Haven

If motivation had power, Eva wouldn’t be broken. Abused and tormented, Eva had lived in the darkness her entire life.

That was until Grey Mason, one of the five Grand Alphas in the country took a liking to her.

She needed warmth to her coldness. Salvation, to her blood. Solace for her fear. And love, to mend her crumbled heart.

Would Alpha Grey be her saving grace?

Would he be her Haven or her hell?

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Note: This book is a part of the Werewolf Universe. There are no destined mates in this story. The process of acquiring a mate is simply through selection by choice, and undergoing the MATING CEREMONY.

Grey

A magnificent Amethyst sat atop the temple as if looking down at the valley it was nestled in. The sky was a calming blue. Tints of pink teased it, gently merging into a warm orange that gave way to the sun. Its rays fell onto the crown of the temple, making it stand out in the vast foliage.

Alpha Grey looked up at the Amethyst and felt his heart soar in pride. His eyes trailed down to the five sacred rings below the gem, each representing one of the Grand Packs of America. A slight smile etched on his face as he stood on the land believed to be the womb of Elara, the moon Goddess- from where she had given birth to the majestic trees, and the mountains. Her tears had rained rivers and her mahogany tresses had formed roots, etching themselves deep into the soil.

So blessed was the valley, that if one closed their eyes, they could hear Elara sing- in the form of the chirping birds- and breathe- with the whistle of the wind.

Climbing the steps of the temple, Grey stood before the wooden doors. Towering over him, they were decorated with intricate carvings of Lycan Legends and embedded with small purple stones.

He pushed the doors open. Grey took in the serene interiors of the temple with wide eyes. He struggled to keep his composure as he was enveloped by a sweet scent of incense, and a chime of bells. Standing before him, almost twelve feet tall, was the statue of Elara. With a face crafted by the angels themselves and glorious wings, Elara seemed to smile down at him.

I have her blessing, he thought. For a moment, he closed his eyes and prayed to her, kneeling down on one knee, until he heard a deep, authoritative voice call out to him.

“Alpha Grey, it is a pleasure to meet you.”

“Sir Benedict! The pleasure is all mine,” Grey said humbly, bowing to the elder. Sir Benedict sat on the Lycan-Werewolf Council as the former Alpha of one of the Grand Packs and a well-respected elder. Most Alphas looked up to him for his liberal thoughts. Sir Benedict wore a black three-piece suit. This attire was covered by a black hooded cape that trailed behind him as he walked.

“Come, they are waiting for you,” he encouraged Grey, as the latter followed. The impassive expression on Sir Benedict’s face made Grey’s emotions go haywire. Sir Benedict had a low pitched, deep settling voice and tall stature, built to intimidate.

Grey walked with his back straight and a neutral expression on his face. But what he felt was far from that. On the inside, h was nervous- scared, even.

After all, this was the official declaration of his Grand Alpha-ship. In the last twenty years, three new Alphas had taken seats on the council as Grand Alphas. Grey’s father, Damien, had dreamt of being crowned as Grand Alpha in his youth. When that dream hadn’t been fulfilled, it was passed down to Grey. Grey had trained and prepared for this since his childhood. He had trained vigorously, enhancing his physical, mental, emotional, intellectual and administrative skills that the title needed. And all that blood, sweat and tears had finally paid off.

Grey took slow steps behind Sir Benedict as they climbed the stairs. When they reached the second floor, Grey could see Elara’s crown over the railing.

“The entire council is present today, Alpha Grey. Everyone is happy about this decision,” Sir Benedict comforted him.

Grey gave a slight nod and straightened his coat jacket. As the pair entered the room, the other four Grand Alphas stood up. Grey gave a slight smile to acknowledge their presence, before walking over to the long table behind which the elders sat.

The oldest man on the council, Sir Albert, stood up. Grey sank to his knees and bared his neck as a sign of submission.

For a few moments, the room was ghost-quiet. Then Grey heard the scraping of a chair. Sir Albert’s steps were heavy, rhythmic thuds that reverberated against Grey’s sensitive Lycan ears. From his position on the floor, he could see the table and seven pairs of shoes behind it. One pair neared him and Grey looked up.

Sir Albert held a tray in his hand that contained a single purple Aster. Grey looked at it in pride as it was offered to him.

“In my tenure as an Elder, I have crowned five able leaders as Grand Alphas and now, young Grey Mason will be the sixth. As the oldest member of the Council, I ask every member present here today, to shower Alpha Grey with your blessings,” Sir Albert ordered. His withering flaky voice held confidence and power.

With the inherited Lycan grace and precisely synchronized movements, the seven members stood up, backs ramrod straight.

One by one, they came forward and spoke.

“On behalf of the presiding Elders on the council, I, Sir Benedict, pray that Alpha Grey will rule with benevolence and maintain strict order and organization within the packs, people, wolves, finances, administrations and alliances under his control. May he have the power to connect with Elara and seek her counsel on all important decisions that would lead to his subjects’ welfare.”

“On behalf of the presiding Grand Alphas on the council, I, Matthew Wallace, Grand Alpha of the Tranquil Sky pack, pray that Elara will bestow upon Alpha Grey, the power to rule with joy and creativity, coupled with determination, strength, passion, and love. May he develop a beautiful connection with his pack and protect them with the fire that its name suggests.”

Grey felt his heart soar with pride. His eyes moistened, and he wished his father was present to witness this historic moment. At that moment, it felt as if the entire world around him had stopped. Time dwindled down to a standstill. The only things that existed were the precious words that had been said about him, and the aster he held in his hand.

It was then that he felt truly connected to the beast inside him. He felt whole. His soul felt protected and nurtured as if Elara had worked her magic on him. Somewhere far in the distance, Grey could hear a sweet chiming of bells. He didn’t know if it was a figment of his imagination or the daily prayers in the temple.

“With Elara’s blessings, I declare Grey Mason as the Alpha of the fifth Grand pack in America, the Lunar Fire Pack. May this purple Aster help him run a peaceful administration,” Sir Albert declared.

Grey slowly stood up; the aster nestled in his strong hands. He felt a connection towards it. He wanted to cherish it. The beautiful flower was delicate and fragile, and yet it was associated with the mighty Elara. It was so strong. Grey stroked the soft petals and let the flower’s purity embrace him. He felt at peace- so close to the Lycan’s’ symbol of nobility and royal virtues.

The people present in the room congratulated him. But the wishes fell on deaf ears as Grey’s attention kept going back to the flower he cradled in his hands. He smiled down at it, before looking up to see the room slowly start to empty.

The group slowly walked down the steps. Grey remained in the room for a second, taking in its interiors before he, too, walked down the stairs.

He stood before Elara’s statue and dropped the pretty aster near her feet.