Nicolas POV
“I think you should reconsider,” my father said, bringing up the main topic of our meeting.
I was surprised by his words.
I never thought he would counsel me against forming an alliance with a silver-blessed pack. Among the blessed packs, the Silverado Pack is one of the most reputable. It would be certain that we would defeat the Red Howl Pack if we signed a treaty and joined forces.
“Why should I?” I asked, shifting my head to the side. “The meeting is already scheduled, and Ronan has already begun working on the paperwork.”
“Cease the scheduled meeting immediately!” My father roared.
“I refuse to withdraw my proposal!” I said, surprised by his sudden outburst. “I will do everything in my power to help them, as they require our support!”
“You have no idea what you are doing, boy!” He hissed through his teeth.
“And you are not offering me any convincing reason as to why I should not sign a treaty with them!” I shot back with a growl. “Any issues you may have with Alpha Rick are personal between the two of you. It is not a dispute between me and the Silverado Pack!”
“The pack bears a curse!” He lost his temper. “If you join forces with them, they will bring the Midnight Moon Pack to its knees!”
“What is the matter with you?” I snapped. “They will not act in such a manner!”
“Are you aware of the reason behind the implementation of a law that states that a she-wolf cannot take an Alpha position without being mated first?” My father asked.
“I understand the regulation,” I answered. “But not as much about the reason behind the decision.”
“I will reveal the cause,” he growled, got back up, and strode towards the bookcase, where he took out a scroll and gave it to me.
“What is this?” I asked.
“The primary reason for avoiding the Silverado Pack,” he stated. “It is a prophecy. Have a look.”
What on earth is the connection between a prophecy and Zara, or anything else?
I unfolded the scroll, leafed through its contents, and set it down on the coffee table. I did not understand the majority of it. I suppose my dad could provide some clarification on the matter.
“This prophecy dates back hundreds of years,” he went on. “An Alpha she-wolf is to blame for the fall of all blessed packs, according to an old Gemini witch.”
Fifteen years ago, the Gemini Coven, one of the strongest magical covens on the continent, vanished without a trace.
Some people think they are still there, just hiding from predatory eyes, while the council believes it was destroyed by vampires or other beings.
“So what?” I hissed. “How is it related to the Silverado Pack?”
“According to the prophecy, there will be twins born from a silver-blessed pack-one for each gender-but the she-wolf will be the only heir and Alpha of a silver-blessed pack, and her brother will save guard her while she is still inside their mother’s womb.”
“Luna Zara is an only child,” I argued. “There is no-”
“That is where you are mistaken,” my dad cut me off. “Zara’s mom was expecting twins. A rogue attack claimed the boy’s life from the pack!”
“That doesn’t mean anything!” I yelled.
My father shook his head.
“Zara came into the world first,” he declared. “I was there that night.”
“You were friends with Alpha Rick?” I asked, startled by that information.
“Yes, we were up until-”
“Zara’s birth?” I inquired.
Goddess, help me now!
“No,” he replied, appearing hesitant and suddenly concerned. “I was only made aware of the boy’s existence the evening your mother died. The prophecy, she told me, has already started.”
Fourteen years ago, my mother lost her life defending a pup from a vampire attack. Her wolf was weakened by the vampire’s poisoned fangs, and she was unable to heal herself before succumbing to her wounds.
“It does not make sense,” I countered.
With a sigh, he sat forward, and his eyes became serious and imploring.
“When I met your mother, she worked as a midwife and occasionally assisted with deliveries of pregnancies. It was not unusual for her to assist Luna Rita in giving birth to her pups,” my father explained.
“What happened?” I asked. “What did my mother do?”
“Your mother falsified the birth certificate, claiming Zara’s brother never existed,” he said, looking directly into my eyes. “To conceal the evidence, your mother was given the order to dispose of Zara’s brother’s body by the council.”
“Why?” I questioned, shocked.
“The pup was deformed and dead,” he said, sadly. “Probably as a result of the rogue attack.”
“Are Alpha Rick and Luna Rita aware of this?” I asked carefully.
“Yes, Alpha Rick is aware,” he replied. “But not Luna Rita. Everything was done and maintained in secrecy. Zara probably does not even realize that she had a brother.”
“I want to know why you are telling me all of this,” I asked, frustrated.
“Due to the prophecy,” he stated. “The prophecy was something your mother believed in. She had complete faith that the prophecy would be fulfilled. Her one final request was to stop the war so that you would be safe.”
“So, what are you expecting me to do?” I questioned angrily. “Dishonor my promise and allow Alpha Noah to take Luna Zara as his mate.”
“It should not be a problem for you,” my father said. “You have already done that once before!”
“You know why I have turned my back on the surrounding packs,” I yelled in frustration. “I refuse to give Zara up to Alpha Noah! It is not right!”
“He is her mate!” My father sneered. “If he claims her, the prophecy will end and nobody will need to worry about an upcoming war.”
“You just cannot stop talking about the prophecy!” I snarled. “What makes it so important? And please do not give me some nonsense justification about stopping war! Every day is war for us. It is in our blood; we are werewolves. That is how we are hotwired!”
My dad sighed and fell silent for a while.
“Are you aware of the significance of the five blessed packs?” he asked, composed.
“Yes, the Goddess loves us more than any other pack,” I uttered, experiencing a wave of annoyance that coursed through my veins.
“Yes, but also because we are the barriers separating her world from this one,” he said.
“So?” I asked. “How is that related to anything?”
“I met with the old witch before she and her coven disappeared,” he stated.
That caught me off guard. Was it because of him that she vanished? Has he destroyed the coven?
“And?” I snapped.
“Luna Zara is going to be the reason that all werewolves become equal,” my father snarled.
“I do not see any issues with that,” I growled. “Do you not believe that the goddess ought to treat us all equally?”
“Silver-blessed wolves are more superior!” He grew irate. “All the packs will be merged and be under Zara’s command. The packs will consider her to be their queen.”
Has my old man gone completely insane?
“And you believe all this bullshit is true because an old witch told you a scary bedtime story?” I asked and huffed. “How can you be certain that she is telling the truth?”
A breath escaped my lips as I got to my feet and headed toward the door.
“Where are you going?” He snarled. “I am not finished yet!”
“I am sorry, father,” I said in an icy tone. “But I am going to sign a treaty with the Silverado Pack. Even if it means that Zara ends up becoming the queen of all werewolves.”
“You are making a mistake!” he bellowed.
“I will commit an even greater mistake if I allow Alpha Noah to become Alpha of the Silverado Pack and I fail to defend what’s mine!”
“What do you mean by that?” He asked, his face turning gray.
“Luna Zara Silverwood is my second chance mate,” I said, proudly. “And if I have to, I will stop at nothing to keep her safe, including from you!”
****