CHAPTER ONE

~Kace~

"Kace! Kace run !" my mother called out my name amidst the burning wood and furniture. "Kace!"

I was taking shelter under the large dining table as flames surrounded me, sobbing, wondering how things got to this. I could still hear my mom calling out my name hysterically.

"Run to mommy," I heard my brother mocked me from the other end of the room.

I gathered up enough courage and ran from under the table but came to a halt at the sight of my mom being grabbed by her neck by my father and slitting her throat.

"Mom!" I yelled in horror.

"Kace, Kace, dude calm down," rough hands shook me and I jolted awake.

"You look like you just ran a marathon," he said and chuckled. "Aren't you a little too old to be having nightmares?"

I rubbed my eyes awake and looked up at the person waking me.

"What are you doing in my room, Sonny?"

" I could hear you from the gym, " he said. " Maybe it's time you see a therapist about—,"

Before he could finish his sentence I shook my head, cutting him off.

"No, I'm fine, It's just a dream. "

"A recurring dream," he said matter-of-factually while walking out of my room. " In case you change your mind I could hook you up with one."

When he left my room, I got out of bed and walked to my bathroom. I had been having the same dream for over thirteen years. For thirteen years it always ended the same, with my mother being executed. I didn't have the most pleasant childhood and the nightmares were just the cherry on top that came with it. Despite what the dreams said, my mother was alive and well. As for my father, I didn't give a damn about him.

He was the Alpha of the Cresent pack, a pack that I was supposed to call home, but was ashamed to. He was a ruthless and cold-blooded leader. Known for taking down and conquering packs and doing it in the most brutal way possible.

My brother, Zaynab, fought alongside him. It was too late for him, there was no possibility of redemption. Where his name was uttered destruction followed. I was supposed to be my father's successor, the next Alpha. My father needed me by his side for that but I chose a different path. Zaynab on the other had believed he was born for the role and would do anything insanely possible to get it, which also included taking me out of the picture. He was brainwashed.

I stood under the shower for longer than I intended. When I got out, I combed through my hair and dressed up casually for the day then I heard a knock on my door.

"Kace," my friend Graham called from the other side of the door. " Ten minutes and we're out. "

"Got it," I responded.

I lived with my friends and fellow wolves Sonny, Graham and Reid in an apartment building we bought close to our varsity. Leaving the wolf life behind meant I had to give up on certain things and blend in more with the human world. To start, I had to attend an education. Fortunately blending in hadn't been hard because I was only a kid when my mother and I came here. I practically lived around humans my whole life except for the few wolves I met here and there.

I met Sonny was only fourteen. He was the only wolf I knew in my neighbourhood so it was natural for us to form a friendship a friendship that eventually turned to a brotherhood.

As for Graham and Reid, we met later on. Even though we were all from different packs and had completely different personalities we somehow hit off and it's been the four of us since.

I made my way downstairs where Sonny and Reid were waiting for me and Graham joined us shortly after.

" Took you long enough," Reid said sitting on one of the counter stools and pressing his phone.

" Go easy on him," Sonny defended him. " He had a rough night."

"You had a lady up there with you man?" Graham asked dropping his shades with a smirk.

"Please, Kace with a girl? in this life? " Reid teased and he and Graham both broke into laughter

Deciding to ignore them, I walked over to the counter to get my coffee and my car keys.

"You'll find me in the car when you guys are done," I said to both of them then looked at Sonny. " Are you coming?"

" Sure," he said walking out with me.

We went outside to where my black SUV was parked and Reid and Graham followed us behind.

" What's with the rush?" Reid asked, probably because I was driving at 100km/h.

"Sayd's in his first lecture," Graham said from the back seat. "You wouldn't want to miss that, would you pal?"

I glared at him through the mirror. " You guys are really on my case today, aren't you?"

" Why don't you just talk to her Kace?" Sonny joined in.

" For the last time, I'm just not interested. "

I discovered Sayd was my mate three years ago. Of all the places to have a mate it just had to be the one place I wanted to keep a low profile. I knew I was lying to myself when I told Sonny I didn't want to talk to her. There were times I was dying too but I had to restrain myself for both our good. Even if I did talk to her, it was never going to go anywhere. To begin with, she was human and humans did not know of the existence of wolves. It also didn't help that even though things seemed calm currently, I was still living on the edge and a person like me didn't deserve a mate, especially with my father and Zaynab still alive.

Despite that when I first saw her I thought she was the most beautiful girl I had ever laid eyes on. Her wide up-turned eyes squinted when she was trying to focus on something, her full lips always curved into a smile when she was around people and her black wavy hair graced everyone with the aroma of her shampoo. Everything about her was alluring to me. It's like fate did me a huge favour and tortured me all at the same time.

It was believed an Alpha needed a mate to be strong and run his pack. But I was no Alpha and I didn't need a mate. I didn't need her.

"That's bullshit," Sonny said. " We all know that's not it. '

"I mean if you don't want her, I can take her," Graham said as we drove into the parking lot. " I mean would you just look at that, she's gorgeous. "

When all looked in the direction Graham was looking and saw Sayd with another girl walking in the parking lot.

"Damn," I cursed under my breath when I picked up on her intoxicating scent.

Graham was right about one thing, she was gorgeous. She was only wearing jeans and a halter top but that was enough to define every single one of her turns and curves. As usual when she was around her friend smiling and laughing as they spoke.

"Watch out!" Reid suddenly yelled.

I stopped my car abruptly almost hitting a guy walking in front of us.

"What the heck is wrong with you? Watch where you drive this thing," He angrily hit the hood of my car leaving a huge dent.

I leaned up from my seat to inspect the dent and saw that some of the colour had been scrapped off. I furiously got out of my car, mostly angry because the car was less than a week old.

"How about I give you something to watch out for?" I said walking towards him.

He didn't back down or retreat so I grabbed his shirt and he also grabbed mine.

"Kace, this is not necessary, " Sonny got out of the car and tried to negotiate with me.

I lifted him from the ground and I immediately sensed fear and intimidation as I held him against the wall.

"Look man, " he said shaking, "I can pay for the dent. "

A crowd had formed around us and Sonny stood next to me.

"Kace people are watching," he said with gritted teeth.

My eyes quickly scanned the crowd and stopped at Sayd. Her hand covered her mouth as she, like everyone else, waited to see what next I was going to do.

"Just put him down," Sonny said.

I let him go and he fell to the ground. I looked back at the crowd and she was gone.