Chapter 1
DAMON
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I was pacing the hall outside of the pack conference room. As soon to be alpha i was required to attend along side my father, Alpha Dean, for some of the discussions. Lately it was about when i would take over as alpha, and finding some she-wolf that dissapeared 13 years ago.
After what seemed like hours the door to the conference room opened and my fathers voice rang out "Damon, you may enter now." This was the third meeting just this week. Im not sure how i was supposed to try to find my mate and this lost wolf who would've probably had her first shift within the last year.
I entered and sat to the right of my father.
"Damon," the highest elder started, "we've decided that if you can not find your fated mate by your 25th birthday you will take a chosen mate to be your luna." I turned to look at him in shock that quickly turned to anger. I knew my mate was out there somewhere and I refused to betray her.
Before i could get a word out the highest elder spoke again. "I know you are opposed, but we will select a few she-wolves to pick from. They will all be good candidates to produce strong pups and perform luna duties. This is not negotiable." I was absolutely livid and a growl reverberated from my chest. My wolf, cyprus, was fighting to take control but i couldn't let that happen. "We also decided to relieve you from duties here at the pack. We are going to send you out to the other packs and the lands where the Sapphire Moon pack used to reside. In your travels to find the alpha's lost daughter we are hoping you find your fated mate."
Upon hearing that I would be visiting the other packs and had the chance to potentially meet my mate i was a bit more willing. "Why are we searching for this girl though? Packs get attacked and wolves disappear all the time. Why now, 13 years later, are we trying to find this girl?" The council seemed uneasy. "If you were going to send me out looking for this lost wolf I at least need to know why I am trying to find her," I state. My father speaks up, "As you know the Sapphire Moon pack was not attacked by rogues. what you don't know is that it was attacked by witches. We believe that the girl was a red wolf. They are incredibly rare and powerful. Unfortunately, they also shift extremely young. We believe the young girl may have shifted sending out that aura of power attracting the witches. I know the pack had some witches within the pack, who helped to protect them, but the ability to pull from such a source of power as a red wolf could cause even a good witch to become greedy and turn bad."
I thought about what he said and I guess it made sense. Nobody would've killed this young wolf knowing how strong she is. If she made it to another pack they'd hide and protect her, or if something else got her they likely wouldn't have killed her. Even rogues typically didn't kill little kids. They believe she was 5 or 6 when their pack was attacked which would make her 18-19 now. Old enough to start coming into her full power and find her mate. We needed to find her before anyone or anything could take advantage of her power. According to the textbooks the red wolf is the most rare. They shift extremely young but reach they can't actually use their power until age 20.
My thoughts were interupted by another elder. "We also believe you and the missing wolf may be the prophesized fated mates. That is why we want you to gocus on finding her. Saturday you will celebrate your 24th birthday and on monday you will start your journey. That gives you 2 days to choose who you will take with you and we will assign you each an omega to assist during your journey. There are a few who have been recommended by head of staff."
"Okay. I understand. I will do my best to find this girl whether she is my mate or not," I state with confidence. After that the council and my father come to an agreeance that i can bring 2 people with me before the meeting ends. After wishing each vouncil member a good day i rush to my bedroom mind linking my 2 best friends along the way.
It was no question I would ask Kasen and Markus to join me. Kasen was amongst our strongest warriors despite being only 20 years old. I would trust him with my life. Markus was my age. He was to take the position of Beta when I ascend the throne as Alpha King. They were the both incredibly intelligent so it seamed like a no brainer to have them join me.
I changed into something more comfortable while i was waiting for them. We were expected to dress up for the council and it gets really uncomfortable wearing a suit in that stuffy conference room.
Just as i was sliding the tshirt over my i hear the guys knocking. "Come in," I shout walking out of the bedroom. One benefit of being future Alpha/King is that i get a full suite within the pack house. Other high ranking members got rooms in the house with a private bathroom but it wasnt quite as nice as mine. The omegas also lived on the lower levels. They worked within the pack house and in our pack they were paid generously. I'd heard in other packs omegas weren't respected and quite often were abused. I planned to put a stop to that when i took over.
I joined the guys in my livingroom where they had already turned on the tv and were watching hockey. As i sat down i mind linked the chef to send up some beer and snacks. Within pack boundries you could start drinking when you turned 18 and shifted. In the human world you still had to be 21. If you were a late shifter or never shifted you had to wait until you shifted or turned 21.
As I sat down both Kasen and Markus could feel the apprehension but didnt dare ask why. They knew i was in a meeting today and that they're confidential. I just wasnt sure how to ask them to leave their mates and pack for a full year to help me. Just when I thought I had built the courage to ask them there was a small knock at the door.
I quickly jumped up to get the door. Upon opening it there was a young girl in the typical staff uniform with a cart that had the beers and a variety of platters. "Oh you can put those on the table. Thanks," I said holding the door open. She never made eye contact but nodded and quietly pushed the cart into the room. As she passed me I got a whiff of sweet cream and fresh peaches which was odd since none of that was on her cart.
The guys jumped up and grabbed the metal tub of ice and beer so she wouldn't have to lift it. She quickly arranged the food on the table and retreated. As she passed me again i could smell the peaches and cream. My wolf started to stir and i reached out and grabbed her arm just as she reached the door. "What's your name?" I ask gently seeing that I startled her. "Uhm, Olivia, sir," she stutters out still not making eye contact and keeping her head down. "Thank you, Olivia. I hope you have a good evening." She quickly nods her head and leaves.
I close the door and the guys are already digging in. Markus hands me a beer and I clear my throat. They both look at me in anticipation. "We aren't just here to watch the game, are we?" Kasen asks. "Not exactly," I say. "I need to ask you both for something very important." I take a drink of my beer and continue. "I've been assigned a mission to find the Sapphire Moon's lost wolf and was told to choose 2 people to take with me. I am asking if you both will join me?"
Both of them look at me dumbfounded then Markus asks, "What does this entail?" "We will spend the next year searching in each pack and trying to find any information we can to safely locate and bring back the wolf," I say. Both men look at me skeptically and Matkus asks, "why is this wolf so important?"
I hesitate not knowing if I am suppossed to be telling them. When they both keep staring i sigh. "Please you have to keep this to yourselves. You can't tell anyone. Not even your mates. Promise me?" The both nod their head and promise. "The wolf we are searching for is believed to be the red wolf. She will be coming into her powers in the next year or two. We need to find her before that happens."
Both of them are in shock. "The council also believes she and I are the prophesized couple. If I can't find her by my birthday next year i will be forced to take a mate. It will be a she-wolf the council chooses" I stand and wait for them to say something. Both guys look at each other and then back to me.
"We'll do it."
