INTRO/PROLOGUE

In the days of the old, an Alpha King, driven by greed and desperation, sought victory in a brutal war against his rival packs. In a reckless move, he transformed every member of his pack into alphas, creating a feared and unstoppable army known as The Pack of Alphas.

Their victory was swift, but their hunger for power only grew. Blinded by ambition, they waged war on the witches, vampires, humans, and even their kind. The land was drenched in blood, countless lives were lost, and chaos reigned. Then came the Lycanis.

The witches call them SANGUIS RELICTUS- the forsaken.

The werewolves call them UMBRAE FEROX- the savage shadows.

The vampires call them NATI RUBRUM- the redborn.

The humans call them MALEDICTA NOCTIS - the night curse.

Unlike werewolves, the Lycanis were more than just beasts. They were intelligent, calculated, and powerful beyond measure. Like vampires, they craved blood. Like witches, they possessed deep ancestral magic that was linked to the ancestors. Like werewolves, they can shift, faster and stronger than any creature alive.

The Lycanis ended the war, restoring balance and forcing peace among the witches, werewolves, and humans. But peace never lasts.

Years later, under the cursed glow of a Red Moon, the Alpha of the Lycanis lost his mind. In a single night of madness, he slaughtered those he once vowed to protect.

The four strongest warriors of the Lycanis rose against their king, chaining him and casting him into the shadows. In fear, the witches, vampires, and werewolves banished all Lycanis to the Dark Mountain, a place spoken of in whispers and nightmares.

Since then, the Lycanis have been hunted. Feared. Erased. Until they became nothing but a myth. Yet some still believe they exist.

300 years later, in the werewolf world

"Uwah! Waaaah!"

"The baby's here." Alpha Draegon stood up to his feet instantly after hearing the exciting announcement from his beta.

The cries of the baby were loud. Oh, mighty Goddess. How long he had desperately wanted to hear those beautiful sounds. His eyes lit up, and his fingers that were tightly clasped behind his back released themselves instantly.

"Congratulations, My Lord." His beta, Gray, bowed his head, and Draegon nodded happily, a dry laughter erupting from his throat.

The door was suddenly pulled open, getting the two men's attention. Draegon glanced at the midwife who had stepped out.

"Well?"

The midwife, rather than appear happy, had a solemn look on her face as she tried to look anywhere else but the alpha, whose eyes were boring into her at that point.

"Well?" Gray repeated louder this time for her to hear.

She gulped and lowered her head, "It's a girl, my Lord."

It was as if someone had poured cold water on his hot body. Draegon's smile instantly disappeared, and worry filled his eyes. He was in a state of disbelief.

Girl?

That was impossible. He did everything that he could to prevent this. How could it possibly turn out to be a girl?

He was devastated, and he didn't hesitate to show how pained he was. With bitterness in his heart regarding the situation, he asked,

"And my wife?"

"She is asleep."

Alpha Draegon made his way to the room where his wife was and saw how exhausted she looked.

"Now, let me make this clear to you all," Draegon said sternly as he walked in between the spaces to the eyewitnesses of his girl child, the two midwives, and his beta. They were on their knees with their heads bent.

"The news of the gender of this child shall not be revealed to an outsider. You all know the implications of that, don't you?"

"We know, my Lord."

"If, for any reason whatsoever, I get the news out there or the rumors start flying around regarding her identity as a girl, I will ensure that I ruin your lives and your family with no generation left to carry on your names. Have I made myself clear?!"

"Yes, my lord."

Draegon heaved a sigh of relief, "Good. You're only three, so I will be able to figure out who does something wrong. You may leave."

They got back on their feet and exited the room. Draegon turned to his wife, who was still disturbed by everything. Understanding her feelings, he reached for her hands and touched them softly.

"Are you sure this will work? I am scared for the life of my daughter. I am also disappointed that I can't give you a male child..."

"It's okay, my darling. You don't determine the gender, I do. So if there is anyone who should take responsibility for the gender of that child, it should be me."

"What then do we do about her? We can't cast her away."

Draegon released his wife's hands and moved towards the baby, who was wrapped up in a blanket to prevent her hands from moving all around and grabbing things. He stared into her calm and magnificent eyes and smiled.

"She has your eyes. Those same eyes that I fell in love with, Seraphim."

Seraphim moved closer to him, "Draegon, now is not the time for compliments."

Draegon turned his attention to her, going quiet for a moment as if considering whether or not to tell her what was on his mind.

"If we can't have a boy, she can be the boy." He replied afterward, and Seraphim's face fell.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

Draegon didn't reply instantly and just continued staring at her while waiting for his suggestion to sink into her brain.

"We don't have any other choice but to do this. That's the only way we can keep her close to us and protect her from any harm," he added. Seraphim didn't look pleased with the suggestion. She looked at her daughter, unable to comprehend that this was the only way for her to survive.

"I am sorry, Seraphim."