CHAPTER 1
Kael POV
I never cared much for those who judge me for who I am and what I do to survive. I am the myth that instills fear into the minds who speak of my name. I am a mere illusion to many who call my name; they call me the Demon Wolf. I am an Alpha; many don't dare cross. Those who have spoken ill of my name have lost their tongues. Everyone over the years has turned away out of fear. I have been persecuted like a witch. Left out to dry and die.
'Kael, do you think we will ever find a true mate?' my wolf says, daydreaming.
'You are like a love-sick puppy, Knox!' I grumble. No wonder we don't get anything done, always pondering a mate. Having a mate is the least of our concerns.
Knox grumbles, 'But we deserve love, Kael!'
Kael becomes agitated, 'Do you think I don't know that!?' I was well aware of the love I wanted. To have someone love me for who I am and not my story would be a miracle. The topic always makes me sink into depression. I am nothing more than a rogue to them. I live outside a normal pack society. I might be a beast, but I'm not a heartless killer.
Knox huffs with a whimper, 'I just want to feel wanted for once.' The fear and absolute terror we see on the faces of others in our presence. The way they tremble. We are nothing but a monster when they see me coming.
'I know, I know, buddy. Oh god, how I know!' My face fell, finding my eyes fixed on the floor in despair. I should be used to this dread by now. I have lived with it for 23 years now. My heart yearns for understanding, to be genuinely wanted.
I was on my own once I turned 18, told to get lost. Being the Alpha of my father's pack was rightfully mine as the eldest son. My father handed the pack to my brother instead, leaving me no choice but to be a rogue alpha. The news of him giving my brother the pack cut deep. The deepest betrayal a son could ever feel from his father. I thought being the eldest son meant something to him, but I guess not. I was just to be tossed aside like I was never born or wanted in the first place, as if I were adopted. I haven't spoken to my Father in 10 years. After my father's betrayal, I had to find family within myself, the strength to move on.
His words cut like a knife or a hard, horse-sized pill to swallow. The vengeance I felt faded away over time, but never truly left. He dismissed every day of my life we spent together, like I was a nobody to him, like I was invisible. There was never a single ounce of shame in his eyes, let alone his heart, that day. My father was dead to me after that dreadful day. I was nothing more than a mutt that was dropped off at a kill shelter or dumped on the side of the road to him. I started to despise my brother after that day, and I sneer at the mention of either of them. Bloodlust boils in my veins at the sound of their names. They are dead to me. Nothing but an old memory. It's been a long time coming for me to face my father and brother. I built my own pack from the ground up. Not that my father cares, let alone ever calls to check up on me.
I quickly rose in pack ranks. I became one of the top 5 fairly quickly. It was a huge achievement for me. I started with nothing. My beta, Evander, and his wolf Chike have been the most loyal friends I could ever ask for. He came from one of the neighboring territories, and I took him in like a little brother. Much like me, he was betrayed by his own, cast aside. He was promised the beta positions to his brother to rule their family pack together, but his brother chose someone else. Packs become a political game. Stakes become high for the Alphas. It's a bet of who has the best bloodline of power, of what is to come for future generations of Alphas.
I have a strict morning routine for managing my pack. Evander and I work together daily to ensure the best of the pack. Starting by discussing personal matters during breakfast, while more serious business is handled over lunch. We take training the warriors as a serious matter. It ensures the safety of the pack. This year brings another expansion to the pack. Tons of remodeling to establishments. Each year, I plan out a budget for the pack in terms of new buildings, housing, etc. This year, the single warriors' housing areas will be upgraded to newer establishments. New housing is being built for the older houses to be remodeled.
Everyone gets an opportunity to be on the list for the new housing. No one is ever left behind in my pack; all are treated with genuine well-being. Last year, the hospital was expanded and upgraded with all new state-of-the-art equipment. As werewolves, we still need hospitals for certain situations, regardless of our super healing abilities. Today, I officially announce the expansion of the warriors' housing. This is one of the most exciting projects yet to come. This brings gratitude to my heart. Evander has been pushing for this to be a top-priority project. It allows the needs of a bigger army of warriors to be met. I have become the home of rejects and all forms of castaways. Some mockingly say "the demon wolf and his rouges" when it comes up.
Pulling me from my thoughts of the day, Evander flags me as per usual, "Good morning, you beast!" he chuckles as he hands me several recent reports. "Here are all the most recent pack member requests and some!" he seems super eager this morning.
I start to thumb through the papers while awaiting breakfast to be served, "These are quite amazing candidates. How soon are they requesting to join the warriors?" I question with full interest.
"Some are fully prepared to start as soon as possible, for they require a new start on life," he chimes in quickly. "I can start scheduling them in if you'd like." Evander looks at me, awaiting permission.
With a smile, I nod in approval, "Set them up for this Thursday and Friday."
"With pleasure!" he gleamed, with satisfaction. "Also, what about that party we are invited to this weekend?" he asked with hesitation.
He's been dying to meet his mate. He considers each party a step closer to finding his true mate. I find it adorable to be so determined. Now, only if more wolves were that determined. To be honest, he had been just as pushy on me to look for my true mate. "Yes, please go ahead and reserve our spot for it."
Breakfast arrives shortly after our conversation ends. We all gratefully munch our meals down. My favorite part is always bacon. The best smoked bacon in the world! After breakfast, we go our separate ways to take showers or hit the gym at the training grounds.
The party is being held by a neighboring pack we have been allies with for several years now. We often trade with them in times of needed labor or materials. Allies are hard to find in the werewolf world. Some just want to power-grab things. The parties help wolves find mates. It all works out in the end.
It has been quite a productive week. Things are moving along smoothly. Making me extremely at ease for this weekend. For once, I am excited about this party. Maybe that moon goddess is giving me something to be truly grateful for soon! It's the birthday party of an Alpha's daughter, and he is hoping for her to find her mate.
I am only hoping for the best of this party to come; possibly, she will be mine. Interesting, my mate…that doesn't sound so bad after all. I want to be hopeful, but not overly hopeful. I can't recall the last time I had ever daydreamed of a mate. Well, there was that time I dreamed of this girl and a wolf when I was 17. I almost forgot about those dreams.
I was so ecstatic about them, I swore she was my mate and her wolf. To think of it, I haven't had those dreams for some years now. Odd, I haven't had them since I was about 21. I wonder what caused them to stop. This starts to bring more questions than answers to my mind.
'She was deliciously beautiful, wasn't she?' Knox chimes in. With a smirk, he huffs like a love-sick fool in my mind.
'Only you would say she looked delicious, you perv! Don't you have any respect for she-wolves?' I stated, slightly appalled by his thoughts. Knox rolls his eyes in annoyance.
Technically, they were mine too, so wouldn't that make me a perv? Uh, I need to stop this nonsense. I need to focus my thoughts elsewhere. 'Knox, please have respect for women. Can we agree on that?' I ask with sincerity.
'Only since you asked so nicely, I will agree to it. Don't forget when you become a love-sick pup by the sight of her again.' He boldly said with a daring glare. 'I won't be the only one wanting to sink my teeth into her to mark her when the time comes,' he snickers with a voice of venom, mocking our desires that challenge our self-control.
Oh, I see what this is turning into, 'You think we will lose all sense of control when it comes to her?' That can't be true; we are masters of self-control. We have yet to go utterly feral for any reason, and I am not going to let that happen even now.
'Come on, we can't fight our true nature when we find our true mate, if that time does come,' he makes an honest statement. He isn't bluffing about the very big possibility of it happening. We must be prepared in case the worst of the worst comes to pass. It is known to be the most intoxicating smell to an Alpha.
Pure instinct kicks in at the moment an Alpha locks eyes with his mate. 'Are you prepared to fight that?' Knox smirks. He's right, it won't be a simple task to override the pull of the true mate bond. It's irresistible. Only a fool would fight that nature. I am no fool; I wouldn't dare throw away such a precious gift. To be disrespectful to the moon goddess is idiotic. That's asking for a curse on yourself. I would never be foolish to that point. I have so much at stake. I can't be selfish.
'Let's agree not to be foolish when it comes to our true mate. Deal?' I wait for Knox to agree.
Knox gives me a blissful smile, 'Finally, something we agree on.' Those red eyes shine brightly. Being a black wolf with red eyes makes you a target of standing out, but the unique eyes make me distinctly recognizable.
That night, I dreamed of her, Khloe. In all her beautiful glory. In a white flowing gown, she stands in front of me, her mesmerizing ice blue eyes and black hair blowing in the wind, "Find me," as she turns, shifting into a very large black wolf. A black Alpha female, that's a rarity! I wake speechless! That dream gives me a jolt of determination. Completely inspired by her beauty.
I make my way to the shower, looking for some grounding of my emotions from seeing her. She is just as beautiful as I remember her to be. The shower eases my excitement. I allow the hot water to relax my tense muscles. I take my time, focused on centering my emotions.
Once showered and dressed, I make my way downstairs. I find Evander to tell him about the dream. "You wouldn't believe the dream I had last night!" I tell him as I approach the table in the dining room.
He turns to me with a coffee in his hands, "How would I know unless you spill the beans," he says teasingly. He stared at me, patiently waiting for my response.
"You won't believe this but… I had a dream about her, my mate!" I said, excited and baffled at the same time. It hasn't fully set in. The idea of I have a mate out there somewhere.
Evander froze, "… Your mate… Since when? And why does it sound like this isn't the first time?" he pushed for answers. I sat down and carefully explained everything to him. This was a big weight off my chest to tell him about this. He was like a brother to me. It felt right to tell him