New Pack

I was starting to panic and the room started to spin. 'Hold on just a minute, I never agreed to become the queen or to marry anyone just yet.

Hell, we have not even dated, so how can I be Alderus's wife? Plus, I just got here, I believe."

I took a shaky breath, trying to steady myself, but everything felt like it was closing in as if I was drowning in this ridiculous situation.

My heart raced, each beat pounding in my ears. I looked around, half-expecting someone to burst in and explain this mess.

But no one spoke, and the silence only made the confusion worse. Was this some kind of joke? A misunderstanding? Or was I trapped in some bizarre nightmare? 

The woman stepped closer to me and asked, "Aren't you guys mates?"

She sniffed the air around me and added, "You even smell like him—it's like he's marked you."

I shot a furious glance at Alderus, my heart pounding in my chest. He avoided my eyes, clearly uncomfortable.

"Look, I don't have a wolf, but according to King Alderus, I just need to awaken mine—whatever that means."

The woman raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "Awaken? Sounds like a convenient excuse for not having one."

She leaned in a little closer, her gaze piercing. "Are you sure you're not just... waiting for him to make you his?"

I wasn't happy with what was happening, so I closed my eyes and reopened them. When I did, everyone was on the ground, including Alderus. "Why are you all on the ground?"

I asked, my voice rising in confusion. "Hello?" No one moved. I stepped forward, my heart pounding as I knelt beside Alderus. His usual calm expression was replaced by an eerie stillness.

I shook his shoulder, but he didn't stir. Panic began to bubble up in my chest, and I glanced around at the others, all unconscious or seemingly frozen in place.

'What the hell is going on?' I muttered to myself, standing up and taking a step back. My hands clenched into fists as I tried to make sense of what was happening, but nothing seemed to add up. 

A voice echoed in my head, saying, 'Try to calm down, Alia, and don't freak out.' I looked around, trying to find the source of the voice, but saw no one. "Who are you, and where are you?" I demanded.

The voice responded, "First, take a deep breath and calm yourself. Then I'll introduce myself."

I inhaled deeply and slowly exhaled. The voice returned. "Good girl, Alia. Now, I am your wolf. We're Ragabash, and we can even control the blood in people's bodies. When we get angry, we can paralyze them. We are connected to the Dark Moon Goddess, Luna."

"I am sorry, but I'm a bit confused about something. Was it you who referred to King Alderus as 'mate'?"

I asked, glancing toward my wolf, my voice wavering slightly with uncertainty. A soft chuckle escaped her, and I felt my heart start to race, pounding in my chest as if it had a mind of its own.

She fixed her gaze on me with an almost amused expression. "Yes," she said, her voice rich with affection, "King Alderus is our mate and a fine one at that. I couldn't have asked for a better match. You'll see, in time."

"How do we undo the magic on them? I don't want anyone to fear us." I paused, glancing at the wolf beside me.

"What's your name, by the way? I can't keep calling you just 'my wolf.'"

I heard a soft chuckle, and then her voice, warm yet slightly amused, filled my mind.

"My name is Celelia. And as for undoing the magic... I bet you're eager to un-paralyze everyone.

All you need to do is take a—" She suddenly stopped, and I felt a shift in the air, a tremor of fear radiating from her.

"Take a deep breath now, Alia! Quickly—before—" Celelia's voice cut off abruptly, and the fear in her tone sent a chill down my spine.

I could feel her presence beside me, but something was wrong, terribly wrong.

Panic surged within me, and I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to calm the growing sense of dread.

When I opened them again, everything had changed. King Alderus was standing before me, his tall figure looming, his face dark with anger.

He moved closer, his voice a low growl, barely a whisper. "Never do that again, do you hear me, Alia?" His words were sharp, the threat behind them clear, and I could feel the intensity of his gaze burning into me.

I swallowed hard, my heart pounding in my chest, as the weight of his anger pressed down on me.

"I... I didn't mean to," I whispered, my voice trembling, but his gaze never wavered, his presence suffocating.

The air between us crackled with unspoken words, and I couldn't shake the feeling that I had just crossed a line I wasn't meant to.

"Everyone there staring at both of us when the woman spoke up. "King Alderus, how dare you get angry with your future wife? I was testing her to see if she could stop anyone—women included—who thinks they can seduce you. She has passed the test, but I believe she's awakened her wolf, a special kind I've not seen in a long time."

The room fell silent as the weight of her words settled over us. King Alderus, his expression hardening, glanced at me with a mixture of confusion and intrigue. The woman's eyes never left him, her gaze unwavering.

"It's rare to see such a wolf" she continued, her voice low but sharp. One who doesn't just protect her mate but can control those around her with nothing but willpower."

I felt a strange heat rise within me, the power of my wolf stirring just beneath the surface. My pulse quickened, and for a moment, I wasn't sure if it was fear or excitement that coursed through my veins.

King Alderus stepped forward, his voice quiet but intense. "Are you saying she's something... more than I thought?"

"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Lady Mira Loveman, and I have served His Highness as his adviser for over ten years. Yes, I am a witch—one who can live far longer than most of my kind. And no, I am not a wolf."