The castle seemed smaller these days, in comparison to when they first arrived. It was now filled with not only their two packs but the entirety of the others too.

All the alphas had locked themselves in a war meeting room earlier in the day, probably conversing over their tactics for what was to come.

The waiting was absolutely crushing Alisa.

"How long does it take to discuss battle strategies?" She huffed out, slumping down on a velvet-green armchair in the grand library.

"Be patient, unity is a delicate task," responded Ryder in a wise tone.

"He's right, you know. Things don't just happen. They have to discuss every possible way forward and even what could hinder their plan," commented Parker who was seated on a two seater plush couch beside his mate, Maya.

"It is always best to be prepared," added Cora as she placed some books down on the table in front of them.

"I also think it's time," Ryder added softly as he nudged Alisa's shoulder while he gave her the knowing look.

The young man had been begging his mate to finally reveal to his father that they were in fact mates. It had been two weeks since their fated kiss and each day, they had stolen more in dark corners of the palace.

Alisa was still unsure how everybody would react to the news.

"Should we start with something easy - our friends?" Ryder's voice travelled through the mind link easily and smoothly.

Alisa's hesitant nod was enough to beam a smile across his face.

"So, uh, we have something we need to tell you all," Ryder started and all eyes instantly looked up at him with curiosity and a hint of determination.

He was their future Alpha King, after all.

Those that would grow and serve him when he finally took leadership, always felt the pull to obey just that little bit stronger.

"What is it?" Cora asked gently, the first one to dare speak in response.

"I want to first apologise for keeping such a secret from you all but I did it out of love and respect. I hope you can all understand and forgive me," he replied, a tad shaky.

Alisa could sense that he had never truly lied to his friends before and she felt awful that she had been the first one to ask that of him.

The other three wolves' eyes widened in surprise but there wasn't any hint of insincerity or betrayal.

"Just spit it out, wolf boy," Maya stated with a roll of her eyes.

Alisa tried to keep in her giggle, knowing that even finding her mate hadn't brightened up her personality.

It gave her a sense of peace that perhaps she too could keep parts of herself despite the mate bond with the prince.

Ryder looked over at Alisa, awaiting her cue. He would only spill the beans if she was truly ready to embrace their bond and the new life that would come with it.

The brunette girl took a deep breath before stuttering out, "I'm Ryder's mate."

Parker nearly dropped the glass he'd been holding in shock, "Sorry what?"

"It's true," came Ryder's defiant reply. "We are your future Alpha and Luna. We apologise for keeping it a secret for so long but it would change everything and we needed time to process it."

The redhead put down his glass and got up to meet Ryder where he stood beside Alisa's armchair.

"I am so relieved for you," came Parker's reply before he engulfed his best mate into a hug.

"Hang on, he lied to us," Maya chimed in as her eyebrows furrowed in annoyance. "They both did."

"I bet they had good reasons," Cora responded before jumping up in glee. "Oh, I am so happy for you both!"

"Thanks guys and I really am sorry, Maya," Ryder said in between still being suffocated by Parker's embrace.

Maya rolled her eyes, but accepted it and chose to change the subject a little. "How's your dad going to react though? He's still hoping he can plan your wedding to Dahlia."

Ryder slowly detached from Parker and sighed, "It's time we tell him too but we wanted to tell you guys first. A lot is going to change in the coming days once we do."

Alisa's stomach fell as fear welled up inside of her. She had already felt guilty enough for lying to her friends but deceiving the man who spared her was also seemingly crushing.

'Am I ready for everything to change again?' She thought to herself as she bit down on her lip.

'It's time to rise, child. We were built for more than just blending in.'

The familiar sound of her wolf's voice broke through her thoughts.

Alisa looked over at Ryder and gave him a reassuring soft smile, to let him know she was ready for the change.

☆ ☆ ☆

The two of them found Alpha Ryker in his study, mulling over texts with his bushy eyebrows furrowed.

The room was lavish and far larger than the one he had at Snake's Canyon. On one side, there was a grand mahogany brown bookshelf filled to the brim with different size books, some were even stacked in front of other books.

The shelf was clearly overflowing, despite how large it was to begin with.

On the other side of the room sat two filing cabinets and a brown leather couch.

Above Alpha Ryker's mahogany desk, sat a portrait of when he and his Luna were young. They were both wearing their crowns and grins from ear-to-ear.

Alisa wondered to herself if the reason Alpha Ryker stayed away from the castle for so many years was because all of the portraits were a deafening reminder of what he had lost.

"Dad, may we speak with you?" Ryder's hesitant voice asked as he slowly opened the door wider for Alisa to step through too.

Alpha Ryker looked up with a perplexed look on his face as his eyebrows furrowed, "Is everything all right?"

Ryder nodded shakily as he came to stand in front of his father's desk and Alisa could only silently follow. She had no idea how her Alpha would react to the news they had.

"I know that you have been whispering with the Beta to marry me off for this war," he started, finding the confidence to finally say what he had always wanted to.

Before Alpha Ryker could respond, Ryder continued, "But you and I both know a true fated mate will elevate this pack back to where it belongs."

It seemed Alpha Ryker couldn't argue against that, for he stayed silent.

"I am sorry we didn't come forward sooner... I was waiting for the right moment," Ryder stated as he took Alisa's hand in his and beamed a wide smile over at his father.

His father's eyebrows shot up in surprise before a gentle smile weaned across his face, "Ah, the Moon Goddess really has a way about these things."

It seemed to Alisa that he was quick to accept this newfound information without so much as a complaint.

"It really is fitting that my son is mated to the wolf I spared three years ago," he continued with a nod of approval.

Ryder beamed back, "I couldn't have asked for a better mate. We will be ready to lead this pack into the next Great War."

The brunette girl only felt smaller in comparison to them, just by hearing those words. She didn't think she would ever be truly ready to lead but the time had indeed come.

Alpha Ryker looked over at her and gestured for her to speak.

"Yes, I-I am ready," she mumbled back with a smile but it didnt reach her blue eyes.

"Ryder, I think it'd be best if you left us for a moment. Go assemble the other pack Alphas in the War room, tell them we have an announcement to make. We will meet you there," Alpha Ryker said with his authoritarian voice which left Ryder no choice but to obey.

Alisa watched her mate leave the study, wishing she could've left too.

She looked back over at her Alpha and bowed her head, "Is everything okay, Alpha?"

"I could ask you the very same thing."

Alisa looked up in surprise, "W-What do you mean?"

"It is obvious why you both chose to only tell me now about the bond. What are your concerns exactly?" Alpha Ryker asked with a knowing look in his eye.

She faltered for a moment and it was enough of an indication for him to continue.

"You need not worry, child. You will be an exemplary mate to my son. Fate has decided that it will be your destiny to become the Luna Queen. You cannot disappoint anyone simply by being yourself," he stated with a gentle smile.

'What if I fail?' She thought to herself but in a swift moment, he had responded as if he knew her thoughts.

"You can only hope to lead by doing what you both believe to be right. I believe in you, child. Make me proud," Alpha Ryker commented as his eyes softened.

"You really think I would make a good Queen?" The young girl asked with fear in her eyes.

"I know you will be."

☆ ☆ ☆

"Tomorrow at the Moon Goddess feast, we shall present my son and his mate as your future King and Queen. I hope you all will be there to support us," Alpha Ryker announced to the other pack Alphas.

Each pack leader was seated around the grand circular wooden table. In front of each respective leader engraved on the table were their individual pack names.

Red Haven, to the right side of the table.

Blood Moon, to the left side.

In front of Alpha Ryker, in the dead centre of the table, read Sabor Tooth and opposite him, Lunar Eclipse.

But on the back of every chair also bore the crest of the royal family. It was of a shield with a silver wolf adorning a crown in the middle of it. Through the back of the shield were two opposite items, a gold sword facing upwards and a gold sceptre that faced downwards.

This very crest sat in the middle of the table too. To remind those on the room, the ones who will take up the fight to defend them all.

For in this room, they were united as one.

"Of course, King Ryker. It will be our pleasure," answered Luna Lylian.

Before the days of the Great Battle when Luna Anais still drew breath, Lylian and her mate were their right hands in battle. The four of them planned things together and executed them to perfection.

When Anais and Lylian's mate passed away, Ryker entrusted her with the castle and the wolves that chose to stay behind thus the Lunar Eclipse Pack was born.

Ryker took a handful of wolves and escaped to Snake's Canyon to provide a safer life for Ryder, keeping the Sabor Tooth name.

He knew that Lylian spoke for all the pack Alphas, and that it was clear they understood the words not said in silence.

"Do you believe they will be ready when the time comes?" Alpha Apollo asked with a grave look in his eye.

All knew that a pack was weakened when there was only one leader. For there is a reason that the Moon Goddess entrusted an Alpha and a Luna to reign over a pack.

"If we hope for victory, Ryder must ascend to his rightful place. I will ensure that they are ready for such a task."

★ ★ ★

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