ELLIOT’S POV

The dark energy entered my veins, making my young body shiver as I felt it attempt to corrode my soul.

'I trusted someone I shouldn't.' I thought to myself as I deeply inhaled. The pain made my legs quiver. I bit my lip until it drew blood.

'Don't fight it, child. It will directly consume your soul once you fight it. Just let the dark energy enter your soul and you will be able to retain your own will.' The first elder told me with a smile on his face.

I looked at his kind face that I have trusted and felt a slash in my heart.

In this world, I grew up alone. I had no one with me, to teach me, and to guide me. Until, Council of the Werewolves has found me. For the first time in my life, I thought I have found others that treated me kindly, like how the elders would care for the younger generation.

However, all that they have shown me was a facade.

All they wanted was my power. And, now, I ended up falling in their trap.

'Not yet.' I heard an ancient voice inside of me. 'You haven't fallen on their trap yet,' He added.

'Are you...my wolf?' I asked him. I was but ten years old and haven't shifted. My wolf shouldn't be able to converse with me, yet.

'No. Your wolf is still sleeping. Child, listen to me carefully,' The ancient voice answered. 'From your soul, there is a tremendous power. Seek it and wrap it around the black energy that already entered your body. Control it to shield your soul. It won't defeat the dark energy, but it will protect you, for the meantime. You must make haste.'

Hurriedly, I closed my eyes and did what he told me. With desperation, I tapped on the power that I didn't know I had, and protected my heart and my soul with it.

Within a couple of minutes, the dark energy tried to consume my soul. I gritted my teeth and fought it, as I knew that I would lose myself, my soul and my will, should I fail.

Enduring the pain that was akin to being stabbed by a thousand knives with every second, I was finally able to create a frail balance of the dark energy and my own energy within my body.

'Thank you for saving me. Who are you? What is this power?' I whispered in my soul.

Only a couple of seconds did the voice reply, 'Your power, you alone will be able to know it.'

'But, I can tell you, that your powers came from your parents, the two most powerful beings in the lower realm.'

'As for my name, you may call me Erim.' He said, his voice sounded faint until I didn’t hear him anymore.

A few moments after, I heard the second elder ask, "Is it done?"

Slowly, I stood up straight before bowing in their direction. The three elders bursted into laughter.

"Good thing we found this powerful pup. Once he shifts, the dark sorcerer will have a powerful tool against 'him’,” The third elder laughed.

"I don't think the child is enough to counter him. After all, we all read in the ancient texts how powerful he was. But, as you said, the child will be a good tool." The second Elder replied.

"When you shift, you will be inducted as the fourth elder of this council. Then, we will slowly tell you what to do." The first elder declared before he brushed my hair on my face. "Well done, child. I am proud of you," He added.

At that moment, I quietly bit my tongue and closed my eyes. I wanted to kill them. Yet, I couldn’t. I was too weak, and now, they had a hold in my life.

I had no choice but to grit my teeth and lower my head.

x x x

For years, I have lived my life with constant pain and torture as I prevented the dark energy from corroding my body.

‘Should I just give up?’ That was the constant question in my mind. However, I knew I couldn’t, especially when I saw the young child who was living with the council.

Erim, the ancient voice, has told me that the young child was the reincarnation of Eleazar, the First King of the World.

He was the most powerful being in the lower realm, as well as my...father.

After a thousand years, he was able to return here in the lower realm. Unfortunately, the dark sorcerer started to move again. And I had to protect my father from the council who betrayed him.

For him, I couldn’t give up. Yet.

‘But, when he was already safe, maybe I could finally let go,’ I thought, every night before I slept.

At that time, I was exhausted. All I wanted was to be free from pain.

Thus, apart from assisting my father, I had no reason to live.

Until I saw her.

Her eyes, that turned into crescents and twinkled when she smiled, had a hidden glint of mischievousness in them that made her look so alive, so fascinating. And when she let out a clear and honest laughter, I felt an inexplicable warmth in my heart.

I looked at her who had luscious brown hair and captivating gray eyes. From the moment I saw her, she basically captured my soul.

“My mate.” I whispered as I watched her from afar.

Right away, I wanted to run and hold her in my arms. However, I quickly realized that I couldn’t. Because if I did, they might find her. And when they found her, her life would be in grave peril.

In just a matter of seconds, from feeling the ultimate bliss, I felt my heart shattered as I felt an inexplicable pain in my soul.

I greatly longed for her, yet for her safety, I couldn’t get close.

The only thing I could do...was to watch her from afar.

Still, her laughter, her mischievous eyes...her mere existence, gave meaning, a purpose to my life.

At that very moment when I saw her, I decided, I had to survive. And somehow, I had to be free from the clutches of the dark energy.

So I could finally come near her...

My Iris Rose, my beautiful human mate.