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𝑴𝒂𝒏𝒚 𝑴𝒐𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝑨𝒈𝒐

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 He was born with a head of dark hair, one that didn't match his mother's nor his father's. His hair did, however, match that of the man holding him. The man looked absolutely awestruck as he held the little baby in front of him. The nurse snapped a picture handing it to the infant's mother. His mother, Queen Analyn, knew exactly why her baby looked like the man and not her husband and needed it resolved immediately as it could possibly put her position as Queen in jeopardy. She crumpled up the picture and stuffed it into the messiest drawer of her nightstand before her son was handed back to her. She held him close and kissed his forehead, she wished he had come out different. 

He was absolutely gorgeous, the perfect baby a mother could ask for and yet, he would expose her infidelities and that would result in both of them being banished from that castle and royal life as she knew it. Something that the man sitting across from her wouldn't be able to provide her, sure he was rich, but he held no titles and lacked an obedient following.

The King was absent for the birth, having been called to aid a pack in need.  She took the opportunity of his long absence, on the night he was to return, she fled into the woods on horseback, cradling her son in her arms. She knew that time was of the essence as his kind was prone to grow fast, faster than normal werewolf children. He would expose her wrongs, he would look nothing like the King in a few short years. She needed to put an end to it before it truly began.

She was in search of an old friend, a powerful witch that resided deep in the woods, spending most of her time mixing herbal remedies and healing the poor. Evanora had a heart of gold that catered to her selflessness. The Queen had no qualms about taking advantage of her friend's selflessness and power; corrupting her. Like storm clouds engulfing the silver moon, her aura would capture Evanora and conceal her light. 

She hopped off of her horse and ran to the small cabin's door, knocking once, twice, then three times. She was growing antsy, looking around as she clutched her baby closer, moving the light blue blanket to cover his head more. She released a breath when the moss-covered door was pulled open revealing a dark-skinned woman with gorgeous curly hair that was unfurled and reaching out in every direction possible.

"Analyn," Evanora greeted with a warm smile, "what brings you here? You haven't been here in months."

"My son," Analyn responded, holding the swaddled infant out more, "he looks nothing like Vincenzo."

"He looks a lot like--"

"Don't even say his name," Analyn scowled.

"He's your destined mate," Evanora continued, "perhaps it turned out this way for a reason, you can leave Vincenzo and finally be with... you know who and raise this little baby together, Vincenzo can be with anyone he chooses he doesn't have the blessing you do and this little baby will someday have it too."

"I'm happy now," Analyn stated coldly. 

"What will happen when he grows older? He might not be able to sense his own destined mate."

 "Well, it wouldn't be the end of the world, Evanora. He can be with whomever he chooses when the time comes. I just want this baby to look more like Vincenzo."

"I could do a temporary spell for now but anything more than that would require black magic."

"I want it to be permanent! I can't risk losing the life I have now because of a mistake!"

"Analyn!" Evanora exclaimed, taken aback, "how can you say such a thing? You're the one that was bed-hopping between two males!" A sharp slap resounded through the air. Evanora cupped her cheek, looking at the woman that she believed to be her friend.

"How dare you say that to me Evanora! I'm asking you to do one simple thing. Make my baby look like Vincenzo!" Evanora took the baby from Analyn and carried him inside, she looked down to study him, the cabin filled with silence. He had the softest olive skin and the brightest amber eyes she'd ever seen. "Evanora?" She looked up from the baby and made eye contact with Analyn.

"Are you sure about this? You're asking me to perform black magic and you know how much I detest those who use it."

"I'm sure, get on with it." Evanora felt her heart constrict at Analyn's lack of caring. 

Evanora said nothing as she placed the quiet baby back in Analyn's arms. She grabbed a book from one of her many shelves with a heavy heart. She would use this to teach Analyn a lesson. It was a book of dark magic, she kept it there to remind herself that she's stronger on her own with the power of light and nature. She blew the dust off of the cover and sifted through the pages, stopping on the one with the incantation she needed. She mashed up certain ingredients and mixed in liquids inside a cauldron much older than herself. She started a fire with the wave of a finger and watched as everything came to a rolling boil.

"We still have time to stop," Evanora said as she stirred everything.

"We need to get it over and done with, I need to be back before Vincenzo returns," Analyn urged. "Please, Evanora, I know I'm being dreadful but this is going to save my life and happiness. I want to be with Vincenzo, I know that now. I will be true to him forever." Evanora said nothing, eyes narrowing at the bubbling concoction.

"I need something that holds your DNA and something that has Vincenzo's," Evanora stated flatly, holding out her hand. Analyn placed a ring in Evanora's palm, "personal items don't carry DNA, Analyn."

"It's the only personal thing of Vincenzo's I could swipe," Analyn retorted earning an eye-roll from Evanora. Evanora left the cauldron and pulled out a photo album, she removed a photo and ripped it, earning a gasp from Analyn. Evanora flashed the photo of Vincenzo's face and dropped it into the cauldron.

"That will have to do, now give me a strand of your hair," Analyn followed as instructed and plucked a strand of light blonde hair from her head and passed it to Evanora. Evanora dropped it into the cauldron and closed her eyes, chanting over and over again. At the last phrase, her eyes shot open, glowing a bright white as a sudden breeze whisked through her hair. Suddenly, the sound of a crying baby filled their ears. Evanora looked into the now empty cauldron and saw a baby boy. She picked him up, he had light brown hair and silver eyes. She passed him to Analyn watching as she immediately turned her attention to him. She looked at the dark-haired baby sadly. She placed her hands on top of each baby's head and started chanting again. Analyn watched with wide eyes as the dark-haired baby burst into bright particles that fluttered through the air and into the other baby.

"He's a vessel, everything Fate planned for your son will now happen to him. Your son is now dormant inside."

"He's perfect," Analyn said, holding up the baby boy taking in his features that looked similar to her son but his hair and eyes matched Vincenzo's. "Thank you, Evanora."

"Don't thank me quite yet, with dark magic there are always consequences. This will bite you in the ass one day, Analyn, mark my words."

Analyn left the cabin in a haste, wrapping her baby in a light blue blanket, she mounted on her horse again and set off for the castle.

Once she arrived back she wasted no time in making her way to the nursery, she placed the baby in his crib and stared at him intently. She couldn't help but feel a little guilty.

"Analyn?" She watched as her destined mate entered the room, his dark hair slicked back as it usually was. He peered around her, perplexed.

"Where is he? Where's Vin--," he paused, sniffing the air, "why do you have a werewolf pup?"

"He's inside this baby, dormant," she answered, "I'm staying with Vincenzo. I had to make sure the baby looked like him so he doesn't find out about our..."

"Our affair? Our love? Our son?"

"We have nothing now, Salvatore. I have a son with Vincenzo, and his name is Ettore."

Salvatore's eyes erupted in a blaze of anger, his nostrils flaring as he kept his beast at bay, "you're so completely and utterly selfish, Analyn."

"Who do you think I got it from, Sal?"

He said nothing as he stormed out of the nursery. 

Vincenzo watched perplexed as his wife's companion stormed out of the room, shifting into a beastly form, their eyes caught and Vincenzo couldn't help but gulp. The murderous glare in Salvatore's eyes struck Vincenzo along with the power radiating off of him. Sure, Vincenzo was the King of the Royal Werewolf Court, but he would never match the amount of power Salvatore possessed. They were on completely different plains; Salvatore was a completely different monster of his own. Salvatore, like, Analyn, was a lycan, the superior race to the werewolves. 

Vincenzo made his way into the nursery watching as Analyn cooed at the little baby laying on its back.

"We have a beautiful baby boy, Vincenzo," Analyn smiled. "He has your hair and eyes."

"He definitely gets his looks from you," Vincenzo said jestfully as he studied the baby. "Did you decide on a name?"

"Ettore," Analyn rubbed her thumb delicately against the baby's cheek. Vincenzo nodded, too focused on the squirming baby.