The Alpha of all Alphas

*Ten years later*

The first arrow that is fired, impels her to remember how her father was brutally killed. The second arrow reminds her of her mother's death. The anger of how their heritage was stripped away from them floods her as she fires the third arrow without missing.

"You never cease to amaze me" a familiar voice snaps her back to reality.

Amaya turns to look at Justin who has a pleased look on his face whilst he clapped slowly. "You just never miss. How skillful" he extols and Amaya bobs him a dramatic curtsy.

"A gift is a gift," she says, going deeper into the woods to get the arrows while Justin trails from behind. "While some people are naturally embedded with this gift" she turns to look at him. "Others are not" she adds with a tease.

"Oh please. People will still choose a swordsman over an archer" he utters in his defense.

Rachael doesn't say anything as she retrieves the three arrows which are arranged symmetrically on the same tree. "Got it," she says to him and they both turn to leave for the pack house not too far from the woods.

They haven't gotten far when Justin parts his lips to speak again. "Do you have to go?"

"I have gotten my wolf and that was the agreement I had with Alpha Armani" she shrugs at Justin who has a troubled look on his face.

It is obvious, he doesn't want her to go, but Amaya's mind is already made up. Her mother's words still ring in her head with each day that passes. “avenge your father and i”. Whilst striving in that forest, 10 years ago, little Amaya made a vow to herself to have her vengeance and she isn't going back on her promise now.

"Alpha Armani will be more than happy to have you stay for as long as you want"

"With my heart in turmoil? I have to return to my origin. I can't let king Audrie seat on the throne my father was supposed to seat on. If I stay here and move on, I will never be able to forgive myself for letting the Windsor bloodline down"

Justin let out deep breaths. The look of bitterness, void, and most importantly determination are all visible in her eyes as she speaks. He knew no matter how hard he tries, she isn't going back on her words. " When are you leaving?"

"At sunrise tomorrow, I'll be riding to Santol. The coronation of the new king will take place by dusk. I need to be there before that happens"

******

Lucan's brown eyes are transfixed intently on the throne seat when the door to the palace foyer unlocks and his mother struts in. He tilts his head to gaze at her and she smiles proudly at him, taking elegant steps toward him

"It will be all yours at dusk," she says when she gets to his side.

Lucan doesn't utter a word instead he stares at the throne with numerous thoughts going through his mind. He ought to be optimistic, but rather, he feels apathetic.

"Will Fredrick be at the coronation?" he asks and his mother sighs, bowing her head slightly.

"You know how things are done in this kingdom. A brother can not witness another brother's coronation"

"Can't it be altered?"

"The both of you are twins and have a strong bond connecting the two of you, but a rule is a rule. I'm sure he is doing well as the alpha of his pack" she says as calmly as possible. "On the bright side, you get to be the king of one of the most powerful kingdoms in the west , the alpha of all alphas" his mother reassures him, but that doesn't alleviate or alter the way he feels.

His mother walks away from him with the same complacent smile on her face that Lucan finds very irksome. He sees it as a smile of avarice, not of ecstasy.

"You'll get a mate during the coronation. I'm sure the moon goddess will smile at you and give you one"

"After the numerous attempts?" Lucan scoffs. "I don't think I'll be ready for such a wearying event.".

His mother, Rebecca furrows her eyebrow in disapproval. "Oh son you must" she speaks while walking towards him. "What is a king without a queen to rule by his side? You need someone you can trust as you rule"

"How is that possible if the moon goddess won't give me one already? Maybe she doesn't want me to have one at all"

"Don't say that" Rebecca shuns him. "You are not cursed so you will get a mate. And I pray it's one of the ladies selected during the coronation" she walks to him and pats him lightly on his shoulder."It'll be fine" her wrinkled eyes grin at him whilst her red-coated lips curve into a smile, but it soon recedes when her eyes catch a glimpse of his bandaged hand.

"Hurting yourself won't make you whole, son" she advises, but Lucan doesn't give her a response still. She has no choice but to leave.

The moment she leaves, he ambles to the throne and caresses it with his hand while walking around it. A pleased smile appears on his face. He finally has the throne he had longed for since childhood. The number of things he wants to do when he sits on the throne makes him more exhilarated. He feels the power even with the crown, not on his head. This is a throne he can kill for and he knows all hell would have let loose if his father, king Audrie made Fredrick king instead of him.

******

Alpha Armani hesitates for a while, peering his green eyes into Amaya's intently, and eventually parts his lips to speak.

"You can't defeat a king on your own," he says, pointing out the apparent.

"Yes I can and I will" Amaya states with determination in her voice.

"His guards can sniff you out in seconds. How will you even get into the palace?"

"I did not train for 10 years to find that difficult" she shrugs and Armani frowns at her stubbornness.

"Do you want some of my men to accompany you" he offers, but she shakes her head negatively.

"No, I'll be fine. I shall not be a burden to you nor your men"

Alpha Armani nods and turns his back against her as he stares at the wall "When will you leave?" he mutters still not turning to look at her

"Today"

"I see your mind is already made up"

"Yes it is"

"Then I can't stop you" he pauses, turning to look at her once again. "I have something for you" he speaks and susequently leaves her on the patio of the pack house.

Alpha Armani returns shortly with a wrapped object in his hand. He slowly undoes the ribbon used to wrap the gift and a silver arrow comes into view. Amaya can't help but grin in amazement

"Have it" he hands it over to her and she takes it.

"That's a silver arrow. Defeating a king in your wolf form might be tough, but if that arrow is sunk into any werewolf's heart, he is as good as dead "

"Thank you," Amaya says as she wielded the weapon in admiration.

"The only thing I can do at this point is give you my blessing Amaya"

"Thank you Alpha Armani" she smiles as tears well up in her eyes. This has always been her home and now she was isleaving.

"Remember" he begins. "Never hesitate to strike an enemy"

This is a word Alpha Armani always reminded her on a daily basis. When she showed up in his pack house 10 years ago, he didn't need to be told she is his sister's child because of the striking resemblance they both had. The fear in her young eyes touched him and when she asked him to train her so she could avenge her parent's death, he didn't hesitate.

Now she is leaving and he can't tame the void that consumes his heart. He sees her as the only thing connecting him to his sister. He can't stop her, instead, he can only pray for her while she seeks an almost impossible quest.