Chapter 1 : Before Chaos

Chapter: 

Ari's POV

Chaos came in the form of a letter from my mother Luna Annalise Audrey Black, the content was simple yet difficult to wrap my mind around… mama wasn't one to beat around the bush…my brother had gone mad.

Before the arrival of the letter, life was simple or at least it was simple enough if I take away the fact that I was a twenty two year old Alpha blood that was in line to be Alpha of the Bayblue pack, the largest most ruthless pack in this side of the world thanks to my father's reputation yet I had no mate.

But that's okay! I think.

The Black family were late bloomers. My father Alpha Ryan Darken Black didn't find his mate until the ripe age of twenty nine probably because he was busy planning war and winning territories but college is no small feat too, so, I guess I had a reason too.

As I packed my bags to return home, my girlfriend walked inside my Dorm room.

"I got your text. Seemed urgent, is everything alright with Storm?" Jennifer was holding a half smoked cigarette.

I wasn't a smoker myself but I didn't mind the smell.

"Not really…and now I have to go home. I shouldn't have stayed away for so long. Every boy needs an older brother especially if their father is a cold unfeeling granite stone" 

"Give yourself a break. You are allowed to live a little without the weight of the world on your shoulders, baby" 

I watched Jennifer intently, one year of dating and yet I don't feel a thing for her. Which is weird because she was like Scarlett Johansson hot and she was intelligent…a normal person would fall hopelessly in love with her but not me. I was cursed to be alone for eternity.

I moved closer to her and kissed her lips. It was fast and dry…almost mechanical.

"I will call you" I whispered.

I was almost out the door when she spoke.

"Maybe you shouldn't" 

I stopped and looked at her. "Excuse me?"

"I…hmm…maybe you shouldn't call me. I know this is bad timing but I want a break up, Ari"

Her hand was on her waist and the other one was on her forehead as she waited patiently for my reaction.

"Okay" I nodded and shrugged.

One of the perks of being next in line to be Alpha after someone as unfeeling and bloody as my father was the subtle art of not giving a f*ck even when i do and also it was basic rule 101 of being a werewolf.

"That's it! That's all you have to say! Just okay?" She seemed pissed.

"What do you want from me? My family is falling apart yet you chose this moment to end a several months old relationship…why are you getting pissed at me?" 

"Who the hell says okay as a reply to a breakup, Ari?" She yelled at me.

"I…I have to go. Now's not the right time"

"This shitty behavior of yours is exactly why I am dumping your ass! Go to hell!" She walked past me and slammed the door on her way out.

"Nice!" I yelled at her because she knows the door jams when it is slammed so hard and so I ripped it off from the hinges, another perk of being an Alpha blood.

I walked to my car and I drove off. I wasn't a praying man but I hoped like hell that I would be able to extinguish the fire that is my little brother, Storm Seven Black.

I barely made it home before I parked my car on the side of the road to gather my thoughts but ended up using my super hearing to listen in on a conversation between my parents. It sounded like they were in the school field. So, I started walking towards the field.

"How long has he been like that?" Alpha Ryan asked his mate.

"You mean, how long has Stormi sat on that stupid log of wood staring out into an empty space without saying a word or making an attempt to join the other pack children in the physical education everyone is doing…well, two hours fifteen minutes and three seconds…four seconds…five seconds…should I keep counting, Ryan?" Annalise asked the Alpha.

"I am going to go over there to force him to talk to us. This is stupid. He can't just decide all on his own that he won't speak to us over some stupid misunderstanding about a girl with no wolf, Annalise !" Ryan stood upright and he tried to leave but his mate pulled him back.

"We need to rethink our approach. Ever since we refused his request to leave the pack and threatened to take away the mind link if he left without our consent, he has been like that. Look at him, Ryan…just look at our baby, he is a shadow of my Storm! When he was little he used to want to talk to me and follow me everywhere but now? Now, his glare has so much hostility that it gives me the chills. He is sullen, withdrawn and looks like he is going to set the world on fire at the slightest provocation. That's not the boy I raised" Annalise was beginning to pool tears in her eyes.

Mom…always dramatic.

I guess I would be too if I had a mate who looks at me the way Alpha Ryan was looking at her. I used to wonder why my father didn't have any open affection for his sons.

 For the longest time I wondered if there was a rule against fathers openly loving his sons. I mean, he wasn't horrible or anything, he never raised his hands to us or our mother, never found wanting when we needed protection or money (he had buckets load of it) he was a good enough father…just distant and unapproachable.

Luna turned to her mate and she let him see her sorrow.

"I…I just want my baby back. Is that too much to ask?" She shrugged as she talked. "I want the little boy I raised…my beautiful little boy back"

She turned around and she pointed at Storm. He had her back to her.

"Not him…he is an imposter who is…who is breaking my heart, Ryan. I am at my ends here, do something…something new because so far your threats and my bribery, they haven't made a dent. I need you to do something" Annalise looked at her mate like he alone had the power to grant her wishes.

Ryan stared at her, he stared at his mate, the mother of his children and the love of his life. Despite their ten years age difference, it had been love at first sight for both of them.

I envy that.

Ryan had been one of those Alpha's who didn't find their true mate until later in life. He was twenty nine years old when he stumbled upon her during his trip out of Estoria. She had been nineteen, the shy and beautiful daughter of the moonblood pack Beta, his mortal enemy pack.

Their connection had been instant and their feelings for one another overwhelming. One look at Annalise, and only a mad man could resist her charm with her slender figure which she still retains even after two children and her perfect oval face with her big blue eyes.

To my father, she was perfect and to our pack, the perfect Luna. To the Moonblood Pack, a savior who got the most ruthless of all Alpha's to step away from a fight and offer truce in exchange for her as a mate.

To everyone who wasn't looking hard enough, she was the submissive…too submissive mate to the Alpha. A Luna who hung on his every word, who never challenged his authority and who jumped when Alpha Ryan asked to hop…and they couldn't be further from the truth.

Annalise was anything but a mindless follower, she just kept her opinion to herself in public and resumed control behind the safety of their home. It was the perfect facade and nine out of ten times, Alpha Ryan ends up implementing her rule as his own. Everyone including my brother might be clueless about this but not me. I see her for exactly who she was…manipulative and yet I loved her despite it. She was a good mother, at least in every way that matters.

I turned around and I watched my father push some rogue strands of her blonde hair away from her face. Then he cupped her face gently, I looked around and I wasn't the only one starring. Public display of affection had never been a thing for them until now.

Finally!

I turned around and focused on the empty space in front of me but I still listened to what they were saying to each other.

"I am going to kiss you right now, Annie…any objections?" My father's voice was husky like he was aroused and it was changing his voice…I almost threw up.

This wasn't the welcome I envisioned.

"But everyone is watching, Ryan" Annalise cautioned.

"Then let them watch" 

I didn't. Instead I turned my attention to my little brother. He wasn't the boy I knew. I wondered briefly what happened to him.