Prologue: The Beginning

Grimwald (an alternate world)

Hollow Creek Forest

900 year ago

The war between Silvercrest Coven and Nightshade Pack

The smell of burning flesh and blood filled the air. Kairo, the most powerful warrior, and werewolf, kneeled before his beloved mate's lifeless body.

He couldn't care about his surroundings as the war continued to his sorrows. His mate, Dorothy, a vampire, his supposed enemy, is the one person who doesn't see him as a war-crazy man but as someone who wants to be loved.

Kairo was born out of wedlock; his mother, Genevieve Ashe, had an affair with a man of unknown origin. Although her family disapproves of having a bastard child in the family, Genevieve loves her son very much. Before Kairo became a warrior, he was weak and often picked on by his family member and neglected his existence. When Kairo was fifteen, her mother passed away from a mysterious illness which was odd for pureblood werewolves to die of natural causes. Now that Kairo is alone and no longer has someone by his side, his grandfather decides to send him off to war and fight against the vampires.

Vampires and werewolves have been enemies before humans even knew they existed. The reason for the war is to show who is more prominent in ruling Grimwald. Kairo stayed in the war until he was about thirty. He became the warrior none of his family ever expected. They assume he will die in the war. His reputation as the Black Wolf had reached the ears on both sides. Kairo had proven himself worthy, but he didn't care about the Ashe family since he was never considered one.

Kairo had killed plenty of vampires that even his fellow werewolves feared him. He grew from a small weak boy into a muscular warrior. Because of his reputation, the vampires had sent their hero, the Silver Knight. Every vampire and outsider know about the Silver Knight representing the Winter family. No one knows what the Silver Knight looks like, only that the knight is an exceptional fighter.

Both sides had lost their comrades, and it was the time for the two most vigorous opponents to come face to face. They are neck to neck with equal strength, and the battlefield has turned into the pit of death. Kairo had met his match and made a small crack with a strike of his heavy hammer onto the knight's armor. Kairo inhaled the sweetest scent he had ever smelled. Once the Silver Knight removed the headgear, it was a shocking discovery for Kairo.

It had turned out Silvercrest's distinguished warrior was none other than a woman, Dorothea Crane. Said to be the most beautiful woman in Silvercrest. She comes from an influential family where legends are born. Her family is a lineage of well-known knights, and Dorothy has taken the torch to lead her family to fame.

Dorothy's family has high hopes for her to not only serve the Winter family, a family who is the ruler of Silvercrest, but to marry one of the sons. Although it was her family's wish to be proper and become part of the Winter family will, have the Crane rise to power. Dorothy never wanted that life, and she wanted to travel and explore the world of its mystery and wonders. Fighting in the war would make her last attempt to escape the luxurious life she was born from. It never occurred to her when she made eye contact with the notorious barbarian, Kairo she would find her significant other.

Once enemies became a forbidden romance between a werewolf and vampire. Kairo and Dorothy would sneakily see each other away from the barracks and their comrades, knowing the risk of being seen together will cause a disaster.

No one knows of their secret relationship as they continue to fight one another and, at the same time, find a way to be together.

Kairo and Dorothy know the risk that a werewolf and vampire can't be together because of their differences, but their love grows every day.

Kairo remembers how her shiny dark brown hair flowed and easily slipped through his fingers; soft and delicate. The way her pale blue eyes sparkle like Silver Lake, they would secretly meet. Her beautiful smile and laughter always made his day after fighting each other. If the war were over, he and Dorothy would fake their death and live far away from where no one could find them.

But that plan never happened.

Kairo held Dorothy in his arms and balled his eyes out with tears in silence. Her memories came to mind of the time they spent together and loved each other as one.

"Dorothy, I'm sorry," Kairo whispers in her ear. He brushes her back and kisses the top of her cold forehead. I'm sorry, I couldn't protect you."

Deep down, Kairo blamed himself. If only he hadn't left, he and Dorothy would have gone to their dream home, where they could stay together - forever. He wanted to say goodbye to his mother one last time.

"Kairo William Ashe."

Kairo senses the presence of Kragen Monde, Dorothy's sinister cousin, who always envy her. Kragen and a few other vampires surround the grieving warrior.

"For killing our warrior, our champion, you are surrounded," Kragen informs. "Don't think you can escape for killing my cousin."

Kairo knew he was innocent. Why would he kill the love of his life? His fated mate. Someone must have set him up.

But who?

The only suspect he can think of is none other than the cousin who has always been jealous of Dorothy.

"Lord Monde," Kairo called out without looking at the vicious vampire. Kairo lay Dorothy on the dirt ground and caressed her cold cheek as a smile escaped his lip before facing the blood-sucking bastard. "Framing me won't do any good. Dorothy is my mate."

"It's repulsive!" Kragen pulls out his sword and angrily acts as if he cares for his cousin. "My cousin is a prestige pureblood, a noble. She would never be with a barbaric bastard like you for a mate."

Kairo had always tolerated the term bastard because he never met his father, but his mother had always told him he was a great man and powerful. He had hoped he would meet him someday, but that would never happen since his mother didn't know where to find him.

"Step away from my cousin or else," Kragen warned and poked his sword's tip at the nap of Kairo's neck. Blood leaked as it made the vampire snicker.

"Big mistake."

Something profound in Kairo starts to fire up. It wasn't anger or self-inflicted but rage. Everything he sees is red, and that rage has transformed him into something dangerous. A monster that had never existed until now.

Kairo had turned into a monstrous beast, standing on two legs, almost the size of a cottage house, with white fur all over his body, elongated fingers with sharp nails, and a face of a wolf with bloody red eyes.

Kairo tilts his head up as the moon above has become red. Kragen and the other vampires' witness this unexpected scene as the mighty warrior, Kairo Ashe, becomes something vast and feral.

Kairo howled loudly as his voice echoed through the field, causing the vampires to tremble in fear.

"Lord Monde," one vampire soldier asked. "What should we do?"

Kragen is shocked and frozen in place, feeling this demonic beast's strong aura before him. He only wanted to take down the Black Wolf but now, seeing how the werewolf transformed himself into something he had never seen before. Kragen knows he is no match.

Once Kairo had finished howling, he faced Kragen, who took a step back but kept his sword pointed.

The vampire lord approached Kairo and swung his sword without hesitation, but his steel sword broke in half once it made contact with the beast's skin. Kragen was stunned and fell utterly terrified.

"What's in God's name is this monstrosity?" Kragen asks himself as two of his men help him up.

Kairo, who had lost everything, the two people he loved have gone from his life, has become a mindless beast looking for blood. He flashes his large canine teeth at Kragen and his men.

Kairo has never felt the power growing inside him. In his mind does not want anything, only the taste of blood in his mouth from anyone who gets in his way. Another howl escapes as he starts to attack Kragen and his men. They tried to fight the beast, but he was too powerful, and nothing could stop him.

Kragen had escaped death as he watched the demonic beast slaughter his men. He hid behind a tree, panting and frightened.

"You've woken the beast."

Kragen jumped at the sound of an old man, hidden under a raggy cloak, hunching forward and had a cane.

"Who are you? " He snarls.

Kragen wasn't sure how he didn't notice the presence of this strange old man, but whoever he was, this wasn't the time. The sounds of terror from his men as they tried to escape the vicious beast.

The old man waves his finger and clicks his tongue. "When a child is born of fire and snow of two enemies, the world will be covered in a sea of blood. Their howl blows the fiery ashes of the enemies, and their touch can melt the ice of winter. The Great White Alpha will bring to the end under the blood moon. Only a silver heart can subdue the beast." He states and kept repeating the same words over and over walking away then disappeared deep in the woods.

The look on Kragen's face wasn't sure what the mysterious old man was talking about, but he needed to leave for one thing. His men are mauled, ripped to shred like paper. The sound of Kairo howling once again at the red moon, Kragen left the scene, never be seen again.