Theron's POV

"According to our intel, the mutt who calls himself Lycan king of the White-Fur Lycans will be mated to the Alpha Queen of EmberFang tonight, under the full moon." One of my commanders opens the floor for the war plan.

"A bad timing to pick a wedding. Caius knows very well our curse activates during the full moon yet he picked tonight. Something's fishy." Another of my commander says, leaving the others deep in thoughts.

"No, it's perfect." I sigh and stand.

I walk to the table where the map of EmberFang Pack is spread out. "EmberFang is the strongest werewolf pack. It only makes sense Caius won't be expecting this attack. Before his cock sees us coming, we would have ended him and his men."

"Tonight, we end his monstrosities." The men growls and my lips tug to a warm, thin smile.

Then, I end the discussion by marking points on the map. "We shall attack from the south and north. Commanders, get the men ready to be chained down until it's time for war then chain yourselves too. The hour to the full moon is nigh."

My commanders's footsteps recede my camp tent as they go to execute my orders. I'm about to sit when a familiar presence storms in.

"Plans have changed. We must stop this war, Theron."

I snicker before filling my cup with alcohol. Having poured it down my throat, I tilt my head to the side. "Tell me, Wan. Do you itch to lose your head?"

"You must hear me out. There's a new intel. Caius has taken over the werewolves stronghold, EmberFang. This means more armies and territories for him. We must re-strategize." He pauses, takes off his gloves, warms his hands above the fire, and exhales sharply.

His eyes linger on me for a second as I stare blankly at him. "Fine, I apologise for my intrusion, but you wouldn't kill me. You literally saved me from certain death and made me your personal adviser. Now, I am advising you."

"We have the moon to our advantage. As long as Caius isn't in his own territory, he is weak."

"Except he isn't."

"Care to say more?" I ask, intrigued as I drink more of the alcohol.

"There are rumours." I roll my eyes and he groans. "I'm serious. He and his nonshifter Luna are concocting some dark magic. Kaela—she's called—and they say it grants him unspeakable power. While we're relying on the curse to win this war, what if he surprises us with some spell that controls us, or—or even keeps us locked in our beast, never to be able to take control again after the full moon?"

"Well, count yourself lucky. As a werewolf, you aren't cursed like us." I go back to drinking but I can feel his burning gaze. "Fuck, Wan. You're actually very concerned?"

"I am. Take this matter seriously." He replies, his breathing harsh.

I go to the exit of the tent, pulling the curtain to the side. The moon is out and the curse will soon activate.

We can't retreat now, so I rethink. "My ancestors have been waiting for this day. Centuries since we've been cursed by Aetherblood never to be found again on the surface of the world."

"Even you, do you remember where I found you? In the woods, cast out by your own pack to die. And what was their reason? They say you couldn't shift yet their queen is a nonshifter who lives without a care for her people. This war isn't only to end the devil called the White-Furs but also the wilted amongst the werewolves." My wolf is on the surface.

"You're still going to war, aren't you?" Wan asks gently.

"In less than an hour, my men will turn into beasts. I'll go and pave way for our attacks. When you hear my roar, you'll release them and we'll finish this, but if you do not, then you shall know your claim is true and that I've instead been defeated by Caius." I wait no further to hear from Wan before I hurry into the freezing night and mount my horse.

I ride into the dark woods, using my wolf's heightened sight to see the path. My thoughts wander off for a moment. It's crazy how the world only sees the effect and never the cause. My species are seen as the enemy while the White-Fur Lycans hide behind feigned glory, acting like they are the saviour but instead they destroy even the werewolves who support them.

My head suddenly jabs back, instantly alerting me of the curse.

"It's happening." I whisper to myself and hurry.

We intentionally made tent close to EmberFang so it'll be easy to attack. When the curse takes over, I have no control over my wolf.

It's like being trapped inside your true form. You kill, hurt, and destroy everything in your path.

But we are no monsters unlike the White-Fur Lycans. We have conscience but they don't. Under the full moon or not, they take lands, rape, and wreck havoc. Tonight, that all ends.

"Fuck!" The moon is completely bare. I can feel the familiar burning sensation, exciting my nerves. My bones start to crack, forcing out the beast inside of me.

I fall from the horse and trash on the floor, each humanly structure being replaced one by one. Skin turns fur. Bones harden and reshape. Ears grow bigger. Eyes sharper. Teeth made fangs. Nails lengthened into talons.

And when I rise, the curse rises with me. I breath heavily, angry, craving destruction...and I dash into the woods. But my direction changes.

A sudden scent clouds my senses. No, no, no! I'm to head towards EmberFang not White-Fur territory. The scent grows strong as I ruin the forest, speeding inhumanly towards it.

Sweet jasmine, tender like milk with a pinch of cedarwood.

It's closer! Closer! Then, my wolf halts in front of a body. She lies flat, paralyzed, her face covered in mud. Usually, I'd have decapitated anything in my sight, but there's a restriction.

In her eyes, I see betrayal and pain. One I relate to—and I bite her. But just as soon as I did, I recoil.

Her blood is unlike anything the curse have ever tasted. It burns. It hurts. My insides turn upside down and I feel my body shifting again. Something worse? What is she?

I scratch my throat over and over again before the darkness takes over.

~~~

"Sire. Sire." I wake up to a bright sunlight and Wan's face. "I waited for your call but it didn't come. You didn't make use of the curse, why?"

Wan helps me stand up to my feet. Before me is a stream but I'm still in the woods. "How did I get here? Wan, the girl."

"What girl?"

"In the woods." The next second, I run into the woods, hearing as Wan calls after me. I don't stop until I'm back in that spot, however, she isn't there anymore.

By the time Wan catches up with me, he's lost his breaths. "You really are forgetting I'm a werewolf and not a Lycan. Now, what girl do you speak of?"

I sniff closer to the ground. Her scent has almost faded but it's still here. Whoever that woman is, she's real and she did something strange to me.

"Perceived that faint jasmine, milk, and cedarwood scent?" Wan nods after a few seconds. "Find her for me."

"Are-are you sure you're okay, sire?"

"Destiny's playing a rough game with me, Wan. Find and bring the girl to me. Alive."