The Alpha Warrior Princess

The morning of

It was the morning of the wedding. Elena woke up, excited. She had been waiting for this day for what felt like forever.

The night had proved to be one of restless sleep. After they painted each other’s finger and toenails, and the bridesmaids (with the exception of Mia) and Emily, had gotten deep into the tequila - they played truth or dare and did all sorts of silly things. While Elena laughed and played along, she could help the unsettled feeling she had.

Once they passed out, all 5 of them in her bed, she had gotten up, unable to sleep, and stared out the large window wall. From the forest, across the lake, she had sworn she had seen 2 red eyes, looking back at her. She rubbed her own eyes to adjust and when she looked back - they were gone. Travelling around the lake was a long trek. She really didn’t think they would have been Blaze but also figured the boys could be doing some silly nature thing and brushed it off as perhaps her eyes were playing tricks on her.

Elena also found herself having dreams during the sleep she did get. Some unsettling dreams. She had dreamt of her parents and the day they were murdered. How they had been around the table as a family of 4 before their parents had left on a mission for Maverick, the Alpha of the Dark Moon Pack. How she had been angry at them for going and how mad Lukas had been at them for not letting him go with them. They left to protect a pack that wasn’t theirs, and had walked into an ambush - a set up, and the last she had heard was that they were murdered.

Elena woke up in the morning sweaty and unsettled. She missed her mate. She missed having his calming presence. She missed his scent and she missed having his protective arms around her.

She went out for a run while the others slept - knowing that her wolf, Aurora, would need the stress relief.

She headed out the back door and stripped quickly and shifted into her magnificent golden blonde wolf. Aurora ran freely along the trails by the lake. The cool breeze clearing her insides as she took in the fresh mountain air. She ran quickly, though she couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched, and kept running until Aurora stopped at the lake for a drink.

Suddenly, feeling a presence behind her as she drank from the cool clear lake, she turned and smelt a familiar scent. The scent of rotting flesh.

2 male vampires emerged from the forest. Their fangs bared and their red eyes stalking her. They looked like they had likely been handsome men at some point, but now they were mere shells of who they once were. Aurora wasted no time, attacking one and ripping his head clear off his neck before turning to the other. About to attack she heard a familiar woman’s voice.

“Now, now, now. Let’s not get all wild,” the icy female voice came out of the woods . Lucinda. The Vampire Queen. She looked elegant under her black cape, her long white hair and pale skin shone under the morning light. “Shift,” she commanded to Elena. But Elena no longer belonged to her, and Aurora stood her ground. To prove her point she lunged to the second male vampire and ripped a chunk out of his neck. His handsome body fell to the ground as he bled out and died at her feet.

Aurora stared down the icy queen and let out a low warning growl. The Queen didn’t look effected by the death of the 2 vampires, nor by her warning.

“I don’t know why you did that. These are 2 I had picked out for you”. She bent down, and picked up the head of the one that Aurora had cleared the head off. Holding it by the hair, Lucinda cradled it. “This one was very handsome. You would’ve made beautiful babies”. She tossed the head aside. “Don’t worry - there are plenty more where these ones came from”. Her ruby red lips curled into a cruel smile.

“You still belong to me, little wolf. I gave you safety and took care of you. You’re like my daughter”, she took a step towards Aurora who bared her teeth and got in a low fighting stance. She released a warning growl at the Queen.

“This isn’t what you want” the Queen told her. “You don’t want little puppies. You want strong warriors like yourself. You want to help me create hybrids. Like you promised . Think about it, sweet girl” she stared deep into Aurora’s eyes. “Why have one man when you can have many?” She cackled evilly.

Aurora didn’t take her eyes off her. Watching her every movement.

“I didn’t get an invite for the wedding. I assume it was lost in the mail.” She looked at the wolf and her stare was cold. “I’m not going anywhere wolfy” she warned her. “As long as I’m on this earth - I will keep coming for you. And if I have to take you by force - I will,” she warned causing Aurora to growl. With that, she retreated into the forest, and with a flash of her cape, she was gone.

Aurora started running to the Pack House. Worried for any of her pack members who might be out, she ran swiftly and gracefully arriving home quickly. She shifted quickly and ran inside, throwing on the clothing she had left in a pile by the door. She entered the kitchen and found the King and Alex at the table.

She must’ve looked wild or at least shown the events on her face, for they both looked at her and their mouths were open in shock.

“What happened?” The King approached her, his eyes filled with concern. He wrapped his arms around her and she melted into him for a moment - feeling safe. Grateful for him and her mates family. He lead her to sit down and Alex stood to grab her a cup of coffee.

She filled them in on the events in the woods. Causing both men to growl in anger. “Alex - get extra security for tonight,” the King commanded. Alex nodded and jumped into a mind link.

Suddenly Lukas came in the back door. He was out of breath and sweaty and had clearly just run over to the pack house. Elena felt relief that he was there and allowed herself to be swept into her brothers arms.

“Were you hurt?” Lukas searched her face worriedly. She shook her head.

“Have we told Noah yet?” Lukas asked the King and Alex.

“No” the King replied, folding his arms and leaning against the counter. “I’m not sure we should”, he continued carefully.

Elena looked at the King in shock. “Why not?” She asked.

The King sighed. “Noah is - an emotional wolf. I don’t want to see him get out of control”. He turned to Elena with a grin. “You are a true warrior” he smiled proudly at her. “You could’ve mind linked any or all of us but you didn’t. You took them on alone,”.

Elena opened her mouth to say something but stopped herself. He was right. She was so used to handling things on her own and protecting herself that it hadn’t even dawned on her to call for help.

The King looked at Lukas and Elena Black. “You both would have made your parents really proud”, he told them within sincerity. “We will have increased security for your wedding tonight. We will fill in Mia and Noah tomorrow”, he told them. The Black’s both nodded. Taking in the calmness of the king and breathing deeply, Elena knew it was for the best. She could push this aside. Although she wanted her mate more than anybody, she knew that it would ruin the day for him. She would wait until tomorrow or even the day after his birthday.

Elena nodded. “Let’s keep this on the down-low”, she agreed. Taking her brothers hand she looked him in the eyes. “Thank you for being here for me”, she told him softly. He pulled her her in for another hug.

“Well I should shower and start getting ready before the sleeping beauties upstairs realize I’m gone” she stood to rise.

“Where have you been, Elena Black?” Mia’s voice came down the stairwell.

“You sure as f**k better not have been canoodling with your mate!” Emily chimed in.

Elena looked at Lukas. “Canoodling?” She repeated. “What the f**k is canoodling?” Causing everyone to burst into laughter.

“Nah. I was just out for a morning run,” Elena assured them. “All alone. But I do miss Noah” she sighed.

Mia searched her face for sincerity and concluded it was real. She kissed Lukas good morning and he rubbed her belly. Suddenly Mia’s eyes grew wide and she ran to the kitchen sink and started retching. “Morning sickness”, Lukas sighed as he rubbed her back and held her hair.

Elena smiled. Her new family was filled with characters. But she loved them. She started to feel excitement for the evening and pushed away the thoughts of the events of the morning.

“Ready for pampering?” Mia asked with a grin as she wiped her mouth and Lukas rinsed the sink.

Elena gave her a big smile. “Let’s do this!” She cried excitedly. Mia and Emily squealed clapping their hands as they poured coffee and they all sat at the table. This was what having a family felt like.