Chapter 1 Seize her!
"Your uncle has found you a chosen mate."
Rue looked up sharply at the council of shifters before her. They sat around a round table, arms crossed, staring coldly at her.
Her uncle, Helsing Sparrow, sat at the head, a strange smile stretching his thin lips. The words of the council echoed in her ears until she felt she would go deaf.
"What?" She muttered.
The leader of the council, Algernon Thorne, arched a brow, his expression haughty.
"I believe you're not hard of hearing, Princess Rue." He continued. "In two days time, your coronation will be conducted and you will be joined with Colin Knight."
Rue was short of words. Her mouth opened and closed several times, unable to form a coherent word. Then,
"I don't need a chosen mate." She uttered. "I'll find my mate just like every other she-wolf."
"That's the problem, princess." Another council spoke out. "You're not considered a she-wolf. You're twenty-two, with no sign of your wolf emerging. Without your wolf, you can't find your mate. A shifter without her wolf is considered nothing."
"You can't talk to me like that." Rue snapped. "I may be wolfless, but I'm still your princess, heir to the Alpha throne."
"We mean you no disrespect." Algernon spoke out again. "We just want what's best for you and the pack. You are of age. We can't leave the pack without an Alpha anymore."
"Then crown me." Rue rose from her seat. "Crown me the Alpha. I don't need a chosen mate to..."
"You can't be the Alpha of Bloodhound Pack." Helsing cut in sharply. "It's against the laws of the pack, the same law your late father implemented."
"Why not?" Rue fired back. "Because I'm wolfless?"
"Because you're a woman!" Helsing's voice cracked like thunder.
He rose up swiftly and walked around the table until he towered above Rue.
"A woman cannot lead the pack." He continued, his voice hard and cruel. "And certainly not a wolfless one like you. You will be married off to Colin, and he will be the Alpha."
"Over my dead body." Rue whispered viciously. "My father, the late Alpha, never implemented such a law. He trained me all my life to lead the pack when I came of age. He never said..."
"The decision has been made." Helsing cut her off rudely and turned away. "You'll be married off in two days, and Colin will be crowned Alpha in your place."
"Do not turn your back on me, uncle." Rue snarled. "You lots have no right to make a decision without me."
"Enough, Rue. This discussion is closed."
"I will not get married to Colin."
"Do not challenge the laws of the pack!"
"The laws of the pack be damned!" Rue screamed.
The council hall fell silent, leaving only the sound of the wind howling softly. Helsing curled his hands into fists, his jaw ticking with rage while Rue glared back, not intimidated one bit.
Suddenly Helsing smiled, a dark smile which didn't quite reach his eyes.
"Very well, then." He said. "If that's what you want, so be it."
He turned to one of the guards standing at the corner. "Send a message to Colin Knight. The wedding is off."
Algernon flew to his feet instantly. "Helsing what are you doing?" He yelled.
Unbothered, Helsing returned to his seat and settled on it. He crossed his arms, stared at Rue for a moment, then turned to Algernon.
"Rue has expressed her refusal to be wedded." He murmured. "She wants to be Alpha, so that's what we will give her."
Rue stood there, chest heaving, heart beating. She didn't know why, but she instantly knew something was wrong. Helsing's sudden change in attitude was suspicious.
"You... you agree to my terms?" She stuttered. "You'll crown me Alpha of the pack?"
Helsing's smile widened, and a strange gleam appeared in his eyes.
"Of course, Rue." He nodded. "Isn't that what you want? I promised my brother, your father, that I would take care of you. That's exactly what I'll do. You'll be crowned Alpha of the pack in two days."
Rue had mixed feelings. A part of her was glad that Helsing finally listened to her. And being her late father's brother, the council would agree to whatever he said.
But she couldn't shake off the feeling of foreboding that suddenly came over her.
"Thank you, uncle." She curtseyed. "That's all I wanted. I meant no disrespect."
"Of course you didn't." Helsing waved her away. "Now leave us. The council and I will begin preparations."
Rue curtseyed again and walked out of the hall, her heels rapping hard against the floor.
The moment she was gone, Algernon turned on Helsing.
"What the fuck was that?" He bellowed. "That wasn't the plan. She was supposed to marry Colin so we would have complete control over the pack."
"Control yourself, Algernon." Helsing muttered. "You have no idea how obstinate my niece is. I had to change the initial plan."
"What now?" The second council member asked. "She can't become the Alpha. We've shed too much blood to get to this point. It can't all go to waste."
"Rue will not be the Alpha." Helsing growled. "You have my word. The pack is under our control."
"Do you have a plan?" Algernon asked.
"I do. I always do." Helsing nodded.
...
TWO DAYS LATER
Rue stood in front of the mirror in her bedroom, holding a portrait of her late parents, Alpha Caspian and Luna Hailey Lowell.
It was the night of her coronation, the night she would take over her father's legacy.
Taking a deep breath, she lifted the portrait and pressed a kiss on it, then lowered it to the table.
Then she looked into the mirror and squared her shoulders.
"You can do this, Rue." She whispered to herself. "You've trained all your life to be Alpha. Be strong."
She took a step back and examined the blood-red gown she had on. It was elegant, clinging to her curves perfectly. Her blonde hair lay in soft waves over her shoulders, spilling down her back.
Around her neck was the golden locket from her parents, her eighteenth birthday gift. She touched it and smiled as memories assailed her mind.
"I'll make you proud, mom and dad. I promise." She whispered.
The door opened suddenly and she whirled around, startled completely.
Her personal maid, Genee, rushed into the room and shut the door behind her.
"There's a thing called knocking, you know." She started to say when she caught the terrified look on the girl's face. "Genee, what is it?"
"Princess... I..." Genee's voice broke off as she struggled to speak.
Rue rushed up to her and grabbed her arms. "What's wrong? What happened to you?"
"Princess, you must leave the pack. You're in danger." Genee blurted in a shaky voice. Tears spilled down her eyes as she looked around frantically.
"Danger? What are you talking about?"
The door opened before Genee could explain further and Helsing walked in.
He took one look at Genee's tearful face, then at Rue who looked confused.
"Uncle Helsing." Rue curtseyed quickly.
"What's happening here?" Helsing muttered.
"Nothing. Genee and I were just talking."
"Leave us." Helsing ordered suddenly.
Genee shot a terrified glance at Rue before hurrying out.
After a tense moment, Rue spoke. "Is everything okay, uncle?"
"Of course it is. Why?"
"It's nothing."
"The council is waiting. Are you ready?"
Rue nodded. She hooked her arm around Helsing's and followed him as he led her out of the room, all the while wondering what Genee meant.
The council hall was packed full with members of the pack. The hall was bland, sparsely decorated.
Rue followed silently as Helsing took her to stand before the council members. The hall turned quiet as the coronation began.
She clasped her hands, prepared to recite the oath which would bind her to the pack.
But nothing could have prepared her for the next thing that happened.
Helsing suddenly turned to her. Then his eyes hardened as he gestured to the guards.
"Seize her!"