Chapter One

~Kace~

"Kace! Kace run !" I heard my mom call my name amid the burning wood and furniture. "Kace!"

I was taking shelter under the large dinner table with flames burning around me. I was sobbing, wondering how things got to this. I could still hear my mom calling out my name hysterically.

"Run, run to mommy," I heard my brother from the other end of the room, mocking me.

I gathered up enough courage and ran out of the table but came to a halt at the sight of my mom being grabbed by her neck by my father. Right before my eyes, he slit her throat.

"Mom!" I yelled in horror at the scene.

"Kace, Kace, dude calm down," Rough hands shook me and I jolted awake.

My vision was blurry at first but then I made out Sonny's face looking down at me

"You look like you just ran a marathon," he said and chuckled. "Aren't you a little too old to be having nightmares?"

"Sonny," I said rubbing my face with the palm of my hands. " What are you doing in my room?"

" I could hear you all the way from the gym, " he said. " Maybe it's time you see a therapist about-,"

Before he could finish his sentence I shook my head, cutting him off.

"No, I'm fine," I said. " It's just a dream. "

"Okay," he said. " In case you change your mind I could hook you up with one."

When he left my room, I got out of bed and walked to my bathroom. I stood under the shower longer than I normally did, I had been having the same dream for over thirteen years. For thirteen years it always ended the same, with my mother calling out my name and my father killing her right in front of me. As the years went by I didn't have it as often. I suppose that was a good thing. I didn't have the most pleasant childhood and the nightmares were just the cherry on top that came with it. Despite what the dreams said, my mother was alive and well. But my father on the other hand, well I don't give a damn about him.

He was the Alpha of the Crescent pack, a pack that I was supposed to call home, but was ashamed to. He was as ruthless and cold-blooded as one could get. He was known for taking down and conquering packs, doing so in the most ruthless way possible.

My brother, Zaynab, fought alongside him. It was too late for him, there was no redemption for him, where his name was uttered destruction followed. I was supposed to be my father's successor, the next Alpha. My father needed me on his side for that but I chose a different path. Zaynab on the other hand believed he was born for the role and would do anything insanely possible to get it, which also included taking me out of the picture. But that's exactly who he was, a ruthless, power-hungry hound.

When I got out of the shower, I combed through my hair and dressed up casually for the day then I heard a knock on my door.

"Kace," my friend Graham called from the other side of the door. " Ten minutes and we're out. "

"Got it," I responded.

I currently lived with my friends and fellow wolves Sonny, Graham and Reid in an apartment building we bought close to the varsity we went to. Leaving the wolf life behind meant I had to give up certain things and blend in more with the human world. For starters, I had to have a normal Job like a normal person and I had to attain an education too. Fortunately blending in hadn't been hard for me because I was only a kid when my mother and I came here and because of that I practically lived around humans my whole life. Except for the few wolves I met here and there.

I met Sonny was only fourteen. He was the only wolf I met in my neighbourhood. So it was natural for us to form a friendship and that friendship eventually became a brotherhood.

I met Graham and Reid on our first day at the varsity during the admission week. Even though we were all from different packs and had completely different personalities we somehow hit it off and it's been the four of us since.

I made my way downstairs where Sonny and Reid were waiting for me and Graham joined me shortly after us downstairs us.

" Took you long enough," Reid said sitting on one of the counter stools and pressing something on his phone.

" Go easy on him," Sonny defended him. " He had a rough night."

"You had a lady up there with you man?" Graham asked dropping his shades with a smirk.

"Please, Kace with a girl? In this life? " Reid teased and he and Graham both broke into laughter

Deciding to ignore them, I walked over to the counter to get my coffee and my car keys.

"You'll find me in the car when you guys are done," I said to both of them then looked at Sonny. " Are you coming?"

" Sure," he said walking out with me.

We went outside to where my black SUV was parked and Reid and Graham joined us shortly after. I unlocked the doors and when we all got in I drove to the University.

" What's with the rush?" Reid asked, probably because I was driving at 100km/h.

"Sayd is in his first lecture," Graham said from the back seat. "You wouldn't want to miss that, would you pal?"

I glared at him through the mirror. " You guys are really on my case today aren't you?"

" Why don't you just talk to her Kace?" Sonny said.

" For the last time, I'm not interested. "

I discovered she was my mate three years ago. Of all the places to have a mate it just had to be the one place I ran to. I knew I was lying to myself when I told Soony I didn't want to talk to her. There were times I was tempted to but I had to restrain myself for both our good. Even if I did talk to her, it was never going to go anywhere. To begin with, she was human and humans did not know the resistance of wolves. It also didn't help that even though things seemed fine currently, I was still living on edge and a person like me didn't deserve a mate, my father was still alive and Zaynab too.

Despite that when I first saw her I thought she was the most beautiful girl I had ever laid eyes on. She had wide up upturned eyes that she squinted when trying to focus on something, her full lips always curved into a smile when she was around people and her black wavy hair graced everyone with the aroma of her shampoo. Everything about her was alluring to me. It's like fate did me a huge favour and tortured me all at the same time.

It was believed that an Alpha needed a mate to be strong and run his pack. But I was no Alpha and I didn't need a mate. I didn't need her.

"That's bullshit," Sonny said. " We all know the real reason. '

"I mean if you don't want her, I can take her," Graham said as we drove in the parking lot. " I mean would you just look at that, she is gorgeous. "

When all looked in the direction Graham was looking and saw Sayd with another girl walking along the parking lot.

"Damn," I cursed under my breath when I picked up on her intoxicating scent.

Graham was right about one thing, she was gorgeous. She was only wearing jeans and a halter top but that was enough to define every single one of her turns and curves. As usual, when she was around her friend she was her most comfortable, judging by the smile on her face.

"Watch out!" Sonny suddenly yelled.

I stopped my car abruptly and nearly hit a guy walking in front of us.

"What the heck is wrong with you? Watch where you drive this thing," He yelled angrily and hit the hood of my car leaving a dent.

I leaned up from my seat and saw that some of the colour had been scraped off. This person was definitely a wolf given the size is the dent that he left. I furiously got out of my car, I was mostly angry because I had only bought this car a week ago and this was the first time I was driving it.

"How's about I give you something to watch out for?" I said walking towards him.

He didn't back down or retreat but instead, when I grabbed his shirt he also grabbed mine.

"Kace, this is not necessary, " Sonny got out of the car and tried to negotiate with me.

I lifted him from the ground and I immediately sensed fear and intimidation and I held him against the wall.

"Look man, " he said shivering, "I can pay and have your car fixed. "

A friend had formed around us and Sonny stood next to me again.

"Kace people are watching," he said with gritted teeth.

My eyes quickly scanned the crowd and stood at Sayd's. Her hand covered her mouth as she, like everyone else, waited to see what I was going to do to the guy.

"Just put him down," Sonny said.

I let him go and he fell to the ground. I looked back at the crowd and she was gone.