Unknown Wolf

Prince Rowen

********* Rowen's POV

Blackbriar Castle is a dreadful place set to the far north of our kingdom where the land is cold and dark. The grounds even seem solemn surrounded by mountains, thorns, and thick trees. It was made completely of stone mined from the mountains beyond. A black colored slate makes it stick out in contrast to the freshly fallen snow like a bad omen. It was centuries old and had always housed my ancestors.

I only had disdain for it as it came into view from the vehicle. It had not held many happy childhood memories for me, that's for sure. If I could leave this place and never return, I would, but that is not something a prince can simply do. My father would never allow me to get away with disgracing him that way. He would follow me to the ends of the earth just to drag me back here so he could rip me from limb to limb in satisfaction. Thriving off my torturous screams.

I hate my father. He doesn't love his sons. He owns them as if we owe him a debt, and I, by far, am nothing but a disappointment. A constant reminder of my weak mother as he puts it. She was the only one I cared for in this messed up "family" if that's the word you would even entertain. Then my father killed her because as he put it, she made me weak. He can spin that story of Rogues all he wants. No one is fooled, but everyone is too scared to challenge him.

I don't even have a bond with my brother Ryker. We grew up with my father pitting us against each other as a tactic to make us "stronger." Ryker had no issues making his little brother suffer and even enjoyed my pain with his sadistic ways. We haven't fought since he was fifteen. My father didn't want us even sparring in case we killed each other.

Oh, don't go feeling for him just yet. The only reason he cares that we live is so his lineage continues and because we are his heirs. The favoritism for my brother is obvious as he is the first born son and more like my father in every way except maybe more deranged. He was the epitome of what a Blackwood should be where I was just the backup heir, and that is probably the only reason I get to live.

It's quite lucky my mother never produced a girl. If she was even allowed to live, I would hate to imagine what her life would have been like. My father has no respect for women in the slightest. I'm thankful my brother and I have not found our mates, and truthfully, I hope we never do. If my brother found his, I would feel nothing but pity for her as she would be treated as miserably as my mother or worse.

My father and brother would see my mate as a weakness like they saw my mother was for me. Weaknesses were not tolerated in our family and would be stomped out. I would go insane trying to keep her safe as they might allow her to produce a child for me, and then they would eliminate her. Making me prove my strength in surviving her death. Sounds like a loving and nurturing home environment, doesn't it.

My existence is a miserable one as even at twenty-three, I can not find a way to escape this heartless family. As far as I can see, there is no escape. Blackbriar Castle is a prison, and being a Blackwood is a life sentence.

The car finally pulls up to let me out. I luckily had been away dealing with menial business as my father puts it with the Alphas of our territories. I'm happy to do it to escape this place even for a short period of time, and the Alphas prefer dealing with me as opposed to my brother or father.

The servants quietly and quickly unload my luggage as I walk up the steps to enter the dark castle. The ornate wood doors opened wide at my arrival. A servant swiftly came up to me, shaking in fear.

"Your father needs to see you at your immediate arrival, sir." the woman squeaked out while staring at my shoes.

I sighed, figuring this couldn't be good. I was dealing with a livid king as soon as I had returned home. I don't know what may have happened, but I know it was not about something I had done. Must have been some announcement he had recently received.

Shortly, I found my father in his study, his eyes glowing and veins popping out of his neck. He seemed to be trying to contain his wolf from going on a bloody murder spree. Ryker was already standing there. I gave him a questioning look, and he shrugged in curiosity himself.

"Finally, the second prince graces us with his presence," my father bellowed out. It was no use to explain that I had just arrived at the castle. Ryker sneered, enjoying my father's disdain for me.

I stood there with my cold mask set firm on my face, hiding anything going on in my head about the current situation. I learned at a very young age to concile my thoughts and emotions or have them used against me as a reason to inflict pain or punishment. I stood in silence as he continued.

"I have just received an invitation for our household, late, I might add, to invite us for a ball at Greystone Manor."

My father practically spit this information at us. I knew there was more to this invitation than he was letting on to make him that livid, but I knew better than to say anything.

"A ball to announce his heir for her eighteenth birthday!!" He roared out echoing through the halls.

"King Athelstad Grey has a child?" I let slip in my surprise.

"Apparently, if I am receiving an invitation to her coming of age ball, Rowen." He growled at me. "Meaning he had this monstrosity with that mate of his and has hid her from me all these years."

Ryker smirked, "He didn't even produce a son. We will just plan to wipe this fragile princess out before she has time to find her mate. Doubtful, a weak King like Grey would survive losing his mate and his child. Then their kingdom will be ripe for the picking."

My father took in what Ryker had just said, and it dawned on him the truth of that scenario. I could then see the gears turning in his head, which was never a good sign for anyone he saw as a threat.

"King Grey is only inviting us out of duty where we are currently at peace for the moment and not wanting to offend you causing reason to attack. He will have his heir and only daughter under tight security and his best guard," that's what I would do if she were mine, "I suggest we go peacefully to gather intel before finding the best line of attack. We know nothing of this heir."

My father glared back at my response. He would much rather have taken the brash manner of my brother's idea, but he was wise enough to know my plan was the smarter of the two. Probably a more successful route if he wanted the plan of death and conquer to work to his advantage.

He closed his eyes and sighed, "We will go to this ball as Rowen has suggested to gather intel only. Afterwards, we will plan our next move to remedy this situation."

His annoyance dripped off every word, and I saw Ryker's anger towards me as if I told him he couldn't play his favorite game. My father dismissed us to get packed and be ready to leave in the morning as it would be a long journey to Greystone Manor.

I stood in my room next to the fire staring into the flames with my thoughts. Something about the knowledge of this new princess was getting under my skin. I asked for our spies to bring me all the information they had on her which wasn't much. King Athelstad had been smart and had done a great deal to protect his daughter from my father.

What they were able to gather from the situation was that he had kept her locked up in Greystone her whole life. She'd never stepped foot out of it. She was to be highly intelligent and determined. It was whispered that she looked like her late mother, and very beautiful. Her birthday was on December 18th landing on a full moon. It was seen to be good luck to have a full moon on the birthday of your first shift. There was a rumor of sorts that she was late in her first shift as most shift for the first time at sixteen. She was said to be a late bloomer and was just now at seventeen showing signs of her wolf. Maybe she was weak as Ryker had guessed, or maybe there was something more to the reasoning behind her delay.

My first shift had fallen on a new moon, and I can still remember the excruciating pain of it. I had to do it alone, but the strength and freedom that came from my wolf was worth it. I could feel Kane, my wolf pacing in my head now. I wondered what was setting him on edge, but it was beside me.

My father had wanted control of the eastern territories for decades, and if she was the key to his success, she never stood a chance. I truthfully couldn't see why they couldn't just be satisfied with our own territories, but when it came to power, enough was never enough for my father. It's the only thing he craved, making her birth right also her death sentence in his eyes.