His Flamed Luna

His Majesty

      ~Ashton's P.O.V.~
    After the letter had been sent to the Crescent Moon Pack about my arrival, I'd taken it upon myself to pack my own bags while dismissing the maids. At the age of nineteen and still leading without a mate, I'd managed fine, but now my parents were worried. According to royal history, a King with no Queen was unusual if the singularity lasted more than a year.
          "Ashton," My mother spoke from my doorway. 
          "Not now."
     I heard a small shuffle and groaned inwardly. The woman never listened to me. 
          "Ashton, maybe you'll meet your mate in Crescent Moon," She sat on my bed. "You're the King of werewolves and still have no mate, it's beginning to worry the packs."
      A low growl rumbled in my chest at this. "I have ruled just fine without a mate, without a Queen since I was seventeen." The thought of being tied down only made me feel some sort of way that I didn't quite like.
      My mother simply sighed and nodded her head wearily. "I know Ashton, but they need a woman in rule that'll balance out your-"
            "My what?" I snapped irritably. I loved my mother but right now she was annoying me. Every small thing was irritating me at the moment and I couldn't figure out why. 
       I needed another wolf tonight, another weak female who was easy to sway. I had no mate so I was free to use whomever I pleased. It helped with my irritability but the more I thought about it the more I realized I didn't want anyone at the moment. 
             "Cruelty," She answered quietly. "Ashton, I really think you'll find your mate..."
        I met her gaze slowly, my heart twisting slightly at the sight of worry in her brown eyes. With a sigh I shut my suitcase and nodded. "I'll pay attention when I get there, mom."
        She smiled, a bright smile, and it made me smile too. My mom was the gentle and reasonable one in the house until my mate and future queen arrived. Once I'd found her, my parents would move to their retirement home and live their lives out peacefully. This I was perfectly okay with, as I knew they'd wanted to be away from the life we lived for a while, though I still wasn't fond of the idea of being tied down. The Crescent Moon Pack was my last visit for a while, and the second strongest pack out there. I heard they named their new Alpha and Luna, I decided to congratulate them in person rather than go simply for business. They'd extended their land almost fifty miles more than agreed upon a year ago so I'd have to address that. 
              "Is dad still trying to learn to cook?" I asked mom, trying to ignore my thoughts. 
              "He gave up, actually," She sighed in defeat before she stood up.
          I glanced at her and laughed a bit, "Of course he did."
               "I'll leave you to it," She waved her hand playfully and walked out. 
          Great, now I was left to ponder everything. My wolf, Grey, barked at me in my mind and I rolled my eyes.
               "You're so cold sometimes," Grey teased.
               "Shut up."
               "Maybe a woman will do you good."
           With that, I was done with the conversation and blocked out my wolf, trying to keep from gaining a headache from his endless banter. Once Grey started on the topic of our mate, he never shut up and I was sick of his constant bugging.
               "I already said I'd pay attention," I stated to him, hoping he'd be satisfied. 
           I closed my suitcase with the final add on and zipped it shut before setting it by my door. I had two days worth of travel just to get there. Bored and tired from the constant moving between packs for business meetings I laid on my bed and stretched out, my back popping from the base of my spine up. I groaned and relaxed into my bed with a huff. 
                "Ashton, the car is waiting." 
           With my father's tone I knew he was being irritable once again with a failed attempt in a new task. I sat up and grabbed my case before walking down the hall, annoyed at his snappiness. Heading downstairs, I felt like I weighed a ton as my sleep deprivation started to set in. One of the Omegas grabbed the case from my hands and headed to the door while I met my father's heated gaze. I sighed and stepped out, walking to the car for the eight time in the last month. I slipped into the backseat and laid my head back, closing my eyes as I prepared for yet another long drive. 

         I hit the door of the car, growling at the driver, "You imbecile!"
         He flinched and gave me an apologetic glance before opening the trunk to pull out the spare tire. On the very edge of the Crescent Moon Pack's territory the idiot of a driver my father hired blew the left rear tire. Grey snickered in my mind, mocking my anger. Had the driver paid attention he wouldn't have blown over a stone that unfortunately did damage to the side of the car as well. 
               "Who goes there?" A howl sounded from the tree line and I rolled my eyes. My driver really made this difficult. 
               "Alpha Ashton Armstrong," I replied coldly, looking around the tree line before spotting three decent sized wolves. 
         As soon as I spoke my name, the three wolves shifted and stepped out, two females and a male. The two females were clearly unmated and cast me flirtatious stares, batting their eyelashes innocently. 
                "Forgive me, Your Majesty," The male wolf bowed before me. "We should have recognized your car, my apologies."
         I let out a snort and turned towards my driver. "We'd be unsuspicious if someone hadn't been so idiotic!" I snapped in his direction before turning back to the male wolf. 
                "I'm Leon of Crescent Moon, we could easily fetch a ride for you if you wish," Leon nodded at the two females who walked over and easily lifted the broken down car, putting my driver to shame. 
                "No need. The idiot can carry the luggage, we can walk."
           Leon and the girls exchanged glances before Leon simply nodded in submission. They were smart not to question my finalized decision. Leon handed the case to the driver and barked an order for him to move forward, the two females staying on either side as escort. I ignored their constant giggles and glances, neither were attractive to me. Suddenly, there was a sweet scent that hit my nose and I stopped in my tracks, causing the others to freeze. I looked through the trees, trying to find the source of the smell as I fought to ignore the excited yips of Grey. 
                 "Your Majesty, is something the matter?" Leon's voice broke my train of thought and I turned my eyes towards him. 
                 "No, just a smell that caught my attention. Let's continue on."
                 "No! Find!" Grey protested in my mind, thrashing about. "Mate!"
           I growled at him in my mind, denying the possibility of that scent meaning a thing. It might have been cause from the lack of sleep or proper food I'd had in the last month. Yeah, lack of sleep and food. I followed the three wolves deeper into their territory for another two hours before I saw the packhouse. I couldn't get the captivating scent out of my mind and I hoped the Moon Goddess wasn't messing with me. 
                  "Your Majesty!" Ezekiel Nightingale's eyes bulged out of his head when he saw me. 
           I was covered in sweat and disgusted by the greeting. He didn't bow, his wife didn't either. Both just waved as if we were old friends and I let out a grunt. I turned my head and Leon bowed before setting down my luggage.
                  "I need a shower," I stated the obvious.
                  "Your room isn't ready yet, we weren't expecting you for another hour," Ezekiel managed through a now forced smile. 
           I growled, Grey joining me in my mind with his own irritation. "I wrote to the pack three days ago." How in the Hell did they not expect me?
            Ezekiel turned to face another man, whose green eyes flashed with panic. "We had a few things to deal with, sir, I apologize for the inconvenience."
                  "You have one hour to finish this up," I barked. "I'll be going on a run."
             I was met with nods and turned on my heel to the trees.