The Viridian Heir: Shadows of Destiny

Ava stood at the edge of the hall, watching the buzzing crowd celebrate amidst drinking, eating, and dancing. This wedding was going to be one of the greatest in centuries, and its outcome would affect the lives of many, if not all. The uniting of two packs was never easy to pull off, but her father was willing to take the risk. For the past seven years, she had tried to convince him that she could rule, that she could be an Alpha female, but her father refused to listen. He kept saying he wanted his princess to be well taken care of, but deep down, Ava knew he didn't want a woman to rule.

She loved her father, but at times like this, she wondered if he really knew what he was doing.

As the only child and heir to the Viridian throne, Ava had been trained from the age of five in the customs and rules of their pack. She had learned boxing, swordsmanship, taekwondo, and many other skills over the years. When she looked back at how much effort she put into mastering these things, believing she would one day rule, her heart physically constricted. She wished she had spent her days playing, making friends, and having fun, rather than studying books about the kingdom. Letting out a tired sigh as the memories flooded in, she recalled shifting into her wolf form earlier than her peers. While most werewolves were expected to shift by age twelve, she shifted at ten.

She remembered how worried her mother had been, thinking it happened too soon and that her bones weren't fully developed. She remembered the pain of the transformation, how her bones contorted in ways she never knew possible. But she had been glad, because her father had been proud, telling everyone in the pack how the princess had connected to her wolf. A grand party had been thrown in her honour. A small smile appeared on Ava's lips as she recalled the joy she had felt back then. She couldn't quite remember when things had changed between her and her father. All she knew was that after her fifteenth birthday, her father called her to his chambers, sat her down, and told her that from that age onward, she would be able to feel the mate bond whenever the Moon Goddess sent her mate. She felt joy at the revelation because she had heard from her mother and nanny, Katie, how wonderful it was to find one's mate, how the bond made everything their mate did ten times better.

Before she could revel in the joy, her father dropped the news: her mate would be an Alpha, and she would rule by his side. She remembered standing up immediately, the shock evident on her face as she stormed out of his chambers while her father watched in silence. That night, she tossed and turned, wondering why her father had made such a decision. Had she done something wrong during training? She couldn't remember making any mistakes, and the whole thing baffled her. That was when she started working harder, attending war meetings, providing strategies. Every time, they praised her, saying she would make a great Luna one day. She thought, as time went on, they would see she could rule, but here she was today, at her own pre-coronation to become Luna, helping the man who would rule not only her but her kingdom.

When she met Rustyn, her mate, she had felt the bond immediately, and she could tell he had felt it too, judging by the way he looked at her like she was some treasure. It was wonderful just standing there, staring into each other's eyes, and she finally understood what nanny Katie meant. But that bliss was short-lived. Ava knew that the moment her father found out she had met her mate, he wouldn't waste a minute before marrying her off to him, ensuring the kingdom had its next Alpha in case anything happened to him. The only thing that could stop it was if she was given an irresponsible mate, but as fate would have it, Rustyn was not only responsible and capable, but he was also the Alpha of the Falu Red pack, a stronger and more powerful pack than their own. She knew then and there that there was no escaping this.

Under normal circumstances, she would have loved to be with him, only if she hadn't spent her entire life training to rule her people and be the best female Alpha the pack had seen in ages. Though being with him promised a life of bliss, a part of her felt trapped, caged in a life she didn't want. At first, she tried to convince him to keep their bond a secret, so they could get to know each other, and he had agreed. For the first few weeks, it was lovely. She felt adored and loved; he said and did all the right things. Being with him brought her peace and made her forget her worries. She even started contemplating marrying him and giving up her dream of ruling, until he told her that he had met her father the same day they discovered they were mates despite her explicitly telling him not to. Worse still, he had revealed that preparations for their wedding were underway, and he had already chosen a date six days from now. His excuse was that he couldn't wait to be with her and loved her so much. He wanted the two packs to become one. From that day onward, she couldn't look at him the same. Everything he did seemed like part of a plan to seize her kingdom and increase his fame.

As she stood watching everyone celebrate a future she wasn't sure she wanted, Ava made a decision. She couldn't do it. She couldn't marry Rustyn and live a life controlled by someone who didn't care about her opinions. She had never been the type to follow orders blindly, every decision she had ever taken was well thought through by her and she had only ever followed orders if it matched her two top priorities which was the growth of her pack and her goal to become alpha and her parents knew it. She wasn't going to start now, not even for the sake of her pack. Stealing a glance at her mother, who was deep in conversation with the elders, Ava slipped out of the hall unnoticed. The cool night air hit her face as she stepped into the shadows of the forest that bordered their land. Her heartbeat quickened as the reality of what she was about to do sank in, but she felt a flicker of hope, hope that she could outrun the fate chosen for her. She knew it was a selfish decision that would affect the two packs involved, but she needed to do this for herself.

The forest was thick with shadows as Ava ran, her heartbeat echoing in her ears. She didn't know where she was going, only that she had to get as far away as possible before anyone noticed she was gone. The Viridian Moon pack's land stretched wide, but beyond it, the world was unfamiliar to her. That was the point. She had to disappear, to start a new life where no one knew her name, her lineage, or the expectations placed on her shoulders.

Her beautiful dress dragged through the mud as she moved, slowing her down. Frustration bubbled inside her, and with a sharp tug, she ripped off part of the gown, tossing the delicate fabric to the forest floor. It didn't matter anymore. The girl who was supposed to wear that dress, the silent yet dutiful Luna, was going to disappear tonight. She had to.

Swiftly, she shifted into her wolf form, a beautiful black creature with eyes the colour of the moon. She had never been more grateful for her wolf's colour like tonight, the colour which enabled her to blend with the shadows. Running in her wolf form was faster, easier, and more freeing than she had ever felt before. She wasn't sure if it was due to the adrenaline coursing through her veins at being reckless and the hope of freedom or if it was due to the fear of being caught mid-way, but her senses sharpened as she darted through the trees, guided by instinct alone.

Vera, her wolf, was not pleased that she had made the choice to take them away from their mate, so she spoke through their bond. "Girl, I love you, but what you're doing doesn't sit well with me. Is this why you didn't let me meet our mate?" Ava knew she owed her wolf an explanation, but this wasn't the time for that conversation. They were running away from their wedding and responsibilities, which was a cowardly thing to do, but she couldn't help it. She knew if she stopped to explain the situation to Vera, she might back out and return. And it was already too late for that. They had arrived at the border between their pack and another realm full of different creatures, so she blocked Vera from her mind.

Slowing down to analyse the border security patrol for the night, relief flooded Ava's system when she saw them. They were all wolves her age or slightly older, and they looked carefree and relaxed. It seemed the high-ranking wolves were at the banquet, celebrating the prospect of her union to Rustyn, leader and Alpha of the Falu Red pack, the mere thought of them celebrating happily knowing fully well she wanted to be alpha made her roll her eyes mentally. There were about seven patrol guards in total, gathered around a bonfire looking all joyous, it seemed everyone was happy celebrating the union-except her which was odd to her since she was the bride.

Their position meant the other side of the wall would be free, and even if it wasn't, she was confident she could take them all down. All those years of training weren't for nothing. But there was one issue-they were on the right side of the border, and the left side wasn't the safest way to travel. There were stories of people who had gotten lost within realms after leaving through the left. She sighed in frustration realizing this young patrol knew exactly what they were doing by sitting on the right side. Ava stood calculating her options and non-seemed favourable so she had to choose that which she considered the lesser evil, if she fought them, they might raise an alarm and it would take approximately five minutes for the backup team to be there and that was enough time for her to go over the border but it wouldn't be enough time to run far enough not to be caught and they would probably raise alarm to the next pack, so she decided against it, and as for the second option, only a fool would cross the border through the left side, but at this moment it seemed like the best option, no alarms would be raised, no fighting her own people and enough time to run and figure out where she was headed, giving it another brief thought, she decided she was ready to take the risk after all those were just rumours she thought. Realizing she couldn't do it on her own, she needed Vera's help, in times like this, she needed the only friend she had ever allowed herself to have, the friend given to every werewolf by the moon goddess, her wolf, so she opened the bond and spoke to her. "Vera, I'm really sorry I blocked you out, but I can't explain now. I promise I'll tell you everything if we survive this. I want us to take the left side of the border, but I can't do this on my own. I need us to be connected, because we're stronger together."

As much as Vera was mad at Ava, she knew she was right. Crossing the left border was no easy feat. They had all heard the horror stories, and she loved Ava too much to leave her alone. So, taking a deep breath and feeling the cold night air on their skin, and steeling herself against the fear in her heart, the beautiful black wolf sprinted into the night.

Ava was grateful for Vera's understanding, but even as she ran, a part of her could still feel the pull and connection to Rustyn, her fated mate. The bond between them tugged at her heart, a reminder of the life she was abandoning. But Ava gritted her teeth and pushed on. She thanked her stars she hadn't let him mark her. When he had asked, she'd told him they should wait until the wedding and coronation were over before deepening the bond, which made the pain from the mate bond bearable now that she was intentionally separating from him. She refused to let fate dictate her choices. Not now. Not ever.

Ava's breath came in ragged gasps as she continued to push forward. Her lungs burned with the effort, but the adrenaline coursing through her veins kept her moving. The forest was a maze of towering trees and tangled vines, each step a fight against the constraints of the life she was fleeing. The scent of damp earth and pine filled her nostrils, mingling with the faint metallic tang of her own sweat. She stumbled over a hidden root, nearly falling, but caught herself at the last moment.

Her heart pounded with the rhythm of her flight, and the sounds of the forest seemed to close in around her. Every rustle of leaves, every snap of a twig heightened her sense of danger. She didn't know where they were or how far they had gone from the border, but she could feel her strength-and Vera's-weakening. It felt like they had been running for years and yet dawn never came. But determined, she pushed forward. Then, like a fog, her vision became clouded, and the last thing she remembered was changing into her human form while shielding her head from the impact of the fall.

Alpha Idris of the Viridian Moon Pack was enjoying his time with his high-ranking officials at the banquet he had organized to celebrate his daughter finding her mate-the future alpha of his pack. He could finally rest from pack matters and enjoy time with his beautiful Luna, Sera, knowing his pack was in good hands. The Moon Goddess had truly blessed him: first with a wonderful daughter who was dutiful, strong, and kind, and second with a powerful son-in-law, a man who knew how to lead.

Though some members of his council weren't fully in favour of the merger, he was confident since Rustyn had proven he was a promising young lad. After several conversations with him, Idris knew the young lad was more than capable of handling things during the transition. He couldn't be more grateful to the moon goddess.

Just as he was about to raise a toast to the new alliance they were about to form with the Falu Red Pack, news arrived that his beloved daughter was nowhere to be found. Beta Federick of the viridian moon pack pulled his alpha aside. "Alpha, we've searched everywhere for your daughter. We've combed the entire pack house and even your chambers, but she's nowhere to be found."

Idris couldn't comprehend what his beta had just said. His whole world started to spin. Did his beta just say that Ava was missing? This must be some kind of sick joke he thought. How could his daughter be gone? turning to his beta he spoke

"Federick, where is Rustyn? Has he heard the news yet?"

"Yes, Alpha. He was the one who alerted the guards when he couldn't find her." Idris instructed his beta to find Rustyn and tell him to meet him in his chambers. The beta scurried off to deliver the message while Idris told his luna and council to handle the party as he went to his chambers to wait his daughter's mate.

On reaching where Rustyn was beta Federick greeted the young alpha with respect even though he was older, bowing his head he said "I greet you, Alpha Rustyn of the Falu Red Pack. Alpha Idris requests your presence in his chambers."

While Idris waited, tension gripped him as his mind raced through all the possible reasons why Ava was missing. Could she have been kidnapped? he thought, but he knew no enemy was brave or stupid enough to abduct his daughter, especially now that the world knew she was mated to the Alpha of the powerful Falu Red Pack, whose reputation preceded them. Even if some fool dared to try, his daughter was no weakling. She was strong, witty, and smart, so she would have made a ruckus, alerted the guards. This disappearance didn't sit right with him. He could only come to one reasonable conclusion: Ava had left willingly. But why? He knew she disliked the idea of ruling alongside someone instead of on her own terms, but that didn't seem like enough reason to leave. Perhaps something had happened between her and Rustyn, had the young lad done something to make his daughter leave, he wondered.

Rustyn grew more restless with each passing second. He could feel the bond between him and Ava weakening, the connection barely holding on, proving that wherever she was right now, it was far from this pack. Stopping in the hallway, he ran a frustrated hand through his hair. How had he let this happen? He should have marked her the moment he met her or at least within a few days. If he had, she wouldn't have been able to leave without his knowledge. Even if she wanted to leave, he would have sensed it through the bond, and the pull wouldn't have allowed her to go far without alerting him. And if she had been taken against her will, she would have screamed or fought back. From the short time he had spent with her, he knew she wasn't weak, and her strength was well-known across the packs, and no one would dare to attempt kidnaping her in her own pack especially now that the world knew she was his, so this led him to only one reasonable conclusion, his mate had left willingly.

When he had first felt the pull towards her, he was shocked because he knew who she was, her reputation was well known in their realm, he knew the Moon Goddess had given him a rare blessing. He couldn't believe how lucky he was to have a mate admired for her beauty, strength, and intelligence, and she came with a powerful pack that would soon be his. She was the full package, his trophy wife, one to boast about to the world. But after a few interactions, he realized she was strong-willed and independent. She didn't want her father to know about their relationship, and Rustyn knew he had to act fast and marry her before she changed her mind. Given her personality, he wouldn't have been surprised if she rejected the mate bond. So, he tried to make her understand him, showing her what she wanted to see. He thought he had played all his cards right, but something went wrong it seems.

As he resumed his walk to Alpha Idris's chambers, realization haunted him: Ava didn't want the union, so she left. But why didn't she want it? They were perfect together, at least in his eyes. Rustyn wondered how he would face everyone tomorrow when they learned his bride had fled the night before their wedding. The embarrassment of not being able to "handle" his woman might lead some to doubt his ability to manage his pack, and at this critical moment, he needed everyone's support for the merger. Now, the woman who was supposed to be his greatest supporter had vanished, and with each passing second, their bond weakened further he didn't know how to feel so he blocked his thoughts from wandering and continued his walk silently to her father's chambers.

Sera knew her daughter well enough. Though she hadn't raised Ava herself because of her duties as Luna, their bond was strong. She had made a conscious effort to connect with her daughter every weekend since she was a little girl, and that's why when news of Ava's disappearance reached her, she didn't panic. Contrary to what others thought, she wasn't in shock. Sera knew Ava had left intentionally. She had seen it in her daughter's eyes at the banquet, just moments before Ava had dashed out of the hall. Her green eyes had shone with an intensity that only appeared when she had made up her mind to do something. The first time Sera noticed this was seven years ago when Idris had told their daughter she couldn't be an alpha. Ava had trained her entire life for that position, so it was no surprise when she stormed off in anger. Sera and Nanny Kate had felt the girl's rage through the bond they shared with her. From that day on, Ava did everything in her power to prove her father wrong.

Despite all their daughter's efforts, Idris remained too stubborn to change his mind. Sera had never supported her mate's decision to tell their daughter she couldn't be an alpha. She was excited to see how Ava would lead as the first female alpha in centuries. But when Sera voiced her thoughts, they fought, and she refused to join Idris when he broke the news to Ava. With a deep sigh, Sera hoped her daughter was safe, wherever she was.