The First King
Chapter 4

The sounds of twigs snapping and the panting of wolves filled the air. It was about a dozen wolves spread out, running through a forest. One dark brown wolf was in the front, pushing harder, running faster than the rest. This wolf that led the charge was enormous, an indication of his status as an Alpha.

Konrad’s eyes stayed glued in front of him. His thoughts were on the witches, on how he would kill them, tearing them limb from limb. The memories of his parents' bodies, of their heads lying several feet away, filled his mind. He wanted every witch to suffer as his parents had. But then he thought of Prew, of the human girl Julius wanted him to take as a mate. Would his rage scare her? Could she accept the monster that lay within his heart? His wolf jumped over a fallen tree, jolting Konrad from his thoughts.

“Careful…” Konrad growled within his soul.

“Do you want to get there or not?!” Nero, his wolf, snapped in reply.

"Save that temper of yours for the witches," Konrad demanded. "I am in no mood to fight with you."

Nero growled, but he kept running. The relationship between Konrad and his wolf spirit was one of trust, of understanding and respect. But there were times when they took out their frustrations on the other. It was an inevitable consequence of two creatures being fused together.

"I'm sorry," Konrad murmured to his wolf. "There is a lot on my mind."

"The human girl has been on my mind, too," Nero replied.

Though they were two separate beings with their own thoughts and desires, they shared a soul and a body. It was no surprise that Prew had been on both of their minds. But why? How had this human girl permeated their thoughts so easily? The answer to that question filled Konrad with guilt. The reason they thought of her was simply because of what accepting her meant. Making her their mate meant safety and security for his pack. It meant they had a chance at a future he could not give them alone. To Konrad, it meant that he would be in Prew's debt, even if she were unaware of it.

“Do you expect the witches to still be there?” A wolf questioned over mind link.

Konrad turned his head, glancing briefly at the wolf that ran alongside him. This wolf was large, nearly matching the size of Nero. The man running next to him was his cousin, Rowan. Rowan had the ability and strength to be an Alpha of his own pack. But rather than leave, he chose to stay, becoming the Beta to Konrad. Though Konrad trusted everyone within his pack, if he had to put his life in the hands of one person, it would be Rowan.

“The Alpha and Luna of the Silvertail pack aren’t weak nor stupid,” Konrad replied.

“But we know that doesn’t mean anything when it comes to the witches.” Rowan retorted.

Nero snarled before quickly snapping at Rowan’s paws. Rowan jumped, attempting to avoid the bite. But it caused him to lose his balance, tumbling face-first into the forest floor. The other warriors laughed at him over mind link as they ran by his body. With a huff, Rowan lifted himself from the ground.

As Rowan sprinted after the wolves, he could not help but sigh to himself. He meant nothing by the remark. Rowan hated witches just as Konrad did. Except, he was not drowning in the same rage or despair. His eyes did not glaze over at the mere mention of witches. That day that the ones from Thresnora attacked their pack, the day that they left the decapitated bodies in the dirt, it broke something within Konrad. The young Alpha spiraled, craving nothing but vengeance. All Rowan could do was try to keep his cousin alive. To protect him, even if it was from himself.

The wolves finally reached the edges of the forest. Nero paused briefly as they neared the top of a hill. Up ahead was a small camp, and beyond that were wolves fighting witches. Konrad smiled, excited that they had not come too late.

"Kill the witches! Leave none alive to spread their chaos!" Konrad commanded over mind link.

The wolves that surrounded him howled into the air. Nero led the charge as a newfound wave of energy hit him. The thrill of the fight, of vengeance, surged through his veins. As Nero ran, Konrad focused on the witches. Ten… he had counted ten that were alive and breathing.

As they neared the fighting, Nero and the other wolves began to vary in the direction in which they ran. Running in a straight line, in one direction, without deviation, was dangerous. The witches had magic that they would shoot at the wolves, but it could only go forward. Their magic could not change where it went on a whim.

Konrad’s eyes scanned the battlefield. He noticed a giant wolf lying on its side. Nero ran up to the body, stopping only to nudge a paw. Konrad instantly recognized the scent as the Alpha of the Silvertail pack. On the fallen Alpha’s side was a gaping hole with dark soot leaking out. Konrad and Nero both growled as their attention went to the nearest witch.

Nero did not hesitate; he charged for the woman, but rather than bob and weave across the field, he ran straight for her. The witch held out her arms, pointing her palms at the charging wolf. A burst of darkness shot out from her hands, shooting directly for Nero. But before the magic could hit him, Nero shifted into Konrad. With the momentum, Konrad leaned back, ducking under the magic as he slid across the ground.

He reached into his boots, grabbing one of the daggers that he had tucked away. Konrad threw the dagger before the witch could react, landing it directly into her chest. The woman stumbled backward onto the ground. She grabbed the handle of the blade with a trembling hand. Konrad ran up to her, growling as he ripped his dagger from her body. In one swift movement, he slashed the blade across her throat.

“Werelia Inttum,” he growled as the witch writhed under him. He used the ends of the woman’s dress to wipe her blood from the blade. He tucked the dagger into his boot and shifted back to Nero.

“One down,” he stated.

“Nine more to go,” Nero replied in a husky voice.

The two of them did not need to search for their next target. A man was running towards them. It was another witch, one who had watched Konrad brutally kill his friend. The man held out his arm, summoning a black blade from thin air. Nero lunged at the man, his claws extended, and his teeth bared. He snapped at the man’s wrist, latching on, preventing the witch from hitting him with the sword.

The witch yelled out in pain as the wolf’s teeth sank deep into his wrist. It caused his hand to open automatically, dropping the sword onto the ground. Nero clamped down harder until the hand fell as well. The man held out his left hand into the air. Clouds formed around his fingers before becoming a small knife. The witch slammed the blade down into Nero’s rib cage.

Nero yelped out in pain, causing him to release the witch’s arm. The man withdrew the knife, raising it back high into the air. As the blade came back down, another wolf ran up, grabbing the witch’s arm. The wolf yanked the arm backward, popping the joint from its socket. Nero glanced over, noticing that it was Rowan who had intervened.

“I had it!” Konrad yelled over mind link as Nero’s mouth encircled around the witch’s throat. He clamped down, cutting off the man’s ability to breathe. He turned his head, ripping apart the man’s neck in the process.

“What do you mean you had it?! He stabbed you with a knife in the side!” Rowan replied angrily.

“A wound that I have nearly healed from already,” Konrad retorted as Nero pushed against Rowan’s wolf. He glared into the other wolf’s eyes while a growl rumbled through his chest.

“Goddess, grant me the strength not to kill you myself,” Rowan mumbled as he turned away from Nero’s dominant gaze.

Konrad watched as Rowan ran off to aid another one of their warriors. Nero shook his head, but neither the wolf nor Konrad was truly angry with Rowan. His cousin had saved him time and time again. But then he heard yelling coming from the side. He turned his head, noticing a witch chasing after children.

Nero growled as he quickly darted after them. The woman who chased the children stopped when she heard the wolf snarling behind her. She quickly turned, running between the tents. As Konrad turned a corner in his pursuit of the witch, something sent a tingle down his spine. He shook his head, trying his best to push it aside.

Nero quickened his pace as he neared the woman. He opened his mouth, baring his teeth as he got within biting distance. Within a few steps, he was able to grab onto her leg, forcing her to fall forward onto the ground. She screamed out in pain, her hands quickly reaching down for the wolf. She tried to use her magic, but it flickered as the pain overwhelmed her.

But then the tingling sensation returned to Konrad. It radiated across his body, across his wolf, with each breath they took. Nero’s grip tightened as he turned his head, tossing the witch off to the side. But rather than killing them off, he paused. Nero’s nose went into the air. There was a peculiar scent that attracted him. It was the scent of rose petals and thyme. It pulled him away from the fighting, from the action that Konrad thrived on.

Nero followed the smell to the edge of the encampment. It was then that he spotted a witch cornering a wolf. The witch, a man, had shadows swirling around his hands. Nero snarled, suddenly forgetting about the intoxicating scent that had clouded his mind only moments before. His back paws pressed into the ground, preparing to lunge forward. As the witch reached out for the wolf he had cornered, Nero pounced on him, grabbing a hold of his arm.

As Nero pulled the witch away, he briefly made eye contact with the cowering wolf. Something came alive within the depths of Konrad’s soul. Something that he did not even believe could come about. It was as if he was suddenly whole, as if moments before he was but half a man. There was a warmth that enveloped his body, causing his heart to relax.

Before Konrad or Nero could even think, a searing pain hit his shoulder. The witch that he held within his grasp had shot him with magic. The shadows singed his fur, as if he had been caught on fire. Nero reluctantly tore his gaze from the wolf and looked upon the witch below him. The man summoned more magic, aiming it at the wolf’s face.

Nero swiped his paw at the witch. His claws scratched the man’s hand and his face. He took his other paw, slashing at the witch. Again and again, he slashed until the witch stopped moving. Until the noises from the man ceased, and all that remained was the whimpering of the other wolf.

Nero snapped his head up, looking at the wolf that had torn him away from the fighting. The she-wolf was light gray, with blue eyes that sparkled in the light. As he walked up to her, he towered over her. She was average size for a wolf, but compared to Nero, she was tiny.

“Mate…” Nero growled.

“She is our mate…” Konrad repeated.

All this time, his mate was in the Silvertail pack. A pack that roamed a similar territory to the Wild Haers. But, never once had Konrad met the entire pack. He had only met the Alpha and Luna, or the occasional warrior when out hunting. He had never once sought out his mate, traveling as some Alphas did. And yet, here she was, only an hour away.

“Konrad! We need you!” Rowan yelled over mind link.

Konrad glanced away for a moment. He could not see the fighting, but he could hear it. He could hear the yelling of witches, the cries of his warriors over mind link. He took one last look at his mate. At the blue eyes that stared at him. Though she was his mate, he had a duty to protect his men. To fight alongside them and not be sidetracked by fate.

With a deep exhale, Nero sprinted away, back toward the edges of the encampment. There were four witches, all of whom were sending their magic into chaotic, frenzied shots. They were backing up, making their way to the shadows of the hillside. Nero ran faster, hoping to cut them off. But the witches noticed him. They turned around, dashing for the shadows. They melted away once they could touch it, blending into the darkness.

Nero came to a halt, sliding across the ground. He shifted into Konrad, who kicked a rock angrily into the darkness. Many of the dark magic witches had the ability to blend into shadows, using it to travel quickly. They could cover any distance in a matter of seconds, so long as there was a shadow for them to step into.

He stood there for a minute, watching the shadows, waiting to see if the witches would return. Behind him, he could hear men talking, cheering that they were able to chase away the darkness. Konrad turned around, opening his mouth to yell at his warriors, but he stopped. There were blue eyes staring at him; his mate was there, amongst a crowd that had gathered.

Konrad stepped forward, but he could not approach her. Many others ran up to him first, thanking him for his help. He stood there for what seemed like an eternity, talking to everyone else. But his eyes kept finding her. He watched as she walked off to the side, stepping into the woods. He pulled away from the crowd at the first chance, slinking away after the woman.

He sniffed the air, following her scent. He quickly found her hiding behind a tree. He put his hands above her head, leaning close to her. Konrad stared at the petite woman before him. Her blue eyes were bright, even when no light sparkled on them. Her hair was blonde, and it hung in loose waves down her shoulders. He leaned in, inhaling the rose petals and thyme that she exuded.

“Mate,” Konrad sighed as he closed his eyes.

“Mate,” she repeated softly.

His eyes shot open at the sound of her voice. It sent shivers up his arms and down his back.

“I’m Konrad,” he stated gently.

“I’m Lorelei.”

“Beautiful,” he whispered as his gaze traveled from her eyes down to her lips.

“Thank you for saving me,” she murmured.

Her hands trembled against the tree. It was not out of fear but out of desire. She wanted to reach up and touch him, but he was an Alpha. His aura, the dominance that he emitted, was powerful. As an Omega, as the weakest of the wolves, she could not break past his barrier. It had to be him that moved first. It had to be him that initiated.

Konrad listened to her, but then his thoughts went to his pack, to Prew. Just hours ago, he had accepted her as his chosen mate. He had accepted the title of king, to lead the armies of others against the witches. But now there was this woman, Lorelei, who shattered everything in a matter of seconds. Her very existence had him questioning everything.

With a scowl, he pulled away. He stormed off, rejoining his warriors, leaving her confused. Konrad needed to think away from her. He felt split, as if every fiber of his soul was being torn. To him, it was like he only had two choices: Lorelei or his pack. She was his mate, but his heart did not lie with her. No, it lay with his pack, with his people.

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