LIKE EDEN. Princes of Anon (3)

MOON AND STARS.

Waking up, Eldridge didn’t feel the warmth from the morning sun, neither did he feel cold from the gentle breeze. And it had absolutely nothing to do with being in his fur. Not at all. But Goddess knows that it had everything to do with the sudden rush of memories from the night before. The memory of the goddess's mark made his skin tingle under his fur. A low whine left his lips as his ears lay flat and he covered his muzzle with his paw.

“We need to find her”

His wolf whined in his head, his desperation matching that of his counterpart.

Eldridge was wholly aware of that. He was despairing for it. Still, he knew that there was nothing to do for now but wait. He didn’t know where to find her. Didn’t know how she looked like. And he felt useless not knowing where to even start searching from.

The breeze blew into his fur, carrying with it the essence of rain. Eldridge lifted his head to the sky to see the clouds; dark and ready to pour down the goddess's blessing. However, he felt no need to rush back. He shook his head when he felt the gentle tug at the back of his head. He didn’t want to speak to anyone. At least not yet. Between what happened during the dinner with his family, Selene’s sudden presence, and the oh-so-fresh memories of him unconsciously shedding tears and leaving the dinner only to sleep in the forest for the night, he almost felt embarrassed. Almost.

His stomach crawled with anxiousness and a new kind of excitement. One he hadn’t felt in a very long time. Every sensation that he tried to suppress rushed over him like a flood gate had been opened… eager to drown him with no mercy.

Eldridge stood on his paws. The ground practically trembled beneath his gigantic wolf. Standing at about 7 feet and a hand full of inches, whilst weighing a s**t ton pounds. His wolf held every representation of the Alpha and King that he was. The leaves were hushed. And the animals scattered, sensing the rise of the sleeping beast. . His ears picked up the faint sound of an animal trying to scurry away His snout picked its scent. Needing to focus on something else, for the time being, the wolf began his hunt. The thrill of the chase. The rush of power. The adrenaline pumping through him, made his heart speed up, beating as loud and hard as his paws struck the earth.

By the time that the rain started its shower on the land, the King was done with his breakfast. He licked his paw and began walking back to his packhouse with no care for how wet he would be. He let the rain wash away everything that he felt. He let it calm him and every overwhelming emotion from the day before… settled.

“Alpha..”

Eldridge paid no mind to the loud sigh his second Delta let out when he finally reached his packhouse. He relaxed his muscles and let his fur be replaced with his skin. The packhouse housed anyone who wanted to be there. But it was mostly for the young unmated males and females. It was kind of like a passage of right for most young werewolf to live in the packhouse. They were trained. And taught the essence of being a werewolf. And most importantly, it kept them in check seeing as they had too much energy coursing through their body. They needed to learn the right way to channel that energy.

“Elex has been going nuts since yesterday.” The brown-haired delta groaned handing Eldridge a towel and jeans. Being naked was not something that was frowned upon, especially with unmated males and females. And as much as it hurt him to acknowledge it like always, The king and Alpha of Eren was highly aware of his unmated status.

“I’ll be down soon.”

Eldridge glanced at his delta, frowning when he saw the sympathy in the male’s eyes. He ignored him and headed to his floor. If it were a different day and time, he knew that Vox would not let him go without finding out what happened.

They heard his howl yesterday. That was without a doubt. But Eldridge was glad that they were giving him some space. Although he felt a bit calmer, he needed to get his mind ready for the questions his Betas and Deltas were sure to ask.

The King climbed up the stairs to the third floor, not breaking a sweat. He stepped out of his jeans the moment he closed his bedroom door behind him, making his way to the shower.

He was glad for the people he had around him. He didn’t say it much, but he was immensely grateful. Although he never lacked his brothers’ care and support, they each had a kingdom to rule and families to look after.

He let the hot water rain on his back whilst he leaned his hands against the walls, completely naked in all his glory. The sound of the shower could not mute the pitty patter of the rain falling on the ground and the roof. And it was a therapeutic experience.

Family.

King Eldridge could only imagine how long he had prayed for his own. Ten years?… twenty?... fifty?... He couldn’t quite remember. His heart clenched in his ribs, making him hold back a whimper, clutching his chest as if that could dull the pain. Between the water cascading down his body and the discomfort in his chest, accompanied by the sound and smell of the rain, King Eldridge caught sight of the mark on his wrist.

Just seeing the moon and stars engraved in his skin made the pain dissolve. It took away every bit of heartache. Seeing it brought him hope. And for the first time in a long long time, the alpha smiled.

Getting out of the shower, he put on something casual; like always.

He sighed when he felt the probing in his head again. Having too many people in his head was not a very nice experience. Even though the alpha could open his mind to every single person in his kingdom who shared his pack bond, letting over the tens of thousands of wolves in his head for too long was not pleasant. So he kept it open to his betas and deltas along with his family. Aside from them, he didn’t let anyone else in unless he had to. Even though he could get into everyone's head, he chose not to.

“Elex”

Eldridge grunted when he allowed his 1st beta in his head.

“I won’t say much for now.” Elex started knowing what his alpha was thinking, however, Eldridge could hear the worry in his voice. “King Adrien and Alec are here to see you.” He added.

Eldridge was grateful that Elex kept it short for now after he told him that he was on his way.

The King had four direct subordinates; his two betas and two deltas. The kingdom was too big to have only one of each. Sometimes, he felt as though they were babysitting him. But he simply ignored it. He didn’t blame them, and he didn’t talk much.

Elex was his first Beta, overseeing the first half of the kingdom with the first Delta; Xidorn. And then there was Saxan, his second Beta, and Vox, his second Delta. The two oversee the second half of the kingdom. All four of them reported directly to him.

And all four were mated. Even Vox who was the youngest.

Heading to his office after dressing up, the King couldn’t stop himself from caressing his mark. He smelled them before he stepped into his office. His brothers’ attention snapped to him from the conversation they were having. They were talking about him, that much he knew. Closing the door behind him, he didn’t get to take a step further before he was engulfed in their embrace. He didn’t fight them and instead allowed their scents to calm him down. He allowed himself to accept their love.

To his people, King Eldridge was their Alpha, their leader, they looked up to him. To his nephews, King Eldridge was their unmoving uncle even though they knew that he cared for them.

And then there was Adrien and Alec. To them, Eldridge was not just a king, he wasn’t just Micca and his brothers’ uncle, he was their brother. Their youngest brother. No matter how hard and stoic he tried to act, Alec and Adrien knew how much love he had for his family and people, they knew how soft he was.

“I guess I shouldn’t ask how you are doing.”

Adrien said with a smile when they pulled apart and sat down. Eldridge replied with a shrug and a slight smile as he absentmindedly caressed his mark. The slight reddening of his cheeks made his brothers grin at him.

“Let me have a look.”

Alec tugged his flushed brother’s hands to himself without waiting for an answer. Eldridge absentmindedly watched with reddening cheeks and a thumping heart. He thought of the mate he was yet to meet as his brothers twisted and turned his hand to scrutinize the mark whilst talking to themselves.

And then Alec asked the question Eldridge didn’t allow himself to think of.

“When do you think it’s going to happen?”

The smile on Eldridge’s face faulted when the words hit his ears. “I don’t know” He muttered, pulling his hands back, ever a man of very few words. The Alpha was never a man of many words.

Alec immediately uttered an apology. Just like Adrien, he was very happy to know that their brother would finally have a mate of his own. He didn’t think through and just asked his question. He, more than anyone, knew how sensitive Eldridge was.

The brothers stirred the conversation from Eldridge’s mate to anything that didn’t have to do with mates. Alec and Adrien did most of the talking with Eldridge pitching in once in a while. And it felt like they were back in time when it was just them… without all those responsibilities but with dreams and senses of adventure.

………….

Eldridge woke up the next morning with a touch of calmness and serenity. But it all got swept under the rug and replaced with dread. His heart drummed in his chest as he watched the mark on his wrist with wide confused and pain-filled eyes. His whimpers resounded in his ears and he clutched his wrist to his heart wondering what was going on. He knew for certain that, four stars were surrounding the moon on his wrist. So where was the fourth star?!

A desperate tug in his mind caused him to take a deep breath, recognizing who was trying to reach him. His heart still ached and he couldn’t look away from his mark whilst he despairingly clutched his wrist and allowed Micca into his head.

“Uncle, we are in your office waiting for you with Lois. You might want to hear what she has to tell you.”

He registered the glee in his nephew’s voice before wondering what the seer wanted from him now. He closed the link after telling him to wait for him.

Eldridge, sat at the Edge of his all too big bed with his hands gripping his short brown hair, taking in deep breathes through his nose and letting it out through his mouth. He repeated the process until he had his scattered emotions in control. Sometimes it got too much. Sometimes he felt too much.

He put on his jeans and a shirt before heading out to see what his nephews and the seer wanted from him.

“He’ll be happy to know this, I tell you.”

Eldridge heard Micca state with a huff and confidence before he entered. All three of his nephews were there, making him frown, confused by the sudden visit.

“Finally.” Micca groaned, a smile tugging on his lips. Micca had always been the all too loud one amongst his nephews. Just like Alec was when they were younger.

“Good morning sire.”

The seer greeted with a smile after his nephews were done either hugging him or patting his shoulders. The suddenness of it surprised him. Not that he never hugged them. He just didn’t remember the last time he did.

Eldridge noded at Lois. The seer almost dwarfed amid the four men towering over her.

He wordlessly took his seat and urged them to go ahead and say what they came to tell him.

“There was one more thing that Selene wanted to tell you about the mark she gave you.” Lois started, piquing his interest.

“You have two more nights before you meet your mate. I am certain that instead of four stars, you have two on your wrist now.” She continued making Eldridge nod his head with a deep scowl.

“Each star represents the number of nights you have until you meet her. With each night that goes by, a star will disappear until there is none. That’s when you will meet her. Two nights have passed by since you got the mark, that’s why there are only two left.” She continued with a smile, looking more excited than the Alpha who will be meeting his mate then.

Two nights had already gone by, but it all felt like it happened just yesterday. Her words eased his panic but replaced it with anxiety and eagerness. He glanced at his wrist and couldn’t stop the smile that planted itself on his lips.

“Thank you.”

Was all he said to the seer, earning a full-blown smile a slight bow.

“I don’t know why, but she asked Prince Lucien to give one of the rings to you.” She added.

Lucien handed one of the rings he made to his uncle.

Eldridge nodded his head and took the ring from his nephew. He didn’t understand why he needed it. Even if he ended up in a place far from his kingdom, he could still mindlink them if he needed help. But he didn’t complain. And instead, slid the ring onto his finger, wondering just who his mate was.