"The mother luna requests to see you alpha."
The royal messenger knelt before Floyd who was sitting on the horns of his dilemma with thousands of thoughts slinking through his mind.
"I'll be with her soon."
The messenger rose to his feet, bowed, then left his chamber.
Moment later, he wore his regalia and headed to the court.
"I heard your beta was athirst for blood today!!"
She was all huffy and stormed towards him but stop dead when hot flame from his eyes grazed her skin.
"Is that why you wished to see me mother?"
He shot daggers at her, forcing her once enraged voice to ease.
"Isn't it enough to ask for your presence?"
He strode to his royal seat and slumped into it.
"It isn't enough mother. May I know why you wish to see me?"
Quietly, she dallied to her seat which was beside the luna's and flumped into it.
"Your beta injured many today for no reason."
When she heard his howl, she thought there was an attack on the pack and shifted into her wolf for safety.
"My beta isn't a fool to bruise wolves for fun."
Obviously, she was there to talk about his beta and he lacked the patience to listen to her.
"If you're here because of my beta's violent outburst earlier today, then I'm done with you."
He rose from his seat, and made his way to the exit, but her exasperating yell halted him.
"Peony is my personal maid Floyd!!"
Anger stirred within him that he turned and fired a fierce glare at her.
"So you own the uncultured omega?"
And he took fierce steps towards her as a wild rage possessed him . "And you come to me to vent?"
"Watch your tongue Floyd, my servants are well behaved."
She sprung from her seat and fired back. His jaw tightened, his hands fisted as anger rolled through him.
"Well behaved to accuse and punish my mate!!"
At the recognition of his mate, Kylo moved forward. "Mate? Is she coming?"
"Shut up Kylo!" Annoying how his wolf recognized Alora as a mate more than Hera.
"Sorry." And it moved back to its space.
"Your mate? Did you just call her your mate? A wolf-less mate!!"
The ridicule in her words were obvious and it soared his anger, pushing him to throttle her.
"A wolf-less mate that sent me to the abyss of pain and panic when my wolf thought she was dead!!"
He moved in on her, his eyes hardened, the veins of his forehead bulged and she suddenly panicked.
"Do you know how I felt mother!! Like my heart was gripped by long sharp claws that almost tore it apart!!"
Condescending on her, he sneered. "You remember, don't you? The exact way you felt when father was about dying!!"
And he lost control of his hand which pulled his hair in frustration, and hit the wall in aggression.
"In as much as I despise her, my heart isn't willing to bleed again!!"
He walked to the window and held the rail tightly, his breathing thundered in his head, all because he couldn't hit his mother for her utterances.
Then, a sudden realization hit him, he turned, shot her a suspicious gaze. "Mother, did you send Peony to hurt her?"
If Peony was her servant, it was possible she sent her.
Her eyes blazed. "Floyd!!"
"It's just a question mother! Did you?" His face darkened like a hurricane cloud.
"I didn't!"
A fresh swell of rage rose in him about to take out everyone and everything in the court.
"Leave my court!!"
"Floyd, I'm your mother."
"I Alpha Floyd command you to leave my presence!!"
And her wolf, Maia startled at the command and laid down in submission.
"Take me out of here."The timorous wolf quivered, and hastily, she exited the court.
Floyd groaned deeply, his hands tightened on the window rail and he snapped the metal.
"Easy man, you just hit my head. Kylo sighed in annoyance, shut his eyes to sleep.
* * * *
Luna Hera pushed the door heavily and stormed into her chamber. She pulled her shoes and flung them.
A storm was brewing on her face and her entire body trembled.
She slumped in the large bed hoping to give in to sleep, but her ugly expression must have dispelled sleep from her eyes.
Frustrated, she got off and paced the room.
The entire pack were terrified because the beta fought for that wolf-less girl!
She had wondered why the alpha was indifferent to Alora, until she heard from the servants that she had no wolf.
She stared out the window, her hands clenched. The usual lively pack had been in a tranquil state invited by the Alora!
A while ago, she overheard the alpha's discussion with his mother which annoyed her especially when he spoke up for her!
Wasn't she the luna and should be his only mate? But her bond with the alpha was weak compared to Alora's.
How could Alora share the alpha with her? Why should he speak up for her?
The door was quietly opened and the mother luna came in.
She stared momentarily at Hera, then turned to leave. "Don't bring up this matter with him."
Despite how uncomfortable her mind was, her warning would be let out.
"Does he like he?" She felt her palms sweaty as she thought of the possibility of Floyd in love with Alora.
She stopped, then turned to her. "To the best of my knowledge, no, but can't tell if otherwise."
Issues of mate bonds was sacred and complicated especially when one was dealing with one as strong as her son and Alora's.
"Why are you disturbed? You're his second mate sent by the goddess and also his luna."
Soothing words, yet the tension in her heart couldn't be loosened.
No one aside herself knew the truth that had kept her on edge since the beta's action that day.
But in all, she nodded in agreement. "That's right."
"Get some sleep, beauty requires sufficient sleep." And she left the room.
Hera slumped into the bed, her face wrinkled.
"No errors please." She mumbled, then laid on the bed waiting patiently to be captured by sleep.
* * *
It took Alora two weeks to recover from her ill health and mal nourishment. A shorter time it would be for one with a wolf.
Since the incident, no one laid a finger on her, harassed or rebuked her.
Although she knew the spiteful words might be said in secret but it would only remain in secret not to her face.
She could roll on her mattress in subconsciousness longer and didn't have to soil her hands with dirty water from washing dirty dishes.
The stream must be missing her presence as she took a long break from her usual frequent visit. It should get along with the omegas who abandoned it for a long time.
Peony who was attacked by Aztec was maimed and was still recuperating.
The sentinels weren't different too, they all had long scars running on different parts of their body.
As for Theron, he almost lost his life if not the timely intervention of the salutory.
ONE WEEK LATER
"I'd love to see the quarters."
Luna Hera took a walk round the pack with her personal servant, Annika beside her.
"Certainly, my luna."
"Tell me more about the pack. What special things do we have?"
Since she moved to Broln pack as the alpha's mate and his luna, she had been indoor, a personal decision she took, but had realized exerting her authority would do more good to her.
"A large deposit of gold and tin my luna, we can go over if you wish "
Hera raised her brows meaningfully. Her father's effort to make her Floyd's luna wasn't for no reason, the mine not exempted.
"We have the best hunters you can get in Vlamwood and beyond."
Her voice radiated pride and her face beamed with gladness which wasn't hidden from the luna, and a string of envy knotted in her heart
Ignorant of the effects of her statement, Annika's face glowed in admiration.
"Our alpha could be considered the strongest too." Her shoulder subconsciously raised in pride.
Envy began to build up in Hera. How could Serene endow Broln pack with abundant mineral resources and formidable wolf resources?
An alpha whose wolf was iron molded, a beta whose wolf made other alphas tremble and warriors whose skills were incredible.
If not that Alpha Floyd wasn't interested in unnecessary battles to capture territories, her father Denovan wouldn't be dancing in his present glory.
Who was Denovan of Herith pack to combat with Floyd or his beta Otto? Except he was willing to be ruined.
"Mmmh!!" In silence, she headed to the back of the quarters.
At a point, she stopped, pointed at some structures ahead. "Do you have horses here?"
"The past alpha planned to keep some, so built stables for them." Annika responded politely.
Horses in a wolf pack? How would it had been.
"Let's take a look. " And they made their way to the stables.
"Is anyone in use?" She asked when she noticed one had a door and fully covered.
"Yes, luna, Alora stays in one."
And her eyelids flickered at the mention of the name that had become her nightmare.
A sneer surfaced on her face and she hastened to the stable.