The dark sky was carved up by the electrifying streak of light flashing the sky showing its flaws and hiding them the other instance, just like the fact that a person's deficiencies, imperfections, and weaknesses are more deafening when exposed to the world. The entire earth was quiet except for the sound of thunder and plopping raindrops falling mercilessly. Everyone was afraid of this last winter, the winter which will be followed by war. Fear of losing life, losing their loved ones and their possessions in the blink of an eye but above all their biggest fear was the undefeated Alpha Centauri Leonis. The first and only alpha born with a wolf having the strength of thousands of wolves, his fur golden with red tips looking like blazing flames. The fire wolf.
This rain which drenches the entire mystical world was also pouring down on the land whose three borders were surrounded by sky-high peaks of mountains and the fourth border adjacent to the ocean. The land of the fire wolf, the golden moon pack, the land of the fallen royal kingdom. Thick dense forests stretched beyond the mountains and were hidden inside the fog. A beautiful golden palace with red towers was located in the heart of the city. Out of the ten enormous towers, the seventh tower was the highest and provided a view of the enormous mountains, the entire city, and the area beyond the sea to the horizon.
This time lightning aimed at the seventh tower and exposed the only figure who remained unaffected by this storm. The one who was known as the storm himself. His figure was lit up by the flash of thunder. He was tall, having broad shoulders, and a face well carved by the creator with diligence and fragility, and his ocean blue eyes were worth drowning for when replaced with the golden red iris of his wolf was capable of burning the enemy just by a mere glance.
"Alpha! This is the last winter of peace, the fog will disappear at the beginning of next winter and war will break out." Aster, gamma of the pack said climbing five stairs of the tower at a time.
"Has Ethan returned?" Leonis asked in a deep and mighty voice. His tone was cold and merciless.
"No, he isn't" Aster replied in a stern voice. Leonis averted his gaze toward Aster, his ocean-blue eyes met Aster's, and a wave of fear ran down his spine. He felt limbless a mere gaze of the most feared alpha. Aster instinctively looked down to soothe his nerves.
" Alpha! weather is unfavourable thus delaying their voyage." Aster once again mustered up his courage.
Leonis simply nodded, it was such a small gesture that could have been easily missed. "Do you think they will accept our invitations?"
Ethan, the beta of this pack is on a mission to invite all the werewolf packs including the royal pack for peace negotiation.
"To fight the enemy we must know their weakness and our strength. We will also find out how many packs are on our side. This invitation is tempting, they will surely come to formulate a plan according to our strategic location."
Aster once again opened his mouth but was interrupted by Centauri Leonis, "You may leave now. Inform me once Ethan has returned."
THE NEXT DAY
Leonis once again spent the entire night in his office. He wasn't able to sleep since five years of age. The horrors of war were hanging like a sword on his neck. He spent the entire night studying ancient manuscripts in search of clues to find the last Saintes. Aster knocked on his door. Leonis who was indulged in work closed the manuscript, he already knew what was about to come,
"Centauri Leonis! Don't tell me you have spent the entire night in your office again." Aster half yelled, "Luna will be freaking out again and I won't be able to help you this time. She is going to rip my throat. How can you be so ruthless to your brother." before he could continue Leonis lifted his head and the slits on his forehead were enough to make him quit.
"Any news of Ethan?" He asked.
"No, I hope everything went well. I think we should wait a little longer for him to contact us." Aster responded.
"If you don't hear any news from him within three hours, take the best wolves and look for him. I don't want to lose him," he said clenching his fists so tightly that a drop of blood rolled down and settled at the edge of his nail.
He once again opened the ancient book and resumed reading. Aster also selected a book and assisted Leonis. Leonis was born with extraordinarily sharp senses, he felt the faint scent of Sylvia and knew the trouble was on its way,
" If you don't want to get murdered today better get your ass up before Sylvia finds you sitting here." These words were enough to make Aster run.
"Leonis! you have no idea how long I kept waiting for you. I tried contacting you through the mind link but it was blocked." Sylvia slammed the door, anger radiating from her small figure, her grey puffy eyes, depicting lack of sleep and her black hair falling loosely on her shoulders. She is beautiful, really beautiful for anyone to desire but she is not his mate. After the war, the curse prevailed. All the alphas of the pack were mateless. Centauri Leonis married Sylvia from the Witches' kingdom as an alliance for war. Despite his disagreement, his father forced this marriage and he had no other option than to comply because the safety of the pack comes first. It also eliminated the threat of witches rebelling and forming an alliance with enemies.
He sighed and stood from his seat, decreased the distance between them, and placed his hands on her shoulders removing a strand of hair from her face and tucking it behind her ear.
"You know you are important to me honey but I have to find a way to lift this curse or a way to deal with it. You have witnessed all our struggles. I need to work hard for us to live a peaceful life." he said pulling her in for a hug. Over these years he accepted the irony of fate.
"I know Leonis, I just fear losing you. We don't share the mates' bond. What will I do if you ever get tired of me? I will be devastated if you left me" she said tears shining in her eyes.
"You know all the alphas of this pack are cursed not to have a mate. I too am mateless so you are stuck with me and have no other option…
"Leonis you love me right?." He took a deep breath and before he could respond, Aster bust open the door, he was out of breath and looked panicked.
"ALPHA, Ethan is back, but he is not alone. You must visit the shore, it's urgent."
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MINI THEATER
"Alpha! this is the last winter of peace." Aster said climbing five stairs at a time suddenly the lightning fall on the seventh tower and he got struck by lightning. His one leg fixed on the first stair and other on the fifth. His face dark and hairs resembling the towers. His eyes popping out of the socket.