One True Alpha

Chapter 29

"Iris, wake up!"

Phillip had burst into my room in the middle of the night, a younger male with him. I recognized him as one of my father's beta's sons, Teddy Wood. He was breathing quite hard but still managed a quick bow. "My Heir! I received word. Word that. Word that wolves from Canyon. Canyon Creek are on their way here," he said through gasping breathes. He sat on my floor and laid down, trying to draw enough oxygen into his lungs. "Where did you get this information," I asked and he lifted a finger. "I'm sorry," he gasped taking a few more gulping breathes. "From the eldest Martin's wolf. He was. He was visiting. Visiting his aunt at Crow. His aunt at Crow Perch. The Alpha. The Alpha told him the news and. And he had to cut his visit. His visit short," he continued. "I ran. I ran to Phillip's. From our eastern. Eastern BORDER! Then I ran. Ran to Phillip's den. Told him. He told me. Told me to tell you. I came. I came here," he breathed out. His ribs must be hurting. Our eastern border was quite a ways away.

I turned to Philip while allowing Teddy to catch his breath. "I am guessing the Martin wolf is still making his way back," I said. "He made it to my place on as we were making our way here. He was exhausted. I told him to rest where he lay," Phillip said evenly. I nodded. "Good job, Teddy. You've done well," I said. He gave me a thumbs up before turning to catch a nap. I rolled my eyes and Phillip followed me down the hall. "Does my father know," I asked. "I sent Declan to inform him," he said, I nodded, glad all the basis were being followed.

We beat my father to the office and had spent the rest of the morning discussing a battle strategy. The generals of our pack had their wolves start a sleeping schedule and assigned runners to each shift. They would be responsible, not only for waking the next shift but to wake everyone up if we needed to defend ourselves.

Bronze Fur was contacted and agreed to house our pups and their mothers if fighting broke out. Preston asked if he should be there but I declined his offer. He was not our Luna or their Heir, it could be seen as inappropriate. I would not risk the future of another pack's leadership either. "Be careful Iris, I hope everythin' works out," he said on the phone. I thanked him before hanging up.

My father, mother, and I slept for only hours at a time. Our nerves wouldn't allow for long periods of sleep throughout the next couple of days. If Canyon Creek was going to try and overthrow the Ironclaw line, they would be in for a nasty surprise. Terrance may have trained and lived here for months, he still was not privy to all our battle strategies.

A howl broke out into the mid-morning sky that tore me out of my nap. My wolf had been napping in the forest with a few of our warriors, I snarled as I ran towards the howl that was quickly joined by a few others. Canyon Creek was at the gate. My father ran with me, his eyes focusing on our path.

There were at least eighty Canyon Creek wolves standing at the entrance. Not nearly enough to think about overthrowing Ironclaw and few of them looked like they were war-ready like many of our wolves. My father and I slowed to a cautious trot to our gate. "He says he has a message for the Heir and Alpha of Ironclaw," the gatekeeper shouted from his post in the tree.

I see Luca and Terrance standing with their mother and father. Both don't look ready for war, especially the Luna with her cocktail dress. I was not sure what was going on. "I need to speak with the Heir of Ironclaw," Terrance shouted. I turned to my father who simply cocked his head as if to say, "you and I both know you don't need my permission."

A group of our warriors came by. They made a circle around me which allowed me to change without exposing myself in front of everyone. Once that was complete, I could see Terrance's hands in fists as he controlled himself.

"Why is Canyon Creek here," I demanded. Terrance and his family looked confused at the question. "Did you not get our letter? It explained everything," Alpha Matthews asked. His Luna rubbed her temple with her manicured fingers. "I told you to call first," she mumbled and I could see her males blush crimson. "Be that as it may, why are you here," I asked again.

"As Heir of Canyon Creek and Heir of Ironclaw, we would like to discuss an exchange of wolves for a favor," Luca said loud enough for everyone to hear. "Is the favor predetermined or to be determined," I asked. "Predetermined, may we enter," Luca asked. "You and your line may enter our house but the rest of the pack will stay in the quad," I announced. My father snorted but didn't oppose my ruling. I could feel Terrance watching my back as I walked towards the house.

"What is the trade you are proposing Heir Matthews," I asked once our families were in the office. Our betas were standing outside the door, likely listening in. Terrance stood quietly next to his mother. He avoided the eyes of my father, mother, and me. "We are willing to part with eighty of our wolves in exchange for accepting Terrance into your pack," Luca said, motioning towards his brother. "Was he not behaving at your pack either," I asked, my mother elbowed me hard in the ribs. My father growled in her ear in warning, she snapped her teeth at him in a playful fashion that had the Canyon Creek Luna look at my mother in shock. I doubt she would be allowed to get away with a display like that in front of company.

"He has made it clear he wants to be in Ironclaw. Terrance knows he has not been a good prospective mate to Heir Ironclaw. That being said, he has sought guidance with other Lunas in other packs," Heir Matthews said and he nodded towards his twin.

"Luna Ironclaw was a lot of help with learning what my place should be but I needed to learn more. I went to my mother and Ironclaw's allies for the past couple of months. My mother was not alpha-born like Iris's mother. She helped enlighten me what being Luna was for her. I had allowed the remarks of other males to destroy what could have been a beautiful partnership. I was nervous, your father made it clear you would be ascending soon. Everything was moving too fast, even for natural partner standards. My mother made that clear to me. If you accept this trade, I will submit to you fully according to your ceremonies. I will love and cherish you as you should have been from the day we met. I wish to accept the Luna mark on my shoulder when we ascend as Alpha Ironclaw and Luna of Ironclaw. I only ask that our ascension take place the year of the next Blue Moon festival at the earliest," Terrance said, I could see the hope in his eyes. Hope for me, for us, and our future. "I should have never tried to snuff out my light."

"I should have been more patient with you. As a female Heir, I know what it is like to be ostracized. I forgot what that sting feels like in the beginning, I have had to deal with it since I was born," I admitted. "I want you Iris. I want you as my Alpha," Terrance admitted. I could hear the truth in his voice.

"Where do we sign?"