The Mate's Prophecy

Chapter 5

(Drew’s POV)

I looked at the message on my phone and frowned. I was shocked to get the phone call two weeks ago from Parker, of all people. I was then furious at what he had told me. I knew I had to do something. 

I had put off telling Hunter about the alliance with Parker. One because I knew he wouldn’t believe that Parker wasn’t double crossing me. But he didn’t hear the pain in the guy's voice on the phone. Or the fact that he said he would hand himself over for punishment as soon as he knew Cassie was safe. He knew when saying that that the only punishment in this situation would result in his death. But second, I didn’t trust that we didn’t have someone among us that wasn’t still working for Blood Stone. I felt bad about it, but I really didn’t feel like I trusted anyone right now. So for now, the only person who knew about Parker was me. 

But today we had a whole different problem. I sighed as I looked down at the stinking crumpled mess of supposed Alpha in front of me. Hunter was, yet again, passed out in Cassie’s room. I didn’t think there was any scent of Cassie even in here anymore, but it had become a habit for him to end up in here every night. Almost like clockwork around 11pm Hunter would start getting agitated, and soon after he would be hitting the bottle until he passed out.

I would leave him for the most part, hoping that my best friend would heal from his heartbreak enough to be able to help with the rescue plans, but today, all that was on pause. Today was the day of the Alpha Transfer. Today for better or, and more likely I feared, for worse, Hunter would become the official Alpha of the Black Stone pack. The three hundred or so people we had left were all invited to see what should have been a prestigious occasion. I was going to call it a success if Hunter was still standing at the end of it.

I glanced at Kieran, who was standing on the opposite side of Hunter and nodded. We both grabbed an arm and a leg and carried Hunter into the bathroom where I had prepared a lukewarm bath. Together we dumped him in the bath, careful to keep his head out of the water. It wouldn’t do to drown your Alpha on the day he is meant to take over. We stood back just as Hunter started thrashing wildly in the bath throwing half the water onto the floor.

“What the f**k?” Hunter exclaimed once he had steadied himself. He glared at me as I gave him a lopsided grin. 

“Morning sweetheart” I responded and he growled “It’s time to get up and ready, we have to convince a pack that you are an acceptable Alpha to lead them”

“I’m gonna rip you to pieces” he snarled at me

“Sure you are cupcake” I rolled my eyes. “Would you like help scrubbing your back, or can you manage to wash yourself?”

“F**K off” he growled. Kieran looked worried, I’d dealt with the more aggressive Hunter over the past month or so, so was used to his temperament.

“Fine then, you have ten minutes to to shower and make yourself presentable or I’m coming in with the sponge” I warned as Kieran made his swift exit. Hunter growled but only mumbled to himself as he pulled himself out of the bathtub and made his way to the already running shower. I nodded, happy he was moving at all, and left him to it. Jenna, one of the omegas, had already started to clean up the bedroom and had employed some of the other omega men to come and remove the broken furniture. 

I smiled a thanks to her “Thanks sweetheart, just mind link me if he makes an appearance before I get back” she smiled brightly in response and nodded her head.

I left the room and headed back to the living room. It was already full of people, but I made a bee line for my dad and soon to be former Alpha Stephen. They looked expectantly at me and I nodded to them indicating that so far so good with Hunter.

“I’ve received a text from my source” I said and Stephen looked at me with a worried expression on his face.

“Have they?” and I shook my head.

“No, but he’s getting concerned” I said “Apparently Julian was insistent on a particular omega being assigned to be Cassie’s shadow, and my source is concerned that this particular choice will be difficult to work around”

“Dammit!” my dad exclaimed “This is gonna complicate things, we might have to put the mission back while we get intel on the new player”

“No we go ahead as planned” I said firmly “my source also said that it’s getting harder to get between Cassie and Jackson, he has confirmed that Jackson has taken to sleeping in Cassie’s bed every night”

“Then we go ahead” Stephen nodded “did you get ahold of your witch friend yet?” I shook my head. As soon as I had heard that the sorcerer Samson was involved I contacted Sienna. Cassie’s mum had confirmed that she was the same Sienna she knew and that made her Samson’s daughter. I was hoping I could get some information from her about her father, but I hadn’t been able to get in contact as she was away at the time. And as yet hadn’t returned.

Just then I got a mind link from Jenna telling me she could hear Hunter shouting me from the bathroom so I headed back. When I got to the room Hunter was standing in the middle completely naked, glaring at Jenna. The poor lass looked terrified as she tried to get out of the room.

“Hunter, what are you doing?” I asked pulling Jenna behind me towards the door and she made a swift exit. Hunter looked at me, a confused look on his face. Then there was recognition and then his face crumpled into sadness.

“I can’t do this without her” he said “She was meant to be here” 

“I know man, I’m working on it” I went to the closet and pulled out a suit “Let’s get you ready”

I had put off telling him about the sorcerer's involvement with Cassie because in the state he was in I didn't know how he would react, but I was going to tell him everything after the Alpha ceremony. We had three days before we launched the rescue mission on Blood Stone and I needed Hunter sober for it.

“Get dressed and then come to the living room” I said, handing him the suit and leaving him to it.

An hour later and pretty much the whole pack were gathered in the main hall. It had been decorated with fairy lights and black and gold gauze, and we had the dress code in the same black and gold. I stood chatting with Bianca and Lucy when Hunter walked in. Everyone went quiet and watched him. It had unfortunately been public that Cassie had left, although we hadn’t said why. And Hunter’s resulting breakdown had also been a public mess too. This was the first time in a month that anyone had seen the new Alpha sober, although we had maintained that he was resting after the rejection for the last two weeks.

Hunter stood and looked around at everyone before making his way to the stage. I followed him over as we mounted the steps. Stephen and my dad were already on the stage and seeing us coming up Stephen cleared his throat to signal the beginning of the ceremony.

“My years as Alpha of the Black Stone pack have been some of the most amazing ones” Stephen started “It was during my time here that I met my beautiful mate and wife Melissa” the Luna stood by the stage and smiled lovingly at her husband “and fathered two amazing children, my strong son Hunter and my little girl Lucy” there was lots of aws and such from the audience.

“We have had some troubling times, especially in recent years, but I wouldn’t change my reign with you, my people, for anything. And I am so proud to be passing the title on to my son, who I know will be a kind and magnificent Alpha for the years to come” the audience hooted and clapped.

Stephen turned to Hunter “Hunter Black, do you, as heir to the title of Alpha of the Black Stone pack accept the sacred position in the presence of these people and of the moon goddess”

Hunter coughed and glanced at me before turning to his father 

“Yes sir, I Hunter Black accept the position of Alpha. I promise to carry out the duties of Alpha to the best of my abilities, and for the good of the people under my reign.”

Stephen nodded to my dad who handed him the black obsidian dagger that was used for all ceremonies. He sliced his hand and held the dagger out to Hunter. Hunter sliced his own hand and they both clasped hands.

“As our blood connects so does our essence, and the essence of the sacred Alpha passes from my body to yours” Stephen said out loud

“I accept the sacred Alpha essence willingly into my body, and with it all the duties and pleasure.” Stephen then placed the dagger on a black velvet cushion and kneeled down in front of Hunter. Everyone in the room followed his lead and we all kneeled as Hunter took the dagger from the cushion. 

“With blessing from the moon goddess, Alpha Hunter Black of the Black Stone pack” Stephen whispered, and my  dad repeated next, and then myself, and there was a wave of whispers from the audience as everyone repeated the phrase. I felt the snap of change in my body. The aura around Hunter increased as he officially, in the eyes of the moon goddess became the Alpha of the Black Stone pack.