The First King

In the depths of the night, when shadows loom,

The Raven dances through the gloom.

His wings, a cloak of midnight’s hue,

Carry him where the stars are few.

Beneath his watchful, piercing gaze,

The world unfolds in endless ways.

He sees the joys and sorrows, too,

Each tale unfolding, old and new.

Yet when the moon, with silver gleam,

Illuminates the Raven’s dream,

He seeks the Gods, in realms unseen,

To learn the secrets, yet unseen.

The Gods, in whispers soft and low,

Entrust him with the truths they know.

In seedpods’ husks and moonlit beams,

Are woven dreams and whispered schemes.

With wisdom deep, the Raven’s flight,

Becomes a beacon in the night.

His songs, like ancient lullabies,

Bring solace underneath the starry skies.

But mortals, in their folly bold,

Forge blades of steel, their stories told.

In wars of pride, they spill their blood,

And sow destruction like a flood.

Yet, Raven, bold and wise and true,

Brings storms to cleanse, to start anew.

With tears that fall like silver rain,

He washes clean the world’s dark stain.

And when forgiveness graces land,

And mortals heed the Raven’s hand,

Once more, he’ll spread his wings to soar,

To every land, from shore to shore.

So heed the whispers in the breeze,

For they may hold the keys to ease.

The Raven’s guidance, ever near,

A light to banish doubt and fear.

“Gin! Gin!”

Prew looked away from her book to the little girl that sat on her lap. Staring back at Prew was Aisley, her first child. At two years old, Aisley had long black hair and tanned skin, similar to her mother. The girl’s blue eyes glistened as the sun peeked through the tree branches above them.

It was late afternoon, and with the cool breeze, Prew had come outside with Aisley to read. Next to them was Lilith, holding a sleeping baby boy. Across from them, basking in the sunlight, was Sofia.

“Do you want me to read it again, Aisley?” Prew inquired with a soft smile.

“Yes, momma!”

“Please, not again,” Lilith begged as she smoothed out the tuft of blonde hair on her baby’s head. “That didn’t sound much like a children’s story. It was rather dark and ominous.”

“I’m inclined to agree with her,” Sofia added as she glanced over at the women. “Children’s stories are meant to be happy and carefree, not kindling for nightmares.”

“My mother read this to me, and I was fine,” Prew retorted as she closed the book, setting it on the ground beside her. “And as you heard, Aisley wasn’t bothered by it, either.”

“You and your child are a whole different breed of odd,” Sofia scoffed with a roll of her eyes. “I hope that child in your belly has some decency and manners.”

“Who needs manners when you can wield a knife? Isn’t that right, little one?” Prew questioned as she looked down at Aisley, who nodded her head, as if she knew what she was agreeing to. “See?”

“Gods help the man who is her mate.”

“Do you think our children will have mates?” Lilith inquired curiously. "What about a wolf spirit?”

“I wish I could say, but everything about your children is new and different,” Sofia replied as she sat up. “We can assume they will have a wolf spirit; they would just be more human. Or maybe they will be no different than your average wolf? We have no way to know until they turn 16. But if they have a wolf spirit, they should have a mate. This much I am certain of.”

“Oh,” Lilith murmured as she looked down at her baby. “But, if he doesn’t have a wolf, he can’t inherit Rowan’s Alpha title.”

“I was a Luna without a wolf,” Prew stated as she reached out, gently squeezing Lilith’s shoulder. “As long as Gabe can prove himself, the pack shall accept him as their leader. But he needs to be more than kind and gentle. He shall need to work hard and grow strong so he can protect all those under him.”

Lilith smiled as she nodded her head. Prew’s words helped to ease some of her concerns, but it did not stop all of her worries. Lilith wondered what struggles her baby boy would have to go through or what the future would hold for him. Everything had been calm for the last few years, but would it remain so as he grew older?

“Lowers?” Aisley questioned as she pointed to the grass.

“Sure, go pick some flowers, little one,” Prew chuckled as she helped her daughter to her feet.

As Aisley began to wobble around, picking little flowers growing in the grass, howls could be heard in the distance. Both Prew and Lilith smiled, knowing that their husbands were on their way back from patrol. Though Konrad was no longer part of a pack, he still went with Rowan to survey the borders of Guilford. There was no threat or real reason to do so, but it was a chance for their wolves to stretch their legs.

“Da!” Aisley squealed as the men approached. “Da!”

“Little Princess!” Konrad shouted as he lifted her into the air, swinging her around before holding her close. “Have you been good for your momma?”

“Da!”

“I’ll take that as a no,” he chuckled as he looked to Prew. She rose to her feet, her right hand gripping her swollen stomach.

“She was well-behaved for me, not so much for the nannies,” Prew replied as she walked over to him. Konrad kissed her as his free arm snaked around her waist.

“A feral wife, with a feral horse, and a feral pup,” he grumbled playfully.

"Speaking of Meeka, I have something I want to show you,” Prew stated as she turned to Sofia. “Would you mind watching Aisley?”

“I suppose,” the witch shrugged as she took the child from Konrad’s arms. “I’ll go read her some happy stories.”

“Not the one about the fat toad! I don’t need her chasing frogs again!” Prew shouted as Sofia walked off with her daughter.

“What do you want to show me?” Konrad inquired curiously as Prew whistled for her horse. Meeka trotted from around the back side of the palace, followed closely by a dark bay mare. The mare was Konrad’s horse, one that he had trained personally.

“You know how the Leader Council wants us to pick a place to build a larger palace?”

“Sure,” he nodded as he helped Prew onto Meeka. “It is the most common topic of discussion.”

“Well, I’ve decided on a place,” she stated as Konrad climbed onto his mare.

“Then lead the way, wife. But don’t go too fast. I can’t have you going into labor away from Sofia.”

“I’m still a few months away from giving birth,” she chuckled as she kicked Meeka’s sides. “I’ll be fine.”

Konrad growled as he spurred his horse to keep up with Prew. She led them through the sequoia woods, through the abandoned camp, all the way to the valley on the other side. Not far from the woods was a young weeping cherry tree. This sapling was not found in the area but came from the temple at the Coven of the Lode Star. It was planted in the spot where Ava and the other wolves had been burned as a way to remember them and the others who died in battle. Prew slowly slid off her horse, strolling up to the tree as she rubbed her belly.

“Here,” she stated with a smile.

“Why here?” Konrad inquired as he walked up to her.

“For one, the space,” Prew replied as she held out her arms. She was not wrong; there was a vast, clear area, and the land was nearly flat. The Gantawa Range was about a mile to the north, and the woods were directly to the east. “For two, I think it would be nice to build our home around Ava’s spot. It would be as if she were still here with us.”

“I like that idea,” he murmured as he felt a tightness in his chest. Konrad wrapped his arms around Prew, pulling her back against hi. He buried his nose into her hair, her scent helping to ease his pain. As he rubbed her swollen belly, he felt a kick from the baby, bringing a smile to his face. “What shall we name the palace?”

“I was thinking Haerford. Taking Haer from your pack and ford from Guilford. This palace shall be a new beginning for you and me, so it makes sense that it should be a combination of where we came from. I was thinking we build it around this tree, making it the heart of the palace. Their memories shall remain with us, be part of us forever. And I hope this palace will be a place to exchange ideas, for everyone to come together with respect and understanding. I want this to be a foundation that our children can grow upon, something they can add to. I want what we did all those years ago to matter so that no one else has to suffer as we did.”

"Then Haerford it is," Konrad agreed as he looked at the cherry tree. Something swelled through his chest. Perhaps it was hope or the thought of the future with Prew and their children. Many years ago, when his parents died, he did not expect to ever find happiness. And yet, here he was, holding his mate, with a pup at home and another on the way. Everything felt like a dream, one that he wanted to continue living in. As a tear slipped down his cheek, he nuzzled back into Prew. "I look forward to building our new home with you. This place will be the start of something greater than ourselves, something that will last for generations to come."

Author's Note: Thank you to everyone who has read this book ❤❤❤ I hope you guys enjoyed this story! This was definitely a fun book to write, especially when it came to Prew's character.

If you have not read The Blind Witch yet, it takes place 1000 years after the events of this book. It covers more of the witch and magic sides of this realm, while sprinkling in bits of the history as to why everything is happening.

More information on the next book, Unraveling Darkness, shall be posted on my wall!

If you want to read more of my works, I have another series, Calliope, with three books that are all completed! ❤❤❤