The Alpha's Mark

Miris walked up to the sorcerer and said, "Thank you, sir." The man smiled and replied, "No need to thank me." Lysandra looked up and asked, "Why did you help me? Given the ongoing war between wolves and sorcerers, we are naturally enemies." The man smiled as he walked out of the room and said, "I do not wish to have any enemies. I have witnessed this for hundreds of years now, and I have given up. I am just tired; I only wish to rest."

There was an awkward silence. Miris spoke from behind Lysandra, "Let’s return to the palace, your Highness; it’s getting late." Lysandra looked down slowly at her children, and her eyes widened in shock. With a trembling, fearful voice, she exclaimed, "What has happened to my children?"

Miris approached her and asked, "What is wrong, your Highness?" He paused in shock as well when he saw them. Lysandra said, "Why are their skin pale and cold? Their hair has turned white and grown longer, and their eye colors are different now!" Panic rose in her voice.

Miris called the man back into the room. The sorcerer asked, "What is wrong?" Lysandra stammered, her hands shaking, "My children! What have you done to them? Why do they look different?" The man replied, "They are alive and well now."

Lysandra insisted, "No, they look different! What has happened to them?" The man explained, "Listen, your Highness, there are two possible results from this. One is that lightning could have struck your children," he said, noticing her gasp in fear. "And the second possibility is that they were brought back to life by the Moon Spirit. Since she has given them life again, they belong to her now."

He added, "It has been a long time since this has happened. Summoning a Moon Spirit is very rare and extremely ancient. I never thought it would still change their physical appearance."

Lysandra looked at Miris and then at the sorcerer, asking, "So what do I do? What do I tell the King? He doesn’t know about this; he would definitely kill me!" The man bent down to examine the children, saying, "Their eyes are exceptional." He continued, "One has hazel and green eyes, while the other has white and grey." He straightened up and added, "That says a lot about their future and destiny."

Lysandra, unconcerned by all this, said, "What do I tell the King? He can’t find out I did this." Miris smiled and replied, "Who says he has to?" Tears rolled down Lysandra’s cheeks as she looked at her children.

Two months had passed since then, and the King was returning. Lysandra felt anxious about what had happened as she was getting dressed by her royal maidens, but this did not halt the preparations for the welcoming celebration.

Church bells rang, and white banners of peace were unfurled along the battlements. The palace arrangers ensured that the streets were lined with citizens eager to see the King return safely. The kitchen workers prepared a state banquet, not just for hunger, but to feed the allies and dignitaries who had traveled back with the King. "Peace garments" were being prepared for the King to change out of his travel-worn riding gear and into robes that looked regal but less militant.

Arrangements for "largesse" were made, allowing for the distribution of coins and food to the poor to mark the happy occasion. As King Calix reached the palace perimeter, he remained on horseback, flanked by his most decorated knights. The treaty he had brought was carried prominently by a high-ranking official. Guards at the gatehouse snapped to attention and clashed their swords against their shields.

Once inside the palace walls, the King dismounted and walked through the main doors, preceded by his Herald, who banged a staff on the floor. The highest-ranking lords and ladies of the court lined the hallway. As the King walked past in a deliberate, slow processional pace, they bowed and curtsied in a wave motion.

Queen Lysandra stood elegantly and poised with her two children, Althea and Kaelith, behind them, each accompanied by their individual nurses. They waited on a dais as the King approached. Lysandra’s eyes reflected fear as the King neared her, kissing her hand then cheek in a public display. He looked at his children strangely; Kaelith offered a formal bow, while Althea executed an elegant curtsy. Turning back to face his wife, the King wore nothing but a smile.

Once the welcoming celebration concluded and the guests had left, the family gathered around the dinner table. The twins were eating when Calix looked up at Lysandra, dropping his fork in frustration, creating a clinking sound. "So, are you going to tell me who these kids are?" he questioned, his voice rising.

Lysandra slowly raised her head, noticing Althea and Kaelith looking at her. Calix continued, his voice sharper, "Can’t you hear, or did you suddenly become deaf after my journey?"

"I can explain, please relax, my King," Lysandra replied.

Calix stood up, furious. "Did you cheat on me, you filthy woman? Whose children have you foolishly brought into my home?"

"These are your children, my King," Lysandra said, fear evident in her voice.

Calix retorted, "Do you take me for a fool? I was only gone for three months, and suddenly they can walk, eat by themselves, and have gotten really tall! Not to mention their hair and skin! What is going on here?"

A voice interrupted the tension. "I will tell you exactly what happened, Your Highness," it was Miris. She stepped forward, "Someone took your children to a sorcerer."

Calix’s expression turned from anger to disbelief. "What did you say?"

"Yes, Your Highness," Miris confirmed, glancing at Lysandra, who was trembling with tears streaming down her cheeks.

Calix demanded, "And who was it?"

Miris pointed, and everyone’s heads turned in that direction. "It was Calista, Your Highness," she said, indicating Calista, who stood not far behind Althea.

Calista exclaimed, "What? No, Your Highness, that is a lie!"

Lysandra shook her head in agreement, "Yes, my King, it’s true; Miris told me all about it."

"No, my Queen, why do you tell such lies?" Calista protested.

Calix glared at Calista. "How dare you take my children to a sorcerer? For what reason?"

Miris interjected, "Your Highness, I saw her one night taking the twins somewhere, and I followed her to a sorcerer’s hut."

Calista cried out, "Your Highness, I have done nothing! I promise you, this is a lie!"

Calix snapped, "So you’re saying the Queen is lying?"

Althea and Kaelith rushed to Lysandra, holding her tightly.

Calix continued, "You will be punished for tainting my children. I will have your head, and your family too."

Miris smirked, while Lysandra’s hands shook in fear. Calix declared, "It’s time we did something about these sorcerers." He summoned the guards to take Calista away and lock her up, then he ascended to his bedchamber.

The next day, King Calix made his way to one of his closest allies, the Silverclaw pack, reaching there in two days. In the palace hall, Calix sat with his elders before King Elias, who sat on his throne.

King Elias inquired, "What do I owe this unexpected visit, King Calix?"

Calix answered, "I have come with a serious agenda. I want all of us, along with our allies and rivals, to eliminate all the sorcerers to the point of extinction."

Elias asked, "What has caused you to make such a drastic decision?"

Calix explained, "They have pushed me to my limits and touched my blood. Now it’s time for their blood to be spilled. You have many allies; that could be very useful."

Elias, smiling, remarked, "But remember, the reason I have so many allies is that the Silverclaw pack represents peace and prosperity. We do not wish to wage war."

Calix insisted, "War will be waged now, or else our future generations will suffer the consequences."

The message of war spread far and wide, calling upon both allies and rivals. Everyone united against the sorcerers, and the wolves ultimately overpowered them, leading to the sorcerers’ defeat. As part of the agreement, all sorcerers were put to death by burning, and the wolves fully dominated over the humans.

Seven years had passed, and Althea and Kaelith had grown beautiful and majestic, but their relationship with their parents was very fragile. Calix never gave them the attention they needed, and Lysandra only showed them affection when Calix was away. This created a weak bond between the parents and their children. Kaelith and Althea were very close to Miris, who had become their nurse.

One particular unfortunate day, Miris was in the room with the children. Althea was sewing a dress for her doll while Kaelith was learning about the history of the Wolf Empire. Kaelith looked at Miris, who was guiding Althea, and asked, "Nurse Miris, is it true that the Wolf conquered the humans in a war and took everything from them?" Miris smiled and replied, "If you put it like that, then yes, we did. Our ancestors found a massive land, but it already had inhabitants who wouldn’t let us stay, so a war was waged, and we won."

Kaelith smiled and said, "We always win." Althea, still focused on her sewing, interjected, "More like stole, I’m sure." Kaelith responded, "Hey..." Just then, the sound of horse gallops was heard from the gate entrance. Kaelith stood up and exclaimed, "Father is home! I must go welcome him." He dashed out of the room.

Miris smiled and looked at Althea and asked, "Aren’t you going to greet the king, dear?" Althea replied dismissively, "What’s the use of going to see him when all he does is say disgusting words to us? Kaelith will probably come back crying again."

Kaelith rushed down the stairs and saw Calix walking in. He smiled brightly and ran to Calix for a hug, but Calix pushed him away, causing Kaelith to hit his face on the corner of a marble plinth. Calix walked past him and said, "Such a disgusting face infuriates me." Kaelith lay there, not moving.

Moments later, Miris came down the stairs and saw him face down with blood coming from under him. She panicked and exclaimed, "Kaelith, what’s all this blood? What happened?" He cried and said, "Father pushed me and said he hates my face."

Miris quickly carried him and said, "Let’s clean this up. There’s a possibility of a scar on your face." After checking him, she noticed that the bleeding had stopped. Kaelith stood up and said to Miris, "If he never wants to see my face, then I’ll never show it ever again."