Chapter 1

Layco

EVERYTHING around me was peaceful. While the wind was gently humming with the leaves, I was clutching onto the dry vegetation as I laid on the ground, trying to weather the storm that's destroying me on the inside without anyone knowing.

Why did it have to be me in the first place?

My Adam's apple bobbed up and down as I swallowed the lump forming in my throat. Having one of the most aggressive wolves ever existed wasn't easy. I hated it as much as I hated my full name that screamed nothing but status, power, and everything hard to reach for other people. It made me feel too high and I didn't like it. 

Because being on top meant being alone... and I fear nothing but being lonely.

Gritting my teeth tightly, I shut my eyes and tried to contain the beast inside me. A feral wolf I never wished for in the first place. Funny how everyone thought I was lucky to possess such power, because if given the chance, I would ask for nothing but a life far from all of these.

"Lay, Alpha Pierre wants to talk to you."

I opened my eyes and stared blankly at the high branches of trees above me when I heard my sister, Chleo inside my head. 

"My decision is final. We're cutting ties with all of them and Crescent is not an exception," I replied, my own words caused another painful tug in my heart. 

I would never forget that night...

I would never forgive him for shutting the doors...

"But Lay, hear him out. Alpha Pierre is getting weaker each day. He wanna talk to you—"

"I said I'm done with them."

Chleo didn't answer, but the pinch I felt in my heart was enough for me to realize what I just did. I'd hurt my sister again.

"The King didn't build your relationship with each other just for you to step away that easily right when you needed each other the most."

I squeezed his eyes shut. I know that. I thought to myself but words came out differently. "I don't need them. I don't need the family they offer..."

Chleo disconnected from me, completely heartbroken with my decision. For a moment, I considered consoling her, but what could I do? It was the only way. It's for everybody's sake, after all.

I stayed on the ground for a little more time until I heard my Beta inside my head. He said some intruders were caught trying to go through the woods of Brenther to get to the Vourden Castle. My jaw clenched and my silver eyes slowly turned gold as I pulled himself up. 

I ran towards Grant's location and found my Beta with some deltas holding a group of unfamiliar humans. The oldest looked at my people with fear, completely terrified of the monsters they didn't think they'd meet in the woods of Remorse District.

I licked the corner of my lips. Stupid humans. When would they ever learn?

"I told you, Sir it was just a mistake. We're just here to see the treasures."

My Beta, Grant lifted a brow. "What the hell do you think Brenther is? A goddamn minesite? And what the fuck do you think you are? Snow white's elves?"

Warren, my head Delta, laughed softly while rubbing his jaw with his palm. "Ah, stupid humans with silly fairytales. The only thing you'll find here is merciless death." He sighed. "That's why I don't date humans. They're all brainless."

Jao, one of my best border guards, gave Warren a questioning gaze as if he didn't believe any of what Warren just said. When Warren noticed the look on Jao's face, he snirred at Jao before he gazed at me. "Alpha, we got some coo-coo brains here."

I gave the five intruders a cold look. Enough for them to almost shit their fucking pants. "Of all the cities, you had the audacity to step inside my territory..." I shut my eyes and cracked my neck. When my eyes opened again, it was already a pair of burning gold.

Their faces turned pale and horror crossed their eyes as if it was their first time seeing someone change eye color.

Right. It was probably their first time to see someone do such thing... and I would make sure it was going to be the last. Mercy, after all, was only given by fools.

The youngest's eyes popped widely open, his face turned completely pale with the sight of my golden eyes. He even tried to get off Jao's hold but my Delta didn't let go of the boy until I told him so.

"Let him do what humans do best. Act foolish." I folded my arms and watched the boy run for his life. Come on, boy. Let's see what you got. I could really use a little fun today.

I mentally counted backwards while thinking of the best way to kill the poor human. When I reached one, I came running after him without even trying so hard to catch up. As soon as I reached him, I dragged him by his arm and held him by his neck. The boy groaned when I pushed his back against the tree.

"Any last words, hmm?" My claws dug slowly onto the boy's freckled skin. 

"P--Please, don't kill me..." the boy begged, his eyes were already red as if he was ready to cry for something I already removed in my system. Mercy.

My eyes remained cold as I stared at the boy's terrified pools, but when I had a glimpse at the slightly opened locket hanging on his neck, my hold on the boy slowly loosen. I didn't know why but there was something about the cheap necklace that captured my full attention.

I didn't know what got in my head when I reached for the locket and pulled it off the boy's neck by force. He groaned but I didn't care. My attention remained at the locket I was holding.

When I flipped the locket open, I found himself checking out the woman sitting next to the boy and their father. Her innocent eyes seemed to be twinkling as she shyly smiled at the camera. Her long black hair hanging 'til her stomach looked so smooth that I felt the need to caress it myself. Damn it, what the hell was happening to me? How could a stranger in a photograph make my heart turn savage with just one look? 

Was it because she looked like Jaimie? No, there had to be something else. Her effect on me screamed so much more than Jaimie had made him feel. There was this strange force that's consuming me whole, making me want to run towards god-knows-where she was. My wolf even purred as if it wanted to see the girl in flesh so it could sniff her creamy skin all night and let her sweet scent intoxicate me.

What the fuck was going on? I'd never been this way before. Not even towards Jaimie. It was as if I was being bewitched by the lady in the photograph, making me want to do stupid stuff Alpha Layco Magnison of Brenther would never consider. 

The boy's sobs drew me back to reality. His heavy tears were trailing down his face, his eyes were completely terrified for the life I wasn't sure if I still wanted to end after seeing the girl in the photograph.

"Forgive me, Sir. I just got dragged into this," he begged with trembling voice.

Did I look like I care if it was his idea or not? These foolish people could really manage to get into my nerves with just their mere display of stupidity. Even their leaders in the government were nothing but a bunch of dumbass. I salute Alpha Pierre for having enough patience whenever he was dealing with the humans because I didn't think I could do that.

I'd rather die that show mercy to these useless people.

My grip on his neck tightened again. "I don't forgive that easily. My world doesn't show mercy to people like you."

The boy sniffed. "Please, Sir. My sister is waiting for me."

I lifted the locket in front of the boy's face. "Is this your sister, hmm?"

A slight, terrified nod was his only answer. "My sister didn't know I'm here. She's probably worried sick about me now."

My eyes went sharp and my nails began to grow longer, piercing onto the boy's neck as I thought of things I never imagined I would ever consider.

Damn it, I wanted the girl...

Mercy was only offered by the fools, and for that woman, I'd be foolish.

I straightened up my back and then brushed my fingers onto my shaggy jetblack hair after releasing the boy. "What's your name?"

"Ma... Markus..." He coughed and tried to catch his breath. "My name is Markus, Sir."

"Markus who?"

"Markus... Markus Hemsworth..."

"Well, Markus Hemsworth, why don't we wait for your sister to claim you instead? Killing you in front of her would be fun..." My jaw clenched as my eyes turned gold again. "I'd like to see her beg for your useless life."