The Queen of Alphas

7. Thunder

 Victoria

The next day, the girls and I went to the city. I had also to think about what to wear to the rally when I would speak to the people for the first time. It would be in a bit more than one week and I was already a bit nervous about it. Coincidentally, it would be on the same day as my birthday. 

Soon, I would be eighteen and could officially claim the throne. 

“First we need dresses, something that screams ‘make me your queen’” Shelby said excitedly. 

“Maybe if we threaten them, using our claws they will scream that!... Just a joke.” Marg added. 

“No, we just need the perfect dress, I already know where to go, then we can go eat some cake,” Shelby replied, tapping her lips and thinking about her plans, without paying much attention to Marg’s words. 

We went to the first place Shelby had in mind. The place seemed funny with all the handing dresses and excited females, we got a few clothes and left. In the end, I got a simple but elegant peach-colored dress. Honestly, I would wear anything, but yellow. I didn’t want to look like a duck! Shelby liked it, so I guess it was the right outfit. 

After that, for MJ’s contentment, we went to have cake. I was looking around the town, many families together, people walking around, most of them in their human form but some wolves as well. 

“What color is your wolf?” MJ asked, as her brown eyes brightened with curiosity. 

“I don’t know, I am not sure if I have a wolf, to be honest,” I replied, taking a sliver of air in. 

“What?” Marg asked, as her bugged eyes almost pierced holes on me, that was a very intense look.

“When I lived in the Olympus, it never occurred to me… I didn’t know I was supposed to have a wolf or anything…” I trailed off. 

“Your dad was the Alpha of the Alphas; it means you have to have a wolf and probably an awesome one!!” Shelby chimed in. 

“Hum…Since your mom is the Goddess, do you have any special powers or anything? I expected you to be amazing. I don’t mean to be rude.” Marg added. 

I laughed lightly, “I don’t know if I am amazing, I had powers in the Olympus, I could open portals, summon nature elements, and other things. My mom said that most of my powers won’t work here, so I don’t really know,” I replied. 

“I guess we will find out… but now, let’s cake,” Marg added with a smile. 

We went to a place the girls told me is called, ‘a café’ and we sat at a table on the balcony. MJ didn’t lose time before starting to devour a huge piece of chocolate cake. I didn’t know someone that small could eat so fast and voraciously. 

“Won’t you be 18 soon, Vicky?” Marg asked. 

“Yes, my birthday is in a week,” I replied, before bringing a forkful of strawberry cake to my mouth.

“That’s awesome! We have to get you cake and a party!!... But the best thing ever is that when you are eighteen, you will finally be able to find your mate! I really want to find mine soon! I really hope he is strong, handsome, sweet, and has dimples…” Shelby exclaimed dreamily. 

“Not necessarily, sometimes it takes a little while, I am 19 and no mate yet. Although, I don’t want to find my mate any time soon. I have other plans, things more important than finding prince charming.” Marg said.

“What are your plans?” I asked, genuinely intrigued. It was quite funny that Shelby seemed so excited about finding her mate, while Marg didn’t seem to care.

“She is trying to convince dad to make her his successor, the next Alpha of our Pack. But he doesn’t want to, because she is not male,” Shelby answered with a sigh.

“What? That is nonsense! You don’t have to be a male to be a powerful leader! My mom could do it; I am trying to do it! And Marg can as well, I don’t know you for that long, but you seem pretty strong, and I can see that you care. Aren’t those the most important qualities of a leader?” My voice raised in the tone of the passion and emotions that vibrated in my insides. That was unfair and absurd! I would have a word with Alpha Marcus later.

Marg let out a pearl of laughter, “That is exactly what I think, girl! I guess I just got myself an ally to fight dad’s antiquated BS.” 

“You can count on me,” I replied, a bit calmer. 

“Alpha dad won’t see what hit him!” Shelby added with a funny smile. 

After eating we went further out of the town and walked around a beautiful meadow. I could see close by the vast green fields I used to only watch from above.  I admired the beautiful tall trees, heard the chirp of the birds and the noises of the little animals walking around. Nature here was different from what we had in Olympus; here it had this air of fascinating imperfection! 

This place filled me with so much peace and called for something inside me. I couldn’t stop looking around trying to engrave every little thing - leaves, tree, bushes, and flowers in my memory. I closed my eyes for an instant, trying to repaint everything with the eyes of my dreams, letting a feeling of home vibrate in my mind. 

“It’s so beautiful here.” I sighed dreamily, still looking around the lower sky that domed this Realm. 

“I didn’t expect that someone from literally paradise would feel so,” Marg remarked. 

“It’s different, the beauty here has more life to it, more movement. My life and scenario in Olympus were pretty much the same every day. Perfection is unchangeable. Here everything changes and flows, it’s much better and feels more magical.” I smiled. 

MJ took my hands in hers and we both started spinning around giggling. 

“Vicky, I think you will become my favorite sister soon!” MJ said with a squeal.

A bright smile found its way to my lips. The little one couldn’t imagine how much joy her words brought to my heart. 

~ * ~

Philip

I was walking around the meadow, something I normally do when I want to contemplate, think about my life, when I suddenly saw something, or rather someone, I didn’t expect at all. She was wearing a white long dress and looking like an angel, an ethereal vision. 

Her loose brown curls flying in the wind. She turned around, looked at me smiling, and took a few steps in my direction. Her pretty eyes were full of light. 

“I know who you are…Victoria…” I muttered when she was only a few inches away, “What are you doing here?” I asked, confused. 

We haven’t ever exchanged any words before, yet she felt familiar. 

“I am just walking around, it’s a beautiful day,” she replied casually. 

“You shouldn’t be here.”

“Why not? Because of Henrik?” she asked with a soft smile, as she played with her hair in a coy way and took a step closer.

“Because of everything, you should go back to your castle in heaven. The Realms are not your place.”

She looked down for a moment and then her eyes were fixed on mine once again. I knew she was no good, but she looked great.

“You should leave…” I told her, not unkindly. 

“Do I?” She took another step in my direction and my arms were enlaced around her waist in the next instant. Before I could even think twice, our lips collided in a kiss. 

I woke up with a jolt, sitting up and scrubbing my face energetically. I looked at the clock, it was only fifteen minutes after midnight, I had fallen asleep only twenty minutes ago. Why did it feel so long though? Why did that blasted dream seem to hold an eternity in itself? 

I have only seen that female once. Why the hell did I dream about her? 

~ * ~

Victoria

Finally, the day of our first venture, the day of my birthday came. 

Alpha Marcus and I got ready to head to the meeting place, first thing in the morning, even before I had time to see the girls and have the birthday cake Shelby promised. 

“Let’s go by carriage, having three ranked wolves and a wolf like yours running around would attract more attention,” he said as we walked in the direction of the funny box pulled by horses. The poor horses didn’t even have wings like the ones we have back in Olympus. 

“Alpha Marcus, I was meaning to say, I have no wolf,” I told him, a bit embarrassed. 

He put so much faith in me and expected so much from me. What if now, he and the others change their mind and withdraw their support? It would be a joke, the wolf-less Queen of the wolves. He turned to look at me, but contrary to what I expected, I didn’t see any disappointment in his eyes.

“Princess Victoria, of course, you have a wolf, she is only dormant. She only needs a little push to stir her ears up. I am quite sure, she would show up immediately once you find your mate,” he said, as we entered the carriage. 

A mate. 

I didn’t know if I was more like Marg, and would rather concentrate on other things, like trying and being a good queen; or like Shelby and start daydreaming about the charms of a prince. 

As the first rays of sun rose across the green land of the pack illuminating our path, Alpha Marcus, his Beta, Gamma, and I were already on our way to the south border of the neighboring pack, where Killian and Landon gathered some wolves who still worshipped my mother. They would be much easier to sway to our side. I made up the speech in my head many times and even practiced in front of the mirror. I was still quite unsure of what to say. 

What if they rejected me? What if they get that I am not even sure about what I am doing? I was only taking a couple of rash decisions and going with the flow towards a life I want, trying to find something. 

But did it make me a good Queen? I fear it did not. 

At least according to Shelby, I had the right dress. 

“Devon will meet us there; it will work well. Are you nervous?” Alpha Marcus asked me, as he placed his hand on my shoulder and looked intently at my eyes. His brown eyes had an unfamiliar comforting quality.

“Yes,” I muttered, with a sigh. 

I was a nervous wreck, I have never made a speech for anyone for the matter before, let alone try to convince someone to risk their position in their packs to support my claim. I could feel the muscles of my neck and shoulders stiffening, getting rigid, as a knot formed in my stomach. I was glad I didn’t have cake for breakfast. 

“A good leader is one who puts others, his Pack, his Realm first. You were about to do it for us, when we thought the new supporters were attackers, just keep that in mind. I know you have it in you,” He reassured me, making my stretched nerves relax a bit. I let out the breath I didn’t know I was holding. 

However, the soothing feeling didn’t last long. Suddenly, a thunder crossed the sky, making a cold chill travel down my spine. 

Was it a sign? 

Alpha Marcus looked out of the window, “I am hearing approaching steps, paws, many of them and they are getting closer,” he muttered with a sharp exhale as he leaned close to the window. 

Soon, the morning was filled with growls and howls and I looked out of the window. My heart started galloping faster than the unwinged horses. 

“We are trapped,” said Beta Aaron. 

~ * ~

Henrik

I couldn’t let her run around loose, not knowing what she was scheming. It was a direct threat to my crown and an indirect threat to my Realm. 

We were informed about Alpha Marcus's treason; he was supporting the bastard. She wasn’t only supported by a bunch of unranked wolves, but she had an Alpha and very probably the other ranked members of his pack backing her up. 

Thus, I acted. I sent troops to seize her and bring her to my presence. She would have two options, go back to her place, her mountains, or stay in the Dungeon. 

I already knew what she would choose. 

I didn’t want to harm her; I was not a monster. Even though she was a greedy bastard and the spawn of a manipulative and heartless Goddess, she was still my father’s blood relative. 

I would just send her away or give her some reflecting time in our underground prison until she would understand it. Until she would get that this was not her place. 

I was brought up to be a King, that was always my life, my people, my Realm.

I wouldn’t let anyone steal that from me.