A younger version of Calhoun stood before a huge oak tree that sat in the backyard of the castle. He always went there to calm his mind especially when he was taunted by any of his cousins. They were all living in the castle with him and their grandparents.
Marjun had just died and all hands were pointing to him. He didn't know how anyone in his right mind would accuse him of killing his grandfather. Everyone saw how close they were and his cousins were jealous of it. He agreed, his mother always warned him to be mindful of how close he was to his grandfather, knowing that jealousy was the mother of all other sins.
He never listened. Just this week, a call came for him to visit his grandfather's chamber and when he got in, he saw that the man had been murdered. The man was murdered in the same way he had explained to him that this was the only way he had to be killed for him to die.
Calhoun's fears became real that day. Now all his cousins wanted to take over the throne. But during the funeral, the prophecy was read and it was said that if he ever told anyone the means he must be killed, or he would die.
Did that now mean that the curse was real? Ever since Montego's death, he had always come to the oak tree when he was taunted by his cousins. He hated being reminded of his grandfather's death.
None of his uncles or aunts wanted to take over the throne, his father was about to reject it too. There was something that happened that no one knew about. Calhoun could not sit by and watch the throne slip from his family's hands just because of a stupid curse.
If his father did not have the balls to take over the throne, then he did. He had the balls and he was going to sit on the throne.
He went to the coronation ceremony. His mother had previously begged him to attend it but he had refused. He refused for only one reason and that was because he did not want to see someone else, other than his father take over the throne.
Clad in a black shirt and black trousers, he went back into the castle and picked a black robe to wear over his clothes. He matched it with a black pair of shoes. Once he was done, he styled his hair and walked out of his room. He walked down the stairs, slowly and once he was getting to the banquet hall, he heard his father refuse the crown.
"I will take the crown." He spoke up. He knew that people would then be wondering who wanted to take over from Montego. The voice sounded like a child's but it held the right amount of power.
"Show yourself!" The beta was announced. The beta was Felix's father, and he was much older than his father. Felix was about the same age as his father.
"I will take the crown," Calhoun repeated as he rounded off the final corner, showing himself to the crowd of people. Gasps were spreading across the halls as the people present displayed their surprise.
"You?" The man asked. "What do you know, little boy?"
"First, don't call me a little boy," Calhoun warned. "Secondly, the things I know are greater than what you could ever know!"
"Calhoun." His father warned. "Watch your mouth, boy!"
Then turning to the beta he bowed slightly.
"My apologies Beta Kris. He is just a boy."
"Oh shut it, Salvador!" Joyce scolded. She hurried over to where Calhoun was and tapped his chin. "Go ahead, my boy. If your father shall be a slave to fear and cower away from what is rightfully his, then I shall ensure it reaches you."
Calhoun smiled gratefully. His mother was his support and backbone. She was the one who personally trained him to become what he was, the favorite grandchild of his grandfather.
"Joyce-"
"Your father, Marjun Montego, will be so ashamed of you." She snapped. "How can you order your son to be quiet claiming that he is only a child?"
"Joyce, don't tell me you want our son to sit on this cursed throne?"
"It's a superstition!" Joyce exclaimed. "Montego was cursed, did he not bear sons? Have you not borne a son? I am even more certain that the moon goddess will give my son a son!"
"Joyce-"
"Don't even think about it, Salvador!" Joyce warned. Her eyes flashed and Calhoun watched his father settle down softly. He smirked. Of course, he trusted that his mother would be his only support.
"I will take the throne, I am more entitled than he is." Another voice spoke up. Calhoun smirked at his uncle. So now that he wanted the throne, someone else wanted it.
"Beta Kris," Joyce called. "They have all passed their time, right? They do not deserve a chance for the throne anymore, right?"
"I'm sorry lady Joyce," Kris said. "They have to join in the battle of kings."
"Then what about my boy?" Joyce demanded fiercely.
"Glad to see you realize he is just a boy!" Martinez said.
Joyce chuckled, she put her hand into her dress and turned so fast, the next thing everyone saw was Martinez struggling to catch his breath. The guests began to worry and people stood up from their seats, preparing to escape. Joyce was known for her ruthlessness everywhere.
Martinez felt the injury increase and he gagged as he clutched his neck.
"You witch!" Rias yelled out. She grabbed her husband in fear as he struggled for his breath. Joyce chuckled, staring at them.
"In your next life, learn to watch your tongue." She said.
Salvador sighed. He could already guess that this was what would happen. He could not control his wife and he did not even want to.
Kris was surprised by the turnout of events. He was wondering what Salvador would say about what his wife has done.
"Next life?" Rias stuttered. "He is a wolf... He should heal right?"
Joyce chuckled. "Do you think I give my enemies a chance to get right without having to beg me?"
"Does anyone else want to challenge my son for the throne?"
Calhoun smirked. His mother was so cool. He had to learn everything from his mother.
Everyone backed away slowly. As much as they wanted the throne just to spite Salvador but now that Joyce had interfered, it would be a bad thing to compete.
"Let me have the throne instead." Salvador finally said. "Calhoun is too young and he is not a direct descendant of Marjan. I will rule for him and when he is old enough, he will take over."
Joyce smirked. She turned to ask Calhoun if that was what he wanted. Calhoun nodded.
"Alright. Kris, you will crown Salvador on behalf of Calhoun. When my son turns eighteen, he shall take over the throne."
"Has he even wolfed out?" Rias whimpered angrily. Her husband was bleeding out on the floor and was now unconscious.
"Of course. Do you think he is as slow as that foolish and impotent thing you call a child?" Joyce demanded. "My son is the strongest wolf in the whole of Wisteria. Anyone who thinks otherwise should come and argue it to my face."
There was pin-drop silence. She giggled and clapped her hands excitedly. "Alright, no one dared to argue! Let's finish up this coronation, my son doesn't like being in crowded places."
Beta Kris carried on with the coronation and Salvador became the Alpha king of the Wisteria pack. Joyce became Luna. After their rule for three weeks, the other relatives began to leave one after the other.
Joyce did not care about it. With time, the castle became empty and it was only Calhoun and his parents that lived there. Them and the servants that worked in the castle.
"Mom, I don't need a new guard. I'm fine, I can protect myself." Calhoun stated. He hated having to converse with anyone at all. If he had a guard who followed him anywhere, he would be required to speak to them.
"It's not about you, Calhoun. You need more than just a guard, you need a trusted friend. Someone who can follow your rules and understand your method of thought."
"Mom, I have you." He said.
Joyce smiled. "I know baby, but being Luna, I have a lot of things to do. You know how much I hate being unable to spend enough time with you."
"It doesn't matter mom, I'm fifteen, I can take care of myself."
Joyce smiled sadly. "You know you can't say no to Mama."
Calhoun groaned. "Don't do that now, I can jolly well say no to you, I just choose not to."
"Go ahead and say it."
"No Mom, I don't want a guard."
Joyce gasped and clutched her chest. "You brat! This is for your good, okay? George will be here soon-"
"Ugh! What sort of hipsters would name their child George?!" Calhoun demanded. "Such an ugly name."
"Calhoun..." Joyce scolded. "Be nice."
"I know you also want to laugh, Mom," Calhoun said, rolling his eyes.
Joyce giggled, covering her mouth. "Alright, be nice, Calhoun. George will be here soon."
Calhoun nodded. He turned back to watch his oak tree. Most people said they never saw him train. That was because he trained at night, on the roof of the castle. He waited for the young man to come. When he came, Calhoun could see that the man was older than him.
"Hello, my name is George. You must be Calhoun -"
"I'm the Alpha heir, don't address me by my direct name, you haven't earned that." Calhoun spat rudely. "George."
George smiled weirdly. "Excuse me, what then do I address you as?"
"Hm." Calhoun hummed. "Simple. Call me lord heir."
"Lord heir? That doesn't make any sense-"
"Last I checked miser, I am the one who gives the orders. I'm sure you must have also heard who is supposed to be on the throne and why."
Calhoun stated. "I am not someone you want to dare."
"Dare you? Never! I'm here to serve you." George exclaimed.
"At least you know something right," Calhoun muttered. "Wolf or human?"
George stared at him. "Wolf of course."
Calhoun smirked. "Mother does know what I like. How old are you George?"
"Twenty-one," George answered.
Calhoun's smirk vanished. His guard was six years older than him? How did his mom expect him to friend this one? He would just be a guard.
"What do you know about being a guard?"
"I know that I have to support everything you say. At least that is what Luna Joyce told me." George answered.
"Hm." Calhoun hummed. "How good are you?"
"In what?"
"How well can you fight?"
"Oh, lord heir! I'm a very skilled swordsman, no one I have fought in the past three years has been able to strike a hit."
Calhoun smiled. "That's nice. I guess I do need a sword partner."
George smiled too. "What time do you begin your training?"
"11 pm, on the roof. Be there or be square." Calhoun warned. "Now, let us go out for a walk."
"Yes, lord heir," George said, bowing slightly.
"That was how their friendship began. George seemed to be everything Calhoun needed for support and company. With time, he began to forget his pursuit of the throne. He just knew that the throne would come back to him for sure, but he never actually brought it up before his parents."
"It happened three years later when Calhoun was supposed to take over from his parents. He walked into their chamber that morning to discuss with them. He met them in their cold blood. His mother had a look of betrayal on her face and her eyes were wide open."
"Till today, nobody knew what it was. People said it was a human who did it so Calhoun believed it was a servant in the castle. He killed off every servant in the castle that night, leaving only one."
"George?" Diana asked.
"Yes," Felix answered. "Reason is that George was missing on the night his parents were murdered."