Rylee's Pov

"Rylee, where do you think you are going?" I heard a certain boy call out to me as I was trying to sneak out of the gigantic gates in front of us. He crossed his arms on his chest as he raised an eyebrow, "sneaking out again?"

I sighed, rolling my eyes at him before walking back to him; I tucked a tendril of my deep brown hair behind my ear and fixed my gaze on him. "Why do you have to act like this every night?"

"Because I am trying to protect you," he sighed and ran his fingers through his brown hair. "Rylee, you do this every night and we both know it's prohibited. I mean, what is it with you with breaking the rules?"

He wasn't really asking that, is he? "It's who I am, rules are not for me Cameron, and you know that." I replied.

Cameron shook his head in disappointment, his deep brown eyes glancing around us to make sure that no one was watching or eavesdropping on them. I knew he was looking out for me and also knew that he won't tat me out. 

"What makes you think you will find him outside? It's not common for a wolf to find their mate outside their pack, you know that?"

"It's not common doesn't mean it's not possible. Catherine was mated into our park, remember?"

"And that was more than thirty years ago. Besides, where did you hear that the male follows the female home? Even if you mate with him, you will belong to his pack, not here anymore."

"Not when I tell him he can be an alpha, he would rush to follow me, don't worry," I grinned at my own joke.

.

Cameron pinched the bridge of his nose. "Rylee…"

"You know, you were my first choice," I interrupted, not wanting to hear his lectures but he rolled his eyes. "I'm serious," I continued. "When we went through two seasons without finding our mates, I was already thinking about telling you about it, but then you had to find Monica," I added feeling a burning sensation in my stomach. It was wrong for me to say that, but I didn't mind.

"Even if there was no Monica, we can never be like that, you are like a sister to me."

"But I'm not."

"Yes, but you are like one. Besides, we both know you don't feel that way for me."

I sighed, if only he knew, I wasn't so attracted to Cameron due to our relationship, "you are right, but in all the wolves here, you are a better choice to me than any of them." I said truthfully.

Cameron chuckled, "just hurry and be back and please, be careful."

"Don't worry, no NightWalker can handle this much of me," I winked, running to the gates knowing that I've got my pass to leave. "Hey," I called out turning back to him, "don't let my dad notice my absence would you?"

"I am running out of excuses Ali," he said with a roll of his eyes.

"Come on, as the future Beta, how can that be such a big deal?" I teased and snuck out of the gate. 

Cameron sighed, "the one that is going to get into trouble for covering for you every night," he blew out a deep breath and glanced around. The dark areas weren't a big deal to his sight and when he was sure no one heard them, he turned and went back to his room.

***

Prince Kieran's Palace

'Kieran…Kieran' a low growl sounded. 'Kieran…Kieran' the voice came again and he opened his eyes. He was shrouded in darkness and he tried to move but he realised he had no strength. He took three heavy breaths and finally pushed away the heavy lid that was covering him. Everywhere became bright immediately as he noticed the strange lightings on the walls that gave the room a golden glow. He glanced at his bony rusty hands and noticed every part of him was like that.

He climbed out of the box he was lying in, his bony legs wobbled a little but after a few seconds, he stood straight. There was a big looking glass and he couldn't remember having that there before. He walked towards it and when he saw the reflection in the mirror, he was almost scared himself, —almost—. 

The creature staring back at him was a bony rusted skeleton with glowing red eyes. He took a deep breath and caught the scent, there was someone with him, someone like him but healthier.

He glanced around him, it was his room, obviously, but there were new things he couldn't remember putting or have seen before and it made him wonder how long he had slept. He could remember he looked so much better when he went to sleep and if he was this rusty then it means a hundred or so years had gone by. 

He glanced at his bony fingers that looked like they would break off with any little forced movement and sighed. He heard faint footsteps and knew someone was coming but he needed not worry because by how light the person was moving, he knew it was his kind.

The door was pushed open and a ginger colour haired man entered. He gasped on seeing the creature standing in the middle of the room and soon, a huge smile spread across his face. "My Prince, finally, you have awakened!"the ginger hair man exclaimed.

The creature tried to speak but words failed it, it lasted only for three seconds as he asked in a distorted voice, "who are you?"

The man bowed. "I am Jacob, my Prince, third generation of Knight Gustav. I have stumbled upon your castle five hundred years ago and have looked after it for you, awaiting for the day you shall awake again."

"Five hundred years?" the creature asked.

"Aye my Prince," he nodded.

"How long have I been asleep?"

"Eight hundred years, my Prince."

"Eight hundred," he scoffed, "and I thought only a hundred or so had passed."

"I can understand my Prince. Is there anything I can help you with?" Jacob asked.

"I am thirsty."

Jacob smiled, "then it's good I have thought ahead my prince. You have started growling in your sleep for seven days now and I knew you shall awake soon so I started gathering food for you. If you can come with me to the cellar my Prince," he bowed again.

The creature said nothing and just followed him out of the room. As they walked through the long hallway, he noticed how shiny and beautiful everywhere looked. He had expected to wake up in a dusty palace, filled with cobwebs with each step he took.

"You have done well, Jacob." The creature said feeling impressed at his branded palace.

It's nothing, my Prince you are the only Original alive and I wish to serve you like my grandfather did," Jacob replied respectfully.

"Mm," the creature answered as they walked down the stairs that would lead them to the cellar. They were still a few steps from the door but he had already perceived the tantalising scents. He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, when he opened them, they glowed redder and his fangs elongated. 

Before Jacob could say a word, he had already barged into the cellar, the doors broke out of its hinges. Jacob smiled and followed slowly and silently as horrifying screams soon filled the once quiet place.

He stood by the door and watched the creature drain the blood from each and every human that was locked in the cellar. In short ten minutes, the room looked like a massacre had happened, with blood coating the walls and floor that was filled with dead bodies. He glanced up at the creature that was now standing in the center of the room, unfazed by the sight he had just witnessed.

He watched as flesh started covering the bony body of the creature and soon, it wasn't a creature anymore but a man with fair and smooth skin. He stood in the centre in his naked glory, his face turned up with his eyes closed. "Are you satisfied, my Prince?"

"Very much Jacob," he answered in the most soothing velvet voice he had ever heard that he began questioning his sexuality. 

"You have done well," he looked at him then and his eyes turned deep blue. His midnight black hair looked so silky and soft on his head and Jacob wondered how the man didn't need a haircut after eight hundred years and then he remembered, he was already dead and so were his cells so nothing about him would change from what it was when he was still alive.

He studied the man's body, his broad chest and his defined abs, down to his slim waist, thick thighs and strong legs. When his eyes went back to his face, he took note of his midnight black eyebrows, long lashes, deep blue eyes and pointed nose. His sexy thin lips, his chiselled jaw and his midnight black beards, he needed no one to tell him that he was staring at a god.

"If you have looked your fill, then you can give me a cloak Jacob," the man said, snapping Jacob out of his daydream. He quickly rushed to the table where readied clothes were waiting. He had thought about everything beforehand. He handed the clothes to the man and he took them and put them on right in his presence.

When done, he frowned at what he was wearing, "what have you given me Jacob?"

Jacob smiled, "this is what we wear now, my prince." He had given him black pants with a blue shirt.

The man's frown deepened, "I will prefer a top with darker colour and a long cloak please."

"We don't wear cloak anymore, or the humans don't anymore and we must change with them in order to blend in. But do not worry, I have a long coat you would like, it's just like a cloak but more beautiful. We can go shopping and you can choose what you would love to be wearing."

The man nodded and they left the cellar. Getting to his bedroom they had left earlier, Jacob opened the wardrobe and fetched out a round-neck black T-shirt with a grey long coat and handed them to him. 

The prince took them and changed, when he glanced at the looking glass, he smiled, "now this is much better."

"Indeed," Jacob nodded, admiring the man and he wondered how women would be able to resist him if he was also attracted to the man's beauty. He snapped out of his reverie and did a low bow and then said "welcome back Prince Kieran."