1. Titan

Chapter one

Titan

*AURELIA*

I try not to make any noise, quietly tying my shoes, grabbing a jacket, and silently walking downstairs and out of the pack house. The guards greet me politely, but I make sure they don't make a fuss. Ever since Dad announced me as his heir and my three older brothers left to become leaders of their own packs, it feels a bit lonely here.

I'm used to having my siblings around me.

On the upside, my oldest brother, Liam, made sure I inherited his former suite in the pack house. Dad gave his okay when I turned eighteen and started college. It gives me a bit of privacy. I need my quiet me-time sometimes and it's nice to have a place to retreat to.

I gaze at my phone, noting how my beta, Nox, has written me a message. He always offers to join me on my morning jog, but I like to do this on my own. He is my best friend and I know he is just being considerate, because my lovely Noctis is many things, but a morning person is not one of them.

I type an answer, telling him to go back to sleep and meet me for breakfast instead.

Ready for a run? I link my wolf. We have a whole hour to run.

Maxima stretches her paws. Let's take the path through the forest. I love the fresh, cool air there.

I agree. There is something about beginning my workout when it's still dark and running while the sun slowly rises. It's utterly peaceful, and so quiet and calm. It's winter, so it's cold even for us wolves. I'm dressed in my running gear, specifically made for the cold winter months. Maxima doesn't mind the cold at all. In a way, we both enjoy it.

I start slow, to allow my body to warm up first until my lungs get used to the cold air, then up my pace and start running faster. I take one of my favorite paths through the forest, leading me over a small trail, first past thick trees, over a clearing, then through a narrow passage that almost blocks all light. Snow is lying all around, my footsteps crunching a bit. Normally I run while listening to music, but today I just want to soak in the sounds around me.

I pass by an old little hut that was previously used as a shed for tools from our lumberjacks, but is now empty as they have a better place to store their stuff.

That's when I hear it.

He's here!

Can't we just ignore him? Maxima asks, completely displeased.

No, we can't, I say, stopping to approach the huge cat sitting in front of the hut. "Hey, Titan," I say, kneeling down in front of him. Titan has been living here for the last couple of months. I try to visit him daily, bring him food, and play with him. He hasn't always been that responsive, though. For the first couple of weeks, he used to hide away, until one day he allowed me to be in his proximity. The moment I would even breathe too loudly, he would dash off.

However, he always returns to this little hut.

Research showed me he is a Maine coon, and for weeks, I tried to find his owners. He didn't look too well, hadn't been groomed in forever, was underweight, and was certainly not used to people. One of our pack members is a vet with a clinic in town. With Nox's help, I brought Titan there to have our vet take a look at him. Brooke attended to him, vaccinated him, and did his blood work. She also took a picture of him to send it to the various shelters to see if someone was looking for him.

But no one was.

So, he stays here.

Titan stands up, stretching a bit before walking towards me. My heart skips a beat… no way…

Maxima eyes the approaching cat in annoyance, but eye to eye with his innocent cat eyes, she melts too, at least a bit. I reach out my hand, smiling when Titan snuggles against my palm. This is the first time he actively seeks me out.

Great, Maxima mutters. Now he won't ever leave again. Also, we need to return. There is work waiting for us.

She isn't wrong. My lycan might be a bit of a diva, but she is also diligent and takes our schedule seriously. Titan tilts his head when he watches us get up. "See you later, bud," I tell him.

I start jogging off again, taking a shortcut so we will be back in time. There is some rustling behind me. Turning around, I can see Titan running after us. He stops when I stop and continues when I continue. I try to tell him to go back to his hut, but he ignores me. Instead, he follows us until we reach the pack house. It's only then that I realize how truly majestic he is. The vet reaffirmed that he is a Maine coon, a pretty big breed with thick fur, which is why I named him Titan.

I make it to the pack house, confirming that Titan is still following me.

It's still pretty early, but there are more pack members up now and going about their duties. One of them is my father, who I pass while walking up the stairs.

"Hi, Dad."

"Good morning," my father greets me, pausing when he sees Titan.

"I guess I have a cat now," I say.

Dad furrows his brows. "That's a cat? It looks like a mini lion."

"I know." I watch how Titan sits down now, eyeing us as if he is listening to our conversation. "It's the cat I told you about."

"The one you tended to with Brooke?" he asks. When I nod, he shakes his head. "A cat in a wolf pack. This has to be a first."

"You don't mind him staying?"

"No, but the costs are on you," he says.

I'm sincerely shocked. "Of course they are on me. But, you seriously don't mind?"

"This is going to be your pack in only a few years," he says. "I'm confident you can make the decision to keep a cat or not keep it by yourself."

I nod. "I didn't want to keep him at first," I tell him. "The original plan was to wait for him to come around and then have Brooke keep him or find an owner for him. I don't have much time for a pet, but he chose me."

Titan gracefully walks towards Dad and me and sits next to us. "Your mother will love him," Dad says with an amused chuckle.

"So will Felix and Dario," I say. They are my younger twin brothers, who recently turned sixteen.

"I would have been outvoted, anyways," Dad mutters.

I laugh. "You find him cool too, don't you? I won't tell anyone."

Dad smiles. "Please take this secret to your grave."

I nod, waiting for my father to walk past me before I pick up Titan and carry him the rest of the way. I never thought I'd ever own a pet. It's very unusual for lycans or wolves to own one, as we have a wolf spirit inside us. But, Titan doesn't seem to mind that he is surrounded by wolves. Who knows? Maybe he sees himself as part of the pack.

I show him around my suite, and he immediately seems to like it. From the balcony, he jumps onto a tree that leads him out of my place. Well, he sure is a cat that likes its freedom. Seems more like a roommate than an actual cat.

I make sure Titan has something to eat before getting some work done. Dad lets me handle more and more tasks of the pack. It was never planned for me to take over the pack. My oldest brother, Liam, should have inherited it, which is why he learned early on how to lead a pack. Being a leader is in his genes as the firstborn royal lycan to our father.

But fate had different plans, and he and his mate became leaders of a different pack. For me, it means that I need to learn everything from scratch. I've always liked training and fighting, but being alpha is more than being a warrior. I need to be a strategist, a politician, and a warrior. Dad is teaching me to the best of his abilities. Fortunately, I still have a few years.

After handling some pack business and training, I head to my college classes. It's a particularly long day today, but it ends on a relaxing note… with meeting my friends. We go for dinner and use the moment to catch up.

"A cat?" Marilou squeals.

"Really?" Jazz asks. She and Marilou are from Liam's pack. Jazz and I have some college classes together and hang out a lot. Our other friend Valerie is living in Paris with her mate.

"Why didn't you show me yet?" Tori complains. She elbows her twin brother, Terry. "I wish we had a cat too."

The twins and Marilou are a bit younger than us and are in their last year of high school, while the rest of us are already in college.

"It's not just a cat," Nox explains. "It's like five cats in one. Bigger than some dogs."

"Why haven't I seen it yet?" Lion complains.

"You were busy with training," I say. "But I can show you to him later."

Lion has truly bulked up recently and is so much stronger than a few months ago. He originally was in the running of becoming my beta, but I chose Nox in the end. Nox might not be as strong as Lion, but he is a great strategist, and most importantly, I trust him with my life.

"Photos," Tori demands. She is a cute girl with a round face and beautiful, big eyes. She is an omega and always awakes the protective instinct in us.

"Here." I show her my phone, letting her browse through the gallery. Terry and Marilou look over her shoulder to see the photos as well.

"Nox is right." Terry chuckles. "That's not a cat!" He takes Marilou's hand into his, entwining their fingers. "But it's a beautiful cat."

"Yes, it's cute," Marilou says, leaning into Terry. A few months ago, they started dating. Terry has already turned eighteen, but Marilou will only turn eighteen on New Year's Eve. They don't know yet if they are mates or not. It's obvious they are enamored with each other, and I hope so much that they will be mates.

But it doesn't happen often that high school sweethearts turn into mates.

"I can't believe Alpha Elden allowed it," Tori says.

"Dad said it's my decision," I tell her.

"Makes sense," Lion mutters. "You are the future alpha."

I nod, eyeing him curiously. "You have been really diligent with your training recently," I say. "You made some great progress."

He smiles. "Thank you." Lionel has a bit of a wild look with his untamable hair, and he is generally strong and bulky, but he is very loyal and one of my best friends ever since he and his parents moved to our pack a few years ago. I even dated him briefly, but we didn't click that way, and both of us didn't want to get serious with anyone before meeting our mates. "It was about time to get more serious," he adds.

Is everything alright? I link him.

Sure, he says. Why are you asking, Auri?

He almost sounds convincing, but his eyes give it away. He looks gloomy. Actually, he has been looking gloomy for a while now. Nox and I have tried to lure it out of him and to make him admit what's lying so heavily on his soul, but he didn't want to tell us.

I just hope he is alright.

"So," Nox interrupts my thoughts. "Next week we are off to Paris. Don't forget to pack."

"As if I'd ever forget that." Marilou chuckles. "I can't believe I get to see Paris! I thought I would never be able to travel anywhere," she admits. Before my brother took over, her pack was ruled by an elitist tyrant, who deemed omegas as weak and unworthy. For her everything she is able to experience now is truly like a gift.

"I can't believe your cousin is really inviting us, Aurelia," Terry says. "That's so generous of him."

"It really is," Jazz agrees. "Val told me that Eric is really generous, and it's his Christmas gift to her to invite all her friends to Paris."

"I think he also invited her parents over for Christmas," I say. My cousin Eric is such a good guy. He is a bit extra and can come off as a bit too much, but he is so sweet to his mate and truly a good friend to those he cherishes. I've always liked him. Growing up, he visited a lot because he didn't have much of a relationship with his own parents, and my father always doted on him and included him in our family holidays and vacations.

I think it's part of why Eric is so supportive of my dad. He has been campaigning for Dad for years, and recently, it seems they voted in his favor. Once I'm ready to take over the pack, Mom and Dad will leave for Paris and ascend the throne.

I shove the thought aside because I can't imagine being here with my parents on a different continent. For now, they are here and supporting us all.

"Do we have all the tickets?" Marilou asks.

"I got them today," I tell them. "It's going to be a long flight. We will check in the day before."

"Don't pack too much, Tori," Terry tells his sister.

Tori pouts a bit. "Let me have fun. I want to pack a few dresses. We are in Paris, for goddess's sake!"

"You know," I say. I had no plans to take something too chic on this trip, but now that Tori mentioned it. "She isn't wrong…"

"I don't have many dresses, but the luna gifted me one for my last birthday, and she said she will buy me one for Christmas, too," Marilou says. "So, I can bring those."

"Who do you ladies want to impress?" Nox asks.

"For real," Lion mutters.

"Certainly not you two," I joke.

Tori shakes her head. "I don't want to impress anyone. Just dress nicely."

Terry, meanwhile, just smiles at Marilou. "I know I'm going to be impressed."

"So, it's okay when Marilou brings a dress," Tori teases. "But I shouldn't?"

The tip of Terry's ears turns pink while the rest of us giggle. "You can dress up too, you know?" I tell the guys.

"Maybe we'll do that," Lion says, much to my surprise. I rather thought Terry might jump on this opportunity, as Lion is mostly into dressing casually.

I exchange a gaze with Nox, who nods at me shortly. "Why not?" he says, to not make Lion's reaction look too weird. "Let's make sure we all pack something nice to wear."

For the remainder of the evening, we talk about our plans and what we will do in Paris. Jazz, in particular, is looking forward to seeing Valerie, her best friend, and promises us that Val has a lot of things planned for us.

When I return home, I notice that Titan has climbed through the window I left open and has curled up on my bed. "I need to get you your own bed." I chuckle when he so generously makes space for me.