Prologue
Have you ever been stripped? Not physically but mentally. Stripped to the point, it felt you were naked, in front of a tormentor, a whip gripped tightly in his hand. You count the seconds when that whip strikes you, cutting deep into your skin, as it peels away flesh. In its wake, it leaves short gushes of blood and tissue dripping from it.
That was how it felt having my mother take away my child’s memory of me. I ran away from the palace, wanting to live an adventurous life outside of my predictable daily routine. I achieved it. I lived in Montana in a pack called Hell Hound. I had my scent masked and changed my features a bit. I dyed my hair golden blonde hair, brown and brown contact lens covering my green eyes.
I lived there for two years, happy, living free. I learned what love was, what betrayal felt like, what pain was. Then I knew what hatred was.
My mother and my second in command found me. I was in my home, having a family night with my son, Micheal, and Ian, Micheal's father. The Queen of Lycans, who is supposed to protect ‘all’ creatures, did the most heartless and unforgivable thing.
She took Micheal’s memories away. He will no longer remember who I am. The memories of bonding with me when he first came out of my wound. Gone. When his vision first came to him, he saw my face for the first time in his life. Gone. When he was two years of age, he swam in the lake, catching his first fish. Gone.
When he wouldn’t listen to me and not climb the blasted cherry tree to save an abandoned bird. He broke his arm coming down, and I scowled at him. Gone. When I read him to sleep every night. Gone.
Everything we did together as mother and son. Gone. Whipped away from his memory. Believe it or not, it is worse than death. Its as if I am watching a loved one die in front of you and having to continue the suffering by burying them and reliving it repeatedly.
I hated my mother, and I hated Alec, my second in command. They took everything from me.
I was forced back to the palace, where my mother made sure I was guarded by Alec. Even if I needed to tinkle or bath, he was there watching me. I was forced to marry Prince Avalon. My grievance meant nothing to my mother. Only that his kingdom and her kingdom was united. Bringing more power and money.
After the wedding ceremony, I left to go to my chambers, a chamber that I will be sharing with Prince Avalon. To my relief, Prine Avalon postponed the mating. We became the new King and Queen of the Lycans. We changed so many of the rules my parents and his parents had in place. One night at a diner party, I made the most shocking declare of royal history. I band my mother from ever setting foot inside the kingdom ever again, and order her to take Alec to go with her. Those two were made for each other. Come it rain or fire, she is never to come into my kingdom.
A year later, Prince Avalon and I mated, and I gave birth to my second son, Prince Zack. Three years later, I gave birth to Princess Brianna, and a year later, Princess April. I went on living with the sickening feeling in my stomach. It feels like I had abandoned, Micheal. Like I had forgotten him.
One late night I set out to find a witch. It was said that they spy on our enemies, and they are not too fond of werewolves. I finally found one, I nearly died due to her cutting off my oxygen. I convinced her that I’m not here to take her in. I just wanted to see my son.
“Why should I believe you?!”
“Because unlike my mother, I want peace between all races and the freedom of choice,” Anne, the witch, I found, scoffed. Her hold on me tightened. “Please, I just want to see my son,” I repeated my statement. She was warily for a second before releasing her hold on me. I dropped with a thud, inhaling oxygen like a dying fish.
I stayed seated on the floor, where she dropped me. I watched her walk around her cabin, collecting items and materials. I waited for her to speak, deciding it was best not to irritate her. It felt like hours before she finally set her attention on me.
“I need a drop of your blood,” I nodded, getting up from my spot and walking over to where she stood. We stood in front of a crockpot which had a mirror behind it. She handed me a knife, and without hesitating, I cut my hand, letting the blood drop inside the pot. My wound healed quickly. Smoked appeared, with a few sparks that licked the frame of the mirror.
“Call his full name,”
“Micheal Dimitri Armani Denis Ned-Van Loot,” my palms become sweaty, and I became very nervous.
“Seriously. The kid probably doesn’t remember half of his name. Reprimanding him must have taken a lot out of you,” Anne said with a scoff. I let a chuckle out, which turned into a sober laugh. Micheal’s face appears, and I let out a shaky breath.
“My handsome boy,” I sob, tears burning my eyes. I did not fight to hold them back as I cried, dropping to my knees. He had a scowl on his face and an intimidating look. I reached out and touched the mirror; my fingers created ripples in the mirror. It only made me cry harder. At that moment, Anne took pity on me and made a deal with me. Once a week, I would come to her place to see my son. She made a plan and everything. Knowing that I would be apart of his life somehow made me extremely happy. I wouldn’t be able to give him advice, protect him, or scowled him, but I’d get to see him grow up. It was something rather than nothing at all.
“I hope someday you can remember who I am,” I whispered hopefully. After two hours of watching Micheal, I decided that it be a good time to leave. I returned back to the palace. Avalon was waiting for me, and I hugged him tightly, telling him about Anne and I’s plan. It was now our secret.
