Chapter 1

~Armand Salvatore pov~

I took a solitary walk in the silent snow, and felt the chill of the night creeping into my bones. The darkness was my friend, but tonight it seemed to be hiding something from me. I was drawn to the shape of a woman standing a few feet away from me, her back turned towards me. As I approached her, my hand outstretched to touch her shoulder, she suddenly turned around. In that instant, I realized my mistake. This was not a woman, but a werewolf!

The werewolf let out a ferocious growl, and lunged at me with lightning-fast speed. I tried to defend myself, but the werewolf was too powerful for me. I could feel its sharp claws tearing into my flesh, and its teeth sinking deep into my neck.

I fought with all my might, but the werewolf seemed invincible. It was like fighting against a force of nature, something beyond my comprehension. Just when I thought I could not take it any more, the werewolf plunged its dagger into my chest.

I felt a searing pain shoot through my body, and I screamed in agony. I felt my consciousness slipping away, but the life I had as a vampire keeps calling me back.

But then, I woke up with a start. It was all just a nightmare! I lay in my bed, breathing heavily, my heart pounding in my chest. I realized that I have been sleeping for hours, lost in the depths of my subconscious.

As I got up and walked to the window, I saw the moon shining brightly outside, casting a pale light over the city. Then I realized that I was still alive, and that the world was still spinning on its axis. For me, this was a moment of profound realization. I have faced my deepest fears, and have emerged stronger for it.

I looked out at the snow-covered streets, and smiled. It was time to face the night again, to embrace the darkness and all that it brought with it.

But as I reached out to pick up the TV remote beside me, I knew that it was time to face reality.

I switched on the TV, hoping to distract myself from the unsettling thoughts that were still swirling in my head. But as soon as I turned on the news, I was greeted with a new wave of unease.

"Who is the owner of the company that's taking the business world by storm?" asked the reporter on the screen. "No one seems to know, but everyone is desperate to find out."

My company was doing well, there was no doubt about it. But I had always preferred to keep a low profile, staying out of the public eye as much as possible. I had never wanted the attention that came with success, but it seemed that the world had other plans.

I knew that I had to act fast. I picked up my phone and dialed my secretary's number.

"Annabel, it's Armand," I said as soon as she answered. "I need you to do something for me."

"What is it, sir?" she asked.

"I want you to contact all the media outlets and let them know that I will be making an appearance tomorrow morning," I said firmly. "They want to know who I am? Well, they're about to find out."

There was a pause on the other end of the line, and I could almost hear the surprise in her voice.

"Are you sure about this, sir?" she asked hesitantly.

I took a deep breath. "Yes, Annabel. It's time for me to step out of the shadows and take control of the situation. I won't let them control me."

"Understood, sir," she said, her tone professional. "I'll make the necessary arrangements and inform the media outlets immediately."

"Thank you, Annabel," I said, hanging up the phone. I knew that this was a risky move, but I had to take the chance. I couldn't let the world dictate my fate any longer. It was time to face the music, whatever it may be.

As I sat back on my bed, I checked the time on my phone and saw that it was already 4am. I groaned inwardly, realizing that I had only managed to get a few hours of sleep. But there was no time to dwell on it - today was the day I had been preparing for, the day I would finally reveal my true identity to the world.

I got out of bed and stretched my tired limbs, feeling the ache in my muscles from the little rest I had gotten. I knew that I needed to be at my best today, and so I forced myself to shake off the exhaustion.

As I made my way to the bathroom to freshen up, I could already hear the commotion outside. My bodyguards were already up and preparing the cars, making sure that everything was in order, I  dressed quickly, slipping on a suit and tie that I knew would make me look presentable. I had to make a good impression, after all - this was the moment that would define my identity to the world.

I walked out of my room and saw that my bodyguards were waiting for me, their expressions serious and focused. They knew the importance of today's events, and they were ready to protect me at all costs.

"Are we ready?" I asked, my voice steady.

"Yes, sir," one of the guards replied. "The cars are waiting outside."

As we made our way to the cars, I could feel the weight of the world on my shoulders. It was time for the world to know who Armand Salvatore was, and what he stood for. And I was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

As I arrived at my company with my bodyguards in exotic cars, I could see the crowd of reporters waiting for me. My heart raced as I stepped out of the car, feeling the weight of the cameras and attention on me. My bodyguards moved swiftly, creating a path for me to make my way through the throng of people.

As I walked through the crowd, I could hear the murmur of excited voices and the flashes of cameras. Some reporters were trying to touch me, while others were shouting questions at me.

I did my best to stay composed, knowing that this was just the beginning. I had to keep my cool if I was going to make it through the day.

But then, something unexpected happened. A male reporter, reaching for his notepad, accidentally knocked over a cup of coffee, spilling it all over me.

I gasped, feeling the hot liquid soak through my shirt and coat. The reporters around me went silent for a moment, stunned by the mishap. But then the questions and shouts started up again, even louder than before.

My bodyguards were quick to react, pushing the reporter away and getting me out of the crowd as quickly as possible. As we made our way inside the building, I couldn't help but feel embarrassed and frustrated. This was not the first impression I had hoped to make, taking a deep breath, I straightened my tie and walked confidently into the building.

As I walked into my office, I saw Sofia Thomas, my girlfriend waiting for me, her arms crossed and a furious expression on her face.

"What's wrong?" I asked, confused.

"What's wrong?!" Sofia exclaimed, her voice rising in anger. "I just found out on the internet that you're planning on revealing your identity to the world today! And you didn't even bother to tell me?!"

A signed without saying anything while Sofia continue to nag, I called one of my bodyguards and asked him to prepare the car because we are leaving right now. I need to changed my suit that coffee was spilled all over.

I left the company with my bodyguards, as we drove back home, we came to a stop at a traffic light. I looked out the window and saw a car pull up beside us.

I glanced at the driver, and my heart skipped a beat when I realized it was Lucas Pendragon, the Alpha of the local werewolf pack. I knew that I had to be careful around him. Our factions had a complicated history, and I didn't want to do anything that would ignite a feud between us.

As the traffic light turned green, Lucas's car didn't move. I watched as he fiddled with something on his dashboard, oblivious to the fact that he was holding up the cars behind him.

My bodyguards tensed beside me, ready to jump into action if necessary. But I held up a hand, signaling for them to stand down. I didn't want to start anything.

Just as I was about to tell my driver to go around Lucas's car, he suddenly looked up and realized that the light had turned green. He quickly hit the gas and sped off, leaving us behind.

I breathed a sigh of relief as we continued on our way home. I knew that I had narrowly avoided a potentially dangerous encounter, and I couldn't help but feel grateful that Lucas had not seen me.

But at the same time, I knew that I couldn't let my guard down. The feud between our factions was far from over, and I had to be vigilant if I wanted to come out on top.

As we pulled into my driveway, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. I knew that there were those who would stop at nothing to see me fail, and I had to be prepared for whatever came my way.

But I was determined to succeed, no matter what challenges lay ahead. I had come too far to let anything stand in my way, and I knew that I had the strength and determination to overcome anything that life threw at me.