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5.BEFORE

ALAESTER

One week a earlier

I've been dreaming about my mate all the time. She's small, has beautiful green eyes, and smells like brownies. She’s sweet and cuddly. Well, that is until I lay her on the office desk and fuck her or when we're in my red room, and she pushes all the limits of my sanity. Dreams about mates are like a glimpse into our future, and everything indicated that the little female was perfect for me.

My wolf has become impatient, insisting on constantly looking for her. The big question is: where? Where will I find her? I've also searched all of Pamyel's packs and the neighboring ones. She was simply nowhere to be seen.

I've been looking for her for so many years that I'd given up hope, but now that the dreams are becoming more frequent, I hope I'll get the chance to find her.

"You can't just wander around, Alaester," Devon warned me, snapping me out of my thoughts as I stripped off my clothes before bundling them together next to the rocks. "Your mother will kill me."

I laughed at him. My mother, Elora Redwood, the queen of Pamyel, would indeed kill him if anything happened to me. "Stop whining," I replied, removing the last pieces of clothing as he turned away, embarrassed. "You know my coronation is approaching, and I still have to marry that girl from the Crystal Pack. I need my freedom while I can, Dev."

As my beta, Devon's duty was to ensure my safety, but as my friend, he should also help me enjoy the last moments of freedom I had left. Devon huffed impatiently. "I've got a bad feeling about your little escapade."

I put my hand on his shoulder. "You always do, buddy." I winked at him and dove into the river, winding around the castle. As I hit the water, I thought about the girl from the Crystal Pack, chosen to be my future wife, even though she wasn't my mate. She represented a commitment that I wasn't ready to accept.

The sensation of the water against my skin was liberating, a brief escape from the inevitable journey to royalty. Devon remained on the bank, keeping watch, but even then, I knew he was still worried. "You need to come back, Alaester. The queen won't be pleased if she finds out you're swimming around like a commoner."

I shook my arms, soaking his pompous and neatly arranged uniform with my splashing. I could hear Devon grumbling on the shore. "You should be getting ready for the banquet, Alaester, not swimming around like a reckless commoner."

Ignoring his concerns, I plunged deeper, letting the current carry me briefly. I emerged from the river, body soaked, and shot a teasing look at Devon. "The coronation can wait a little longer, my friend. I told you I need to savor freedom while I still can."

He let out a resigned sigh, but his gaze remained concerned. "If your mother finds out, she won't hesitate to cancel all the current plans and drag you into an intensive royal etiquette training."

I laughed as water dripped from my hair. I swam to the shore to sit on the rocks. "Devon, tomorrow is already mapped out for me. I have a coronation, a marriage, and responsibilities. Tonight is the only thing I can control."

He sighed, giving in to my stubbornness. "Just promise you'll be careful, Ali. We can't risk anything happening to you before your big day."

I raised my hand to my forehead, giving a brief salute to my beta and the leader of the battle unit. Devon rubbed his temples but couldn't help but smile.

"My mother should give this place to Aemon," I said as I put on my clothes. "He's much better suited for this royal nonsense and kingdom agreements than I am."

"You know better than anyone why he can't do that," Devon replied, leaning against a tree.

Yeah, I knew. The damn birth lore.

My twin brother, Aemon Redwood, won't inherit our father's throne due to a simple two-minute difference in our birth time. I'm inheriting a throne that I never wanted.

Devon gave me a meaningful look. "And what about the girl from the Crystal Pack? Don't you think you should start preparing for married life?"

Annabelle Silvergraft. The daughter of Alpha Natan Sirius Silvergraft and my fiancee of convenience, whom I met some time ago. Intolerable and superficial. I couldn't hold a two-minute conversation with her without wanting to stake myself in the chest and die.

How the hell did my mother expect me to marry her?

I rolled my eyes at Devon. “I don't know how I'll keep from disappointing everyone if I can't offer them an heir to the throne. I can't stand her!”

Devon's mouth dropped open in an 'o', but my dear best friend quickly regained his composure and cleared his throat. “You should rethink that,” he said.

“I wish I had found my mate,” I murmured to myself.

“Find her before it's too late!” A deep, gravelly voice resonated in my ears. I searched for the person the voice belonged to, but only Devon was with me. “Did you hear that?” I asked, staring at him while Devon looked around. "Hear what?" He returned his gaze to me, furrowing his brow. "You must be imagining things, Ali. Let's go back; it's getting late, and we're far away."

I shook my head, dispelling all of the confusion the voice had caused me.

Yeah, I'm imagining things.

As we returned, the moon cast its silvery light through the treetops, creating dancing patterns on the leaf-covered ground. Devon followed me with a concerned expression.

"Turn around. Find her!" The voice repeated, louder this time.

I looked back, and once again, only Devon was there. Suddenly, the sound of breaking branches erupted all around us.

"Oh, shit!" Devon muttered, just before three werewolves from our enemy clan appeared in the forest in front of us, coming out from behind the trees.

"How dare you enter our lands?" I positioned myself between Devon and them, urgency pulsing through my veins. The mysterious voice that echoed in my ears before disappeared, replaced by the tense sound of the forest.

My duty was to protect my people, even if Devon had to take care of me. I was stronger and faster. "You have no business here, Bloody Moon pack. Go back to your lands," I growled, preparing for the confrontation. Devon promptly assumed a combat stance by my side.

The red-furred Alpha snarled in response. “This isn't exactly Pamyel's territory, Redwood. You can't stop the inevitable war that's coming.”

“You're beyond the border; you should be aware of that,” Devon warned, smirking. A formidable, dark-furred wolf growled in response. “The border means nothing to us. We're here to send a message.”

The muscles in my body tightened even more, preparing for the confrontation.

“You won't pass through here,” I declared, my growl echoing through the forest as my gray wolf began tearing through my flesh to emerge. The pain of breaking bones and tearing skin to free him was over before I could blink. My wolf emerged fierce and noisy.

“GET OUT!” I roared, slamming a paw on the damp ground. My Alpha energy intensified, causing the two wolves beside the red alpha to shrink back slightly.

The red wolf didn't retreat. “Make me leave, pup.”

A beastly smile appeared on my lips. “As you wish.” My blood boiled; my wolf didn't back down.

Devon and I were outnumbered, but if I could buy time, he could bring help. Drag them away from my people. That was the plan.

With a swift motion, the red wolf lunged toward me. Our bodies collided with tremendous force, and the sound of grinding teeth filled the night. We fought fiercely, each move calculated to gain an advantage over the other.

Devon was facing the other two wolves with remarkable courage, but the battle was too intense for both of us. The surrounding trees shook with the unleashed energy of the fight, and the scent of upturned earth and crushed leaves hung in the air.

I could feel my gray wolf's dominance in the fight. His wild instincts intertwined with my thoughts, creating formidable strength. Still, the red wolf was a worthy opponent, his sharp claws scratching my fur and sinking into my flesh.

The metallic taste of blood invaded my mouth, but it was nothing to be concerned about. Gathering momentum, I slammed my body into the two wolves attacking Devon, sending them flying.

“Devon, go get help!” I shouted, keeping the red wolf at bay.

“But Alpha.” He hesitated for a moment. “Go, now!” Realizing the urgency in my voice, he began to retreat from the battle, running towards the castle. I continued to lead the fight away from my people. Children who hadn't transformed yet lived there. A battle in the middle of the city was not viable.

“Do you really think you can stop us alone, Alaester?” he snarled, displaying sharp fangs.

I lunged at him swiftly, a guttural growl escaping my wolf's throat. We exchanged quick and fierce blows, our canine bodies colliding. The damp ground became even more slippery as the rain started to fall.

The three wolves hit me in three directions before launching a coordinated attack and destabilizing me. My head spun, and everything turned crimson. As their teeth continued to bite and pull at me, my blood dripped into my fur as my flesh was torn.

The sound of a car drew their attention. I kept my eyes open while I shifted my focus away from my pain. “You haven't won yet, Redwood!” he threatened before ordering his pack to retreat.

The wolves withdrew into the shadows of the forest bordering the road. I had run so far, moving the fight away from Pamyel, that I had crossed the border into human territory. And, coincidentally, a human saved me.

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