Chapter 1: The Devil and the Beast

(Alexandra)

“YOU are not only the future luna of our pack, Alexandra. You are a woman. And that is your greatest strength. Men cannot live without women. Many of them may loathe the wolves, but deep down, they could not help but want you.”

While walking down the aisle, those words from my mother echoed in my ears as I glanced around me. And she was right. The humans despised my kind and yet, the men’s lustful gaze all over my body cannot be denied. They were looking at me like a meal they were not supposed to eat. And they detested that about me even more. It would have been a step closer to victory if they were my target.

Too bad, they weren’t.

Disregarding them, I still believe that this could have been a wonderful beach wedding. The sun was about to set soon. It was my favorite time of the day. The cool breeze was perfect for the summer night. And behind me, I could hear the soft sound from the waves whenever they’d hit the sand. There was also a very sweet music coming from a renowned pianist who flew from New York to the Philippines solely for this event. The decorations were superb, too. There were red roses everywhere, making everything looked like the scene from a romantic movie.

If the guests didn’t know the history of the people in this town, they would probably believe that the bride and groom were hopelessly in love with each other. That was the kind of fantasy the humans here were trying to sell since this supposed to be wedding of the year will be featured in magazines and newspapers tomorrow morning. The outsiders who knew nothing about this town wouldn’t have guessed that just three months ago, the humans and the wolves were determined to wipe out each other’s existence in the world.

The two opposing clans were sitting on each of my side. On my left, there were humans who were watching me with those wary eyes. I know that they were keeping their daggers and guns beneath their fancy clothes. I’d heard the sound of metal and I’d sniffed the scent of the gunpowder the minute I entered the venue. This was a wedding, but they came prepared to turn this into a funeral anytime.

Sitting on my right side were the wolves, just waiting for the perfect opportunity to sink their claws and teeth into the humans’ flesh to fulfill their revenge. Both sides were looking at each other with disdain and rebellion. None of the guests were happy about this union.

And I could totally relate. I’d run away, too, if I had a choice.

I held my bouquet firmly and decided to look at the altar where the groom was waiting with that enticing smile on his lips. Once again, I felt the rage surged through me. I’d been harboring this feeling since I was a little girl. So much blood of our people had been spilt because of these humans. And I vowed on their grave that I would avenge their death.

Now was the time to do it.

The tales these humans tell their kids were nothing but lies. The real demons were not the ones that could be found in the woods, not the ones with bright yellow eyes, long and sharp claws, fur, and tails, but the ones who looked exactly like my groom who was hiding his intention behind that award-winning smile.

In his white tuxedo, Luther Sinclair looked dashing from head to toe. He was the only one smiling here as if he was truly happy to tie the knot with me that’s why I could feel the furious gaze the female humans were throwing at my direction. They must have found it unfair for someone so perfect to marry a woman they secretly call a ‘beast’ never knowing that most of the time, humans were more beastly than the wolves.

But these humans were only quick to judge others. They were blind and deaf when it comes to their own actions and mistakes. I’d rather be a beast than become one of them.

Luther’s smile broadened when our eyes met. This was only my second time meeting him. Our first encounter took place a few weeks after my father, the Alpha Calypso Kendricks, and Governor Duncan Sinclair, Luther’s father, signed a peace treaty. To strengthen the treaty and ensure it would last, they decided to make their children marry each other.

In another time, no one would be allowed to give me orders. But the command came from the Alpha himself whose every word was the law in our pack. That’s why when he summoned me back in this town and told me about this epic plan, I didn’t refuse it. And since the elders from both sides, especially the humans, wanted to rush the wedding, Luther and I had been busy for the past weeks to finish our job in order to make time for this wedding. I went to Manila to tie up some loose ends while he had been to several business conferences abroad and only got back recently.

A month later and here we are, two complete strangers, in this wedding venue.

Luther was an amazing actor. Back then, he didn’t even bat an eyelash after we were told about the agreement. After he shook hands with me as if I was among his business associates, he left in a hurry. It was like he didn’t want to spend another precious second of his in the woods where the wolves lived. The feeling was mutual, though.

Right now, being surrounded by countless humans felt stifling. I didn’t have a good look at him that day. All I noticed was his shoulder-length ink-black hair and his porcelain-white skin which was opposite to mine.

I had the chance to look at Luther now. He was tall, probably around six feet. His tuxedo didn’t hide his muscular frame. His hair was neatly tied in a bun. And with that smile which showed his perfect set of white teeth, no one would have believed that he was being forced into this marriage.

But then again, there was no way I’d know what was going on in his head. Whatever the case, all of the humans were just the same in my eyes. They may have weak bodies, but they had atrocious and cunning minds.

“Duncan, there is still time. Maybe we can still find a way out of this. Can’t you see? By doing this, you are literally throwing our son into the wolves!” Mrs. Molly Sinclair whispered to her husband who stood beside Luther.

If I heard that, I bet all of the wolves here had also heard the same thing. I heard some of them growl like a hungry beast which made Mrs. Molly’s eyes widened out of fear. Her face turned pallid in an instant.

“Oh, God, Duncan! Did you hear how those beasts snarled at me? Where is your conscience? How could you do something like this to our only son?”

I almost crushed the bouquet and wished I took some anti-stress tablets before coming here. I don’t normally advocate violence but I had at least some people I’d like to assassinate with zero percent guilt. And Mrs. Molly was on top of my list. I know that it was her brother who led the secret organization to take down the wolves before. She was aware of that and maybe she was scared we’d retaliate through her son. She was now freaking out when she glanced my way.

I composed myself, looked straight into her eyes, and gave her a playful smile as I walked faster to taunt her.

Mrs. Molly shook her husband’s arm hysterically. “Duncan, please-“

“We’ve talked about this many times before, Molly. I’m not going to change my mind. If you don’t want them to eat you for dinner, then I suggest you zip your goddamn mouth right now. You are embarrassing our family. Besides, I’ve already given the werewolves my word. You were there to witness it. I will not back out now only to follow your whims,” the Governor said firmly. “This alliance was created for both sides to achieve grace and peace after several years of battling against each other. This town will finally be freed from the bloodshed. Don’t you desire that, too? From the beginning, your son knows the sacrifice he is making. And he agreed to it. The people will know him as a hero.”

I tried not to scoff by those empty words. It was funny how the Governor was trying to make his wife shut up, but his voice was unquestionably loud like he intended to remind everyone, especially his people, of the huge sacrifice his family had made in honor of this alliance.

What a hypocrite.

“Pa is right. So, please stop this now, Ma,” I heard Luther whisper.

His mother was horrified. “Don’t tell me you actually wanted to marry that beast? Have you fallen in love with her?”

“Love?” Luther’s gaze went back to me. He looked at me as if he had known me from way back, as if he knew something I didn’t which irritated me so much. He didn’t answer, but he laughed, as if he had just heard the funniest joke today.

He reacted that way knowing full well that I could hear him. And when his laughter faded, his eyes wandered to my face down to my body. His Adam’s apple moved. And when our gazes met for the second time, there was now a dangerous glint in his eyes.

Unlike his mother, Luther was not acting like a prey, but a predator who had set its eyes on its next food.

“Humans seduce wolves. They make our kind submit to them. Once you fall in love with a human, you will lose. I trust you, Alexandra. Do not lose this game,” my mother, the current Luna, warned me before I stepped out of my hotel room.

The game had started the second I decided to show up today. Every place where the humans and wolves were in becomes a battlefield. This wedding ground was a battlefield in its own way, too. And when this ends, I will make sure that I will not be the one devoured.

If this was how Luther wanted to play, then I will not disappoint him.

The tension grew thicker when I finally reached the altar. I only walked for a minute or two, but the path through the altar felt so long and tedious. Not to mention that the humans had made the carpet needlessly long as if they didn’t want me to reach the altar at all. It was probably to give the groom some time to run away in case he had a change of heart.

But Luther seemed to be as determined as I am to go on with the wedding because just like me, I knew he had a mission, too, which I plan to uncover soon.

“Don’t think about anything else and just focus on the task at hand, Xandra. The pack will be right behind you,” the Alpha whispered in my ear before giving my hand to the groom.

The minute Luther and I held hands; I heard the clacking of metals. But just like the rest of the wolves, I remained unfazed as I showed my groom my sweetest smile.

“I don’t know about you but this is my first time getting married. So, even if I’m only marrying out of duty, I still don’t want my wedding to be ruined,” I told him when he gently squeezed my hand as if he was reassuring me which I found amusing.

Suddenly, his eyes darkened. “No one will ruin this wedding, Alexandra. You will be mine at the end of this day.”

He said those words with such certainty which made me laugh. “I think you’re mistaken about something, Luther. It’s true that I will be a Sinclair at the end of the day but I will never be yours. You, on the other hand, will have no choice but to belong to me. I’m sorry about that,” I said and when the smell of gunpowder became more pungent, I grabbed Luther’s nape.

He glared at me. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

“This is on you. You should have made an effort in getting to know your bride at least.”

I heard his chest pounding as my eyes changed its color. From blue, they became yellow. When the humans stood and pulled out their guns, my nails and teeth became longer and sharper and without a word, I bit Luther’s neck.

In an instant, the music had stopped as blood poured down his white tuxedo which had made the guests scream.