Fae

AURELIA

Once upon a time, the fae were a proud race. They held sway in what is now the werewolf kingdom. But they were hunted down and driven away.

They built a new kingdom just outside the werewolf territory. Fairness was their cornerstone in rebuilding their society.

They formed a council of nine, each member with their unique perspective on fae kind and each representing a different species in their kingdom.

Most were fae. Ellathoria had the final say. She was known for her noble heart, so it was agreed that she would have the deciding vote.

Bellona was in charge of military matters and war strategies, leading armies ready to strike at the Alpha King.

Axon was the keeper of stories and legends. He held the key to understanding their past.

Deacon was a healer, in tune with the balance of nature.

The last fae leader was Cathan. He led a group of fae who practiced the darker side of their magic.

Then there were representatives of the other species: Fahara led the pixies, Gaia the nymphs, Jaromir the elves, and Ayla the mermaids.

The only species they didn’t accept were werewolves. Yet, Ellathoria had allowed a wolf to cross their border. At least, that’s what Cathan believed.

No one knew the real reason the little wolf was able to cross the border. The immense power it would take to break it down.

“We all know who let her pass,” Cathan shouted over the worried whispers of his fellow council members.

“Why would I do such a thing?” Ellathoria asked, her voice filled with accusation.

“Because you want to make peace with the werewolves, the ones who slaughtered our people,” Cathan hissed. He had a deep hatred for werewolves, especially the royal ones who hunted his family.

“What would letting a little runt into our lands do? She was a child from a remote village. What could she possibly achieve?”

“There must have been a reason for it,” Gaia declared, cutting through the tension. “Solandis and Naida were the ones who met her. Solandis said she could sense a great power in such a young wolf.”

“We should consult the crystals,” Jaromir suggested. “They will tell us who she is and where she is now. Maybe we can bring her back to our borders so we can see for ourselves.”

“How do you propose we bring her back if we find her?” Ellathoria asked.

“Why are we even worrying about this wolf? She’s not important. Someone obviously lowered the borders,” Cathan interrupted, his voice rough with frustration.

He was annoyed by the attention given to some insignificant runt.

“The borders weren’t lowered,” Bellona stated, capturing his attention.

“The spell we put on the border is unique. When someone wants to cross, the entire spell is lifted and there’s no border around the werewolf kingdom at all.

“They would have noticed and we have patrols too who would have noticed, even if it was for a second. The borders weren’t lowered.”

“Then how did she get through?” Cathan asked.

“She must have torn the boundary at that specific point,” Jaromir suggested. “That would require a lot of power. Especially because she’s a wolf.”

“Maybe not all wolf,” Ellathoria added, causing everyone to turn their heads to look at her. “Maybe she... is something else.”

“That’s impossible. Half-breeds are rare and die young. The wolf gene doesn’t mix well,” Cathan said.

“Then what do you suggest?” she snapped back.

The two were always at odds, perhaps because they saw themselves as the most powerful members on the council. Their words carried more weight than others, and they often made the right decisions.

Ellathoria was a regal woman, but Cathan had a way of getting under her skin.

“She was an anomaly,” Ellathoria scoffed, as did Bellona. He had suggested their defenses could allow anomalies like this, and it deeply offended Bellona.

“Anomaly? If there were anomalies, the king would have been able to march his armies right through and slaughter us all. You better watch who you’re accusing, Cathan,” Bellona hissed.

Cathan just rolled his eyes in response.

“Jaromir is right. We should consult the crystals. I’ll prepare a ceremony tonight. There’s a full moon, enough to find a wolf through them,” Axon stated.

His practical plan eased the tension in the council chambers. With a nod of their heads, they all agreed to meet again that night.

Ellathoria couldn’t just sit around and wait. She went to the stream where the young wolf had crossed and placed her hand on the ground. She dug her fingers into the mud, inhaling the scent of the earth.

Her eyes rolled back into her head as she tried to see what had really entered their kingdom.

~Golden hair catching the midday sun. A little girl wrapped in auburn. A wolf. And… fae.~

~Fae with immense power. A fae wolf with a destined fate. Her skin glowed like an angel. Her blue eyes sparkled innocently with a hint of darkness lurking within.~

“Fae wolf...” Ellathoria muttered, coming out of her vision. “How interesting.”

Night fell quickly, and the council gathered at the crystal clearing. In the center of the space was a large crystal that held the secrets and knowledge of the world.

It took a lot to use it for conquest and defeating their enemies. But for simple tasks like finding people, it was perfect.

The council stood in a circle, their hands linked as Axon led the ceremony, chanting as the full moon revealed itself in the sky above them.

Ellathoria hadn’t shared what she had sensed. The young wolf would soon be with them, whether they liked it or not. She definitely wanted her here.

A twenty-year-old fae wolf was impossible, and therefore, a unique power.

~Feck aborna lo mas sentra, feck amos il hantae sentra…~

The crystal showed the young fae wolf and another. A face they hadn’t expected to see. A face that haunted many of them.

“The Alpha King,” Cathan hissed.

She was now at the castle, in the heart of his kingdom. If he found out the truth, that she was fae, he would have her executed in an instant.

The circle was broken, and the visions stopped.

“Maybe the young wolf isn’t as invisible as we thought,” Jaromir said, sounding surprised.

“She’s his mate,” Ellathoria realized, her words drawing everyone’s attention.

“A girl wolf from a distant village who somehow crossed our borders is now in his castle. Power attracts power.”

“So the future werewolf queen can just drop by anytime she wants, maybe even bring a bunch of those awful warrior wolves with her,” Cathan grumbled, his face twisted in disgust.

“Didn’t you see?” Deacon asked, the young fae finally speaking up.

“She was lying on the bed, pale, weak... tortured. All we need to do is get on the young wolf’s good side before the Alpha King learns to appreciate his mate.”

“He’s right,” Axon agreed. “To be the Alpha King’s mate, she must be powerful. She’d be an ally either way.”

“She’s just a kid!” Cathan protested.

“You think she can help us defeat her mate? Then you don’t understand how the mate bond works. Wolves can’t help it. They’re loyal to their mates till the end. We need to get ready for war.

“When this young wolf realizes the power she has—being able to cross the boundary—and then tells the mighty Alpha King, we’ll need all the help we can get.”

“You said it was a fluke,” Fahara pointed out, her tone dry.

“Clearly, she’s not. She’s not just some insignificant wolf anymore. She’s a future queen. We need to be prepared,” Cathan replied.

“Let’s not rush into things,” Ellathoria interjected.

“Rush? I’m being realistic.”

“No, you’re being hot-headed. She’s a hybrid. Part wolf, part fae. I felt it, by the stream.”

“You didn’t think to mention this earlier?” Cathan accused, narrowing his eyes.

“She wasn’t a threat before. But she’s one of us. And she’s in danger if she’s the king’s mate. We need to bring her to us.”

“How do we get her back here? She’s with the king,” Gaia asked.

“A spell. We might need Cathan’s help for it, if he’s willing,” Ellathoria suggested. “We use dark fae magic. An old enchantment—”

“A beckoning spell? You want to mess with the wolf’s mind and plant a persistent idea to come to the boundary and cross over? Isn’t that a bit dark for you, Ella? You’re always so drawn to the light.”

Cathan taunted her, his eyes gleaming with malice.

“Fine, I’ll bring the young wolf here with the spell. But don’t say I didn’t warn you. Messing with werewolves will only get us killed.”

“Half werewolf,” Ellathoria corrected.

“An impossible hybrid and the king’s mate. Doesn’t she sound dangerous just from that description?”

“Better to be a friend than a foe,” she countered.

Cathan was a stubborn man, born in the darkest days. He had spent many years of his childhood with the Alpha King.

Until his kind were hunted and driven away by his father.

Among the council members, he and Ellathoria were the oldest, both having grown up in the darkest times.

In those days, omens were common, blood moons predicted the bloodshed that was to come, and yet the fae chose to rise against the werewolves, regardless.

Ellathoria went back to her quarters in the council castle to prepare for the young fae wolf’s arrival. She was the only one who had felt her power and knew she could be a powerful ally in their war.

Of course, Cathan had a point. The mate bond was serious business. For millions of years, werewolves have mated and their goddess matches them with their true soulmate.

This young wolf was destined for this powerful Alpha King. How interesting, she thought.

Jaromir went back to the other elven lords to update them on their progress. The news that the young wolf had crossed the border had spread through their land like wildfire, causing fear among the people.

The water nymphs by the stream had been gossiping a lot, and it had even reached the council’s ears. The elves had to build protection to ensure their safety from the Alpha King’s future Luna Queen.

Gaia silenced the nymphs’ idle chatter and explained that the young fae wolf would be crossing the boundary again, and they were not to stop her.

Bellona’s border patrol was the first line of defense, but it stretched for miles. The nymphs were the second line.

The borders were usually some mystical land occupied by water nymphs or earth nymphs.

Axon was quite fascinated by the young fae wolf he had seen. It was as if he could almost feel her power through the crystals. And it scared him.

He knew Ellathoria must have felt it, too, if she visited the stream where the wolf had crossed. They each had special gifts, some more burdensome than others.

Axon had a dangerous gift, to channel visions through the crystals. It was similar to what the high priests could do, although they could do so through smoke and without much effort.

Cathan stormed off to his followers, enlisting their help to perform the spell. They would have followed him to the gates of the underworld if he had asked, so they didn’t complain.

But they wouldn’t plant the persistent idea of traveling to the boundary. Maybe she was the only wolf that could weaken the immortal beast. They would make her kill the king.