CHAPTER ONE
ALPHA LEONARDO
Today is my twenty-first birthday. Three years had passed since I have become the Alpha King. I started with only 1 territory and it grew to forty-three. And still I thirst for more.
I looked at myself at the mirror. The mirror was just like all of my furniture that had been crafted by the best artisans of Italy, it was made by expensive glass and wrought iron with intricate swirling vines and flowers. The damn mirror costed me UK $12,000. I still didn't like what I see. But it didn't have anything to do with the mirror. It had everything to do with the face staring back at me.
Staring back at me was a rugged, well built man, who looked far beyond twenty-one years. Even though his face was sculpured like the god Adonis, beautiful, piercing eyes that turned from violet to blue. Golden hair that glistened in the sun, his eyes were full of evil that no one could look straight in his eyes. They all look down. His eyes had seen so many deaths, so many packs, men, women, and children slaughtered or burned to death. His eyes held no mercy. His strength was more than ten people combined. Whenever the best warriors would try to subdue him, he just killed them with just a single swing of his mighty sword. So many wolves have died. And still he was still thirsting for more.
Who could go against him? No one could. No one dared for a long, long time.
The name of his pack used to be Bloodmoon Pack. But when he became known to spread so much terror among the werewolves, everyone started calling his pack, Bloody Moon.
If Leonardo was the most ruthless warrior, his wolf, Xander, was worst. Even Leonardo had a difficult time controlling him. When Leonardo was filled with fury, Xander would come out and tear a human or wolf into pieces. Leonardo could not do anything about it. Most of the time.
Leonardo had spread terror in all the werewolf communities in the United Kingdom. Just the mențion of his name made them shudder with fear.
No one can stop him. Or so it seemed.
Leonardo stared at himself. There's only one person who can help stop his killings. They didn't know. Only Leonardo knew. And Xander. Maybe even his mother knew.
She used to say, "When she comes, she will turn your darkness into light."
His mate. He had search and searched for her. But he had not found her.
Searching for her was driving him crazy, turning him more violent, to unleash all the pent up frustration inside him.
He tried the comfort of other she-wolves. But they did not satisfy his hunger, so they all end up dead.
He tore his clothes off to take his shower. He wanted to break the mirror. But he liked it. And it did cost a lot. He also had a difficult time having it transported from Italy. So he controlled himself.
He took his shower. Then went down the stairs. The delicious aroma of bacon, newly baked bread, sausages and ham filled his nostrils.
When he came to the table. It was full of food, enough to feed twenty men. But there was no one else having breakfast. The Alpha King dined alone.
So he sat down. In less than ten minutes, he was able to gulp down all the food.
After eating, he went out to check on his warriors and all the other male and female werewolves he had handpicked to serve him. They were training since four-thirty in the morning. His elite pack always trained to win. They showed no mercy even to each other. So it was common that a number of them suffer from injuries, or in some cases, even death, during their daily training.
When Alpha Leinardo goes around during the training, he looked for weaklings. Weaklings are killed.
When they saw the Alpha king come out of the door, their fighting became more intense.
Leonardo slowly went around, looking at each of them intently, looking for a weak wolf to take out from his elite team.
I came to the pups that were training. The pups were grouped according to their size. I just observed them for a while. The pups were in their human form. But there was one pup who was in his wolf form, snarling and showing his sharp teeth.
I observed him for a while as the pup tried to bite the other pups.
I called over the trainor.
"Who is that pup?" Leonardo asked Andy, the trainor.
Andy looked surprised. "You don't recognize him?"
"Who is he?" I repeated.
"Your nephew."
"Oh." I frowned. " He's only six. How come he already has a wolf?"
"Alpha blood?" Andy suggested. He looked surprised. "They didn't tell you he has transformed?"
I shook my head. "First time I saw his wolf."
I was proud of him for being so fierce. My blood certainly flowed in his veins.
Just then, I smelled the wonderful smell of pineapple, Citrusy but sweet.
Xander, who was bored and sleepy, suddenly stood up excitedly. "Follow the smell! Follow the smell!"
So without saying goodbye to Andy, I quickly turned and ran to the woods. All my warriors stopped their training and watched me, wondering what was happening.
As I entered the woods alone, I quickly removed my clothes and placed them under a bush. Then I let Xander take over.
The smell was faint, but distinct. She must be quite far from my territory. I stopped at the edge of a cliff. I could see miles and miles of undisturbed land. I have conquered most territories adjacent to my territory, which I had inherited from my father.The only territories not under my care are those we have treaties with, treaties that went back hundreds of years.
Xander still followed the smell. As the sweet wonderful scent grew stronger, I found myself in the territory of the Moonlight pack. The Alpha of that pack is quite aloof to me. But he's my father's friend, so I keep my distance.
I have clothes hidden in every part of the forest. So I went back to my human form and put on some clothes, much to Xander's chagrin. But we agreed a long time ago that in case we do get to meet our mate, it would be better to be in human form.
I hesitated. I debated whether I should trespass on another pack's territory, or just request the Moonlight's Alpha for a friendly visit.
But Xander was going berserk. "Find her!" he growled. Still I hesitated. But after a few minutes, I gave in.
So I took my time getting used to the neighbor's territory, wondering where all the guards were. They probably thought that rogues would need to pass through my territory first before it reaches them so they thought it was unnecessary to put guards in this part of their land.
I heard voices. Voices of a man and a woman. I sniffed the air. The wonderful pineapple scent was clearly coming from the owner of the female voice.
When she came into sight, Xander and I were so astounded by her beauty. Even though she was so far away, her delicate, exquisite features were apparent.
"Mate!" Xander shouted excitedly, wagging his tail furiously. I think this was the first time I saw a happy smile in his face!
But then, Xander started barking softly. We both took note of the man she was with.
"Xander, control yourself, okay? We don't want to frighten her."I told Xander gently, even though I was also getting irked that she was talking to another guy.
Of course, I was far more masculine and attractive than he is, but understandably, Xander and I took an instant dislike of the man.
Then we were horrified to see that our mate was flirting with him!
My mate, flirting with another man!
As the voices become clearer, and her laughter sounded melodious and conquetish, definitely flirting with him, I finally saw them, all alone in the woods, their arms around each other, holding each other so close and in a tight embrace!
I stepped back. It took every ounce of my strength to control myself and prevent Xander from taking over and tearing off the man's head.
I hid behind a big, wild bush. They were smiling and flirting with each other. I saw the man look at my direction. But we were too far off for him to see us.
I recognized him. He was Jake, the son of the Alpha of Moonlight Pack. He was planning to be enthroned next week, and he and his mate will be joined in a mating ceremony three days before the event.
But the woman he is now with wasn't his mate. He was with my mate!
I couldn't take my eyes off her. She was so beautiful, like a Goddess! Her hair was also golden, but slightly lighter than mine. It was so long and luscious. I imagined running my hand through it.
Her eyes…, how I wish I could see the color of her eyes! But she looked so beautiful from afar. Her cream colored dress was hugging her perfect figure. Her round, full breasts were pushing against her tight dress. Her small waist made her look so fragile. She's quite tall, probably 5'8. She looked so young.
She seemed totally unaware of us. How come she could not smell us?
"She is not of age yet. She's probably only fifteen," Xander explained.
"But they are already going to have a mating ceremony." Normally, mating ceremonies were held when the younger of the pair was at least sixteen years of age.
Xander rolled his eyes. "Don't you get it?" Xander sounded exasperated. "That's why they are having the mating ceremony before she comes of age…so that Jake can claim her before she meets her real mate."
So many emotions passed through me. Anger, pain, betrayal, but why did seeing her evoke so much happiness inside me? These joyous feelings uplifted my soul. I had never felt so much happiness in my entire life.
I guess my happiness at seeing her far outweighed the sight of seeing her with another wolf. I did not go wild, which I would normally would, given the circumstances. Seeing my mate in the arms of another man just bothered me a lot.
But Xander's anger was building up every minute that we watch them looking so in love with each other. So before Xander makes a scene, I decided to walked away. I also couldn't watch anymore. I better leave before I became jealous and went wild and kill.
Xander was howling piteously inside me.
I guess, seeing her finally, after looking for her for three long years, I just felt so relieved to finally have found her. I have a mate. A beautiful one at that!
I felt so much relief and my positive feelings of attraction towards her were exploding inside of me. Is this love? How could I have fallen in love so quickly? Her beauty, her smile, touched my innermost soul.
I will have her. She is mine.
For someone who is full of hatred and violence, someone who just kill, kill, and kill, my positive feeling for her, who I have not even met, surprised me.
I think I can honestly say I am in love with her even though I just had a fleeting view of her. The mating bond is really working on me. I wish I was able to go closer. I want to have a clearer view of her face.
I cannot describe my feelings for her in another way. I feel so joyous, even though I do not have her yet. She is perfection.
How can the goddess give me, a werewolf so ruined by the vast atrocities I have committed, someone so perfect? I have never seen a she-wolf as perfect as her. Everything I have is nothing compared to her. I will adore her for the rest of my life.
I will have her. I finally found a reason to live.
I cannot be rash. I have to think things through.
It was so hard, but I turned away and walked back to my pack's land.