The Alpha King's Lost Mate

Ch. 19

Ambrose

The Royal pack elders were not wolves that I liked to gather with often. They were older than I ever thought was possible for a wolf to live to, and had seen more war, more history, and more supernatural occurrences than I could even count.

The elders sitting in the Royal pack right now had been here since before my grandfather was even born. They were wise and ancient.

But right now, I needed answers, and the Royal pack elders were the only ones that would have answers. And I would do anything for my mate.

The meeting place was always the same—a damp, dark stone room with only candles for light. Old, hand-carved marble chairs stood around the room in a half circle, cracks scattered across each chair from countless years of wolves getting angry. The room was guarded with countless old spells, keeping everything that happened in it a secret from the outside world.

Ever since I was a young pup, my father would take me to his meetings with the Royal pack elders, and I always hated it.

But right now, my mate mattered more than any of my childish fears.

"Alpha King Ambrose." A young warrior bowed his head at me as I waited for him to open the heavy stone doors.

I nodded back, the hairs on the back of my neck standing up.

I was the Alpha King – I wasn't afraid of anything.

"My King." The other warrior also bowed at me as he held the door open. "The elders are ready for you now."

For my mate.

The room was just as dark and damp as I remembered it being the last time I stepped foot in it over fifty years ago.

"Ah, King Ambrose." Elder Elijah's voice echoed off the walls of the meeting room. "It has been some time since your last visit. I was beginning to think that you would never ask to gather us all here again."

"And I was beginning to think that you didn't need us anymore," Elder Abraham laughed. "It feels like just yesterday that your grandfather had gathered us all together, asking for help on how to court his own mate."

"And you told him to perform a self-written, one-man show for her," Elder Ansel said. "Your poor grandfather was red in the face for weeks after that."

"But it worked!" Elder Abraham reminded us all proudly. "They got wed not long after."

"Of course." Elder Ansel laughed. "They were mates! She would have fallen in love with him and got wed no matter what. If anything, that one-man show set him back."

"Gentlemen, gentlemen," Elder Elijah cut off his two friends. "This is not the time to reflect on old memories. King Ambrose hasn't gathered us all here to listen to us ramble on about ancient history."

"What have you gathered us all here for today, my boy? It's been decades since we've last seen you in this room."

"I've finally found my mate," I told them.

"About time, my dear boy!" Elder Abraham cheered loudly. "About time."

"I was beginning to think that you never would," Elder Isaish finally said. "We're happy for you, King Ambrose. A King always needs his Queen."

"Now don't tell me this is why you gathered us all here?" Elder Ansel asked, happiness evident in his own voice as he spoke. "I'm sure that you don't want Abraham's advice on how to win her over."

"I wish it was that simple," I said truthfully. "But unfortunately, no. My mate is an Omega."

There was no avoiding it. They needed to know.