. Should I touch him? Will he welcome it?

Trembling and quite nervous about his reaction, I lay a hand on his arm and thank the Goddess, he calms visibly. He pulls me close by the waist and I go willingly relieved yet a little miffed by the Alpha's comments.

"You don't believe him, right?" I ask unable to keep quiet.

"No, I don't believe that asshole," he growls and I flinch in fear. I do not ever want to be on the wrong side of his anger.

"Do you think that I wouldn't have come to you if Aztec hadn't found his mate?" I ask. He narrows his eyes as he looks down at me and I fight a shiver of fear.

"What do you think about it?" he asks but the growl isn't far from his voice.

"I... I don't know. I would have eventually come back to you, wouldn't I?" the reply comes out more like a question and I can feel my doubt flow through my words. Fenris narrows his eyes and his eyes turn into slits as his grip on me tightens painfully. I whimper in pain at the foreign feeling. Never have I felt him intending to cause me pain.

He suddenly releases me and I stumble back barely standing on my feet as I look into his eyes. His eyes reflect so many emotions and I don't need to possess any gift to identify them. The guilt, hurt and helplessness reflect strongly in his eyes. I turn away from him unable to look at his face, at the emotions I put there. I am solely responsible for my mate's hurt and the realisation leaves me bereft, cold and empty. I run away from him and he doesn't stop me, doesn't force me. 

Why would he?

~~~~~~~

Ke a leboga!

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