Chapter 01 #2
They ruled over all the wolf packs. Alpha King Silas was the keeper of the peace.
His word was law. The Bonham family had taken the Lycan King’s throne after he died 1000 years ago.
They’d taken responsibility to care for the wolves.
Without the King and Queenship, chaos and wars would have broken wolf society and spilled death into all eight of the divided realms. The royals were necessary for peace around the world.
And those royals had come to his birthday celebration?
“Thank you for coming. This is truly an unexpected honor,” Jaxom said as he bowed to the royal mates.
They had been to other Blood Moon Pack festivals and Jaxom knew his parents were their biggest allies.
He’d just never expected them to celebrate his 18th, even though it was a big deal for a wolf.
But he was small compared to the responsibilities his King and Queen dealt with every day.
“Congratulations, Jaxom. I hear the big reveal will happen around 4:30. Lupus Natalis is a special day,” Alpha King Silas said, using the old Lycan designation for a wolf’s birthday.
“Come, Jaxom. Sit,” his mother urged as she hugged him and handed him a piece of chocolate. A smirk lighting up her face. “Time for my boy to open his gifts!”
There were four gifts. Gift giving was never the point, just a fun moment on a birthday. Jaxom decided to open Asher and Tarra’s present first. The largest present was from the King and Queen. He wanted to save the best for last.
Asher was a week older than Jaxom. They’d both be shifting for the first time tonight.
Asher was certain Tarra was his fated mate, but he had to wait two more months for her to turn 18 to know for sure.
Jaxom was enjoying Asher’s impatience. She was totally unaware and driving him nuts because he couldn’t make a move until she was 18, too.
“Okay, open it already! Asher and I went in on this together.” Tarra attempted to sound more mature.
She was trying to have more decorum in front of royalty.
Jaxom doubted she’d ever be able to button up her enthusiasm for life no matter who was watching.
That enthusiasm was one of her best qualities.
“Yes, ma’am,” Jaxom smiled.
He ripped the paper and whooped out loud. The latest Tri-Max gaming console glimmered. He and Asher had been itching to get one. The gaming system hadn’t even come to the stores yet.
“How?” he asked in delight.
“Dad has a friend who knows a guy at Tri-Max. You’re not playing this without me.”
“Definitely. It’s four player. You want to join us, Prince Renz?” Jaxom asked more out of being polite. He’d never really gotten along with Renz. It was only for one day. What could go wrong?
“I’d like that, thank you.” Prince Renz said with a snotty tip of his head.
The dude just needed to relax for once, Jaxom thought to himself.
He was always so tense, so precise in rules of etiquette and decorum.
He never let anyone just hang with him. Renz never let anyone forget that he was The Crown Prince. That attitude was exhausting.
The next two presents were old, but well loved books from his parents.
Rise and Fall of the Lycans: A History. And, Fated Mates: All The Odd Couples, Trios, and Quadruples in Lycan History.
Jaxom blushed at the last title. After Hazel’s latest prank, he wondered if he really was supposed to pay attention to her multiple mates theory.
“Thank you, mom, dad. This book on the Lycans looks really old.”
“It’s been in my family for six centuries,” his mom said proudly.
“Oh, what a treasure,” Luna Queen Leanne leaned in to look at the massive tome. His mom and the Queen had exchanged books every time she’d come to visit. Jaxom had heard Luna Queen Leanne was the reason the royal library had expanded to twice it’s size since she’d ascended the throne.
“We’ve kept it safe and handed it down. Even the great historian Reben Weaver stayed in this very room and read it for his research! I’ve had copies made. I can send one home with you, if you’d like?”
“Thank you so much, Luna Ellen. That would be a great treasure, indeed.”
“And now your’s, my lady?” Jaxom smiled at his Queen. She had always seemed so kind. “It’s an honor to receive a gift from one’s queen.”
“Please,” she gestured at the large box.
Jaxom took his time unwrapping it. There was something calling to him. It was as if this present had a personal connection to him. Finally, he got out a knife and slit open the sides of the box.
A large onyx Lycan stood on a mound of brown rock.
He had three paws on the ground. His front right was lifted high.
That paw almost looked like a human hand with long sharp claws.
The Lycan’s face was more angular and fierce than a wolf’s.
Jaxom could feel his anger, his rage. As he looked closer, the artist had managed to make patches of fur look like they were matted in blood.
There were two large wounds on the Lycan’s shoulder.
It was the tense longing in his stance that grabbed at Jaxom more than anything else.
This Lycan was alone and vulnerable, but still dangerous to any enemies that dared approach.
“I do believe young Jaxom likes it,” he heard Luna Queen Leanne say.
“I do, I really do,” Jaxom said in awe. “It’s just stunning.”
“It was sculpted just after the last Lycan King died. We have its twin at the palace. There was something about the idea of you owning it that struck a chord,” Alpha King Silas said in his cultured tone.
The Alpha King had spent most of his childhood studying history and training with his military commanders.
He expected his people to be honest with him.
Jaxom’s attitude must have been the right one because he sounded more than satisfied.
“I thought I was getting that statue,” Prince Renz grunted, sounding like a spoiled, petulant child.
“Don’t worry, son, I have other presents of greater value for you. You are my heir after all.” The indulgent father patted his son on the back.
Jaxom bit his tongue to stop a fight over the statue.
He didn’t realize he’d clenched his hands into fists until his nails bit into his skin.
That statue meant something to him, deeply.
But, he didn’t know why. Listening to Prince Renz whine about a gift he felt entitled to was hitting at Jaxom’s need to study the piece.
It took effort to keep from attacking. Only years of training under his father’s best warriors gave him the ability to gain control of that urge.
“In all sincerity, thank you. I will treasure this for all my life. It has captured my heart,” Jaxom said as he placed a hand over his heart and gave the royals a small bow. He’d never felt this way towards any piece of art. He saw himself in it.
Jaxom, Asher and the Prince spent the afternoon playing the Tri-Max in his suite.
Prince Renz didn’t seem interested in playing.
He did seem weirdly interested in Jaxom.
Renz sat next to him, almost interfering with playing the game.
Jaxom did his best to ignore the feel of the Prince’s presence.
It was a relief when Prince Renz feigned a headache claiming he needed to lie down.
The guy was still offended about loosing the statue.
Jaxom had set up the statue in the corner of the living room.
A focal point for anyone to gaze upon. Even playing the game, the wounded Lycan haunted him.
He wanted to reach out, pet it, tell it all would be well.
That thought kept badgering him. Asher crowed in victory as Jaxom’s new distraction let Asher win again.
“Jaxom?” Asher asked. Jaxom saw him out of the corner of his eye, pointing at the clock. An eyebrow quirked with his unfinished question.
Jaxom growled in irritation at Asher.
He’d growled!
He looked at the clock and it was 4:32. A well of power was opening up at his feet and he could feel his wolf stalking forward, with power, strength, aggression. He was waiting to be released. The desire to protect the innocent and kill the evil washed through him.
“Praise the Moon Goddess, I can feel your wolf!” Asher cheered. Tarra sat up from reading her book and promptly bared her neck in submission to Jaxom. His wolf nodded as if that’s how all should respond to his presence.
Jaxom waved Tarra’s submission off. “Not here, not now, Tarra. Not you. Although, if you do mess up, you’ll get more growling,” he ended in a mock growl.
“Oh, big bad Alpha, please forgive me for Asher made me do it,” she exclaimed, back of her hand to her forehead. The perfect, innocent damsel in distress. Asher chuckled and threw a small pillow at her.
Midnight approached and the Blood Moon Pack and guests gathered at the Moon Circle clearings in the forest under the moonlight.
Joy and laughter radiated through the forest. With 4,000 members, there were now fifteen such circles spread across their territory.
Jaxom wasn’t the only one shifting for the first time that night.
Asher, and twelve other wolves had just turned 18 within the past month.
Tonight they got to meet their pack in wolf form.
“It’s time! Are you ready?” Alpha Steven announced out loud and through the mind-link. The swell of euphoria rushed through the pack as they shouted their readiness to run together. It was a remembrance of allegiance and praise to the Moon Goddess for the gift of shifting.