"Alpha, you have been summoned by the elder council." Magnus announced loudly and Dorian could not help the frustrated sigh which escaped his lips as he pressed his cool fingers to his aching temples.
"I've been summoned again? Isn't that like the fourth time this week?" Dorian growled, rising from his seat and making his way towards his beta, practically towering over him.
That was no surprise. Dorian was a giant of a man. He towered over everyone.
"Well—" Magnus began but Dorian shook his head, cutting him off as he began pacing around the room.
"This is ridiculous. Who do those old men think they are, summoning me whenever they please? Have they forgotten who I am? I am the Alpha of Shadowfang pack! Dorian Haywood is the Alpha King. Not Elder Lucian. Not Elder Raymond. And certainly not Elder Festus." Dorian said the last part with a roll of his eyes.
"Uhm. You missed one elder, Alpha." Magnus chipped in, making Dorian stop and slowly turn to him.
"Yes. Right. Elder… uhhh.."
Magnus cleared his throat loudly. "Elder Silas."
"Yes. Exactly!" Dorian exclaimed, flicking his fingers.
"Elder Silas. I am the Alpha, not Elder Silas. He is not even relevant enough for me to remember his damn name!" Dorian scoffed and he did not miss the amusement which crossed Magnus' face.
"Yes, Dorian. You're the Alpha, but the elder council still has the authority to summon you at will especially when it involves important matters about the pack."
Dorian's icy gray eyes instantly narrowed as he crossed his huge arms over his chest.
"I'm sure they keep doing this to get on my nerves. They know how much these ridiculous summons of theirs pisses me off and yet, they keep doing it. Do they have no fear? Are they so brave that they do not care if I put their heads on stakes?" He began pacing around once again, feeling his anger intensify.
Magnus let out a loud exasperated sigh, running his fingers through his hair.
"We have talked about this so many times, Dorian. You don't have to resort to violence every single time. There is always a better way. The council members are just doing their jobs."
Magnus took a step towards Dorian and placed his hand lightly on the Alpha's shoulder. "You're my best friend Dorian, but sometimes, I worry about you. If you keep trying to behead everyone that does as little as look at you the wrong way, then who is going to be left?"
"If you don't move your hand from my shoulder, your head might just be next." Dorian growled, his eyes flashing and Magnus let out a sigh, shaking his head as he moved his hand from Dorian's shoulder.
"Fine. Whatever. Behead everyone in the pack. I don't care. Let's just attend this damn meeting and get this over with."
Dorian grumbled as the duo made their way out of his office and he kept grumbling till they reached the front of the meeting room.
"Your crown's crooked, Alpha King." Magnus taunted and Dorian rolled his eyes as he adjusted the golden crown which sat atop his head before signalling for Magnus to push the large doors open.
Once the duo stepped into the room, Dorian Haywood's demeanor changed, all signs of playfulness evaporating into thin air.
The air around him turned so icy that Magnus even shivered a little.
Dorian was the distinguished Alpha King of the renowned Shadowfang pack and he had to act as such.
He loved his people deeply, but the only way he knew how to rule was to command fear in their hearts, just like his father did. That was the only way he believed a king could gain his subject's respect.
The elders were already seated around a large, round table and when they spotted him, they stood to their feet, bowing in reverence.
"Your Majesty." They greeted him in unison.
"How dare you good-for–nothi—" Dorian began, but Magnus cleared his throat loudly, cutting him off.
Dorian instantly shot his best friend and beta an icy glare before letting out a loud sigh, trying to calm the anger which raged inside of him.
"Take your seats," He commanded, his baritone voice reverberating around the room as he took his seat at the head of the table. "What is this about? I do not have much time to spare."
One of the elders cleared his throat loudly and it turned out to be the last elder whose name Dorian had once again forgotten.
"We are so sorry for summoning you, Alpha. It was so urgent that we had no choice—"
"Get to the point." Dorian growled through gritted teeth.
"I–I apologize, Alpha," The elder stuttered, the tips of his ears growing red. "You see uhm—what— the thing– is—"
Dorian was on the verge of losing his damn mind and he was about to call for the execution of the elder when thankfully, Elder Lucian intervened.
"This is about the Luna Queen and your heir, Your Majesty. It is required that Alpha King of Shadowfang chooses a Luna Queen and produces an heir that will rule after him. That is our tradition. You do understand what happens if the king does not abide by this rule, don't you?"
Dorian's hands clenched by his sides. He knew the tradition all too well. If he failed to choose a queen who would bear his heir, he would lose his throne.
His insides burned with rage, but he knew there was little he could do to fight it. The law was the law.
Even if he decided to execute all of the elders on sight, a new set would be chosen and he would still have to find a Luna Queen.
It still didn't erase how preposterous it was. He was the king. How could he be bound by the law?
He let out a resigned sigh. "Fine. I'll find a Luna Queen."
Without waiting to hear their repiles, Dorian got up from the chair and stormed out of the meeting room in a rage with Magnus hot in heels.
"Wait, Dorian," Magnus said once they were outside. "You're really going to choose a Luna Queen? You mean that?"
"I don't have a choice in the matter now, do I?" Dorian answered sullenly.
"That's terrific. I have a long list of eligible women that you can choose from." Magnus said excitedly and Dorian raised his brows so high that they might have touched his hair.
"Eligible women? Please. No woman is more eligible than my mate."
An exasperated sigh escaped Magnus' lips as he shook his head.
"Really? We're doing this again? Come on, Dorian. We've searched the entire pack, but there's no sign of your mate. Just choose a beautiful woman and get it over with."
"I'm going to search for my mate and I won't stop until I find her."
"Why are you being so stubborn, Dorian? You have refused to get married all these time because we have not been able to find your mate. You cannot keep stalling. Your throne and the future of Shadowfang is at stake."
Dorian let out a loud sigh, unable to hide the exasperation and concern in his eyes. It was always his dream to meet his mate.
The strong and beautiful woman who would rule by his side as Luna Queen, but for some reason, he never found her no matter how hard he tried.
"I'll search for her one last time and if I can't find her, I'll take someone else as my wife."
Even when he said those words, his wolf whined in protest, but what choice did he have? His throne was at stake here.
"When do you leave?"
"Tonight." Dorian answered, internally praying to the moon goddess to finally lead him to his mate.