Chapter 1: Ares
Chapter 1
Alpha Ares Timere
I sit alone in my office, the heavy wooden doors sealed behind me. From the dining hall, laughter and the clatter of dishes drift through the halls. My pack is gathered for dinner, their voices echoing through the palace. Normally, I would join them. As their Alpha, it is my duty to bond with my pack. But tonight, stress pins me in place.
My eyes are fixed on the glow of my laptop. I click open the first article:
“Planned attack on the Sanatores Adunt pack underway.”
I scroll. Headlines blur together:
“ROUGES on the loose!”
“Healer no more”
“A lost pack—a lost kingdom”
I slam the laptop shut, burying my face in my hands. Thick, curly hair tangles between my fingers. My body hums with a dangerous energy. The Sanatores—they are peaceful, kind, and magical healers, allies to every pack in Darkthane Kingdom. How could anyone plan their destruction?
The Sanatores have always been more than allies. They are the backbone of our survival in times of war, tending our wounded, crafting medicines, and ensuring our warriors live to fight another day. And now, they are under threat.
I pace, claws extending, hair bristling, my wolf roaring inside me. My body demands action. I swing my fist at the wall in frustration. The padding tears. My anger burns hotter with every heartbeat. My warriors have been on alert since the first whispers of this attack, coordinated with my beta, Marrock Lifebane—a lifelong friend, an unparalleled warrior, and my second in command.
Marrock recently found his mate, Adela. Soon after, she gave birth to a daughter—the first female of royal blood in a generation. Our pack celebrated for weeks.
Meanwhile, my own mate, Luna Lana, labors with our fifth child. My thoughts drift to her as I run a hand down my face, trying to push back the worry gnawing at me. My family, my pack, and now the looming threat to the Sanatores—all pressing in at once.
A knock on the door snaps me back.
“Alpha!”
The urgency in the guard’s voice jolts me. I shift back to human form, taking a steadying breath.
“You may enter, Warrior,” I say, gruff, trying to mask my unease.
The door opens, and a young she-wolf enters, panicked. Her hair is disheveled, and her eyes dart nervously around the room. She lowers herself onto her knees, head bowed.
“You may speak, my dear,” I say gently, softening my tone for her.
“Alpha Ares… the Luna is in labor,” she whispers. “The baby… the doctor and the nursing staff are with her in your suite.”
My chest tightens. Lana is about to bring our fifth son into the world, and the Sanatores are unavailable—caught in the middle of a war. My mind races. Their skilled hands have always tended our children and my mate with unwavering care. How could they be absent now?
The young warrior shifts uncomfortably. “Alpha… may we… request their services for our Luna?” Her voice trembles.
I kneel slightly, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “It will be okay,” I say softly. “Your Luna and child will be fine. The Sanatores cannot come—but we will manage.”
Her tension eases, just slightly, and I allow myself a small, encouraging smile. Then I race to the stairs, my wolf surging with anticipation. Ten stories up, the royal suites await—reserved for the Alpha, Luna, and the royal family. Only those with special clearance may enter.
At the top, guards part the massive doors with a respectful nod. I step inside, and the sight before me steals my breath: my mate, Lana, radiant even in labor, surrounded by the chaos of birth and the glow of life about to enter the world.
