Chapter 1

• Prologue
• “Doctor, what can I do? I can’t just sit and watch my daughter wither away from my eyes”, My mum says, tears falling from her eyes. This is the fifth doctor we have visited since Grandma died. She used to know what to do when I had a problem. She could just go to the forest and bring some herbs for me to take and I could return to the bubbly me. Since she died, I have had migraines that don’t stop. The first doctor advised my mum that it was just the mourning that had taken a toll on me and I had to move back to my place in the city, away from everything, keep myself busy and everything could be okay, but it never did.
• My migraines came back and for two months now I have been off work and moved back home. My mum has been looking for help since then. Sometimes I feel sorry for giving her all this stress. I never want to see her cry, and that’s why I make sure to work hard and help her with raising my siblings.
• My dad disappeared when we were young. I don’t remember his face or anything to do with him. So far, I think my mum has been doing a pretty good job of raising us. No complaints about that.
• “Don’t worry, for the time being, I will change her meds and we can see how it goes” the doctor replied.
• He prescribed some medication for me. My mum and I get on our way hoping that this time around this works.
• While in the car, I get an email notification and I see it is a reply from the Alpha tech company in Ireland.
• “MAAAM!” I shouted, jumping to my mother’s hands, making even the driver step on the emergency brakes. I think I gave them both a heart attack because silence enveloped them for a while as they stared at me, but I gave them my best smile like a kid who got her favourite toys for Christmas.
• Nightmares
• Rina:
• Fire! Fire! Everything is burning down into ashes; people are screaming, children are crying, and others are passing out. I can't get out, no matter how hard I try. I try again this time, and thud! I am down. I just wish I could go back. What can I say? The past always comes knocking on my door, even when I am asleep. With a deep breath, I stood up and checked my alarm; five minutes remained for it to ring. Wow! Bravo! To me and my demons that wake me up early, I never have to be late. It's another glamorous day in my life. I jump in the shower, and after, I dress very quickly. I make myself breakfast as fast as possible with ready-made fruits from the fridge, which always makes my mornings wonderful. After breakfast, I clean the dishes, take my car keys and bag, and lock my door on my way out to start my day. I jumped in the car and sped off to work. I have a 20-minute drive, so I put on my favourite songs from All the Single Ladies by Beyonce and sing along while driving.
• I received a call from my aunt.
• Oooh! What now? I say to myself while I decide to receive the call.
• "Hello, Auntie Dearest!"
• "Hello Sweetheart, How are you? he
• "I am fine; how about you?"
• "I am good too. Little Bird told me you're not around anymore, how have you been? We have not talked for a while. Just came to know you left the country a year ago. How’s everything over there? How is work? Have you met any male friends?"
• And dang! There it is.
• Ladies and gentlemen, may I represent my aunt before you? Her full-time job is to make my life a living hell by finding dates for me to make sure I have a man in my life.
• I can still hear my aunt talking on the call, but inside me, all I want is to just hit her to make her shut the hell up. But I didn’t say anything because the moment I opened my mouth, I thought I would talk rudely to her. There are instances when my best accomplishment is simply keeping my mouth shut.
• I cut my aunt short to inform her I had just arrived at work but that I would call her soon, which I was sure I would never do. I don’t need the pressure of finding a boyfriend, then marriage, then kids! Nah! Nah! I am single but unavailable and uninterested.
• I know my family is concerned about me because I am stressing too much to fulfil all the responsibilities of the family. I am blessed with two younger brothers, and as their big sister, I take care of them and my mom. That's why I am always working hard because I have people who depend on me. I don’t have time for entertaining a man; it’s a disturbance I don’t want in my life. Yes, you guessed it right; I am married to my job.
• Since I moved here, it has been one year. When I got the job offer at Alpha Tech, I just packed up and left without anyone knowing except my mom and siblings. My extended family always thought I was around; we never talked much except once in a while.
• I slowed down and parked the car before collecting my badge, handbag, and phone and walking into the building. You could think I am rushing to work, but I am going to catch up with my best friend Raven before work. We do that each day; we call it ‘morning glory' crazy, right? Yeah, we got that name after s*x in the morning. Sometimes, spending time with my best friend ranting at each other and laughing like two crazy women is all the therapy I need.
• "I see my bitch is alive," I said to my bestie the moment I saw her talking to a guy while waiting for the elevator.
• "Sorry to burst your bubble, but I am not dying without you," she replied, throwing herself at me and almost making both of us fall. Good thing I didn’t wear high heels; I could be down by now with a hurting ass.
• "So, who’s the new catch?" I whispered into her ear so no one else could hear us.
• "I will update you later," she whispers back as we separate from our hug and get into the elevator, which has now arrived with everyone else.
• Raven and I have been besties from the first day I arrived in Ireland. I had to go to work early in the morning to get to know the area and settle down before everyone else came in. I bumped into her fighting some guy who had bullied a girl. The funny thing is the guy was too big for her, so when he tried to punch her, I hit him where the sun doesn't shine. One thing led to another and here we are, best friends. You may think we have known each other for a long time. Do you ever find that one person and you just connect? Yap! That's us.
• We reach our floor and start our usual chat as we walk to our seats.
• "He is hot." I wiggle my eyebrows playfully at her, and she hits my shoulder.
• "Easy there, virgin Mary, he is mine," she says with more of a growl, but maybe I heard my own thing.
• I raised my hand in surrender, laughing at her reaction.
• "So, how did you two meet?"
• "Through a mutual friend."
• "Hmm! I think I know all your friends, even though I have not met them, so which one?"
• "Stop questioning me."
• "What can I say? My FBI mode is activated and I want the details," I said, rolling my eyes at her.
• Okay, spit it."
• "Okay detective, through my brother, he is one of his friends, they came to the event I told you about at our place and ............here we are," she says in a way that suggests she was trying to find the right words. I let it be.
• "As long as he doesn’t hurt you, then his a**s is safe, but tell me if he ever does."
• "I promise I will," she says, lunging at me.
• "That's my girl," I said, hugging her back.
• I always protect the ones I love so if anyone ever wants to be on my bad side, just hurt them, and then you will get to know my worst side.
• The rest of the day, we keep ourselves busy. I found out the new guy’s name is Ian. He was a good guy from his first impression during our lunchtime. I hope he is the best for Raven.
• Damon Pov:
• I had just woken up from my usual dream again. It has been the same dream for a month now. In the dream, I am standing near the trees as I watch the aftermath of the war that has happened. Blood is everywhere; humans are dead, others are injured, and the survivors are busy helping the wounded. Houses have been burned to ashes; they have no food or water. I am still watching until I catch the most intoxicating scent. It smells heavenly, like vanilla and strawberries.
• My heart began to pound as the overwhelming need to find the source of the scent took over me.
• I follow the path to where it is strong, and there, in the middle, I see a woman attending to an injured kid. I froze in place. She's the most beautiful woman I think I've ever met. In all my dreams, I have never got to see her face, but I know she's my mate. I tried to speak with the oracle and see what she thought about the dream, but she could not understand because this had never happened.
• Sometimes I wonder if this dream is true or if it is my wolf, Max, playing tricks on me. That's a thought for another time. I roll out of bed and walk to the bathroom for a quick shower, get myself ready, and walk down the stairs for breakfast before heading to the city for business. Today I am working at the company, and my Gamma will handle the packing business today as I go with my Beta.
• Aside from being a billionaire in the human world, I am the alpha king of the werewolves. Yes, werewolves do exist, but we hide our true nature from humans.
• Centuries ago, humans knew about mythical creatures, and we lived happily until we started having mythical creatures go rogue and kill humans, and some, like vampires, turned humans into vampires and also blood-sucking humans, leaving them dead, bringing up the rise of hunters, who started to hunt all of us down and kill on sight. Our kind became instinctive after the war a hundred years ago, but our ancestors made it a rule never to share our existence with humans again.
• " Someone woke up from the wrong side of the bed again, "my beta, Derek, commented.
• "Good morning to you too; now can we go?" I said to him as I got into the car.
• "There is a message from the elders. I got it this morning. It is about your wedding," he says with amusement as he gets in the driver's seat and starts the engine.
• "Do enlighten me, Derek; I fail to see how this is funny," I said with a bored voice.
• "It is funny because of how ironic it is. Some years ago, everyone supported you in finding your true mate, and to them, it was not an urgent matter; they encouraged you to be patient. But now they are forcing a chosen mate on you with the excuse that you need an heir and a queen to support you and keep your temper in check. Wouldn’t you say this is funny?"
• If Derek had not been my best friend, I think I could have killed him a long time ago. Sometimes he is so annoying when we are just together.
• "Hey, are you ignoring me?"
• "I'm glad you noticed."
• "D**k head, anyway are you not going to say anything? This is the fifth letter you have received in two months."
• "Just let them keep writing until they decide to show up. I will not marry anyone except my true mate."
• Sigh, being an alpha king is not an easy job; I work tirelessly to ensure not only my pack is okay and safe, but also all the other packs in Europe. All the stress and hard work I go through daily sometimes wears me out, and sadly, I have no one to go back home to. My other half. It is boring that, at the age of 30, I still don’t have my mate yet. All my friends found their mates at 18 years old, which is the age when every werewolf can sense their mate, but I never did. I have travelled to every pack I know and even held mating balls just to find her, but I have ended up with nothing.
• My wolf and I have been frustrated lately due to the pressure from the elders about having to choose a mate, but we still keep hope that she will come soon, even though we are running out of time and excuses to give.
• I know my pack needs a Luna, and the kingdom needs its queen. Though there have been attempts by she-wolves who have been trying to get the position themselves, the ringleader being Jennifer, I feel it’s not right. Even if I don’t find her, I will never pick Jennifer the peacock. We have lived together, and we know how spoiled and rotten she is. I don’t need someone who will be there just for the luxury of my title and power. She has hated everyone below her, especially our omegas, since childhood and even threatens them. Unfortunately, everyone, including my parents, seems to be blind to such obvious things.
• Soon, we get to work and go through my private elevator to my office. I had been thinking about my mate and I even forgot Derek was busy ranting next to me until I heard him.
• "You didn’t hear what I just said; they have already planned the marriage."
• "BOOM!"
• "What did you say?"
• "I said your marriage date is already set."
• "damn, it! Why do they think I will marry that bitch?"
• "Hahaha, relax, dude, you will finally have a wife to bang! On such joyous news, why are you scowling?" a smile spread on Derek's face as he tried his best to annoy me. He conspiratorially leaned over to whisper in my ear,
• "Could it be...are you nervous, your Majesty?" That idiot was pushing my buttons.
• "Nervous? Do I look nervous to you?"
• "No, you look pissed and out of your mind."
• "If you are sure I am out of my mind, then why are you stretching out your neck?"
• "I have no choice. It's what friends do, so tell me what your problem is; talk to Papa,"he says hitting his chest
• "I don’t know dude, you know I have always wanted to be with my mate. But lately, for some unknown reason, I feel my wolf is on alert, which is weird because we aren’t in danger."
• Derek sighed helplessly as he ran a hand through his hair. He knew his best friend well, even about his dreams, and he wished he knew how to help him.
• "Well, don’t stress about it, man. One step at a time, we have to talk to our Sarafina; maybe she can help," Derek commented.
• I had forgotten about Sarafina. Years ago, she came to our pack to seek refuge, saying that a seer had told her she was supposed to live among us because we would need her. I never really cared much as long as she didn’t cause any harm to my kind, so I welcomed her to stay. Since then, she has lived in our kingdom and always helps in matters involving the witches.
• I took my phone and gave her a call, and within seconds she appeared in my office in purple smoke, scaring my beta.
• "Did you pee your pants yet?" "she asks, laughing.
• "I told you to say when you’re coming; one of these fine days you are going to give me a heart attack," he says as he moves aside to give her a seat on the left.
• I cleared my throat to get their attention because these two never seemed to end their talks.
• "Good morning, my king," Sarafina said, bowing her head dramatically.
• "Saf, how many times have I told you that you can call me by my name when we are alone? You are our friend; no formalities are required now."
• "Ooohh, come on, it always gets on your nerves when I do that, and I like it. What's up, why did you call?"
• Direct to business. So, I explain to her all my late experiences, and she just listens.
• "I think I have heard of it, but it just happened once. What you’re feeling and your dreams are connected to your mate; all she went through, you are watching that in your dreams, and the feeling is a mate bond, which most feels when mated and marked, but yours has already formed even if you have not met, which also means you’re in the same vicinity, but I will do more research on it and get to you."
• "Wow, dude, I think Moon Goddess has your back on you not getting married to the pack whore." Derek says, I am still stuck on my partner being around and how I could feel the connection.
• "Thank you, Saf." She nods her head, giving me one of her cheeky smiles. If you see her, you will think she is in her 20s, but that is her masked image; her real age is 239 years. You see, the mythical creatures age so slowly and can live longer than humans—almost four times longer.
• "I think we must prepare for our queen, and the first thing you need is to learn how to smile. Don't scare her away with that scowl on your face; you always look like the world owes you money." She says going the same way she came before I could talk back.
• "Hahahaha, that Witch is the best!" Derek burst out laughing, like whatever the Witch said was funny.
• I give him a look that makes him shut up.
• We sit and chat for a while before getting busy with work.