Alder's POV

My name is Alder Volcik, and I am the Lycan

King. I am 187 years old and have held the title of king for over 150 years.

People widely recognize lycans as the most powerful species. We aim to

safeguard the werewolves and maintain balance among all supernatural species.

Royals like me remain immortal unless our heads are severed and our hearts are

simultaneously removed. We have the ability to heal faster than werewolves,

both in terms of physical wounds and speed. Additionally, a well-trained

regular lycan is capable of defeating an alpha.

Indeed, we possess great power. We strive to

be responsible individuals who are mindful of our actions, ensuring that we do

not abuse our power and bully individuals of any species. The person who

committed the act would go through a trial and, if found guilty by the council,

would suffer severe penalties.

As a royal, I possess unique abilities that

set me apart from other lycans. However, I prefer to keep these abilities

hidden unless it becomes absolutely necessary to reveal them. Though I admit

that I have used my abilities multiple times in my effort to find my fated

mate, I have been running the kingdom on my own, eagerly awaiting the arrival

of my mate. However, we Lycans faced significant challenges in finding our

destined mates. Most of the Lycans I knew didn't find their soulmates until

they were over 300 years old. That is why the majority of us choose to have a

chosen mate.

However, I have no intention of doing so. I am

willing to wait patiently for what is mine, even if it takes a thousand years.

I am not an angel; therefore, I have indeed been in the company of female

lycans. I was not seeking a relationship but instead just looking for a way to

find release, and they were aware of that. We limited our interactions to

sexual activity because I was certain that I would wait for my destined mate.

As a Lycan, I experience a heightened intensity of intimacy compared to

werewolves. I made a conscious effort to reduce that need as much as possible,

and I took precautions to ensure that none of them got pregnant. I plan to have

children only with my mate and no one else.

"Alder," Lance, my beta, called out

to me. I allow my best friends to call me by my name, including my third in

command, Charles. We were in my office, and he mentioned that he had plans to

attend a Luna ceremony at Raven Claw Pack in Canada. I wanted to avoid

participating in an event like that because I was sure that everyone would

start inviting me once they found out I had made time for the Raven Claw.

"You must attend this event because Luna

earned her title by challenging Alpha's fated mate." I glanced in his

direction. It is hard to believe they were still involved in such activities. I

think such practices were abolished many years ago. Anyone can be paired with a

weak mate, which makes them vulnerable to being challenged by stronger

werewolves or lycans. Interestingly, my father, who is also the former Lycan

King, issued a royal decree regarding this matter. Only when deemed unworthy

can one make a challenged.

"Why did that event occur?" I asked,

and now he has captured my attention and piqued my curiosity.

He answered, "The fated mate was known

for her promiscuity, and the challenger believed she did not deserve to become

Luna."

"So, is the challenger a virgin?" I

asked lazily. He glanced at me and chuckled, then joined in with Charles.

"If she is, then she has the right to challenge her. However, if she is

not, then she is also not suitable to be Luna. The only difference between them

was the number of wolves they had.

"We are aware of that, but I believe the

Alpha himself also did not have affection for his destined mate. That is likely

why he allowed the challenge to take place," Charles explained.

"Do you know what made me curious?"

Lance inquired, his expression serious. “The challenged Luna was Gamma’s

daughter. How could she lose to an ordinary wolf? Surely her parents trained

her, right?”

"I find that much more intriguing,"

I remarked, and both of them nodded in agreement. In preparation for Luna's

ceremony in two weeks, I made sure to complete all my pending tasks to avoid a

backlog of work upon my return. We will leave in one week. I had intended to

stay there for approximately one week.

I have decided to bring a few warriors along

with my beta, Lance. Because Charles didn't enjoy attending such events, I

entrusted him with the responsibility while we were absent. "I will return

as soon as possible, so please ensure that everything is in order by

then," I told my gamma.

I have confidence in his ability to do his

job. However, what concerns me is my understanding of his character. Compared

to Lance, Charles is a Lycan who desires to meet his mate but also has a strong

inclination for physical intimacy. I am uncertain about his reaction when his

mate arrives while he is in the company of another female Lycan.

“Is everybody ready?” I asked Lance.

"Yes, your Highness," he replied,

causing me to roll my eyes. They both chuckled before we left my office. As we leave

the palace, we will proceed to the hangar where the royal private plane is

located. Afterward, we will move to Canada, with an estimated flight duration

of approximately 4 hours. All the surrounding packs collectively own the Hill

Crest Pack's private hangar in the region. The palace provides financial

assistance for its maintenance and operations. We decided to go to Raven Claw

Pack from Hill Crest for the convenience of all pack members, especially the

Alpha.

The sheer beauty of the pack's surroundings

captivated me as our convoy ventured into their territory. From the moment we

crossed their border, it was evident that the place had been well-maintained.

The patrol guards on duty stopped us, but they permitted us to enter once they

discovered our identities. I don't have any objections to being thwarted at

every border because I fully respect the security procedures in place and

harbor no ill feelings toward them. I would feel less anxious if I could ensure

each package was secure and in good condition.

We traveled along the concrete road, which had

hedges on either sides and a central divider separating the two lanes of

traffic. The Raven Claw Pack stands out as one of the most affluent packs in

the region, primarily due to the influence of its former Alpha, John. I had the

pleasure of meeting him and found him incredibly kind, just like his Luna. I

had high expectations for their son to become an outstanding new Alpha, but now

I am disappointed with the current Alpha.

However, due to the incident with the

challenge, I wonder if I will be able to develop a liking for the new one. Both

Charles and Lance expressed their dislike for him to me. A true mate would

never allow their mate to face challenges so quickly, particularly if they

occupy a leadership position like an alpha. It confirmed Charles' belief that

the new alpha strongly disliked his mate.

Our SUV came to a halt in front of a massive

warehouse, which, in my estimation, appeared to be a five-story structure.

Standing on the landing porch were the former alpha and Luna, along with the

others. I think the two individuals between them were the new ones. I observed

the new Luna closely and noticed that she blushed. Did she assume that I was

interested in her simply because I glanced in her direction?

They were aware of my identity, and I made a

deliberate effort to inform them. I emit a significant amount of aura, causing

others to show deference to me, particularly those two individuals who are

especially inclined to do so. I allowed Lance to greet them, as I preferred not

to involve myself with the two new leaders. I noticed that the new Luna gave me

intimate looks, making me uncomfortable.

"Your Highness," the former Alpha

John greeted me kindly. I nodded at him, maintaining a serious expression. I

want to inform him that I was not pleased with what occurred regarding the

pack. Annie, his Luna, stood beside him and greeted me with a respectful smile

before taking John's hand. I smiled back at her because she always remained

sweet to her partner. I greatly admire women who possess loyalty and the

ability to support and respect their partners.

"John, where will we settle during our

stay?" I was supposed to ask the new alpha, but as I mentioned earlier, I

didn't like him at all. John and Annie exchanged glances, then responded to me

after thinking about their son.

"The villa is prepared and awaiting your

arrival with your convoy. We want to invite you to join us for a meal before we

escort you to the villa for some rest. If it is acceptable to you, your Highness,"

"I would love to have a meal with you and

Luna Annie. You reminded me of my parents, who were destined soulmates and

remained together until their final moments."

"It is a pleasure, Your Highness. If

that's the case, please follow us to the dining hall," he replied. I

glanced at Lance, who in turn signaled our warriors to follow. Both new leaders

were rendered speechless, as they did not attempt to engage in conversation

with me. What kind of leaders are they?

I couldn't help but be astounded by the

interior's opulence as we entered the pack house. I briefly believed that I had

entered the opulent mansion of a prosperous entrepreneur. I refrained from

showering them with compliments about their wealth, as I didn't want to offend

John. I am aware of the immense effort he puts into networking and engaging

with individuals, particularly humans, to establish business connections with

them.

'Your Highness, please take a look at the new

alpha. He seems upset because you have been neglecting him and his Luna.' Lance

said through our link.

'I don't care,' I replied. I heard him

chuckle, but I chose to ignore it. We all sat, patiently waiting for the omegas

to complete setting the table with food.

"Your Highness," John said, catching

my attention. "This is my son, Vlad, the new Alpha of the Raven Claw Pack,

and his Luna, Monique," he proudly announced. I glanced at him and then

shifted my gaze toward the two individuals he referred to.

"John, I have agreed to be present here

because I have discovered that she is not the true Luna. I would like to

thoroughly examine the fairness of the challenge to determine its

validity." I told him. The young alpha and his Luna, both had their heads

down. I noticed a look of concern on John and Annie's faces, which confirmed my

suspicion that something was happening.

"I didn't want to spoil the feast you

prepared for us. I highly appreciate the dedication and effort of those who

work in the kitchen of the pack house. It is important to me that everyone can

fulfill their responsibilities without any concerns." I suggested, pausing

momentarily, "Would it be possible for us to have a meal first and then

discuss my visit tomorrow morning?"

"Of course, Your Highness." Both

John and Annie responded, and we proceeded with our meal. I observed Vlad and

Monique exchanging glances, and a smirk crossed my face as I realized that

something had gone awry.

The meal was delicious, and we left the dining

hall feeling satisfied. Lance would be content staying in the pack house by

himself, surrounded by food. Since it would only take 10 minutes to drive from

the pack house to the villa, I decided to walk there instead. In addition, it

served as a form of exercise for me, allowing me to observe my surroundings

simultaneously. We were accompanied by three warriors, as I chose to avoid

having the new alpha join us. Additionally, I didn't want to inconvenience John

and Annie, as I had a suspicion that they were the ones who had made themselves

occupied during our visit.

"The villa is right over there, Your

Highness," one of the warriors informed me, to which I nodded in

acknowledgment. As the wind blew, a delightful aroma wafted through the air,

captivating my senses like never before. I enjoy the flavors of honey and

vanilla. The experience was incredibly intoxicating, and my Lycan was filled

with excitement, causing it to howl in my mind. I glanced around, attempting to

locate the source of the scent.

"Your Highness, is there a problem?"

Lance asked. He might have observed my unease.

"Did you catch a whiff of that scent? I

posed a question, and all eyes turned towards me, including those of the Raven

Claw warriors.

"What is that scent? I don't smell

anything unusual," Lance replied as my eyes scanned the surroundings.

"Your Highness," the warrior who informed

us about the villa being close, said, "There was no unusual scent other

than Clover." I stared at him intently.

"The leaves?" I asked.

"No, Clover, our supposed to be

Luna," he answered, his head lowered.

"Are you referring to Luna, who faced

defeat?" I asked to confirm and ensure accuracy.

"Yes, Your Highness," he replied,

and I nodded in understanding.

"Let's go," I said, and we walked. I

was surprised to find her here. Why did you choose to come here out of all the

possible places?