MENE

PROLOGUE

A long time ago when gods walked among the humans, there was a god who went by the name Lykaios. Him like any other god loved to interact with humans as well as animals. Every god had a special skill that humans adapted to, it could be hunting, music and even the knowledge of healing. Lykaios was no different from them, he had a set of skills in metalworking and stonework but his most skilled was crafts.

On one fateful night when he was walking on a village called Mnara, his eyes spotted a young woman by the name Zaya, who was five feet tall, fair in complexion, big brown eyes and brunette hair. She was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen and, on that moment, swore to himself that she would be his. However, this was more of a wish than actuality, because like other gods, Lykaios was under the rule of Zeus, that forbid any god to have relations with mortals and him being a god was under the rule of Zeus and did not have a choice but to comply to the rules. Breaking of any rule set by Zeus was unthinkable and the punishment for it was severe, but his heart yarned for Zaya and Lykaios did the unthinkable.

He took upon himself to gather four men who were among his loyal friends for years, told them on his plans to capture Zaya and run away. His other plan was to also seek help from other gods, who felt that Zeus rule forbidding them to fall in love with a mortal was absurd, so that they not only help him in hiding his love for Zaya ,but also outvote those in support of the rule. During this period, Lykaios did his best to lure Zaya to him, by leaving captivating lilac flowers at her porch, the kind of flowers that reminded him of her. However, what Lykaios did not take into account was the love that Zaya had for Xander the young man, to whom she was engaged to.

When Lykaios came to know of this, he was so infuriated and his heart was filled with hate for Xander, leading his friends to help him do away with the him. His friends, John, Aron Ezra and Robin, who were loyal helped him, and as fate had it, succeed to get rid of Xander. This action of cruelty  destroyed the little good that was left in Lykaios heart,  and since it was done out of jealousy, it turned his heart cold. When Zaya learned about the death of Xander, she was so devastated, especially since she was expecting. Zaya was in so much agony, that the goddess Diana who is the protector of women and an egalitarian spoke on her behalf seeking that justice should be upheld.

Zeus after hearing the case and taking into consideration the facts presented to him gave a verdict, and as punishment, for breaking his rule and ending the life of Xander a mortal man, who was defend less against a god, cursed Lykaios and his friends into the form of beasts. That's how the first werewolves emerged. Although his friends could transform into humans on every full moon, Lykaios as a god was only able to transform into a human after every ten years and only on a full moon.

However, their descendants were able to live like normal people and only during the full moon do they transform into beasts, and not only that, the goddess Diana paired each of their descendants with a soul mate known as a mate as precaution of history not repeating itself.

As punishment from the goddess Diana, Lykaios and his friends were not blessed with soul mates and by so, ensured that they looked dreadful in the eye of women. This made it tremendously difficult for them to find chosen mates and when they finally did, they bared wolf cubs and created the first four packs where all the other descendants emerged from. As of Lykaios, little is known about his ware about as well as his descendants, however it is believed that he had discovered a way of breaking the curse and for decades he has been going around the world in search of it.

''That's enough story time for today, Mene, its already past your bedtime,'' said Mary.

''But nana am all grown up,'' Mene said, with a little pout. A smile formed on Mary's lips since her granddaughter was only eight and claims to be all grown up. How she wished her daughter could have lived to see the incredible person her daughter is growing up to be.

'' One more question nana, will Lykaios be able to lift the curse,'' Mene asked. Mary new Mene had a curious mind for an eight-year-old, and this amazed her and terrified her at the same time.

''I don't know sweetheart, maybe one day he will or maybe he won't. Let's leave that at the hands of the gods and fate,'' Mary said, even though her herself had doubts of the words she had uttered.

''Goodnight nana.''

''Goodnight Mene.''