Jackson wandered about his chambers, his mother's words still echoing in his mind.
The Queen's suggestion that he marry Flora, a woman he had no intention of spending his life with, had ignited a fire within him.
He couldn't fathom the idea of binding himself to someone as unsuitable as Flora.
As he paced, the flickering candles cast eerie shadows on the walls, mirroring the turmoil brewing within him.
He thought back to his numerous encounters with Flora, how she would eagerly present herself to him whenever he desired her presence.
He had grown accustomed to using her as a means to satiate his thirst for fresh blood, but the idea of making her his queen was utterly repulsive.
Flora's lack of refinement and decorum was only the beginning of his concerns. She had no concept of how to rule a kingdom, no understanding of the intricacies involved in maintaining the delicate balance of power.
The thought of her by his side, making decisions that would impact the future of their kingdom, was a daunting prospect.
Jackson's mind wandered to his mother's words, how she had emphasized the importance of securing the future of their bloodline.
He knew that his mother's concerns were valid, but he couldn't bring himself to sacrifice his own desires for the sake of duty.
The weight of his responsibilities as king threatened to suffocate him, and the idea of marrying Flora only added to the crushing pressure.
As he continued to pace, the silence in the room grew thicker, punctuated only by the occasional crackle of the candles.
Jackson's thoughts turned to his longing for a mate, a partner who would understand and complement him.
He yearned for someone who could see beyond his fierce exterior, someone who would challenge him and push him to be a better ruler.
The memory of his predecessor, Queen Eliana, flashed through his mind. Her attempts to rule with kindness and compassion had ultimately led to chaos and disorder.
The nobles had taken advantage of her generosity, and the kingdom had teetered on the brink of collapse.
Jackson knew that he couldn't afford to make the same mistakes. He needed to maintain a firm hand, to rule with the strength and authority that his position demanded.
And yet, despite his resolve, he couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to being a ruler than simply wielding power.
He longed for connection, for understanding, and for a partner who would stand by his side through the trials and tribulations of ruling their kingdom.
As the night wore on, Jackson's thoughts continued to swirl, a maelstrom of emotions and doubts.
He knew that he needed to make a decision, to choose between his duty to his kingdom and his own desires. But for now, he was trapped in a sea of uncertainty, unable to find a clear path forward.
The sound of thunder rumbled outside, signaling an impending storm. The kingdom had been plagued by a severe drought, and it seemed the gods had been withholding the rain for reasons unknown.
Jackson's instincts told him that something significant was about to unfold. Having studied the ecology of rain since his early days, he could sense when drastic events were imminent.
A knock at the door broke the silence, and Jackson beckoned the visitor to enter. "You may come in," he said, smoothing his regalia to welcome the person.
Christo, one of his guards, stood in the doorway, his voice trembling slightly.
"Greetings, my King. The warriors you sent for are here. They await your presence."
Jackson circled around Christo, his movements majestic and powerful. Christo shivered, feeling he hadn't addressed the king with sufficient respect.
Jackson's response was curt: "Very well, tell them I'll join them shortly."
Christo bowed and took his leave. A few minutes later, Jackson strode into the hall, his presence commanding attention.
The men bowed their heads in unison, showing respect and loyalty to their king. Jackson nodded in response, and they raised their heads, their eyes locked on his.
"So, you all know why you're here, right?" Jackson asked, pacing the hall. His gaze swept across the room, meeting the eyes of each man.
"Yes, Sire," they replied in unison.
"We received the message and have come to learn the next course of action," one of the men added.
Jackson smiled, his expression a mix of satisfaction and anticipation. The men he had summoned were the most skilled warriors in the land.
Their eagerness to face the task ahead was palpable. He had every confidence that they would leave no stone unturned.
"But, sire, you should have informed us of this earlier," one of the men said, his tone laced with a hint of reprimand. "We are always ready to defend you and our kingdom."
These were no ordinary warriors - they were vampires, bred for battle and unwavering loyalty to their king.
Jackson had trained them to be ruthless, and he knew that their mission would be executed with brutal efficiency.
"Your task is clear," Jackson said, his voice dripping with venom. "Eliminate any werewolves you find within our borders.
Some of these wolves have disguised themselves as rogues, making it difficult to identify their packs.
Show no mercy, erase them from the face of the earth. This will serve as a lesson to anyone who dares to cross me."
Jackson's eyes burned with a fierce determination. He longed to discover the identity of the pack that had been testing his patience. He would unleash a war upon them, and their pack would be destroyed.
"Go now," Jackson ordered, his voice low and menacing. "The longer we delay, the more harm they will cause to our people."
The men bowed their heads in unison, their faces set with determination, before marching out of the door to carry out their king's command.
***
Andrea ran to the store room to get the herbs and plants requested of her for the full moon ritual. She has a disliking for the store room due to the bad experiences she tends to forget.
Her mother, Mrs. Linda had told her not to show her face at the ritual except when she is done with the assignments designated to her.
As she stepped into the kitchen to get the prepared herbs and plants, she noticed a huge amount of foodstuffs lying on the counter.
It seemed that enough food was made available for everybody due to the upcoming ritual ceremony.
She collected the prepared herbs and plants and left. Halfway along the hall, someone spoke behind her, making her jump.
She could recognize the voice. She didn't expect him to be there at that moment. He was supposed to be present at the ceremony.
"What's your problem? Why can't you leave me the hell alone?" She asked angrily.
Klaus smiled with a husky tone. "Well, I'm here to remind you that you won't be mated to anyone. Besides, this is for wolves like us, not for lowlife Omegas like you."
His words had an annoying effect on Andrea. She was about to walk away, but was stopped when she heard a wild laughter.
Who must have let out that kind of laughter. She needed to know. She turned her face to see the owner of such laughter.
It was John, the beta's son. He was to become the Beta once Klaus became the Alpha. "There's no way she is going to be mated to someone." John said amidst his devious smiles.
"Who would want her? Anyways she is worthless, and can only be useful in bed." Klaus blurted, giving her a wink.
"Let's hurry and leave her to attend to her duties before she makes a mess of it." A friend of Klaus's said, not mincing words. Who knows, she could possibly turn to a normal wolf if she takes those herbs she's holding.
Another round of laughter followed. Andrea bowed her head in shame as they left the hallway. A tear escaped her eye. She had never wished to be treated that way.
She quickly remembered that she had been sent on an errand. Cleaning her wet face with the hem of her clothes, she hurriedly left to deliver the herbs.
The sound of her mother's voice jolted her out of her thoughts. "What has been holding you this girl. Do you think we still have time?
Hurry up, please. Join the maids in whatever they're doing and remember you'll have to serve the entire pack. Linda blasted, a voice stern.
Andrea wondered if she would ever get a mate. Even if she were to be mated, would she be rejected? All these kept swirling in her mind.
"Are you lost or something? Why are you standing there behaving like someone that saw a ghost?" Mrs Linda questioned.
She has never liked her third daughter. She never dreamt that Andrea would be wolfless. She was embarrassed when she learnt that her last child didn't have any sort of wolf in her.
This made her treat her with contempt. Andrea was lucky she hasn't been sent to the mine yet. The day has finally come to determine if she would be sent to the mine or not.
"So sorry mother." She said pleasingly.
Linda raised her eyebrows, "what did you just call me? How many times do I have to tell you that I am not your mother huh." She queried as she held Andrea's two ears.
Andrea winced in pain. She wished she could run away from the pack. But where would she go ?
She doesn't know anyone. She grew in the pack all her life, and was never allowed to go far from her home.
"I promise you this time around I won't call you by that name anymore." Andrea said as she tried to withdraw her ears from Linda's fingers.
"Good. Now leave this place and do your work diligently." Linda said sarcastically with a smile. She knew that her actions had left Andrea on track.
She wondered what she did to deserve the I'll treatment she is getting from her family. It's not her fault that she is wolfless. She wished she could be loved just for once.
Andrea wasn't sure if this phrase of her life would pass. She wished the life she craved would come to pass.
Stretching her neck outside, she doesn't need a soothsayer to tell her that the ceremony has started.
She hurriedly left with the herbs. "I kept some meat inside the pan, go and get them." Linda commanded immediately she sighted Andrea.
As she moved to get the meat, she stumbled on the floor. She quickly stood up so she wouldn't attract anyone's attention.
She was to present the meat to Luna for the final ritual. Andrea sighted Luna's personal maid a few meters away from her.
She mindlinked her, and pleaded with her to help her take the meat to Luna. She agreed, looked around and made sure that no one was in sight before taking the meat from Andrea.
Anita sighted Andrea, and ran towards her. "Ain't you coming for the ceremony? She asked, looking at Andrea from head to toe. "You are not even dressed." She said as she kept observing her.
I don't want to be an embarrassment to my family. This is a day for everyone to be happy, and I don't want to mark it for them. Andrea sniffles as she replies.
"Okay then, I'm going to join the ceremony. See you later. Anita bade her farewell.
As she made her turn, she noticed that a lot of attendees at the ceremony were looking in her direction. She turned around to know if she would see anyone in sight.
But no she didn't see. Instead a sudden shock appeared on her face.
"No..ooo." This can't be happening.