A Tale of Two Lives (BurningWillows & Rskde)

[BurningWillows]

Long ago the world had changed. The beings that held such superiority over the world fell, their numbers dwindling from millions to mere hundreds, pushed to hide behind tall walls circling their handful of cities still erect. Power shifted in this world, and the new era of supernaturals began. Those that had been in hiding for so long finally were able to walk free. No longer were they myths, but powerful beings capable of destruction and love. Centuries past as the world changed and shifted, and the civilization humans once held became a distant tale. A new world order grew instead, humans and supernaturals coexisting. They created a concord that protected humans within their walled cities, and kept the peace amongst the supernatural species.

Amongst these species were the werewolves, powerful and reclusive creatures that preferred their own company over others. The concord's granted them the ability to settle down and own their own territory. Those that trespassed werewolf land would be punished by the wolves, and no outside forces could interfere. It was law. These territories were scattered throughout the world, most mainly small patches of forest or land, holding small packs of a dozen or less. None compared to the Clan. The Clan was the largest gathering of were's, that took residence in the Northern Regions of what had once been North America, where the cold snow kissed the summery green of the continent, a clash of seasons coming together. With the centuries that had past the earth itself had changed, plates shifting causing new terrain, rivers growing where there were once valleys, mountains were there were once only hills. The world as it once was was now erased.

And it was in this new world that the only werewolf clan in existence settled, creating a magnificent territory that stretched for miles. The clan itself was made of six packs: the Northern Pack, Southern Pack, Eastern Pack, Western Pack, Mountain Pack, and River Pack. Each pack was known by the fur of their wolves, and the area they lived within the territory. The Mountain Pack were large grey wolves with thick fur, thus nicknamed Grey Wolves, that lived scattered within the Mountains bordering the Northern side of the territory. They mostly kept to themselves, but protected the clan by always remaining on watch, using their tall peaks to look over the territory. The pack directly south of them was the Eastern Pack, known also as Warriors, whose primary purpose to the clan was to raise and train fighters, to serve their Alpha and protect the pack from any and all threats. Those born within the pack had varying brown and black furs, alike their twin pack, the Western Pack, or Sun Wolves. They packs were called the Twin Packs due to being directly across from each other in the territory, consisting of brown and black furred wolves, and living in the thick forests that blanketed most of the territory. The only difference was the Eastern Pack held other wolves of all furs, any clan member could join the Eastern Pack to become a Warrior. It was not that way with any other Pack.

South of the Twin Packs were the Southern Pack and River Pack. The River Pack, or River Wolves, were all small and blonde furred and lived nestled between two rivers that forked from the lake and traveled southwest through the territory. Their purpose was to harvest and forage extra food, so when the harsh winter winds came the Clan could survive even when food grew scarce. The Southern Pack were known as Fire Wolves and lived up to their names, born of red and coppers fur that stood out brightly in the trees. This Pack kept the Southern border of the territory safe alike the Grey Wolves. They lived in the grassy knolls due south of the Great Oak Tree that stood as a beacon in the very heart of the Clan territory on a small green island floating in the very middle of the lake that all the rivers ran from. There was a single bridge that ran from the lake shore to the Oak Tree and both the River and Fire Wolves guarded it, allowing no one but the Alpha and his bloodline across.

The last of all the Packs was the Northern Pack, nestled into the Northwest corner of the territory. Known best as the Winter Wolves, these wolves were pure white in color and larger than most of the wolves in the Clan, save for the Grey Wolves. It was in this pack the Alpha lived, a wolf from the Eastern Pack who mated with a beautiful Winter Wolf and birthed three children. Their first, Christian, grew to look like his father, and when he came of age moved back to the Eastern Pack where he found his mate for life, Ivory, and took over as Beta. Their next two were twin girls, Katerina and Kayden, and they both took after their mother. And thus the royal bloodline had remained living with the Winter Wolves, raising their children and tending to the clan. And so it was...

 

[BurningWillows]

Have you ever seen the stars on a clear summer’s night? Have you ever heard the wind whistle through fields of grass, or a babbling brook turn into a roaring waterfall?

“I haven’t,” Kayden Daeryth sighed, flipping the page in her well worn out book, knowing the words by heart after eighteen years.

Her books were all she had. There wasn’t much for entertainment within the pack. Nothing but her books, the pages worn and tattered, the leather covers starting to crack and fall apart. But they were hers, and she loved them dearly. They had once been her mothers, before she passed away years ago to an unforeseen illness that had swept through the clan, taking many lives. Now they were Kayden’s, due to a miracle that neither of her siblings had requested them after their mother’s death.

Kayden was born to a litter of three; two beautiful girls and a boy. Her sister had been born a wolf, a sign of a true Alpha. Her brother had been born human like Kayden, both omegas, but he was the only boy, a son her father had always wanted. And Kayden…Kayden had no significance to the family, at least in the eyes of her father. He had the son he had hoped for, and the Alpha he needed as a successor. Her mother had been kinder, truly loving all her children equally. She had fought for Kayden’s place within their family, refusing to let her be left behind. But once she had passed there was no one protecting her, no one to help her speak up. Kayden had grown into the wallflower she was today, holding her tongue in order to appease her father.

And tomorrow would be her eighteenth birthday. Eighteen long, tiring years of living in her family’s shadow, practically forgotten by her clan, rarely recognized for the royal blood running through her veins. Her family’s bloodline expanded centuries, running back to the start of the first clan. Somehow though, that mattered little when it came to Kayden.

“Kayden?” the soft sound of a knock on her door pulled her from her thoughts and she welcomed the person in, setting her book down on her small nightstand.

The carved wooden door creaked open, grinding against the stone ground under it as an elderly woman stepped inside, pushing her white hair behind her ears. She carried within her arms several books and a small wrapped box.

“Delena,” she spoke softly in greeting, getting up to take the books, “I thought our lessons were finished till after my birthday?”

“Yes child, they are,” Delena smiled warmly, the wrinkles in her face growing as her thin lips stretched out, “But I wanted to make sure you were prepared for tomorrow. A princess must know all about her clan and her blood.”

“I’ve already studied the history of our clan and my bloodline. Besides, I am no princess, Delena. I am a pawn for my father.”

“Do not speak ill of our Alpha my dear. Your father, Issac, is doing what is best for the clan.”

“By offering me as a mate to Gregory, from the southern pack?”

“By keeping the peace with the other packs so our clan remains united. We do not need a civil war child.”

Kayden set the books down at her desk, knowing they held the history of their clan and werewolves, dating back many centuries. She recognized the covers and knew every word by heart too, down to the names of every past Alpha. It was essential all royal bloods were educated, even those not in line for the throne.

The clan was made up of six packs, and each pack had a leader, known mostly by their names, but considered Betas. The Betas were born Alphas amongst the packs that were not immediate heirs to the throne, instead raised to lead the pack instead of the entire clan. All six packs were run by the Alpha, who watched over and kept the peace amongst the clan. For the last century or so Kayden’s father, Issac, had been Alpha. Before that had been her grandfather, and her great grandmother before that. It was why her family was known as royals, almost every Alpha born to her bloodline had become Alpha of the clan at one point or another. Any beta could rise to Alpha too, if they challenged for leadership and had reasonable means to do so. Kayden’s sister Katerina - or Nina as she liked to be called - had been running their pack for the past year in training to become the future Alpha. Once their father stepped down, the role of Alpha would pass to her unless someone challenged her. Which was unlikely; Katerina was a born leader, of royal blood, and an amazing fighter. No sane Beta would dare challenge her, unless they had a death wish.

“Tomorrow is my eighteenth birthday and instead of enjoying it, I will be spending it in the throne room, watching men grovel at my sister’s feet for her hand. And yet I get no choice in a mate?”

“It is our custom Kayden. The Alpha’s are allowed to choose their mates. All others in the blood line are arranged in marriage, to the best potential fit. Your sister Katerina must find a mate who will compliment her when she rises to the throne. She is not looking for love tomorrow.”

But she was. For weeks now Kayden had listened to Nina drool over the men arriving, all seeking her hand. She already had top picks, and questions picked out to needle through them to find who she believed would be the love of her life.

Delena saw the look in Kayden’s eyes and made a clicking sound with her tongue, scolding her without words. Then she patted her on the cheek and shuffled out, leaving Kayden alone with her thoughts. Delena was one of the Elders, a group of the oldest wolves in the clan that lived apart from any pack and only answered to the Alpha, following wherever he went. She had been living amongst their pack for years now as a guide and educator for Katerina, Kayden, and their brother Christian.

Instead of going through the books brought to her, Kayden moved to her small bathroom. Their pack lived underground, inside an immense cavern built into a cliff face. The triplets were born to the Northern pack, or Winter Wolves. Most wolves born to this pack had snowy white fur, thus giving them their winter name. Her mother had been a winter wolf, granted her two daughters the same gorgeous white fur. Christian had been the only one with dark brown fur, like their father, who had been born from the Eastern pack.

The Northern pack had lived in this cavern for decades, using its strong stone walls as protection from the harsh world outside. All the walls were grey stone, identical to the floors. Her room was no different, but her bathroom didn’t look as dreary with the colorful mural she had painted on one of the walls, and the mirror hanging opposite it. In her bedroom she had a red rug in the center of the floor to add some color, and a few decorative pieces on her walls but not much else. There was a half finished mural on the far wall near her bed, but Kayden had run out of paints and hadn’t gotten more since. Her furniture was simply her queen sized mattress on top of an elegantly carved oak frame, a nightstand made from dark wood, and her desk with chair made from the same oak her bed frame was. It seemed simple, but for her people it was luxurious.

Picking up her brush she combed through her white locks, staring into her mirror. Alike most in her pack, Kayden had beautiful white hair that matched her wolf fur when she Changed. She had let it grow out down past her breasts, and it normally hung in a braid down her back. Smoky grey eyes stared back through the mirror, watching her movements as she combed the knots out. Striking eyes, long lashes and fine eyebrows stood out against her ivory skin, accentuating her soft jawline and high cheekbones, giving her a stunning yet elegant look. Kayden was a beauty like her mother, only matched by her sister who was identical in comparison.

“Tomorrow I meet Gregory,” she sighed, talking to herself as she brushed, “The man I’m intended to be with…forever. In two day’s time I will leaving for his pack, never to see mine again.”

The packs rarely convened and when they did it was only the Betas and the Alpha, meeting at the ancient Oak Tree growing in the middle of the clan’s land. It was circled by a lazy river like a moat that had grown around it, cutting cleanly through the clan’s territory, from the north east corner to the southwest. Or so she read.

The only positive to leaving her pack was the chance to see outside, to run through the trees like the other wolves. The clan’s territory spanned many miles, estimated by her sister. Kayden had to be the only werewolf in the entire clan who hadn’t explored their territory. She had ventured outside but never strayed far from the cavern’s entrance. Just because it was their territory didn’t guarantee safety, and every wolf had to learn to defend and fight for themselves before they could gander around alone. Unfortunately for Kayden, her father refused to teach her those means, thinking she would be of better use inside the pack walls, learning from the elders. And her siblings were too busy to help. The elders only taught through books, and no one else spoke to her effectively leaving Kayden stuck to the den, and hating every minute of it.

Her night went on as expected, reading her books until she fell asleep well into the morning. Kayden normally slept in - it wasn’t like anyone would come looking for her – but this morning she was woken early by frantic knocking, before her door slammed open and Delena bustled in.

“Child get up!” she snapped, pulling at the covers even as Kayden dragged them further up her neck, not ready to wake.

“Just because it is my birthday doesn’t mean I have to wake early,” Kayden groaned, rolling over, “Ten more minutes.”

“We don’t have ten minutes,” she sounded upset, prompting Kayden to open her grey eyes.

“What’s wrong?” Kayden bolted up, seeing Delena’s red rimmed eyes and panicked expression, “What’s happened?”

“It’s your sister Kayden,” her voice shook as she spoke, “She’s dead.”

~

She barely put in the effort to dress, donning on a long black tunic with a collar that dipped low and a leather belt to hold it in place at her waist. Her people did not need to wear elegant clothing or many accessories, the wolf in them saw no value in it.

Hair a mess of tangles and knots, Kayden ignored the stares as she ran through the labyrinth of corridors connecting the caverns that made up their den all together. Her bare feet slapped the stone floor as she ran, Delena lagging far behind. Kayden made her way to the throne room, where her father would be.

Pressing against the pair of engraved oak doors that led into the throne room, Kayden stepped in and joined the small party gathering around her father. The room itself was a perfect circular cavern, almost like a sphere, with the walls and ceiling carved out of dazzling crystals. The floor was its usual grey stone decorated with a long blood red rug that ran the length of the room from the entrance. It led to the opposite side of the room where a tall throne sat, made purely out of a single redwood tree that had been whittled down and engraved with intricate designs around the trunk making up the base. The trunk split into winding branches that created the back and arms of the throne, stretching high towards the crystals. Every time she stepped into the room she felt her breath fall away at the beauty surrounding her, except for today. Today she struggled not to cry at the news before her.

“Father, is it true?” she spoke softly, stepping further into the room.

Her father sat on his throne, looking regal as always. His hair had turned white, although once it had been brown alike his beard. His face showed his age, every wrinkle describing another year he was Alpha, years of war and peace reflected behind those crystal blue eyes. Issac had been on the throne for around a hundred years, and his age extended past that. Werewolves commonly lived a few centuries, unless killed early due to war or illness.

Even with this crisis at hand, he took the time to dress in his normal garments, a white tunic and black pants tucked into leather boots that sat mid-calf. He always had a belt around his waist, holding a hunting knife on his hip. Across his left shoulder lay a black sash with golden stitching on it, their coat of arms embroidered into it. Each bloodline within the clan had their own coat of arms, and those ascended to Alpha or Beta wore some form of garment with it displayed. Issac chose a sash, one that her mother had gifted to them long ago. It started with vines that turned into roses. In the middle of the sash two wolves fought, their teeth long and jagged. The wolves had manes like lions, shaggy and wild around their heads. It displayed strength, fierceness, and royalty – what her father and her family was best known for. It also resembled the males in bloodline; in wolf form the hair around their neck grew longer and thicker, almost mane like.

The throne sat on a platform that cut across the end of the circular room, built into the stone so that he sat two steps up from the small crowd standing at his feet. She couldn’t really even call them a crowd, there was only five other people. Three of them were Elders like Delena, who counselled the Alpha and joined his every meeting, providing wisdom and advise. Whether her father listened to them was an entirely different matter. The fourth person was Issac’s right hand, a warrior from the Eastern Pack and Kayden’s uncle, Gareth. The Eastern Pack was the only pack with a singular purpose: to raise and train fighters. Her father had come from that pack, as had most of her family from that side. Gareth had dark brown hair like her father, but he was younger so there were few gray hairs.

The last crowd member, and probably the most surprising, was her brother Christian. Like Issac and Gareth, his hair was a rich brown, and he had a strong square jawline that made him look angry if he wasn’t smiling. Familiar greyish blue eyes gazed at her as she bolted in, a sad smile on his face.

"Is it true?" she turned to him, looking to her older brother for answers, "Please tell me this is a cruel joke."

 

[Risky]

Christian had been outside when it had happened, the news spreading like a wildfire.. Funny the expression would be used in such a cold, desolate place like this..

But the cold desolate place had become his home, though he didn't look like it, as he had taken the fur color from his father's clan out in the East. "Christian, come quickly!" Someone calls to him, the wolves ahead of him all start running, changing into their human forms as they reach the cliff someone had seen her fall off of.

He looks over the side, the roaring river below is a sign that summer is approaching, as the ice had melted. Katerina is nowhere to be seen..

He motions for the wolves to follow him as he runs down the river, he finally stops, his eyebrows knitting together as he sees the roaring stream below him. "Keep looking." He says to the wolf next to him.

Christian turns and runs towards the main cavern that the Winter Wolves called their home. He breathes heavily, speaking to his father, Isaac about the death of Katerina.. Of course they couldn't tell the rest of the clan, or any other clan, all hell would break loose.

He turns to face his sister when she comes in, placing his hand on her shoulder and nodding. "I saw her swept away by the melted stream.." He says quietly.

"I still can't believe it.." He admits.

Ven stands in the corner of the room, his eyebrows raised, he feels the furry companion in his hood crawls up on to his shoulder, peeking its head out. It's a chinchilla, though it has albino fur, and little red eyes. He pulls his hood up, the Chinchilla crawls back into his hood, it is cold inside of his hood because of his magical abilities.

He had heard about the death of Katerina when Christian had spoken to Isaac, he bites the bottom of his lip and shrinks into the corner of the room, preferring not to be seen by the court.

 

[BurningWillows]

“Well where is she?” she gulped, holding back tears, “I want to see her.”

“There is no body Kayden,” Gareth spoke, “The river swept her away.”

“Kayden,” her father’s voice was deep and gravelly, worn down from age.

Her name wasn’t often spoken from his tongue, and when he did address her she always felt this deep regret in her stomach, like she had done some crime against him. Her uncle Gareth stepped up and dragged her forward, one of his arms wrapped around her waist as he pulled her along the rug till they were in front of the platform. It took all her focus to bow properly, knowing it would do no good to be rude after her outburst.

“I would like the room with my daughter alone,” he spoke over her, looking at the Elders, “We will convene afterwards. Speak of the news to no one.”

As they left Kayden rose, keeping her eyes planted on his feet as a tear fell down her cheek. Nina…she’s gone.

The oak doors shut with a loud shutter and they were alone, for the first time in a very long time. She couldn’t even remember the last time he had called her daughter. It wasn’t that he cared so little for her he couldn’t be bothered; it was the fact that she so rarely was needed by him for him to address her in any way.

“Chin up, you are a princess after all,” he commanded and her eyes shot up to his and then to a spot just over his shoulder, unable to hold eye contact, “Kayden I know this news hurts. I too was beside myself when I learnt of it earlier this morning. But we have to remain strong, and show our people that we do not crumple in the face of despair.”

Our people? They’ve never been my people. No one has given me a second look, unless they mistake me for Nina.

“We face a dilemma now that must take precedence over grieving. It’s a matter of finding an heir to this throne.”

Of course, why give me time to grieve over the sister I lost, when your precious throne is at stake? I love you father, but you can be so cold.

‘Kayden! I can hear your thoughts!’ his words were like a punch in the stomach, searing through her own thoughts and echoing in her mind.

Alpha’s had the power to control the pack through order alone. If Issac commanded something of her, she had to concede to it, or face immeasurable amounts of pain. That power came with a form of telepathy, so that the Alpha could communicate in wolf form or to others in their wolf form. Issac had the ability to chose when he listened to thoughts and to whom he listened to. Katerina had that ability from birth as well, as any born Alpha would.

Kayden hadn’t forgotten all this though, she simply had never heard his thoughts within hers. There had never been a time he had delved into her mind, and she had grown so used to the safety of her thoughts that it spooked her to hear his voice now.

“I’m sorry,” she lowered her head, “I forgot my place father. I am simply upset over Nina’s passing.”

She stole a glance upwards and saw him chewing on her words, his square jaw working back and forth as his eyes studied her. He looked angry, but like Christian it was hard to tell what emotion the men in her family were feeling when they weren’t smiling.

Finally, he spoke, “I understand you lost your sister today. I lost my daughter. But we cannot show weakness to the clan, or it can spread rumors. Do you understand?”

“Yes.”

“You were to mate Gregory, is that correct?”

“Yes father. I am to leave in two day’s time with him, after…after Nina’s ceremony.”

“You will not be leaving now.”

Her head snapped up, looking at him in a mixture of shock and doubt. Why would he cancel the arrangement, after all he said about it being important to the clan? Blue eyes stared back down at her, watching and gauging her reaction.

“Why?” she asked for curiosity reasons only, not necessarily upset about this development after complaining about the arrangement just the night before, “I thought we needed to secure our alliance with the Fire Wolves.”

“Because we have a more pressing matter than just the Southern Pack. If word of Katerina’s death gets out and begins to spread there will be many looking for the chance to be Alpha. I am over two hundred years old, and cannot be Alpha for much longer. This may lead to a full war of the Packs, as those wanting control over the clan fight for dominance.”

“If?” he had not said when, and she had caught that one word, “You do not plan to tell the clan?”

“Katerina was to become Alpha in ten year’s time, once we found a rightful replacement for the Northern Pack and she felt ready. Now I am without a Beta to the Winter Wolves, and without an heir. Unless…”

Oh, she did not like the way this seemed to be heading.

He stood as he spoke, stepping down the platform and past her to pace across the room and back, “Unless I had another child who could take her place, fill in both roles and secure the clan.”

“But Christian mated to Ivory and controls the Eastern Pack now. That is why you sent him there is it not? To hold a firmer grip on our warriors? Besides an Omega cannot become Alpha.”

“He is a Beta now, as to his mating with Ivory. But no, he cannot.”

“But I-”

“So you understand,” he cut in, thinking she was agreeing when in face Kayden wanted to argue that she was the worst candidate for the job, “You will take your sister’s place as leader of the Winter wolves, at least for another ten years until I step down.”

“But father, I’m no Alpha. I’m not even mated to one. The pack will not follow me, not an Omega, even if I am of royal blood.”

“No but they will continue following under Katerina’s rule.”

Kayden blanched. Finally, it all seemed to click into place, and she looked up in horror at her father.

“You want me to pretend I am my dead sister? You are asking this of me minutes after I find out she is dead? Not even a day you have given me the grieve father, and you want me to taint her memory?”

The look she got back was cold and emotionless, her father eyes harsh as she bit her tongue and curled back away from him. Issac returned to his throne, leaving her kneeling on the floor at his feet, trying not to cry or vomit at the atrocity that he was speaking of.

“Kayden you will go to your room, pack your things and move them into your sister’s room. You will speak to no one, understood?” it was an order, one that sunk into her very being.

“Yes father.”

“I will inform the Elders, Gareth, and Christian of the plan. Delena will arrive at Katerina’s quarters to help you settle in. And I will advise Flynn, Katerina's tutor, that he will now be your guide and teacher.”

“Yes father,” she hated agreeing to this, but he was giving her no choice now, his word law when he wanted it to be.

“I will expect you to be at tonight’s ceremony as well, to greet the candidates and celebrate your coming of age.”

“Yes father.”

“Chin up child, I expected you to be more inclined to this. I am offering you a chance to become Alpha, to continue our heritage.”

“I am an Omega father. I never aspired to be an Alpha, and I still do not believe I can pull this off.”

“You will, or there will be blood and fire raining down on our house and on the clan. And the matter of your status of Omega will be fixed shortly. We have seven eligible Alpha’s wanting to court the next Alpha. You will choose one, like your dear sister was to.”

Again her eyes snapped to his before lowering, yet another surprise slapping her in the face. She was now allowed to chose her mate, but only amongst eight. Kayden hadn’t even met a single one of them, or given the time to look. She’d been so focused on her own problem being shipped off as a gift to Gregory, she hadn’t cared to watch Nina flirt with her candidates.

He had truth in his words though. An Omega could rise to Alpha status if they mated with an Alpha-born. It was why the bond was sacred to wolves, and the reason she had so much trouble accepting that she was being forced to mate one she didn’t love. Once mated, couples could hear each others thoughts and even feel one another’s emotions through the bond, even from miles away. It was a bond like no other. And it went even further when mated to an Alpha-born – there powers transferred to their mate. It was how Christian became a Beta, by mating the Alpha-born Ivory. And now her father wanted Kayden to do the same, and deceive the clan in the meantime.

“Thank you father,” she stated as calmly as she could muster, knowing that was what he wished to hear.

Being dismissed, Kayden got to her feet and hurried out, her arms wrapped around her chest. She couldn’t even return eye contact to her brother as she pushed open the oak doors. He’d know soon enough.

"Father would like to speak to you all now," she murmured, staring downwards.

---

“Well where is she?” she gulped, holding back tears, “I want to see her.”

“There is no body Kayden,” Gareth spoke, “The river swept her away.”

“Kayden,” her father’s voice was deep and gravelly, worn down from age.

Her name wasn’t often spoken from his tongue, and when he did address her she always felt this deep regret in her stomach, like she had done some crime against him. Her uncle Gareth stepped up and dragged her forward, one of his arms wrapped around her waist as he pulled her along the rug till they were in front of the platform. It took all her focus to bow properly, knowing it would do no good to be rude after her outburst.

“I would like the room with my daughter alone,” he spoke over her, looking at the Elders, “We will convene afterwards. Speak of the news to no one.”

As they left Kayden rose, keeping her eyes planted on his feet as a tear fell down her cheek. Nina…she’s gone.

The oak doors shut with a loud shutter and they were alone, for the first time in a very long time. She couldn’t even remember the last time he had called her daughter. It wasn’t that he cared so little for her he couldn’t be bothered; it was the fact that she so rarely was needed by him for him to address her in any way.

“Chin up, you are a princess after all,” he commanded and her eyes shot up to his and then to a spot just over his shoulder, unable to hold eye contact, “Kayden I know this news hurts. I too was beside myself when I learnt of it earlier this morning. But we have to remain strong, and show our people that we do not crumple in the face of despair.”

Our people? They’ve never been my people. No one has given me a second look, unless they mistake me for Nina.

“We face a dilemma now that must take precedence over grieving. It’s a matter of finding an heir to this throne.”

Of course, why give me time to grieve over the sister I lost, when your precious throne is at stake? I love you father, but you can be so cold.

‘Kayden! I can hear your thoughts!’ his words were like a punch in the stomach, searing through her own thoughts and echoing in her mind.

Alpha’s had the power to control the pack through order alone. If Issac commanded something of her, she had to concede to it, or face immeasurable amounts of pain. That power came with a form of telepathy, so that the Alpha could communicate in wolf form or to others in their wolf form. Issac had the ability to chose when he listened to thoughts and to whom he listened to. Katerina had that ability from birth as well, as any born Alpha would.

Kayden hadn’t forgotten all this though, she simply had never heard his thoughts within hers. There had never been a time he had delved into her mind, and she had grown so used to the safety of her thoughts that it spooked her to hear his voice now.

“I’m sorry,” she lowered her head, “I forgot my place father. I am simply upset over Nina’s passing.”

She stole a glance upwards and saw him chewing on her words, his square jaw working back and forth as his eyes studied her. He looked angry, but like Christian it was hard to tell what emotion the men in her family were feeling when they weren’t smiling.

Finally, he spoke, “I understand you lost your sister today. I lost my daughter. But we cannot show weakness to the clan, or it can spread rumors. Do you understand?”

“Yes.”

“You were to mate Gregory, is that correct?”

“Yes father. I am to leave in two day’s time with him, after…after Nina’s ceremony.”

“You will not be leaving now.”

Her head snapped up, looking at him in a mixture of shock and doubt. Why would he cancel the arrangement, after all he said about it being important to the clan? Blue eyes stared back down at her, watching and gauging her reaction.

“Why?” she asked for curiosity reasons only, not necessarily upset about this development after complaining about the arrangement just the night before, “I thought we needed to secure our alliance with the Fire Wolves.”

“Because we have a more pressing matter than just the Southern Pack. If word of Katerina’s death gets out and begins to spread there will be many looking for the chance to be Alpha. I am over two hundred years old, and cannot be Alpha for much longer. This may lead to a full war of the Packs, as those wanting control over the clan fight for dominance.”

“If?” he had not said when, and she had caught that one word, “You do not plan to tell the clan?”

“Katerina was to become Alpha in ten year’s time, once we found a rightful replacement for the Northern Pack and she felt ready. Now I am without a Beta to the Winter Wolves, and without an heir. Unless…”

Oh, she did not like the way this seemed to be heading.

He stood as he spoke, stepping down the platform and past her to pace across the room and back, “Unless I had another child who could take her place, fill in both roles and secure the clan.”

“But Christian mated to Ivory and controls the Eastern Pack now. That is why you sent him there is it not? To hold a firmer grip on our warriors? Besides an Omega cannot become Alpha.”

“He is a Beta now, as to his mating with Ivory. But no, he cannot.”

“But I-”

“So you understand,” he cut in, thinking she was agreeing when in face Kayden wanted to argue that she was the worst candidate for the job, “You will take your sister’s place as leader of the Winter wolves, at least for another ten years until I step down.”

“But father, I’m no Alpha. I’m not even mated to one. The pack will not follow me, not an Omega, even if I am of royal blood.”

“No but they will continue following under Katerina’s rule.”

Kayden blanched. Finally, it all seemed to click into place, and she looked up in horror at her father.

“You want me to pretend I am my dead sister? You are asking this of me minutes after I find out she is dead? Not even a day you have given me the grieve father, and you want me to taint her memory?”

The look she got back was cold and emotionless, her father eyes harsh as she bit her tongue and curled back away from him. Issac returned to his throne, leaving her kneeling on the floor at his feet, trying not to cry or vomit at the atrocity that he was speaking of.

“Kayden you will go to your room, pack your things and move them into your sister’s room. You will speak to no one, understood?” it was an order, one that sunk into her very being.

“Yes father.”

“I will inform the Elders, Gareth, and Christian of the plan. Delena will arrive at Katerina’s quarters to help you settle in. And I will advise Flynn, Katerina's tutor, that he will now be your guide and teacher.”

“Yes father,” she hated agreeing to this, but he was giving her no choice now, his word law when he wanted it to be.

“I will expect you to be at tonight’s ceremony as well, to greet the candidates and celebrate your coming of age.”

“Yes father.”

“Chin up child, I expected you to be more inclined to this. I am offering you a chance to become Alpha, to continue our heritage.”

“I am an Omega father. I never aspired to be an Alpha, and I still do not believe I can pull this off.”

“You will, or there will be blood and fire raining down on our house and on the clan. And the matter of your status of Omega will be fixed shortly. We have seven eligible Alpha’s wanting to court the next Alpha. You will choose one, like your dear sister was to.”

Again her eyes snapped to his before lowering, yet another surprise slapping her in the face. She was now allowed to chose her mate, but only amongst eight. Kayden hadn’t even met a single one of them, or given the time to look. She’d been so focused on her own problem being shipped off as a gift to Gregory, she hadn’t cared to watch Nina flirt with her candidates.

He had truth in his words though. An Omega could rise to Alpha status if they mated with an Alpha-born. It was why the bond was sacred to wolves, and the reason she had so much trouble accepting that she was being forced to mate one she didn’t love. Once mated, couples could hear each others thoughts and even feel one another’s emotions through the bond, even from miles away. It was a bond like no other. And it went even further when mated to an Alpha-born – there powers transferred to their mate. It was how Christian became a Beta, by mating the Alpha-born Ivory. And now her father wanted Kayden to do the same, and deceive the clan in the meantime.

“Thank you father,” she stated as calmly as she could muster, knowing that was what he wished to hear.

Being dismissed, Kayden got to her feet and hurried out, her arms wrapped around her chest. She couldn’t even return eye contact to her brother as she pushed open the oak doors. He’d know soon enough.

"Father would like to speak to you all now," she murmured, staring downwards.

 

[Risky]

Christian watches her walk out, he bites the bottom of his lip before wrapping his arms around her. "I know it's tough, losing Nina." He whispers so that nobody could hear. "But you gotta stay strong okay? I can't lose both of my little sisters.." He says before messing with her hair.

He flashes her a smile before disappearing into the throne room, he approaches his father before falling to one knee. "Kayden said you wanted to see me, father." He says, looking up at the man himself.

The best thing about being 5'9 and a human in this court room is that nobody pays you much attention. He had still been sitting in the corner, his cloak over him to ensure nobody saw him.

He sweats profusely, the energy to make himself unnoticable beginning to take a toll on him, but it is so worth it.

He hears the news of Nina's death, not that he really cared about the girl, but the interesting news came when Kayden is to do the old switch-aroo..

That's what the old humans used to call it at least, now humans can't even go outside a city without nearly getting killed, he had learned that the hard way.

 

[BurningWillows]

Kayden watched the Elders, Christian, and her Uncle all return to the Alpha as she closed the door, pressing her ear to listen in. It was rude and disrespectful to do so, and if a wolf caught her she'd be in terrible trouble, but she wanted to know how they would take Issac's new plan. The door was thick wood, and any mortal would not be able to hear through. But wolves had exceptional hearing, sight, smell, and speed. Kayden could hear them clearly, although muffled. She could count the heartbeats in the room, including the one in the corner. Ven. He always thought he was smarter than the wolves, that his magic was strong enough to surpass their senses. But he had merely cloaked himself, not hiding his heartbeat. Even her father had probably taken notice by now. The only reason the young wizard lived was due to Katerina. She found his tricks amusing and entertaining. Without her the Alpha could easily dispose of the wizard of he wanted to. And he just might, since the boy was breaking wolf law and spying. Although...so was Kayden now.

Inside Issac watched as Gareth took a knee beside his nephew then rose, letting the Elders step forward and do the same. It was custom to show respect to you Alpha, and the mistake of not doing so often costed a wolf's life.

"This is not to be spoken outside this room to any and all other wolves," Issac commanded looking stern, "Kayden has agreed to take Katerina's place."

"Brother," Gareth started but Issac rose a hand to stop him.

"The clan will fall apart if news of Katerina's death spreads. She was to be the next Alpha, and of that role is vacant it means the packs will start fighting for leadership. War will come. Kayden will assume her sisters identity and mate with one of the Alpha candidates. Once that is done she will rise to Alpha status."

"And remain acting as her sister for the rest of her days?" It was Delena who spoke, trying to keep the emotion out of her voice, "My liege, do you not think that is far too much to put on a young girls shoulders?"

"Kayden will rise to the challenge or face destroying our clan. She understands. Christian, you've remained quiet. What do you make of this?"

 

[Risky]

Christian listens to the whole conversation, his eyebrows knitting together nearly. He knows it's not his place to speak yet, he had already stood up before his father had said anything, knowing that his pack is needed to keep peace in the East and North, so killing him would be a huge mistake.

"What do I think? I agree, nobody should know about Nina's death.. But Kayden isn't ready for that responsibility, we should give her time to grieve, Nina just died and Kayden is taking it roughly." He says, his eyes remaining defiant.

"We could said Nina is bedridden, very sick, push off the meeting of clans until a week or two, that will give Kayden enough time to get over the loss of our sister." He explains.

Ven stands and clears his throat. "Master, I apologize, I did not realize I was not meant to be in the room, I zoned out and got locked out.." He says, not trying to interrupt but also trying to get out of the throne room. "Please, an honest mistake it was, allow me free." He says, their language is a little hard on his vocal chords.

 

[BurningWillows]

Issac eyes snapped to Ven and a small snarl left his throat, "the princess is no longer here to keep you as her pet. I advise you tread lightly boy, or you'll find yourself on a spike. Get out."

Kayden heard all this and stepped quickly into the shadows to remain unseen. She waited for Ven to come out, wanting to spook him as she hid. He meant well, as she knew, and Katerina had always loved his tricks. But it was dangerous to spy on royalty, especially when you weren't a wolf.

"As for your request my son, we cannot push anything. Kaydens birthday is today, as would be Katerina's. To cancel the celebration will be bad luck on our bloodline, and damaging on Kateri- Kaydens image. She is to meet the 12 candidates tonight, as they should all be arriving today. I trust she will perform well. And I trust all you to do the same. This is not to leave the room, or be discussed outside closed doors. Am I understood?"

 

[Risky]

Ven quickly moves out of the room, walking out of the open doors before collapsing, his head buried in his hands. Katerina, the only person who seemed to like him around here was dead, he feels doomed, as if he is definitely going to die. He folds his legs beneath him and leans against the wall behind him, tears continuing to roll down his cheeks.

Christian sighs, biting the inside of his cheek. "At the end of the day, it is your decision father, but it is not wise.. But do as you wish, there isn't anything else to discuss, I assume?" He asks, crossing his arms and raising his eyebrows.

He excuses himself, walking out of the room and storming passed Ven, he walks to his room and collapses on his bed. He groans loudly, wishing that his mate was here to help him calm down. His father really didn't seem to understand his children, though he doesn't think or talk about it as that would be treason.

 

[BurningWillows]

Kayden watches Christian storm out and wonders why, knowing her father would have words for that too. Issac was never find of being ignored. She waited until the coast was clear then her hand reached out and dragged Ven into the shadows, tossing him through a door into a small abandoned room.

"Crying in the middle of a hall?" She asked, scoffing him, "you are living amongst wolves and you think it wise to cry where anyone can see?"

She handed him a rag and shook her head, "better toughen up kid. My father will see no use in you like this." Shrugging her shoulders she stalked off, wanting to be alone now and more importantly grieve. A part of her wished to see Christian but she knew he'd be grieving too, and it be rude to barge in or disturb his mourning. Like she had told Ven, wolves didn't display weakness in public, and breaking into tears was a sign of that.

~

South of the Northern caves a party approached, wolves of brown and black from the east. Leading the troop was a light brown wolf, small in size but held a nasty bite. Beta to the Warriors, Ivory had decided to lead her two candidates to the ceremony, if not only to get more time with her beloved. The pack they run would handle well without them for a week or two, leaving Christians second in command in charge.

Ivory let out a chirp and quickened her pace at the thought of seeing Christian, and the wolves behind her quickened their gaits. Her two candidates were allowed to bring one guest each: a brother, sister, friend, parent. Whomever they wished, so that they would have support in the long weeks to come. To her right walked Troy, a large black wolf that towered over the rest, and his little sister Anika. To her left was Daerk, a chocolate brown wolf and his mother. Both were born as wolves, allowing them both the right to enter as candidates. Ivory had one other Alpha born in her pack, but it was a young girl of 10, an unfit candidate. Ivory wondered what the other candidates would like and compare. The pack that presented the winning candidate would undoubtably benefit when Katerina and her mate rose to the throne. Alike how the Northern Pack benefitted from Issac choosing a winter wolf to bed.

She chirped again and the pace quickened again, the cave within their sights now. Ivory let out a long howl, feeling her connection to her mate strengthen with each pace closer, his thoughts beginning to skim hers.

'I am here my love,' she sent her thoughts out to him, no other wolf able to listen, 'Come see your mate at the cave entrance. I have missed you much.'

 

[Risky]

Ven looks up at her, using the rag to wipe the tears from his eyes. "I'm dead already.." He whispers to her, watching her walk away. He cleans off his face completely before leaving the room, walking to his own quarters.

His quarters are tiny, basically a closet. The room has just enough room for a bed and a few of his personal items, but it is still very cramped. He sits down on his bed and puts his head in his hands, sniffling as he thinks about what would become of him, as a humanoid he doesn't mind showing emotion in front of others, but these wolves would see him as weak.

Christian feels his mate getting closer, he sits up as he feels the connection grow stronger, and then her voice, soft as silk, within his mind. He jumps up out of bed when he hears her ask him to meet her, he had missed her as well.

He hadn't really perfected targeted speaking within his mind, so he runs to the entrance of the cave, having already changed into his wolf form. He runs to her on four legs.

Christian nuzzles his head against hers. "I missed you, I miss the East, it's cold and awful here."

 

[BurningWillows]

Ivory licked his muzzle, nuzzling up to him too as the party continued into the cave to find their rooms and settle in. It had only been a few hours walk, and they could have run and cut that time in half but Daerk's mother was old and could not run for long periods.

'I'm sorry it took so long Christian. Trying to get these four on the move was a hassle, and the pack wasn't pleased we'd both be gone for at least a week. But I'm here now. How has your morning been? Did you get here last night alright? The den was lonely without you.' Their pack lived in the forest, so unlike the Winter Wolves that lived in one large cavern, or the Grey Wolves in the mountains, they lived in dens and huts they built. The biggest den in the Eastern forest was Ivory and Christian's, a symbol of their leadership. It was a cozy den, one they had made their own with leather blankets made of deer and and elk. She had slept alone the night before for the first time in year's, and it felt odd.

'Should we run, or return to your room and Change?'

 

[Risky]

Christian licks her back in earnest, having missed her so much. "I got here without a scratch, though it was difficult to sleep without you.. The morning has been interesting to say the least, the Winter Wolves are preparing for the coronation, everything is going as planned, Katerina will choose a mate and the Clans will be at peace." He promises.

Though it was a lie, Katerina would not be choosing any body any time soon. "We should Change, maybe catch some sleep together? If I know you right.. And I do, you didn't get much sleep either." Christian suggests, nuzzling her again.

His head moves towards the cave, as if motioning for her to follow him. He treads through the cavern to his quarters, the door closes behind Ivory, all of the doors and entrances in the cavern had been enchanted by Ven, though he isn't really needed for it any more, which lowers his usefulness even further.

Christian groans as he begins to change back to his human form, several minutes of agonizing pain before he is naked on the floor, he rolls his head around, listening to it crack and pop with the effort of changing from a wolf to a human.

 

[BurningWillows]

'You know me all too well,' she cooed back, licking him before following. Ivory could tell something was off, feeling his emotions swirl when he spoke about his sister. She wanted to wait to ask though, allowing them to change into human form first. As the door closed she lay down and let it happen, every bone in her body breaking and reforming, the fur reclining back into her skin. She grunted and groaned, the pain almost unbearable, but after a lifetime of transforming she could bite through it.

When her body finally settled into a human form she stood on shaking legs. She was tall and gorgeous, with fair pale skin the deserved her name. It wasn't flawless though, covered in adorable freckles that she knew Christian loved. Her hair was light brown and curly, wild around her small face. Giant blue eyes stared up at her lover, admiring his naked body. Her own body wasn't bad either, curves in all the right places, soft ample breasts and a tight ass she was wiggling at Christian now as she found a light tunic to wear.

"So what is bothering you my dear Christian? I know when you are upset. I am your mate, your other half."

A few years ago she never thought she'd be as close, or as faithful to him, as she was now. Arranged marriages were custom in the clan, and Ivory and Christian had been arranged, having only met each other once. Yet within their mating bond budded a loving relationship, one of trust and respect, and loyalty.

 

[Risky]

Christian watches her lover, she is gorgeous, but that's only one of the advantages of being her mate. When they had first gotten together he had been skeptical, after all, he had not chosen Ivory, his father had, he honestly finds it to be the wisest decision his father has made for him and his family to this day.

He finds a pair of silk pants and a hide coat to put on, as it is very cold within the confines of the Winter Wolves den. He stands and meets her halfway, his hands on her hips once she had finished changing into the tunic she had found.

"You are indeed my other half and mate.. The only thing I can really tell you is that my sister.. Katerina, she's a little unprepared for the ceremony, she is confused and bewildered." He explains. "But against my advice, my father presses for the clans to meet."

He rests his head against hers, his eyes staring into her beautiful blue eyes, lined with the adorable freckles that he had learned to love. "How is the Pack?" He asks her quietly. "I have missed everything about the East.."

 

[BurningWillows]

[/align]

"Your father has ordered you to secrecy," she concluded, hearing the strain in his voice, "While he is a just Alpha, it is cruel to come between our bond and order you to keep secrets from me."

She let out her breath in one long sigh, annoyed. It was slightly chillier in the caverns than what they were used to, but the wolf in her get her blood running hot so she could never actually catch a cold. It was rather uncomfortable without her fur however so Ivory turned to the wardrobe in search of tights, speaking as she rustled about.

"The pack is fine dear. We got a few new wolves from the River Pack after you left, and they all look promising but nothing eventful has happened. You dodged a bullet however. My mother brought up talk of pups this morning before I left. She's been on me lately, wondering when we will have our own litter."

She turned her head just so Christian could see her eyes roll, "I love her but she can be so pushy. Here the clan is preparing for a new Alpha and my mother worries over how soon you and I shall have children to raise."

 

[Risky]

Christian nods. "That's correct.." He says quietly before walking over to her, wrapping his arms around her and resting his head on her shoulder. "Trust me love, I hate to keep things from you.." He says quietly, nuzzling his head against hers. "But it's important that nobody knows." He explains.

He moves away from her and sits down on his bed, watching her search through the wardrobe for something. He listens to her speak about her mother, the story brings a laugh from him. "She did always have that as a priority, didn't she?" He says.

"When this clan meeting is done, we can discuss children, though I honestly have no idea when we should start, I guess but I suppose it's both of our decisions, I would like to wait but tradition says otherwise.." He groans. "Sometimes tradition is annoying, why do we have it?" He asks, running a hand down his face.

 

[BurningWillows]

"Because tradition is what keeps our laws in effect," she retorted, sitting next to him as she wiggled into her tights to cover her pale legs, "Without tradition we will not have order, and the clan will fall apart. And it is tradition for all wolves to carry on their bloodline through their children. Honestly I believe you are the only wolf I have met who does not hold that as a high priority. It's not an insult dear, simply an observation."

Placing her hand in his she squeezed it lightly, "We cannot have children till we return to our pack. For now we focus on getting through the festivities. Afterwards we can speak on the matter. Now...you mentioned a nap?"

Meanwhile Kayden sat in her room, staring at a wall as tears rolled down her cheeks. She couldn't bring herself to sob over her sister, but neither could she stop the tears, unable to accept her twin was truly dead. It felt impossible...how could the great Katerina slip and fall over a cliff, and leave Kayden to clean up the mess?

"It's unfair," she whined, more about losing Nina than her own fate, "Why her? Out of everyone, why her?"

 

[Risky]

Christian chuckles. "You're much smarter than I, love, another fantastic reason to love you." He says to her quietly. "It's just.. Scary, thinking that I could end up like my father, or maybe I'd be a bad Alpha.." He says quietly, resting his head on her shoulder.

He squeezes her hand back, holding hands with her always gives him a little bit of comfort. "Not the moment we return, but we can discuss it while in private, your mother has a biased opinion and very good hearing." He says with a laugh, yawning afterwards. "A nap, yeah.." He says before pulling her down on to the bed with him, wrapping his arms around her.

"I love you.." He whispers to her, kissing her lips once before burying his face into her neck, sleep weighing him down like chains. He drifts off into a peaceful slumber next to his mate, her body heat and presence allowing him to sleep easier.

 

[BurningWillows]

"You make a fine Beta now," she shook her head, "Honestly Christian you shouldn't worry about becoming your father. You have your mothers kind heart. But yes, we shall discuss this another time."

She crawled onto the soft mattress covered in thick bears fur, warming thier cold skin. Curling into him, she promised to sleep only for an hour or two, so that they could both prepare for the ceremony that night.

~

Through the afternoon Issac prepared for the festivities that night, sending his brother to greet the travelling Betas and thier candidates into thier home. There was still much to be done, including speaking to Katerina's tutor, Flynn. Issac sent for him, wishing to speak to him in his private quarters, where no one could eavesdrop.

"Thank you Lillian," Issac dismissed the young wolf as she brought him Flynn then scurried away, "Good afternoon Flynn. We have a few things to discuss...about Katerina."

 

[Risky]

Christian smiles, pressing his lips to the back of her neck while keeping his arms wrapped around her. He rests his head against hers before falling asleep, the weariness of the day dragging him down into the abyss of his mind.

Flynn falls to one knee before Isaac, his face staring at the ground until he is spoken to, he looks up at his lord. "I understand that she did not come back from hunting this morning, is there a specific reason my lord?" He asks.

 

[BurningWillows]

"Katerina has passed," Issac spoke emotionlessly about his daughter, "she must have tripped or misjudged her footwork and fell into the ravine. The one south of here the divides us from the Sun wolves. Her body has yet to be recovered."

He gave no time for Flynn to swallow this harsh news, continuing on as if Flynn need not mourn. Issac was highly aware Flynn had treated Katerina like a daughter, always proud of her achievements, always encouraging her. Issac had tolerated it mostly, only because the wolf was an excellent teacher and had trained Katerina perfectly. But it didn't mean Issac was fond of him.

"News will not spread of this however, and my dear daughter Kayden has agreed to take Katerina's place. And since they are twins there is no need to tell the clan. Indeed it is lying, but a small lie that will save more than it will hurt. News of Katerina's death would lead to war. This way, no war. Now since Kayden has never trained she will need many lessons to improve on her fighting. And since you were such an excellent teacher to my daughter, you will be for my other daughter as well now."

He waited for defiance, always enjoying a good display of his power when wolves stood against him. But Flynn was wise and would mostly likely bite his tongue, even if he didn't like Issacs ruling.

"Are there any questions? You will not speak to anyone of this but me and Kayden. You will train her daily until she is fit. Understood?"

 

[Risky]

Flynn listens to the unwelcome news, knowing that Isaac probably could care less about his daughters.. Actually just his children in general.. He wants to be defiant on this, lying to the clan is wrong, but Isaac could easily kill Flynn, leaving nothing to fulfill his legacy

Flynn just nods. "I will train Kayden.. And I will remain silent on the matter, do you know where she is? It would be wise to get started on her training immediately, after all, the Eastern Pack just arrived a few minutes ago." He explains.

 

[BurningWillows]

Issac walked away, giving nothing in his stance to show any emotion, "she is most likely in her chambers. She will not train today though, as she needs to prepare for tonight's festivities. Introduce yourself Flynn and nothing more. Tomorrow she may start training with you. You are dismissed."

Elsewhere Gareth was showing the Two river pack candidates their new accommodations for thier time here, writing thier names on a parchment. Troy and Daerk's names already written above.

"and that was..."he asked again looking at the blonde bulky man before him.

"Abe and Reagon. River pack."

"Very well," Gareth nodded and took his leave. The Western and southern packs were yet to arrive but it would not be long, with ceremony under foot in only a few hours. Gareth returned to his post at the caves entrance, waiting for the last of thier guests.

 

[Risky]

It's fairly obvious that the Western pack wants the North as an ally after all, the North has the best territory, the best food, and an alliance with the East that could crush any opposition if given the opportunity. An alliance between an Alpha from the North and an Omega from the west would be very good for the west.

That's why they sent Dominik as one of their candidates, even though he isn't even a werewolf, he is in fact a demon from hell, one that has many mystic abilities revolving around fire, masked to smell like a werewolf and enchanted to be able to change forms a couple of times, he is on his way with his 'pack' to the North.

They arrive and the candidates are sent to individual quarters, Dominik changes form with a groan as his bones break and extend, he had always hated that about being enchanted.. He gets dressed into the nice clothing he had brought for the celebration, after all, he had to look good to be a candidate. He's not expected to win, even though his good looks and fighting skills could easily allow him to do so.

Flynn nods before leaving, he had been dismissed after all. He walks to Kayden's quarters, knocking on the door quietly. "You in there?" He asks roughly, not wanting to speak her name in case of any ears listening.