The Viking Alpha

Progress

James's POV)

He had her laughing! After disciplining her, he wondered if he went too far too fast. Seeing her cry was hell for him. But now here they sat. His head on her lap and her caressing his head. James and his wolf were thrilled. When she agreed to try it was all he could do to contain his wolf and not prance around like an idiot on all fours. That sat there for a long time. Both content. He was happy she was showing interest. He could stay like that all night. He didn't think it could get better until she stood. Slightly tottering due to the wine.
'You mentioned a tour. I'm ready.'
He shifted back immediately and dressed. He held her hand while leading her out of the room. When they made it out to the courtyard there were families playing with their cubs. People chatting. Children chasing each other then some shifting. They all stopped what they were doing and stared. They bowed to show respect to him and their new queen. She was nervous. He could see it in her face. But still she stood tall and her chin held high. Pride swelled in him. They walked through.
'Your majesties.'
'Welcome your highness.'
'Congratulations, your majesties.'
Praises came from all around. Two cub wolves were chasing each other. One of the small gray ones stumbled, then bumped into Cassandra's leg. Whimpering it backed up along with its playmate.
'Well, hello there.' Cassandra cooed. Gathering her dress skirt she squatted down to look closer. The gray cub walked closer. Puffing out its chest it tried to let out a growl but it came out much less intimidating. Cassandra's peal of laughter made him smile. He then saw her move her hands like you would with a cat or a dog to rile them up. Both cubs went forward. Playfully trying to bite her. One pounced on her and she caught it. She gently scooped them up and laid them on their back before tickling their small stomachs. Little barking laughs came from them as their tongues lolled out. They wiggled on their backs clearly having fun. He heard and saw his people enjoying his mate enjoying herself. Once it was time to stop the cubs howled with disappointment as their mothers carried them away. People then went forward to meet her. His brother came forward to his side.
'I see she's settling somewhat.' Johnathan observed Casssndra talking to a few women.
James shrugged. 'We made a deal of sorts. She tries and I give.'
Johnathan laughed. 'How very diplomatic of you, brother. Already whipped I see.'
'When you find your mate you'll see you'll do anything to make them happy.'
Johnathan scoffed. 'Unlikely. But I'd like to meet my new sister.' He announced, striding forward through the small crowd.
'Hi, Cassandra. I'm Johnathan. James's much handsome younger brother.' He was all charm. James gritted his teeth when Johnathan did a theatrical bow before kissing her hand. Cassandra's smile looked uneasy. What happened?
'It's nice to meet you.'
James felt conflicted. He was jubilant that she was relaxed, laughing, and looked content. But now him and his wolf felt the need to hover. She didn't look comfortable all of a sudden. Since Johnathan came on scene she looked wary.
'So has my brother mentioned the upcoming festivities?'
Her brow furrowed before looking at James.
'Festivities?'
Clearing his throat James began.
'I think that enough socializing for now. My mate and I have things to discuss. You'll all see her again tomorrow.'
People started to gather their things and disperse quickly. He saw Cassandra look around confused.
'Why did you do that? They don't need to leave.'
His brother laughed. 'Oh my big brother just wants you all to himself.'
James glared at Jonathan.
'Yes, brother. That's right.'
Jonathan caught on quickly. 'Right. Well I'm sure I'll see you around Cassandra.'
Looking as if she was trying to shake something off her mind, she looked at Johnathan and what looked like a forced smile went across her lips.
'Please. Call me Cassi.'
Johnathan bowed again. 'Well goodnight, Cassi. Tomorrow then. Good night, bro.' With that Johnathan left.
Wanting to comfort her he put his arm around her waist.
'What is it?' He asked, looking down at her face.
'What?'
'You looked uncomfortable when my brother showed up. What's wrong?'
She looked down. 'I just...I don't know. I think I am just a bit overwhelmed with everything. '
'That's all?'
'Yes, I'm sure.' She paused. 'You didn't tell me you had a brother.'
He started to guide her around the castle grounds.
'We haven't had much time to talk of personal things.'
'True. Um...your parents?'
James sighed. Thinking of the awful memories that still haunted him.
'There was a war about a century ago. Give or take a decade. The war was between most factions. It would be the equivalent of one of your world wars. The witches wanted us essentially as...kind of familiars. Pets. They could harness our magic in our beasts. Vampires wanted more territory. Sirens wanted to swim across other territories. Some...well a lot actually wanted to bring humans here to hunt. Basically everyone wanted something. But there was a war between witches and us shifters. The bear shifters were-'
'You have bear shifters?'
He chuckled at her expression. Such curiosity.
'Yes, love. We have bears, wolf, snake, lion...pretty much everything you have in your human world. Except those are more...closer to the original then us.'
'What do you mean original?'
He stopped them by a giant sculpted water fountain. It was one of his favorite spots to think. The sculpture was of the Crest. A viking with a spear erupting from a wolf's chest. The water spilled from the wolf's mouth. Such a graphic piece. Yet flowers of all colors bloomed all around, creating a symbolism of nature and peace. His father explained it to him when he was young. When he was trying to learn to control his wolf. He remembered him now. Himself, as an adolescent teen, and his father kneeling down in front of him. His hand on his shoulder.
'Son, there will come a time when you will rule as the first born. If you look at this,' His father, indicating the fountain and flowers. 'See how the viking comes from the beast? That is who you are.' He said lightly, poking his son's chest. 'The viking. But the wolf will always be a part of you. See how the flowers bloom around? That is nature surrounding you. Guiding your wolf.'
James didn't realize he had gone quiet. Lost in the memory. It wasn't until Cassanndra lightly touched his arm.
'Are you ok?'
Looking at her. He saw the concern in her face. Hope started to grow in him, at her expression. It just fueled his confidence she could care about him one day. They way a mate should. Grabbing her hand he placed their adjoining hands on his chest after kissing her hand softly.
'Yes. I was just thinking about my father.'
Her face softened. He could tell she could sympathize.
'What were their names? Your parents?'
'Samuel and Esther.'
'Tell me about them.'
Patting her hand he set it down gently.
'How about tomorrow? I think our previous topic is something you'll need to know, as you are my queen.'
She stood suddenly and walked a few feet away.
'I don't know how to be a queen, James. I really do believe you picked the wrong woman for that role.'
He stood too and walked to her.
'But I didn't choose you. Destiny did.'
'Well destiny screwed up. I grew up in a trailer park with a single mother. I worked in diners to help make a living. After mama died I...checked out and by luck I went to Australia. I then soon found my passion.'
'Was it luck Cassandra or destiny?'
'What's the difference?'
'Luck should be just that. But destiny guided you to find your passion. Which is animals. You ended up in New York for school. Where it just so happened to be where I was on that one day where I found you.'
The scoff she huffed out sounded irritated to him.
'My point, James, is that I'm normal. I lived a normal ordinary life. My plan was to make it exceptional. Me. No one else.'
Now it was his turn to be irritated.
'You said you'd try.'
'Yes, I did. But I'm trying to make you see that I am human. I can fuck things up. Do you want that? For your kingdom? Your people? For you?'
He reached out and took her face in his hands. Making her look at him.
'I won't let that happen. I'll help you. So will my people.'
'And your brother?'
'Yes he will too. You have family now, Cassandra. Embrace it.'
'Okay. But don't say I didn't warn you.'
Laughing, he kissed her.
'Now. Back on the previous subject. The original form. Long ago. Thousands of years ago. There were humans like yourself. But due to harsh conditions, death, hunger, war, survival of the fittest. Some humans wanted more power. They wanted to protect their loved ones. Or they just wanted to live.
So desperate as some of them were, they sold a bit of themselves to Gods. Goddesses too. The price for more power was they had to sacrifice part of their humanity. In exchange they became beasts. But what they didn't think about is what they could be passing to their offspring.
Soon they had to leave the human world and have a world of their own when the beasts inside them grew too great. Hence the fae lands. Created by the same Gods and Goddesses that gave them power. All agreed they could return from time to time to find mates.
But for some reason unknown human mates became rare. Theory is that some beasts would lose control and hurt the humans. Or humans just learned to instinctively fear us shifters.'
'So how many are there? Human mates?'
'You are the first in a very long time. The fae folk learned to...well turn against humans except when they found them useful or like me, they found their mate. It's like a need that can't just be ignored, Cassandra. A feeling of want that you desperately want to covet. That's how I feel with you Cassandra.'
He wound his arms around her waist. 'I didn't think much of humans before. I respected the origins but other than that...Until I met you. Now I can't imagine being without you.'
'So what your saying is, not everyone is or will be happy with my being here?'
He smiled. Not much got past her.
'Don't worry.' He assured while kissing her head. 'They will warm up to you. Look at the response you got just after a few moments. The children seemed to adore you. Their mothers enjoyed themselves watching you interact and enjoying yourself.'
The look she gave was skeptical.
'What happens to those who don't? Your forgetting that I am from a world where some people's minds can't be changed. That if raised with a certain mentality it's hard to break through. From what you just told me you didn't think much of humans so what exactly do you think your people may think?'
He considered this.
'I see your point. Now it'll be up to you to prove those people wrong.'
The sigh she gave was weary.
'I'll try as promised. But despite what you think, I'm not a miracle worker.'
'I just expect you to try your best in all things. Any more worries you'd like to adress?'
She thought for a moment.
'Yes.' She gathered her dress and walked with him up the stairs further into the garden. 'When I was running in the woods, I saw something. It looked like...a fairy?'
The laugh that escaped him was infectious.
'What?' She asked, giggling.
'It probably was. Be careful though. As pretty as they may seem they can be mischievous.'
'Oh?'
'Yes. They are what is known here as a gray fae. Not light fae but not dark either. They can help you but catch them at a bad time and they can wreak havoc.'
'What about the vampire? Am I to assume there are more?'
The growl that escaped him had her pausing.
'Yes. Nasty little fuckers. Parasites. Leeches. They prefer humans but they will make exceptions with anything that has blood. They have been known to hunt us shifters from time to time. That's why one of the reasons we go in packs.'
They were now walking down a dirt path.
'Follow closely. But stay back. I dont want to frighten her.' He mentally sent to his guards who had been tailing them since they left the castle.
'Anything else in the forest?' She stopped and gasped. 'Do you have unicorns?'
He let out a full belly laugh. 'They are rare but yes.'
Her eyes were wide in wonderment.
'No way!'
Chuckling he drew her closer. 'Yes'
'What else?' They were now turning the corner into the start of the village.
'Well, we have goblins, trolls, ghouls, fairies, nymphs. There's witches. Phoenixs, but those are usually pets. So many more. In our library back at home there are books you can study from.'
'Good to know my studying days are not over.'
He stopped and looked at her.
'Your very passionate about that aren't you?'
'Yes. But I was more passionate what I was planning to do with it later. Now it would seem I'm going to use it for almost the same just different trade, I guess.'
He continued to lead her. They were in the village. Lanterns were lit along the streets. Little cabins scattered. People stopped what they were doing again and gawked.
'Time to face the crowd.' She mumbled.