Just when I thought that the elusive Alpha couldn't catch me any more off guard, he had to go and say that.

Katrina's mouth drops open, and I freeze. "How did you know that?" I shake off my shock enough to ask.

"That you're planning on killing an immortal being millions of years old?" Killian laughs, looking far too pleased that he managed to surprise me. "Well, that is a long story. One that begins with me losing an arm."

"Losing an arm?" Katrina asks, frowning as she looks at his arms, which are very much both there.

Killian flashes a wicked grin at the Seer. "Try not to make it so obvious when you ogle my muscles, my darling. Despite my incredibly handsome appearance, I'm very shy."

Katrina gives him a patronizing smile. "Actually, I was just thinking about how unfortunate it is for Ares that a stronger wolf isn't offering their aid. One that isn't so... scrawny."

Killian narrows his eyes, but I interrupt their bickering. "Speaking of, can we please get back on track?" I ask impatiently. Cain could come back any minute now, and I don't think he would be too thrilled to learn I was conspiring to kill his beloved Moon Goddess.

Killian sighs. "Very well. Anyways, there was a girl from Crimson Shadow who- long story short- dissolved my arm when we were very young. My father, of course, was furious, and kicked the girl out of the pack. However, he was also deeply ashamed by my physical defect, and sent me away."

"Sent you away?" I ask in confusion. What kind of father would send their son away?

He nods, a dark shadow casting over his face. "He didn't want word getting out that his son was handicapped. It would have made our pack look weak, and possibly inspire wolves to vie for the Alpha position when I became of age, knowing that I would be weakened. Of course, he knew that he only had to conceal me until I was 18, and would undergo the Alpha Transformation, and my arm would regenerate.

So, he dropped me off at camp site in Antarctica, where a group of nomadic wolves temporarily was settled. Not just any group of nomadic wolves- the oldest known pack to date. The Viatoribus."

I frown. "I've never heard of them."

"Almost nobody has," Killian acknowledges. "The only reason my father knew about them was because he ran into them during a trip and found his mate- my mother- with the other Viatoribus. He learned how to track them through my mother and dropped me off at their camp site without any explanation.

The Viatoribus could sense that I had their blood in my lineage, so they took me in without question. They are very protective of their own, since they're a dying group.

And so for the next twelve years, I traveled with them through many lands, many continents. The Viatoribus are typically nonviolent, but their warriors are exceptionally well-trained, and in many ways, more brutal than normal wolves. They trained me well enough to make me exceptionally strong and capable- even with my handicap."

"Can you skip to the part where this relates to killing Selene?" I ask impatiently, not caring to hear his stupid origin story.

Killian rolls his eyes. "I was just getting to that, princess. Anyways, I learned many things from the Viatoribus- beyond combat. They taught me their customs, their beliefs, and most relevantly- their religion.

You see, the Viatoribus never worshipped Selene. They were loyal only to the Sun God, Helios," He says, and I inhale sharply at the mention of him. "They knew of Selene's fickle ways, of her control freak nature, and they refused to worship her. When Selene trapped Helios in the dagger, the Viatoribus knew about it."

"How?" I ask. "And how the hell do you know about the dagger?"

Killian tsks. "Patience, I'm getting to that. They knew about what had occurred that night because they had an Ultimum Viatorem- an ultimate traveler. An Ultimum Viatorem is someone born of Viatoribus blood with the ability to travel through any kinds of space, through any dimension."

I gasp. I needed someone with the ability to travel through dimensions in order to get to Selene. "Do you know who the Ultimum Viatorem is?" I ask, hoping he can guide me to him or her.

Killian rolls his eyes. "Princess, if you interrupt one more time, I'll just let you tell the story."

I glare at him but shut my mouth. "Good girl," He says approvingly, and I want to stab his stupid blue eyes out. "The Ultimum Viatorem was told by a Seer that there was something amiss in universe. It was confirmed when, later that night, there was a total eclipse- one unlike any other. The Seer told him to go to the Blue Moon pack and speak with the Alpha, because he knew something, though she didn't exactly now what.

So, the Ultimum Viatorem teleported to Blue Moon, and asked the Alpha about what happened. And so he told the story of Selene, of Helios, of Lucille. The Alpha asked the Ultimum Viatorem to traverse the dimensions and go to the Palace of Gods and kill Selene to free Helios- but there was a problem.

Selene used a great deal of energy to seal the portal to the Palace, and even the Ultimum Viatorem couldn't travel there. But the Seer told him, that come the next total eclipse- in 400 years- the portal could be opened."

I wait for Killian to say more, but he just stares at me with a stupid smirk on his face. "Well?" I ask, annoyed. "Are you going to tell us who the Ultimum Viatorem is?"

Killian opens his mouth, but Katrina interjects softly, "He is."

Killian's mouth quirks to the side in amusement. "Very good, darling. Though you should know, I'm not too keen on having someone steal my thunder like that. I do love a good dramatic announcement."

"How did you know that I was a descendent of Lucille? And how did you know that I knew about Helios?" I narrow my eyes suspiciously at the man who seems to know everything.

"I went through a great deal of trouble to find a competent Seer," He says, glancing at Katrina. "Which is hard to come by these days. Though I knew Lucille was from Iron Claw, there could be any number of her descendants scattered around the globe, and could potentially be the Sun-Freer prophesized about.

The Seer couldn't tell me much, only about a girl with Lucille's silver hair, which did me absolutely no good. However, when I was about to leave, she said she saw the Sun-Freer with a large, tanned man with long dark hair and tattoos covering his chest."

"Cain," I exhale.

Killian nods. "She sketched the tattoos for me, and I immediately recognized them as the tattoos that mark a Blood Alpha, and I knew that the Sun-Freer had to be his mate. When I saw you on the terrace during the Mating Gathering, I knew right away that you were the Sun-Freer. Something about you... drew me to you. Fate, destiny- whatever you want to call it. We are fated to kill Selene.

After I met you at the Gathering, I could tell that you didn't know much about the prophecy. But destiny would make sure that you would seek me out, and once you called and asked about the Moon Goddess, I knew it was time to tell you everything."

I weigh the truthfulness of his words. So far, everything lined up with what Helios told me. "Why do you want to kill Selene?" I ask, not understanding what he would get out of this.

His eyes darken into liquid sapphire. "Do you remember what you asked me on the balcony the night we met?"

I think back to that night. "I asked if the rumors about you not having a mate were true. You said the Moon Goddess was fickle," I recall.

He nods, his mouth curled up in a cruel smile. "Fickle indeed. She came to me in a dream one night, no doubt because of my status as the Ultimum Viatorem. She knew that it is fated that you and I kill her, and has undoubtedly used every tool in her arsenal to make sure it doesn't happen.

She offered me an ultimatum: Keep my Gift, or not get a mate. Obviously, I chose the Gift. I thought she meant that I just wouldn't be assigned a mate or however it works- but I was wrong. The morning after my dream, I woke up and went outside my tent. All of the Viatoribus were gathered around something in the campsite, and when I shoved my way to the center, I saw her."

Killian's jaw clenches, and I his eyes harden, showing nothing but pure rage. No sorrow, only anger. "I knew as soon as I saw her body she was my mate. Her throat had been slashed, and a black crescent moon was painted on her forehead.

Though I knew Selene didn't kill my mate herself- she herself can't cross the portal- the message was clear. She has disciples on this astral plane, and she would send them after me or anyone I cared about if I pursued her or the Sun-Freer."

I don't know what to say to him. I can't imagine anything more painful than losing your mate in order to fulfil a duty destined by the stars.

"I'm sorry that happened to you," Katrina speaks first, softly, looking at him with sorrowful tears in her eyes.

Killian glances to her, and for a moment, it almost looks like his eyes soften. But it must have just been a trick of the light, because after he nods once at her and looks back to me, the rage is still present.

"So, you ask what I have to gain from this? The answer is simple," He says, his voice emotionless. "Revenge."

And in that moment, I trust Killian, no matter how evasive he appears to be. Revenge is a powerful motivator, the best one there is.

"So, what's your plan?" He prompts, yanking me out of my thoughts.

I frown. "Well, it's easy, really. You open the portal, I kill the Moon-Bitch. Light work, no pun intended."

Killian looks at me incredulously. "You know you're going up against a literal God, right? It's not one of your rogues. You have to have a better plan than that."

I shrug. "Everyone keeps saying it's fated that she dies. I'm not worried about it."

Katrina shakes her head, and while she says, "Ares, you don't get it. The prophecy says that-", I get a mindlink from Cain, telling me that he'll be home soon.

"Shit, you have to leave, Killian," I tell him, standing up. "Cain will be back soon, he can't know you're here."

Killian nods in understanding. "Alright, but call me soon so we can come up with a real plan, not whatever half-assed shit you came up with in your demented brain."

He stands up, and waves his hand, and there's a swirling black and purple mass that somewhat resembles a door. A portal.

Katrina stands up and narrows her eyes at him. "You can travel without creating a portal," She accuses.

Killian grins and winks at her. "I told you I appreciate the dramatics, my dear."

Before he steps into the portal, Katrina lunges at him quickly, and grabs his wrist. Killian's eyebrows shoot up to his hairline. "If you wanted to come home with me, my darling, you only had to ask," He purrs.

Katrina's eyebrows furrow in concentration as she stares at him. "Why won't my Sight work on you?" She asks, sounding deeply disturbed.

Killian gives her a coy smile. "Try touching my face, maybe that'll help?" He suggests.

Katrina nods, putting both of her hands on his cheeks and staring deeply into his eyes, looking completely focused.

Killian looks serious for a moment, until bursting into laughter. "Oh my, you are precious. Unfortunately, my sweet, I do not obey the laws of time and space. You couldn't see my future if you tried. Goodbye, for now."

He winks at her before stepping back into the portal, and the darkness lingers only for a minute before disappearing, taking Killian with him.

Katrina and I share a look, completely mystified by Alpha Killian.

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