Chapter 1.

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"Rex"

"REX!"

I turned towards my father. The daydreams kept creeping upon me, it was a struggle to catch up. He slowly took a deep breath and didn't look the least happy with me. His hands combed through the rather thin hair on the head, even his hands had deep traces of lifes up and downs, his eyes had deep rings beneath and the beard was marked with gray stripes. When did he get so old? My father. My king.

"Your mother...." he began before taking a deep breath of the cigar he was holding in his right hand. He blew out a grey cloud of smoke towards me, spicy scent drilled into my nostrils, a familiar smell I was accustomed to by my father. His eyes narrowed and he changed tactics. "Come back with a mate" his words were solid and the word - or else - hung in the thick air between us. It was a threat. But I understood.

The prince of the Blackblood tribe, the king's only son, that was me. My father says the day I was born was the best day of his life, but also the worst. My mother had only held me for a few minutes before she bled to death. Our shifter tribe was one of them bigger along the land, my father ruled with solid claw as well as justice and openness, I looked up to my father, my king, the big black bear.

I loved my tribe, my people. We were an united pack, everyone doing the best for the tribe, contributing where they were needed, there were no weak links. My father saw to that, everyone had their place. "There are no weak links only weak leaders," my father used to bark at me growing up, and he was as always right. It was tough for him you know, raising me on his own. And I assure you I was an handful.

Shapeshifters have been around for a long time, from the beginning of time. And we had the ability to transform into our inner animal. It was a protective instinct shapeshifters could easily tap into and were an accordance to our land. It was magical, our human form glowing and shifting into a animal, our cloths even didn't matter, they sort of just were gone, inbetween, and then appeared again when shifting back to human form.

I was told in Woodlandtribe, our closest neighbor pack, had gotten a young boy who could transform to both a eagle and an hawke. Only a few handful were gifted with more than one animal form, usually in the same breed.

Our tribe were located way up in the north and we had a wide variety of animals. Wolfs, bears, moose, foxs, deers, eagles, hawks, owls even some rabbits, marten, beavers and smaller birds. Some animal shapes were more rare than others, and there you had me, I was a Lynx.

The Lynx was fast and strong and my body thereafter. My hair was dark brown and a bit lighter at the tips, it was sort of spicky standing straight up since it was so thick, never laying down where I wanted it to, so I kept it rather short.

"We're here," Rupert announced as we arrived at the palace of King Graydon of the Red Mountain tribe. I blew out a sigh and tugged my shoulders closer to myself. "At least pretend you're happy to be here." Rupert's hand squeezed my shoulder.

Rupert was a tall dark haired man in his early thirties. He was a nice guy, funn to be with, always telling stories, some of them are so crazy I wonder if he makes them up. Usually stories about girls, how he lures them, sneeking around, trying not to get caught, that fox. No mate tho. Not yet.

And yeah a mate were a big thing for shifters. Its the animal in us, eat, fight and mate. Hence my problem, finding a mate. And my father was pushing it hard. I know the tribe needs a successor, and I am sort of the only one next in line to make it happen. But im also just barely turned twenty, trying to find myself, figuring things out, and all the girls just... smell wrong.

Our animal forms were more sensitive to touch, taste and smell. I've tried to tell Brax my problem but he just laughed and said I was stupid, in his mind girls smells sweet, like flowers and stuff. I mentally barf. We were ten at the time so guess I'd just hoped I would just grow into it. But....yeah.

I straightened up my back and patted on an artificial grin for our host King Graydon who came out of the palace with his hand stretched towards me. To pretend, or in other words to be artificial, after 20 years as a prince became one of my specialties, I could do it in my sleep.

"King Graydon" I politely greeted "Thanks for the invitation, your castle never ceases to impress me." And King Graydon licked it in like the obese king was, bottomless.

"Rex, always a pleasure," he whistled to the guards at the door, and with a quick snap of his fingers, they were already pulling our bags on a trolley to ride them into our rooms. I know it was out of courtesy to his guests, and we did it at home after all, but it was the way he commanded them - his people - that gave me a nagging feeling in my stomach.

The palace was one of the larger ones on land, and no decorations were spared here. Prosperity was adorned to the smallest decors above the castle. And small gold details were just the cherry on top. Ugh... I hate cherries. King Graydon invited us in and with another snap of his fingers he commanded three guards to show us our rooms. I quickly turned away from the foul taste in my mouth, I was an guest and would behave thereafter. What I thought, was inappropriate, and was most definite not a suitable topic.

If not the outside of the castle glistened with money, the inside certainly did, large paintings decorated ceilings and walls to the smallest detail. The furniture was of a older version, but looked no were near worn out, and I wonder if anyone was even allowed to sit in the exuisite red velvet couch. An desire to jump in it and pule my claws down the chairs bak gave my animalform an itchy feeling in the back of my neck. King Graydon was old fashioned and traditional like most kings nowadays, old and a bit dusty.

"Relax Rex" Kurt gave me a hard thump in the back and my tense body relieved a few notch. "I heard a rumor that King Graydon's daughters were so beautiful that several men have lost their ability to speak." he told me as we survey our quarters.

Kurt was over a head bigger than me and his massive muscles matched his shifting grizzly bear. His lightheartedness and friendly expression were always something that amazed me.

"When Rex stops talking, is the day pigs learn to fly" Luke bumped playfully with his brother Brax.

"Well you can fly so everything is possible if you ask me" snorted Brax.

The brothers were similar, both tall guys with brown golden hair, but their behavior was quite the opposite and it showed in their shifting forms. Luke was a falcon and Brax was a wolf.

My gaze was still fixed on the elderly guard who went head bowed and placed our bags carefully against the wall of our living rooms. "I don't care if they are beautiful" I exhaled heavily and went over to the guard and started unloading our bags from the trolley.

Brax released a familiar sound that was either a cough or a laugh. He didn't believe me. But he no longer pressed the theme and helped us with the bags instead.

My father was one of the more modern shifterleaders, yes he held on to traditions that all shifter tribes did, but he saw the possibility of change. He called for different points of views and ways of doing things, he saw the value in each individual in the tribe. I'll bet this King Graydon didn't even know the name of half his men. The thought made me sick.

We were expected for dinner in the main room, the meat hall. Its name from centuries ago, when shifters were not all that civilised and the hunt of the day layd sprawled inn the room not even preped, eating away like animals. Times changed in both humanworld and ours, we now preped the meat, even had vegetables, bread and stuff just like human food. We were after all half human.

Two large long tables with benches on each side linked the room with a little smaller table in the front. And the tables were filled to the brim with food, a marinated pig's head was in front of the king. He sat in a massive royal chair made of wood with carvings of various animals that were gold plated. And if we were unsure of his other form, a large brown bear head were carved out and attached to the top.

I continued at a steady pace to the king, with my men right behind me, and kindly bowed to the king, in respect for our host.

"Rex" he held up his cup as a welcome "come and sit with me" his words were a requirement and I swallowed the nausea that had reported its arrival.

Both chairs next to him were empty and after them two girls sat in their gold chairs. They both sat so stil that one would think it was house decorations, but no these were the king's diamonds, dragged down to the most beautiful core, but I saw right through them. Like two empty shells.

King Graydon snapped his fingers and the guard behind him pulled out one empty chair, I once again patted on my artificial me and sat down. My litle army of men did the same and sat scattered in the crowd.

"Where's my son?" the king spoke up to the nearest guard.

"E ... eh ... I don't know w..." began the frightened guard, but the king interrupted him

"Find him" his words were harsh and brutal.

He turned to the man in a long red coat who sat on the opposite side, and began talking loosely about their latest arrivals, who had the greatest attributes, about their form and strength. I muted out their voices and turned to the princess beside me, I smiled kindly and thought I had to at least give it a try.

"Hi, my name is Rex" she turned her head to me and smiled, but her eyes were empty.

"Hello Prince Rex, my name is Princess Linda" her words pure rehearsed, in a toneless voice.

Her hand stretched out in front of me. I grabbed it gently and kissed her polished hand, a whiff of roses and vanilla seeped into my nostrils and a bitter taste settled on my tongue.

"Nice to meet you Princess Linda". My artificial prince never falters. "The food here looks lovely" I grabed some food in front of me and started making a smale pile on my plate out of pure courtesy.

"Yes Prince Rex, we in the Red Mountain tribe are known for our good food" Her plate was spotlessly clean and it didn't look like she was planning on eating anytime soon.

"Tell me Princess Linda what do you prefer to eat?" I began to nibble on a chicken leg, fully aware of what her answer was going to be.

"I prefer to eat what Prince Rex prefers to eat" And there it was, an empty bobble head. I can't say im exactly surprised. Once again an empty shell, I wonder if they scream inside, but here in front of me sat only a beautiful painting of a girl. I considered whether I should try to flip her off the stick, so to speak, to get a reaction out of her, but her smell was completely wrong to me, as usual. Fortunately, our uncomfortable silence became brief as the king turned to me and began talking politics. Rescued by the king, who would have believed it.

This was going to be hard. I was either going to have to choose one off the girls or come home empty handed to my father. Seeing my fathers disappointing eyes on me, I really wasn't sure I could handle it. On the other hand taking one of this girls for a mate, smelling them, touching them for the rest of my life. Even if I kept here in a different room there would be expectaitions from me to you know, mate, with here. The thought made me cold, I just couldnt do it.

It was times like this I secretly hoped for a perfect match. Then it wouldnt matter if it was a girl, the scent, the touch, she would have been made for me, like to souls finding each other and becoming one. But that was a slim chance, perfect match rarely happen, and over the years its gotten almost extinct if not entirely. There hadn't been a perfect match in decades.

The dinner was long and uncomfortable, the king finally withdrew with his daughters and the Red Mountain tribe cheerfully offered up their tasty beer. The shapeshifters became more loose in both behavior and talk and it was a joyful sight. Music drums booming and the people and their animal forms spread around in different rooms, and I took the opportunity for a walk through the castle.

Karl sat in one of the large living rooms in an old-fashioned burgundy lounge chair next to a brunette who followed his muscles more than what he said. Luke sat outside around a large bonfire and talked to one of the guards. Everyone seemed to enjoy the evening and the beer. I continued along the corridor and the voice of Brax was heard from one of the rooms, the door was giving out a small glow and I stepped in between. A small round table was covered with cards, gold and copper money. Brax raised the glass to me. "Hey, man" he slurped a little with the words and took a good sip from his glass. "Will you play?"

"No, thanks Brax"

A guy in red coat stepped abruptly into the room right behind me, he was tall and I recognized him from our dinner table.

"Where the fuck is he!" he spat out.

And with the hint of sweat steaming from his forehead, he had been looking around for -him- a while now. One of the guys at the gaming table didn't even look up from his cards, only pointed to the window on the opposite side.

The man in a red coat marched towards him and shouted out "Leo!"

Leo sat in the low window frame, with one leg hanging out of the window and with his elbow on his other leg. The black jeans pants were hollowed out on the knees and his feet were bare, he was wearing a black hoodie with his sleeves pulled up to his elbow. His curly locks shone gold in the sunset behind him.

"The king asked for you at dinner!" Leo slowley fixed his gaze on the man and drew in a breath of the cigarette he was holding. "where were you?".

Leo shook his head as he blew out a gray cloud. "I told him I would take the round up to the gray mountains" his words called authority and masculinity.

"He asked you to join us for dinner"

"NO, I was needed at gray mountains, I told him this morning" he began, getting tired of the red coat.

"When the king says you should be there ..."

The red coat began but Leo cut him off "No, listen to me, more rogues have been seen in the north we must ..."

"Your father has firm control over gray mountains. " Leo turned away from the red coat, clearly finished not being heard. But red coat continued "Leo, when your father says he needs you at dinner, you have a duty to show up, tomorrow you need to deeply apoligise to your king." and with that he turned on his heel and marched out of the room.

"I hate my life" Leo whispered so softly only my animal could hear.

I grab two bottles of beer and let my feet take me to the window, towards him. "Here" I reach one of the beers to him and gently ease myself into the windowsill opposite him. "Thought you needed this"

He smiled crookedly, light blue eyes glinting in the sunset. "Thanks" he popped it open and took a firm sip. His eyes never leaving me, piercing the newcomer on his terf, friend or foe?

"He was a bit of a bite!" I try ease into a conversasion, anything to sit next to him, or opposite, whatever - whenever. What the fuck?

Leo swallowed "Ah, Herkel, he is just a little cookie." he took another sip of the bottle and filled the cheeks with beer. He swallowed and continued "My uncle is just a wanabe king, harmless" he muttered further "and earless".

I laugh a litle and he smiled, and a small dimple appear on his left cheek, but it disappears to quick.

"I don't see why my father wanted me there anyway, it wasn't exactly a big deal, just another pompous dinner to impress once again a stupid dick of a prince drooling over my sisters."

I hummed in agreement and took a sip of the beer.

"Leo" he raised the beer, a greeting, like passing the first bar, and giving me his name.

"Stupid dick" I saluted with raised beer.

His blue eyes became big "shit".

I blew him off, "zero stress man"

He gave me the cigarette, a small token, a patch on the wound. I take it, my hand touch lightley to his and goose bumps spread over my arm.

"Problems with rogues?" I ask trying to keep my cool.

"Always having trouble with rogues" I nodded in agreement with him, they were a big problem. "But more now than before" he took another sip of the beer. "They appear more calculated, more in small groups and formations"

"Yeah, we see that back home as well, just the other day we spoted a group of 7 out on the east side, the largest herd so far."

Leo was easy to talk to, and he had several great ideas and suggestions, even some theories about rogues. I could talk to him all night long about everything and nothing. It was getting colder in the night air, but I didn't want to move away from him. He was like a magnet, his light blue opac eyes were mesmorising. I didn't even notice that the others around the gaming table went away and we were alone in the room.

"Okay, guess" his mouth glided flatteringly up the right corner.

I shrugg "I do not know"

"Oh come on, guess" he gestured "I promise, I won't be offended"

"Well .." I stretch on it "you've been sitting all night with one leg out the window, so I guess your shifterform is not afraid of heights, you like to explore and are curious as to a animal that is tactical as well as can move over large distances in no time. - I think you have the opportunity to be different animals, but I'm leaning toward a bird"

He stiffened, silent, maybe I had offended him. I tried to smooth it over "Your strong arms" my eyes licking him from head to toe and my inner cat purring with delight "muscular body and physique I guess you're a hawk."

He swallowed heavily and looked down, was he offended? "But I'm not sure" I got up stiffly from the frame "Let me smell you" the words came before I could think.

Our animal shape were more sensitive to smell, and yes usualy sitting next to someone would give you a wiff of their scent. But only a small suggercube, asking to smell, and o yes I mean nose deap down in the base of their neck smell. That was diving in the waterfall of suggar, and unless you were a mated, a big fat no no!

But this - boy, this Leo, made my skinn prickle, it felt like my whole skin from top to bottom was alive. My animal form tense at the surface, like it sensed something within him, some inner calling. Could this be it?

"W...what?" he whispered

I took a step towards him and let my hand take a firm grip on the back of his head. So soft hair, the goose skin began to spread over my arm again and gave me a tingling sensation at my neck. An involuntary purre escaped my mouth and a yellow light glistened in front of my eyes, the boy in my grip transformed, and a gorgeous golden hawk plunged out the window and out of my grasp.

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