TAKING THE DEMONS MATE

Agnor, Sutcliffe, Beaumont, Ajax, Loughty, Braddock. These were the households ruling the six great kingdoms in Slora. Headed by some of the most muscular werewolves to walk the land, the clans lived in harmony, feared and revered by all.

When famine and a mysterious disease break out, everyone- be it a beastman, a unique or an ordinary person, is at risk of being taken by the icy hands of death.

The Braddocks, regarded as the weakest amongst the six great packs, rose above all and sailed through the crisis like it never took place. However, that success brought about unsavoury suspicions. Rumours about their leader using dark magic to grow his kingdom diffused into the air until it no longer became hearsay.

At the tiniest hint of proof, all but the house of Loughty schemed and attacked a family, accusing them of causing the deadly plague. Caeser Braddock stood his ground, but his wife did not survive the ordeal, leaving behind an eight-year-old yet to present.

Heartbroken, the widower exiles his only child to keep him safe until he is old enough to protect himself and the whole of Ingram.

Failure to subdue Ingram gave the other kingdoms sleepless nights. Everyone feared a retaliation may come when they least expected it. The impending darkness subsided over the years, but it was never forgotten.

Ten Years After...

Candor

It was another day to break the bounds and run around with a helpless servant on his tail.

Clear skies with thin clouds, a cooling climate, rustling noise of leaves giving in to the wind. Arlen soaked it all in. It was another form of meditation and a gentle reminder that he was an ordinary seventeen-year-old. Neither 'alpha' nor 'omega'.

"Master Arlen, watch out for that tree." A servant exclaimed. "The river does not have legs to run off, so SLOW down!" He adds, gasping for air as he chases after the young Master.

"Come on, it's more fun to embrace the excitement of a forbidden dip in the river- this way." Arlen swerves the said tree and goes left.

"The Madam will kill both of us if you return with a scratch." The servant's voice ramps like waves as he goes down a slope.

"Forget my Aunt; she'll never know if you don't freak out like the other day." Arlen set eyes on the river.

"You returned with a limp! I told you that tree was too high up. Sometimes I think you're just trying to die!"

"Pffft! Don't be silly. Here, catch these." Arlen removes his pants and flings them in the air.

"What! Don't go in naked; the water must be freezing. Prince Arlen!" Julius keeps his hands in the air to catch every garment as he calls out a name he is not allowed to say outside the castle walls.

"Stop whining. It's just water." Arlen jumped in from a huge rock along the riverbank. "Ohhh shit, it's cold." He cussed.

His servant found an excellent spot to sit and watch the young man act like a child. After swimming in various directions and techniques, Arlen can no longer take the silence. "Jules, get in the water." His hands slap at the surface childishly, resulting in a splash.

"Nope, staying here...and catch some fish while you're in there," Julius said. Folding his Master's clothes, he scoffs and mutters, "With your thing dangling in their view, the fish will probably think it's bait. I hope they succeed in biting it this time around."

"You know I can hear you loud and clear, right?" Arlen startled his friend with a surprise close-up.

"No! I don't know what you're talking about. Hurry and let's go back," Julius rants with his nose in the air.

Arlen always believed he had a lot in common with his aid. Abandoned by his father because he was a beta, Julius was taken in by Arlen's uncle.

Of all the servants that ever got to wait on the young Master, Julius survived his robust and cunning nature.

Truth is, Arlen took a liking to the young man. He drew Julius close and treated him as an equal. After all, if he were an alpha like his parents, he should have presented by now.