Prologue

Bayswater Pack Lands

Romeo Price

“Perimeter breach, all warriors to the Northern border. NOW!”

My howls reverberated through the air, calling all pack warriors to the northern border. I stood erect on four paws, hackles raised, my eyes scanning the perimeter for incoming enemies. My mind-link is busy, listening to reports and giving out battle strategies. We are not only going to win this fight, it is imperative for us to minimize the number of casualties.

“Yes, Alpha!”

“Coming, Alpha!”

“Almost there!”

A chorus of replies were heard in my mind-link amidst thundering paws, my warriors prepped and ready, eager to defend our lands. My heart swelled with pride, each and every pack member who is able to fight will lay their life on the line for our pack. Tonight’s fight is a fight to the death. Not all will make it back alive tonight, that is the reality that we are facing and still, here they are. 

“Three o’clock! Twelve incoming!”

“I need backup, seven o’clock! Arghhhhh!” 

I had just turned nineteen a few days ago, making me the Alpha of Bayswater pack. I have trained my whole life for this role and yet, never in my wildest dreams would I have expected for our pack to be attacked so soon and against such a huge number too. By now, I should not be surprised by the attacks, for we have something that other packs do not have, a magical stone to fulfil a thousand-year-old prophecy. The black onyx stone.

“Reinforcements, two minutes ETA!”

Tonight’s fight is against the Moonstone pack, a rival pack from the north. Their Alpha, Sebastian, is a power-crazed coward. He sends a group of fighters to our borders, trespassing and then killing any of our pack members that lie in their path, but he never comes to fight himself. Afraid that I might kill him, he stays within the safe confines of his territory, protected by a large group of guards. His obsession is on getting the stone that I wear on my neck and he is not the only one.

“Four incoming, ten o’clock!”

The fight spanned through the edge of the forest, over a large clearing not far from our Northern borders. We had an advantage over the intruders, having the higher ground, providing us with the vantage point of being able to pinpoint where they are and how many are coming. 

“Man down, two o’clock!”

Subconsciously, I started keeping track of the casualties as I felt the tie between me and my pack members snap, the feeling akin to being skinned alive. A million needles stabbed my heart, anguished and painful with each broken tethered line. The metallic smell of blood permeated the air, with it the smell of the earth, intermingling with sweat, fear and death.

I squeezed my eyes and clenched my teeth, pushing in the feeling of grief that overcame me as I felt my pack members perish in battle. Adrenaline coursed my veins as the fighting picked up, more enemy wolves were sighted approaching our borders.

“Come to Papa!” Arch, my beta, pounced excitedly, his eyes feral, jaw opened wide revealing sharp, canine teeth.

Within my periphery I could see Arch fighting two wolves, snarling and snapping his canine teeth, his movements fast and calculated. Arch is among our best warriors and trainers, his strength and agility only being surpassed by me, the Alpha of the pack. Within seconds the two wolves fell unceremoniously to the ground, dead and cold. Faster than I can blink, Arch swiftly moved on to the next wolf.

“Die! You weakling!”

Flanking my side is my brother Roman, tossing the dead body of an older wolf, its eyes dull, fur matted with blood, both its hind legs gone. Before the wolf even fell on the ground, Roman is already leaping forward to attack a dark grey wolf which bounded towards him.

“Gotcha!” Roman snarled, his eyes gleaming with anticipation, jaw wide open, flashing his cuspids and ready to snap at the next incoming enemy. 

From my position I could see six more wolves appearing from beyond the border lines. I swiftly sprung myself towards them, having disposed of my last victim.

“Arch, twelve o-clock, six incoming.” 

“On it!”

I mind-linked Arch, noticing that he too had executed his prey. We both encircled the six wolves. We were outnumbered, yes, but that did not scare us in the least. Rather, we are confident that we will be able to take them down. Less than a minute later, all six lie lifeless, blood oozing from their wounds.

“Alpha, incoming, seven o-clock!”

All of a sudden, I feel searing pain on my hind legs as a large wolf rammed its cuspids into my back, causing me to yelp in surprise. Before I managed to turn, my dad rammed his head onto the wolf’s body, his jaw open wide, sharp, canine teeth clamping firmly towards the neck of the wolf. Without a single glance he tore the wolf’s neck, causing its neck to sag, head drooping to the ground.

Three more wolves leaped in front of us, causing me, Arch and my dad to fall apart, facing them separately. With a sickening crunch, I slammed into the black wolf that was snarling in front of me, knocking it to the ground and sinking my teeth into its throat. I gave out a satisfied growl as I felt the wolf grow flaccid and die.

Noting that both Arch and my dad had slaughtered the other two wolves, I raised my head to survey the field. On my right I saw Trav fighting a silver furred wolf, which seconds later lay dead at his feet, its eyes wide open and its still face a rictus of pain and shock. 

“Cowabanga!” Trav yowled, exultant, despite his bloodied and mangled appearance. There was a huge tear on his side which he either was blissfully unaware or purposely chosen to ignore. I suspect it’s the latter.

“Eastern side, clear!”

The numbers started to dwindle. I looked around, finding Jughead’s orange-furred wolf, kicking a black wolf and knocking it to the ground as he sunk his canine teeth into its throat. Blood sprouted angrily from the wound, turning the green grass into crimson. 

“Western side, clear!”

I saw two wolves aiming for my mum, one from the front while the other from her side. I quickly bolted towards her, intending to take out the wolf closest to me but I was too late, although my mum managed to sidestep the wolf that jumped in front of her, the one from the side pummeled her straight to the ground, knocking her head.

“Protect the black onyx stone.” My mum whispered through the mind-link, her voice small and weak, before she fell and succumbed into unconsciousness. 

“Scan the field for casualties and bring the dead home.”

I felt the final tendril snap, my final count telling me that fifteen of our pack members are dead. The smell of death hung heavily in the air. The field is now eerily quiet, dead wolves lying on the grass, heads, bodies and limbs askew. My heart weeps for those we had lost, never to return to the warm embrace of their families and loved ones.

All those who perished tonight were for one single cause. To protect the black onyx stone from falling into the hands of our enemies. Our enemies are enthralled by the prophecy of the black onyx stone, because the stone grants its guardian great power and magical abilities.

I am the guardian of the black onyx stone. 

The stone is a curse that has befallen my ancestors and will continue to be casted upon my descendants. Believe me when I say the stone is a curse because peace will never be upon us for as long as we remain the keeper of the stone.