Vilkas Eilif

Loneliness. Vilkas was no stranger to the gnawing sensation. It was a hunger that no food could satiate. But to fill the void would be inviting a poison of another kind. Betrayal. Vilkas was no fool. As the crown prince of the empire, he was destined to lead. Or so, that was what each of his subjects thought. At one point, so did Vilkas. A tragic hunting accident left Vilkas unviable for the throne. Lycanthropy. An attack and infection by a werewolf changed Vilkas' life forever. Once beloved and groomed for power and prestige; now his very family keeps him in the shadows, a placeholder. Vilkas' accident was kept underwraps and he continued to be the perfect prince during the day, but locked away at night to hide his curse. To the public he was still heir, but truthfully he was only kept to produce an heir worthy of the throne. Vilkas knew his time was running short. The moment he married and produced a male heir, his life would be forfeit. Perhaps he might be granted time enough to sire a few children, but ultimately, his time was running out. His parents set up a spouse selection. Crowds of hopeful nobles flocked to the palace, slowly to be weeded out until the selection was complete. Vilkas kept to his private chambers and gardens for most of the time to avoid crossing paths with the hopeful participants. He certainly had no intention of getting close to any of them. Once he and his future spouse married; they would be privy to his affliction and despise him just as his own family did. Vilkas was under no illusion that they would not also plot to be rid of him the moment he was no longer necessary. There was no point filling his loneliness just to invite betrayal.