The Prince and The Prophecy

CHAPTER ONE

“Some people believe that the legends of werewolves started in The Epic of Gilgamesh, the oldest known Western prose, when Gilgamesh rejected a potential lover because she had turned her previous mate into a wolf.” Mr. Thanasi explained in front of the class.

He is a member of the elders, perhaps over two century years old now. His hair turned grey and his skin wrinkled. His posture is a little bent due to aging. He’s wearing very thick glasses to help him see. Gone is the once clear eyesight that you can see even in the dark.

Not a single trace of strength of a Lycan can be found in him, but he is still one of the most respected creatures in our kingdom.

Never had I imagined that I would turn into this pathetic being in a few centuries. I stifled a yawn while looking at him. I think I’d rather die than see myself like him. He probably can’t even look at himself in the mirror.

“Werewolves made another early appearance in Greek mythology with the Legend of Lycaon and also emerged in early Nordic folklore…” he continued talking, unaware of the fact that probably ninety per cent of the class were not listening.

We’re second year college students and we have already had tons of history classes from primary to high school. What more should we learn?

“According to the legend, Lycaon, the son of Pelasgus, angered the god Zeus when he served him a meal made from the remains of a sacrificed boy. As punishment, the enraged Zeus turned Lycaon and his sons into wolves.” the professor continued as if he was telling a story to young children.

I crumpled a tiny piece of paper and turned it into a ball. The moment Mr. Thanasi looked down on his book, I flicked the tiny ball with my fingers, causing it to land on his balding forehead. He quickly looked up and began to scan the students in front of him.

Most of the students were suppressing their laughs while I feigned an innocent look and pretended to read something from my book.

He continued his lessons after giving us some threatening stares, which barely served its purpose in my opinion.

“Those stories were just legends and speculations from people. Lycans and werewolves will always stay as one of the biggest mysteries for mankind.”

I let out another yawn before scratching my head. This is a two-hour class but it seems to be going on forever.

“It actually started with King Lymachos, one of the greatest kings of his era. He and his entourage encountered a wolf infected with an unknown virus and he was badly bitten. He struggled to fight for his life for weeks. On the first full moon since the encounter, the moment his body was hit by the moonlight he started squirming and screaming, conveying horror to the whole kingdom.”

I began counting the time in my head, but it’s not working. It only makes my eyes feel heavier. I straightened up in my seat and tried to look for something interesting.

Then I noticed a she-wolf who kept on glancing my way. She’s sitting across the room beside the large window. I looked at her, waiting for her to steal another glance and the moment she did, I winked at her, then bit my lower lip.

Her eyes widened before she dropped her head, her long black hair now covering her small face. She looks rather shy for a she wolf who is normally confident, especially the ones who go to this school. Almost every student here has either royal or alpha blood. That’s why everyone has their own stubborn attitude.

She kept her head down for the next minute and I quickly lost my interest in her.

I tried to listen to what Mr. Thanasi was blabbing about when I felt something poking my back. I turned and saw Leila, a she-wolf that I used to sleep with once. She smiled seductively and moved her foot sensually going down to my butt. I can smell her arousal. I shot her a warning glare and she hurriedly put down her foot.

Leila is the only daughter of the Alpha of the Blood Moon pack. She’s been eyeing me like a prize since forever and sleeping with her once was just a huge mistake on my part. I just shrugged it off when she shrunk back to her seat. I put my attention to the balding man in front.

“He is the first man to transform into a werewolf, even though it is gradual. The whole process took several full moons before he finally transformed into the first Lycan. Lycans are different from werewolves as werewolves are like normal wolves, only bigger, stronger and with better senses, plus the fact that they can transform into humans.”

Oh for goddess’ sake!

Really now? Who doesn’t know that? All of us here are werewolves and Lycans. Of course, we know what we are and what the differences are between the two species.

“Lycans, on the other hand, are more like wolf humanoids. They stand on two feet and are way bigger than werewolves. They are also more powerful. Their senses are ten times more powerful than Alphas.” I almost rolled my eyes at that.

I wonder if he would be bragging about all this if he was a werewolf. Everyone knows that we Lycans are far more superior than the werewolves here, so no need to rub it off. This filthy old guy!

“Persecution began as soon as humans realized the threat that we impose on them…” he continued blabbing in front of the class.

Can somebody please remind me again why we have this class? Heck, why do we even need to go to school in the first place?

I yawned again for the hundredth time. I was trying so hard to keep myself awake, but the lackluster professor in front isn’t helping at all. I took a glance at my friends. They weren’t looking at me.

Zander even has his head buried in his arms on top of his desk. I bet a few minutes from now he will start snoring already! Maybe I should just sleep too.

I then turned to Marcus, who was seated at the back. I discreetly pointed my finger to the door, trying to send a message with it. He smirked before nodding. I looked back at Fredrick but it was a little hard to get his attention.

Why?

Because he was busy flirting with the shewolf sitting in front of him. Well, I guess it’s good to know that at least one of us is enjoying this damned class.

I tore another piece of paper and crumpled it the same way I did earlier. Only that now, my target is Fredrick, not the professor. I aimed for his right cheek and that’s where it landed.

I see I still have a good aim despite the lack of practice.

He turned in my direction with a scowl on his face. I snickered upon seeing his reaction. He is such a horndog and, as I can see, he has a new target.

I c****d my head in the direction of the door. He still nodded despite the mood on his face. I looked back at Mr. Thanasi and waited for him to turn his back. When he did to write something on the board, I gave a thumbs up to Marcus and Fredrick. We all scurried to the back door.

On the way out, I went to Zander’s seat and gave him a smack on his head. The brute sprang up from sleep and growled. I looked back at the professor thinking that he heard Zander but he still had his back on us.

Hmm, the advantage of having an ancient professor, eh?

I pulled him and pointed towards our exit. He just gave a nod before picking up his things to follow us. Both Marcus and Fred are outside now waiting for us.

Our other classmates were just stealing glances with envy in their eyes while the others just shrugged before giving back their attention to the lectures.

Lycan history is a rather boring subject and for it to be taught by an equally boring professor was every student's nightmare. Everyone should just ditch this class.

“Ah, at last! I thought we were going to endure the whole class!” Marcus complained when we finally made our way to the back of the school building. He even did some stretching as if he had body pains from the class.

“Shush! We’re not out yet, so shut your tongue.” Zander hissed.

He’s certainly the most hot-headed wolf that I know. He’s grumpier now that I suddenly woke him up. We all fell silent as we carefully found the way to our secret passage.

This is a university for the kingdom’s elite. As I’ve mentioned earlier, only students with royal and alpha blood are accepted except for those who have exceptional intelligence and skills, of course. They have a chance to go to Imperial University, but the process is very tedious.

It’s like going through a needle’s eye.

Given that, the security is also tight, that’s why we really have to be cautious before anyone sees us and kicks us into detention or worse, back to Mr. Thanasi’s class.

All the entrances and exits were heavily guarded. That’s why the sewer is our only way out.

Once we were there, Fredrick removed the metal grate so that we could enter. Zander went in first, followed by Marcus and me. The last is Fredrick because he has to put back the metal grate in place. We all run out then like mice being chased by cats.

We were laughing our asses out when we finally escaped once more. Except for grumpy Zander, of course.

“Disgusting sewer! Can’t you find another passage for us, Lucas? It smells like s**t! The stink seems to cling to my clothes.” grumbled Zander while sniffing his clothes.

“Calm down now, Zander. It served its purpose, right? You just have to endure a little. Or better yet, why don’t you find another way out yourself?” I snickered but I only earned another growl from him.

“Stop it you two! We’re not so far from school yet, they might hear you. Where do we go now?” asked Fred.

“Let’s have a race. I’m itching to run. I feel like my bones got stuck from sitting on Mr. Thanasi’s class,” Marcus proposed.

“Yeah, let’s race to the waterfall!” then we all took off our clothes before shifting and then we started running like crazed dogs.

I’m a Lycan and it gives me the advantage, since we are superior to normal werewolves, like Mr. Thanasi again reminded us earlier.

Marcus gives me a good competition as he is a sprinter. He has no royal or alpha blood in him, but because of that special ability, he was admitted to the university. He can run faster than normal wolves, but he’s still no match for me.

I let my wolf, Ryker, control my body. I just savored the feeling of the rushing wind against my white and grey fur.

I love running. I feel like it sets me free from everything.

I ordered Ryker to go faster when I already saw the cliff where the water falls from the river. Ryker leaped off the cliff and I took the shift midway, causing me to land on the water below in my human form. My three friends followed my lead.

“Show off!” Zander spat. I only laughed at him.

We then played like children in the water. We raced once more but this time in the water. Of course, I won again as expected and I earned a growl from Zander once more.

“Your highness!”

I almost jumped out of the water when I heard that. Our heads must be so much into the fun that we didn’t even notice their presence. Damn. How long have we been here? How did they find us that fast?

“His Majesty is looking for you and asked us to bring you to him at once.” The leader of my father’s security entourage said while one of his men handed me a fresh set of clothes.

I had no choice but to get out of the water. I took the clothes and hastily put them on before turning to my friends, who all turned quiet, maybe with the sight of these warrior Lycans before them. I just nodded at them before going with my father’s warriors.

Is it really too much for me to go and have some fun? I guess that's the price I have to pay for being born into a "privileged" position.

Fuck that.