Prologue
“Step forward, Son of Eli, and receive your judgement.” A commanding masculine says as several howls are heard. A boy with raven black hair, grey eyes, and rich sun-tanned skin wearing only baggy pants to show off his muscular torso and arms walks up a forest path.
Around him are men and women who wear modest clothing that still show off their equally muscular bodies as well as children with wide eyes. The adults wear blank expressions as the boy makes his way up the path to three very muscular men and stands stoically before them.
The first man has dark blond hair and green eyes and wears a tight-fitting black shirt with ripped jeans. The second has brunet hair and blue eyes and wears a white muscle shirt with blue cargo shorts. The last has auburn hair and blue eyes and wears only a pair of grey shorts. All three have equally tanned skin to the boy.
“Do you know why you have been called here, Son of Eli?” The center man, who has brunet hair, asks. “You have called me before the pack in our sacred forest because I have been accused of consorting with one of our sworn enemies.” The son of Eli says.
“Not just accused. You have been seen and therefore found guilty of consorting with our enemy.” The auburn-haired man says in a threatening tone with a predatory growl in his voice.
The son of Eli simply ignores the man as he stares blankly at the brunet and lazily glances at the blond.
“What? No argument? No denial?” The auburn-haired man asks. The son of Eli continues to ignore the man as he stands silently.
“Son of Eli, do you deny the charges brought upon you before the pack?” The brunet asks. “I will not deny being seen with my girlfriend.” The son of Eli simply states.
“So, you admit to being seen consorting a filthy werecat.” The auburn-haired man proclaims. “With no respect intended, Johannes. If you call my girlfriend a filthy werecat again I will not hesitate to rip your tongue out and shove it down your throat so you never utter another moronic word.” The son of Eli says as his grey eyes begin to show gold flecks under the light of the waxing half-moon.
“So, you admit to not only being seen with a werecat but also being with one?” The brunet reiterates as he silences Johannes with a hand. “Yes, pack leader Malakai. I have been with her for quite some time now.” The son of Eli admits.
“Have you grown bold in that time that you would admit to it so willingly, Niall?” The blond asks. “No, Gil. I would not say I have grown bold or even that I have always been bold. I admit it because with the exception of you and our alpha I am the most werewolf among this pack. I admit it because I see no shame in saying that I want this war between Lycans to end and instead allow us to join forces to exterminate the vampires who are simply letting us kill each other so that by the time we finally realize our mistake we will already be defeated.” Niall says in a calm tone as the gold flecks leave his eyes.
“Have you forgotten our history with the werecats, Niall Son of Eli?” Malakai asks once again silencing Johannes with a hand. “Forget? No, quite the contrary, Malakai. I know our history with them quite well. Enough so that I can see that there is a hole on its logic.” Niall says with a smirk.
“And what hole might that be, Niall?” Gil asks. “Because of my girlfriend and I having access to the werecat’s historical archives we found that there is no sparking point for our war with them. We only have rumors to go on. There is no written proof old enough to suggest the rumors are even true.
“Did they kill one of ours in cold blood or did we kill one of theirs in that manner? There is no proof to either claim because our oldest records only start after our war with them began. We have no validation in our vast libraries across the world that claims the rumors are true and neither do the werecats.” Niall says.
“You are only eleven, you cat loving mongrel. You could not possibly have read all of our histories or the werecats!” Johannes snarls. “Then please, Johannes. Show me any verifiable proof that the rumors are true. Show me any records that date back to before the war of the Lycans began. Show me that and I will gladly take back what I have said.” Niall growls with a challenge in his voice.
Johannes sprouts claws and fangs with a sickening series of cracks and pops as his body grows and shifts from human to that of a large wolf tearing his grey shorts in the process before he lunges at Niall.
The boy merely side steps the wolf and drives its face into the dirt. He holds the wolf down as he sprouts claws of his own with a singular sickening pop sound and digs them into the back of Johannes’s neck causing him to whimper.
“We cannot give you such proof as these records have gone missing.” Malakai calmly says. “And how convenient is that, pack leader? Why is it that there’s that big of a hole in our history and no one has sought to look into that?” Niall asks as Johannes’s whimpers continue to rise in volume.
“Although you bring up several excellent points it does not change the fact that you committed a very great sin. You have broken our laws by consorting with a werecat and have committed an even greater one by entering their city without my authorization.” Malakai says.
“What is my punishment for these crimes?” Niall asks with a resigned tone. “You are to be exiled from the pack.” Malakai says surprising everyone.
“E-exile?” Niall asks dumbfounded. “Yes, son of Eli. You are exiled from this and every current pack in the world,” Malakai says resolutely. Niall releases his grip on Johannes as he looks on in surprise. “You have one hour to collect your belongings and leave our sacred forest. If you are found here after that hour is up you will be hunted and killed.”
“Where will I go?” Niall asks stupefied. “You will go to the human world and find your place among them. It is no longer our concern where you go or what you do. You are no longer a member of this or any pack.” Malakai dismissively says.
Niall numbly walks back the way he came and all the way back to a cabin where a man with equally raven black hair to him and blue eyes wearing a white t-shirt and black pants and a woman with blonde hair and grey eyes wearing a tight blue blouse and brown leggings are sitting at a table with grim expressions on their faces.
“When is the execution?” The man asks. “T-there isn’t going to be one. The alpha is exiling me to the human world.” Niall says.
Relief washes over both adult’s faces as they bolt with preternatural speed to Niall’s side and envelope him in a hug.
“That’s better than we hoped for, Niall. We’ll go with you.” The woman says. “I can’t do that to the both of you. I’ll go alone. There’s no reason why either of you should share my punishment.” Niall insists.
“Niall, we’re your parents. We’ll go with you.” The man says.
“I’m sorry but you can’t. He isn’t going to be allowed contact with any forest pack. His exile is to be a lone one.” Malakai says from the door way.
“What do you mean, Malakai?” The man inquires. “I mean that his crimes should have warranted an execution but his claims ring too close to truth. He is being exiled for his own safety, Eli.” Malakai explains.
“He’s just a boy, Malakai! He can’t survive in the human world on his own.” The woman says. “Niall is very resourceful, Mara. He will be able to fend for himself quite well in the human world. He also will not be on his own.” Malakai says.
“You just said his exile will be a lone one. Now you say he will not be alone. You speak in riddles, Malakai.” Eli says. “Actually, I stated that he can’t have contact with forest packs. I have a human family that he will be staying with so that he can find the answers we all seek.
“Our packs have spies among them. Spies that work for our enemies. I am exiling him so that he can search for the truth without impediment. He will be our informant in the mundane world who will tell us what we need to know that we cannot find on our own.” Malakai explains.
“You expect us to not go with our son into a world he knows nothing about?” Mara asks. “No. I expect you both to not go into a world he knows a great deal about.” Malakai corrects with a cold stare.
“What are you talking about, Malakai?” Mara asks. “Niall knows more about the human world than anyone in this pack. He knows enough to not only survive but very much thrive in that world.” Malakai reveals.
“What do you expect me to find, Malakai?” Niall asks with anger burning in his eyes. “I expect you to find the truth, young wolf. I expect you to do what you must in order to find it and pull the wool from in from of our eyes.
“I have noticed much of what you have spoken of, Niall. For too long we have been misled into thinking the other Lycans are our enemies. I agree with what you said before the pack.
“The problem lies in that I cannot seek out the answers without endangering the pack. You however now have the freedom to do what I cannot. I am entrusting you with the task of finding not just for me but for all Lycans. Both wolf and cat. Do whatever you must to find the answers. Even if it means killing someone. You are the only one who can find these answers.” Malakai explains.
“If he’s really going to do this then he’ll need some kind of help.” Mara says. “The human family I am sending him to will keep him safe while he searches. I can provide him with financial support and a cover story. The family take care of his needs and ensure that he has what is necessary.” Malakai says.
“Then we need to hurry and get him out of our territory.” Eli says. The four rush to get Niall’s belongings packed and quickly get him to a waiting Chevy Silverado outside the forest.
“Take this and keep any discoveries to yourself but log them in this. If you need anything do not be afraid to ask. The family I’m sending you to is one I trust a great deal.” Malakai say handing Niall a smartphone as his bags are being loaded into the truck.
“Protect my parents, Malakai.” Niall requests as Mara and Eli start heading back into the tree line. “You have my word, Niall.” Malakai says as he puts a roll of money into the boy’s hand and helps the boy into the truck where a dark-skinned man with straight black hair and dark brown eyes wearing a red shirt and denim shorts is behind the wheel.
“Wait, Malakai,” Niall says as the alpha goes to join the boy’s parents. As Malakai turns Niall asks, “What will happen to my girlfriend?” “She will be safe. Rest assured.” Malakai answers with a smirk.
Niall closes the door and has the man drive off.
