CHAPTER SIX: The Chosen One After All

Goddess above he's looking at me, what do I do? Dolores stood frozen in place, foreign feelings consuming her along with an unfamiliar burning desire for the boy that held her stare. The same boy that had haunted her days since the night of the Rite. Heat warmed her cheeks at the thought of him thinking of her as she had done. With that thought, her crippling doubt crept in, poisoning her. What if he's not impressed? Why would he want a filthy Rouge as his mate? I am no one. Not even this new family desires me.

Dolores's mother, Diana, breaks the spell with a soft touch on her shoulder. "Mother." Dolores embraced her mother tightly. Over the last week, she had only seen her mother twice. Dolores examined her closer and saw that her once pale, thin frame was now glowing and full. "You look beautiful!" Dolores exclaimed, causing her mother to giggle.

"As do you, Dolly," Diana said. "Shall we take our seat?" Dolores followed her mother towards the grand stretched-out table in the center of the room. This was their first time attending a banquet. Rogues in the Grey Tail Pack weren't allowed to dine with the Pack. A rogue was considered fortunate if they were chosen for cleaning duty, lucky if they were allowed to have the leftover scraps left behind. Dolores and Diana were never selected.

Dolores dared another glance at the boy who sat second closest to the King's chair. Bringing her water glass to her mouth in mock disguises, she saw that he was not much older than her. He may have even been 17, but it seemed like he was an Alpha or an alpha's son. Dolores's anxiety began to take control, depositing toxic thoughts.

Could he really be our mate? Am I even allowed to fall in love with someone like him? Was he the dragon from the Rite? What if that was just a dream…what if this all is just a dream? Dolores's thoughts spun a web of confusion and shame, forcing her to look away and keep her head downward in an attempt to avoid eye contact.

A trumpet sounded, announcing the arrival of Alpha King Zachary. Dolores and Diana followed suit when the guests all rose at his entrance, stiffening when they saw the male who fathered but never was one to Dolores. As one, the guests all greet him submissively, giving a deep with an added "Your Majesty." Dolores followed along, careful not to meet his eyes.

The Alpha King took his place at the end of the table, gesturing for everyone to sit. The room remained silent, allowing King Zachary to begin introductions. After swift debuts to various Pack alphas, the King glossed over introducing Dolores and Diana, instead choosing to take a drink before placing an oversized hand on the boy beside him, the boy Dolores had been trying to avoid that night.

"Now, let us not forget this young man." Zachary began. "The new Sage of the Society of Wizards, Jasper Leight." The boy's name sent a spark of longing blazing through Dolores. She tried to listen as Zachary rattled on about Jasper's accomplishments, the owner of Ivory Towers, how he was a prominent leader to all witches and wizards, but a word pounded in Dolores's head, drowning out the speech. Mate, Mate, Mate!

"Kreqin is blessed to have you. Words cannot express my gratitude," Zachary boomed. "You and your father have always been of great help, especially in the war with vampires. It is a great pleasure to have you stay with us. I'm sure my princes can learn many things from you."

"You are too kind," Jasper said, his voice luring Dolores to quietly look at him. Dolores attempted to steady her emotions as the King continued with the last two introductions.

The Eclipse Pack's Alpha, Roman Hawinge. The current crown prince, Adam’s grandfather, is an elderly man with a threatening demeanor and young stature. His brown eyes and silver hair seemed to glow with pride when he congratulated Adam, boasting about how Adam will create an extraordinary future for the Kreqin Kingdom.

The last introduced was The Sharp Claw Pack's Alpha, Jarrod Muller, the uncle of the second oldest prince, Bryan. He also congratulated Adam, but fury coated his words. Dolores remembered from her princess lessons that Adam's mother, Roman's daughter, was only a mistress, whereas Jarrod's sister, Elizabeth, was the Luna Queen.

"If I may, your majesty, I find it peculiar that your mistress's son was chosen to be your heir and not your Luna Queen's son," Jarrod announced to the room. "The Sun God's chosen one. It's utter bullshit." He snapped, and a group of servants walked in, carrying an enormous boulder with a cloth draped on top. The tableware rattled when the servants placed the boulder for all to see.

Jarrod went and stood in front of the great rock. "Today, I have brought a special gift." Jarrod whips the cloth from the boulder showing a gigantic ancient sword with a pattern of numerous flames engraved on the hilt. The blade seemed to shine faintly with a red light, and Dolores recognized the magnificence and power of the sword.

The guests looked in wonder at the sword in the stone. "This is The Sword of Nidhogg." Jarrod proudly said, answering the unasked question. "Legends say only The Sun God's chosen one can remove the sword from the stone." Jarrod then asked several guards to attempt to pull the sword with each failure his devious smile grew. "As you can clearly see, only the chosen one can draw the sword. My Prince?" Jarrod bent his head slightly, never breaking eye contact with Adam, asking without saying.

Dolores watched as Adam's eyes narrowed at the Alpha, a flash of concern there and gone, replaced with boredom and entitlement. "You would have us believe this two-bit sword will prove who the rightful heir is? Please, do not waste my time. I would bet anyone can pull the toy out. Dolores!" Adam turned and acknowledged her presence for the first time that night. Bile climbed up Dolores's throat when he spoke again. "Ladies first. Princess."

Dolores panic raced through her cementing her feet in place. Adam continued his verbal assault, but his words were drowned by another's. "The sword is fake." Dolores glanced around for the stranger speaking but saw that only she could hear him. "I know how it works." Searching for the source, she catches sight of Jasper. Locking eyes with him, he gives her an encouraging smile. "I can help you pull the sword from the stone." The voice said, "You only need to lightly press the hilt down before you pull the sword."

Dolores gave Jasper a slight nod then approached the boulder. The voice in her mind quieted, as did Adam and the room. She placed one hand on the grip inhaling deep, with an exhale Dolores did as the voice, as Jasper had told her. She heard a soft click in response before she removed the sword with one sweeping movement.

Dolores held up the sword seeing amazed faces. Jarrold and Bryan seemed shell-shocked that she was able to retrieve the sword. Adam gave a relieved sigh before laughing. "HA! Looks like this sword is not magical at all! Even a little girl could remove the blade as if it was nothing more than a toy! Making your so-called test invalid."

"How dare you question the nobility of The Sword of Nidhogg!" Bryan snapped. "Dolores pulling the sword only proves that you are less qualified than her." A growl escaped Bryan as he defended his uncle's Pack.

"How dare you compare my grandson with that filthy rogue?" Roman Hawkinge roared, shifting into his wolf. He loomed over them, baring his deadly teeth. Roman's wolf snapped at Bryan, and Jarrold turned as well in response.

"And how dare you snap, OUR true prince!" Jarrolds wolf growled.

Dolores rushed to her mother's side, still clutching The Sword of Nidhogg. Wolves of the Eclipse Pack and the Sharp Claw Pack gathered around their Alpha set to fight. Dolores pushed Diana behind her, preparing to defend her. The two Princes glared at each other, ready to shift but were interrupted when a thundering BOOM consumed the room.

Dolores turned to see Alpha King Zachary seated, the dinnerware turned over by his fist slamming against the table. "Lets. All. Just. Calm down." He slowly demanded. "Perhaps we should ask the opinion of a neutral party." Zachary gestured to Jasper, "Like our young Sage. As we all can agree, Sages are known for their wisdom, ones that know all the past, the present and most importantly the future."

The Packs calmed, and Zachary motioned his six children to stand in front of the abandoned boulder. Returning to their human forms Roman and Jarrold sat back down with the other werewolves and silently watched as Jasper made his way and stood in front of the Razamas children.

Jasper said nothing as he simply gave the King a lowered head of acceptance. Tightness filled the room like a string fastened to a bow. The two held princes stood confidently where Dolores kept her sight fixed to the ground.

An audible gasp of astonishment had Dolores instantly lifting her head to see Jasper's pointed finger. Unable to believe what she saw, her mouth fell open. One thought consumed her.

He chose me?