Prologue (ROGUE)

CRIMSON

“Do you know the story of the bloody werewolf rogue that was killed by his alpha? Do you know about that rogue that was hated by all of his pack and all the other packs that no one wanted him at all? Are you familiar with the story, child?” an old woman asked me while giving me a serene smile on her lips. 

I don’t know her but she looked kind and there was something in her that made me miss my mother. My adoptive mother, in fact. I have no idea about my true mother or father. Mama, the one who adopted me, died a year ago when I was just seventeen because of colon cancer. 

“A werewolf story?” I asked and smiled. “I like to hear that story, but isn’t it unreal?” I gave a small laugh after asking that. 

I looked at the old woman sternly. She looked beautiful and regal despite her age and although she wears cheap clothes, she still looks classy to me, a royal kind of beauty.  

“Child,” she said with a knowing smile while looking at me. “We are living in a very complicated world. We cannot say whether a story is real or not. But do you believe in fairy tales?” she asked with a small smile playing on her lips.  

I smiled at that. I bit my lower lip to stop myself from making a giggle. I don’t want her to get offended. In my state of living, I have no time to think of any fantasies or fairy tales as those won’t help me. All I need is to survive, no more, no less. I am broke, totally broke.

Earlier, I was sitting alone here on this bench while looking at the dogs playing in the park. How I love to have my own dog, but with my financial status, adopting a dog would make the poor creature go starve with me. I have no regular job and I am hoping to find a work that could make me financially stable soon. How I wish so… And how I wish I could return to the country where I used to live before Mama brought me here to England, her country.

“I was a fan of fairy tales when I was a child,” I smiled bitterly after answering the old woman’s inquiry from me and smiled at her. “Mama kept on telling me about those princesses and their princes. I wonder why I believe those…” I laughed bitterly after saying the last six words. 

“You should believe those. It might happen,” she said and again smiled at me. I look at her eyes, her eyes are vividly clear while looking at me. It doesn’t look like an old person’s eyes.  The color is in the shade of purple and blue, weird… I envy the color of her eyes. I wonder if she has some grandson like my age that she could introduce to me. Silly thought! I have no time for romance.

“Yeah… It might be,” I said to agree with her imagination. Old people’s memories sometimes go back to their childhood state of mind. That is definitely the explanation why this beautiful old woman is telling me about fairy tales and… what did she ask me first? Oh, well… the werewolf, the bloody rogue werewolf that was killed by the alpha? 

I had no idea about werewolves. I just know some facts about wolves. Wolves as in wolves… those four-legged dog-like wild animals. I love how they look. Their appearance is very appealing to me. I even love those dogs that look like wolves. I plan to adopt a Samoyed, Siberian Husky, Alaskan Malamute, or a German Shepherd. Any dog breed that resembles a wolf's appearance made me fall in love with it. Yeah, I know… I admit that I am a dog lover, but I am head over heels for those dogs that resemble a wolf’s looks. 

“Do you wanna hear the story of the bloody werewolf rogue that I told you earlier?” she asked me again and I nodded my head even though I ain't interested at all in any folklore story. The truth is, I am fed up with those lies. Fairy tales are only for children and I am no longer a child. 

I sighed. I remember when I was a kid, whenever my mama told me the story of Cinderella, I always dreamt that one day my fairy godmother would appear too and would help me find my prince. Damn dream… it was all stupidity. Princes are for princesses and not for ordinary people like me. Yes, there is always an exception, but I am not part of any of it.

“Then I will tell you the story about this certain rogue, a rogue that became dangerous to all of his kind. A rogue that almost destroyed all the members of the pack he used to be with long ago... A rogue that has been cursed by all. A werewolf that even the gods and goddesses despised, aside from the moon goddess, who believed he would soon change when he would meet his mate. That would make him realize his true purpose in life,” the old woman started to tell the story and I just indulged myself by listening to her. But truth is, the story causes me boredom.

She then continued and I admit I didn’t listen at all. I was just nodding, acting like someone listening. Then she said that a certain werewolf is now living with humans. A frown on my forehead formed as I wondered. I heard that she said at the beginning that this rogue had been killed by the alpha already. Granny seems to be forgetful as easily as that.

“But… but I thought you said earlier that this rogue had been killed by his alpha?” I asked with curiosity and a soft smile at her. I don’t wanna interrupt her, but I kinda like teasing her slightly. 

She gave a small laugh. “You are listening, thank you…” she said, then I blushed. I felt that she knew all along that I wasn't interested in her story, that I wasn’t listening for real. I wanna say sorry but…

“I… I do,” I said with a shy smile. I felt awkward because of that. She gave me a stare that made me feel nervous about nothing. Why would I feel nervous? There was nothing to be nervous about. She can’t read my mind, right?

“Yes, he was killed as everyone in the pack thought so, but the truth is, the moon goddess saved him and just told him that he needed to be punished for his wrongdoings. He was exiled and wandering in the world of humans. He had been living with humans for time immemorial, as he was not allowed to go back to his pack nor join any other pack. He was cursed to live with the humans that he looked down on before. His curse will end when he meets his–”

“But when you said that he was killed by the alpha, as their pack believed him to be dead…” I cut her words in wonderment as I became interested now, “may I ask if those werewolves are like the wolves? The real wolves, I mean. The wild animals that look for their prey. Are werewolves like those wild animals? Do they have the same kind of pack too? A family that the alpha protects? The rogue you are talking about… that rogue must be really bad, that is why his alpha wanted his death. Alpha leads and secures its members, so if there is a rogue, then… then it means that one is the worst one.”

“They are almost the same as the wolves you are referring to,” she gave another smile at me. “Same but different in many ways. Werewolves look like humans but can change into wolf forms while wolves remain wolves for as long as they live. And the rogue I am telling you is not just an ordinary werewolf, he's special, a unique one. He is an exception.”

“But wolves are the real deal,” I said to her and she just gave me a smile that I couldn’t read about. 

“Sometimes you need to believe some fairy tales, my dear child.”

“Yeah, that once upon a time there was a poor girl that dreamt of being a princess. I am still wishing it would happen…” I smiled sadly because I am referring to my poor life. 

“Remember this always… Once upon a time, the Creator created many beings to occupy the world He perfectly created. Once upon a time, before Adam and Eve were created to live in the Garden of Eden… angels and animals were created first. As well as dragons, werewolves, fairies, elves, dwarves, mermaids, vampires, and any other being that we only thought were just mythical and pure imagination.” 

I smiled at the old woman’s determined voice to convince me. I sighed to breathe out my sad thoughts and looked again at the dogs that were playing in the park. I checked the time and it was almost five in the afternoon. My part-time work will start at seven in the evening and I need to go home first to prepare myself. 

I was about to tell granny that I needed to go first but when I faced her, she was no longer there. I felt weird and looked around the park. I cannot see her at all. What the—? Am I dreaming or what? Or am I just imagining things?

I stood up from the bench and was still wondering what had happened. I sighed again. I probably just unnoticed her when she left me there. Poor granny! She might think I am a bad kid that didn’t give any respect to the elders. She might have told me earlier that she was about to leave, but my attention was just on those cute dogs. Oh no… I felt bad.

“Shame on me…” I said to myself. I should look for her again in this park tomorrow. She might be here again tomorrow. I hope so. I am hoping so…