Prologue
For centuries Mihrimah, Luna Goddess, Light of the Moon has blessed the bloodlines of the Nobility and Gentry with Wolves. Powerful celestial guardians, protectors of their bloodlines, illustrious families have held within their blood the potential for transformation. A mark of an ancient and powerful lineage, the werewolf gene. Born with the natural abilities of a predator, Lycans possess incredible stamina, strength and speed, their wolves as much a part of them as their own heart. One soul governed by two minds. And upon these guardians she placed both a curse and a divine blessing. A soul bond. To combat the wild and untamed spirit of the wolf, Lycans souls were enchained, their emotions blunted until the completion of their soul bond. Predestined for their fated mate, their eternal match, Lycan souls are designed to entwin. It is for this reason that mates are both revered and feared above all.
The Lycan soul bond tethers two destined souls, ensuring absolute love and loyalty to their ordained counterpart. This proved detrimental to the highest echelons of merged society. Lycan and human alike were governed by the rules of civilization and the realm. As society advanced, pack hierarchy entwined with social class and the bond began to conflict with social expectations and ambition. Pure bloodlines and hierarchy battled against the primal urge of the soul bond. Upheaval and scandal ensued whenever Mirimah forged an unsuitable match and realigned the status quo. The fated set fought against the social expectation, the bond stronger than pack loyalty and familial devotion.
Lycan males are governed by honour and duty, their loyalty the deepest tether to regulate their natural inclinations of dominance, aggression and possession. However, this bestial undercurrent also forms the basis for the soul bound as only the male Lycan can detect their mate, his wolf stirring with primal recognition. The moment his eyes fall upon his mate the bond begins. Possessive and territorial the bond evokes a swift rise to dominate and a consuming need to possess, to ensure no other can threaten the bond. This primeval drive to possess ones mate inevitably ensures the solidification
For these reasons members of the highest echelons fought to circumvent the binding. To prevent the inception of the bonding they chose for their children a selected mate. Lycan males of the Ton usually mated before their eighteenth year, circumventing the will of the goddess and ensuring an unsuitable match would never manifest. For the Lycan female can not sense her destined mate, physical contact. The slightest brush of skin is required to solidify the bond and awaken her wolf to the truth, forging the mindlink and driving the urge to complete the bond.
Unlike their male counterparts Lycan females can not touch another unrelated male without revulsion, this Innate reaction safeguarded the sacred nature of the matebond, as only their mate, the completion of their being could connect with their flesh without triggering recoil. This preservation wove itself into society, incorporating the use of acceptable fashion, social expectation and behaviours. The concealment of this safeguard was vital to the highest echelons and educational seminaries and training were interlaced into the fabric of high society ensuring eligible Lycans could meet and complete the ritual binding.
The ritual marking of another ensured the severing of connection from one's true mate. Few have ever tried to revoke the bond on its establishment or reject their chosen mate. To attempt a severance of the bond itself led only to madness. A fate no Lycan could be spared, not even King himself. Once the bond has begun it can not be undone.
As punishment Mirimah bound these wolves to a half a life without the entwining of their soulmate they existed, muted and chained. Never able to re-establish the connection with their destined mate, even if they should come upon them. And yet the advancement of arranged mating became a cornerstone of proper society.