The First King
Chapter 5

A few hours later, Konrad and his warriors return to the Wild Haer pack. It was late into the evening, and everyone ran to greet them, anxious to see if everyone returned. Thankfully, they had not lost anyone, and any wounds sustained during the fight had mostly healed upon their return. The warriors were excited, holding up the gifts from the Silvertail pack. As thanks for saving them, they gave Konrad dried meat, two sacks of grain, and two deer skins.

Konrad would generally turn away any gifts from people that he saved, but he was eager to leave. He did not want to be around Lorelei's alluring scent any longer. The first chance he got, he bolted, running through the woods. As his pack members gathered around the central fire to celebrate, Konrad went straight into his tent. Julius, who had not yet left, noticed. He followed the young Alpha curiously.

"Is everything alright?" Julius questioned when he entered the tent. Konrad was sitting on his bed, his head in his hands.

"No."

"Was it the fighting? What happened?" Julius inquired further as he sat down across from Konrad.

"Yes and no," Konrad sighed as he glanced over at his mentor. "We get there, and the first thing that I noticed was Mason dead on the field. I spent a while fighting witches, killing a couple of them. But... something happened."

"What was it?"

"I found her, Julius," Konrad replied as his hands began to tremble. "I found my mate."

"You're joking!" Julius exclaimed as he studied Konrad's expressions. But no, his jaw was clenched and his expression unmoving. "Oh... I see. Well, what do you want to do?"

"What can I do?"

"Well, as it stands, you only have two options," Julius answered as he scratched at his beard. "You can reject your mate and continue with the plan to take Prew as your chosen mate. Become the king, lead the conjoined army. Or you choose to take your fated mate as your Luna. And I shall go to Huthwaite and send ravens to the five human kings. The leader council will reconvene, and we will go with whoever their second best choice was."

Konrad exhaled as his body trembled. He was torn on what to do. His mate, the woman that he thought didn't exist, was within his grasp. He could take her as his mate... as his Luna. Luna... Would she be able to handle the pressure? She was an Omega, and he was a ruthless Alpha known for slaughtering witches. Could she keep up with him?

On the other hand, Konrad felt as if he should step up, protect the world, protect his pack. Protect? No. It was revenge that he wanted. He wanted to destroy every witch, every coven, to avenge what they did to his parents. If he took Lorelei as his mate, he would still be able to fight; he knew this. But deep down, Konrad wanted to be the one in control. To be the one who says where to go, when to go, and who to attack. The ultimate power, with hundreds of men standing behind him.

"The meeting is still in place between you and Prew. Why not go meet with her and see if there is a connection or chemistry between you two?" Julius commented gently. "You don't have to make a decision right away."

“And if there is none?” Konrad questioned as he glanced up.

“Then you take your mate, make her your Luna. You live a life that can make many others jealous,” Julius answered as he sighed. He walked across the tent and sat on the bed, placing his hand on Konrad’s shoulder. “Did I ever tell you that my parents were fated mates?”

“I don’t believe so.”

“Well, they were. They found each other when they were young, before my father became the Alpha of the Winding Path pack. I can remember growing up, watching how they interacted with one another. It was different than most of the other couples in the pack. If my father were upset, the sight of my mother would instantly calm him. If one of them was in pain, the other knew right away. They had a love that I didn’t see in other relationships. Not even with my own mate. Yes, I chose Bev, but I knew something was missing. And it’s not her fault, nor mine. It’s just…it is what it is.”

“Would you think less of me if I chose the human over my fated mate?” Konrad inquired.

“No, because you would be putting your pack first, as you always do,” Julius replied with a smile.

“Right,” Konrad nodded softly.

Julius gave Konrad’s shoulder another pat before he stood to his feet. Konrad watched as Julius left. Deep down, he wished what his mentor said was true, that he would be putting his pack first. In any other situation, whether it involved food, shelter, medicine, or whatever the case may be, he did put his pack first. But when it came to the witches, when it came to his wrath, Konrad feared that it was what drove his decisions. Not his pack, not his heart.

He lifted his head up at the sounds of children laughing. This decision, though it involved him, it was not just about him. Whatever choice was made, it affected his people. He was known as the Alpha, who put his people first. He wanted to believe that. He wanted to be the Alpha that everyone thought him to be. As he watched silhouettes walk around his tent, he stood from the bed. His feet moved, taking him outside toward the central fire. He was silent as he sat down on his stump.

“Alpha! Alpha!” A child yelled out when they noticed him.

“Lillian,” Konrad greeted with a nod of his head. The girl stopped before him, resting her hands on his knees.

“My momma said that you may become a king,” Lillian stated with a grin.

“Lillian!” The girl’s mother called for her. She ran up, pulling her daughter away from Konrad. “I am so sorry, Alpha. Lillian overheard some of us talking with Alpha Julius.”

“No, it is fine,” he smiled as he looked up at the woman. “How would you feel about me taking a human as a mate? Could you follow a Luna who could not shift?”

“I would follow anyone you take as a Luna. Who am I not to accept her?” The woman countered his question with another.

“Well, I respect the opinions of all of my people,” Konrad stated as he looked around at the others who stood nearby. “I truly want to know what you think.”

“Alpha Julius said that she is a capable human warrior,” a man commented as he stepped forward. “We wolves respect strength. You lead us because of your power and your wolf. Rowan is our Beta because of this. We will follow a Luna who is strong."

Konrad nodded his head at the man's words. He crossed his arms as he began to think to himself. The adults noticed his demeanor changed, and they slowly began to back up, attempting to give him space.

"I'd like not having to move constantly," Lillian whispered.

"But that is the wolf way," Konrad chuckled.

"But something always seems to break," the girl argued as her mother's grip tightened on her arm.

"What do you mean? What has broken?" Konrad questioned with a frown.

"I'm sorry, Alpha; I did not want to burden you," the girl's mom murmured as she looked down at the ground.

"What broke?" He repeated angrily.

"My mother's pot fell from the wagon on our last move," the girl stated firmly. "And the move before that, part of our tent tore. I hate moving. We pass by the same human towns, with their sturdy homes, and I want that. My parents want that."

"Alpha-"

"No," Konrad growled as he held up his hand. "I've heard enough. Leave me to think."

The woman nodded and dragged her reluctant daughter away. Everyone else scattered, giving him distance. The only one who dared to approach him was his Grandmother, Ava. She sat down beside him, holding a plate out to him. He begrudgingly took it but only nibbled on the food she gave him.

"I saw Julius' face when he left. What happened?" She questioned.

"A lot, Gran," he answered as his eyes darted around the fire. No one was close enough to eavesdrop, but it was not as if it would matter. No one in his pack would dare judge him or spread the information that he shared. "I found my fated mate."

"And now you are trying to decide which girl to choose?"

"Exactly," he nodded as he looked down at Ava. "I'm torn on what to do. Finding your fated mate is so rare. How can I go against the Goddess by forsaking the woman she made for me? But then... I feel like I would be letting the pack down."

"I can tell you that most are excited about the prospect of you and the human girl being paired up," Ava replied gently. "But they would also accept your fated mate."

"She is an omega. I had to save her earlier from one witch. How can she be a Luna if she cannot protect herself?"

"You say that as if no Alpha or Luna has ever fallen to the witches," Ava scoffed as she crossed her arms. "It does not matter your status in this world. If the witches want to kill someone, they will. Your parents were strong, both natural-born leaders. But they fell. Others have fallen and will continue to do so until the witches are pushed back into the hole where they came from! I know you have been put in a difficult position, Konrad. But I also believe that there is not many other than you that can bring down the witches."

"Do you really think I can do it? Do you think I could bring them to their knees?" He questioned curiously.

"I don't know anyone else whose entire being consists of so much hatred," she answered honestly. "I know you would stop at nothing to bring an end to their terror. And, to be frank, that scares me. It worries me that in order to do this, you shall kill yourself in the process. But... you are smart and skilled in fighting. You are confident without being arrogant. Anytime you fight or even train with others, I hear nothing but praises about you. Do I want you to be happy? Yes, most definitely. But I also know that you are one of the only wolves who has consistently worked well with humans, to the point that they respect you."

"What if I can't accept the human as my mate? What if I meet her and can't get Lorelei off my mind?"

"Then you go with your heart. I shall not be angry. No one here shall be upset with the choices that you make."

"Thank you," Konrad nodded as he took Ava's hand in his. He gave it a gentle squeeze as he looked up at the fire. He wanted to believe that she was right, that he was one of the only people who could command a combined army. But why did he have to lead? He could be an advisor, a general for the king. If people respected him now, they could respect him even if he declined the opportunity to lead. But then there was that pang in his heart... his pack would be so much happier with a permanent home. And he would be happier if he were the one calling the shots. He knew it, deep down. He was going to accept the title of king, even if it meant breaking the heart of a woman he just met.

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