One

Kalan

It was sunset when I got back to my apartment from my first official date with Lyssa. She was the only Lycan with whom I had more than a few quickies. She knows that we can’t term it love and we both know it cannot be more than sex.

Or maybe, I just can't take any relationship seriously.

Not that I can even if I want to.

It has been 20 years since my deceased father publicized my engagement with Alpha Stallone’s first daughter, and our wedding was set to be on my 36th birthday.

The day I will stop aging like a normal human.

To be honest, I didn’t wish to go with my plan to take Lyssa out for today’s date anymore. I knew I would be breaking her heart very soon, so I had to persist.

Lyssa Myrx and her little brother, Blaze, were new immigrants in my Territory. We had no idea the Territory they originated from but they were clean, so I welcomed them to live here.

I was certain she was aware of my betrothal though I never talked about it. Her sheer ignorance about my impending marriage was one of the things I admire about her, but I get irritated about it anytime she makes plans for the future because we know it is impossible.

When I stepped out of the elevator and into my apartment, I immediately sensed something was off.

I took steady steps into the dark room, scanning the surroundings with my keen eyes when I discerned a movement behind me. I grabbed the intruder's body in the wink of an eye and threw them on the ground severely before they could react.

“Ah, Kalan! Do you wish to kill your favorite cousin?”

“How did you get it?” I hissed at Calix before I recalled that I must have given him a key.

His exaggerated groans filled my ears but I just rolled my lazy eyes at him, kicking his feet to troll into my apartment.

“Get your fucking ass off the ground and stop whining.”

I moved to switch on the light before kicking Calix again since he hadn't stood up yet.

Calix Caelum Grey is 20, he is Uncle Caelum’s second son. His little sister, Nevan is 19 and is my favorite cousin, but he likes to think he is the one because I had personally trained him. My uncle, Caelum Dakota Grey, had three kids with three different female Lycans. He never marked any of them but he took custody of all his kids after they integrated their Lycan Form.

“Why are you here?” I asked, pushing to the fridge with heavy steps to get some cold beer. I would be needing it again to sleep tonight.

“You need to leave with me immediately, Kalan.” Calix began, holding his waist and squeezing his face to show the pain I knew he was exaggerating.

“Why?” I raised an eyebrow at him.

“Your bride is here. No one has been able to contact you to inform you of her arrival.” He explained when he saw the shock on my face.

I growled at myself in anger as I recalled I had switched off my phone the whole day to enjoy my date with Lyssa. I abandoned my initial thought of drinking myself to sleep and grabbed my keys and jacket.

Before I got to the door, Calix sprinted in front of me. He stood before me, blocking the exit with his brawny frame and facing me squarely.

Calix is my height but not my build. He is far less hunkier than I am but he looks like he will get there. The male Lycans in my family share the same dark hair, and lofty physique but different aura. Our abilities were also quite distinct from one another.

“My dad said if you don’t want to marry the she-wolf, they can shift the engagement to Caius.” He hurriedly let out when I glared at him to move.

Caius is my uncle’s first son. He is closer in age to me but we are not close. Chances are we'll never be because I didn't like his mother.

“Move.” I yanked Calix away from the door but he instinctively snatched my wrist.

He groaned. “Are you going to marry her? Lady Vieva said if you won’t, you shouldn’t show your face until after the wedding.”

“The wedding?” What wedding is my mother planning if I don't show up?

“Yes. I just told you that they would shift the engagement to Caius.” Calix spread out his hands.

“Did Caius ask for this?” I asked plainly because ever since that little kid could walk, he always wanted what was mine.

Calix shrugged, “well, he agreed-”

“Of course, he agreed,” I cut his words off before he could finish, and yanked his hand away from my wrist.

“You don’t want her. Ever since I knew you as my person, she’s the only constant irritation you have. We don’t even know her name or what she looked like before now because of your rage anytime she’s mentioned.” Calix said with irritation but I didn't reply as I left my apartment.

He followed me down the elevator in silence. He was wise not to say a word after his outburst because I would have locked him inside the apartment.

From the day Uncle Caelum revealed my engagement to Alpha Stallone's first daughter, I hadn’t for once thought of shrinking away from the commitment. I was infuriated when I learned about my father’s desperate arrangement but it was the only way I could feel like I contributed to my people's current stability.

No one would have been able to force me to go on with the betrothal after he died except for my mother but I'm sure she was the one that discussed it with Uncle Caelum to shift the engagement to my first cousin.

“You went out with Lyssa, didn't you?” Calix’s voice pierced the silence. That was when I remembered how my day went again. I hate that I have to abandon Lyssa to marry a stranger.

“Did you like her that much?” He asked again but I still didn't respond to him because my feelings for Lyssa could not reverse my engagement.

“Look at it from this angle. You can have Lyssa if we go back to your apartment now.” Calix said persistently.

I turned and throw daggers at him, and he knew to keep his fucking mouth shut before I threw him out of the car.

I was already furious that Caius stepped into my engagement to fill in for me.

I believe he must have swallowed extra guts after taking his usual strains. Otherwise, why the hell would he think I would let him marry the woman who had tormented me with her existence even before she was conceived?

The anger in me rises every time I think about how frequently my first cousin changes his women. From Lycans to she-wolves, to vampires then witches. It didn't help that he lived off the Territory and was a bassist in a famous band.

I was certain he would never accept the she-wolf as his bride. He only wanted to irritate me because he knew how significant the engagement was to me.

When we got to my father’s mansion, now called the Main House, because I the Leader didn't live there, I hurried in without waiting for Calix to get off. I didn't even reply to any of the Lycans’ best wishes in respect of my upcoming birthday and wedding as I moved past them.

I felt it was funny how everyone in my family had already seen my so-called bride, but I, the expected groom, hadn’t met her yet.

To be honest, I wasn’t thrilled about meeting her. I just wanted to get this over with.

For the past 20 years, she was my bane and she was finally here.

“Kalan, you came?” My mother’s surprised voice jerked everyone’s attention to me but my eyes were busy scanning the living room for the she-wolf.

“Nevan, can I change into this dress?” I heard a tiny unfamiliar voice raise a question and my gaze immediately shifted to where it was coming from.

That was when I saw her.

A gorgeous brunette with amazing feminine curves standing in front of my cousin's bedroom. She looked comfortable holding a familiar dress in her hand. She was also tall. Almost the same height as Nevan, who was 5’9. Her long seductive eyelashes and almond-shaped eyes were the next things I noticed about her before anger filled my chest again.

“Sure, Ravenna, I will help with the zip.” Nevan darted a look at me before she hurriedly moved toward the she-wolf.

“What is happening here? Who is she?” I looked away from her like I didn't know who she could be whilst still ignoring everyone.