Her Secret

Chapter 1

Chapter 1
10 years before

We were ordinary children. Well apart from being princesses. Our parents were Alpha and the Alpha’s mate. Our father, Alarick, was the strongest of our pack, smartest, and war savvy. I got his golden eyes but not his inky black hair. Our mother, Serafine, was sleek, patient and cared for the whole pack, sometimes pushing us aside. I got her fiery hair, well fur.

Maeve. My older sister. She was always complicated. She resented her position, her wolf and her family. She inherited our late grandmother’s fur. She was average. Everyone knew her weakness and could smell her lack of confidence in everything she did, at least everything she didn’t do. Our father was aware the pack would never follow her like this but he believed in our traditions and she was the oldest.

Alpha held an emergency meeting when we were 10. The wooden grand hall filled shoulder to shoulder with rowdy warriors. Amidst war it was understandable the whole room was filled with shouting, questions and growling. Alpha steps forward making the hall fall silent in an instant, this is what unchallenged leadership looked like.

“I have gathered us for a monumental victory in our war against the blood sucking vermin.” his voice boomed as his loyal followers held their breath in anticipation. You could hear a pin drop as Alpha raised his arm to a small door to his left.

Two guards led out the vampire princess. I was taken aback but kept my composure, Maeve obviously showed her emotion raising a hand to her face.

The princess was wearing a metal guard around her face and looked drunk, probably poisoned by wolf blood to keep her weak. Her silver hair fell like a waterfall over her face and shoulders but her eyes…. She looked straight at me. They were white like the first frost.

The entire hall all at once broke into a primal, low growl. Alpha presented her next to him pushing her to her knees.

“My daughter will do the honours of ridding us of one of our most dangerous enemies!” he gestured to Maeve pride in his eyes. Her eyes went wide like a deer as the hall echoed with applause and cheers. But Maeve didn’t move, predictable. I stepped forward asking permission from the Alpha. With disdain and a frustrated growl aimed at Maeve he nodded granting me permission. The room got louder, I was a crowd favourite with the clan. Many of the clan members had asked for a change in the ascension but my father was so stubborn.
I looked down at the fragile and emotionless creature before me. I forgot the crowd, the war and who she was. I know my duty. I know I am saving hundreds with my next action. I took a breath, pushed her head to the side, let my fangs lower (making my golden eyes flame) and with a growl bite down on her jugular.

The rest of the day was a blur. Alpha was displeased by my blatantly overshadowing my sister. My sister hid in her room. The crowds congratulated me and cheered “Foxy”, a loving nickname I’ve had since birth. My mother was so proud and hoped that one day Father would come to his senses and choose the right child. I didn’t want to rule but I was definitely better at it than my sister. My actual hope was that they would have a son, he would immediately become the heir saving me and my sister.

The next day a huge meeting was called of all of the nobel families. They discussed the war that had now escalated beyond belief and the succession in the case our alpha fell.

I remember father storming into the stable, where I spent most of my time, and almost growling at me that I would never be alpha and that he would make it his life’s mission to make sure Maeve leads. Shortly after this I was sent away for training to become a soldier.