Chapter 1: Prologue
Talon and Avalyn thought they could stay happily ever after but the gods had a different plan.
Twelve years after the birth of their children, war suddenly broke out between the humans and the werewolves.
Talon's family broke apart. Each member dispersed to a corner of the earth unknown to the others.
An enemy stronger than they had ever anticipated was at play.
The humans captured Avalyn through trickery and overthrew the Lycans. Talon went missing.
Axel, their first son, found himself captive in the hands of the humans, and his siblings, Blade and Scarlet were sold to an unknown land, one as a child prostitute and the other as a maid.
Their Lycan wolf was inhibited by drugs. They were left powerless with no hope of survival.
In a small town governed by humans, Axel worked tirelessly at the young age of twelve. With his parents not there to save him, the young boy struggled to survive.
"How dare you leave the pen open?" His master screamed, launching a long twisted whip onto the young boy's skin.
"Forgive me, master, I forgot—" The sound of the cackling whip swallowed his explanations as it kissed the air before landing on his scarred body.
Axel curled himself into a ball as the whip landed all over his body.
"You useless animal! You will stay out here till I find you worthy again!" The cruel master screamed, whipping him till there was blood gushing out of multiple points on Axel's body.
Then he pulled at Axel's ears, dragging the boy along till they got to the centre of the farmhouse.
He chained him up to a pole on the platform where animals were killed and left him to die in the cold.
Axel didn't cry or scream for help. He had only one light-tattered shirt that did nothing to protect him from the cold. His body was cut in so many places, he couldn't even feel the sting anymore.
Just like his father, he had thought himself to endure his pain. He knew that this suffering wouldn't last forever.
A day would come when the lycans would take control again. Lycans would rule the earth again and the humans would pay for everything they did to him and his family.
From the corners of his eyes, Axel noticed a shadow approaching him. There was only one burning torch at the far end of the farmhouse, just behind the human king's palace. But it wasn't enough for him to see whoever was approaching. He narrowed his eyes and looked straight ahead.
He didn't want his condition to make him appear weak. He was a Lycan, he should always act as one.
But as the shadow stepped out of the darkness and unto the only light flickering in the cold night air, Axel recognized them.
It was Violet. The human princess strutted closer with her hands well hidden beneath her cloak.
"Axel, are you hungry?" She asked, her blue eyes twinkling in the dark.
"No, I am fine," Axel grunted, refusing to accept sympathy from the same people who snatched everything away from him.
But seven years old Violet didn't mind. She came closer to where Axel was chained and she sat down.
Axel scoffed. "You shouldn't be here. It's not safe for you."
"But you are here. You'll protect me," she replied with a smile.
Axel felt a deep blow in his heart. Her smile reminded him so much of his mother. It brought him peace but even at his young age, he knew this was only an illusion.
Violet was innocent now because she was young, as soon as she grew older, she would become just like her cruel parents.
Violet pulled her hands out of her cloak and brought out a piece of bread. "I saved this for you from the dining table..."
Axel wanted to refuse the food but his stomach growled. He needed the food. He couldn't remember the last time he had anything to eat.
He made to take the bread forgetting about the chains around his arms.
"Oh, I can feed you..." Little Violet said, noticing the setback.
Axel frowned and the Lycan spirit in him returned. He shouldn't be accepting favours from a human girl... much less the princess.
"Forget it. Go home before you get cold," he whispered as he stared at the bread in her hand. He was really hungry.
Violet shook her head and took matters into her hands. She drew closer to Axel and broke the bread between her soft hands. Then she brought it to his lips.
"You should eat so that you can be strong and handsome like a prince..." She said with a big smile on her face.