Prologue

Sebastian 

My sister is shivering next to me. I don't know if it's from the snowflakes languidly falling on us, or if it's because we just buried our father. Her arms tighten around her five-month-old son, protecting him not just from the weather, but also from the imminent danger our family has been in ever since our baby sister was born. 

The rest of our pack has long gone, leaving us to mourn on our own. Her mate, Julio, wraps his arms around her shivering form from behind, holding her tight. 

"Baby, let's get back to the house," He says gently. "The weather will be even worse soon." 

It's fitting. The weather that is. Cold, wet and dreary on this day we had to say farewell to our alpha and father. He was a strong man, but just like our mother he was too weak to do what had to be done. He was a great father, maybe too great. Maybe if he was more of a coward, we wouldn't be standing here. He would still be ruler of the Starlight pack, and I would not have to take over the reins so soon. 

It's not that I'm not ready. I have been trained and prepared for this day ever since I was born, but I will do things differently. I will be thinking of the future of my pack instead of only my own children, if I have any. I am twenty-three years old and I still haven't found my mate. 

My sister, Marisa, found her mate on her eighteenth birthday, they mated and she fell pregnant almost immediately. I have not been so lucky. The truth is, I'm scared out of my mind, if I never have any children there wouldn't be a risk that they turn out like her.  

"Would you take Pete with you please?" She asks Julio and hands the baby over to his father. "I'll come back to the house soon, I promise." 

Julio nods his head and walks out of the woods, his son tucked safely in his arms, warm and protected. Maybe Marisa knows how our deceased parents felt now that she's a mother herself. 

She inhales deeply next to me and sighs loudly. "I can smell her out there." 

I nod. "I know." 

I know my baby sister has been hiding somewhere in the woods, away from the eyes of the rest of the pack. She begged me to be here today and I told her she can if she stays far enough away so nobody could see her. 

"I told her she could come, he was her father too." 

Marisa turns her furious blue eyes on me, so much like my own. "She is the reason he's dead! She doesn't deserve to see him buried!" 

I undestand Marisa's fury, I do, but I also know that our little sister cannot be blamed for the decisions our parents have made throughout the years. She can also not be blamed for being born. None of this is her fault. 

"She is our sister Marisa." There is a hint of sadness in my voice. If only things were different. 

If only she wasn't special. Maybe then we could be close like other siblings, maybe then we would have protected her because we wanted to and not because we have to. 

"She is no sister of mine!" Marisa spits out viciously. "She hasn't been my sister ever since my mother died when I was ten years old, she is certainly not my sister now!" 

The bitterness in my sister's voice threatens to overpower me and I sigh again. Why did Father have to die, he would have been much better suited to deal with Marisa's anger. He always knew just what to say. All I have is a heart full of sorrow and regrets. 

"You better do something about her Alpha!" She turns away from me but doesn't leave before I can hear her parting words. "Or I will."