WHAT IF

Chapter 1

The Crime...

The meadow was covered in flowers, and their scent called to you, inviting you to breathe it in and gaze upon it with fascination. And those green irises watched over it with a smile as the younger brothers played peacefully.

Ivan was the eldest of the brothers, with an enviable athletic build, even though he did almost nothing all day. His body was going through changes, but he would not experience the final transformation until he reached that moment that would trigger it. It was an entire ritual, and he knew everything about it. His father, the Alpha, often told him stories about it.

But they lived by rules, and Ivan loved that. He loved knowing that the world still respected those ancient traditions. And their most sacred law was simple: never kill a member of your own pack. He knew that many had broken that law in moments of rage, and those wolves became Renegades, banished to live alone. From proud wolves, they slowly became nothing.

Because true power only existed when you had your own pack...

Ivan heard his name and looked toward his younger brother, but his expression changed the moment he realized something was wrong. He started running toward him, but before he could reach him, the boy collapsed to the ground.

—Toro! Toro!

He called his name, but there was no response. His body was covered in wounds, and Ivan examined them carefully. He quickly raised his gaze toward the others, who were staring at Toro in panic.

—It was a vampire, Ivan said coldly.

—I will kill every last one of them!

He began to scream, and his breathing grew heavier and heavier. Around him, dust rose into the air, forming a small whirlwind. His body slowly lifted, and his rage continued to grow. His skin began to change, becoming darker, and he seemed to grow taller with every breath until his entire human form disappeared.

In its place stood the shape of an ancient wolf.

He was over three meters tall even on all fours, and his fur was black and glossy. But the most terrifying thing about him was his eyes, which glowed with fury.

He raised his head toward the sky, and the howl that escaped him sent chills through everyone who watched in shock.

He began to run, kicking up clouds of dust behind him. He was furious at the vampires who had killed his little brother, and he wanted to find them.

As he ran toward nowhere, Ivan heard his name carried on the wind like a whisper, and he felt a pressure building in his chest. The voice grew louder and louder, and through his rage he saw a figure ahead of him.

His vision darkened.

All he could see now was the fragile body of his dead brother.

His instinct was to kill.

He leapt at the figure and tore it in half.

But the taste of blood stopped him.

He stepped back slightly and collapsed to the ground, transforming back into his human form.

Then he looked in horror at his mother.

In his rage, he had not realized that the body belonged to her.

He rushed toward her and began to scream.

It was a scream of pure terror that echoed throughout the valley where his father was standing among his people. The moment he heard it, he knew something terrible had happened.

He had dreamed of it the night before.

A red moon had appeared in his dream, but he had tried to ignore the cold feeling that had crawled down his spine.

Every member of the tribe old enough to transform immediately shifted into giant wolves and began running toward the sound.

But Ivan's father stopped and shifted back.

He looked at his son, covered in blood, and at the body of his wife.

Then he closed his eyes.

He knew what he had to do.

And although the death of his wife broke his heart, the pain he heard in his son's scream hurt even more.

He approached slowly and placed a hand on his son's shoulder before gently moving him aside.

The others in the pack looked at the one who had once been destined to become their king with hatred.

But his father knew he had lost that right.

He looked at his dead wife with tears in his eyes and ordered his followers to remove her body before the younger children could see it.

Ivan was on his knees, his hands covering his face, his entire body trembling violently.

He still could not believe that he had taken his own mother's life.

—It was a vampire... it was a vampire...

That was all he could say.

—It killed Toro, Father... and after that, I don't remember anything...

His father looked at him with pity.

But he had a duty as Alpha.

He ordered the two remaining guards to arrest him.

He would be judged for his crime.

That day, he had lost his wife and two sons.

One was dead.

The other would become a Renegade.

His heart turned to stone as he watched the son he had once been so proud of being judged by the others.

But he was the Alpha.

He had to obey the laws, no matter that Ivan was his own blood.

—You will leave this tribe, and you will never return. If you do, you will be beheaded, his father said coldly.

—This is the Law, and the Law is sacred.

"This is the Law, and the Law is sacred."

Those were the only words that echoed through the valley from hundreds of voices as Ivan left his home with tears in his eyes.

He would become a lone wolf.

He knew that meant weakness.

He knew that meant losing his power.

But he was too devastated to think about any of that now.

He cursed his own life for taking his mother's life.

And he knew he would never forgive himself for it.

He did not know where to go.

He did not know the world.

He only knew that tribe.

And he was afraid of the unknown world waiting beyond it...