The Fae King's Darling

Bergarian

Willa’s POV

There was silence as we walked through the forest back to the pack house. Violet and Alexo had their hands intertwined with one another and I couldn’t help but look on. It must be nice to just fall in love like that, but really, will it last? I never did see any of her family members or people from her community, I mean pack, get a divorce. They all seemed really in love but was it love or this bond thing they kept talking about. Did they have a choice? Maybe humans were just different, never really knowing if your supposed over half will leave. 

Some Moon Goddess made them fall in love, there was no choice in the matter. Sure it was great in some ways, that you don’t have to really find out about someone’s personality before you settle down. You automatically know it is going to work out, but what about their choice? So they can’t go off and date and decide for themselves to love someone? What if their mate was unappealing to them, they had a third eye or couldn’t please them sexually. Not that I would know what that’s like.  Rolling my eyes I continued to walk up the steps and hear the kids shouting at the playground not too far away. To think all those little kids were wolves and I never knew. 

As we walked in the big foyer, Violet’s parents stood at the entryway of the massive kitchen. The Alpha stood tall with his wife which I always thought was just Luna, waved me over and motioned for me to sit down. “Does she know now?” The Luna asked excitedly. Violet nodded her head excitedly and Luna came and gave me a hug. She had always been a nice woman, always doting on her husband and making sure people feel welcomed. I was no different, she made me feel like this was my home even though everything I lived here was a lie.  I gave a brief smile as she went to stand with her husband, Remus which Violet explained he was the Alpha or leader.

“I’m sure you have questions,” Alpha Remus spoke, “We were hoping you would take it well and it looks like you have. I mean, you haven’t run away in terror,” he let out a loud laugh. If he wasn’t so well built I would have thought he was Santa Clause with that laugh. Several other wolves chipped in on the laughter but I remained pretty stoic, not sure what emotion I should be emitting. 

“Um, well. If you haven’t eaten me by now, I figured I was alright,” I started. “I am a little hurt that you couldn’t trust me with this information for all these years, I mean, I did graduate high school with a lot of your members and here I am, 20 years old just finding out about it.” Folding my arms I felt a few traitor tears trying to trickle down but I held them back. I can’t show how upset I am and be some weak human now can I?

“I know Violet, I’m sorry,” Mom pitched in. “We just have certain rules and laws we have to abide by and we couldn’t tell you. It would put you and us in danger, it was only recently we were allowed to tell some humans our secret by the Royal Council. Even then it still has to go through the council here in the Silver Light Pack. All of the council members know you and without hesitation they agreed you would be a human that knows.” I nodded my head. “You graduated with some of their grandchildren, we all care about you dear.” Mom petted my hair and I couldn’t help but jump off my seat and give her a hug. 

I grew up with all of these wonderful people, er uh, wolves. They wouldn’t hurt me and I would have never told them their secret. Some things are out of their hands I suppose but who is the Royal Council? Why now am I allowed to know. Sitting up straight and composing myself I dared to ask my question.

“What is the Royal Council then? Do you have a king and queen werewolf or something? Do they live in the pack or somewhere else?” Violet’s eyes lit up and grabbed my hands. “They are a king and queen and their representatives. They just recently passed a law for humans to be allowed to visit Bergarain, and that is where we are having our mating ceremony! You will love it there, the way you love reading fairy tales with elves, fairies and sirens. I know you will never want to leave!” 

“Hold on there,” Violet’s father, River, said. “Give the girl some space, this is a lot for her to take in.” My head started spinning, are there more of these fairy tale characters? I shouldn’t be surprised, they are werewolves, what else could there be?

“Are there vampires too?” I squealed worriedly. Everyone looked at each other and nodded their heads. “They aren’t Twilight style vampires are they? If they sparkle I don’t know if I could handle it.” Violet burst out laughing and shook her head while the others just chuckled.

“Alright now, since you are taking this way better than expected, let’s go in the living room and sit down. We have a lot to discuss.” We followed Alpha Remus to the large, warm living area with tanned leather couches. They were set up near a large fireplace and two wolves flanking the chimney. Honestly, I didn’t know why I never saw it before. I must have been too busy wallowing in pity since my own parents didn’t want me. Time to get over that real quick. 

Remus stood next to the fireplace, one elbow leaning against the mantel as we all sat down. Violet sat next to me holding my hand while her mate held the other. I wanted to strangle this boy that thinks he has a hold on to my Violet. I gave him a glare which he only responded with a wink. Dumb mate crap. 

Remus rubbed his hands together and began talking, “Now that we have our guest of honor here,” he tipped his head over to me and I blushed and tried to sink into the sofa. “My niece is getting married and has decided to have her mating ceremony at the Royal Warrior Pack in Bergarian. This means we are going to have to travel lightly, most clothing will be provided except for the actual mating ceremony.” Everyone nodded and I sat there dazed and confused.

“Now, Willa, we need to discuss Bergarian with you.” My eyes widened ready to hear about this fairy tale place that Violet had just mentioned. “Bergarian is another realm, it is much like Earth yet it is meant for the supernaturals that the gods had placed here to protect humans from gods that weren’t so, well, friendly. As humans evolved, they became more scared, violent, hostile so the gods created a whole new realm just for us. The supernaturals. There are, like Violet said, werewolves, fairies, sirens, mermaids, pixies, shifters, dragons, you name it. They are there and have been hiding for a long time. We go through a portal that is about 2 hours from here and once we go through we will be there, in the next realm.” 

I should be freaking out about this, but I’m not. I’m nodding my head like I was in a trance. I felt like I should go there and check this place out. “How long will we be there?” 

“Two weeks,” Mom said. “That will give us time to have a little vacation after the mating ceremony. Me and River will show you around and we will come back afterwards. I nodded and then stopped suddenly. “Wait, will you be coming back Violet?” Violet gripped Alexo’s hand tightly and shook her head no. My heart crushed at the thought my best and only friend would be gone from my life. 

“You mean, you are moving there?” Violet nodded again and a stray tear dripped down my cheek. 

“That is why it was so important for you to be there, to know where I was because I didn’t want to disappear and you not know where I was.” I choked back a sob and put my hands on my face. Mom came over and gave me a hug and pulled me to her chest. “You will always have us baby Willa. We will be here,” she looked down at me but my heart was already broken. I have lost my best friend. 

“Why are you staying?” my voice cracked. 

“Alexo is to be the new Delta in a few years, it is a higher position in the pack. He can’t leave. Werewolf mates go live, whichever mate has the highest position.” Letting out a shaky breath I pulled my legs up to my body, not caring if I got my muddy shoes on their furniture. I lost my best friend to her mate and she made all the decisions without me. Maybe I was more invested in this friendship than she was. 

“I think I need to be alone now. When do we leave?” Violet looked at me with sad eyes as I stood up and wiped a few pieces of invisible dirt from my jeans. “Tomorrow afternoon, will you be here?” Violet stood up and grabbed my hand again. Looking at it, it didn’t feel the same warmth of a friend I had pictured through our childhood. I told her everything about me, my fears, my hopes and dreams. Granted it wasn’t a lot but it still meant a lot to me. Now she is telling me she is a werewolf, could never tell me about it and now she has found her mate whom she drops everything for and is planning on living in a far away place I may never be able to visit. As far as I was concerned my friendship with her was cracked like a fine piece of old china. 

Could I be the friend she wanted during her happy moment? Even though I do not understand the whole mating ceremony, the true traditions of werewolves, I would be a sucky friend if I denied watching the ‘happiest moment of her life’ and seeing her off into a new one with her mate. 

“Yes, I’ll be here,” I whispered. Violet hugged me and I hugged her back. When I let go I gave Alexo a death glare and held up two fingers and pointed to my eyes and back to his. He gave out a laugh and I smiled. Trying to be a good person, I held out my hand to shake his and he shook it gladly. He gave me a smile and brought me to him to give a hug. I was taken aback at the sudden engulfed hug by a complete stranger that was marrying my best friend after only a week of dating. “Thank you,” he whispered in my ear. 

Stepping back I nodded and left out the side door of the living room back to my cabin. It was a good 15 minute walk. It was close to winter, the leaves had fallen off the trees so my footsteps caused constant crackling beneath my feet. My hands, stuck in my pockets because I didn’t think ahead of time and now the tips were freezing. The jacket hung loosely around my body while I kept my eyes straight ahead. I didn’t want to look at all the homes around the territory. I didn’t want to watch kids play fighting and wrestling like they always have as I grew up here. Now it all had a different meaning to it. 

They were training to be something lethal. 

They were werewolves. 

Taking my 10th big sigh of the day, my small cabin came into view. It wasn’t much, it was a small one bedroom with a kitchen, living room and one single bathroom. My parents had sold our previous house and gave me and my new mother, Ivy the money. Ivy always thought of me being mature enough to handle finances but I let her hold on to it, just in case. The cabin was free, saying no one else was using it. Now I wonder if it was meant for some lonely wolf that couldn’t find their mate.

Stomping up the small steps I heard something rustling in the bushes. Normally, things like that wouldn’t bother me. I’ve lived here seven years and was never scared of anything now finding out there are other creatures out there I wasn’t so sure anymore. Stepping back down the steps I looked in the bushes to see bright yellow eyes staring back at me. My breath hitched only for me to calm a bit and put my hand on my chest. “I know you guys are werewolves now, whoever you are, stop being a creep.” Walking backwards and fully turning around to get back in the cabin, I unlocked the door and slammed it. 

Stripping my jacket off and stoking the fire with the iron I heard a knock at the door. Probably that dang wolf. I stomped to the door and opened it abruptly to see none other than the bane of my existence, Carlos.