CHAPTER 1

Nathaniel`s POV

My hands shiver, blood, hot as the innocent I slayed, flows down my veins. My baby brother, the one I had finally come to love, gone. My mother, my only hope, I look at her pale eyes and I can hear say don`t give up. My hands shake in fury, my heart shatters, I can hear my werewolf instinct urging me, I breathe, I blink the tears away. I storm into the palace forfeiting the traditions of my pack, I barge into my father`s presence. He lifts his eyes slowly and I see those eyes I had, that makes me hate myself, the golden eyes that distinguishes the Lycan from the common werewolf. He smiles even slower than he lifts his head and I take quick deep breaths. The upper council stares at me in shock, maybe this is why I`m hated by everyone, I do not bend to their wills, I never care for their ridiculous traditions, customs and useless demands. I care for the others unlike these ones that makes the innocent half-breed deem us as vampires, I do not ignore my feelings and I can control my werewolf instincts.

"You killed them", I can feel my pulse rising, I gnash my teeth so hard, my jaw tightens, I feel my blood dripping and I know my fingernails are already piercing my jade skin.

"Yes, I killed them, another boy to the list, I`m tired of useless children who brings my council and I, nothing but mischief, I should have spared your mother, you know, she made a pretty mistress in bed."

"You would not address the woman that you gave her all, my mother, as you do to your fellow harlots. If you were competent, then why has none of them given you children", I smirk knowing fully well I had targeted his weak point.

He furrowed his eyebrows, the court went silent, you could hear a pin drop, I saw the guards shift, their movements no longer fluid and elegant. He smiles,"it seems your mother`s death has really given you confidence or perhaps, unfortunately there is no one whom you love, task, you would have felt pain."

And I snap, I give in to my werewolf instinct and I transform, I do not see the guards coat their weapons with liquid silver neither do I see him holding a material, everything, everyone is red and the only black color, as black is his deeds is King Mateo, the unfortunate king I have as a father.

One of the guards approaches me and I waste no time in flinging him off me, probably jarring my head, the rest of the council bare their fangs at me, a warning to not touch their king.

I scoff, they defend a king who does not give a dime about any of them or their families ,fulfilling his duties to enjoy the privileges and the prestige. I crawl around them steadily looking for an opening, I see his councilor shivering and I bare my fangs in happiness, before they understand my actions, I pounce on the councilor venting my anger, baring my fangs deep in his shoulder shaking him steadily waiting for 'Mateo' to snap, a look of worry flashes so fast, it doesn`t last for even a nanosecond and if I was not hoping for that expression, I`d miss it and I throw his councilor towards him, his subordinates turn towards him waiting for his judgement and he turns into his werewolf, his eyes showing anger and deep resentment, resentment not because his follower was punished but because I brought questions to his authority, placed seeds of doubt in his council, the resentment is so deep my blood chills and for a moment I almost whimper and then I remember Mom and David and my blood boils, the blood moving faster than before, he growls deeply, I howl, I sense the presence of my brothers and my blood boils in fury, they howl mourning David, I remember the bubbly smile and my mother`s presence and I howl even more, the council sensing the conflict transform to their werewolves form surrounding their king according to hierarchy, my brothers sensing the presence transforms into their werewolf form surrounding me, their sizes overshadowing mine.

Lucas, the eldest and the apparent heir of the throne strolls into the front, protecting me. He bows his head, acknowledging my father. The rest, including me, step back, waiting patiently for my father`s next action.

My father gazes across the room, his eyes lingering on me way too long, his guards see that as a cue and bring our royal garments for us except me, my father transforms and wears his coat, walks to the cabinet and pours himself a drink swirling it in a way we can all see thoughts drafting in his head.

He sits down, sips the wine and lifts his eyes taking a deep look at my elder brother and a swift look at me, and for his name and reputation, he spares my dignity and the royal guards bring my garments, I put on my cloak and I stand straight, squaring my back and locking his eyes every time his gaze fleets towards my direction.

Lucas breaks the deathly silence, the council still apprehensive remains in their werewolf form "Father," Mateo lifts his gaze from his sparkling red wine to my brother

"David should be given a proper burial, so he rests properly," his voice falters at the end.

"Bury him yourselves, as for your mother, I will dump her body at the mountain ridge myself, we don't want evil spirits now, do we?"

I take a step forward and Lucas sweeps me a gaze that makes me still. Lucas bows, and turns his back (another of our stupid tradition),my other brothers bow and leaves the room according to their hierarchy in birthright, I give him a fierce look and walk out, I will not pay homage to a leader who does not have regard for his subjects.

I had barely left the palace when I felt a sharp searing pain, I turn to the place where I feel the pain and there's silver in my skin, I hurry to my room and with each daring step I make, I feel even weaker than before, my head throbs, my stomach aches, my knees buckle but I persist, I lean on the wall for support, my blood coloring the white walls, showcasing the true colors of the palace as it should be, not white, the king, his loyal subjects, none of them is innocent.

I take one more step, the world feels heavy, I see myself spinning and I fade out. All I see is black shadows, I try to open my eyes and it feels like a heavy force is pushing them close, I struggle with the darkness for as long as I can and I give in.