ANDOR.
"What do you mean by never wanting to leave my side?" I asked.
"It means exactly that." She answered.
"If this is a ploy to avenge your father's death, I can assure you that it won't work," I replied.
She sighed. "My father is gone. There is nothing that I can do that would bring him back."
"Then, what is this?"
"I have no one else. Just you." She replied.
I had felt a connection with her since the moment we first met. She was the first person I didn't rip apart when she tried to calm me down me when I was one with the wolf. Her words pierced my soul. I fought the urge to go closer and pick her up.
"Can you please get up from the floor?" I asked her.
Iris, got up and wiped the dust away from her clothes.
"Why are you not afraid of me?" I inquired.
"If I told you, you would not believe me."
"Try me," I responded.
She sat down on one of the chairs and gestured that I join her, which I did.
"I have dreamt of you for months," Iris answered. "In my dreams, you hold me in your bloodied arms, and I feel like a little girl in your arms."
"That sounds nice, apart from the bloodied part," I replied.
"I'm assuming the blood in your hands is my father's." She replied.
I nodded back at her.
"In my experience, Fate prevails always." She replied.
I got up from the chair; it was dark outside. "I'll ask my servants to provide a room for you in the castle. Perhaps, we can talk another time."
"Yes, my lord."
"Good night," I replied as I sprinted away.
The feelings that surfaced whenever I was around Iris were foreign. I felt the need to prove myself to her, to show her that I was worthy of her affection. The idea that she would wake up tomorrow and not want to be around me terrified me.
So I did the thing I always did whenever I felt unsure of what to do; I visited my mother's chambers to talk to her about everything else but the thing that bothered me.
"How are you doing, mother?" I asked.
She smiled back at me.
"I feel like there is a hole in my chest, a hole on the exact side of your father."
"Is that what losing someone you love feels like?" I asked.
"Yes." She answered. "I do hope that you never lose someone you love."
"How else will I ever know how it feels then?" I asked.
She replied with laughter, and I joined in.
"I made sure that you are still Luna of this pack," I replied.
"That was not necessary. A new era requires new leadership." My mother said. "You should have consulted me before you made that choice."
"You are a Queen, mother. Fathers' death does not change that."
She shook her head. "Find a mate; I do not want to be luna. I want to rest and go peacefully in my sleep."
"Then, it is your position until I find a mate."
"Very well, then."
"Also, I made Edmund my beta, and I asked him to go along with Ivar to sweat my allegiance to King Issac and the werewolf council," I explained
"Why did you not go yourself?" She asked.
"It's too early to leave the pack undefended," I replied.
"The pack is always well-defended, and regardless of your strength, you are still one man. Isaac is a proud person, and he would feel offended that you sent a delegation instead of going to see him yourself." My mother explained.
"Regardless, Mother. I do not feel comfortable leaving the pack. Ivar and Edmund are suitable enough to deliver my message." I answered.
"What do you plan on sending him as gifts?" She asked.
"Plenty of silver and a knife dagger that some traders sold to me last winter. They are beautiful and unique; they were made out of silver."
"That sounds nice. Your father would have also made the same choices."
I furrowed my eyebrows and squeezed my lips.
"Do you know why your father did not want to give birth to a child?" She asked.
I shook my head.
"When he was a boy, a witch cursed him that his offspring would be responsible for the carnage that ends the werewolf race." My mother explained.
"Then, he should not have given birth to me," I replied.
"We have no idea why your wolf manifests in that form. You are in a position of power now. Your actions and decisions can lead your pack to victory or destruction."
"Why are you saying this, mother?"
"I don't know. I just felt like I should warn you of the prophecy." She replied.
"Mother, you know me. I will not be responsible for any carnage or destruction of the werewolf race." I said.
She nodded.
"There is something you should also know. I asked for the room to be created for Iris in the castle. She was Erling's daughter."
"Is that wise? Did you not just kill her father?"
"I did," I replied.
"Do you like her?" My mother inquired.
"Yes, mother," I replied.
"Then, trust your heart." She replied.
I kissed her on her cheeks, and on my way out, I said.
"I would join Ivar and Edmund on the visit to seeking, Isaac. If he is as proud as you all say, it would be wiser for me to see him myself." I said.
"Yes, son. It is," she replied.
Immediately it was first light. I joined Edmund and Ivar in the treasury. We picked the most delicate pieces of silver objects and wrapped them up. I got my horse, and we all left to seek Isaac.
On my way out, Thora was looking out of the castle window. I caught her gaze, and she blew me a little kiss.
I smiled back at her, and we rode to king Isaac's kingdom.
The road to Isaac's kingdom was smooth. Bandit groups found a hard time operating in the area because it was werewolf territory. They were quickly tracked down and killed. Most of their spoils were taken by the wolves who found them, and they shared them amongst themselves.
We rode through the morning and afternoon, but we stopped at a lake to rest because the horses were getting tired.
They drank water, and we had the chance to find some food to eat.
"We should hunt, my lord. There should be a stag nearby that we can kill for meat," Edmund suggested.
"The two of you should guard the treasures. I'll go and find one myself."
They nodded in unison. I walked away from the group and went hunting. Deer's usually kept to the forest's edge, so I went in that direction. I heard a twig break and some rustling near me, so I crouched to get a better look.
A deer was absentmindedly eating a leaf when I threw my superhuman strength to throw a knife straight into its heart. Its heartbeat lowered as it fell to the ground; I picked up the animal and put it on my shoulder, and walked back towards the horses.
"Finally, food." Edmund jumped in excitement as I walked near them. He collected the dead animal from me while Ivar made the fire.
"My lord. I have a question that I would like to ask." Said, Edmund.
"What's with you and Iris? Erling's daughter. She now lives in the castle.
"I like her," I replied. "I wanted to get to be near me."
"Isn't that too soon?" He asked. "Considering what happened with her father."
"My heart knows her. She is my mate."
"Your heart knows? How?" Edmund asked.
Ivar chuckled.
"The same way my heart knew that I could trust you. If she is the one that ends me, then so be it. And, Ivar, what is amusing you?" I asked.
"No one, my Lord, I just noticed that your cheeks reddened at the mention of her name."
I chuckled. Then he turned to Edmund. "Our new Alpha might be a demon wolf, but he leads from his heart. That is the making of a fine leader, and you would do well to a man who understands his intuition."
"I thought you were hungry," I said, cutting him short. His words were beginning to get to me. I did not wish to be flattered.
The following day, we entered king Isaac's kingdom. He granted us an immediate audience, so as soon as we came down from our horses, we headed to his hall to meet him.
I had never met king Isaac. I did not know that he was such a short man. His legs did not touch the ground from his throne. He had too much power for a man his size. He commanded armies of werewolves that spanned up to thousands.
Ivar and Edmund joined me as I bowed to greet him.
"So, you are the demon wolf?" He asked.