Thread: A Tale of Two Lives (BurningWillows & Rskde)

Well where is she? she gulped, holding back tears, I want to see her. There is no body Kayden, Gareth spoke, The river swept her away. Kayden, her fathers voice was deep and gravelly, worn down from age. Her name wasnt often spoken from his tongue, and when he did address her she always felt this deep regret in her stomach, like she had done some crime against him. Her uncle Gareth stepped up and dragged her forward, one of his arms wrapped around her waist as he pulled her along the rug till they were in front of the platform. It took all her focus to bow properly, knowing it would do no good to be rude after her outburst. I would like the room with my daughter alone, he spoke over her, looking at the Elders, We will convene afterwards. Speak of the news to no one. As they left Kayden rose, keeping her eyes planted on his feet as a tear fell down her cheek. Ninashes gone. The oak doors shut with a loud shutter and they were alone, for the first time in a very long time. She couldnt even remember the last time he had called her daughter. It wasnt that he cared so little for her he couldnt be bothered it was the fact that she so rarely was needed by him for him to address her in any way. Chin up, you are a princess after all, he commanded and her eyes shot up to his and then to a spot just over his shoulder, unable to hold eye contact, Kayden I know this news hurts. I too was beside myself when I learnt of it earlier this morning. But we have to remain strong, and show our people that we do not crumple in the face of despair. Our people? Theyve never been my people. No one has given me a second look, unless they mistake me for Nina. We face a dilemma now that must take precedence over grieving. Its a matter of finding an heir to this throne. Of course, why give me time to grieve over the sister I lost, when your precious throne is at stake? I love you father, but you can be so cold. Kayden! I can hear your thoughts! his words were like a punch in the stomach, searing through her own thoughts and echoing in her mind. Alphas had the power to control the pack through order alone. If Issac commanded something of her, she had to concede to it, or face immeasurable amounts of pain. That power came with a form of telepathy, so that the Alpha could communicate in wolf form or to others in their wolf form. Issac had the ability to chose when he listened to thoughts and to whom he listened to. Katerina had that ability from birth as well, as any born Alpha would. Kayden hadnt forgotten all this though, she simply had never heard his thoughts within hers. There had never been a time he had delved into her mind, and she had grown so used to the safety of her thoughts that it spooked her to hear his voice now. Im sorry, she lowered her head, I forgot my place father. I am simply upset over Ninas passing. She stole a glance upwards and saw him chewing on her words, his square jaw working back and forth as his eyes studied her. He looked angry, but like Christian it was hard to tell what emotion the men in her family were feeling when they werent smiling. Finally, he spoke, I understand you lost your sister today. I lost my daughter. But we cannot show weakness to the clan, or it can spread rumors. Do you understand? Yes. You were to mate Gregory, is that correct? Yes father. I am to leave in two days time with him, afterafter Ninas ceremony. You will not be leaving now. Her head snapped up, looking at him in a mixture of shock and doubt. Why would he cancel the arrangement, after all he said about it being important to the clan? Blue eyes stared back down at her, watching and gauging her reaction. Why? she asked for curiosity reasons only, not necessarily upset about this development after complaining about the arrangement just the night before, I thought we needed to secure our alliance with the Fire Wolves. Because we have a more pressing matter than just the Southern Pack. If word of Katerinas death gets out and begins to spread there will be many looking for the chance to be Alpha. I am over two hundred years old, and cannot be Alpha for much longer. This may lead to a full war of the Packs, as those wanting control over the clan fight for dominance. If? he had not said when, and she had caught that one word, You do not plan to tell the clan? Katerina was to become Alpha in ten years time, once we found a rightful replacement for the Northern Pack and she felt ready. Now I am without a Beta to the Winter Wolves, and without an heir. Unless Oh, she did not like the way this seemed to be heading. He stood as he spoke, stepping down the platform and past her to pace across the room and back, Unless I had another child who could take her place, fill in both roles and secure the clan. But Christian mated to Ivory and controls the Eastern Pack now. That is why you sent him there is it not? To hold a firmer grip on our warriors? Besides an Omega cannot become Alpha. He is a Beta now, as to his mating with Ivory. But no, he cannot. But I- So you understand, he cut in, thinking she was agreeing when in face Kayden wanted to argue that she was the worst candidate for the job, You will take your sisters place as leader of the Winter wolves, at least for another ten years until I step down. But father, Im no Alpha. Im not even mated to one. The pack will not follow me, not an Omega, even if I am of royal blood. No but they will continue following under Katerinas rule. Kayden blanched. Finally, it all seemed to click into place, and she looked up in horror at her father. You want me to pretend I am my dead sister? You are asking this of me minutes after I find out she is dead? Not even a day you have given me the grieve father, and you want me to taint her memory? The look she got back was cold and emotionless, her father eyes harsh as she bit her tongue and curled back away from him. Issac returned to his throne, leaving her kneeling on the floor at his feet, trying not to cry or vomit at the atrocity that he was speaking of. Kayden you will go to your room, pack your things and move them into your sisters room. You will speak to no one, understood? it was an order, one that sunk into her very being. Yes father. I will inform the Elders, Gareth, and Christian of the plan. Delena will arrive at Katerinas quarters to help you settle in. And I will advise Flynn, Katerina's tutor, that he will now be your guide and teacher. Yes father, she hated agreeing to this, but he was giving her no choice now, his word law when he wanted it to be. I will expect you to be at tonights ceremony as well, to greet the candidates and celebrate your coming of age. Yes father. Chin up child, I expected you to be more inclined to this. I am offering you a chance to become Alpha, to continue our heritage. I am an Omega father. I never aspired to be an Alpha, and I still do not believe I can pull this off. You will, or there will be blood and fire raining down on our house and on the clan. And the matter of your status of Omega will be fixed shortly. We have seven eligible Alphas wanting to court the next Alpha. You will choose one, like your dear sister was to. Again her eyes snapped to his before lowering, yet another surprise slapping her in the face. She was now allowed to chose her mate, but only amongst eight. Kayden hadnt even met a single one of them, or given the time to look. Shed been so focused on her own problem being shipped off as a gift to Gregory, she hadnt cared to watch Nina flirt with her candidates. He had truth in his words though. An Omega could rise to Alpha status if they mated with an Alpha-born. It was why the bond was sacred to wolves, and the reason she had so much trouble accepting that she was being forced to mate one she didnt love. Once mated, couples could hear each others thoughts and even feel one anothers emotions through the bond, even from miles away. It was a bond like no other. And it went even further when mated to an Alpha-born there powers transferred to their mate. It was how Christian became a Beta, by mating the Alpha-born Ivory. And now her father wanted Kayden to do the same, and deceive the clan in the meantime. Thank you father, she stated as calmly as she could muster, knowing that was what he wished to hear. Being dismissed, Kayden got to her feet and hurried out, her arms wrapped around her chest. She couldnt even return eye contact to her brother as she pushed open the oak doors. Hed know soon enough. Father would like to speak to you all now, she murmured, staring downwards. Well where is she? she gulped, holding back tears, I want to see her. There is no body Kayden, Gareth spoke, The river swept her away. Kayden, her fathers voice was deep and gravelly, worn down from age. Her name wasnt often spoken from his tongue, and when he did address her she always felt this deep regret in her stomach, like she had done some crime against him. Her uncle Gareth stepped up and dragged her forward, one of his arms wrapped around her waist as he pulled her along the rug till they were in front of the platform. It took all her focus to bow properly, knowing it would do no good to be rude after her outburst. I would like the room with my daughter alone, he spoke over her, looking at the Elders, We will convene afterwards. Speak of the news to no one. As they left Kayden rose, keeping her eyes planted on his feet as a tear fell down her cheek. Ninashes gone. The oak doors shut with a loud shutter and they were alone, for the first time in a very long time. She couldnt even remember the last time he had called her daughter. It wasnt that he cared so little for her he couldnt be bothered it was the fact that she so rarely was needed by him for him to address her in any way. Chin up, you are a princess after all, he commanded and her eyes shot up to his and then to a spot just over his shoulder, unable to hold eye contact, Kayden I know this news hurts. I too was beside myself when I learnt of it earlier this morning. But we have to remain strong, and show our people that we do not crumple in the face of despair. Our people? Theyve never been my people. No one has given me a second look, unless they mistake me for Nina. We face a dilemma now that must take precedence over grieving. Its a matter of finding an heir to this throne. Of course, why give me time to grieve over the sister I lost, when your precious throne is at stake? I love you father, but you can be so cold. Kayden! I can hear your thoughts! his words were like a punch in the stomach, searing through her own thoughts and echoing in her mind. Alphas had the power to control the pack through order alone. If Issac commanded something of her, she had to concede to it, or face immeasurable amounts of pain. That power came with a form of telepathy, so that the Alpha could communicate in wolf form or to others in their wolf form. Issac had the ability to chose when he listened to thoughts and to whom he listened to. Katerina had that ability from birth as well, as any born Alpha would. Kayden hadnt forgotten all this though, she simply had never heard his thoughts within hers. There had never been a time he had delved into her mind, and she had grown so used to the safety of her thoughts that it spooked her to hear his voice now. Im sorry, she lowered her head, I forgot my place father. I am simply upset over Ninas passing. She stole a glance upwards and saw him chewing on her words, his square jaw working back and forth as his eyes studied her. He looked angry, but like Christian it was hard to tell what emotion the men in her family were feeling when they werent smiling. Finally, he spoke, I understand you lost your sister today. I lost my daughter. But we cannot show weakness to the clan, or it can spread rumors. Do you understand? Yes. You were to mate Gregory, is that correct? Yes father. I am to leave in two days time with him, afterafter Ninas ceremony. You will not be leaving now. Her head snapped up, looking at him in a mixture of shock and doubt. Why would he cancel the arrangement, after all he said about it being important to the clan? Blue eyes stared back down at her, watching and gauging her reaction. Why? she asked for curiosity reasons only, not necessarily upset about this development after complaining about the arrangement just the night before, I thought we needed to secure our alliance with the Fire Wolves. Because we have a more pressing matter than just the Southern Pack. If word of Katerinas death gets out and begins to spread there will be many looking for the chance to be Alpha. I am over two hundred years old, and cannot be Alpha for much longer. This may lead to a full war of the Packs, as those wanting control over the clan fight for dominance. If? he had not said when, and she had caught that one word, You do not plan to tell the clan? Katerina was to become Alpha in ten years time, once we found a rightful replacement for the Northern Pack and she felt ready. Now I am without a Beta to the Winter Wolves, and without an heir. Unless Oh, she did not like the way this seemed to be heading. He stood as he spoke, stepping down the platform and past her to pace across the room and back, Unless I had another child who could take her place, fill in both roles and secure the clan. But Christian mated to Ivory and controls the Eastern Pack now. That is why you sent him there is it not? To hold a firmer grip on our warriors? Besides an Omega cannot become Alpha. He is a Beta now, as to his mating with Ivory. But no, he cannot. But I- So you understand, he cut in, thinking she was agreeing when in face Kayden wanted to argue that she was the worst candidate for the job, You will take your sisters place as leader of the Winter wolves, at least for another ten years until I step down. But father, Im no Alpha. Im not even mated to one. The pack will not follow me, not an Omega, even if I am of royal blood. No but they will continue following under Katerinas rule. Kayden blanched. Finally, it all seemed to click into place, and she looked up in horror at her father. You want me to pretend I am my dead sister? You are asking this of me minutes after I find out she is dead? Not even a day you have given me the grieve father, and you want me to taint her memory? The look she got back was cold and emotionless, her father eyes harsh as she bit her tongue and curled back away from him. Issac returned to his throne, leaving her kneeling on the floor at his feet, trying not to cry or vomit at the atrocity that he was speaking of. Kayden you will go to your room, pack your things and move them into your sisters room. You will speak to no one, understood? it was an order, one that sunk into her very being. Yes father. I will inform the Elders, Gareth, and Christian of the plan. Delena will arrive at Katerinas quarters to help you settle in. And I will advise Flynn, Katerina's tutor, that he will now be your guide and teacher. Yes father, she hated agreeing to this, but he was giving her no choice now, his word law when he wanted it to be. I will expect you to be at tonights ceremony as well, to greet the candidates and celebrate your coming of age. Yes father. Chin up child, I expected you to be more inclined to this. I am offering you a chance to become Alpha, to continue our heritage. I am an Omega father. I never aspired to be an Alpha, and I still do not believe I can pull this off. You will, or there will be blood and fire raining down on our house and on the clan. And the matter of your status of Omega will be fixed shortly. We have seven eligible Alphas wanting to court the next Alpha. You will choose one, like your dear sister was to. Again her eyes snapped to his before lowering, yet another surprise slapping her in the face. She was now allowed to chose her mate, but only amongst eight. Kayden hadnt even met a single one of them, or given the time to look. Shed been so focused on her own problem being shipped off as a gift to Gregory, she hadnt cared to watch Nina flirt with her candidates. He had truth in his words though. An Omega could rise to Alpha status if they mated with an Alpha-born. It was why the bond was sacred to wolves, and the reason she had so much trouble accepting that she was being forced to mate one she didnt love. Once mated, couples could hear each others thoughts and even feel one anothers emotions through the bond, even from miles away. It was a bond like no other. And it went even further when mated to an Alpha-born there powers transferred to their mate. It was how Christian became a Beta, by mating the Alpha-born Ivory. And now her father wanted Kayden to do the same, and deceive the clan in the meantime. Thank you father, she stated as calmly as she could muster, knowing that was what he wished to hear. Being dismissed, Kayden got to her feet and hurried out, her arms wrapped around her chest. She couldnt even return eye contact to her brother as she pushed open the oak doors. Hed know soon enough. Father would like to speak to you all now, she murmured, staring downwards.