1 CHAPTER ONE

NATALIE'S POV 

Danger looms. It's like the further I advance, the thicker it becomes. 

The sun's rays kiss my skin immensely, almost leaving it burnt from its rough impact. Even though it was I who initiated the stroll regardless of the scorching sun, I blame the beta, Xavier for not convincing me otherwise.

Side by side, we walk around the walls of the Green Moss pack, one that I will be in charge of as their alpha in a few weeks' time. He makes a long face, with an expression heavy with angry words.

"You cool?" I turn to face him squarely, worried about his sudden grimace.

"Of course." He manages a smirk. "Why won't I be?" He asks in a carefree manner.

"Perhaps the sun is dealing with you differently."

"Or perhaps not." He shrugs and buries the conversation abruptly.

My papa's love for young minds overwhelms me to date. Sometimes I wonder how a man his age would settle for a younger Beta, that's no more than five years older than his daughter.

"Lady Natalie, I'm certain you've seen enough for today." Beta Xavier expresses his exhaustion for the first time since the stroll.

He squints, tiredness written all over his features. Who wouldn't be?

"I guess." I shrug.

In a few weeks, I will be coronated the Alpha of Moon Howlers pack and I have zero idea how a pack should be run. I grew up as a warrior, my late papa sometimes would punish me for failing a sword test or a race.

I was raised roughly, not respecting the fact that I'm a lady. It earned me my strength for defense, but I got a bit too comfortable, I guess. I never imagined death was closer than I thought, so when it came knocking at my parents' door, I was unprepared.

'It takes wisdom to lead, strength would only take you out of the battlefield, or maybe not, if you're not so lucky.' My papa had told me in one of his sermons.

And right now, I lack the strength or wisdom to lead myself, nor hundreds of others.

"Tomorrow, we can continue." He concludes, pulling me back to reality, and waits for me to take in the last sight of what's before me.

I nod in agreement and turn to leave.

The rustling sound from nearby leaves makes me clutch tightly on the handle of my sword. We stand still for a moment, still as a statue.

Four men soaked in mud come into view in front of us. I swiftly look at my back and see another four.

"Stay calm and follow my lead." The Beta instructs.

I withdraw my sword and with the speed of light, I strike at an opponent. The sharp and heavy blade sears through his gut, with his blood forming a crimson arc mid-air, before blending into the hue of their attire.

"Lady Natalie." The beta's voice is low but strained. "You will retreat this moment." He orders subtly.

Raised to not take orders, I make my next move. I dodge the strike of the second as he keeps thrusting his sword at me carelessly.

The noise of heavy metals clinking echoes. I monitor the rhythm of his feat, pushing back with the same effect.

Certain that he's weary, I make a dangerous aim at his throat, the tip of my blade root deep into his flesh, his red fluid caressing the tip of my metal. Brutally, I pull out my sword, with blood gushing out of him like a slayed beast and he slumps on the ground with a loud thud.

Seeing that two men are down, they attack at the same time. And this time, Beta Xavier joins in my defense.

My lips unhinge, exposing my sharp fangs. White furs creep all over my skin, with my claws now elongated.

Swiftly, I dodge the third attacker and strike with my claws, tearing through his skin as his flesh peels off with my claws. With the other hand, I plunge into his abdomen, ripping him out through the lacerated wound.

It doesn't take more than ten minutes before the body of the attackers lay motionless.

Beta Xavier is as clean as always, and his strike is always neat.

"Is it always like this out here?"

I sheath my sword back in its scabbard by my waist, retract my claws and furs, and begin walking in hurried fashion.

"Lady Natalie, don't you do that next time. What if you hurt yourself?"

I turn to look at him. "I didn't know you're also my bodyguard."

"You don't have to be sarcastic." He starts walking. "You're my responsibility, and I account for whatever befalls you."

"Well, take the whole year off if that's what you do." I bluff.

"Never mind, I would come in handy someday." His voice is more of a whisper. "For the record, Hendrix is causing more harm than good to our pack, we should perhaps do as the others say."

I'm lost, not having a clue as to what's happening in my pack. In my defense, I only just assumed the post.

"Who's Hendrix? And what do the others want?" I'm certain I look and sound dumb. "Better yet, who are the others?"

He hesitates for a while.

"It's the human in the custody of Cain, the herbalist and pack house's physician. Elder Cain rescued Hendrix and since then he hasn't let go of him. When the others found out that our pack is keeping a traitor safe, and our refusal to kill him, they attack."

It's a fact that our race is at loggerheads with other races, especially humans, and vampires. It could be traced back to centuries ago... that's all I know... history sucks.

But then again, there was my papa with a soft heart, he would accommodate anything and anyone, so long as he deemed you worthy.

"Who are the others?" I reiterate. "What pack is involved? They have no say as to how we run our pack."

"I wish." He sheaths his sword. "We have a common rule, one that keeps us bonded."

"Regardless." I support my late papa anyway.

"It's the Scorpio pack. They are in alliance with other packs. We can't just attack in isolation."

"And why did my papa not get rid of the boy?" I feign ignorance.

"The herbalist is of great importance, my take."

"I guess we would need to start sorting for another herbalist." I conclude. "Is it the same Cain of ages?"

He nods in agreement.

"You should send a word to the Alpha of the Scorpio pack, we need to straighten this shit once and for all."

"Alright, Lady Natalie."

"And, you should go without me, I will need to pay Cain a visit, and give him no other choice than to comply."

He makes a face.

"You go ahead. I insist."

"What if you get hurt? They could still be in there."

"Go without me." I sigh, irritated that he has to question my orders.

Not responding, he turns to leave and I make my way to Cain's, thinking deeply to remember the route. Papa had brought me here one day for treatment, and mama was pissed he had to bring me out of the pack house.

Well, I guess it's paying off now. My photographic memory will guide me safely to his place.

Oddly, my senses heighten, with my fluffy white furs erupting from my skin. My iris turns amber, and a strong scent intoxicates me.

Consumed with the curiosity to trail the scent, I temporally abandon the hunt for Cain and obey my instincts.

After minutes of trailing, I sight a young man from afar, he's bare-chested as he brews herbs.

I admire the dark curly hairs on his chest, that disappear beneath the strap of his pants, the curve of his body, his great abs, and seemingly strong biceps. His tall frame and rich dark hair.

Mate?!

My wolf leaps with excitement, and I find it difficult to tame it.

He's ignorant of my presence as he keeps mixing whatever it is he's doing.

My fangs are bare, and the urge to sink them into his sweaty skin to have a taste of him and make him mine gets overwhelming.

He doesn't have the scent of earth or that of a warrior. His is rather a soft blend of lavender and herbs.

What strikes me is the realization that I'm just a few steps away from Cain's home, the oddly familiar environment, when I should be away trailing this sexy stranger.

It may be ages now, but I'm certain it's Cain's home.

What is he doing here? Does Cain have apprentices?

I take a step forward from the bushes. He seems different... the smell... physique... I stop right on my spot... He's Hendrix, the freaking human boy?!

He turns towards my direction like a wild hunter and I pull further in, out of sight.

Crumbled by my sudden attraction to him, I retreat, heading back to the pack house, sincerely hoping he's not the human boy.