I AM Lycanthrope.

10

As Hunter once again sat back in his chair, I found myself leaning forward as quiet anticipation swirled in my blood. After years of going through mood swings and hoping everyday wouldn't be the one where I ended up in prison, I finally was about to get some answers.

He takes a sip of his drink that I couldn't remember him having and clears his throat.

"Our species have been living in this forest for hundreds of years. We aren't new nor are we unheard of. There are millions of us scattered all around the world. We have many names within different languages and have adapted based on geographical locations and climate conditions.

In this part of the world we have as many as over 500 packs, each with at least 15 wolves and there are still the rogues that are unaccounted for. In our forest there are 5 territories that are run by 5 alphas, all related by blood. The leader of the alphas or the 'alpha of alphas' as you so called us, are those who link each pack by power and other special abilities.

This alpha is the strongest and fastest of each pack. Each generation has a power bestowed upon them from the ancestors after the ritual. I am the last true alpha after your parents died."

At that last statement my heart raced a bit and I inhaled as he held my gaze before sighing.

"The thing about our position is that the alphas all think they qualify to do the ritual but the True Alpha has to be of a special kind. No one wolf can appoint themselves. The next true alpha is known from birth and no matter what other method wolves devise, they can't take up that role. Unfortunately the various packs refused to listen to reason and whenever the time came for another ritual, there would always be a war. In everyone's mind, a special potion, more ferociousness or even the strength of a bigger pack would mean a shot at becoming a true alpha. That is not the case."

He repositions himself so he is sitting straighter and empties his glass.

"Your mother-"

He inhaled and looks down at the scenery before us and for a moment I saw pain behind those strong, powerful eyes.

"Your mother was a very powerful alpha. From the day of her birth we knew she would be exceptional."

"Was she a true Alpha?"

"Yes. Let me tell you this, at my birth, I was accepted as a True Alpha after the packs had been without one for 60 years. What you need to know is that whenever a True Alpha is born, they not only strengthen the 5 packs but they possess the combined power and abilities of each.

When the True Alpha before me was dying, there still wasn't talk of a new True Alpha being born and the 5 packs took it as an opportunity to try and appoint one on their own. This did not work due to each thinking they deserved it. A war between the packs broke out and normally the True Alpha would be able to dissipate the violence but his health had declined and he died at the beginning of the war. It took 10 years for another True Alpha to be born and I am him."

I nodded subconsciously as I gave him my undivided attention.

"Even with my birth, the war waged on and I had to go into hiding until after I completed my test."

Hunter clasps his hands together before leaning forward and I instinctively leant back in my chair.

"When I completed my test I brought the war to an end but I knew that each pack would always want to be the True Alpha. Whoever is strongest would want to prove that to the world."

He sighs deeply. "I am an old man. I have been on this earth for longer than I should. Your mother-" He paused. "The birth of your mother announced the arrival of a potential new True Alpha and that was only known by the pack she was born into... for obvious reasons.

However, when she mated, that was with a man from another pack and her identity as the True Alpha was discovered. This was not good because news spread to all packs and because she was a woman, they all wanted to challenge her before she completed the ritual.

She was 17 when she had you. That was a year before her 18th birthday and before she would be old enough to do the ritual. When she became of age, I decided to do the ritual in private so no one would know but the packs came together against us. In their mind, if anyone was to have power over all of them it should be a male.

During the ritual, tens of wolves and witches were killed and so were your parents. Now, because we couldn't complete the ritual and I was losing the fight, the last surviving blood witch, cast a spell on me to keep me alive until the ritual of the next True Alpha."

Hunter sighed and looked out the window at the nosy wolves below.

"Everyone knew of your birth but you were kept hidden away with your parents for safety reasons. Even during the ritual you weren't in public. It was rare but not impossible. There were 2 True Alphas born in the same pack and within the same family.

No one discovered this until after their deaths. The hunt for you had started but you were already taken to the city and your scent masked to only be recognized by those within your pack.

Your birthday is fast approaching. Every day that spell weakens and news of your existence will spread. We have to do everything in our power to keep you safe until after the ritual and since you've mated with Alexander, we have to keep him safe as well, given the fact that your smell is all over him."

He looks at me and I held my breath. "Do you understand?"

"Yes." I say.

"Is there anything you'd like to know?"

"Is this the pack that my mom was born into?"

"Yes. The thing with True Alphas is that they don't really have a place to stay. All 5 packs already have their own alphas so whichever pack the True Alpha is born into, that's where they stay.

This is your mother's pack but it is not mine. I am only here because your father's pack has betrayed me and your mother."

"How often do True Alphas appear?"

"There is no exact science to answer that."

"Are you my grandfather?"

"Unfortunately no. Your entire family was wiped out at the ritual." He paused. "And I am too old to be your grandfather."

"What is this ritual you talk of? What do I need to do? How long does it take? Why didn't you save them if you are the True Alpha?"

"I tried to save as many people as I could. I am old and yes I have powers now but as strong as I am I am not invincible. I had to fight 4 alphas and their packs while protecting the 5th pack's wolves, the witches and still I couldn't interfere with the ritual."

"But they did."

"And they died." He rubs his forehead, the first action of nervousness I've seen since sitting here. "Look, the ritual is very different. For an alpha you're either born one or you fight your way from beta to become one. A True Alpha however, has to go through a test so that they are bestowed with powers and abilities before they can pass that power down. It's not something you can just stop. The alphas knew of this risk and still did it."

"And what if I'm killed the same way my parents were?"

"That would not be good. The second your ritual starts, my spell will be broken. If you were to be killed then this pack will have no leader since I'm filling in for both Alpha and True Alpha and they will all go rouge."

My heart sank at this information. "Then what must I do to survive the ritual?"