Prologue

Kalan Earl Grey- 20 years ago

The war was over.

Finally, there was tranquility and peace in Earl Dakota Grey’s Territory.

I still couldn’t believe we won against the blood-sucking monsters, who had invaded our territory. It was an endless war, which I, unfortunately, couldn’t join because of the rigid laws of the Lycanthrope.

It was an abomination for young Lycans who hadn’t integrated their Lycanthropic form yet to join the troops, but every night for the past six months, I still send letters to my father to make an exception.

The depleted howls of the Lycans’ in my father’s territory continuously tormented me in my sleep as dreadful nightmares every time I lay to rest. At a point, it became unbearable to my immature mind that their desperate wails were all I could hear in my daily activities.

Currently, I was on the top floor of my father’s mansion, dressed in an expensive black tailored suit to celebrate my father’s victory while I listened to the excited voices of our people. I could see the joy radiating on their faces as they sang my father’s praises in high spirits, dancing and howling in celebration.

I was happy to feel the unwavering loyalty and respect in their voices toward my father but my mind was heavy with persisting questions.

How did my father do it?

How was he able to defeat those blood-sucking monsters?

I could still remember the rage in his intimidating voice when I eavesdropped on his previous meeting with the vampire envoy.

He had distinctly refused to accept the envoy’s treaty proposal to transform one of his family members into a vampire to call off the war.

His words were, “even if I have to fight with the last Lycan in my troop, there would be no hybrid in my family.”

I inhaled a deep breath and puffed it out into the chilling air while I tried to seize the prevailing questions that tormented my mind. I was curious to know how he had made his victory achievable but I was also aware that he would never disclose it to me.

When I was 13, I was already 5 '7, with strong biceps, maturing stronger than any male Lycans of my age because I was introduced to martial arts at the tender age of 4.

I was a prodigy in the act of defense at 15 but my father still didn’t consider this a worthy ability.

According to him, I was still green and I must learn to face my priority, which at the moment was to integrate my Lycan form. Before the war, he had ordered that I should be locked in the mansion alongside the children and the defenseless women.

Memories of how powerless I felt in those wretched moments flashed through my mind. The children's nosy stares. The women's indirect condemning glances. My mother’s overprotective actions anytime I tried to break out of the heavily guarded mansion.

The reminder of how useless I was as the Leader’s only son dawned on me again and I flipped. I let the blind rage get the best of me.

When I was done hitting the stout bricks until my knuckles started bleeding, I fell to my knees and covered my face in shame.

The humiliation I felt from my father’s overprotective actions rushed down my cheeks as tears and I stubbornly wiped them off. Angered by my weakness, I held onto the dagger I always had glued to my waist and unsheathe it.

Without a second thought, I slit my wrist with it and threw the dagger away from me.

A humorless laugh escaped my throat as I watched myself bleed out but it didn’t lessen the shame I felt at all. The feeling that I would never be able to get rid of this stigma carved itself into my mind. It was a disgrace that would forever taint my reputation.

It hurts so much because every Lycan in my father’s Territory has always admired my abilities. Before the advent of the vampires’ intrusion, I was a prodigy to them, but now…

“I'm just a green Lycan who hasn't integrated yet,” I whispered hoarsely in shame.

I couldn’t understand the sense in my father’s actions at all.

Why did it matter?

Why did I have to integrate into a full Lycan before I can be a comrade?

Why couldn't I fight for my people with my martial arts skills?

Why did he have me locked away with the children and women like some common 15-year-old immature Lycan?

He knew I would be an additional distinction to his troops but he had shielded me from my responsibility without any explanation. My opinion nor my excellent ability didn’t matter to him at all.

In his eyes, I will always be a green Lycan.

I remained kneeling where I was, letting the merry voices of the Lycans wade into my ears before I wrapped a handkerchief on my wrist to stop the bleeding so as not to give my mother another heart attack.

Slowly, I didn't even feel like a resentful teenager anymore. I felt like I was a retired comrade who had lost his last war.

We had won the war but I lost. I had lost every bit of my vigor towards anything.

“I can’t believe you have upgraded to cutting yourself with blades.”

I snarled at the condemning voice that just intruded on my private moments. I didn’t have to turn around to know that it was Uncle Caelum, my father’s younger brother.

“You can’t keep hurting yourself anytime things don’t go your way, Kalan. It’s not—”

“None of your business.” My eyes snapped at him angrily, cutting off his words before I stood on my feet. I was tall for my age but I barely reached his bulky shoulders.

Uncle Caelum is a brilliant comrade. His most attractive feature is the tiny mark below his left eye. It aided his aloof aura. He was looking regal. He looked identical to my father tonight but without the grimness. His new badge as the commander of my father’s elite troops was also attached to his front pocket.

I scoffed at the sight of the shining golden emblem.

“What do you want, Commander Caelum? Shouldn't you be down there enjoying the celebration?” I clenched my teeth together, feeling the pain in my wrist overshadowing the irritation in my heart. I hate that I could now feel the discomfort after he pointed it out.

“If you keep hurting yourself, you will be too weak to integrate.” He warned, ignoring my snicker.

I will be sixteen in a few weeks but I wasn’t excited about my integration anymore. I felt there was no use for it as I couldn’t protect my people without being a complete Lycan. The thought alone aggravates me anytime I think about it because I feel all my other abilities aren’t incomparable to being full Lycan.

“You have to understand that you are still too young. You are also your parent’s only child. Even if your father had agreed to take you up the hills, your mother would never let you join the war at 15.”

“Did you come all the way up here to let me know about this?” I glared at my uncle when he started saying the words I knew would follow after he saw my wrapped wrist.

He knew his words were unwelcome. I wonder why he still bothers speaking his mind every time. Until now, I was still angry at him for not advising my father against his restrictive actions.

We have always been buddies because he was the only one I could share my thoughts with as he was also a prodigy, but I just wasn’t feeling him anymore.

“Kalan, if there’s something you can do to help alleviate your father's worries, will you do it?” Uncle Caelum asked, pausing to look at my wrapped wrist again and then my arrogant face.

“He needs my help?”

It was hilarious to even think a day like this could come until I recalled that he had said ‘if’

“He does but he wouldn't tell you yet.”

“Of course, he wouldn’t.” I snarled and attempted to leave the large balcony but Uncle Caelum’s words halted my tracks.

“You are now engaged to the unborn daughter of Alpha Stallone Wolfe of the Crescent Moon Pack.”

“What?”

His revelation took me by surprise and I turned to look at his helpless expression.

“I am engaged? When? How? To a fucking werewolf and not a Lycan?”

“That was Alpha Stallone’s condition.”

“Who the fuck is he? What unreasonable condition was that?” I shrieked at him, my anger getting out of hand again.

“He is the Alpha of the Crescent Moon Pack.” He sighed, “he demanded from your father to have you eternally wedded to his first daughter before he provided the weapon that we used to kill the vampire King.” Uncle Caelum explained patiently.

I fisted my hands at my sides when it all dawned on me.

I was the sacrifice.

My freedom to love and choose my bride in the future has been exploited by my father and as usual, he didn’t bother to ask for my opinion or inform me that I was already betrothed to an awaited she-wolf.

“Why? Why did we need their help? They are weaker than us. We don’t need them. Why did the leader have to compromise my life when I could have easily assisted him to win the war?” I grew angrier as the words left my lips.

Staring at Uncle Caelum’s powerless expression, my heart sank because I knew my father would never have considered the option that I could have aided his victory without the help of outsiders.

That was what the werewolves were to us; outsiders.

And that is what my future bride will be.

I will never let her feel at home in my house, my heart, or among my people because she was never meant to be there.

Whoever the first daughter of Alpha Stallone Wolfe was, I will never make her feel like a wife to me.