Cassius the supreme alpha king (Beasts of the night book 1)

Thousands of years ago, there was a powerful king. He fell in love with his beautiful maid.

He chose to be with her, even though he knew that dream was hard to be true.

He was fascinated by her beauty, she enchanted him indeed.

So that's why he decided to have her, she's all he needs.

Days have passed and they lived in bliss,

Their love grew, it was hard to miss.

But one day, the king found her ill,

His heart broke, but saving her, he will.

He tried as he might, but no one knew how to help.

The king was furious; he has to save his true love. Without her, life would be a living hell.

"Sorry your highness, it's no use."

Those three words, made hell break loose.

The king thought "How do those peasants dare."

I'll do anything to save her, I don't care.

So he prayed to the gods to save his love, every night and day.

But days have passed by, and there was nothing else to say.

When he was about to lose hope,

The moon goddess answered his plea.

"I'll save her on one condition; you have to give me something in return."

The king didn't hesitate "I'll do anything even if my heart would be torn."

"I hope you know what you are doing, Does she worth this all?"

"I can't live without her, she's my soul."

"Ok, I'll save her for you, but in return, I'll change your form. I'll choose an animal that will be the new you.

You will be in his form until your love accepts you. If not, that would be you forever. "

The king just smiled and said "I'll do it. I trust our love. Betraying me, she will never. "

The moon goddess started to chant her spell,

So the king's love won't be longer ill.

The king started to feel the changes,

So quickly he went to his love champers.

She opened her eyes and weakly smiled,

The king is here she was happy to find.

But suddenly he began to change. A huge beast took his face,

Long towering over her, something came in his place.

The maid screamed "Stay away from me you beast."

"My love don't be scared it's Me." He raised his hand to comfort her.

"Don't touch me, I don't know you." The girl shrieked in despair.

The beast's eyes started to water, how could this happen? It is still me, can't you see?

But the girl's disgusted glares were sharper than swords. They have made wounds that would never heal.

The beast ran away howling in agony,

He wanted to die, that was all he thought.

The moon goddess knew that this would happen.

For the king's broken heart, she felt sorry.

She approached him, and held his face in her hands then wiped his tears.

"Don't worry; I'll destroy all of your fears."

The king just looked at her with eyes that are lifeless.

The moon goddess gasped, they were soulless.

"I can't take it back, but I'll help you. Because you deserve better my loyal lord. I'm going to give you a soulmate that won't hurt you, that will accept who you are. But every full moon your beast will be here. But you won't be near, that will be the other true you."

And that's the real story of the beauty and the beast.

What the hell was that hulking monster? My mind screamed at me for an answer, while I hid behind one of those enormous trees. My body was shaking like a leaf, my heartbeat skyrocketing and sweat made my eyes burn.

My hands trembled when I brought it above my mouth to stop a sob from breaking out, I need to be silent. A twig to my right broke, and I flinched. It has found me. Oh god, I'm going to die. But the silence that followed was killing my nerves, it wasn't expected at all.

I took a few stuttering breaths and willed my body to move; I need to see if it was still there or not. At least I should try to make a run for it again before it got me. I need to fight for my life. My mind made, I peeked to my right and found nothing.

I sighed in relief, maybe it got bored and left, right? Yes, it must be. It couldn't wait for me forever; I have been running for what? Ten minutes by now, maybe?! I will try to retract my path and find my way back to the castle, as silent as possible.

I breathed deeply and moved to the other side and smacked into something hard and warm. I gasped from the impact. My breath evaded me and small hairs or something similar clung to my open mouth and tongue. Something snarled and the hard object I hit moved with the sound.

I raised my head with wide eyes and trembling lips to see what made that horrendous noise, but a loud scream was all I could get out of me in return.

I fell to the ground and crab crawled backward. The beast's body tensed and his eyes fixated on me. I only took two steps before it snarled in a warning. So I stopped and held my breath. That thing was huge.

Standing on two feet, it was taller than any human could ever be. But that is the only similarity I could find. It was hairy, his arms long and fingers tipped with sharp glinting claws. Its huge thighs were curved awkwardly as if he wasn't standing to its full height. But the most terrifying thing about it was its face.

It was shaped like....it looked deformed to me. The long muzzle and sharp teeth didn't proportion with its small ears and eyes. And that nightmarish face was gazing intently at me. It raised its snout and breathed the air, then those golden eyes glowed with interest.

The monster crouched, and he crept on all four. Eyes still glowing and now Saliva was dripping from its mouth. Just when he reached my dirty bare feet, his eyes turned down.

I flinched when those clawed fingers touched my toes. Is he going to start with my feet? Or do monsters have fetishes too? I almost cackled like a maniac, I tend to be sarcastic when I'm distressed or scared.

But I returned my attention back to that thing and swallowed hard when it raised my left foot to its mouth.

"You know, I'm a skinny bitch. Just skin and bones. All ballerinas are really, not only me. I won't be a satisfying, fulfilling meal, trust me."

The beast turned its head to the side like a dog, his tongue hanging out there. He looked confused for a second before shaking its huge head and licked my little toe.

The frozen state of my body evaporated and I kicked his mouth, or tried to, with the foot he was holding. But all I managed to do was nicking my toes with one of those sharp canines.

The beast growled at me flashing his sharp teeth and snatched my leg again, but this time his grip was bruising. I whimpered. It felt like my foot was going to break at any moment.

It sniffed my foot again and licked it with enthusiasm this time. The moans he made after tasting my blood were more terrifying than his growls or snarls.

I whined again and tried to back away, but he shifted with me and in one swift move, my body was under him. He looked me in the eye, his tongue licking his thin lips as if savoring the remaining taste of my blood.

"Please, don't eat me. Or at least make it quick." I whispered, don't even know why bother. It can't understand me.

I gave up and went limp beneath it and moved my head to the other way. Offering it my neck. Make it quick, I prayed to god for the first time in my life.

The monster on top of me took that as an invitation. And buried its muzzle into the crook of my neck, and whimpered, pushing its body into mine.

I stopped breathing when I felt something hard and hot poking my thigh. I bucked and flailed, I need to get away right now. I had made my peace with being eating and killed gruesomely, but this is a no. I won't stay still for it to violate me like this, NO.

I opened my mouth and screamed, and something howled in the distance. The oblivious beast tensed and his ears twitched, and then crouched above my shaking body. His eyes scanned the forest or the garden.

Or whatever the hell it was. And for a moment I was free, so I crept slowly first then ran screeching on top of my lung.

"Help somebody help me. HELP." I heard some voices ahead and the beasts' angry growls and snarls followed me.

I ran as fast as I could, but the monster was gaining on me. I took a deep breath and screamed higher this time.

"Help."

Someone called my name, and I tried to run in his direction, but the beast jumped on top of me. Then his mouth circled my neck. He growled constantly in warning, his body crouched, covering me entirely. I sniffled. I was so close to escaping.

"Let her go now." A feminine voice said softly and then added.

"Please." I heard several footsteps, so I tried to move my head to take a good look. But the beast bit my neck harder.

"I don't want to hurt you. Let go of Sarah, please. You are not yourself right now. And you are hurting her." He snarled in response to my friend's words and crouched further down, his weight suffocating me.

"Mine." I heard the guttural word and froze. Did it just speak right now? Or my mind was playing tricks on me. Am I going crazy?

"Then, as you wish. Dylan, you know what to do?" Growls and snarls filled the air a second later, and I was rushed between Lina's arms.

I buried myself in her soft body, shaking and crying. Even though her scent was familiar and comforting. My mind couldn't comprehend what just happened.

I looked behind me and saw five enormous dogs, as big as a horse, fight the beast. But they weren't its match. After a tiresome tussle, it looked at me and whined before it ran away.

In the distance, we heard a pained howl followed by so many. I shuddered. What the hell is this place?

I pushed my friend away and glared at her and the few people that remained. "What the fuck just happened? And what the hell was that thing Lina?"

She looked down nervously. "What were you doing outside your room, Sarah? I asked you so many times not to go out at night, especially on full moon nights such as this one?"

"Are you fucking kidding me? Don't answer my question with another one. And the moon isn't full tonight."

It was, but fuck it. I can go out whenever the hell I want; I'm not a prisoner here. I huffed.

"Just let's get back to the castle and I will tell you everything." She reached for my arm tentatively and I walked with her, the men following silently behind at a distance, respectfully.

The moment I entered my suit, I rushed to the bathroom and threw my guts up. And even though my stomach was empty, I kept heaving.

It might be adrenaline withdrawal or something, but after this little walk back. My body felt drained and heavy. It kept on convulsing, and I held the toilet for support.

I rested my head on the cold toilet bowl, not caring if I got dirty or not. My head was spinning and another rush of nausea was attacking me.

I felt awful and drained. Who would have thought something like this would happen to me? When Lina invited me to her birthday, and also to spend some time together.

I was excited to see her home and finally meet her family. I never have thought in a million years, that I would be attacked by ugly monsters. I gagged and threw up again, but nothing came out.

Lina came to the bathroom and helped me to my bed. I collapsed exhausted and fell asleep immediately.

My mind went back to two weeks ago before any of this had ever happened, and my dreams were full of monsters and pained howls.

"Un deux trois et quatre. Un deux trois et quatre, encore." Monsieur Claude, the ballet master, clapped his hands with the rhythm. I twirled and raised my arms around my head like a circle.

"Siegfried, why are you so tense? You should be fluid like water. Follow the music and let your body sway. Give me a good attitude."

Victor bent one knee and looked at me. I took a couple of deep breaths and then two wide steps towards him. He reached for me and swiftly raised me up. I opened my arms and arched my back.

"No, Odette. You are a swan, an elegant and delicate bird. You are supposed to be as light as a feather, but you look like a sack of potatoes. This is ridiculous."

He used his cane to knock on the chair beside him a few times. "That is enough, Assemblé." we all stopped as one and stood up, back straight waiting for his instructions.

"You all should be ashamed of yourselves. That was disgusting. We have been practicing act two for a week now and you still fail me."

I side glanced at Lina and as I already expected, she was smirking at me. Monsieur Claude's furious voice yelled again.

"Hanna, next time suck up your belly or stop eating for one damn week. Luca le pauvre fils...." He gave Luca some sympathetic looks and continued.

"You will break his back." Hanna flinched and her eyes watered, but she held it back. Our master would eat her alive if he saw her tears. His French accent was heavy now, which meant he was furious.

"I'm done with you for the day. We will continue tomorrow. I'm so disappointed in all of you; you make me so sick, disgusting." And with a look from under his nose, he left us.

I fell on my ass when Lina threw herself at me. "Dammit, Lina. You might look small and cute, but girl, you weigh a ton." She chuckled and put more of her weight on me.

"Baby, all of this is pure muscles." Then she lowered her voice for my ears only.

"And not to mention these boobs, too. Because of them, you are the Prima ballerina. It is the only reason. I refuse to believe anything else." I rolled my eyes and ignored her.

She was right, we were the opposite. She was curvy and sexy; I on the other hand was small and as thin as a stick.

Victor came back with a small bottle of water which I gladly accepted. "What is wrong, sweetie? You looked so distant today and were unfocused, which was odd. You almost dropped me." He hugged my middle and rested his head on my shoulder.

I was sweaty and stinky, but we were used to it by now. Victor was my friend and partner for two years so far and we knew everything about each other. Hell, he knew when I was PMSing that is how close we are.

Lina snatched my still closed bottle and unscrewed it. "It looks like a lover quarrel to me."

I turned back to Vic "Is that true? Did you and Sam fight?" He shook his head, which was still buried in my chest.

"We broke up yesterday." Lina splattered water all over my face and chest in response to his confession.

"What the hell had happened? Did he cheat on you?" She gasped, her hand covering her mouth.

"Did you cheat on him?"

He raised his sad eyes to us. "Neither, I was the one who broke things up." I caressed his back softly.

"Why sweetie, what happened?" His eyes watered and his lips wobbled.

"He wanted to settle down and asked me to move in with him." I asked him, confused.

"But baby, these are good news. He was almost proposing." He sniffled.

"He was about to; I had found the rings a week ago."

Lina slapped the back of his head. "So you are saying that you are just an asshole who broke a good man's heart." I glared at her, and then hissed.

"Lina, don't be rude." She shrugged and started to stretch beside us. I kept caressing my friend's back, trying to comfort him.

"I'm sure you have your own reasons to make such a decision." He shook his head and sighed.

"No, Lina is right. I'm an asshole, that's all." I thought for a moment.

"What about spending the night with us? Let's have a sleepover and tomorrow, we can go to practice together." He smiled at me.

"I'm sorry I can't. My brother will bring his girlfriend home tonight for the first time, and my mother wants me to be there." I smiled back at him.

"Another time then." He hugged me and kissed my cheek and after a moment of hesitation in my friend's way, he gave Lina a small wave and lift.

I glared at her stoic face. "He just needed some emotional support. It is only a hug. Why are you always like this towards him?" She lifted a brow.

"Seriously, you know that I'm like this with all men. I don't like touching them, and then their stinky scent clings to my body. It takes me ages to get rid of it. I scrub myself sometimes raw. Anyway, it isn't just Victor."

Scent, cling, and scrub? She is so weird I know that by now, but each time I was still struck by this fact. I looked at her, bewildered.

"You are so weird that it scares me sometimes." She laughed and hugged me, her cheek rubbing mine.

"I don't mind your scent on me. On the contrary, it makes me feel safe and comforted. It smells like home."

I tried to push her away, but again, she didn't budge. "EW, you smell stinky and your body is so sweaty. It's disgusting." She gave me another rub to the cheek and the neck, then chuckled.

"We run hot baby. You should see one of our men. You would be impressed." She stood and offered me her hand to help me to stand up. I accepted it.

"No ew, I like my men clean and smell good." She pumped our shoulders together.

"You mean you like your men, invisible or non-existent. I think you are still a virgin." My face heated.

"You mean like you? You are the one to talk, ha." She grinned. "It was, and still, my own choice. I'm waiting for my special one."

"Me too, sis. Me too." I mumbled to myself.

We walked to the lockers together to change. "By the way, you should stop being touchy-feely with Victor. Each time he touches you, your scent changes and smells like him." I gave her my back as I took off my shoes first.

"You do know that he is gay, right? He was just talking about his boyfriend a few moments ago." I peeked around.

"Lina, is there something I should know? Are you trying to tell me something?" Her head turned to the side and her face went slack. I couldn't help it and giggled, making her chuckle in return.

"Sarah, Here in Moscow, I have only you. You are my pa... family. And I don't like seeing you warm and cozy with others, it makes me angry." I straightened my coat and smiled.

Since the day we met six years ago, and she has been possessive and protective of me, which drove mother crazy. She thought that we were a thing and she didn't like it.

We went out and the cold wind chilled my body; I wrapped myself tightly in my coat. Lina, on the other side, raised her head and inhaled the cold, crisp air. I envied her; I hate cold.

It would take me hours to warm myself back. I envy her. She must be telling the truth about her hot blood.

"Sarah, let's spend this year's month vacation together. I will return home for The Sanguis Lunae Pars, which happens every five years. It will be my birthday too. What do you think? I really want you to be with me."

The small walk to our small apartment didn't take long. But my mind was consumed by the unexpected invitation. Since I knew Lina, she didn't talk much about her family. It was a sensitive topic for her.

Even though she is American, she once mentioned that her family doesn't live here, and she is from some other place.

That is all what I got nothing more, so I didn't push it. She has the right to her own secrets.

I was still deep in my thoughts when someone's voice startled me. "Sarah, why are you walking like this? Your pose is wrong and your back is hunched. And why your cheeks are so full aren't you on a diet? I sent you an email about this."

I looked up and found my mother standing in front of our door.

She wore elegant silk rose dress under her fur coat. Her blonde hair was brushed into soft waves and her makeup was flawless. She looked gorgeous.

No one would believe that she is forty-eight years. We looked like twins except for our eyes. I have one pale blue eye and the other was hazel, like my father's.

Mom has sparkly Russian blue eyes that entranced people. They gave her a captivating allure back in the days when she was dancing.

Lina plastered her fake smile on her face before opening the apartment door and greeted her. "Hello, Miss Yaroslav. How are you doing today?" My mother's face brightened, and she kissed my friend's cheek.

"I'm fine, thank you, sweet Lina. And please just call me Ariana." Lina nodded, then excused herself and went to her room. I stood alone with the woman in the small livening /kitchen area.

She looked around her in distaste. "I don't know why are you still living here? It is awful." I sighed and turned up the heat. It was cold in here.

"What do you want, mother? What are you doing here?" She hissed at me in the middle of taking her coat off.

"I told you several times to call me Ariana." I hid a smile because I knew that and I did it on purpose just to anger her. She hated it when I remind her of her age.

She always said I was the reason she didn't dance anymore. And she gave up her dream and married my father. I know that was a lie. She did it only to secure my father's wealth.

"I came here to tell you, this weekend I will introduce you to someone. So be ready." I looked at her, stupefied.

"Are you for real now? What gave you the idea that I would do this? NO." She glared at me.

"Look, honey. You won't stay young forever and let's be honest here. You aren't that... eye-catching." I sat there silent as a stone. Did she understand what she just had told me?

Lina's voice came from her room. "Yes CAS, I will be there and, as I said, I will bring a friend. Ugh, we talked about this, just send me the private jet; I'm not in the mood for a commercial. Love you, bye."

She walked out of the room and stood next to me on our small sofa.

"Arina, I'm sorry. Sarah will be coming with me this weekend. We are having a huge party and I already invited her. Maybe she can have her date later." My mother's face brightened.

"Oh sure. She can go." She stood and looked at herself in the big mirror behind the apartment door and left. She must have one of her social gatherings.

"I'm sorry, I didn't ask for your permission, but we both know how she can be." I shook my head. She was right.

Mom worshiped money, and she always thought that Lina was loaded, so being her friend will extend her social acquaintances circle.

And I might find myself a wealthy husband. So it was a win-win situation for her.

"It is alright, you actually saved me. I think it is going to be a great adventure and all of this mystery around you will clear out." She chuckled at my teasing tone.

"Girl, you have no idea. Buckle up; you are going to need it." She winked at me and went inside for another phone call. Her tone was light, yes, but her face was mischievous. I hope I won't regret this.