chapter 1

"your mate has been dead long ago, why don't you try begging the moon goddess to mate you once again. You know it's difficult to live alone" Lara, a member of the rogue pack and his best friend suggested him.

Marcellus looked at her and then sighed. No one will ever understand the pain of losing a mate until one experiences. She was her first love and he lost her in a battle with Picaro pack. They were vicious alphas and betas, a pack of werewolves whom he hated most. And yet they killed a Lycans mate.

His fury since then held no bounds. Even though he ripped them apart after but his loss couldn't be regained. And now he was all alone for 9 years. He always regretted that despite being the most powerful Lycan of his age, he couldn't save his mate and she died so soon.

"You know it, Lara! I wouldn't be able to love anyone else even if I am free to choose." Marcellus implied and she got up from the couch.

"As you say Marcellus, remember you're a Lycan? You defeated them, you took your revenge and killed those werewolves. Stop blaming and start living a little. Loneliness won't give you a shit" giving him a last piece of advice, she turned around and jumped out of the window. Running into the woods, she disappeared.

Marcellus had a choice to live in the city, between the humans and have a luxurious life but since his mate died, he didn't feel the urge to. It was useless for him to avail all that pleasure without anyone to share with.

He got up from the couch and walked towards the opposite wall where all her pictures hung. They were cuddling, laughing and having the best moments together. A wave of nostalgia hit at the moment as he was carried back to the past memories.

Marcellus Thor was a strong, powerful Lycan who was also the leader of the Rogue pack. He was 27 years old and disguised himself as a club owner to live between humans. Nobody knew what he was capable of except the members of the pack. Lycans have the special ability of being capable of changing themselves into their wolves whenever needed. They are half humans and due to the control over changing, it was very easy for him to betray humans.

Every night he would spend his lonely nights in the club, watching people living the best of their lives. Days were spent practicing martial arts and special training for Lycans.

Lara was his close friend and sister of his late wife. She was already mated and now they were married under the light of the moon goddess.

He came home after training all day when Lara knocked on his door and they sat down for a while. Now that she was gone, he went upstairs in his room to take a shower. Wearing his usual sweatshirt and pants, he tucked his wallet and phone inside his pocket.

He got out of the house, and walked through the woods. His club was 3 to 4 kilometres away, in the city. People used to line up and wait for their turns and there would always be a flock of teenagers late at night.

Some even had gold memberships to have access whenever they wanted.

But Marcellus despite being the owner never used a car to go there. Although he had his Bentley parked outside his house. But he would barely use it.

As usual, he entered the back of the club. It was around 08:00 in the evening and the sun had already settled down, letting the moon appear and dominate the sky. He looked up and saw the crescent. There was still a month left when the moon would be full.

All the werewolves become powerful that night and he knew there would be a huge battle between the Rogue and other packs.

As soon he stepped inside, he was met with bright disco lights and loud music piercing the ears. It seemed like the whole club was vibrating. But it didn't bother him at all as he stepped up to the VIP area on the first floor and a female waitress who was wearing the most seductive outfit greeted him. He ignored and settled on the couch from where he could view all the people dancing and drinking on the ground floor.

He liked the view because it felt like he had the real authority over all these weak humans.

He ordered a bottle of vodka and the waitress poured him some in the glass.

He took a sip as he noticed a group of teenagers entering the club, chattering and laughing. Girls wearing those mini dresses and boys wearing those dark coloured t-shirts. His eyes zeroed on the main woman among them who wore a burgundy coloured dress, with straps on her shoulder and smokey eyes. The dress reached her mid thighs as she walked elegantly among them.

She was the most beautiful woman among them. He took another sip and watched them gathering around a table. The waiter brought the 2 tier cake and placed it in the middle.

The teenagers giggled and held the champagne bottles to spray them in the air as they sang her happy birthday. Marcellus, eager to see more of it got up from his place and stood by the glass boundary as he placed his both hands on it and bent down a little.

She cut the cake while laughing and then fed everyone. The boys plucked out the corks from the bottle and shouted along with the metal music.

The scene was unfolding before his eyes and he could sense something different from this girl. As if the girl sensed his stare, she looked up at him and their eyes met. He could smell it, even from afar he could feel it that she was not a normal human.

The girl looked innocent and moved her eyes away immediately, shying away.

This piqued Marcellus's interest even more as he was now adamant to know about her. No woman ever looked away without smiling or offering him something. But that girl was blushing hard but not smiling. And she didn't even try to look up again.

He watched them and then asked his waitress to bring them a bottle of wine as a complimentary gift for her birthday.

The waitress immediately descended the stairs and got a bottle of wine from the bar. She walked to the group and offered them.

"We didn't order it!" The blond guy beside the girl said immediately and everyone shared the same glances.

"It's on the house from our owner, for the birthday girl! Happy birthday" she offered the bottle to the girl and the girl took it hesitantly. Somehow she sensed who sent it, so she looked up once again but he was not standing there anymore. He was already gone.

"Thank you" she whispered and her friends took the bottle, pouring it in the cups and enjoying the vintage taste.

She was curious to know why someone would send her an anonymous gift. She excused herself for the bathroom as she went away to clear up her mind.

Marcellus was tired enough and he couldn't stay there anymore. He drank 5 to 6 cups of vodka and it was more than his tolerance. He didn't want to get drunk and wanted anyone to accompany him home.

He got down the stairs and walked into the alleyway to exit from the back door. He was walking hurriedly and just then he bumped into a girl who just came out of the bathroom.

She collided into his chest and stepped back, holding her head. She had to look up at him because he was 6 foot tall.

Their eyes met once again and he immediately recognised her and even she knew he was the same person who was eyeing her from above.

"Excuse me" Marcellus said and tried to walk away, trying to ignore the strong scent coming from her.

"Hey! Wait a second" The girl stopped him as she felt the urge to confirm if he sent her the bottle of wine.

"Yes?" He asked, taking out an ear bud from his ear.

"It was you who sent me the bottle of wine for my birthday?" She sounded nervous as Marcellus noticed her fidgeting with her fingers. She wasn't smiling or blinking even while talking to him. Which meant it was only a genuine question and she just wanted to confirm.

"I did" Marcellus replied.

"But why? I don't think we know each other" she emphasized.

"Because you are not someone you're trying to be, I can sense it, smell it and even feel it." He stepped closer to her and pinned her to the wall, whispering each word slowly and teasingly to her. His hot breath was washing her face and she felt tingles skittering across her body.

The proximity was intense and they both could feel the hormones rushing inside their veins and urging them to do sinful things. But he knew better, he could turn on a woman flawlessly but would never use her physically.

"Who am I then?" She questioned, raising her chin firmly.

"What's your name?" He asked, ignoring her question completely as if she never spoke.

"Maya" she whispered and Marcellus watched as her lips parted slightly.

She might not be the most gorgeous woman ever but in that moment, it was her. He repeated her name in his head and the Lycan inside him quite liked it. It was perfect just like her. The girl was a brunette with long dark brown wavy hair which reached her waist and looked quite stunning on her.

The Lycan inside him wanted to wrap those tendrils around his hand and tug them hard while riding her. But the poor girl seemed too naive for that sinful thought.

"What are you? 16?" He inquired again with a smirk because her beauty was hypnotizing along with that smell which only special creatures like him had.

"I just turned 18!" She sounded offended.

"Well then Maya it's better to stay away from me, girls of your age doesn't make me happy!" He deadpanned and she stood there frozen and stunned by his statement. He stepped back and walked away.

"But it's you who sent me a gift! Then what are you? Generous?" Maya shouted at his back as she couldn't digest the insult.

"I'll tell you next time if we ever meet again" he said without looking back and disappeared behind the door.

She scoffed as she couldn't believe he rejected her so bad. She didn't even offer herself but yet he showed his disinterest in her.

She felt dejected by his bold words. She stomped back into the crowd but in the back of her head, his words were still stuck. What did mean by she was someone else? Who was she?

Maya Parker, daughter of Sam Parker and Alaya Parker. She had perfect, lovey dovey parents who had great plans for her. And she was soon going to join a university. She had everything perfect in her life since she was a child. Unfortunately she was the only daughter of her parents and she had no siblings.

When she returned, her best friend Paul carried her to the side.

"Maya it's your birthday, your special day. And I hope I can make this even more special by confessing something I never did" he told her and she was completely speechless.

What he was trying to say? She couldn't understand as she was still under the influence of Marcellus as if he was messing with her mind.

"I love you, for a very long time. Can you be my girlfriend?" He asked and she was agast.

"Are you serious Paul? We can't do this, you're just my friend. Please don't ever say anything like that" saying this, she grabbed her bag from the table and walked out if the club. She asked the valet to bring her car as she wasn't feeling well. There was something wrong with her head.