People walked the streets of New York completely unaware that the supernatural existed. Over hundreds of centuries, werewolves have wandered these lands without being discovered. They hid in plain sight as ordinary employees, lawyers, doctors, cops and even drug dealers. In this secret society of werewolves there's also a hierarchy, and no matter where one went on this planet, a hierarchy always called for trouble. The shifter world is ruled by the strongest alphas, and their packs have been following them since beginning of their creation.

However, for this system to run smoothly, all the alphas must follow a code which was created by their ancestors. Although, the one that ruled them all, protected them all and created them, was their goddess, Maya. She was the deity that all werewolves; evil or good worshipped. If someone ever wondered why a wolf howled towards a lonesome moon? It was because that beautiful creature knew that Maya would always listen to his prayers.

However, prayers only worked if one had enough hope that perhaps escape was possible. Prayers only worked if one had their heart not crushed and blackened to oblivion. Prayers only worked if one could still get up and think that maybe there was something better out there. When hope was destroyed and all love was replaced with poison, how was a wolf supposed to pray to Maya for salvation?

No, prayer wasn't on the mind of a beast who was hardened by violence. Vengeance was the prayer in that beast's mind. Every single night, he looked up at the moon plotting his revenge at the one who destroyed him. Pleas weren't enough to end a monster. This wolf needed to become a monster if he desired revenge. So, he become the monster that people feared and did what had to done in order to annihilate the threat.

Many prayed to Maya, but it was only some that got up and did something about their troubles. A fight was what this man knew he needed. He desired nothing more than to slaughter his enemy and let his blood soak the floor beneath his feet.

Blood was his retribution and he was paid in full. Maya or not, Alexander Waldorf made sure that no one touched him again. He was a beast to be feared and he killed everyone that was on his list leaving nothing but destruction behind.

-Manhattan-

Darkness engulfed Alexander Waldorf as he crossed the lonely street of lower Manhattan. He didn't bother looking up at the crescent moon shining high above in the sky between the clouds. Not when he just chased his final target of the night and faced the vile side of this world all over again. Although, one by one, the men that followed Lucas Waldorf perished. Alec was close to fulfilling his duty to the vow he took when he escaped his father's pack.

All the bloodshed almost reached its end.

Alec and his brother were inches away from freedom. The pack that his father abused for ages would see better days. The wolves that lived there could be safe now. No one could harm the pack that spent their entire life in a prison. The pack was free and all the wolves could live their lives without an alpha to control them. However, all of that could change if his uncle, Mikhail Waldorf appeared out of exile. For decades, he had gone missing with Lucas as his only contact. Alec knew how to face his uncle if he returned but he couldn't bother with that right now.

After they killed off the remaining members of his father's supporters, Alec would return to Russia- his home and leave all this behind him, like he hoped from the moment he arrived to this haunted city.

Yet, a shard of instinct told him that returning to Russia wouldn't solve the tainted shame in his head. Alec was a Waldorf and would remain that until the end of time. He couldn't just pick up his stuff and leave to Russia thinking it'd solve his problems. Yes, his father and his followers were almost all dead, but enemies were still vengeful towards the ruined Waldorf name. Alec may have no enemies here in New York, however many still knew his name. The bloodline he carried was a curse, everyone in the world knew that- human or shifter.

The burden of his father's sins was hanging on Alec's shoulders. He wasn't entirely sure how to stop the people that hunted him simply because of his last name. He'd have to figure something out soon, otherwise it was only a matter of time before another war began.

Alec made it to his car that was parked on the side of the road when his phone rang in the pitch silence of the grim night. He pulled out his phone and saw an unknown number, which was impossible since no one had his number except a few people, which were people he fully trusted.

A rush of instinct struck through him when a piercing scent carried through the cool breeze. Something hidden in the shadows tracked Alec, carefully and skillfully. It was rare for Alec to miss the trace of another wolf's scent.

There was something about this wolf's pheromones, it wasn't vile nor thick with animosity but the scent had intention, a goal. Although, Alec felt the warmth of the scent that carried the spiced fragrance of burning amber, it scorched its way into his body.

Alec's wolf awakened from its slumber as the scent reached him too. Both of them unaware of what this phenomenon was about. Determined to figure it out, he stayed defenceless in front of his car even though he could quite easily disappear in the shadows and attack whoever followed him all the way here.

I should warn Vadik, thought Alec as he hit the alert on his phone knowing it would go directly to his brother.

Suddenly, the scent inched closer and his body churned with a dangerous instinct to claim this fragrance all to himself. Greed wasn't part of Alec's nature, but right now, his wolf was hungry to capture this scent and kill whoever touched it.

Alec shifted back when the man who followed him appeared out of the dark behind him. "You can't run," the voice was dark and dangerously cold, it crawled through Alec's skin turning his blood icy-hot.

He didn't turn or react hastily, but through the reflection of his car's window, he saw who stood square behind him. A man who was taller and broader than Alec held a gun to his head with his finger on the trigger ready to take the shot if Alec decided to move even an inch.

"Who are you?" asked Alec.

"A result of your father's sins," his voice blamed with a vicious tone.

The irony of that response made Alec smile coldly. He was also a result of Lucas Waldorf's sins. "I'm thinking Lucas did something to anger you," he said.

A growl came from the man, it was threatening and extremely domineering. "You just need to know that I'm thinking of causing you a lot of pain, Alexander Waldorf."

Alec stood still as he felt the footsteps of heavy boots come closer to him. The man's cologne or maybe it was his natural scent wrapped Alec in a thick blanket of rich spices. What was this exhilarating sensation? Why did it consume him and bring him to his knees? No, it was impossible, he thought when the answer rang in his head like a siren.

Mate. Mate. Mate... that word echoed inside Alec and sealed his body to this stranger in an instant.

Suddenly, the man's large hand wrapped around Alec's throat and yanked him back. His lips against Alec's cold ear were hot and his breath shuddered down his neck. "You're my prisoner now."

Alec felt a sharp prick on his neck and rapidly his eyes started to close on their own. His knees gave out on him and he only wished that he could kill his father all over again because once definitely wasn't enough.

Alec's head throbbed when came back to it and opened his eyes. The wet draft in the air told him right away that he was deep underground in a cellar somewhere. The walls were hollow concrete and it was dark all around him. The only source of light was the flickering bulb hanging right over his head.

Purposely, he shifted his wrists that were tied behind his back to find out that it wasn't rope or handcuffs binding him. Alec could easily escape from those. Whoever brought him here used heavy metal chains that bound his wrists to his feet and then to the concrete floor. It was a smart move. However, that also meant that whoever Alec was dealing with right now had brains, it was going to be harder for him to get free.

He sat on a metal chair in his clothes, but his jacket and phone were taken and so were all the weapons he carried. Alec didn't see any windows or clocks so he didn't know the time right now either.

Vadik was going to kill him if they survived this, Alec thought grimly.

The door behind him clanked and then opened. A few guards entered the room surrounding the entire space. None of them spoke and followed the command of the person who watched Alec right now through all the security cameras. Alec wasn't sure what this person wanted but he'd have to find out soon enough.

Suddenly, a man entered now and he stepped in front of Alec. He took his sweet time, fixing the collar of his shirt as he took a chair and sat in front of Alec. Stark grey eyes, dark hair and beard that didn't cover the scar running down his cheek to his throat. Strapping build that showed he was muscle under his suit and he was as tall as a bear. But this wasn't the man who brought Alec here. The scent was way off.

"Alexander Waldorf," the man's voice was gruff.

"Bring me the man who attacked me," Alec said sternly.

The man raised a brow and then laughed. "You've got some nerve," he said.

"Bring the one who attacked me," Alec repeated again.

Suddenly, the man got off the chair and slammed his strong fist into Alec's jaw, the gold ring cut his cheek under his eye, the burn of the impact caused Alec's eyes to water and nose to bleed.

"You don't get to make demands," he said.

"Bring me the one I want," Alec bit out.

The man scoffed and looked surprised that Alec had the nerve to ask again. Instinctively, Alec bit down on his teeth as the man pounded his hard fist into Alec's face again, but it was wasted effort.

He spat the blood out of his mouth and glared at the man who was panting for air. "Bring me who I want."

When the door behind Alec opened, he knew he won. The echo of shoes surrounded Alec as the man with that penetrating scent appeared. He rounded the chair and Alec finally faced the one who managed to catch his attention.

A tall, broad-shouldered man dressed in a three-piece tailored suit stepped out of the dark. The dim light danced over his appearance. Alec faced piercing green eyes that were determined, but the hardened stare was carved with heavy hatred, that was enough to poison his blood. He stood powerfully with a deadly expression on his face that meant only one thing. He wasn't here to negotiate. He was here to cause pain.

This wasn't any random stranger, Alec thought. This was Kade Guerriero. A man who ran a billion-dollar enterprise in Italy, but beneath that successful career, he didn't just operate the mafia in Italy, he owned it. The Guerriero name was number one in the top five most powerful mafia families that worked in New York and Italy. This man was Alec's mate. What in the devil's name was going on?

Alec understood that perhaps he might not survive this interrogation. If Kade Guerriero was the one leading this attack, then there was no chance that Alec would see tomorrow. However, as death would scare an ordinary man. Alec wasn't ordinary. He would sit on this chair welcoming death because that was just how Alec was trained. But of course, he wouldn't die without pissing these people off.

"What's your name?" Alec asked even though he knew because the best way to piss off any important man was to pretend you didn't know them. "I should know the name of my abductor."

Kade's green eyes glared at him. Alec had never seen such beautiful eyes exude such a dangerous degree of peril. Frankly, it was entertaining to witness. He then caught the flash of gold on Kade's finger, it was a square signet ring with a letter carved into it. Alec couldn't make out what it said from under the dim light.

"Kade," he said quietly which felt more dangerous than his scowl.

"Alec," he introduced with a smirk.

"I know who you are, Waldorf," he said irately. "The prodigy son of a monster-"

"You're wrong-" Alec interrupted. "I'm nothing like my father."

"You're probably worse," he remarked scornfully.

"Then why keep me alive?" Alec faced Kade. "Kill me and be done with it."

Kade raised a brow. "And end your miserable life, I don't think so," he said. "I will hurt you and then send you to our creator."

"You can't hurt me," said Alec. Everything painful had already been done to him.

Kade leaned closer, he planted his hands on either side of the chair and stared into Alec's eyes. "I'm sure when I bring your brother's head and drop it at your feet, it will cause you pain," he said.

Alec's lips lifted back in a sneer. "Don't you dare touch my brother," he growled.

Kade looked unbothered. "It seems Waldorf does have a heart."

"Don't call me by that name!" he snapped. "I am not a Waldorf! I never was."

Kade smirked when he wiped the blood off Alec's bruised lip. "Simply saying that you're not a part of a family doesn't change the dirty blood in your veins." And just like that, he stalked out of the room demanding for Vadik to be caught and brought to him dead or alive.

Alec needed to get out of here, otherwise his brother could die. But as he scanned the room, it was surrounded by guards. Kade definitely wasn't taking any chances with their lives.

Alec was a prisoner again after he swore that he'd never put himself at the mercy of someone else. However, he couldn't shake off his curiosity about what happened between his father and Kade. He needed to find out.

He slumped against the chair hoping that Vadik would leave town and go back to Russia after he sent the alert out. He'd be safe there. Alec didn't want his brother searching for him, it was a fool's errand. If Vadik is smart then he'll figure that out as well. Waldorf's weren't known to be heroic. Vadik better not come to save him, otherwise Alec was going to kill him himself before Kade even got the chance. A thought in the back of his head told Alec that he had friends who'd help him. But something in his twisted heart didn't think he deserved that. He wasn't worth anyone's time. Besides, he already accepted a long time ago that he'd die because of his father.

Alec sat in the forbidding silence of the cellar when his wolf appeared inside his head, which was strange because he rarely made an appearance and shared his thoughts.

Did you sense it? his wolf asked.

Alec's body shuddered from desire when Kade's eyes appeared in front of him. I did, he told his wolf. I sensed the bond the moment he touched me.

What will you do? his wolf asked.

Whatever's necessary, Alec answered.

A mate just for us... his wolf whispered to himself before he slid back into the darkness.

He was left alone remembering his father's last words. Lucas told Alec that he didn't deserve anything pure or good. He always kept those words in his mind even though his father was already dead. Perhaps, Alec deserved to die at the hands of his mate. He didn't deserve love and instead would receive only hatred. He recognized the pain in Kade's eyes, it had been harboured for years, festering in the man's heart and turning his mind black.

Alec couldn't fight that or stop Kade. Mate or not, he first had to figure out how to show Kade that they weren't enemies before anything else.