And then almost a year later, when he'd found out that he had been playing with a enemy the whole time. Inter species war was a different matter. The pack residing nearby were also at war.
His friend, the one with the big dreams for peace - with the charisma to drag him along with his stupid schemes, guileless enough to make him think, just for a moment, that it was possible - was a Devon Rickson of the White Lotus Pack. Not just any member, but Alpha Kent Rickson's and Luna Solana Von Rickson's first child and soon to be Alpha. The ruthless Alpha Kent who had himself killed his packmates.
Kevin hadn't known his grandfather Richard Flint. Just known enough that his death had left their father Derrick Flint devastated, holding Kevin as a newborn by the grave where they buried him. Derrick their Alpha of the Nightshade Pack had sworn revenge. Needed it like he needed to breathe.
But Kevin couldn't give it to him, not at the cost of his only friend. Not now, when so often, it felt like him and Devon were against the world. The only ones sane enough to look around and say enough.
His head hurt. His heart hurt. He watched his father lunging at Devon. Watched his brother Stefan bitting the girl that looked like Devon. Felt his father's demand to fight in his bones but he couldn't. Not like this. Not until Kent Rickson snapped at him barring his teeth. He hadn't known that Devon belonged to their neigbouring enemy pack. Why couldn't he belong to some other pack like the White Carnation. At least that pack had a mutual agreement and they had mated pairs among them.
He didn't let his face show any of the conflict raging within him as he convinced their families to retreat. Admitted a weakness he didn't have in order to force their capitulation. He didn't know if he was weaker than Devon, but he didn't want to know, not for sure
His father being mad at him was an understatement. His father had never been disappointed in him before. It hurt more than he thought it would. But Devon and him were made enemies even before they were born. It wasn't their choice. It wasn't their fight to begin with. For some stupid fued their ancestors held. He felt pain as he mourned his friendship and for the first time it nullified the constant dull ache in his heart.
Years passed. Hundreds of little aches never drew out the pain in his chest that turned slowly into an icy burn. Chipped away at them like frostbitten fingers. But grief didn't leave, even if it subsided like the tide. Left in its wake. Without his friend his mate's pain was the only thing that kept him sane enough. To continue the ridiculous notion his father called war. If it hadn't been for his mate.He would have gone mad. It felt like his mate was calling out for him to help him. Kevin felt his lungs scrape and hurt and he didn't know why, but whoever left his mate feeling so worthless would pay one day. One day he would just kidnap his mate and run away. Till then he would wait.
When his father Derrick died of cancer. Kevin was twenty one and more of an adult then most of his peers had been lucky enough to make it to.He had even told his father on his deathbed that he was going to ask for ceasefire.But the fights with the Ricksons continued and they were brutal.
Kent Rickson although middle age proved to be tough opponent for Kevin. Devon his one-time friend, the one who he'd refused to kill years ago, was also on the front line along with his Sister Celine Rickson fighting his brothers Stefan and Steven. And then there was the White Demon. Nobody knew his name and no one has seen him in his human form. Snowwhite fur and Red eyes so sharp that they seem to cut through everything in the path. He moved like a monster tearing his opponents apart. No one has been able to take him one on one. And if someone tried they get shredded to pieces. Kevin had only seen him twice running with crazed eyes. Like a Demon for Kill.
They were meant to fight putting their lives on the lind. But admist the war for the first time Kevin felt dread sensing danger. Only one thing came into his mind. That thing needed to be killed.
Kevin didn't knew why but whenever he could. He would look across the battlefield and see a stupid and dumb smile, not the large black wolf from whom he should protect Steven and Stefan. His both brothers being Omegas always brought forward his protective nature out.
Devon himself was known to be dangerous but some part of him still believed his friend wasn't a monster unlike the Demon, no matter what everyone said. And he still belived that someday they can form an alliance and have peace among the packs. There were only three wolf tribes in the vicinity. White Carnation Pack. White Lotus Pack and the Nightshade pack. They had two more neighbouring packs. Crimson Desert Pack and the Foxglove Pack unlike the three these two packs were Coyotes and Foxes. But they were not at war at the moment.
While the monster, The white demon on the other hand, well, he was without a doubt the closest thing to a nightmare that Kevin had ever seen. Unfeeling was a word made for him. Battle seemed to wash over the wolf. Calculations without feeling.
His brothers hated him.His packmates were terrified of him. Kevin himself feared him, The peace that he dreamed. The alliance that he wanted to achieve can only be true if the Demon died. Peace should be without him. He just had to wait for Devon to ascend. He was sure his friend was still there. And later he himself would take care of that Demon Spawn.