Chapter One

***

Calliope stared up at the faux stars lining her childhood bedroom's ceiling. She had not been in the room in some time and yet nothing had really truly changed. Memories of moments spent within this same room came to mind, taking her through a trip that warmed her heart as she slowly began to nod off.

The night had been successful, and her mother and grandmother had celebrated her achievements by toasting her and dancing the night away. It was very late by the time they each said goodbye to the neighbors and retired away to their bedrooms. Although Calliope had noted that her mother's anxiety was still hanging over her, she was too exhausted to think much of it- choosing instead to broach the subject in the morning.

I'm happy I came...I am happy I was able to spend some time with them, just like we did when I was younger...

The dreams started soon enough, thrusting her into what seemed like a garden of roses. Fresh, blooming with an intoxicating scent, she was enamored by the beauty before her. It spanned a large area, a melding of other flowers within that almost seemed to shimmer under the light of the starry night sky. Calli knew that she was no longer in the present but deep in fantasy for no night sky could be as dazzling as what she was looking upon.

She had seen a similar scene like this before, one where she was in what seemed like a land of dreams- a fantasy realm like that her grandmother always told her about. Her wild imagination had brought her back and she could not help but giddily make her way across the garden of flowers in absolute excitement.

It was in these moments that she did not want to wake up from her vivid dreams. That she wanted to stay and watch the stars disappear and the sunrise on the horizon of this mysterious world she had conjured up.

"You should not be here. Not yet."

The sound of a voice broke her from her reverie of thoughts and had a loud gasp escaping her as she turned to the source. Never had this happened. Never had she conversed with anyone within her fantasy-made world. It was her dream, she controlled it and most times, she was all on her own unless she was in her memories.

What in the world...

"I beg to differ. You're the one in my dream. You're the one who should leave."

She responded, closing her eyes and hoping to will the stranger away. She could not see his face in the dark and the starry night was unable to truly illuminate him but what she could tell was that he was averagely muscular and tall. Very tall. Her mind wandered to all of her friends and beyond, people who could have been an inspiration for her mind to make someone who looks like him appear in her subconscious.

Many of her friends from the University joked that she was probably asexual considering how averse she found herself to the concept of dating. Whereas everyone her age had gone out and explored their sexuality and beyond, she found herself getting lost in books and history. It was not that she wasn't attracted to men. She just didn't consider any single one of them as being worthy of her time and effort.

"A dream? Wait...are you trying to 'wish' me away? That's rude."

The man's voice had her opening her eyes once more, a frown on her lips as she realized that somehow, he was still standing before her despite her efforts to rid her perfect world of him.

"I'd say you invading my fantasy world and my thoughts is the rude part here. Now, please leave."

She retorted, rolling her eyes at his words. For some reason, he seemed to be out of her control, which stunned her as much as it irritated her. All she had wanted, hoped for was to enjoy the garden of roses, and yet now she was stuck with a stranger she didn't know all because her subconscious refused to rid her of him.

"I really need to stop reading books before I sleep...He's probably a result of my wild imagination..."

She murmured, turning away from the man to take in the garden once more. She would not let him dampen her mood and her vivid dreams. They had not happened in a while, mainly due to the fact that she had been stressed during finals. Any modicum of sleep that came was usually a dreamless slumber- a power nap before she had to return to her books.

But her sacrifice was not in vain for here she now stood, successful and excited for what was to come in her future. The roses all around her were a representation of the excitement and sense of accomplishment she felt. She was happy, truly happy to have made her family proud.

"You believe that I am a figment of your imagination? Is that what your mother and grandmother told you?"

The man spoke up once more, the sound of his footsteps approaching prompting Calli to turn and look at him. She still could not see him and yet the sound of his voice- the questioning tone worried her. It seemed like he was displeased at the very notion of being considered a spectral from her dream.

What the hell is this? And what do my mama and grandma have to do with this?

Her silent question seemed to register with the man for he stopped in his tracks, now only a few ft. away from each other. All they had to do was lean a few inches forward and they would be in each other's personal space.

"This is a really weird dream, and I am going to go now..."

Calli stated cautiously, uneasy from the way the events were unfolding. There was also a silent kind of anxiety bubbling up from within her. She was not expecting any of this, least of all this mystery man who was seeming more and more like a true being and not a figment made up by her mind.

But how the hell is that possible? It can't be...

She began to back away, but the man did not let up, choosing instead to slowly follow her as she walked backwards.

'Stop following me..."

She stated, hoping to sound firmer and in control than she felt. The man, however, said nothing and chose instead to simply ignore her and watch her retreat. The two of them seemed to be playing a dangerous game and for some reason, Calli felt like prey- stalked by a seemingly unamused predator.

"They mentioned that you were oblivious to this side of the world but really, this is fucking ridiculous."

He murmured, seemingly growing more and more frustrated as they continued to advance and step away from each other. Calli frowned, genuinely confused by what the hell the man was saying and why it was irritating and scaring her. She was confused, unable to understand or comprehend her mix of emotions.

"What the hell are you going on about? Who are you and why won't you leave me the fuck alone?"

Frustration coated her words as she glared him down, receiving nothing in response. Soon enough, Calli had no escape as her back collided with a wall she had not noticed before. Her gaze reluctantly strayed from the figure coming towards her to look up, a gasp escaping her at the sight of the Castle. She had been here before, in this very garden of roses and yet she had never noticed the massive castle behind her.

Never seen it or been asleep long enough to explore it...

"What in the world..."

"What you are doing right now is not dreaming, Calliope Kain Rowenys. You are astral projecting- your body is back in the mortal world, but your spirit has somehow been called- summoned to me. Judging by your ease of navigation within my garden, you have been here before but only within the confines of the garden and never beyond- towards the castle. If you had come close to it, I would have sensed you as I did today."

He stopped a few inches away from her now, one of his hands leaning against the wall whereas the other was safely tucked away in his pocket. For a moment, Calliope forgot to breathe as she took in his words and what they meant in the grand scheme of things. Yes, she had heard of astral projection during one of her friend's yoga sessions but never had she thought much of it.

Never had she believed that it was true...that it could be pulled off, least of all by her...

"I was coming to see you tonight because I sensed your arrival home, but I guess this makes my work easier. I thought your mother would send word again that you were not ready, but I see now that the tone has changed, and the time has come for you to perform your duty."

The man mused, seemingly pleased by the turn of events. Calliope's mind was alive with so many questions, but one thing stood out above all- how could she leave this place? Escape him? Part of her longed to run whereas another side of her simply wanted to stay right there- right where she seemingly belonged.

"Listen, I don't know who the fuck you are and what you are going on about, but you need to leave me alone. I owe you nothing. Heck, I don't even know you. This is probably some wacky, inception-type dream that I need to wake up from and I will. And I'll forget everything that just happened..."

Calliope tried to reason away, to make the entire experience logical despite knowing and feeling deep down that it probably wasn't all that far-fetched.

"So, you still believe that I am not real? That I am not here, standing before you. If anything, You are the one who is not really here. And I shall prove it to you..."

The man stated, leaning forward all the more as Calli leaned back as far away from him and plastered herself against the wall. Everything felt so real, so present. The breeze around her, her fast-beating heart, the wall cushioning her back as she tried to stay as far away from his body as she could. She didn't understand what was happening to her, what he would do...

"Awake...meet me in your world where the truth will be revealed."

The hand in his pocket was now on her cheek, brushing the loose curls softly- almost reverently. Calli shivered under his touch as a warmth, unlike anything she had ever felt before engulfed her. Soon, the world was spinning, and her mind was alive. Soon, the shiny stars were gone and replaced with a full moon that shone down on her.

Goosebumps stretched across her skin from the cold breeze, her hair whipping around with it as she realized that she was no longer in the dream realm or the confines of her subconscious. No, this was her backyard at home, and judging by the dewy grass she now stepped on with her bare feet and the familiar surroundings, she had returned home.

How did I end up out here though?...

The question swirled within her mind, but she did not have time to dwell on it as a figure emerged from the man-made forest beyond her home. Their small town was a nature enthusiast's dream destination. It was beautiful with green, lush trees and a cool climate to boot. It was, then, no surprise that there was a forest behind her home- one from which a man was now emerging.

She knew she should be scared. That she should run away from this stranger who was coming towards her in the middle of the damn night, in the dark, but she was rooted to the spot not because something was holding her in place but because she was unable to will herself to turn from him.

She knew, deep down, that he was the man who had been in her 'dream'. That he was the one who had summoned her from the safety and warmth of her childhood room and into the cold night where the full moon shone down on them- almost as if smiling upon their reunion. This mere fact confirmed the craziness of his words.

So could it possibly be that I was not dreaming? Could he really have brought me back home?

Although her thoughts were a mess, she focused on the approaching figure who now stopped before her, a frown on his face as he glanced at something behind her.

"Well, it seems the Rowenys house is divided. One of you welcomes me as fate dictates whereas the other seems to want to fight me. Either way, I am well within my rights to make this visit. Do you still think I am a figment of your imagination, Calliope Rowenys?"

Calli was speechless, simply staring at the man who was no longer shrouded in the secrecy of a shadow and her subconscious mind. Now that he stood before her, in the flesh, she could see what she couldn't in the other world. She could take in his inhuman beauty.

Whereas many had marveled at her beauty and that of her family, she had never come across someone so handsome and at par with her. He was handsome and so much more- enough to make her heart race.

Stormy grey eyes with flecks of green within took her in, assessing her in the same way she was assessing him. His raven black hair was cut into a fade- short on the sides but slicked back into an effortless look. He was truly a male specimen worthy of awe. His averagely muscular body was dressed casually and in all black. A turtleneck underneath a long trench coat that matched his jeans and combat boots.

His skin was an olive shade, his handsome features accentuated by a strong jaw and a small scar on his right brow. He was rough, seemingly not one to smile so easily and yet his cold and withdrawn expression made him all the more desirable.

What is this? Why am I attracted to a man I barely know who is spewing nonsense? Is this some sort of fever dream?

"Who are..."

Her throat was parched, her speech addled mainly due to the shock and confusion wading through her. The question had not been completed but the man before her understood as he slowly approached her. He was pleased by her submission, her willingness to stand in place and receive him as protocol dictated.

"I am the creature that you were sworn to. You are my betrothed, Calliope, and I have come to collect. Our union has been cemented in the stars for years and now it is time to finish the bonding of our two bloodlines as one."

He stated simply, his words inflicting a wave of shock within her that was enough to push her out of her stunted movement and have her pull back and away from his soft touch. The brush of his fingers on her cheek felt more real now. It was electric, beyond her wildest comprehension. Just as were his words.

"Are you out of your damn mind? I do not belong to you or anyone else. I am my own person and whoever told you that was probably high on something or pulling a prank."

Calli responded firmly, glad for the firm tone of her voice as she glared down at the impassive-looking man. He was not at all stunned by her rebellion or her words. On the contrary, he seemed almost... amused or pleased to see her fighting back. And fight back she would, regardless of his words or his overwhelming presence before her as he took a small step forward.

"I assure you; no prank has been pulled and no one was 'high'. The fates have sworn you to me and although I was supposed to take you back to my realm today, it seems as though there is much more you need to discuss and be educated on by your family members. You must be prepared for the role you are about to undertake and so I will give them three days and no more. By then, you must know everything about your past, present, and the future to come. You must understand and be prepared to become a Queen worthy of my acceptance."

Everything seemed unbelievable for Calliope who was still trying to understand and comprehend the craziness of the beautiful man. He did not waver in his words or his delivery. He did not cushion the blow or seem to be lying to her. If he was an actor, then he was damn good at it and deserved all the awards.

But he's not... Deep down, Calliope, you know that his words are true and that his claim is valid... You just refuse to accept it.

"And what if I do not come with you or 'prepare' myself for your 'acceptance'. What will you do then? Will you force me? Kidnap me and take me away? Because I will call the damn police on you and have you institutionalized!"

She seethed, glaring at the man who seemed unmoved by her threat. On the contrary, a ghost of a smile stretched across his lips as he moved in even closer to her, now a hairbreadth away from her body. She could not find it in her to move, to will her body to turn away from a man who seemed borderline psychotic.

"Make no mistake, Calliope. You were promised to me and I am well within my rights to take you. You are Mine and No one will be foolish enough to shelter or keep you from me. In these three days, you will learn the true power of this world that you have been shielded from. You belong to me; Calliope and you will come to me of your own free will. Of that, I promise you. Three days, my bride. Do not forget."

He stated confidently, his stormy eyes never leaving hers as he took his hand in hers and placed a chaste kiss on it. Goosebumps and pleasant chills traveled throughout her body as she took him in and all the feelings he brought forth within her. It was electrifying, being so close to him. His touch was like a balm to her soul, almost as if he was the one she had been waiting for all this time.

It was almost as if a part of her soul knew him.... knew that he was right and that she would go to him...

"You are..."

He could see the realization in her eyes, and it pleased him to no end as he granted her a semblance of a smile and nod.

"My name is Lucien Dreven, Alpha of Alphas and King of Werewolves. And you, my sweet- resilient bride will be my Queen and my Luna. We shall rule the Natus Kingdom together soon."

And then he was gone just as quickly as he came- leaving her dazed and sure that her life would never be the same again...

***