Rafaela
The room shut down when I stepped into it. It was obvious what the subject was about, but I didn’t have time to be offended. Even though it wasn’t just about me, I should’ve been told first.
Jutting my chin out, I kept walking. No one could know the turmoil tossing inside my mind. I had to appear composed, calm and undeterred. There could be no weakness showing. Weakness meant death and inferiority. It wasn’t a trait of a leader of a wolf pack. Especially not one like the ArcKnight pack.
It wasn’t enough that I had to deal with the banishment of my only sister, Lilliana, who’d been relieved of her Ardent talisman and thrown out last night for losing an important artifact from our pack’s store of weapons. Without both, our pack magic was weakened just that much more. Banishment was the only thing left to do with her, but I should’ve been there when they made her leave. She’d been nothing but a thorn in my side, a constant splinter digging its way through my epidermal layers until the infection she tends to spread overcame me in a feverish rage. She’d pushed me to the limit, and no matter how much I loved my younger sister, her behavior could not be tolerated any longer if I were to remain in control of the ArcKnight werewolf pack. I was to be queen, and any disrespect from any of its members, even my dear sister, couldn’t be forgiven.
Regardless, I should’ve been notified when she was taken to the gates and unceremoniously let go. Why I hadn’t been told was a sore point between me and my soon-to-be husband Gil, and I was intent on finding out the reason for it.
Holding my head high, I strode through the main meeting room of the mansion our pack inhabited in the outskirts of Temple, California. It was a rather large city smack dab in the middle of the state’s coastline, but the amount of supernatural activity here tilted the scale in favor of groups like ours. The landscape was pleasing. It was surrounded not only by mountainous desert, orchards, and thickly forested mountains, it also had an affinity to magic. Regular people settled here too, yes, but the ones with an affinity to the supernatural far outnumbered them.
These were dangerous times to be lacking magical talents.
I hadn’t actually caught him technically cheating as of yet, but I had my suspicions. If I ever did, there would be hell to pay, and I made sure he knew that. I aspired to far greater things than just being his wife. Power was one thing I craved, and this position would grant it to me. I’d waited a long time for it.
For now, it was time to clean up the fine mess Lily had left me. I’d have to organize a search party to find and retrieve the artifacts Lily had lost. It hadn’t truly been her fault. She may have been a conniving sneak and smart as a whip, but someone had outsmarted her. All her scheming to play with an ancient artifact had turned on her when her accomplice stole it, leaving her to take the blame and rot in banishment. I’d find this traitor and hopefully bring my sister home. But I had other issues to deal with first.
As I reached Gil’s side, I gave him an unreadable, hard stare before spinning toward the crowd of eyes awaiting the next move from its royal rulers. Gil and I were practically married, and everyone knew we were the leaders of the pack ever since Gil’s father had fallen ill a few days ago. He was dying a slow, painful death at this very moment in a bed down the hall. It sucked that he’d be gone soon after being fatally wounded and infected with a rapidly progressing virus by an unknown perpetrator, but that was the law of the land. Kill or be killed. Fight or die. There was no leniency in times like these. His attacker would pay soon enough.
I let out a long, calming breath as I observed the restless crowd before me. My thoughts were chaotic and lingered with my dear little sister. No matter what, I loved Lily, and the worry choking me inside was all for her. I hoped she made it out alive. Without a pack to back her up, she was as good as dead or forever cursed to the endless dangers plaguing any banished supernatural in the city or the wild. Most died within a year of banishment if they remained in the city, but some survived by seeking refuge in the vast wilderness surrounding Temple. I hoped she was smart and found isolation to her liking because the city was full of hungry souls looking to devour everything that happened to tumble into their embrace. Lily was known for making some rash and spontaneous decisions that usually didn’t pan out well, but she was an experienced fighter and could take down wolves twice her size.
I hoped her smarts would kick into play now more than ever.
Still, such hopes did nothing to settle my nerves as I faced my pack with nothing but humiliating rumors circulating around the group faster than a wildfire on gasoline. It was time to squelch the flames before it consumed my pack and destroyed all I held dear.
A ripple of murmurs ran the course of the room, and I turned toward Gil, giving him the signal to continue the speech. Alphas had to present as united or the pack was in danger of complete disintegration. We’d been conditioned for this very thing since we learned to speak.
“Thank you, Rafaela. My love. As acting Alpha of this pack, I am required to inform you that our ruling Alpha died twenty minutes ago.”
The pack burst into a flurry of murmurs, gasps, and whispers. The room vibrated with movement and unrest as the realization that we were leaderless washed over every soul. I drilled my eyes into Gil for a brief moment, trying my best to camouflage the effects of the shocking news. Why hadn’t he told me before the meeting? How could he withhold such vital information from me?
I thanked my solid composure for keeping my face from crumbling, and I ripped my gaze from him, focusing on the exit sign at the rear of the room. The red light glowed indifferently as I let its outline mar my sight with its destitute existence. Gil’s face had betrayed nothing of the news earlier, and it was usually easy for me to read. Years at his side had trained me to anticipate every move, every need, every want, every emotion he could ever have. Yet, as of late, I’d discovered how very little I truly knew about not only my fiancé but also my own sister as well.
There were strangers all around me, and I’d never felt more alone than I did at that very moment.
Later, I’d let Gil have it for leaving me out of such a critical loop. He’d have to learn to respect me as co-leader of the pack and as his spouse if this union was to work out. If not, the consequences would be grave, not only to my family, but to the entire pack as well. This included Gil.
Everything changed today. I knew that more than anyone here. I followed behind, not trying to catch Gil but hoping I would make it out of the auditorium and back to my rooms before my anger surfaced, before I broke down, before the tears.
This was just another thing I couldn’t control. I never had control over anything from the start. How could I let myself think otherwise?
It was time for changes indeed.
Chapter Two