CHAPTER 1 THE THRONE LOST

POV: Niklaus Prime Wolfe

The night sky stretched above me, dark and endless. A sliver of the moon shone through the clouds, illuminating the quiet landscape of our territory. I stood at the edge of the ceremonial grounds, my heart heavy with anticipation, my gaze fixed on the distant woods. The pack would soon gather here, their eyes upon me. Tomorrow would be the day I ascended to my rightful place as the Alpha of the Prime Pack. Tomorrow, I would take the reins my father had held for decades.

I had worked my entire life for this. Every fight, every sacrifice, every challenge—I had endured it all with the single goal of one day leading the Prime Pack to greater heights. My father, the mighty Alpha, had taught me everything I knew. He was a leader who commanded respect with a mere glance, a man whose strength and wisdom were unmatched. But tomorrow, that legacy would be mine.

I exhaled sharply, trying to calm my nerves. I had always been the strong one, the confident one. My father’s heir. Yet tonight, something felt... off. The air was too still, the trees too quiet. The winds that usually carried the scent of pine and earth now felt heavy, laden with a sense of foreboding.

“Everything alright, son?” My father’s voice broke the silence, pulling me from my thoughts.

I turned to see him walking toward me, his presence commanding even in the dim light. He was a towering figure, his broad shoulders and graying hair a testament to years of leadership and battle. His piercing blue eyes met mine, assessing, weighing my every movement.

“I’m fine,” I lied, forcing a smile. “Just... thinking.”

He gave me a knowing look, a flicker of concern passing through his gaze. But he didn’t press. Instead, he nodded toward the pack house, where preparations for the ceremony were underway.

“Tomorrow, Niklaus. You’ll make a fine Alpha. I have no doubt.”

I nodded, but deep down, I wasn’t so sure.

What if I wasn’t ready? What if I failed?

I shoved those thoughts aside. This was my destiny. It had to be.

The sounds of laughter and music began to drift from the pack house, the celebration already in full swing. The rest of the pack was gathering, the atmosphere full of excitement and anticipation. Tomorrow, I would stand before them, and I would be their leader. I had spent years preparing for this moment, training for the responsibility, honing my strength and cunning. But tonight, the weight of it all seemed heavier than ever.

I turned back toward the woods, my eyes scanning the tree line. Something wasn’t right.

“You’re not still brooding over the ceremony, are you?” My sister’s voice cut through the tension.

I turned to find my twin sister, Lyra, walking toward me. Her short, fiery red hair glinted in the low light, and her emerald eyes were sharp with curiosity. Lyra had always been the more pragmatic one, the one who didn’t waste time on uncertainty. She was the Beta, a fierce warrior in her own right, and while I was destined to be Alpha, she was my equal in strength and intellect. If anything, she was my closest ally.

“Brooding?” I scoffed, but my voice betrayed me, wavering slightly. “Just... thinking.”

Lyra gave me an appraising look, her gaze softening. “I know what you’re thinking. You’re worried about tomorrow. Don’t be. You’ve been training for this your whole life.”

I sighed, turning away from her, my eyes once again drawn to the darkness of the forest. “It’s not just about tomorrow, Lyra. It’s about what comes after. The pressure, the expectations...”

She stepped closer, placing a hand on my shoulder, her touch grounding me. “You’re ready. You don’t have to carry all this alone, you know. I’m here. The pack’s here. We’re all in this together.”

I gave her a small, grateful smile, but the unease still gnawed at my gut.

A sudden crash of glass shattered the stillness, followed by frantic shouts and the unmistakable sounds of struggle. My heart jolted in my chest.

“What the hell is that?” Lyra’s voice was tight with alarm.

I didn’t answer. I was already moving, my senses heightening as the sound of footsteps—heavy, purposeful—reached my ears. The scent of blood mixed with the sharp tang of danger.

“Get to the pack house, now,” I ordered, my voice low and commanding, though panic was beginning to rise in my throat. “Take Mom and get them out.”

Lyra didn’t hesitate. She turned on her heel and sprinted back toward the house. I watched her go, but before I could follow, I heard a voice—a voice I would recognize anywhere.

“Niklaus,” my father’s voice rang out from the shadows, filled with authority. “It’s time.”

I turned to see him stepping into the clearing, his face grim. “Get to the house. Now.”

Before I could ask what was going on, a sharp sound—a cry—echoed from the direction of the pack house. My blood ran cold.

“Father?” I asked, my voice trembling.

“We’re under attack,” he growled. “The Silverclaw pack. They’ve come for you.”

I didn’t need to ask why. The Silverclaws had always been our enemies, but this—this was something different. It wasn’t just a skirmish. It was an all-out war.

“Stay close,” my father said, drawing his sword. “We need to protect the pack at all costs.”

But as we moved toward the house, the ground seemed to shake beneath our feet, the air crackling with tension. The first wave of Silverclaw warriors descended upon us, their eyes gleaming with malice.

It was chaos. Fists flew, claws raked through the air, and the sounds of snarls and growls filled the night. I fought with everything I had, my wolf pushing forward with rage, but there were too many of them. Too many Silverclaws, too many merciless eyes.

I could hear my father shouting orders, but my focus was locked on the attackers. I fought, I bled, I killed. But in the midst of the battle, I caught sight of something that made my blood run cold—Jackson Salvador, the Alpha of the Silverclaws, his eyes burning with fury as he charged toward me.

“Your time is over, Niklaus,” he snarled, his voice dripping with venom. “The throne is mine.”

I barely had time to react before he lunged, his claws sinking deep into my side. Pain exploded through me, but I fought back, my claws raking across his chest. But Jackson was stronger, faster, and before I knew it, I was on the ground, blood pouring from my wounds.

The world began to spin. My father’s roar of fury was the last thing I heard before everything went dark.