Prologue
As in the rest of the world, in the Kingdom of Andorra, werewolves are considered a myth. You'd be surprised of how many folklore stories have been made of men shifting form and turning into wolves that hunts the mountains for their prey. However, shifters have lived discreetly in packs amongst the humans without them knowing it. But that was about to change, for Fate, had other plans for my species.
Shifters and human worlds collided, bonding the two species forever. On the day of my first shift, I met His Royal Highness, Prince Paul Alexander, Duke of Valira. I was just fifteen, too young for shifting for the first time. One moment I was in my human form, I was fuming because my father, Alpha Tyson, was through the woods to get as much distance as I needed from the packhouse, I found myself looking at my reflection in the lake of the Valira Valley.
Only it was not me.
Mirroring me was the reflection of another young boy who looked exactly like me.
“Hi!” I shouted and waved my hand, unsure if it was a mirage or a real person.
“Who are you?” the other boy asked incredulously.
“I live on the other side of the woods.” But I immediately regretted telling him because we are not supposed to reveal ourselves to humans.
“These are my lands, don’t you know who I am?” he asked in an arrogant tone of voice, almost annoyed I didn’t recognize him. I quickly sensed the boy didn’t look pleased to see me there.
I shook my head; I don’t know anyone outside my territory.
“I’m Duke Paul Alexander of Valira.” He presents himself with pride.
“My name is Atticus Greenway,” I countered with my best smile. Only if he knew who I was he would not act so cocky.
After the awkward moment, he let down his guard and gave me a smile too. “I think you and I are going to be good friends.” We shook hands and spent hours talking and getting to know each other.
I confided in him; told him I was in fact a werewolf. To my astonishment, Paul never showed fear or any sign of distress around me. We were like twin brothers, only that nobody from my pack knew about him- not even my mother. In the next couple of years, we learned from each other, and often, and I toyed with the idea of role-playing. Paul always thought it would be amusing since we were look-alikes, so one day my friend made me promise, “Atticus, solemnly swear that if the time comes to help each other, we will swap places.”
At that moment I gave him my word thinking we would have the time of our lives.
What a fool I was. How gullible to think it could be something fun to do back then.
Time passed and I completely forgot about the oath until Paul called asking for help. I left my pack the next morning to impersonate the duke for a short time, but my friend would never return. Paul was lost in an accident, and I was forced to extend my stay at the Grand Palais for the sake of the promise I made.
For almost 9 years I have managed to keep up with the lie but is turning complicated to have a double life. I’m dividing my busy schedule between short visits to Greenway Pack, the CEO chair at Greenway industries and the duke's office at palace in the capital city.
I’m not proud of deceiving the human race. I know I’ve done bad, but I hope the Moon Goddess, Selene, redeems me with my fated mate someday. An Alpha needs his Luna to govern over his pack or he can go feral. I’m wishing to find her soon so I can leave the palace forever.
Meanwhile, I have found pleasure in the company of an office Omega working for pack industries in the city. She is competent and wild, just what I need for my wolf; he is turning feral with each day that goes by without finding her, our Luna.
Time is ticking like a bomb ready to explode. Only the Moon Goddess knows how much longer I will continue with this charade before I break. And a broken Alpha is the worst enemy the humankind could have.
