Prologue
1979 : Redwoods Pack North America
The clock inches slowly around. I hear the slow tick tick tick in synch with the lazy beat in my chest. I take a sip of my brandy, running my thumb absently around the rim of my glass. I rarely smile, but I allow myself that luxury of a moment's happiness. Tonight I have struck a monumental deal. One that will ensure the future of my Pack and will make my son one of the most powerful Alphas in the Country.
Sealing that deal was sweet, but not as sweet as watching my old rival Alpha Norris beg for this life. I had no intention of killing him. I want to watch him suffer when he realises all he owns is now mine, including his beloved daughter.
Certainty is a rare commodity in this life. Being an Alpha can be deadly, and complacency costs lives. Norris, however, is a certainty I can bet on. He is weak, morally corrupt and lazy. Even if I gave him twenty years, he would not be able to pay me back. And that is what I am counting on.
Norris, that's what I call him: he is not worthy of the title Alpha. Norris likes to gamble and drink. When he gambles, he gets sloppy and stupid. Instead of cutting his losses, he doubles down again and again. Tonight I was ready. He lost 5 million dollars to me in a few hands of Poker, so I made him a deal. Either I rip his head off right then and there, OR he signs a contract with me that forfeits everything to me in 10 years, with one little get-out clause. Either way, I win. The snivelling coward chose the deal as I knew he would.
