Prologue.

...

The afternoon was unusually stormy and slightly darker than normal. The heavy cry of a pregnant wolf resounded in the tiny wooden cabin she was kept in, the pile of clothes supporting her head now soaked in sweat and tears. 

Her husband could be seen looking discombobulated as he paced back and forth, after fruitless tries to calm his wife. 

"She's coming, Leon. I can feel her. She's coming!" Her cries heightened, her breathing hard and hot. 

He rushed to her and crouch by her side. Sweat broke out on his forehead and he swat it with the back of his palm, taking her slender palm in his large ones. 

"Sheila is on the way. I know it's hard but you have to hold on, my love. Just a little more, okay?" 

As her mate, he shared in her emotions and he wished to earth that he could help her. He was capable. In the past, he had helped other pregnant wolves deliver safely. 

He was a licensed doctor and used to serve the pack as that until he was crowned Alpha. Now, he couldn't even help his wife deliver as it was against the tradition guiding his pack. 

Alpha Leon's heart raced in his chest, his breath unsteady and hard. It was his first offspring and he'll be damned if she lost it. 

If he had known her due date would be a week earlier, he wouldn't have embarked on this journey with her. He would have left her in the care of the midwives in his pack, he would have ignored her tantrums and clinginess. 

They were only halfway back to their home when her water broke and she suffered a contraction amidst a thunderstorm. Due to her discomfort, they had to halt the journey and bring her to a cabin they found in the woods. 

Darcy's Iris had rolled backward, her breathing now forced, "Leon.."

"I'm here, Darcy. I'm here," he sniffed, struggling to keep his tears in check.

"Help me, Leon... I'm going to lose ..o-our baby, we can't lose our daughter. Do something, please."  

"Where the hell is Sheila?!" He yanked at the guard guarding the entrance.

"She will be here soon, my Lord. Due to the thunderstorm, there is a lot of flood." 

"Well, goddammit." 

One more look at his dying wife and Leon decided to damn all odds. He would rather spend days pacifying his ancestors than watch his wife die or his first seed when he had a chance to save them. He would never forgive himself if any of that happens. 

"Get me some clean water, a pair of scissors, and some clean clothes quickly!" he said to the guards. 

"My Lord..." The guard appeared skeptical for a moment before nodding and walking away to fetch the items. 

 Leon rolled his sleeves, took off his protective wear, and went under his wife. 

...

The storm had ceased, the rain now falling in drizzles but the sky remained unusually dark.

Alpha Leon paced restlessly around the corridor, his ears listening for a baby's cry. The midwives had arrived before he could perform the delivery and taken over from him. He was now drenched in rain, his guard who held the umbrella failed to keep up with his pace but that was the least of Leon's concerns.

 The cry of a baby filled the hall and Leon smiled happily, stopping and throwing a punch in the air. 

His happiness was soon cut short when he glanced at the sky and saw it. Fear clouded his mind as he awaited the news of his wife's delivery from the midwives but none came.

"Alpha.." his guard's voice was filled with fear and alarm when he noticed it too. 

Panic set in Leon's heart and he dashed into the cabin.

The midwives had fear boldly written on their faces as they pointed to the baby. 

"Y-y-y-your highness," Sheila started, fear disenabling her from moving away, "the cursed mark." She said in heavy breaths, pointing at the crying child. 

Leon glanced at his wife, her body was now limp and her breathing ceased. He could already feel that life had exuded her. 

His breathing grew hard as he turned to his child, she was crying heavily on the cold floor she was dumped on. The tiny yet deep gash on her chest looked painful, unbearable even, for a newborn. 

Leon walked towards her, a tear dropping from his eyes. 

"S-she's evil!" A midwife cried, shuddering.

"She's not!" Leon violently responded, walking to his child, "she's the future Alpha." He picked her up slowly from the floor and wrapped her body with a piece of cloth. 

"But your highness, you must stay away from her--

Leon pulled out a sword and slashed the first midwife's throat with it in one swift move, she dropped dead to the floor. 

The other midwife screamed in horror, looking around in fear. 

"She is not cursed. My child is not cursed!" Leon yelled, his eyes darkened with rage and hurt, while making his way to the other midwife who immediately flung to her feet, dashing to the exit. 

Leon threw the sword at her like a pro and it penetrated through her back, sending her to fall forward in death. 

The guard who watched in fear, fell on his knees, "spare me, my Lord. I will do whatever you want. I will never betray you," he uttered in a shaky tone.

Leon walked towards him, his hand reaching for the dagger tucked into his pants sachet, "I cannot trust you this time, Jack," and with that, he sank the blade into his chest, withdrew it, and stabbed him again. To the other guard, he grabbed easily and snapped his neck before dropping him. 

Leon staggered, his jaw dropped as full realization set in his system. 

Staring at his hand that was now stained in blood and then at the crying child in his arms. His gaze darts to his dead wife and he fell to the floor, breaking into tears. 

His cries supersede that of the child, it bore more emotions as well as fear.

"I will protect our daughter, I promise you, my love," he mumbled under his breath before succumbing to darkness.