Zuerien's POV They say the more you try to forget something, the more you remember. I wonder then, if I will ever be able to forget at all... Sitting silently on the large leather recliner, I gazed at the fire burning over the hearth, casting a red-orange glow around the large study. My eyes watched the flames as they danced over and around the burning wood, consuming it slowly, rigorously, mercilessly, till all that remained was dark grey ashes. Outside the large glass windows, the wind blew ferociously, causing them to rattle occasionally. The constant sound of water falling outside on the window sill echoed in the quiet room. The rain which had started punctually at 12:00 am that morning, continued to fall incessantly, drenching the landscape in different shades of grey and black. But it would soon stop in a few minutes, when the clock would strike 12:00 am tomorrow. As I leaned back against the recliner, feeling the memories resurface with a vengeance. Every single thing about this room was painfully familiar. The bookshelves lining the walls of the large room holding books of every genre ever written, the polished light brown wooden floors and the musky scent of wet soil that remained ever present in the room, they all made me feel terribly nostalgic- a feeling I rarely ever dwelt upon. Being surrounded by all these familiar things, I felt the memories of my past resurface with formidable strength- the same memories that I had locked away so deep within me that I couldn't reach them even if I tried to, except on one day- today, the 6th of July. It was on this dreaded day that my entire family was massacred, wiped out without anything left but ashes. They were murdered in cold blood by the very people that my family trusted most in the world, and it happened today, 14 years ago. The 6th of July was the only day of the year that I let myself remember, recollect and relive everything that happened that cursed day. I lost everything that day. My family, my friends, everyone was gone, there was nothing left. I lost every single reason that could possibly hold me down to this world, except one- my promise. The promise I made to my parents in their very last moments. A promise to live. After having made that promise I knew there was no going back. No matter how hard things got, no matter how painful it became to go on, I had to keep living, I would never give up. The pain was unbearable, but I was used to it. Pain was the only feeling that had never left me, not once since that day. Even though I lived every second of my life trying to ignore it, it was always present. And to be completely honest I was grateful for it, because it reminded me that I was still capable of feeling, it reminded me that I was alive. But a life without purpose is no life at all Until that dark day when my family was murdered, my purpose for living was simple and clear. I lived each day to see my family happy, to see them healthy, to see them alive. But after I had lost every last person I had ever loved, I realised that without another purpose there was no way I would be able to keep the promise I made to my parents. So I gave myself a new purpose to live- my parents' dream. Their dream to have me succeed them and ascend the throne, to be the next High Ruler of all Werewolves and to rule the werewolf kind with justice and love. Till the very end, my parents had been proud of me, till their dying breaths they believed in me. Even in their last moments, they helped me escape, so that I could live. I was the very last member of the king's bloodline, the last Royale. I was their legacy. Right then and there, next to my dying parents, I knew I had to live on, for my family, for my friends, for my people. After that day I never allowed myself to look back. I kept pressing on each day, moving forward, never giving up or giving in. I shifted into my wolf for the first time very early, as compared to the age wolves normally had their first shifts. It was just a few days after the death of my family and friends. Once I had shifted, me and my wolf continued to strive towards our goal together. He was my constant companion and fellow bearer of my heavy past. After many years of dedicated, sincere and torturous hard work, I became the ultimate leader, the strongest Alpha ever to have existed. My wolf and I were the embodiment of strength, having been recognized as such by the Elite Counsil of Overseers- a group of 8 people in charge of maintaining peace between all the various kinds of living beings that existed, both humans and the Supernaturals. I was titled Alpha Supreme- Zuerien Kai Royale, Alpha of Power. And on my 22nd birthday I was crowned the Alpha King, supreme ruler of all werewolves. Since that day I had strived to protect my people and safeguard them from any and all threats and I would continue to do so till the my last breath. I was their King and I ruled them with justice- ...and love That part of my parents' dream I could not fullfill. I was no longer capable of loving anyone or anything. Everything I did for the werewolf kind, I did because it was my duty and I would never abandon my people. I did it in order to fulfill my only purpose for living on. Having grown up from a tender age without receiving love, I had grown incapable of giving any either. And now, that was just my way of life. Not loving saved me a whole lot of unnecessary pain- heartache. And no-matter what happened I would never let anyone close enough to me to love them. I averted my gaze from the flames, which were now dying down, to look at the tall grandfather clock opposite me at the corner of the spacious room. It read 11:59 pm with 25 seconds to go before the start of the 7th of July and before I had to return to my role as Alpha king. I stood up and walked to the window as the last embers of the flames died down. The rain had slowed down to a light drizzle. The night sky, though still cloudy, was clearing up slowly. I inhaled deeply before closing my eyes and picturing my mom and dad's smiling faces. "For you, I will go on living, and I will never give up", I said softly. "And I will continue to be a good and just king, as it is my only purpose for living", I finished as the clock read 15 seconds to midnight. I opened my mouth to whisper 'for you' one more time, but suddenly my mom's words from my childhood rang in my ears, "...No matter what happens, as long as your mate is still out there, you will always have a reason to go on living. And she will make you very happy Zuerien..." My eyes were wide from the sudden recollection of my mom's words that hit me like a strong bolt of lightning. My wolf howled loudly inside of me and I felt a shiver of an unknown emotion run down my spine. My mate I was shocked beyond comprehension at how those two words warmed my heart, stirring strange feelings inside of me. I glanced at the clock again, 10 more seconds. But then again, I knew that I probably didn't even have a mate. It was obvious, because of who I was... And because...I was incapable of loving anyone. That thought caused my wolf to whimper in pain, but we both knew it was true. And just like that the immense warmth that had engulfed my heart a few seconds ago was gone, leaving me feeling cold and empty once again. 6 seconds I closed my eyes and as I listened to the clock ticking the last few seconds of the day I told my self, 5 seconds I 4 seconds don't 3 seconds have 2 seconds a 1 second MATE! The grandfather clock struck twelve with a loud clang that echoed all throughout the room at the same time as my wolf cried out the word mate and my eyes shot open. What?! I frantically called to my wolf asking him why he had just said that but he seemed just as confused as I was. He replied saying that for some incomprehensible reason he had had a sudden urge to say it. Outside the window the clouds had cleared and the night sky looked beautiful, with thousands of stars spread across its expanse. Slowly and shakily I walked out to the balcony and stood out there watching the drenched landscape shining under the silver moonlight. A soft wind blew across the horizon, ruffling my hair and with it bringing a sweet, almost intoxicating scent of an exotic Arabian perfume. The scent overpowered my senses for a brief moment and the warmth returned with tremendous intensity. My wolf was howling with joy inside of me but when I questioned him about it he seemed unsure of why he was feeling this way. But just as suddenly as it had appeared the scent was gone and my wolf and I found ourselves searching the landscape for the source of the scent. After a few seconds I settled for the thought that lack of sleep and exhaustion were playing tricks on me and decided to retire for the night, although my wolf still seemed fidgety, in a surprisingly good way. I walked back into the study and saw that the fire had completely died down. As I made my way to the door, I felt the need to let my wolf out and go for a run, but today was going to be a busy day so it was best I went to bed and got up early. And with that I gave the room one last lingering glance before closing the door behind me and walking out into the moonlit corridor.