AVA
I wasn’t sure what, but something was telling me that I needed to run back to the pack house. So I did.
What I didn’t expect to see was two almost identical wolves staring back at me. “Oscar,” I whispered through the link. “You’re stunning.”
Both Oscar and Callum were sandy brown wolves with bright green eyes, there were just subtle differences. Oscar’s fur was speckled with darker brown hairs, much like his hair in his human form, and Callum was very slightly taller. Callum’s wolf eyes had a blue ring around the irises, just like his human did.
Artemis sat down on her haunches, a little confused. There was a bond there with Oscar too. When she closed her eyes and we just felt for it, it felt like I had two gold threads, one running to Callum, one running to Oscar.
I shifted back, sitting cross-legged on the floor. Oscar’s wolf trotted over to me, and lay his massive head down in my lap. I reassuringly ran my fingers through his fur, revelling in how soft he is.
“Oscar, can you shift back so we can all talk easier?”
He nodded, before doing just that. As soon as his hand touched mine, the same sparks that Callum and I had jumped between us.
“Fuck,” I scarpered backwards. “It’s all true,” I whispered.
“My Queen, breathe,” Alex said. “You’re freaking out, your aura is going mad. Callum’s having difficulty controlling Ares because he wants to run to you, and if we’re not careful, Oscar will have the same issue with his wolf.”
I shook my head, bringing my legs up to my chest, resting my forehead on my knees.
“No, this can’t be happening,” I cried, tears streaming down my face. “This can’t be happening.”
When I started crying, both Callum and Oscar shifted, running to me and rubbing their bodies along my sides. I giggled as their fur tickled my skin, wiping away the tears.
With both of them touching me, I felt calmer. More in control.
Artemis even calmed down and instead lay down with her head on her paws, purring.
“Shall we all go up to my office, Ava? We can talk about it away from the crowds?” Alex asked, his voice low.
He passed the three of us shorts and a t-shirt for me, and once we were all human and dressed, we headed upstairs to Alex’s office.
I could feel myself starting to freak out again, but Callum and Oscar each took one of my hands, and Artemis calmed all over again.
Once we were all seated with cups of tea, we got straight into it. “The Legend of the Alpha Queen, it’s all true,” I whispered, voice low. “Oscar, what’s the name of your wolf?”
“Dionysus.”
“Fuck, it really is true,” I swore. “Theo and Noah will follow soon. Jacob, who was born first?”
“Noah.”
“If everything is to be believed, Noah’s wolf will appear in the next 24 hours, and Theo’s after that.” I leaned back in my chair, letting my eyes fall closed. “Noah’s wolf will be Hephaestus, Theo’s will be Hermes.”
The room was full of stumped wolves.
“Are they all going to be Alphas?” Jacob asked.
I nodded.
“I’m not an Alpha, though?” Oscar questioned.
“You are, you just haven’t needed to be yet. I can feel your aura,” Jacob replied.
“Everything will truly kick off once the four of them have their wolves.” I swore when I squeezed my cup so hard it shattered. “We need to be prepared. Once I have the four of them… the rogues will start coming in earnest. If the Rogue King still wants to mark me, he’ll need to do it quickly, before the bond is cemented between us. If the bond starts to cement… he’ll have to kill me.”
“Ava, I think you need to give us more of a run down of this legend.”
I nodded. “It’s a poem, but I’ll recite it for you.”
I paused before beginning, taking a moment. This was big.
“In moonlit lands where shadows roam,
A legend whispers through the gloom,
Of a child born of ancient line,
To rise and reign, her fate divine.
Born of Lycans, fierce and proud,
Her destiny was spoken loud.
A girl with power yet unseen,
Would claim the title, Alpha Queen.
Her wolf within, named Artemis,
A guardian of strength and bliss,
Would guide her through the darkest night,
To claim her throne, to claim her right.
But she would not stand alone,
For four great Alphas would atone,
Their fates entwined, their wolves of might,
Would join her in this sacred fight.”
I first met Callum’s eyes, then Oscar’s.
“First Ares, fierce with battle cry,
Would fight for her and never die.
Then Dionysus, wild and free,
Would teach her joy and revelry.
Hephaestus, strong with hands of fire,
Would build her dreams, forge her empire.
And Hermes, swift with clever mind,
Would chart their path, their fates aligned.
Through trials dark and tempests strong,
Their journey fraught, the road so long,
But by her side, her consorts four,
Would help her break through every door.
The kingdoms of the wolves and beasts,
Would gather for the fateful feast,
Where peace and unity would reign,
And end the centuries of pain.
For in her heart, the strength she’d find,
To lead with justice, wise and kind,
The Alpha Queen, with Artemis,
Would bring the world to eternal bliss.
So heed this tale of yore and past,
Of how true legends ever last,
For in the night, where wolves still sing,
They tell the tale of the Alpha Queen.”
Jacob met my eyes, his face impassive.
“That’s the first poem, there are others.” Izzie suddenly appeared behind us. “There’s poems about your future children, uniting the kingdoms, how things change, and the challenges you’ll face.”
“I didn’t think it was real,” I whispered. “I thought it was just a legend.”
Izzie pulled me into her arms, pressing a kiss to my forehead. “I know, Ava, I’m sorry.”
I wiped away my tears, before forcing myself back into Alpha mode, and looking over at Jacob. “We need to find your sons.”
He nodded.
“Ava…” Izzie whispered. “It might be too late.”
“What do you mean?” I could feel my aura flow out, stressed. Callum and Oscar took my hands to help me recentre myself.
“There’s another verse about when they come, but I can’t remember exactly how it goes. It says the first two will come when their wolves are ready, but the second two… will be after you and your first two mates accept the prophecy. Once all four have their wolves, the mate bonds will snap into place.”
A sudden, horrible feeling shot through me. “I need to find Noah.”
I shifted and sprinted into the woods, heading for the lake. Instinct told me he was swimming.
Fortunately when I got there, Theo was there too.
But both of them were mid-shift.
I stayed in my wolf form, moving to lay in between them, making sure I touched both of them. “Noah, Theo,” I whispered through the mind link. “Hephaestus, Hermes,” I continued. “I’m here, you’ll all be okay. Please try to relax.”
They did, shifting to become two dark brown wolves, laying on their sides to catch their breath. They’d been fighting the shift for a while.
I stood, first licking Hephaestus’ face and then Hermes’.
They stood on shaky legs before rubbing their sides up and down mine.
“We need to meet the others at the pack house, are you okay to run?”
They both nodded, smirked at each other, and ran into the trees.