The Alpha's Unclaimed Mate novel Chapter 178

Chapter 178: Ancestral Roast: They’ve Been Waiting For This

Layered whispers filled the chamber.

"If we say the horizon shifts for every traveler ..."

Serena turned away from the lake and the men fighting over her, eyes widening at the question. "Then I answer that the bearing remains unchanged."

The column of white fire hitting the ceiling, shrank back to a regular size. It flared gold.

Aeron clapped once and did a jump.

Alaric snorted and shook his head. "Welcome to Drakenfell." He said it the way a tour guide says it on a bus that just hit a pothole.

Then the whispers rose again.

"Hyran Thornfell."

Hyran jolted at his own name. The most powerful mage across all continents had just flinched like a student called on in class.

Alaric and Aeron looked at one another, both trying not to laugh. Hyran shot them a glare with cat-forced-into-bath-level irritation.

Aeron mouthed the word "relax" at him. Hyran’s glare intensified to a level that suggested that was the wrong thing to say.

"Born and trained in Drakenfell. Mage-blood descendant of the First Dragon King, ancestors originate in Morbia. He chose his path wisely. He stands as the most connected and powerful mage across all continents. Advisor to Skardos’s wisest king. Mentor to the Dragon Prince and the daughter of the Moon Goddess."

Hyran wanted to be annoyed. The ancestors were making it very difficult. He tried not to react, but it was clear he didn’t hate the praise. His face said ’this is unnecessary,’ but his posture said ’continue.’

Alaric leaned towards Aeron, and gave him a knowing look that said, he’s going to be unbearable for weeks. Aeron gave him a grim nod that communicated, months actually.

The whispers resumed with something that felt, impossibly, like a throat being cleared.

"He rehearses before every ritual in the mirror at least twice. ’Blood remembers and blood binds’ for pack initiations took him a week. The ancestors watched."

Hyran gave the fire a flat look. The fire did not apologize. If anything, it burned a fraction brighter, the ancestral equivalent of a smirk.

Dexmon and Fin had silently gotten up, neither saying a word, moving towards the basin. Elara clocked it, grabbed Serena’s arm, and pulled her in between herself and Hale.

"Alaric Kestrel. Mage-blood descendant of the First Dragon King. He stands as the most connected and knowledgable healer in Skardos. Chosen by the Moon Goddess as a protector."

"His patients recover despite his personality. His handwriting remains illegible. The ancestors have given up."

Alaric received this with the same enthusiasm he received most things: mild irritation and a desire to move on. The voice shifted, deepening.

"Aeron Lancaster. Born in Morbia. Mage-blood descendant of the First Dragon King."

Everyone’s eyes snapped to Aeron at this. He was now the most interesting person in the room, and looked like he’d rather not be.

"Master Mage in Shadowclaw. He chose his path wisely. Selected by fate to train the most powerful Alpha King in history, and the daughter of the Moon Goddess. He stands as one of the most knowledgeable mages in all continents."

Aeron straightened. Fin allowed himself a brief, proud grin, the kind reserved only for a brother in arms.

"His burn book from magic school contains dirt on every mage in this chamber. The journal he currently carries is much worse. It contains observations about every Alpha present that the ancestors will neither confirm nor deny finding hilarious."

Fin’s proud grin changed into a we-will-be-discussing-this-later look, and Tiberon’s eyes narrowed on him with the weight of a drawn sword.

The chamber rumbled, and the fire pulsed sapphire.

"Gavriel Sterling. Born in Drakenfell, descendant of the First Dragon King and First Fae King. Ascended to the Gamma seat in his twentieth summer."

"Warrior and protector chosen by the Moon Goddess. Will be known across Skardos as its greatest Gamma in history. The right hand of the Dragon Prince in this life and the last."

"In his tenth winter, he carried a wounded omega child five miles through snow to a healer’s door. It was the last thing Kael Sterling ever saw his grandson do and is the kind of man Gavriel Sterling is."

Dex, who had known him long enough to read every tell the man had, looked at his best friend with something that wasn’t cocky or sharp or sarcastic. It was pride. Raw and unfiltered.

Gavriel caught Dex’s expression. Looked away. If they held eye contact any longer, one of them was going to say something sincere, and neither of them could handle that.

"He honors his ancestors, known by the gods as the one who controls his fate. There is a crossroads ahead that no prophecy can navigate for him. He will choose, and the gods will not intervene. They have agreed not to."

"He also wears sarcasm like armor and is the loudest Gamma in Skardos. The ancestors would like both facts on the record."

"Hale Ironholt. Incarnate of the Ice Dragon Lord, brethren of House Drakenfell. Now Beta of Drakenfell. High General of the Draken Forces."

"His tactical mind is unmatched. But his ability to ask Elara Vaelor to a dance required intervention from the Dragon Prince, the Gamma, and the daughter of the Moon Goddess. It took all three."

"Elara Ironholt. Dragon King Descendant. Fated to the Ice Dragon Lord Incarnate. She did not make it easy for him in this life. The ancestors enjoyed every moment of it."

"Beta Luna of Drakenfell. A red wolf blessed with mage power. Destined to be the best Beta Luna in all continents."

"She loves fiercely and forgives slowly. The ancestors advise Hale Ironholt to remember this. They advise him that she is also not fine, when she says she’s fine. She’s still very upset he ghosted her."

"Finnick Shadowclaw. Descendant of the First Dragon King. Now King of North Varos. Already counted among the most powerful Alpha Kings in all continents."

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