King of the Wolves

Chapter One:
"Eliza!"
The sound of my name cut sharply through my thoughts causing me to abruptly turn and stop in the middle of the busy school hallway. I searched for who might've called me and was confused for a moment till I saw a hand stick up and wave at me, and focusing on the person attached to it I smiled.
"Heya Sunny", I said smiling down at my best friend once she reached my side, "How goes it?" Sunny James was 18, stood at a short 5'2"-which I never let her forget, and had auburn hair paired with startling blue eyes.
"Well I would be better if you turned around and responded the first time I called", she chastised me.
I giggled guiltily, "Sorry, sorry, you know my mind has been preoccupied ever since my parents brought up my birthday ball. I was lost in thought thinking about it"
Sunny snorted, "Oh Eliza, only you can stress out about something so wonderful. If I were you I would be jumping with joy if my father had wanted to give me a coming-of-age ball for my 18th! Just imagine, you might meet the one!"
I crinkled my nose at her, "But then I might end up all love struck like you!"
Sunny giggled and blushed; she had met her mate, Ryan on her birthday 4 months ago and hasn't left his side yet, apart from classes. They were gooey, romantic, and very very affectionate. Essentially they were everything that mates were supposed to be: the perfect couple.
Noticing the halls were practically vacant, Sunny and I began to walk towards the parking lot. The last bell had rung minutes ago, but caught up in Sunny's conversation I hardly heard it. We headed for the cars still arguing about my lack of excitement for the ball.
Running to Ryan's truck once it was in sight, Sunny waved at me and told me she would meet me at the pack house later tonight for the mandatory Friday night pack BBQ. "Bye Eliza!" she screamed from Ryan's passenger seat as they drove off.
I got into my car and started the drive home. I was once again consumed by my thoughts. My father, Andrew Jamison, the Alpha of the Delta Moon Pack had decided to throw a celebration in my honor for my 18th, the day I could hopefully find my mate. My Father was not a Royal-Alpha, but his best friend and the man who I considered as my second father was. Royal-Alpha Ian Carter was a huge gruff man, my father has known him since they were pups, and both were present when the other met his mate. The Royal-Luna Jane Carter, Alpha Ian's mate, bumped into him at a ball such as mine will be. My father remembering this weeks ago, began to plan one for me, with Alpha Ian's full support and excitement egging him on. I swear the two of them still acted like the pups they used to be more than the honorable Alphas they were sometimes.
The hierarchal system in place for the werewolf world was rather simple. The feared Alpha King was at the top, with unbelievable strength and authority it was no question why he was who he was. He was supposedly gorgeous, cruel, and completely mate-less. I had never met him, but everyone speaks hushed rumors about him and the things he has done. Next were the other Royal-Alphas who were given different sections of the world, governing the packs that resided within their sectors. They all reported to the Alpha King and were given orders. Beneath them were the packs Alphas, and then the common pack hierarchy (Beta, Third in Command, then the rest of the pack).
It was a good life, especially being the daughter of an Alpha, My older brother Jacob was to be the next Alpha once he found his mate, so the pressure for me was to find a mate that could handle the alpha power I possessed and at times could not contain.
Turning down my forest-lined driveway I smiled as I could hear the howls and barks of pack wolves that romped through the forest surrounding the pack house. A few pups ran across the gravel driveway nipping at each other, I laughed at their obvious excitement and wondered what the cause of it was. I turned on my pack mind link to see what the excitement was all about, and apparently my father had good news to tell at the BBQ tonight.
I parked my car underneath a tree beside our house and ran inside almost bumping into my mother who was carrying a huge tray of rolls to the picnic area in the huge front yard we used for gatherings.
"There you are! Eliza Jamison slow down! I could've dropped all this food!" My mother reprimanded me.
"Sorry mom! I really didn't mean to, my wolf is just on high alert due to all the excitement!" It was true, the she-wolf inside of me was pulling at my restraints I had on her, trying to jump out of my skin and run with uncontained excitement like the rest of the pack.
"Oh alright dear, nothing bad happened so I guess it's fine", she laughed and winked at me, "Could you help me though Eliza? I need you to carry out the big salad bowl in the kitchen for me! The meeting is going to start in 20 minutes and I know there will be some news that you will be interested to hear!" She giggled some more and walked off, leaving me curiously excited to find out what it was.
My mother was 43 but didn't look a day past 32, werewolf genetics I suppose. She had shoulder length brown hair and a pair of green eyes to compliment it. Her thin athletic frame was a tall 5'10", but compared to my father she was short. My father stood at an impressive 6'4" and had a looming figure that could make any grown werewolf wet himself. He had brown eyes, and light blonde hair, he too looked much younger than he actually was, at the age of 49 he looked just under 40.
I myself had long, dark chestnut brown hair that shinned in the light, my eyes were green with flecks of gold-ish brown in them, I was 5'9" and was not expected to grow any more than that according to the pack doctor.
I grabbed the salad bowl and took it outside. I was stopped a few times by pack members greeting and talking with me, I didn't mind it, I loved interacting with the pack wolves. They were my family and I would do anything for them. Once the salad was in place I ran upstairs to quickly change. I put on a navy blue skirt and a white button down short sleeve top tucked into it with a gold knot belt; I paired my outfit with a headband and a pair of gold flats. Practical and cute, my go to look you could say.
I bounded down stairs and out the back door, eager to see my father and hear the good news he had to tell the pack. As I looked around, I smiled at the number of members present. My father was well loved and everyone was always present to the meetings. Our pack was the largest in our sector with 284 members. I found my mother talking with the other women of the pack, including Sunny and her mother, and stood next to them. I made small talk until my father stood up onto a medium size platform that had been erected for tonight's gathering. He raised his hand and immediately all the members of the pack ceased their chatter.
"Good evening" My father said, "I hope you all have enjoyed the food your Luna and the other women of the pack has prepared for you tonight." Immediately there was clapping and whistling and people yelling their appreciation towards my now blushing mother. She was staring adoringly at my father and the same for him at her. I giggled, they were so in love.
"Now, for my good news. As you know Eliza's birthday is Sunday and that evening Royal-Alpha Carter and I will be hosting a coming-of-age ball for her, to which all of you are invited." The pack cheered with excitement at that. "Now originally it was going to be just us and a few of out neighboring packs, but I have now been informed that we will have other Royal-Alphas' present and perhaps even the King himself. They will be there to conduct business on Monday anyways so many of them have informed us of their early arrival to celebrate with my Eliza!" The packs cheers were deafening at his words. The possibility of the King being there?! It was unheard of!
I looked at Sunny and she was already staring doe eyed at me!
"Eliza! What if you mate is a soon to be Royal?! We have to go gown shopping tomorrow to find something to make you shine even more now that the King will be there!!"
"Will possibly be there Sunny, possibly. We can't get our hopes up! Besides who wants the grumpy King there anyways?" I started to giggle and Sunny soon chimed in.
After the end of the meeting I turned in for the night, I fell asleep in my room with its now chipping blue painted walls, and pink blanketed bed. I smiled at the comforts of my home and had no trouble drifting off to sleep thinking of what tomorrows last preparations were to be like.