Chapter One

Twenty years later...

  "I can't believe you still haven't heard about him, Amelia. I mean, literally everyone in the pack knows the story of our crazy Alpha," Isabel reprimanded her best friend, Amelia, who always seemed oblivious of everything happening around her.

"It's not like I haven't heard about him, it's just that I never cared to know more about him and besides, you know how much I hate gossiping and believing in crazy rumours," Amelia defended herself quickly, not liking the fact that her friend just indirectly called her nonchalant.

"You know the saying, behind every rumour, there is always an iota of truth? Well, I believe in these particular rumours. Everyone can't be lying and making up similar and well detailed stories you know," Isabel fired back and Amelia rolled her eyes.

"Okay fine, you have a point but isn't it just weird that our Alpha is always called a crazy man? Doesn't it make you feel some type of way? For me, it's almost like I'm being disrespectful towards his authority by calling him a mad man when I have never even met the man or seen him act crazy like they say he does," Amelia replied and Isabel sighed at her friend's foolishness.

"You better not pray to meet the man because according to even more rumours, they say that if ten people meet him, only three will walk back home alive and when I say alive, I mean, barely. I for one don't think these are just rumours anyways because think about it, he doesn't come for pack gatherings and festivals, Beta Adrian is always having to represent him. He never shows up to check on the people when there's an attack from neighbouring packs or rogues and he even sometimes goes ahead to attack all on his own without warriors, isn't that weird?" Isabel said and Amelia frowned.

"Plausible explanations to that could be that maybe he's not a people's person, or he just doesn't want to check up on people so he'd rather have his Beta do it for him and about him fighting against our enemies on his own, shouldn't we be appreciating the fact that he's strong enough to fight for us? Since when did having a powerful man for an Alpha become a problem?" Amelia questioned and Isabel was slowly starting to get frustrated with her friend.

"You really are as dense as they say you are Amelia. Didn't you get my point? He's a monster Amelia and this is according to his warriors and the survivors who have met with him. They say the reason he leaves his warriors behind is because once he becomes angry and ready for battle, he no longer recognises his people. He becomes a total monster and he kills every werewolf that crosses his path, even his very own warriors so he forbids his people from coming anywhere close to him when he's about to fight and the only time they fight for us is when he doesn't join them," Isabel explained, hoping her clearer explanation would help her friend understand her better.

"Honestly, it all just sounds like rumours to me. It's like people can't accept that he's just not typical so they're making up ridiculous rumours about him to justify their reasons for disliking him," Amelia replied and Isabel could not not believe her eyes.

"You need to learn to be more open to rumours, Amelia sweetie," the familiar voice of Isabel's mother spoke from behind where the girls sat and they both turned around with confused looks on their faces.

"Hi mom," Isabel greeted her mother who responded to her greeting with a curt nod.

"Hello miss Ana, do you also believe in these rumours?" Amelia asked, wondering if she was the only one sensible enough not to buy into baseless rumours.

"Hmm, it's not that I believe them completely but I know a few of them that have been confirmed to be true and I've also happened to see the Alpha in person," Ana replied.

"You have? How come you never told me?" Isabel questioned.

"I would have if you'd asked me about it but you never did. It's not even that big a deal cause I only saw him from a distance and of course, he didn't kill anyone in front of me or anything but it was quite obvious that everyone around was pretty scared of him. They all stood pretty far away from him and even his Beta couldn't go too close. I was only a spectator from a distance but even I felt creeped out by his presence. His aura isn't just commanding, it's also pretty scary," Ana explained and now Amelia was even more curious to hear more.

"Well, I knew people weren't lying. The man's a monster," Isabel blurted proudly and Amelia rolled her eyes.

"I wouldn't call him a monster though cause I didn't see him acting like one but I've heard he could be quite dangerous to be around. I've heard a few stories about him killing people for the most basic offences because he can't control his anger. He becomes a totally different person when he's upset by even the littlest things and he goes on a killing spree like a mad man," Ana said and although Amelia did not believe Isabel who she felt was simply exaggerating, she couldn't help but believe Ana.

After all, she has known Ana for almost all her life and her best friend's mother wasn't exactly the type to make up false stories and lie unreasonably.

"Mom, is it true that he's cursed? I heard from an elderly woman that the Alpha appears to be cursed cause he was given birth to on the day of the blood moon festival and apparently children are rarely born on such a day and it is said that, any child who is given birth to during the festival is born with a strange curse and that if he isn't killed immediately, he'll become a living nightmare to the people around him," Isabel said and Amelia scoffed.

"Now, that is definitely a rumour. Everyone knows no child is ever born on the day of the bloodmoon much less the son of an Alpha and besides, isn't the blood moon festival a tribute festival? Why would anyone be cursed on such a day? The only reason children aren't born that day is because no form of celebration is supposed to happen during the course of the festival which is why the moon goddess does not allow a child to be born but there's definitely no curse attached to it," Amelia stated confidently.

"Girls, I really don't know anything about this rumour surrounding the day he was born but I sincerely hope that isn't true Isabel cause for your information Amelia, a child born on such a day is indeed a cursed child and that child allegedly signifies pain and death. Nothing good could ever come from such a child," Ana clarified and Amelia is both surprised and confused.

Why would a child who didn't choose the day he or she is born have to suffer a penalty as cruel as death just because he or she is allegedly cursed. Did that even make any sense at all? Amelia wondered to herself, finding it very ridiculous.

Even though she couldn't be sure about the truth behind the Alpha, she still wished to never run into him either way. She didn't wish to find herself in a situation where she would have to confirm the rumours surrounding him by being a victim of his madness.

  "Well, I can only hope I never get to meet him. Imagine if someone like us turned out to be his mate or something," Isabel said, shuddering at the thought alone.

"Whoever she is, she's probably the most unlucky shewolf in the world cause I don't even want to know what he looks like much less be bonded to him," Amelia hissed, also shuddering at the thought.

"I doubt she'd ever even get to meet the man anyways. He rarely ever comes out of his home," Ana chimed in.

"Anyways, you better stay out of any trouble cause I need to go somewhere now and I don't want to come back to any kind of mess. As always Amelia, please take care of her. She's in your hands," Ana teased, earning a scowl from her daughter before she walked out of the house.

"By the way Amelia, you mentioned something about leaving the pack a while earlier, what did you mean?" Isabel asked, changing the subject.

"I'm not exactly leaving the pack Isabel. Mom wants me to get her some herbs for the new ointment she's working on and I'll be going to the outskirts of the pack to go fetch them," Amelia clarified.

"Can I come with you?" Isabel asked and Amelia frowned.

"I thought you said you hated travelling? Why the sudden request?" Amelia asked curiously, wondering why Isabel, the laziest person she knew, would want to travel on such a long journey with her.

"I still hate travelling but at this point, I don't mind doing anything crazy just to get out of this vicinity. I'm still wondering how I'm supposed to ever find my mate if I continue to remain here," Isabel replied, visibly upset and Amelia frowned.

"I doubt the outskirts of the pack is the right place to find a mate Isabel. If you're so eager, just walk around town all day till you get tired," Amelia suggested.

"Are you serious Amelia? Do you have any idea how many times I have done that? Besides, mom never lets me go past the first market but with you as an excuse, maybe, just maybe, I'll finally get the chance to explore the pack even more and find my darling mate," Isabel replied with an excited squeal that made Amelia cringe.

"I'm definitely not helping you lie to your mom Isabel. You know how she is," Amelia reminded.

"Lie? I'm not asking you to," Isabel clarified quickly.

"I'm just saying that on our way to the outskirts, I'll take a look at other places in the pack and maybe, I'll randomly run into my mate," she added and Amelia could not help but chuckle at her friend's naivety.

"It's not funny Amelia. Aren't you getting desperate? We're both twenty one already and we still haven't met our mate. What if the moon goddess forgot us? Aren't you worried?" Isabel asked.

"Why would I be worried over such a silly thought? I know for a fact that he's out there and I'll get to meet him when the mood goddess says so," Amelia replied confidently.

"Hmm, if you say so," Isabel muttered.

"You know what Isabel, I'm leaving. I need to go help my mom with work," Amelia said, getting up from where she sat and preparing to leave.

"What time are we leaving tomorrow?" Isabel asked.

"I'll come pick you up in the morning. You better not wake up late," Amelia warns and Isabel giggled before giving her friend a hug and watching her walk out of the house.