Baby

Prologue

prologue

     My name is Baby Sinclair.

Yes, Baby. Like what you would call a significant other, or another name for a very small child.

I was born in New Orleans, Louisiana at the New Orleans East Hospital on January 1st, 2001. A New Years baby. Literally. But because of my entry into this world, marked a tragic leaving.

My mother, Genevieve Sinclair.

In a matter of hours of her dying, I was placed into a orphanage by the state. It was highly unusual for a newborn to end up in an orphanage, especially one with no name. For a long time, they simply referred to me as "the baby," and over time, that evolved into "Baby Sinclair." And so, I remained—forever known as Baby Sinclair.

I spent eighteen years in that orphanage. When I turned eighteen, I was determined to leave everything behind and start anew. I applied to colleges everywhere except the South, driven by the need to escape my past. With my solid grades and extensive community service, I was confident that I wouldn't end up at a community college just down the road. I aimed higher.

As the rejection letters piled up, I grew increasingly despondent. That is, until one final letter arrived—one I hadn't expected.

It was from Oak Hill University in Seattle, Washington. I don't even remember applying there, but as I read further, it became clear that this was something extraordinary. They were offering me a full ride, covering all expenses to relocate from Louisiana to Washington, and providing free dormitory housing. At first, it seemed too good to be true. But the letter explained that it was part of a special program designed to support students in difficult circumstances, giving them a chance they might not otherwise have.

It was a lifeline I hadn't anticipated, but it felt like a sign—an opportunity to finally break free and carve out a new path.

A chance. It was all I needed.

Without hesitation, I did what I needed to do, and gave a reply to Oak Hill.

    Silas Petrova was the King of the Werewolves.

Silas Petrova was renowned throughout the werewolf community as a remarkably powerful figure. After his father's death in the early 2000s, he was thrust into the role of King at the tender age of eight.

As Silas matured, his impatience grew, fueled by the longing for his destined mate—someone who he thought would heal his heart and rule beside him as Queen. As time passed, he grew tired and exhausted of looking for her. Almost certain she didn't exist, scrapping the idea entirely of ever needing a mate, focusing on becoming a strong King his people needed him to be.

Evangeline Petrova, Silas's mother, was determined to find the woman destined for her son. Her love for Thelious, her own mate, made her yearn for Silas to experience the same profound connection. Her resolve was unshakeable; she would stop at nothing to locate this elusive soulmate.

Driven by desperation, Evangeline turned to extreme measures to discover her son's mate. She sought out a mysterious witch named Ines, who claimed to possess ancient powers capable of revealing the soulmate of any living being—human or supernatural.

What Evangeline did not anticipate was the true cost of these revelations. Ines agreed to help but demanded a sacrifice: a small portion of the Queen's health. Desperate, Evangeline consented, only to find that Ines took far more than agreed upon, leaving her bedridden and gravely ill. After fulfilling her part of the bargain and providing the name and location of Silas's mate, Ines vanished without a trace.

When Silas questioned his mother about her sudden illness, she deceived him, fabricating a story about an insane witch breaking into their home and hexing her. She convinced Silas that she would find someone to lift the curse, all the while secretly arranging for his future mate—a regular human girl—to receive an invitation to their university, which was predominantly populated by werewolves with only a small number of humans.

The old Queen's ultimate goal was clear: to ensure that her son would find his soulmate and never face the future alone. As she's nearing her end, she took comfort in knowing that Silas would not be left without companionship and support.