Chapter 1 Prologue

A tired yawn left the child's lips as he stretched his limbs above his head, a cracking sound echoing when he did so. He slapped a palm over his mouth tiredly and blinked, his bushy brows came together in a confused gesture.

That was weird. The sun was up already, yet none of his parents had come to his room. His mother was usually the one who tickled him into waking up while his father would be in the kitchen, making a giant batch of his favourite meal; pancakes.

However, this morning was unusual. His windows were just like he'd left them last night, open and susceptible to the cold winter breeze. As if on cue, a gust of wind blew the flaps of the curtains billowing into the room and he shivered.

Something was wrong, indeed. He didn't know what but he felt it. The child climbed down from the bed, hastening towards the door. He pulled it open and snuck out, gently closing it behind him.

The moment his foot landed on first steps, a grotesque cry tore the air and he froze. Another similar scream echoed, this one more pained than the last.

His heart skipped a beat and his clammy fingers wrapped around the railings. The screams didn't stop there, it kept resounding like a symphony and he cringed.

That didn't stop him though, he continued climbing down until he reached the base of the stairs. And when he did, he wished he'd made the decision to remain in his room instead.

He caught his father kneeling, a large stood threateningly behind him, his blackish claws extended.

An outrage cry tore from his throat almost immediately, "Father!"

The stranger's head whipped towards him and only then did he notice the other three men crowding the hall. One of the men rushed forward seizing him by the arm, and forced him to kneel by his father.

"Father," The child whimpered weakly, however his father's focus was elsewhere and when he trailed the man's line of sight, he felt sick to his stomach.

His beautiful mother was sprawled on their table, the same table they'd taken their meals the night before with large smiles and loud chatter, an even more large man stood between her parted legs.

"Ah, a family reunion. How perfect!" The man honeyed tone taunted, "I assumed the little twat wasn't home but this is even more better, watch what I do to your mother."

The boy trembled as the cruel man peered at him with black eyes, and he wasn't exaggerating. His entire eyes were like ink, including the whites of his eyes. If the numerous scars around his body was judge enough of his cruelty, the eyes completely terrified the child.

The moment the cruel man dropped his pants, revealing his manhood. Terror gripped the boy, although he'd only seen ten moons he was quite aware of what was about to happen.

"No!" He cried out with all of his might, struggling against the iron-clad grip of the guard who held him down, "No, stay away from Mother. Stay away!"

His pleas fell on deaf ears as the man rammed into his mother with such force that the table quaked terribly. He couldn't bare to watch the scene and he cried out to his Mother. The cruel Alpha had a pleased smile on his lips. His Father was completely lump. While Mother, on the other hand, was quiet. Her face was pale, lacking any color and her once bright eyes were lifeless and filled with unshed tears.

It broke him to watch her like that, even more when it was evident that he was too powerless to do anything. His Father let out a sudden outburst, dropping his head as his fingers trembled.

Mother's gargled cry echoed in the room, her fingers bunching into a shaky fist. He couldn't bear it any longer, he slapped his palms over his ears in a bid to block out the sound.

However, he suddenly heard a thundering growl and then the distinct sound of flesh slicing open followed by a weak gurgle.

His wet lashes slowly parted, blinking the tears away, the child's blurry sight settled on his mother. Or what used to be his mother.

His father whimpered weakly, falling to the ground as he clutched his chest. His gaze returned to the gore in front of him and he couldn't find it in himself to look away.

His mother lifeless body laid bare on their dining table, her throat mercilessly sliced open with crimson blood spilling out. Her eyes still held a silent plea in them while her mouth was opened in what should have been a scream.

He felt disembodied, entire body feeling like lead. He tried not to blink, unable to believe that she was gone. Forever.

He couldn't fight back when he was suddenly pulled from his feet, dragged to the outer courts. He squinted against the harsh rays of the sun and when his gaze refocused, they settled on the crowd gathered in front of his home.

Only that they weren't just a crowd, they were his pack members. A minority of them, he knew that they were a lot missing, bound in silver chains around their necks and wrist. They looked beaten up, the women donning tear-streaked faces.

Immediately they set their eyes on his father and him, they howled in unison, bowing their heads in respect.

"Fools!" The cruel man barked, baring his canines, "You're about to die because of him and you still revere this weakling."

Their necks remained stubbornly bowed and the cruel man snarled, stomping towards Father to grab him by the arm, kicking his legs so he fell on his knees in front of him.

"Look at them," He whispered, roughly grabbing Father's face, "These are the ones who have stubbornly refused to renounce you."

Father glared at him, icy eyes digging into him in an open threat. The cruel man leaned closer, smirking evilly,

"They will be my slaves and regret their decision," His wicked gaze flickered to the boy, "If your child was girl, she would've been my whore but he's not. So he'll escort you and your wife to the afterlife."

The guard behind me pressed his claws into the child's neck in response and he gulped.

"If I'd know that you were this weak an Alpha, I would've attacked your pack sooner," The cruel man gested and the child caught his father's wrist tighten together, "When I take your head, I'll make sure to hang the skull along with the others."

He could feel it, the tense environment and he knew what was about to happen.

"Father," The child called weakly in his head and his father whipped his head around to look at him.

"Lucien," Father spoke to his mind, "I love you, always and forever. Be strong and-"

His head was severed from his neck in a flash, blood spraying everywhere and some droplets landed on my face. The child reacted without thinking, pushing the guard away as he pounced towards the murderer.

The cruel man swatted him like he was some fly, his large claws making contact with the child's face as a result. Red hot pain flared all over his face, something warm trickled down his face and he cried out.

He looked up and caught the eyes of everyone at him. He curled up into himself, trembling fingers catching the blood that trickled down his slashed face. He didn't need to look at a mirror to know what the monster had done.

The longer the child stayed there, the more he felt like an oddity. He pushed to his feet and dashed towards the fields, running as fast as his legs could carry him.

"Should I go after him?" The guard who held the child asked his master, his claws extending fully.

The master waved him off, watching the headless Alpha with glee in his eyes,

"He's just a twat, there's nothing he can do." His black eyes fell on the slaves in front of him and he grinned,

"I already got what I came here for."