In an apocalyptic world where supernatural creatures no longer hide in the shadows, twelve houses of mortal and immortal societies rule and govern their regions. Elysium, what used to be the United States, was split up after the Great Awakening.

When all of the supernatural beings grew tired of living in secret they attempted to make themselves known peacefully. When the humans refused to coexist, a war broke out ultimately destroying civilization and dividing everyone into their own parts of the old world.

Alpha Rico

“Nevermore,” the raven cried as it sat pecking the ground at my feet.

Rolling my eyes at my old friend, I huffed out a sigh, knowing the bird is right. Nevermore will my life be simple. The ways of old are dying and the only way forward is through change, even if that change means going backward. After the great war, our people were free to live as we saw fit, no longer hiding our shifter ability from the mortals who fear anything even remotely different from themselves. Our people were finally free to embrace our animalistic sides…to embrace our wolves.

For longer than many have been alive, our people have lived mostly in our wolf form, only shifting into our human form when necessary. It was as if the tables had turned and where we used to spend the majority of our time on two legs, only freeing ourselves on occasion, we now spent most of our time on four paws.

Embracing the natural order, we work closely with our raven friends to hunt and even scout…but now everything must change. We need to remember the humanity within and find a way to balance our two forms.

Sitting in her human form under a great oak tree in the field in front of us is my mate, and in her arms is our tiny bundle of joy. Cappella was born a few short weeks ago and while my mate continues to adjust to our new normal, there has been no sign that our daughter will shift. It’s as if her wolf remains asleep inside of her, either that or she possesses no wolf at all. The healers have no explanation for us. My mate struggles to stay in her human form, but it is the only way to care for our daughter.

Even the pack struggles to be around us.

Change is necessary.

“Nevermore,” the raven cried once again.

With a steady pace, I make my way over to where my mate is holding our sleeping daughter. As I reach her, I allow the shift to take over me. I can feel the eyes of the pack on me as I stand in the field in my human form, even my beta is watching to see what happens next.

Speaking loudly, I address the pack, knowing that word will spread quickly, “Change is coming. We’ve been feral for far too long. It’s time we find the balance between wild and domesticated. This won’t be an easy change for any of us, but it is necessary and it is time.”

A chorus of howls filled the evening sky. I know this news is going to be difficult for many of my pack members, but I’ve never led them astray so I’m confident that they will abide by my decisions. As the mournful sound of their howls dies down, one by one, starting with my beta, they shift into their human forms.

Beta Parker approaches, and then kneels in front of us, “Alpha Rico, Luna Nastya, I am forever at your service.”

“No need to kneel, Parker. You have always been one of my closest friends, I appreciate your continued support,” I say formally.

“We will need to plan a pack meeting to discuss the details of all of this,” Nastya says as she looks down at our sleeping young.