The Alpha King's Precious Rose

It was the dawn of a new era for Malik's pack. After a year of searching, he finally found his mate. Amelia was going to make a great Luna and a life companion. It felt like he'd been waiting a lifetime. Now he only had to wait a couple hours until the moon came out of hiding from the clouds so they could begin the ritual. Uncle Gary walked up to Malik, a warm smile on his face. He couldn't be more optimistic about the pack's future, especially with his nephew leading them and the tribe packs as Alpha King.

"Anxious?" Gary asked.

Malik chuckled, "That obvious?"

"A little bit. She'll be out any moment. I'm sure your aunt hasn't stopped talking her ear off." Gary shook his head.

His half-sister Olga was the healer of the pack and had a slight thorn in his side.

"I can't wait to see her." Malik ran a hand through his satin-like black hair.

Suits weren't the most appropriate attire for these ceremonies. He wore a black shirt and pants, but his Luna would be dressed in white the shade of the moon tonight.

"He didn't show," Malik uttered, almost absent-mindedly.

"No," Gary said forcefully.

"I know uncle." Malik sighed.

"We're not talking about your brother tonight. Marcel chose his path."

A path Malik knew he would always go down. Marcel was banned from the pack when their father chose Malik to be the next Alpha and Marcel chose to join a group of rouge wolves that know nothing but chaos.

The moon was finally out. The taunting was over. Malik straightened his spine when the door to the little house his Luna had been hidden away in swung open. Amelia was going to stand on a spot hit with perfect moonlight. She walked out, a bright smile put on for the man she would spend the rest of her days with.

She grabbed the front of her dress while Olga carried the back of it like a maid of owner would do for a bride. Gary patted Malik on the back before moving away to join the crowd. Malik would meet her under the moonlight and their union would be blessed by the mood goddess.

Amelia finally made it under the moon close to a frail oak tree. She gave him a tiny wave. Malik chuckled and smirked. Could they hurry it along he needed this to be over so they could get to the best part of the ceremony. Mating. Malik shot his uncle daggers. Gary laughed, understanding perfectly the urgency. He walked to the centre so he was between Malik and Amelia and in front of the pack.

"Alright pack. Settle down. We don't have many of these, but I bet you remember what the last Luna ceremony felt like. We're gaining a wonderful Luna. A mother to us all and a valiant warrior who's going to help keep all clans safe as Luna Queen. Before the moon goes back into hiding Malik take the walk that will join you to your Luna forever. Under the witness of the moon and the pack."

It was a short walk, barely ten footsteps he would have to make, though it felt like an abyss to brave before he could capture her cheeks and press his lips against hers. She tilted her head and mouthed, "Come on."

Malik rolled his shoulders back and started his walk. Two feet away from the love of his life. Fire burst from the ground, throwing Malik towards the pack. Bursting from the ground and engulfing Amelia whole. Her screams went as high as the angry red flames themselves that scorched the leaves of the old tree.

"Amelia!" Malik's eyes went bright yellow as his wolf sprang into action to save his mate trapped in a cage of fire.

"Malik stop!" Olga yelled. "Gary do something! He'll die."

Gary frozen in a state of utter shock broke the chains of paralysis and reached for his nephew before he could reach the wall of fire.

"Don't Malik!"

The crowds cowered back, but couldn't look away. Seconds ago where their Luna stood now in her place a monstrous flame threatening to swallow them all whole.

Malik shrugged his uncle off, but even from where he stood the intense heat of the fire threatened them. Amelia's cries had long vanished into the night.

"I have to save her." Even as he spoke, despair had firmly settled into his soul.

Men came running with buckets of water to try and drown out the flame, but before water could make contact with the fire it was gone. Like a candle blown out in the wind.

"Amelia!" Malik rushed to the charred ground. He dropped to his knees at the body of his beloved. She was gone and so was he.

***

Gary lived in a nice condo like his nephew. He hadn't stopped drinking since the incident. The pack was in a frenzy and other packs were restless. He didn't have the answers anyone needed and his nephew was worse and to top it off his sister was late!

One knock came from the door followed by Olga walking in. She raised her hands and stalked to him where he stood by the door to the balcony.

"Damn it, Olga." Gary spat.

"At least I'm not hiding away while the pack runs itself silly. People are worried Gary."

"I know! I need you to give him something anything to cure him."

She wrapped her arms over her chest. Sometimes she couldn't believe how stupid her brother was.

"He lost his mate two days ago! He's heartbroken. Nothing I can give him will bring him out of this."

"He has to! If he doesn't we're facing an uprising. A hot-head Alpha could attack and we lose everything, Olga."

"I know. He just needs time."

"We don't have that damn it! We need a King!" Gary blasted. He was on the verge of throwing his glass off the balcony.

Olga raised her hands and stepped closer to her brother. "There is another option."

It took Gary a couple of seconds to process what she was saying. When he knew, he shook his head and walked out into the night air. He couldn't do that. That would be just as catastrophic as an invasion.

"Marcel is a good boy. He loves this pack and he loves his brother. He'll come back."

"Good boy Olga? He's the head of his gang now."

"He's still got Alpha blood and that's what we need. Bring your pride down and call him. Or an invasion will be on you."

Gary ruffled his salt and pepper hair. Malik hadn't come out of his condo since Amelia was killed. He hadn't said a word to anyone. It was like he wasn't there.

"He won't come, Olga," Gary said.

"He'll come if I call," Olga smirked.

"If anything goes wrong it's all on you!"

"Sourpuss."

***

After one hammering sound at the door, Gary jolted from the couch to answer the door. He wasn't the wolf he used to be, he couldn't take an ambush. He peeked through the hole and was more stressed than relieved to know it was Marcel.

Gary opened the door to let him in. Marcel was younger than Malik by a year. He was the hot-headed one, by some margin the stronger of the brothers. He was never fit to be Alpha. His father knew Marcel was always drifting down his own path in life. The man who marched through the door was power, money and desire.

He had diamonds on his wrist, designer shoes and a billion-dollar sports car left idling outside.

"Where is she?" He barked.

"Olga couldn't wait for you. She had to be with the pack."

Marcel groaned, "Why is your sister so dramatic? She said she'd broken something. Why the hell am I here?"

"Because we need you, Marcel," Gary said closing the door.

Marcel scoffed and laughed, "You need me now? What? Are you in debt? Can't afford the fancy condo anymore. Don't worry old uncle. I'm sure you'll find a better sucker to pay your bills."

"It isn't that Marcel. Something's happened to the pack."

"I don't give a shit about the pack."

"You care about your brother."

"Define care."

"Marcel..." Gary sighed. "We need a king."

Marcel looked at his uncle with a side glance but noticed the whiskey first. He helped himself to a glass.

"Has my brother chickened out?" He threw his head back and swallowed half the glass.

"Malik's been running the pack fine without you."

"Then why the hell am I here damn it? If he's doing splendidly why do you need me?" He growled.

"Because your brother lost his mate. She died."

Marcel set the glass down and shut his eyes. He poured another half glass full.

"I didn't know he found her. What happened?"

"We aren't sure. Malik hasn't been the same. He can't run the pack. You know what's going to happen if we don't have a king."

Marcel picked up the glass and walked to the couch. He reclined crossed his leg over his knee and shrugged. "No."

"What the hell is wrong with you man?!" Gary blasted.

"I won't play substitute."

"You're mad."

"I won't let you use me."

Options were few, time was moving fast. They needed someone with a crown and power.

"What are your conditions?"

"This deal... remains permanent."

Slow day at the Barn. I work at a place called the Barn. Tess thought it was funny to name her breakfast restaurant that. Good thing it was a busy place and the tips were good. The folks were nice. The charm of small towns. I worried I wouldn't fit in after moving here four weeks ago but things had been moving smoothly.

The town's people were nice but they kept to themselves and were somewhat secretive. This morning there seemed to be a dark cloud hanging over the town. Four days ago the local billionaire lost his girlfriend to a horrific fire.

Amelia came in a few times. She had a warm smile and bright honey-blonde hair I would kill to have! Though, I doubted Amelia's death was the reason for the dull mood in the restaurant. Even Mr Henley my usual admirer was in a sour mood.

I didn't think Timothy; the cook's bad mood was due to anything happening in the pack. He was always mad.

Pans rattled in the kitchen and fires grew. Just like every other day.

My friend Selma walked into the restaurant with her art supplies practically falling out of her bag. I was in my third year of history and literature when... I had to run.

"I'm late! I need a strong coffee," she panted.

"Geez, what happened?"

She ran a hand through her frizzy brown hair trying to make it even.

"There was a commotion in my neighbourhood to top it off Noah was out late."

Noah was her older brother, who regularly came to see me...

"Is he okay?"

I handed her a coffee in a foam cup.

"Fine. He worried my ass off though. The streets are getting dangerous, Paris. You should knock off earlier."

I swallowed. "Is that why the town's so gloomy? Is the crime rate going up? I didn't read about it."

Selma snapped back and blinked. "What? No. Look at the time, I'm really late. See you later!" She grabbed her coffee and scurried out.

Elvira Falls was supposed to be a quiet town hidden from the rest of the world where the crime was close to minimal. I chose this town because I believed it was the last place Caleb would search for me.

Despite what Selma said I couldn't get off work early. I had a double shift. Nights were slow here. This means for four hours I would pick up trash, clean tables and attend to the three people who came in to buy water.

"Fuck!" Timothy cried from the kitchen as a pan dropped.

"You okay back there, Tim?" I called.

My co-worker Mindy didn't show up for her shift today but it didn't matter because the restaurant was empty. A tumbleweed just blew by.

"You're still here?" Tim grumbled.

"Yeah, you know I have a double."

The door creaked alerting me to a customer.

Tim straightened his spine and frowned. "Get out of here. I'll lock up."

"We just got customers," I said, walking off

I grabbed the night menu. Two men settled in the corner, hunched over speaking in hushed voices.

"Can I get you guys anything?" I asked.

They looked up at the same time. The one with blue eyes held a striking resemblance to the man back home. A shudder went through me. Relax, Paris, not every man wearing dark leather was a thug.

"Some drinks while we go through the menu doll face and why don't you ask the cook to come out? He's... a friend of ours."

"Okay..."

I found Tim pacing in the kitchen. I reached for the glasses.

"Your friends are out there. They want to see you."

"Do me a favour Paris go out back and dump the ice."

I frowned. "Why?"

Tim grumbled and the veins in his neck popped out.

I raised my hands before he blew a fuse. I grabbed two bags of ice from the freezer and carried it to the back which was an alley. The only light bulb flickered violently. I heard glass shatter and an animal scattered across the ground. I hurried back into the kitchen to hear a fist connect with flesh.

"You're out of time!" a roar halted me at the door to the restaurant.

Tim was on the ground with a bleeding mouth. The two customers stood on either side of him but they had their eyes on me.

"Get out of here kid!" Tim yelled.

"Tim..." I gasped!

"I wish you hadn't walked in doll face," the blue-eyed goon shook his head.

"It's none of her business," Tim said.

He received a boot to the gut. I didn't shudder. The action had been beaded into my mind from a young age it was sickening how used to it I was.

The other man closed the distance between us and snatched my arm. He dragged me forward.

"What do you want? The register's right there!" I said.

They laughed. That turned my blood cold.

"We look like common crooks, Doll Face?" the blue-eyed one asked.

"What do you want then?" I snapped.

"It's none of your business," Tim barked. "Let's take this outside. She doesn't know anything and she'll keep her yap shut."

The blue-eyed one stared me up and down.

"Why don't I believe that?"

The door creaked again before I saw who it was my limbs numbed. What if teenagers walked in and witnessed this? They would keep them hostage. What if they mascaraed us?

Instead, it was a tall, demi-god man with pushed-back black hair, bronzed skin and muscles toned from hours spent in the gym. He dawned a bored expression and oozed confidence and authority.

"What's taking so long?" he demanded, calmly.

"We ran into... a problem," the blue-eyed one who seemed to be the leader in the pair said.

The demi-god turned his attention to me. He drank me in but his expression of boredom never wavered. I broke the trance and focused on the very real fact that they would kill me.

"Look at me," he demanded.

I blinked a few times before dragging my gaze back to him. He moved closer.

"You're going to grab your things and leave out the back. You're not even going to cast a glance behind the restaurant and then you're going to come back in tomorrow as if nothing ever happened. Understood?"

I couldn't prevent the gasp that escaped me.

"Who are you?"

He chuckled.

He brushed the corner of my lip with his thumb.

"You don't want to know. Now leave before I change my mind."

I glanced at Tim. He growled at me. With pain in my heart, I turned around. I hoped Tim wouldn't die because of me.

I couldn't catch a wink of sleep no matter how much I tried. I left an anonymous tip at the police station to let them know something wasn't right at the restaurant despite better judgment. I knew how things worked they would come after me because I was the only witness. Those men were dangerous and from the looks of it, Tim was involved.

He could have gambling debts or he borrowed money for other things. The list was endless. I found Tim in the kitchen heating oil and dropping pans the next day. He shot me daggers from his workstation. I backed off. He didn't want to talk but I needed answers later.

The usual breakfast rush came and went. The tips were good I could even afford two cans of paint for my little rotting house. A guy named Owen told me I could use it rent-free for a month when I moved here but I hadn't heard from him in days.

My co-workers Mindy and Trina went out back to smoke while I cleaned the tables. That was when my two favourite siblings walked in.

"Isn't it the Belle of Elvira Falls," Noah said.

I tucked a strand behind my ear. "Stop."

"Yeah, Noah you're not romantic," Selma scowled.

"And you're bitter and jealous."

I smiled. "I missed this."

Selma and her brother settled into the booth I was cleaning. They could be spotted as siblings from a mile away. They shared the same nose structure, sharp pointed noses identical brown hair and the same shade of bright blue eyes.

"You haven't been in for a minute, Noah,"

"Yeah... a lot's been going on in town lately. Still, I should have made time for my favourite girl."

Selma gagged. "He tells all the girls that."

Noah bumped Selma's shoulder.

Noah was three years older than me. He was charming, slightly corny but he felt safe and I wanted that. Not to mention he was handsome! Clean shaved and lean. Unlike the dangerous jagged and ragged man who walked into the restaurant last night. That man was a flame. A demon of the night.

"What? I don't want you to lie to her and speaking of lies Noah and I have been talking and-"

"Stop," Noah snapped.

"Lies?" My heart slammed forward.

I moved to this town leaving my past behind me. No one knows who I was or what I did. I made sure no one would find out.

"Forget it Paris, Selma's talking nonsense," Noah growled.

"Nonsense? Paris, isn't going anywhere, right?"

"Uh, not in the near future, why?"

"Great! Keeping secrets from her would be pointless especially when we want Paris to stay so much."

"Why are you guys talking in riddles? What secrets are you talking about?"

Selma cast her brother a side-eye. He directed his clear annoyance at her.

"Nothing and we're disturbing your shift." Noah stood grabbing his sister's arm.

"Come to the party next week on Friday. Town's square eight o'clock. I'll pick you up!"

"Selma! You can't do that!" Noah blasted.

I rubbed my chest at the rejection.

"I won't show up if you don't want me to Noah. No big deal."

He sighed heavily and rubbed his head.

"It's not that, Paris. It isn't a good party and..."

"Noah has no excuse. Are you coming? We love parties!"

I still got the feeling Noah didn't want me there so smiled at them.

"I'll think about it."

"Great! Noah and I have dinner at our grandparents later. See you later!"

***

Selma had been acting strange and the encounter with her brother was weirder. She wants to be honest about something but he's hiding. I shouldn't want them to reveal their baggage when mine's been buried and I hope will never resurface.

Every town has its secrets and every newcomer has their past.

My shift was over I was about to leave when I ran into Tim smoking in the alley. I should have kept my head down and walked away but we'd avoided talking all day.

"Tim," I said.

"What do you want kid? I'm on my break."

I laughed in shock. "You're not serious. What was that?" I hissed.

"None of your business. Count yourself lucky you made it out without a scratch."

"What are you messed up in?" I demanded before I thought about it.

Did I want to know?

He puffed out his cheeks and rolled his eyes. "You don't need to know."

"Fine. I do need to know if it's going to happen again. I work here and

Tess-"

"Tess doesn't have to know a thing and if she finds out I'll know it was you. Then you and I will have a problem, got it?"

Keep moving, Paris, we moved to get away from the danger and threats. I lifted my chin in response.

"As long as it doesn't happen again you and I are good."