Sold as the Alpha King's Breeder novel Chapter 325

Chapter 105: Why is Her Fur White?

Ethan

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I had known Lynus since the end of war. He had been much younger when we met for the first time, of course, shortly after he was elected by the people of the Isles to repre sent them on the newly formed council of the High Elders. He

was fifteen years older than me but was the youngest among the “Elders.” He’d been a strong man in his early forties when

he was elected, but that was almost twenty–seven years ago

now.

Lynus was stepping down from his council seat, which was meant to be a life–long position, to be Troy’s advisor. The council was not only losing Lynus, who had been a longtime voice of reason among the other elders, but also the High Priestess, who my wife had sniffed out as a traitor to not only Valoria, but the pack lands in general.

What a mess.

“An election for the council seat will be held in a year at the most, after the regional elections end. Likely, three candi dates will be running for the council seat; one from Papeno, one from Avondale, and one from Suntra.” Lynus was sitting straight as a rod on the couch across from me in the modest sized office that was used by the Alpha of Drogomor for offi

cial business.

Ernest had recently packed away his things, but Rowan had yet to move into the space. The room was bare, save for the couches and books Ernest was leaving behind on the ceil ing height bookshelves. A fire was crackling in the wide hearth next to us, the sound of the logs snapping and sizzling breaking up the moments of tension–filled silence that passed between the small group of men congregated in the

space.

―――――――

Me, Lynus, Alpha Eugene of Red Lakes, and Captain Keaton, the new Beta of Poldesse.

Keaton was glaring at me like usual, his issue with authori ty etched into his face. He only trusted Troy, his mate Myla, and his own reflection in the mirror, but I currently needed him. I had just spent the better part of an hour explaining the Tasia situation to Eugene and Lynus. Keaton was one of the few people currently in the castle who had been there to wit ness not only the journey to find one half of the moonstone, but also the fall of Dianny.

“You’ll be acting as both Troy’s advisor and the High Elder of the Isles in the meantime,” I breathed, settling back against the couch. “I’ll need you to help explain the situation in full to the council when the time comes, especially in terms of the Priestess situation.”

“I understand. I have no problem with that,” Lynus an swered, nodding as he broke my gaze and turned his attention

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to the fire for a moment, the silence that settled between us broken by the soft sound of the piano being played in the li brary down the hall.

“Who is the High Priestess of the Church, now that that high and mighty Gracie broad is on the run?” Eugene asked. Despite everything I had just told him, Eugene seemed totally and completely relaxed. He was sipping a glass of wine, his legs crossed, with a rosy glow to his cheeks.

“A woman named Tempest. She’s younger, I was told. But she has taken issue with the corruption within the Church for many years. I believe she will push for change in a way that’s beneficial for the pack lands,” Lynus replied.

“And what’s her runner–up’s name? Chastity?” Eugene snorted with mirth, the reply eliciting a soft, secret smile from Keaton.

“Those aren’t their given names. But yes, I believe Chastity is the runner up.” I couldn’t help but smile at myself. I enjoyed Eugene’s company. He was a strange man, but he was honest and forthright. I’d never known him to not speak his mind, re gardless of the company or situation.

“It’s Keaton’s role as Beta to help oversee the election in the Isles, unbiased, of course,” Lynus motioned toward

Keaton.

“If we make it that far, you mean,” Keaton interjected,

which caused a momentary pause in the conversation.

Who knew what the next week was going to look like?

“Captain Keaton is right,” Eugene said, leaning forward. “We should consider moving the Alphas and heirs to remote locations, until we know what this Tasia lady and her cronies are going to do.”

Lynus turned to me, nodding in agreement. I bristled.

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“How, exactly? We have three Alphas currently in resi dence at the castle, including myself. My wife is a White Queen, my daughter her heir-”

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“And my daughters,” Eugene cut in, sipping from his wine. He had already sent his son Aaron back to the west to spend some time in Breles before they were both set to return to Red Lakes.

“Not a good idea, in my humble opinion,” Keaton interject ed, looking around the circle. “That’s exactly what Tasia wants, you know, for us to split up.”

“And how do you know that?” I asked.

“Fewer people around to protect what she really wants. Your wife and daughter, and her son’s mate. Right? And what are you going to do, put us all in safe houses around Mirage guarded by warriors day in and day out? People expect the castle to remain guarded, but the cottages and apartment buildings… we’d stick out anyway, more than we do now.”

Keaton was right. I looked at Lynus, who surrendered, shrugging his shoulders.

The office door opened, and Maeve stepped in, excite ment etched into every curve and line of her face.

“We’re going now,” she panted, her eyes creasing with an ticipation.

“Don’t leave the grounds,” I said sternly.

“Mom and Gemma have the boys. We’ll be back before dinner!” Maeve was gone as quickly as she had come, and once again the office was blanketed in uncomfortable silence. Lynus and Eugene were staring at me expectantly, waiting for an explanation.

“Maeve is going to shift for the first time. Troy and Rowan will be with her.”

“Do you think that’s wise, under the circumstances?” Eu – gene set his empty wine glass on the coffee table, looking up at me through his pale lashes.

“She needs to know how to use her wolf. Anyway, like mentioned by Keaton, the grounds are heavily guarded.” I flexed my jaw to tease the tension caused by my words. I was uncomfortable with it, of course. But I believed them to be safe, and this was something Maeve was ready to do. She was of age. She was strong. And she had lived her life believing

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she would never come into her powers. I needed to step back and let her do this on her own.

It was obvious whatever conversation we had been having had died. All talk of business was finished, and Keaton stood and took his leave, to where I didn’t know, but dinner had been planned for later in the evening, and Keaton was expect ed to be there. Lynus and Eugene rose to leave, the two of them walking in opposite directions as they went back to their rooms to rest before dinner.

I closed the door to the office as I stepped out into the hallway, turning my head toward the sound of laughter and music coming from the library. I smiled softly to myself, taking a deep breath as I ran my fingers through my hair.

Everyone was home, everyone was safe. And the only thing I wanted to do now was spend a few moments with my grandsons.

Maeve

I was not prepared.

I felt nothing but power as I stepped through the tall grass, lowering my snout to the ground and inhaling deeply. Every smell, every sound, and every touch was amplified. I wanted to run, to howl, to feel my fur brushing against the

grasses in a way I could hardly put into words.

These feelings, so overwhelming, momentarily blinded me to the shocked stares of Rowan, Hanna, and Troy. I looked up at them, stretching my neck, closing my eyes to the breeze tickling my ears.

‘Maeve?‘ Troy’s voice sounded like music in my mind. I looked at him, sizing him up, feeling nothing but severe, des perate longing. My mate, my entire body seemed to say. It’s

him, he’s mine.

‘Goddess, Maeve. What the actual f*ck?’ Rowan’s voice ru ined the moment, and I found myself turning my head sharply in his direction, my lips sliding over my teeth as I let out a low, guttural growl in response.

Then I turned, and darted into the field, running as fast as my four paws could take me.

It wasn’t until the harsh commands and desperate calls from the mind–link I shared with the group faded into silence did I stop. I had crested a hill, overlooking the entirety of the castle grounds below. I could see Troy and Rowan moving through the tall grass below me, making their way up the slope. Hanna was lagging behind, moving cautiously.

‘Maeve, just wait a minute,‘ Troy said, his voice edged with

concern.

‘I can’t. I need–I need to run. I can’t describe this feeling, Troy. Everything is–everything is so different. So, so perfect.”

‘You need to stop. Just–just hang on-‘ he reached the top of the hill, panting. He was a very, very large wolf. I had always imagined him this way, dark brown fur and a body that moved like a big cat instead of a limber, lean canine. He was pure predator.

And me? Well, I didn’t rightfully know. I hadn’t even turned my neck to look at my own coloring.

‘Maeve, wait

down at my paws.

Troy caught my movement as I looked

I was white, borderline silver in the pale evening moon light. I was the color of the mist that swirled through the grass at the base of the hill. White like the moon. Like the distant stars. I felt a prickle of unease sweep over me, causing my fur to stand on end. I looked up at Troy and silently pleaded for an explanation.

Only White Queens who had summoned the power of the Moon Goddess had white fur, to match their white hair.

I was not a White Queen yet. I didn’t have the white hair of someone who had summoned the Goddess’s powers.

Unless… what Una had said about what I had done in the

stone circle was true…

‘Oh Goddess, Troy. What have I done?‘

‘Don’t panic,‘ he said as he stepped toward me, placing his forehead against mine for a moment. ‘You’re fine. Everything’s fine.‘

‘I shouldn’t be this color-‘

‘I don’t know why you are. I think we should go back to the castle and talk to your mom-‘

‘No!‘

‘Troy’s right, Maeve! We have to go back!‘ Rowan was at the top of the hill, slightly labored from the climb.

‘No, I don’t want to worry her. All I’ve done is worry every one, constantly!‘

‘Maeve?‘ Hanna’s voice rang out through my mind, and I turned toward her as she stepped cautiously over the crest of the hill, moving like a dark shadow into the small circle of wolves we had created. She was eyeing me with interest and

skepticism,

‘Come on, we’re going back-‘ Troy tried to cut in, but Han

na cut him off.

‘What can you do?‘ Hanna said, and I was utterly confused by the question.

‘What do you mean?’ I said desperately, my heart begin ning to race.

‘Show us, show us what you can do,‘ she replied, glancing at Rowan and Troy with her teeth bared in warning, ‘I want to see you run.‘

I stared at her, uncertainty bubbling through me. Was I somehow different than them? Did this white fur give me some advantage, some power?

‘What? Do you think she has some kind of special power?‘ Rowan pawed the ground, huffing in Hanna’s direction.

‘I only know of one white wolf, and that’s your mother. Maeve came into her wolf, and regardless of the shock of her coloring, it’s unhealthy for her not to shift and run her wolf. She’ll be better for it. You know it’s true, Rowan.‘ Hanna’s voice in my head seemed slightly annoyed with Rowan and Troy’s anxiousness. Her confidence eased me, and I found myself moving to her side.

Rowan glanced at Troy.

How odd this was. Troy and Rowan were standing in the shadow of the moon. Hanna was breathing slowly next to me, her coat quivering as she took long, easy breaths. We were so different in this form, and it was shocking, downright unbe lievable.

‘Fine,‘ Rowan huffed, his teeth gleaming in the moon, ‘but only a few loops around the castle grounds, okay? Then we need to go see Mom.‘

‘We can’t be away that long anyway,‘ Troy said, stepping forward. ‘The boys will be wanting you, Maeve.‘

‘Okay. Just a few minutes then,‘ I concurred, then I fol lowed Troy and Rowan down the other side of the hill, which opened up to another wide, rolling field of tall yellow grass. The forest was visible in the distance, the trees nothing but shadows from our vantage point.

I felt a deep, unnatural longing to run toward the trees, to let the darkness embrace me. Why I felt this way, I didn’t know, but as a rush of wind came up behind us, I felt as though it were pushing me forward, begging me to follow my desires.