Five

RAZE

I'm standing on my balcony with a glass of tequila, overseeing my men that are training in the front yard of our pack house. 

The crescent moon shines its gleam on them, giving a little soul to their fights. It's midnight, and though they should be asleep, they aren't. We've got a daily routine of training at midnight, and we always stick to it. 

I can't let them slack off on their training. We've got a reputation to keep – as the most feral and dominating pack in the werewolf kingdom. Slacking off will only make us weaker and less dreaded. That's something we can never allow to happen.

I watch them with half-assed interest because my thoughts were running wild. One of my Gammas yells out instructions to a couple of my men who are sparring in their wolf forms. 

It was initially my Beta, Zane, who was giving out those instructions. But an hour ago, he got an integer alarm from our patrols at the border. He ran off to go check it out and has yet to return. He's yet to mind-link me about how's it going or send a message through one of our men. That's what has me so restless and on my toes. I need to know what the situation there is like.

I'm usually very tactical and cautious about stuff like this. I don't treat intruders lightly and I see to it that I find out just who they are. I've had a lot of intruder alerts over the years. A lot of people are trying to infiltrate my pack with spies. A lot of rogues trying to get back at me for whatever I did. So you see, intruder alerts are a big deal to me. 

Most people might think I'm just being paranoid and overly protective, but that's just how it is when you build an empire from scratch. You tend to wanna protect it with your life. 

Our pack used to be one of the most inferior packs in the werewolf kingdom. Back when my parents were still alive and ruled over the pack. 

I'm the only child of my parents, and I watched them suffer intimidation from other Packs who believed we were just like a speck of dust, that can be easily blown away. I grew up being ridiculed for being the son of one of the poorest Alpha Kings.

It didn't matter much to me though. I had my parents' love and the people's loyalty. That was more than enough. 

But then, my parents died when I was 17 years old. I had my first shift a few nights before that awful day. It remains the saddest day of my life.

My parents had been involved in a ghastly accident that ended in a fire outbreak. When we got to the scene, all we saw were ashes. I didn't get to see their bodies. The elders buried their ashes.

Memories of that night are still vivid in my heart. How broken I'd felt from my loss. How overwhelmed I felt when I realized I had to take over as the new Alpha King of our pack. I had to be a leader to my people, just as my Father was.

I didn't have enough courage to take on such a huge responsibility. Hell, I didn't know a thing about being an Alpha. All my life, I'd just been the introverted Alpha-Prince who never leaves his parents' side. I might have been a bit too blunt too, but that's not what it takes to be an Alpha.

But then, my people believed in me. I didn't understand why they had so much faith in me but they did. It was their faith that led me to take up the position of Alpha. They loved me and trusted me even before I could finally trust myself. I realized I owed him a lot, and I worked hard to earn my keep.

Eight years later, the narrative changed drastically. Nightwalker pack is now the most ruthless and successful pack in all the werewolf kingdoms. I'm not the weak, Alpha Son who got orphaned at a young age. I'm now a 25-year-old Alpha King, the youngest Alpha to ever be as successful and dreaded as I am.

Everywhere I go, I make sure to leave an imprint; a scar that never fades. I conquer hundreds of packs and force them to turn rogue. That's because I'm not the least interested in claiming other packs. I'm more about leaving a statement, making the whole world cower at my name. Showed them the edges of brutality and what fate would befall them if they dare mess with me. I've been intimated once. I'll never go through that shit again. 

But then, contrary to the rumors, I'm only a monster when I'm dared or trifled with. Aside from that, I could be as level-headed as the next man. And don't get me started on how fucking loyal I am. To my people, and to everything I hold dear. 

"Your majesty." One of my men bows as he joins me on the balcony. My eyes widen as I recognize he's one of the patrols.

"What happened?" I ask urgently. "Where's Zane?"

"He just returned with a few other men."

"And the intruder?" 

"Captured, your majesty."

I exhale in relief at the news. But then I'm a bit worried about something. Sometimes, when we capture an intruder, they are tied up and tortured. But if it happens when my men are training, I let them take over.

And to be honest, we've been having a few intense land tussles with some fucked up pack. My men are stressed over it and deserve a bit of amusement tonight. Something or someone to vent on, and who better than the intruder, right?

"Why isn't Zane out there with the captured intruder?" I ask, finishing up my drink.

"Uh – there's a bit of an issue, your majesty." He says with a stutter.

"I don't understand." I crease my brows at his words. "Didn't you just say the intruder was captured?"

"Yeah,"

"So what's the problem?"

"Your majesty, Beta Zane demands to tell you about it himself. He's waiting in the torture room downstairs."

"Sure. Hold this for me." I hand him the glass and head downstairs. 

I walk into the room and as usual, it's pitch dark. A figure is tied to a chair and the face is covered with a bag. 

"Hey," I say to Zane, bumping fists with him. Then I insert my hands into my pockets. "So what do we have here? A rogue or a spy? It's always either."

"Nah, this time is different. Check this out." Zane signals to the men and they take off the bag. 

I freeze at the sight in front of me. He's right. This is something different. And I can't seem to know how to react to it.

She's whimpering and her mouth is gagged. But she has the prettiest, amber eyes I've ever seen. I'm mesmerized by her, and it's just been a few seconds. 

I get closer to her, deciding to take a better view of her. I let my eyes roam her body and then to her face.

"What's your name?" My voice isn't the usual raspy and hoarse. Right now, it's the softest thing next to cotton. 

I take off her gag so she can speak, but that seems to terrify her even more. She seems very scared of me, and for the first time, I don't feel thrilled about it.

"What's your name?" I repeat, more softly and gently.

"A – Amber." She stutters in fear, breaking into a sob.

"Amber." I reiterate, feeling every inch of it in my mouth. "Just like your eyes…"

"Y– Yes…"

"Beautiful." I say, lost in my stares. I can't seem to take my eyes off her. And that's the first time I'm ever finding myself in such an awkward situation. 

She could be unkempt and covered in bruises. But she has me freaking enchanted at first sight. That's never happened before. Never.