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  The Alpha Brotherhood has existed for centuries. Long ago, it was established to uphold the very theory that the Ghost was talking about. To this day, the Brotherhood had remained a secret organization that worked from behind the scenes to control the world for own interests. Our members have long infiltrated or are currently in the process of infiltrating every sector of every city on the planet, even those at the very edges of civilization. We have established our own allies and puppets as leaders in most cities, and in some cases, even some of our own members. We control trade, politics, entertainment, and all travel in and out of the world. If there is a war or a battle for power, on some level, the Brotherhood is involved.

  The Ghost cleared his throat.

  “I’ve called you all here today to discuss an issue that has arisen over the past few weeks with the warrior settlement known as Valgertha,” the Ghost continued.

  I had been right in my suspicions after all.

  “There has been a recent change in power structure that was unplanned and quite unexpected. King Vageir has been unseated by a woman. Her name is Freya and she is quite unique in that she is a very rare female alpha.”

  One of my alpha soldiers gasped in surprise. The Ghost waited for a moment, letting the information about her status really hit home for all of us.

  “That’s not all though, my disciples. She’s a conqueror. She’s moved beyond the town of Kaldar and is using the Port of Skali as a central location to move outward and take more land for Valgertha. Unknowingly, or at least as far as I know, she’s working to upload the Cult of the Blood Moon’s objectives and the Brotherhood can no longer stand for that. She is going to need to be dealt with, especially before she aligns Valgertha with Ravenrath. This cannot be allowed to take place,” the Ghost said.

  I shivered. The Cult of the Blood Moon had been our enemy for centuries.

  They were a sinister organization that worshipped the dark deity Odiyen. They had always been in direct conflict with the Brotherhood and had no qualms about doing whatever they needed to do to accomplish their goals, whether it be the murder of young children, the distribution of omegas on the black market, or the circulation of illicit drugs. They had long been attempting to infiltrate our organization and unseat several members within the Brotherhood, but we had outmaneuvered them at every turn. There were some places that they still continued to keep power though and it was a constant struggle for the Brotherhood to deal with. The cult stood for everything we were against and eventually, we would take them down. They currently had a stronghold in Ravenrath, and if Freya aligned with those that ruled there, we would lose our grip on Valgertha. The Ghost would never let that happen.

  I looked around the circle, taking in the hard gazes of everyone gathered here. The eyes were the only defining feature that could be seen through the mask. Many of them were turned to the Ghost, waiting to see what he would instruct us to do next.

  “I’ve sent a disciple into the city of Valgertha to look into the phenomenon that is this unique female alpha. We’ve researched into her ancestry in order to find out more about her. Her mother was an omega and her father an alpha, as you might expect. We’ve observed her in secret on many different occasions, watching her ruling style within the city and her combat on the battlefield. Everything about her behavior suggests that she is an alpha. But we learned something different when we had the opportunity to place a healer within her ranks. That healer was able to procure a blood sample,” he continued.

  I narrowed my eyes. It was long understood how the genetics of our instincts worked. Occasionally, there would be cases of mutation where a very rare emergence of an omega male or an alpha female, but they were not well documented or studied because they existed at such low frequencies. This Freya presented an exceptional opportunity to further understand how her kind had developed, and I wasn’t surprised the Ghost had already begun the process.

  “We have sequenced this sample of blood and what we found was already quite surprising,” the Ghost said. He paused, looking around the room and his ice blue eyes met the gazes of each and every sage until he finally stopped with me.

  “Freya is extremely unique in that she has both an alpha and an omega gene. Both genes are in direct opposition to each either, each one vying for dominance in the central backbone of her DNA. All her life, her alpha gene has reigned over her development, but it is becoming increasingly unstable. According to our research, it will take the right transformative event to fully break down the alpha gene and let the omega within her reign free,” he explained.

  For a long time, he was silent.

  “Our scientists believe that this event could be triggered by the presence of a very strong alpha with the right epigenetic capability to her, causing the breakdown of her alpha gene and forcing the emergence of the hidden omega inside her. King Vageir had foolishly tried to claim her for himself, but he was genetically weak and wholly incompatible for a woman of Freya’s caliber, therefore, he ended up dead. She killed him and took the throne for herself,” the Ghost continued.

  I swallowed heavily.

  “There is a chance that our scientists are wrong and that their predictions may never come true. Her alpha gene may never bow to her omega one, no matter who I send to handle her. It is possible that whoever I direct to take care of her may have to kill her and take the throne of Valgertha for himself. Either way, I want this taken care of right away.”

  As he spoke, his gaze found mine once more.

  “I have instructed our biologists to search for a compatible alpha that might trigger the hidden omega inside her. I had assumed that we would have to search far and wide for a genetically strong enough alpha that would be her match, but it turns out that alpha is here with us tonight,” he said suggestively, all while continuing to stare at me. I tensed my fingers, digging my nails into the palm of my hand.

  “It was with even greater surprise that this particular alpha is unmated and not yet bonded to an omega of his own,” he said carefully.

  I swallowed anxiously, tensing my jaw as I did so. If he was really insinuating what I thought he was, this would no doubt be the most important mission I’d ever been assigned.

  “One of our very own sages, in fact,” he explained, still keeping his gaze level with mine.

  I didn’t dare say a word.

  “This sage has been one of the most loyal followers I’ve ever had. He’s worked tirelessly to uphold the Brotherhood’s objectives, sacrificing much in the process. He has taken charge on the battlefield and succeeded in a great deal of especially important covert missions over the years, and now, he is either going to mate the powerful Freya, or he’s going to kill her and take the throne of Valgertha for himself. The Sage of Zymos is going to carry out this mission for the good of the Brotherhood,” the Ghost finally revealed.

  He was sending me. Freya and the city of Valgertha would be my mission.

  “I will leave it up to you how you accomplish either goal, Sage of Zymos. I just expect it to be done.”

  I lifted my chin and nodded once.

  “I will see that the will of the gods is done, Ghost,” I replied.

  “Good,” he answered. For a long moment, he paused, before he looked back over the rest of the members gathered in the sacred ring.

  “As for the rest of you within the branch of Zymos, you will follow your sage and infiltrate Valgertha and the surrounding territories. The remaining branches will begin gathering supplies in preparation for the event that the situation with Ravenrath escalates any further. I want you all to prepare for war without panicking those you lead. Carry out your mission without appearing suspicious. In the following weeks, I will travel to meet personally with all of your sages, and I will give more specific instructions upon my arrival for what you will have to do in the coming months.”

  All the masked faces bowed their heads.

  “This meeting of the Alpha Brotherhood is now concluded. You may all leave, aside from the Sage of Zymos,” th
e Ghost instructed. I stood in place as everyone around me funneled out of the clearing in the woods. The lanterns flickered and our leader waited until we were completely alone before he approached me.

  “Sage Aric,” he said softly. This time, his voice was softer and didn’t carry the hard weight of a man who led a secret organization that had existed for centuries. Instead, now he sounded like a friend.

  “Ghost,” I replied in turn, nodding my head in both deference and greeting.

  “You’ve done very important work for us for a long time. I wish to challenge you with this mission, as well as reward you with the honor of an omega of your own. There is a chance it won’t work out as the scientists predicted, but it is highly likely that her omega will be unleased for you to claim,” he said.

  “I would be happy to do this for you,” I responded.

  As a part of being a member of the Alpha Brotherhood, we did not take a mate unless it was instructed to do so by the Ghost. To take an omega without permission would involve quick termination of one’s status, as well as the complete forfeit of the right to live. As such, I was not pair bonded to another. I had never even considered it.

  That didn’t mean I was naïve to the ways of sex. I’d fucked a fair number of beta females in our more elegantly run brothels, and I knew what needed to be done once an omega entered into her heat.

  “Freya will be strong-willed. She’s never been conquered by anyone. Our inside sources speak to her ferocity, both on and off the battlefield,” he warned. “We need to take her, whether it be dead or alive. I would much prefer her living and by your side though. She could be a very powerful ally for us.”

  “I will conquer Freya. Before she knows it, she will be bare and properly dealt with as an omega needs to be, regardless of the alpha blood pumping through her veins,” I answered.

  “I have no doubt,” he replied, his eyes crinkling with a smile. “The gods have big plans for you. Now, be on your way. I will be in touch.”

  I nodded once, before turning around and exiting the way I came.

  It was time to claim the Queen of Valgertha for my own.

  * * *

  It took several days’ journey on my wolf mount to reach the gates of Valgertha. They were well guarded with sentries posted on the ramparts, looking out over the outlying lands for attacking armies or signs of their enemies. They weren’t searching a man dressed as a merchant of their own kind, however.

  I had shaved the sides of my head, gathering my hair in a long French braid that began at the cusp of my hairline, all the way to the back of my head. Dark, dusky tattoos had been branded onto my skin, all inspired and designed with Valgerthian history in mind. They were quite wild and tribal in nature, speaking to the warrior mentality of their people. I was dressed as they were, in well-worn leather armor, with a curved sword at my waist. The armor the Brotherhood had provided me with was prepared especially for me, conditioned and beaten into shape as if I had fought side by side with these people on the battlefield all my life.

  I played the part of a Valgerthian because it was what needed to be done. It would allow me to slip into the city unnoticed. I walked through the city gates without even a second glance. The sentries continued looking out into the wilderness, searching for those who didn’t belong or a massive army coming to breach their gates. They didn’t expect a man like me to walk in all alone, with full intentions of conquering their queen.

  I meandered through the streets, nodding politely as I passed by other merchants selling their wares. Some were offering mead. There were a number of men selling confectionaries, others suggesting plates of cheese and large slabs of meat. The delicious smells of freshly cooked street food caressed my nose and I smiled in delight.

  My stomach growled as I passed by a vendor selling skewers of marinated chicken and beef, some of the few animals that hadn’t really been affected by the aftermaths of the Great War. They drizzled it in some sort of spicy white sauce, and I tossed them an extra few coins to give me one fresh off their grill. I took a bite, groaning at the decadent taste of fresh meat as I continued down the street. I stopped at a number of other stalls, but all the while, I was making my way toward the rear of the city where Freya’s castle was situated. It was built into a cliff, with a single stairway leading to the entrance. Curved archways lined the entryway.

  The castle itself was built with stones and wooden planks, with several pointed tiers that spoke to the grandeur of the place. The roof was covered with carved wooden slats, which would be better protection against fire-tipped arrows than a straw-covered roof would have been. The architecture was inspired by ancient architecture that had once resided here. To this day though, much of the knowledge of those people had been lost.

  The front entry staircase was guarded by Freya’s closest allies, all warriors lined to the teeth with as much weapons as they could hold. The only thing missing was guns at their hips. It wasn’t part of Valgertha’s culture. Their beliefs about combat centered on being the power behind their enemy’s death, rather than the use of mechanical weaponry to do the job for them. I knew that they mainly fought with knives, swords, and arrows. Only in very rare cases did they ever stoop to using a gun because to do so would bring them dishonor in the eyes of the gods and their people.

  I watched the castle from afar, all under the guise of a mercenary shopping for wares in the local street market. The guards outside only change in two shifts. For several days, I watched the patterns of those that were positioned to stand watch over the castle, memorizing their faces, the times the guards were changed, and the patterns of who worked together. In time, I knew exactly what to expect.

  The walls were well guarded, but there were small things I noticed that I could use to my advantage. There were several windows left open on the first floor that would be easy points of entry once I traversed the cliffside walls. If I entered in that manner though, I would have to attempt it under the cover of nightfall on the night of the new moon.

  I could sneak into the castle and find my way into her chambers, hiding until I had her all to myself in her own bedroom. I could force her into heat all by herself, which might make the whole experience on a woman like her easier to bear.

  Another possibility would be that I could walk up to the castle in the light of day and announce that I had business with the queen. That would result in one of two things. First, they might take me to her and give me an audience right from the start, although this was unlikely. Second, they could take me prisoner. If I made enough of a spectacle of my interest in the queen, she may come to visit me herself, solely out of curiosity. This could end up with me in strong chains though, irons that would be strong enough to contain even an alpha, which was quite undesirable.

  I weighed my options, trying to decide if I should meet Freya head on or sneak in and introduce myself without giving her any time to prepare for a man like me.

  I wanted to throw her off-balance. I wanted to show her that she didn’t have control anymore. She needed to be taught that my alpha was going to subdue hers and she wasn’t going to have a choice about it. Her body was going to beg for my cock before I was through with her. The quicker I went about teaching her that lesson, the better.

  That meant that I needed to meet her on my terms.

  That night, only a sliver of the moon was visible in the night sky, giving off hardly any light down onto the city below. Torches and lanterns lit the streets, flickering and casting shadows that were easy to move in and out of without a trace. I made my way to the edge of town to a scarcely used alleyway that provided perfect cover for traversing the rocky cliffside so that I could enter the castle completely undetected.

  There was no one to stop me as I began to navigate the rocks. I climbed from one to another, slowly making my way up the cliff through the use of a grappling hook and spiked steel-toed boots. I was strong, but still the journey was strenuous, leaving me covered in a glistening sheen of sweat by the time I made it all the way to the top
. I hid behind a tall shrub as I caught my breath and took a sip of water out of my waterskin, taking the time to observe my surroundings for any changes in the usual patterns. There weren’t any though and I smirked at their foolishness.

  Upon the switching of the guards, I finally made my way over to the open window and cut my way through the castle until I wasn’t far from Freya’s chambers. Before I’d come here, the Brotherhood had supplied me with the blueprints to the castle, drawn by a servant that used to serve there. From my understanding, she had been paid handsomely for the information and would never work as a servant again.

  The Brotherhood had deep pockets and a lot of influence. If the Ghost needed to know something, he would get it, no matter how much coin it cost him. It had ultimately proven very useful many times before and was no different for a mission like this as well.

  I waited in a nearby hallway, watching and waiting for any servants that might pass by. Since it was so late at night, I only encountered one and was easily able to hide until she continued on her way. Her people hadn’t expected someone like me, so they weren’t looking for any intruders. There wasn’t even a single guard posted outside her doors and I slipped inside her chambers with ease.

  I locked the door behind me, taking a moment to bend the metal enough that it wouldn’t open very easily if she happened to make it all the way to the door in a foolhardy escape attempt.

  I knew what to expect with the layout of her private living quarters, but I was slow to analyze them in person all the same. Her door opened to a grand entryway, with two spiraling staircases to either side that led upstairs to a large bedroom and a strategy room according to the blueprints I had studied. There was chandelier made out of a number of antlers far above me, and bright oil lanterns that flickered in the darkness. At one end of the entryway were a small dining area, a fully stocked pantry and kitchen, as well as a living room with room to relax.