Purest

5. Clarity

THE LYCAN KING

CONSTANTINE DEMONICUS

Clarity.

The thick fog that had surrounded the majestic beauty of the mountain range for a century, a home for a beast that had rivaled its harshness and brutality, suddenly dispersed.

What had remained was the howling wind; a different kind of music to the almost uninhabited place.

The creature raised his face to the white clouds and responded to the familiar melody.

Long and mournful, he paused. Listened. He had no idea why he kept acknowledging, kept on hoping. Yet he did.

Hope. It was all he had. A possibility that one day his call would be answered.

An eerie silence followed his signal. However, it showed something else.

The animal began to circle his territory. He knew every inch of land, knew what was underneath, covered in snow and dirt, his markings had never failed to warn other predators roaming the land.

He was a supreme being, accorded with fear and respect. Whatever it was was something new. Yet familiar.

Shaking his massive shaggy head, he crouched low and sniffed the ground. Paused. Growled. Then took a deep whiff. And again. The day had come.

Octavius.

It had been a century but his senses were as sharp as before. He knew the scent of his people. Especially his loyal and dear friend. The Royal Beta.

Why was he here? He was specifically ordered to stay away. Unless...

Something didn't feel right these past few years. His gut was telling him to go back. Constantine couldn't even if he wanted to. He was keeping to himself for a reason.

His long strides were bringing him closer to his cave, barely making a sound on the thick snow covering the earth. His shadow was persistent. Mentally shaking his head in amusement. He had taught his second in command well.

If you need me, you know where to find me.

His parting words before he disappeared in the darkest of all nights.

Moon Goddess, what is happening to my kingdom?

He looked up at the clear sky, and howled, seeking answers. None came. He was not surprised. She had not disturbed him since his exile.

Remaining at a distance to let her creature live in peace.

Peace. Not once had he felt it.

He roamed the Alps. He hunted. He hid.

His only enemies were the polar bears but even they grew afraid of him. He had also respected them and stayed away.

From a distance, with his sharp hearing, a tree branch snapped.

The monstrous predator halted, looked around him, and crouched low. Ears tucked behind his shaggy head, he listened carefully.

Satisfied no other creature was hiding, he turned to face the lone wolf following him. Growled in a warning.

′You have been following my trail for a while now.′

'My king,'

'Why are you here, beta?′ They were still separated by a few distances. A sign of honor. He would never invade his Alpha's domain without permission. 'Shift.′

A man did in the blink of an eye, impressive and remarkable, with tattoos covering his massive chest, beautiful art on his dark skin, walking tall, slowly making his way toward his estranged leader.