The night had only started. It was the beginning of the day for creatures of the night. Gregorio hated to be outside of his pack grounds. His people were aware of his quirks. They had come to respect him over the centuries. Legends about him spread through generations. Most of them were true. His early years were never mentioned. However that part of him was always present even if hidden. He wasn't a wolf. He was a blood thirsty monster.
Silvershine pack was not very important. But as a King he had to be present in the coronation of an alpha. That did not mean he had to witness a young girl being auctioned off to the highest bidder. Though it was not as bad as it seemed and girls much younger than her had been mated in different packs Gregorio found it unfair, probably because he was seven hundred years old and yet to find his mate.
Gregorio preferred to satiate his thirst rather than socialize. His beta Zechariah was there to take care of it all. His entire bloodline had served him well ever since his ancestor had talked him into taking the reigns of the pack. Other werewolf packs found it an insult to have an abomination like him as an alpha and wars ensued. His understanding of paranormal psychology as well as his battle tactics had easily proven him to be superior to them all and soon all packs were under his command.
Gregorio was a very private person. He never wanted werewolf domination and he reinstated each alpha provided they accepted his rule in the Bloodmoon pack. They did as much but also crowned him King so as to ensure that no one dare rebel against him again. The shamans of all the packs came together to cast a spell ensuring that he would have command over all their animal spirits even if not their human minds.
Over the centuries as the population multiplied Gregorio had to put a mind block in place. He enjoyed taking breaks from his kingship as he was doing right now. He was satiating his thirst of the blood of some poor animal. Just as the thought passed his mind he smelled the fear of a wolf sensing a predator nearby, the predator that was him.
Gregorio walked towards the cabin that the Silvershine Pack had offered him to stay. It was no place for a king. But the Silvershine Pack had shown reluctance in obeying his authority for a while in the past as well. He wanted to take actions but was informed that the then alpha had recently lost a mate. It was not a loss he could identify with but knew the pain of being a lone wolf. He had overlooked it time and again but instinct told him that he had to keep a closer tab on this part of the forest.
Gregorio stood behind the cabin roasting the remains of the deer he had already sucked dry. The fire burnt off his venom before he could dispose of it. Suddenly an extremely pleasant smell assaulted his nostrils. He knew what the smell was-it was blood, young blood. Gregorio noticed a figure lying at the edge of the water. He walked over there to find a young girl on the verge of unconsciousness.
"Beast, take me to the beast," she whispered but it was loud enough for his extra sensitive ears. Gregorio blinked. The girl was dying. Why did she want an audience with him.
"What do you want with the beast?" he asked.
The girl shook her head as if trying to say that she couldn't waste her breath trying to explain herself. Gregorio noticed that she was soaked to the bones and pale from blood loss. A chunk of her flesh hung loose from her shoulder and there was a gaping hole in her stomach.
"I am the beast," he answered reluctantly. He hated the name but it suited him, especially because there was no name for his kind. The girl gestured for him to come closer so that she could whisper. Gregorio wanted to tell her that his ear was sensitive enough to hear the slowing of her heart and the shallowing of her breath but he obliged the brave girl.
"Is it true that a blood drinker can gain memories of the prey from their blood?" she asked in shallow breaths.
Gregorio frowned at the question. How did she know about that? He nodded nonetheless.
"Drink mine" were the next words that left her lips.
"My bite is fatal to werewolves," he confessed.
"I am dying anyways. You need to know the past two hours. Please." she whispered before giving in to unconsciousness.
She was dying. There was no ounce of doubt regarding that. After a brief moment of hesitation Gregorio decided to honor the girls last wish. Without bothering to change form he called forth his fangs that broke her skin on the side where her shoulders were intact. Consequently that was the side where her carotid lay.
As Gregorio sank his fangs into her flesh he felt the power surge inside him. His beast came forth unbidden but he seemed to grow far more than he used to. His hands were no longer covered with patches of grey fur but a deep purple coat of fur covered him. Gregorio closed his eyes as he relished the most delicious blood he had ever tasted. When her memories started to assault him he was filled with rage. But that was not the only thing that had him angry. He realized that the broken girl who lay in his arm was not just any girl, but his mate for whom he had waited for seven centuries.
When he opened his eyes they were glowing with the power that was unleased by his mates blood. Every Ancient was cursed to only receive a small fraction of his power till he found and tasted the blood of his destined mate. Gregorio allowed the magic inside him to spread out to the almost corpse that lay in his arms. He could not let her die. It wouldn't kill him since they had not shared a bond yet. However Gregorio couldn't bear knowing that she was never coming to him anymore. His only way of survival was her life and he was ready to save her even at the cost of his.