The story begins not with a king, but with a prince. Young Caius belongs to a pack known for peace, but they are slaughtered by a rival faction (perhaps a coalition of silver-wielding humans or a rogue wolf legion). During his escape, wounded and shifting for the first time, a human child finds him. She doesn't see a monster; she sees a hurt animal. She hides him and shares her warmth, giving him the chance to survive.Fifteen years later, Caius has reclaimed his throne through blood and iron. He is the "Werewolf King," a cold, tactically brilliant ruler obsessed with finding the survivors of the massacre. He has built a massive spy network with one goal: Total Annihilation of his enemies. ​While scouting a border village—a place he intends to raze to flush out a traitor—he encounters Elara. She is a healer (or a simple herbalist). He recognizes her scent instantly—it’s the scent of the girl who saved him.