Fate: The Alpha King and His Unexpected Mate

Marc

Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.

The sharp buzz of my phone dragged me out of sleep. I groaned, burying my face deeper into the pillow. Who in their right mind was bothering me this early? Didn’t people value sleep anymore?

Without opening my eyes, I fumbled across the nightstand, thumb swiping over the screen as I rolled onto my back.

A text glared up at me:

D: You comin’ to training, buddy? Or is Alpha too good for us?

I exhaled a laugh, half amusement, half irritation. Typical Beta humor. If he weren’t my best friend, I’d have ignored the message altogether and gone back to sleep. But Daniel had a way of poking the bear until he got a rise.

The time blinked on my screen. 6:50 a.m. Training started at seven.

“Perfect,” I muttered. So much for setting an alarm. Already late, I figured I might as well take my time. Rushing wouldn’t change the fact.

I shoved out of bed, yanking on the first pair of shorts and a T-shirt within reach. My Nikes waited by the door. With my phone shoved into my pocket, I jogged across the compound toward the pack gym, the cool morning air biting at my skin and clearing the last of the sleep from my head.

By the time I stepped inside, every warrior was already stretching. Daniel was at the front, Jared—my Delta—beside him. Both turned in perfect unison when I walked in, and I braced myself.

Daniel grinned like he’d been waiting all morning for this. “Well, look who finally decided to grace us with his presence.”

Snickers rippled through the room.

I rolled my eyes and gave him a shove to the shoulder as I passed. “Don’t start.”

“Oh, don’t roll those emerald eyes at me,” he shot back with a laugh. “You’re the one who can’t tell time.”

Jared smirked quietly from his side, shaking his head. That was the difference between the three of us—Daniel always had to talk, I always had to rise to it, and Jared usually let us fight it out before dropping the final word. We’d been that way since birth. Three boys raised together, trained together, and sparred long before we were even old enough to shift. Pack bonds ran deep, but ours had always been tighter. Family in everything but blood.

We squared off now—Alpha versus Beta, as always. Stronger than the others, evenly matched, and relentless enough to push each other harder than anyone else could. Jared had been our third sparring partner from the beginning, too, and though he wasn’t fighting me this morning, his sharp eyes followed every move, the way they always had.

The first clash was fast and sharp. Daniel’s fist connected with my ribs, and I answered with a sweeping kick that forced him back. We circled, testing, adjusting. Years of practice had made our movements second nature—Daniel quick and relentless, me powerful and precise.

A low growl slipped out as his elbow grazed my jaw. I countered with a strike that drove him two steps back. The younger warriors paused their stretches, eyes widening. This wasn’t just training. When Daniel and I fought, it was a reminder: their Alpha bled and fought just as they did—and that meant they had no excuse not to give everything.

“Move your feet, Marc,” Daniel taunted, grin flashing as sweat rolled down his temple. “You’re slower than last week.”

I lunged harder, catching him with a hook that made his grin falter. “Still fast enough to knock you on your *ss.”

Jared chuckled low from the sidelines. “And still cocky as hell.”

We kept at it until both of us were slick with sweat, chests heaving, muscles burning. Finally, I dropped my guard, signaling the end, and together we moved through the lines of warriors—correcting stances, adjusting grips, barking encouragement. A pup too slow on his guard got a sharp slap to the arm from me; Daniel crouched beside him, demonstrating the block with patience. Jared wove among the ranks too, quieter but steady, reinforcing what we demanded.

Three hours later, the session finally wrapped. Warriors filtered out, chatter and laughter mixing with the sound of running water as some headed for showers. I grabbed a cold bottle from the gym fridge, Daniel and Jared falling in behind me as we headed toward my office.

Once seated at my desk, I drained half the bottle in one go before powering on my computer. Fifty unread emails waited, but one name at the top caught my attention immediately: Alpha Joe of the Dark River pack.

I clicked it open.

Dear Marc,

I hope you and your pack are doing well. I’m sure you’ve heard about the rogue attacks spreading across territories.

I’d like to propose a meeting to discuss the matter and plan a response. This weekend works best for us. I, my Beta, and both our families will come to you. Our daughters turn eighteen on Saturday, and I was hoping their first shift and run could be held on your territory.

Looking forward to your reply.

—Alpha Joe

I leaned back in my chair, brows knitting. Rogues had been a low but steady threat—three attacks in recent weeks. Not enough to cause panic, but enough to demand vigilance. Better to be ahead of a problem than behind it.

Dark River was our strongest ally, only an hour away. My father had trusted Joe for decades, and in the ten years since I’d taken over, I’d never had cause to doubt him.

I became Alpha King at eighteen—not because my father was unfit or forced into retirement, but because he believed I was ready. Even without a mate. It was all I had ever known, all I had ever prepared for. I’d trained since childhood with the expectation that one day, this throne would be mine. And when the day came, I didn't hesitate. My father handed me the reins, confident. And I had carried them ever since.

“Alpha Joe wants a meeting about the rogues,” I said, scanning the email again.

Daniel perked up instantly. “When? I’ll let my mom know so she can start prepping.”

Of course he would. Daniel thrived on order. His mom had been stepping in as acting Luna this past month while my parents were in Hawaii. My mother still held the Luna title officially, but with her away, the duties couldn’t sit empty.

“Friday afternoon,” I replied. “He’s bringing his family and his Beta’s. Wants the girls to shift here.” A smirk tugged at my lips. “So…what do you think about turning it into a celebration? Their eighteenth birthdays, their first run. The pack hasn’t had a proper party in a while.”

Daniel’s face lit up. “You know I never say no to a party.” His thumbs were already flying across his phone, no doubt updating his mom.

Jared chuckled, leaning forward on the table. “Good morale boost for the pack, too. They’ll need it with rogues being bold.”

I drafted my reply on the spot:

Dear Joe,

I share your concern about the rogue attacks and agree it’s best to discuss solutions sooner rather than later. Congratulations on your daughters’ birthdays. We’ll host a full celebration for the occasion as well as the run.

Arrive Friday afternoon—we’ll hold the meeting first, then the festivities. My pack will handle all preparations.

Regards,

Marc

Satisfied, I hit send and pushed the laptop closed.

“Alright,” I said, standing. “That’s enough office work for one morning. You two go grab some food—I’ll check in with Jack.”

Steam curled around me in the bathroom a short while later as I braced my hands on the tile wall. Two she-wolves, both turning eighteen, stepping onto my land. Mates were revealed on birthdays like that. Could fate really be cruel enough to have mine waiting among them—or not at all?

I shoved the thought aside, dressing in clean shorts and a T-shirt before heading to the kitchen.

Jackie was already bustling between counters, humming over ingredients. She’d been part of Blue Moon for decades, practically woven into its bones, though she’d only stepped into the head Omega role about ten years ago. Losing her mate to rogues had nearly destroyed her, but my mother had pulled her back into life through food, through purpose. Jackie had flourished ever since, and no one questioned her command of the kitchens.

She looked up with a bright smile. “Alpha Marc! Laura told me about the birthday celebration. I’ve already got the perfect dinner planned. Those girls won’t know what hit them!”

I chuckled, kissing her cheek as I passed. “Careful, Jack. They may never leave once they taste your cooking.”

She swatted my arm playfully. “Then you’ll just have to make room.”

With another bottle of water in hand, I retreated to my office. Emails still loomed, but I couldn’t focus. My wolf paced at the edge of my mind, restless.

‘What is it, Max?’

‘I don’t know,’ he growled low. ‘Something’s coming. Not danger, not yet. But something.’

The unease settled in my chest like a weight I couldn’t shake. I closed my eyes, inhaling deep, but the feeling didn’t fade. Something was on its way—and no amount of planning would prepare me for it.

Lexi

“Lex, let’s go! Hurry up, or we’ll be late for training!”

Jess’s voice carried up the stairs, sharp with impatience, but there was laughter tucked into the edges of it too. My best friend loved to be dramatic, to call me out whether I deserved it or not. She always had to get the first word in, as if she were already Beta instead of just training like the rest of us.

I tugged my braid tighter, wincing as the elastic snapped against my wrist before securing it. One last glance in the mirror—just to make sure I didn’t look like I’d rolled out of bed—and I bolted down the stairs two at a time.

Jess was leaning in the doorway, arms crossed, hip cocked like she owned the entire packhouse. Her wolf-blue eyes swept over me in mock disapproval, her mouth twitching with a smirk she couldn’t quite contain.

“How do you look put together even for training? We’re about to sweat like pigs, not audition for a magazine cover.”