Bound To His Beast: The LoAysha Chronicles series 1

In the beginning of time, during the Big Nang the realm of the mortals came into existence, but it was not alone in its creation. For that was the day the Multiverse came to be.

Unbeknownst to the weaker and disadvantaged races, five others came into existence. Five great universes came to be, forever connected by the Arch, but only higher-evolved minds could detect them, even fewer could access them. LoAysha was one great Realm. For it was the Wolfverse, where those of wolf descent can be found, living beyond the curiosity or speculation of the humans. A world ruled by the twelve houses of the mighty Lycan royalty, each of their own kingdom, immortal creatures that stood on their hind legs, superior to their werewolf counterparts in every way. Each of them oversaw the kingdom of the werewolves, those that were born of an animal of their own, though on all fours and didn't have the same strength. There has been an uneasy alliance between the two races. The lycans saw them as the superior race while the werewolves believed they should be the ones in charge of their own lives. There are some among the werewolves that'd do anything, even resort to murder, in order to retain ownership of their kingdom. But first they needed to get the Alpha King, King of all Kings out of the way, to succeed at their goals. A plot has been placed in motion to ensure their own success, that will bring out dark secrets that'd been kept hidden for decades. Lines are about to be drawn and war is looming in the distance, that will determine the fate of their world.

***

Jewel.

Tonight was the night.

The night I'd been waiting for my entire life it seemed, that I'd feared would never come. The night that would forever change the course of my fate. Whether it be good or bad.

Tonight was my birthday.

My eighteenth birthday.

Sigh.

Lying in the expanse of my bed, body draped by the silk sheets wrapped around me, my mind continued to wander. It was dangerous I knew, tended to take me to places I really didn't want to revisit, but I couldn't help myself. There was a cyclone of thoughts, and feelings inside of me, unable to quiet the cacophony of noise inside of my head.

All I could seem to think about was what tonight would bring and everything it'd mean for my life. This birthday was very special. Far more than all the others that'd come before. Tonight underneath the rising of the moon - a full moon as I was soon to come to realize - was when I'd learn the truth. Once and for all, when I'd finally reached my full eighteen years of age, my fate would be sealed forever. One way or another.

Either my wolf emerged from the shadows of my mind as I stood beneath the glow of the moon's light. Else I'd spent the rest of my life in this state. The weakened creature I'd been born to, beneath the rest of the almighty werewolves I'd been born into. I'd be a shiftless wolf. A pack member without a beast. A wolf had until the final strike at midnight on a cub's eighteenth birthday or they'd be condemned to the human shell they lived in for all eternity.

A single tear trickled past my resolve and down my face at the horrifying fate that I'd face tonight, if that were to happen. I became frightened at the thought that my worst fears would become realized beneath the light of the moon. That I'd never be able to shift like everyone else in the pack, proven to be the weaker creature everyone believed me to be. My worst fear.

Ever since I'd been a little girl of six all I'd ever wanted out of life was to be like everyone else in the pack. To be able to relish the simple pleasure of embracing the world the goddess presented to all of them. As I'd wanted to since my sixth birthday, when a cub received the first signs, if only to be like them. So far it hadn't. My wolf, if she existed, wasn't present.

By this point in life - mere hours until the deadline - there was very little doubt I'd be able to experience the change like the rest of the pack had. Everyone was confident it was already too late for me. I couldn't blame them. No wolf had ever taken so long to emerge. A cub normally received their wolf senses at the age of six, the first signs of the melding of their souls. It was on that night there was a grand celebration in honor of the cub, where the Alpha announced the wolves' placement in the pack. Immediately upon receiving their new position a child was trained in the academy of its choosing, to prepare them for the future. On their sixteenth birthday was when a wolf made an emergence known as the Merge, where their souls became one.

In the eyes of the pack, the cub reached maturity upon their sixteenth birthday, no longer considered the children they used to be. Upon proving the existence of their wolf to the Alpha and pack, they moved out of their parents' domain. It was then they were transferred to the Packhouse, where the now grown cub could begin their life into adulthood. Becoming a true member of the pack they began apprenticeship beneath the title expected of them. To be trained in the position that was to become their own. Then upon their eighteenth birthday, they received complete control of their wolf senses, able to sense their mate.

Of course, none of which I'd experienced. To date I'd proven what a complete failure I was in that regard. Unlike the rest of my pack mates I'd never received my wolf senses, nor were there signs of an emergence. Everyone honestly believed at this stage it was a safe bet I'd never receive my wolf like them. Honestly, I couldn't blame them. I was of a like mind. Not having a wolf was an extremely rare situation, able to count on less than one hand how many wolfless beasts there were. Three. Exactly three had failed to shift. And among those who'd been cursed with this fate not a single one of them had ever received one.

As disheartening as this was for me to realize, I knew I had to face the very real reality I'd never shift. My heart broke at the thought. Anguish opened up inside of my chest. It hurt something awful at the reality I'd never shift like them, that I'd be cursed to the shell of this weak creature.

Why, goddess?

Why did you do this to me?

To curse me to this horrible fate. Did you hate me this much? Had I done something wrong that I now must be punished for? It must surely have been horrible if you took away the wolf meant to be a part of me.

Lumbering out of bed as the slowly rose in the sky I pushed those thoughts out of my mind. Stop thinking like that, I cautioned myself. I tried not to allow my own insecurities to get the best of me, as they'd been doing for days now. No, I wouldn't let myself think these horrible thoughts. There was still time. I had to keep faith in the belief that I too would be able to experience the pleasure of the animal inside of me. Yes, I'd shift, I was just a late bloomer. A really late bloomer.

Because only in that moment, when I was presented with the beast banked deep inside me, I'd be able to find the happiness long since denied to me. And then finally, when I took the form of my spirit wolf, maybe my father wouldn't look at me like I was some great big disappointment to him. My stepmother Maybelle will finally see the child standing before her as the loving and beautiful young woman who'd only ever wanted her love. And if fate was on my side my step-sister Alayna would see me as more than the nuisance she thought I was.

It's all I've ever wanted from them. From any of them. To at long last know the love and acceptance from both my parents, if not the rest of the members of the pack. My sisters for example. All my life I'd tried to be the daughter both wanted me to be. I wore clothes they demanded, behaved how they wanted me to, went where they wanted, but none of it changed anything. All I ever received from them was disappointment and cruelty, the realization I was a failure in their eyes. As I would until I too shifted.

Pushing those thoughts to the back of my mind I moved purposefully into the adjoining bathroom. Reminding myself I couldn't afford to be standing around thinking about what couldn't be changed, I had plans today. Despite my best attempts as I stood beneath the spray of the shower, I couldn't keep my mind from wandering unbidden.

Planting my palms up against the wall of the shower stall, my head hanging between slender shoulders. In that moment I tried to find the strength to keep standing when all I wanted to do was crumble. All my mind seemed capable of thinking about was today was the day when everything would finally come to a head. As the night events would determine the rest of my life, the course of the future unfolding.

I was fully aware if I didn't shift into my wolf tonight there was a good chance the rest of my life would be forever destroyed. No, not a chance, it would. Either I shifted or I'd be turned out. I'd become a rogue. I shuddered as I confronted the reality I'd be facing if I didn't receive my wolf tonight. A terror that'd been growing inside of me for the last couple of months, as what I'd endure if my fears were realized.

Again pushing those unwanted thoughts out of my mind, none of this thinking would change the outcome. All I'd managed to accomplish was placing myself into a frenzied state of panic, which I really didn't need right now. I needed to be calm, hopeful. Stepping out of the shower as the water was turned off I reached for the towel and wrapped it around my body. A second one was used for my hair, to keep the water from leaking out onto the floor.

Inside of my bedroom, I moved to the walk-in closet where my clothes were hung up appropriately. Skimming through the options available to me I silently debated on what I was going to wear. In the end, I elected to wear a pair of black leggings and a matching tank top, appropriate for today's plans. Walking out of the closet I slid my feet into some tennis shoes and placed my hair into a ponytail.

Even knowing the plans I had for the day I reached for the necklace hanging down from the mirror. Then I reached for the ring sitting on the corner of the dresser where I'd placed it last night. These two pieces held true sentimental value to me, having been worn every day since I was four years old. From the moment both were placed into my tiny hands, the warning of how special they were. That was the year my mother Lauren fell dreadfully ill from a mysterious illness none of the doctors seemed able to diagnose. The day when one little bit of happiness I'd known was stolen from me and the hell of current began.

Banishing memories before they could bring further hints of sadness in the day ahead, I reminded myself this was supposed to be a joyous occasion. It was my birthday after all.

"JEWEL!"

Jewel.

I immediately snapped to attention at the sound of my name being bellowed throughout the otherwise silence of the estate. What was going on? Why was someone yelling for me? Though I'd grown used to my name being attached to others' anger, especially my parents, I didn't understand. I didn't do anything wrong.

"JEWEL!"

I cringed inwardly at the high-pitched scream echoing off the walls of the house, that felt like nails on a chalkboard. Gods, I hated that. I never understood her need to scream like a banshee, when we're all capable of hearing. My stepmother was a pro at it though, werewolf or not, heightened senses and all that jazz, failed to matter. If she was pissed she let people know it.

Muttering under my breath as I too came to this realization, really not wanting to deal with her anger this morning. I already had enough going on as it was, I could really do with inspiring the ire of my father's wife. This would only serve to cause her husband and mate, my father, to get involved in the situation. Normally it made it worse. For me anyway. I was always the one to blame for distressing my stepmother and sisters, the one suffering the consequences of their actions.

Spinning away from the view of my reflection in the mirror, I grabbed a jacket off the back of my desk chair. Having retrieved everything I needed for the day I made my way out of the bedroom door. Locking the door in the vain hopes of keeping certain sticky fingers out of my bedroom while I was gone. Confident my sisters wouldn't be able to gain access while I was gone, I made my way down the long corridor.

Ten minutes later I slowly jogged down the main staircase of the manor, the enormous place took a considerable amount of time to make my way through it. Though if I was being entirely honest I took longer than needed, if only to avoid whatever awaited me downstairs. It was unpleasant dealing with my step-mother on the best of days, it was a hundred times worse when she was in a mood. She seemed to be in one today.

On the brocade couch in the living room were both my father and stepmother Maybelle. Once again dressed in all the refinery expected of them, though was really ridiculous in my viewpoint. I kept those thoughts to myself, neither was particularly thrilled when I added my two cents.

Dorian St. Halen stared down his nose at his daughter who'd finally made her presence in the house known. Deep grey eyes wrinkled in disdain as he took in her present attire, clearly not to his liking. "Where on earth do you think you're going looking like that?"

"To the arena," I easily offered up the explanation of my daily plans. I knew better than to think of lying to him or withholding the truth of what I'd be up to today. He always found out the truth in the end and my punishment would be a thousand times worse.

"Not with that boy," he warned evenly.

By that boy, he meant Keven. Keven Nathaniel Blakely. KB to his closest friends, I was one of them. For most of the parents in town, they would've been exhilarated at the thought of their daughters spending time with Keven. A dream come true. As the eldest son of Jordan Blakely, the high-standing Beta for the Alpha of Red Diamond, one day Keven would rise to the high standing his father held. He'd become the next Beta, second to only the Alpha. So it only stood to reason parents would eagerly hope their daughters were mated to the man. As his mate would one day share the same high status. Second only to the Luna.

Of course, when it came to me and our friendship, it couldn't be further from the truth. My daddy had developed an instant dislike for the thought of me and Keven hanging out together. For the last couple of years, he'd done his damnedest to get between our friendship, to ensure we were never alone. To the point he'd denied my ability to hang out with our friends and school events he attended. There'd even been a few pack events I hadn't been allowed to attend, claiming because I wasn't shifted, but I knew the truth.

Why? We were just friends. It made absolutely no sense to me why Daddy disliked our hanging out together, as I'd tried to understand. It wasn't that he disliked him. My father was best friends with Jordan since the two of them were children, the reason he'd marked him as Beta when he'd become the Alpha. After all, he could've easily chosen his brother Nick. Daddy was even looking forward to the thought that one day Keven would be taking his father's place.

It didn't matter how much he'd befriended Jordan, the adoration he felt growing for Keven, Daddy couldn't stand the two of us were actually friends.

I'd stopped trying to understand the strange workings of my father's mind, seriously beginning to believe I'd never be able to. Maybe I wasn't meant to. Maybe I'd never been meant to. These were just some of those things that had no explanation for and calmly accepted what hadn't changed.

"Jewel?" he growled tersely. Daddy wasn't thrilled that I thought to stand there reminiscing rather than answering his question.

Snapped to attention at the growl I shook my head. "No Daddy, Keven won't be there today. Beta Jordan opted it was time for him to get some hands-on experience for his future position. To be better suited for the task when his time came. Presently Keven is away from town."

He grinned at the answer he'd received, seeming quite pleased by the revelation made to him. No doubt remembering the diplomatic matter he'd sent Beta Jordan on, which was believed to last a couple of weeks. Probably a month. All of which Keven would be tagging along for the ride, meaning he had at least a couple more weeks without the boy being in town. Weeks he wouldn't have to worry about the boy occupying the time of his daughter, as he'd become prone to do.

Doran nodded his head in ascent. "In that case don't spend too much time at the arena today, you have a very busy day ahead of you. I need you back no later than one."

I frowned in response to his statement. "The party isn't till nine," I thought to remind him, in case he seemed to have forgotten the timeline for tonight. I saw no need to return so early.

My father didn't seem the least bit bothered that he was demanding her presence back home eight hours prior to the event. Dorian shrugged carelessly. "Be that as it may, you need plenty of time to prepare for tonight. Your mother has scheduled an appointment for all of you girls at the saloon, Magnifique is also expecting you at three for your dress fitting."

Eyes widening in shock, I was alarmed as I listened to my father outline the plans he'd made for the day. What the hell? This was far more pampering than I was usually used to, even when it came to the pack events. Normally I was simply allowed to wear whatever I wanted to these events, as long as it adhered to the dress code he demanded of me. No chance of embarrassment and disappointment to the family name.

For five years now I'd been choosing my own wardrobe, styling my own hair and makeup, never with interference from them. Forever showing the grace and elegance of society, proving the ladylike manners and appearance. Never had I failed him. So why the change now? Why did he seem so intent this time would be different? What else could be going on? And there was most definitely something going on, it could be the only explanation.

I tuned back into his words.

Dorian carried on, unaware of his daughter's wandering thoughts. "The King's entourage will be here promptly at nine tonight, so the three of you better be on your best behavior at the party. I don't want any degrading, embarrassing spectacles, that will only serve in looking bad on all of us." On him, he meant.

Hearing the last statement that my father made to the room, it suddenly dawned on me precisely what the man had been trying to get at. Then I remembered a conversation we'd had three weeks ago, as he'd been going threw the birthday invitations he'd sent out. He'd been getting RSVP letters from people for weeks, of those who intended to be in residence.

No wonder Daddy was in such a state this morning, determined all of us were absolutely perfect. No room for error, which he meant mine. Because despite his less than pleasant feelings for his daughter at times, like every year he'd sent out invitations to all the high-ranking families of society. Alphas. All the hundred different pack alphas had received invitations to attend my birthday celebration, to be in attendance at this monumental moment in my life. That was the day my daddy excitedly announced he'd received an RSVP from none other than the Novak family, Garrett Novak to be precise. The highest nobility in society.

I bowed to him. "Okay daddy, whatever you want."