Alpha Anthony's POV

There are two worlds--the supernatural world and the human world. The human world is not aware of the existence of the supernatural world and vice versa. How I know about the human world, you might ask. Well, I know a lot of things which I'm not supposed to know. Long story.

Back to the topic, the supernatural world is divided into two kingdoms--Veneton, the vampire kingdom and Iris, the werewolf kingdom. Both the kingdoms are ruled by the respective royals.

Talking about royals, there are only three existing royal families left which consists of the vampire royals, the witch royals and the werewolf royals. All the royals are very powerful and have unique abilities that a normal vampire, werewolf, witch or any of the kind don't posess. Like they say, they're royals for a reason.

And I'm one of them.

My being a royal is not known to the supernatural race though. To them, I'm the Alpha of the most powerful pack in the kingdom of Iris, the werewolf kingdom.

The only person who knows about my 'royal' title is the werewolf prince who has agreed to keep it a secret on my request. Although I could say he had the question in his mind as to why I didn't wanted to accept my status, but he never asked. And I was thankful for that.

For one, I didn't want anything to with royalties. And secondly, unlike him, I was an illegitimate child.

A child that my supposed 'father' wanted to be hidden from the court. For which, he had paid my mother a fortune load of money to last a lifetime just so that she could keep her mouth shut and never reveal his identity. How I know about him? Remember when I said I know a lot of things which I'm not supposed to know.

The werewolf kingdom, Iris, is ruled by a queen instead of a king unlike the vampire kingdom where there is the king's rule.

There are several packs in Iris but all of them are obliged to follow the werewolf queen's orders, no matter how powerful they might be.

The first-born females of the werewolf royal families have a power blessed upon them by the moon goddess herself and believe me when I'm saying this power is otherworldly.

Every royal has an affinity. Considering I'm a royal too, I do have an affinity myself. Affinities, actually. Strange ones. But I do have them. Like the affinity of healing someone. The affinity of knocking someone out with a light tap to their temple (not exactly an affinity but a quality) and well, there are few strange ones too. . .

The sound of my footsteps tapping against the wooden floor could be heard as I made my way to his highness, the werewolf prince, Daniel Rodriguez's study whilst my mental memory jogging.

There's always a bitterness when his name comes to my mind but I have decided to let that bitterness go and I will try with all my might to do that. I'll try to let go. To forgive him.

Maybe it's the fact that he was responsible for the death of my very first love, that it's so difficult to let go of the hatred.

I know he wasn't solely responsible for her death. He was just trying to save everyone--well, all the royals. Which meant his approval to kill her had indirectly saved me since I'm a royal too although none know of it except the werewolf prince, Daniel, ofcourse.

It's just that it's really hard to think the first ever woman I'd fallen for, Ginivieve, my Gini, would ever kill me. Ginivieve was a witch but she chose black magic over white magic which led her to a destructive, merciless killing path. Witches when chose black magic, loose themselves to the darkness--the evil.

I know she had to be killed in order to protect everyone but I still can't bring myself to forget about her or how when I'd met her again after years from our separation, she was already a black witch and dying in my arms, looking hollow and lifeless.

Maybe it has to do with the fact that I'd not seen her when she turned evil due to black magic, instead I've only seen the bubbly, full of life girl whom I'd loved.

Love.

Oh, what a cursed word it is. Unfortunately, both the times I'd fallen in that trap, I'd always ended up getting hurt. First time with Gini. And second time. . . .

My heart clenched at the thought of her. It was all my fault she isn't there with me now. I messed up. Big time.

The last time I saw her was before she was injected by the wolvesbane--a doing of Daniel's psychpath ex-mate, Kiana, with whom I'd associated with at first to take revenge on Daniel.

I'd told Kiana to kill her. To kill Carla as a compensation for separating Daniel and his wife, Ariana, also my mate--not anymore--just to make Daniel suffer.

Carla is Daniel's younger step-sister. The only person Daniel had ever cared about were his sisters. The werewolf queen was a far call to attack considering her powers but Carla was an easy catch since she was only half-royal.

I made a plan then. To make Carla fall for me and then dump her. It would leave her broken and Daniel suffering. Then I would kill her just to make Daniel blame himself for ever approving to kill my Gini.

But who knew I'd fall for the werewolf princess. And who knew that I'd realise my feelings for her after she gets to know about my plan and leaves me.

I still remember talking to her for the last time, telling her I'm sorry for using her and her telling me she couldn't forgive me. It was before she was injected with the wolvesbane by Kiana.

I'd warned Kiana to not do it once I realised how wrong I was for ever using Carla for my revenge and playing with her feelings. But it was too late. Kiana had already done it out of spite at seeing Daniel completely in love with Ariana. She hated it that Daniel forgot her and resented her now for all the deeds she'd done to him. So, she strike her last move by injecting Carla with silver and wolvesbane solution.

That day, Carla almost lost her life. I found out that she lost her baby because of the strong solution.

My baby. Our baby.

The baby I never knew of.

It still hurts whenever I think of it. I know the circumstances it was made in, wasn't right. I was playing with Carla's feelings when it was made. But regardless of everything, I would've have still loved it. And Carla would've loved it too.

She always loved kids. She'd speak for hours with bright glint in her eyes about how kids were so beautiful creatures and such a blessing. About how lucky the couples were to become parents.

And now, she could never have a child because that day also ruined her last chance at having one. She can never conceive again.

She hates me now. And doesn't even want to see my face. Gone is that love she once had for me, replaced by unexplainable hatred.

It's all my fault. It's all because of me that she had to go through all the hurt, the betrayal, the loss... I hate myself everyday for causing her so much pain.

If only I didn't use her for my revenge from her brother, Daniel. If only I wouldn't have hurt her feelings so fucking much. If only I'd realised I'd fallen for her before she left. If only I hadn't planted the idea of killing Carla to make Daniel suffer in Kiana's mind. If only I hadn't been such a moron, she wouldn't be hating me right now . . .

I sighed, feeling pathetic for the upteenth time.

Why is it that every time I end up thinking about her?

'BECAUSE YOU LOVE HER A LOT' my wolf, Ryuk, chided in.

I sighed, yet again and shut him off. I don't want to talk about it. It hurts. It fucking hurts so much.

I fasten my footsteps and knock on the door once I'm in front of the study, willing to have any distraction. Daniel's comanding voice informs me that I can get in.

Once I'm inside the confines of the beige coloured walls of the study, I see Ariel Rodriguez, the werewolf queen, sitting next to Daniel behind the mahagony desk. She offers me a sweet smile which I return back.

Ariel is younger than Daniel but she's the queen considering the she-wolves of the royal werewolf family rule the kingdom since they have the powers passed on by the moongoddess. I'll have to give it to her, Ariel is one of the sweetest and kindest queen ever but that doesn't mean she's not worthy of looking after the kingdom. She can be a lot more dangerous and powerful when she has to be. And can still maintain her calm.

"Have a seat." Ariel gestures towards the cushioned chair in front of the mahagony desk where her and her brother are seated, "Thank you for coming on such short notice, Anthony."

"Pleasure's all mine, my queen." I walk over to the said chair and sit leisurely, "Is there something you want to talk about?" I ask seriously, jumping to the point.

For one, I'm sure they've not invited me here for some gossip over a tea. Both the brother-sister duo mean business.

"You knew we meant business, didn't you?" I hear Daniel chuckle, mirroring my thoughts and that's when my eyes snaps up to meet his baby-blue ones looking at me in amusement.

Daniel wasn't this carefree before. He would hardly laugh or even smile, for that matter. Now he's full on fun-loving mode, like the rumours used to say he was, before his ex-mate, Kiana, betrayed him.

I guess the only thing I don't regret in my life is giving up my own mate, Ariana, and letting her be with him.

Daniel married her to punish me for breach of the peace truce between werewolf-vampires-which I had did just to fuse him up-but who knew he'd fall head over heals for my mate? I wasn't very close to Ariana because I was consumed with hurt of Gini's death and thirst for revenge and I didn't treat her well before Daniel took her away. And maybe because of that, we both didn't have any problem parting ways and I didn't mind her being with Daniel whom she'd fell in love with.

A smirk makes its way to my lips as I raise my brow at Daniel, "I don't think you'd be inviting me for girly gossips, your highness."

His smile widens at that, "Very well. Then let's get to the matter in hand, shall we?"

I give a curt nod in reply.

"We need your help, Anthony." Ariel speaks making me look at her in confusion.

"For what?"

"Tracking down the rogue's headquarter." Daniel says seriously.

I raise my brow at them questioningly, "You think I might he helpful because. . . ?"

"You have the best trackers in your pack." Daniel retorts, resting his chin on his opened palm and looking at me with scrutinising gaze, "Besides, rumour has it that your pack will be the next they'll attack."

"Oh, is that so?" I chuckle humourlessly, "You think they'd be able to fight my pack?"

"Who knows?" Daniel sighs, "Everyone's talking about how strong the rogues are. They're wrecking havoc in the packs in the werewolf kingdom, Anthony. It is your duty as the Alpha to protect your pack when you're informed prior about the likely attack."

"I know," I nod in surrender before staring at the both of them as a wide devilish grin stretches onto my lips, "Tell me, what great work I'll have to do?"

"Just help us track the rogues headquarter," Ariel says sweetly, smiling.

"And you stay here until we find it," Daniel adds making me narrow my eyes at him.

"And why is my staying here needed?"

"So that you can always be in our radar when we're planning something. It's important, Anthony," he shrugs nonchalantly but I can see an devious glint in his eyes. Something's fishy.

He knows I can't stay here for long. He knows that I love Carla. Heck, unfortunately, he is the only person to know about my feelings towards Carla--It was a moment of weakness where I had to admit it to him or else he won't let me go.

And yet, he's making me stay here. Under the same roof as hers. How likely are the chances are of me bumping into her?

'Many' my wolf speaks, 'Don't agree, Anthony. It will cause you more pain.'

And still, despite my wolf's advice, I find myself agreeing to Daniel's request. I know it will be hurtful but at least I'll get to see her.

So, with a determined look, I say,

"Okay."

Only if I knew what I was getting myself into. . .

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