Chapter 2 The Prophecy

Caden

The water dropping from the height, hitting the rocks in between and finally dropping into the pool of calm is heaven to my ears. Perhaps this is why I'm here by the enchanted river of the Dead Vlei forest. With eyes closed, my ears put to work, listening to what nature has to communicate, I practice to enhance what my grandfather says are the most important for an Alpha, his senses.

'What's my Alpha doing here getting wet?' The second in command who's always attached to me by the hip has decided to interrupt my meditation. I exhale and he smiles.

'You disturbed me.'

'I had to. There is some news.' Max, the Beta, took a pause and said, 'He has postponed the ceremony.'

'What the....' I could barely control myself thinking that cursing my only family is not nice. 'It's time to confront the old man.'

'This isn't going to be sorted with a simple conversation.' The pack's Beta is always the sensible one. There was no doubt about the same for Max, but I had to stop being scared of grandpa wielding his authority. It was my time to take over and even if it is going to be difficult, I will achieve my ultimate dream of ruling the Dead Vlei, the tribe, the forest, that is my family's legacy. Not even the family itself is allowed to hinder my plans.

'I'll handle the talking part, but if it comes to fighting...'

Max completed my resolution by offering his allegiance, 'You can count on me.' Someone would think that Max does it out of compulsion of being the Beta, but those who truly know him are aware of his strong sense of friendship and respect for me. We were best friends even before we knew the whole werewolf business we were born into. There was no way he would turn his back on me. Both of us smiled and our eyes turned dark, a sign common in our tribe's wolves when they are out hunting.

On reaching the meeting area for the tribe elders, we noticed a crowd surrounding the sacred fire which was lit up for the ceremony that would make me the leader of the tribe. Whispers were growing by the minute as members saw me coming in with the Beta. The new wolves were confused, my pack looked excited, and the elders were calmly waiting for the storm to begin, or it seemed so. The piercing looks I received told me they were waiting for the executioner of their collective decision to arrive. The old man did not let his people wait and walked through the crow to the fire with slow steps.

'We should begin the ceremony.' I said despite knowing his plans.

My grandfather took a deep breath and said, 'It is not wise to think you have achieved something until you have.' I knew he was testing the waters but I was not afraid of the waves. He continued, ''The elders have collectively decided to not make you the leader for the time being.' Grandpa's voice echoed among the silence and then noise grew, whispers filled the air.

I looked at my grandfather and asked, 'Why?' After all, I had the right to know behind this crap decision.

'This is why.' The old man proceeded to take out a scroll from his pocket and threw it in the fire which engulfed it. As everyone stepped closer, the fire roared suddenly and came the voice of the prophecy. 'The Alpha, when caressed by his mate, will find the powers more. The more the power, the immunity will the heart find, he will then fight. Remember, what the fire says, only those with the power will win the fight! The rest, I will to the hell, guide.'

Then the fire died and the darkness prevailed until grandfather's aid lit up another fire pit. 'Now you know.' He said.

I scoffed in answer. 'What sort of sorcery is this? Did you do this to stop me?'

'You dare not think this is intentional!' He bellowed, not wanting to tolerate any disrespect. 'This prophecy was made about our tribe even before we existed.' I closed my eyes. It was clear that Grandpa would go to any lengths to deny me my rightful position. He was now churning up fables laced with voodoo magic done centuries ago.

I opened my eyes and said, 'Look, I don't care what the fire said. I am the leader of the tribe.'

'You are only the leader of your pack. To be the LEADER of the TRIBE you need to find your mate.'

With gritted teeth I asked, 'What if I say I don't want to?'

'Then you will not be anything.'

'Grandpa!' I could feel air constricting around my throat.

'Whine all you want. I'm not going to agree.'

'What if this mate does not exist?' Max decided to enter the conversation before it's too late. 'We've been trying to find Caden's mate for a while now with no luck. She is nowhere to be found.' He was right. I was indeed trying to find her but to no luck of course. Now that I know how serious this whole thing was for the older people, maybe I should've worked hard.

'Then maybe it's a 'he'.' The old man said so casually that Max's mouth fell open, not to mention my eyes that were ready to fall out.

I had to clarify, 'I'm not into guys.'

'It is not up to you. Alpha's mate can be anybody regardless of their gender.'

'I've never heard such blasphemy before.' I said.

'Well, you have heard it now.'

'I am never falling in love with a guy.'

'You will not have to do anything. It will happen naturally. Until it does, we will be postponing the ceremony.' Grandpa said and walked away leaving the crowd to whisper again.

I looked at Max for help and he shrugged. 'He said maybe.' I rolled my eyes and ran towards the waterfall again. I needed to calm down.

He followed suit and sat on the rock next to me. 'Do you think it is a...'

'No!' There is no way I am falling for a man.

'Whoever this person is, we have to find them.'

'And then do what? You know the only thing I'm interested in is the position of the leader. Fuck romance!'

Max asked, 'They say it is important to find a mate...'

'Yeah, I know. I've heard grandpa talk about the prophecy before, only I'd never listened to the entire thing or believed it. He said, my dad.....'

Max stood up in surprise, 'Did your father not make it because he was made the leader without a mate.' I nodded.

'My mother was not his mate. He fell in love with her so they got married. My grandfather opposed it but my father was adamant.'

'This means the prophecy is true.'

'It isn't. He could have died anyway. He was fighting one to fifteen. There was no chance he was going to survive it without serious injuries.'

Max exhaled. 'There must be a way to find your mate.'

'No, what we have to find is an opportunity for me to become a leader without a mate.'

'How?' He asked. I was wondering the same.

They say the right opportunities always find the right people. There's another saying, desperate people always find an opportunity for themselves, it could be right or wrong. Upset by the betrayal of my elders, I decided I needed to show them who the Alpha was, or is. Max was there by my side, sighing every chance he got to let me know he wanted quick results.

Just then a voice asked, 'Mind my help?' Both of us looked around and our eyes landed on the most annoying one in their tribe. This could be a personal opinion of Max, though.

'No one wants you for anything.' Max spat. I shrugged, not knowing the dispute between the two members of my pack.

'Why are you here, Xander?' I asked the Omega whose evil grin told me I would get the opportunity I was looking for but at the cost of something.

Xander bit his lips and then decided to say, 'There is this event....'

'Nobody here is interested in your rendezvous, so save it!' Max sneered.

'Your face is already crap, don't make it worse.' Xander's reply must've made Max want to snap his head off or something similar. I placed a hand on his shoulder, my grip making him stop.

Time to step into the conversation, 'Look, Xander, just say whatever you have to and leave. I don't like fights in the pack.'

'Yes, sir!' Xander's laugh followed. 'As I was saying, there is this grand event where you are invited.'

'I am?' Considering the fact that I held no relationship with anyone whatsoever, it was surprising to be invited somewhere.

Xander nodded. 'The crowning of the moon goddess.' Realization dawned upon me. I was invited to the event; in fact, all the alphas were. 'Impress the new goddess and she may become the armor to save you from your elders.'

I knew exactly what he was trying to say. Xander's werewolf abilities might not be on point but his mind definitely was. 'When is it happening?'

'It is happening as we speak.'

There was no more that he needed to speak. Max and I gave each other a knowing nod and walked back to the fireplace where I was supposed to be made the leader of the tribe. The process to reach the lunar kingdom was simple, lit the fire, say the sacred prayer and the path to the lunar kingdom will be visible. Following the instructions properly, we were soon running on the illuminated path. It wasn't tiring because we were running on all fours and not two.

As we shifted back and got dressed since the event had a dress code, it did not take much for us to mix in the crowd. I may be the alpha of the Dead Vlei wolves but ours was not the only pack in the world. Moon goddess was revered by several others. Everyone waited for the glimpse of their new deity who will power their abilities.

I was thinking about how to impress the lunar queen to gain her trust. And as they say, the right opportunities always find the right people, a young girl lifting her silk dress ran through the crowd as everyone's expressions changed from awe to shock. I blinked and then my neck snapped at Max.

'She ran away.' Max mouthed.

'Catch her!' An older woman, who was definitely the current mother goddess, shouted. The lunar guards ran after the princess.

'Looks like luck is not on your side today.' Xander said the obvious.

But I was not ready to give up just yet. The opportunity was before me, there was no way I was going to let the sand slip out of my hands. 'You're wrong. It's time to build sand castles.'

'Huh.' Xander looked visibly confused and I didn't bother with him.

'You two stay here. I'll be right back.' I told Max and walked towards the Queen, the current Moon Goddess.

'Goddess of the Moon, please accept my regards.' I said bending on one knee in front of the Lunar queen. She tilted her head in suspicion. 'I am here to help.' I said before she could misunderstand me.

'A werewolf rejected to lead his tribe by the elders will help me.' The news follows fast in this world.

'The queen of the tides, I hope you can understand that sometimes elders fail to see the worth one has.'

'I don't entertain those who disrespect their elders.'

'I'm here for an opportunity, please don't send me away dejected. I request the queen.'

The queen weighed her options. She could send her guards but her kingdom needed the security uptight right now with the news of the princess running away.

She looked straight into my eyes and asked, 'How will you find her?'

'I have my ways.' Projecting confidence when you have none could either make or break your deal. I had a feeling this was going to work for him.

'And what do you need in return?' After all, the queen knew nothing was free in this world.

'My rightful position.' My eyes must've turned dark because there was an expression of understanding on her face. A werewolf's eyes never lied, not to the moon goddess. She gave a nod of agreement.

'Bring her back and I shall order the elders to make you the leader.' I was about to win when she said, 'You have one lunar cycle to bring her back. If you fail, you will no longer be the alpha.' The fear of failure looming over your head is never nice.

'I promise she will be back before the lunar cycle.' I gave my words. I had to.

Just then a guard came running towards the queen and said, 'Mother queen, we found fairy dust near the spot from where the princess went missing.'

The queen said, 'The princess is on the earth, your domain.'

'Works well with me. Now if there are no more orders for me, I will take your leave....'

'There are.' I stopped mid-sentence hearing the queen. 'One, look for Sebastian Conway first. He is a banished god and helps us with earth matters. Second, when you think you have found the princess, tell her.....' The Queen spoke some words softly in my ears.

'Is this a secret?' I asked.

'The fairy dust on the ground is from a crystal cursed by an evil fairy. It has the power to transport any celestial being to the earth without the permission of their respective king or queens. But when one uses the crystal, they don't remember.'

'Remember what?'

'Themselves.'