Chapter Text
“Nicole, Wake up! You are late to meet your Grandsire!” Miriam said as she opened her daughters bedroom door.
The redhead in the bed shot up and tumbled out of bed, wrapped in her quilt.
“Oomph.” The 20 year old Alpha grunted as her dame chuckled. “Shit, now I’m going to have to listen to another lecture!” She groaned as she pulled on the tunic and breeches her mother tossed at her.
“It’s your own fault for drinking with your cousins last night.” The blond omega said. “Now go.”
The tall, lean woman kissed her mothers cheek before running out of their royal apartments, quickly passing through the castle. The grey stone walls of the hallways were covered in rich tapestries and any servant she met bowed as the Princess hurried past them.
She made it to Alpha Queen Fiona's office door and knocked, knowing she was only a couple of minutes late but she was now going to have to tolerate a lecture from the older woman.
‘Enter.’ She heard in her mind and opened the door.
“Alpha.” Nicole said and bowed to her Grandsire who was seated behind a huge Oak desk and her sire, Elka was seated in front of it. Nicole bowed to her Sire then and got a small smile in return.
“You are late.” The 65 year old queen growled as she frowned at Nicole.
“Apologies, Alpha.” The youngest of the 3 redheaded Alphas said. There was no point in giving an excuse, her Grandsire never accepted such things.
“Sit down. I have something important I wish you to do.”
Nicole did as she was bid and sat in the chair beside her Mum and looked at the oldest woman across from her. She kept her posture straight as Fiona always scolded her If she didn’t but she was relieved she seemed to escape the lecture.
“I require both of you to visit the Alphas of certain packs who have not paid their taxes in the past year. Remind them of their obligations. Remind them that the Haught Royal Lycan line is strong and it would be unwise to attempt to withhold the gold. Especially given all we do.”
“Which Packs?” Elka asked.
“I want you to visit the Yorks. Take Gloria with you. Nicole take Eliza and Mercedes and go north to the Earps. Ward is an ignorant prick but you will easily deal with him.” The queen said with confidence and Nicole nodded, excited her grandmother trusted her with such a task and a trip with her favourite cousins would no doubt be fun.
“When do I leave?” Nicole asked with a grin and Elka hummed.
“Sire, respectfully, Nicole hasn’t been out of the Royal pack lands. Maybe she should go to the York pack. Its closer...” Elka trailed off when her sire glared at her.
“Are you questioning my judgement?” the Queen asked dangerously.
“No, Alpha, I merely speak out of concern for my pup.” Elka assured before putting a hand on her daughters shoulder . “I am proud you have such faith in her but I would feel better if her first official visit on your behalf was closer to home. Her mother would as well.” Elka said but Fiona scoffed.
“I care nothing for how you or your omega feel. You are too soft to deal with Ward Earp. Nicole isn’t.” The older woman said. “you will leave tomorrow. Both of you.” Fiona finished and dismissed them both with a wave of her hand.
Her daughter and granddaughter stood up, turned to leave after bowing again and just as the reached the door they heard Fiona speak up.
“Nicole, come back. I want to speak to you about your time keeping.” Fiona barked.
Elka grimaced at the younger girl and saw her eyes glaze over. Fiona was much too hard on the girl sometimes, pushing Nicole more than she ever pushed Elka.
2 hours later Nicole returned back to her parent’s apartment and smiled when she saw her granddame, Olivia who hugged her.
“I heard about the news. Are you excited?” The grey haired omega asked, looking up at the much taller girl.
“Yes, Grandmama. A little nervous too if I’m honest.”
“You will make us proud, Dearest, you always do.” Olivia said as she patted Nicole’s cheek.
“Nicole?” Elka said as she came into the parlour and smiled apologetically. “I’m sorry for objecting to you going so far north. Its not that i don’t think you’re capable-“
“I Know, Mum. I completely get it. I’m sorry she was so rude to you.”
“What’s new, Nicky?” Elka scoffed. It was no secret Fiona considering her only legitimate child a disappointing weakness and had once told her daughter that the only reason she hadn’t named one of her bastards as her heir was because Nicole was turning into a fine Alpha who would be a great ruler and was the only one of her grandchildren to have a lycan.
Elka had worried when Fiona had taken over every aspect of her pups life when Nicole had turned 12 and transformed into the largest Lycan ever seen, years ahead of schedule. Elka was a kindhearted and calmer Alpha than most, acting with deliberation as opposed to most Alphas who let their wolves rule their head and heart.
Nicole was much like Elka in her temperament but where as Elka was studious and more interested than being in her library, Nicole was a rough and tumble Alpha. She was a champion jouster, fighter, archer and horse woman while also being someone who was willing to listen and be fair.
Elka had been relieved Fiona hadn’t managed to beat the girls softness out of her. Nicole made her parents very proud but she was still young. As strong as she was she still had some maturing to do and sending her hundreds of miles north with her 2 favourite drinking buddies might not be a fantastic idea.
“Promise me you’ll be sensible?” Elka asked her daughter
“I promise!”
“Maybe when you’re back your Grandsire will allow you to search for your mate?” Olivia said to Nicole who grinned but Elka bit back a sigh. She knew Fiona was heavily considering an arranged mating for Nicole. Fiona and Olivia’s own mating had been arranged and she found Alphas who met their true mates (like Elka and Miriam) to be weakened.
Fiona kept a large harem of omegas and had had many bastard pups with them and she encouraged Nicole to begin one of her own.
Nicole didn’t like the idea of a harem. Not for herself. She wanted o her true mate but she knew meeting her true mate would be almost impossible unless her Grandsire allowed her to tour the packs.
The Haught Royal family was the oldest and strongest family on the continent, their kingdom was twice the size of the next largest and the rulers were loved by their people. Fiona wasn’t going to let that change.
They, the Lycan rulers of Ghost River Kingdom, had dominion over all fenrir shifters and their lands. Fenrir were humans who could shift into larger than normal wolves, they were strong and powerful beings. The Lycans, only the strongest female Alphas and their mates could shift to upstanding wolf figures, something akin to the werewolf of human lore. They stood on their hind legs, were huge creatures that could dominate their weaker counterparts. Usually only one a generation was born in each Royal family.
Elka and Miriam had been blessed by the Gods, born into the same pack, growing together and already deeply in love by the time their wolves told them they were true mates. Fiona had almost killed her Heir when she discovered that not only had she given the omega the mating Bite without the Queen Alpha’s permission she had allowed Miriam to claim her too, effectively weakening the Royal family and making them vulnerable and if Miriam hadn’t been able to give Fiona an Heir, Elka wouldn’t be able to mate with someone else to have pups.
Elka suspected if Nicole found her true mate Fiona would react badly and Elka wasn’t strong enough to protect her pup.
“Let go for a family run tonight? You both will be gone some time.” Miriam suggested as she came out of Nicole’s bedroom where she had been over seeing the packing of her daughters belongings.
They agreed to all meet at sunset and Nicole left to meet with the cousins she was closest with. She wasn’t worried about any other Alphas descended from Fiona as she was the strongest and it was no secret but the cousins she was closest with were loyal to her. She found them out In the stable yard.
She greeted Xavier, Eliza, Mercedes and Rosita as well as one of her younger cousins Rachel who was a beta. The 14 year old often tagged along with the older group and the Alphas were very protective of her. Her mother Gloria was Elka’s half sister and the only sibling she had any real relationship with. They bonded over books after realising they were the only ones of all of Fiona’s children that used the library.
“El, Mer, go pack your bags, you’re coming with me to the North. We leave tonight.” The redhead said when she had greeted them.
“seriously? Where are we going?” Mercedes asked, excited by her fellow redhead’s announcement.
“Collecting taxes from some tight arsed pack Alpha, Ward Earp. Grandsire told me to take you two. Sorry guys.” Nicole said to the others who shook their heads. They knew if Nicole had asked to bring them too the Queen would have refused.
“Run tonight?” Xavier her handsome closest companion asked.
“Sorry, I’m going for a run with my moms and Grandma. Ladies, I’ll meet you at 7am at the stables. Don’t be hungover, Mer, I don’t want to have to listen to you!” Nicole said teasingly and the shorter redhead gave Nicole the middle finger.
“Fuck off, Princess Fuckface.”
She said goodbye to the rest and went to the kitchen to order some provisional for the journey. Afterwards she went to the treasury to get some coin in case they needed anything. She checked on her mare, a heavy chestnut warhorse, making sure she was fit for the long journey and treated her to an apple she had taken from the kitchen.
Under the new moon that night she allowed her wolf to comfort and Rua shook out her glossy redcoat, the long and shaggy fur shining in the moonlight, the huge wolf towering above her dame and granddame and even larger than her sire.
‘First one to the Old Elm wins.” Miriam had playfully challenged and the family ran through the forests surrounding their huge castle, a grey fortress that could withstand any siege.
When Nicole had won their race she spent time speaking with Elka about how she should address the Earp Pack Alpha, trusting her sire’s judgement despite what Fiona thought. She valued the Alpha’s advice.
When it was time for her to go to bed she hugged her parents tightly and they wished her luck on her assignment and Olivia patted her cheek affectionately when she said goodbye.
Nicole went to her bed and soon fell asleep. She dreamt of a pine forest and caught the scent of apples and cinnamon, her own wolf following the scent through the trees, knowing it would lead her to her.
Most nights she dreamed of the golden wolf but was never able to quiet reach her, touch her or speak to her. The golden omega wolf would sit and stare into the Alpha eyes as though she could see into Nicole’s very soul.
Rua would talk about the she wolf often during moments of quiet and Nicole couldnt blame her. She knew this was her mate’s wolf. Her mate’s scent. The Alpha and her wolf were more than eager to search for her but Nicole knew Fiona had different idea in mind.
Maybe someday.