Chapter 1: The Night I Chose Power

After a thousand years of running wild with my pack, I finally faced the Moonbound Law’s last, cruel trial.

The weight of a millennium pressed on my shoulders. The woods around me were thick with the ghosts of every hunt, every moonlit run. It was all here with me. The air smelled of pine needles and old secrets, and for a moment, I let myself listen to the hush of the forest—like it was holding its breath, waiting for whatever came next.

For a second, I thought about the two paths: the Path of Loyalty or the Path of Ruthlessness. The words echoed in my mind: the Law’s choice. Not just tradition—my fate.

The wind itself seemed to whisper between the trees. I could almost hear the old Alpha’s voice, grave and unyielding, laying out the ancient rules that bound us to the moon and to each other.

The Path of Loyalty meant protecting everyone I knew. Every packmate lost would sap my strength.

The weight of that path settled like a heavy chain across my chest. Loyalty was a promise, but it was also a burden—one that grew heavier with every friend, every blood tie, every secret held close. The ghosts of the fallen pressed in, reminding me of every time I’d failed to save someone. Was I really strong enough for that?

Ruthlessness was the other choice: I’d have to destroy everyone I knew. For every death, my power would grow stronger.

The words felt cold, sharp as winter air. Twisted logic, sure, but there was a kind of freedom in it. The idea of power without limits, of breaking every tie that held me back, was as terrifying as it was tempting.

Thing is, I’ve made too many enemies in this life. There’s no way I could shield everyone.

A bitter laugh almost escaped me.

Too many enemies, too many old debts. I’d spent centuries making choices that left scars, and I knew better than anyone that no one could outrun the past forever.

So I chose the Path of Ruthlessness.

It felt like a door slamming shut behind me. Cold finality settled in my bones. In that moment, I became something other than what I’d been, and there was no turning back.

My name is Marcus Blackwell. I’ve never regretted a single choice I’ve made in this life. Not once.

I said it to myself, like a vow, letting the name ring in my mind. Marcus Blackwell—Alpha, father, monster. The man who would do anything for power. I let the words settle, steeling myself for what came next.

Tonight, to become more than human, I’ll start a massacre.

No poetry. Just the brutal truth. I could feel the moon above, cold and watchful, bearing witness to what I was about to do.

By the time I stepped out of the woods behind Silver Hollow Lodge, I could feel my power building.

The night air was thick with tension, the scent of rain and ozone hanging above the lodge. My boots crunched over pine needles, and raw energy thrummed under my skin, raising goosebumps. The world seemed sharper, more alive—a storm on the verge of breaking.

Beyond the trees, several elders of the Silver Hollow pack and the pack’s top enforcers had been waiting awhile.

They stood in a half-circle, their faces marked by respect and a hint of unease. Years of loyalty and rivalry flickered in their eyes. Some of them had run beside me through a hundred battles; others had only known my legend. I could see the tension there—waiting for my next move.

"Welcome back, Alpha."

Their voices came together, a low rumble of tradition and faith. The word Alpha carried more than authority—it was a bond, a promise, and a burden all at once. For a heartbeat, I almost believed in it again.

Just then, my youngest son ran up to me, excitement shining in his eyes. "Dad, I’ve already mastered the third tier of the Silver Howl! When will you teach me the secret of the fourth?" The third tier—like making varsity for us. Jamie was hungry for more.

He was breathless, cheeks flushed, grinning up at me like he’d just scored the winning touchdown at a Friday night game. Jamie always did wear his heart on his sleeve. There was a hopeful pride in his voice, the kind only a son could have for his father.

"The kid’s moving up fast. The Alpha’s got a worthy heir."

One of the old-timers clapped Jamie on the shoulder, pride shining in his eyes. There was a warmth in the way the elders looked at him—a hope for the future that had nothing to do with power and everything to do with blood.

"Marcus, Jamie’s been working hard lately—he just wanted to surprise you when you came out."

My wife stood beside our son, smiling warmly at me.

She wore her hair pulled back in a messy bun, silver streaks catching the porch light. The lines around her eyes deepened as she smiled, and I caught the faint scent of her perfume—a mix of wild rose and cedar. Her gaze met mine, steady and familiar, and for a split second, I was twenty again, seeing her for the first time beneath the harvest moon.

We’d known each other since we were twelve. Her wolf blood ran a little thin. Over the years, I’d been the one keeping her alive with my strength.

I remembered the first time I saw her shift, awkward and trembling, the wolf inside her uncertain. I’d stood by her side every full moon since, lending her my strength, my faith. She’d given me loyalty, laughter, and three children who carried the wild in their bones.

You can stretch a life, but not youth. I hadn’t aged. She already looked old.

Her hands trembled a little as she reached for Jamie, and the years hung heavy on her shoulders. I saw the ache in her movements, the wisdom in her eyes. It was a cruel joke, this gift of mine—eternity bought at the cost of watching everyone else fade.

We’re still in love. Werewolves learn to look past the surface.

She squeezed my hand, her touch warm and grounding. Love like ours wasn’t built on looks—it was forged in hardship, laughter, and a thousand shared secrets. Even as the world changed, that bond had never broken.

Looking at these familiar faces around me, I hesitated. Did I really have it in me?

A wave of memories crashed over me—birthdays under the full moon. Hunting in the snow. Jamie’s first shift. The way my wife laughed when the rain came down in sheets. For a heartbeat, I wondered if I could walk away from it all. My hands clenched at my sides, nails digging into my palms. Was this really the only way?

But that hesitation vanished as quickly as it came.

The hunger for power drowned out everything else.

Everything—for power, for true immortality.

I reminded myself of the promise I’d made, the line I’d crossed. No going back now.

Crack!

The sound echoed like a gunshot in the silent night, sharp and final.