CHOSEN BY RUIN

At just seven years old, Liliana Veyne knew her adopted parents were keeping a secret about her.

Having spent all her years inside the towering walls of the Veyne’s estate in Eldoria- the human world, hidden away from the rest of the world like a sacred secret, she knew that much.

Rhea Veyne, her sister, was treated differently. But Rhea was a free bird, flaunted around like she was an only child. While she was just seven, Rhea was nine.

Though she had learned that they were only raised together. Rhea was their parents’ biological daughter, while she was told her own parents died in a car accident after her birth. She was too young to understand history, but not too young to realize that her sister was favored more.

“Poor Liliana. She doesn’t have a wolf. You will have to later release her for the humans one day.” She had overheard the words from her parents’ guest one day while she was peeping from the corridor- since she couldn’t sit with them like Rhea did.

Her little brain had been curious. Later, she had asked her mother naively, “What does it mean… not to have a wolf?”

Her mother had looked taken aback as she set a plate of meal before her.

“It just means you’re pure, and that you need to be protected from the evil of this world.”

Liliana didn’t fully understand. “Is that why you always keep me indoors?”

“Yes, daughter. You’re safe here.” She wanted to ask why Rhea didn’t need the same protection, but she smiled anyway.

Because her mother kissed her forehead that night. Because her father still carried her to bed when she fell asleep in the home library. Because they fed her, clothed her, and spoke kindly to her.

It was love.

Just… not the same kind Rhea received.

And somehow, even at seven, Liliana could feel the difference.

Still, she preferred that quiet, careful love to Rhea’s sharp cruelty.

~

This evening was the first time they were allowing little Liliana outside the estate walls for a social event.

A ball. Hosted by the Prestigious ‘Kyles’ family from a neighboring city.

The Veynes’ family were all invited. And they decided to take Liliana along.

She was waiting on her small bed when she heard a knock on her window and rushed to it. She already knew who it was before opening it. Her smile widened as he came to view.

“Hey, handsome flower boy,” She whispered with a grin.

The little boy who looked no older than her, returned her innocent smile with his own.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a yellow flower, offering it to her through the small opening she had secretly created in the window.

Liliana picked it from his hand happily.

“Thank you.” Then she showed him her left hand that had all the flowers he had plucked for her in them. “See, I’ve been keeping them all.”

The pretty boy nodded like a noble royalty would, then he removed a piece of paper from his pocket and extended to her.

Liliana had no idea if this boy that she had just gotten to know through her window three days ago was mute, or just preferred writing to her than using his voice. But nevertheless, she had grown used to seeing him come around and didn’t mind the letters- in as much as he continued to keep her company.

She read the texts on the paper, “Will you come with me to my family party today?” The offer excited little Lilian, because she would love to play with this boy outside of her window, but she was extremely anti-social. Courtesy of her adopted parents.

She was already anxious about the ball she was to attend with her family which might be clashing with this boy’s invite. She looked up from the paper to see the boy flashing his striking blue eyes at her in what looked like a subtle plea.

She batted her lashes, about to reply to him when her room door opened. She quickly closed the window. Her adopted mother and father entered just as she positioned herself properly on the bed.

“Are you ready, Liliana?” Her mother asked, crouching before her- while her father sat beside her on the bed.

Lilian felt anxious, but she hated expressing fear so she smiled instead. “Yes, mum.”

“That’s my child.” This one came from her father. Adrik Veyne. Her mother kissed her forehead. “Let’s start moving.”

Lilian hesitated at the thought of going with her sister- Rhea. “Where is Rhea?” she asked.

“Your sister is already in the car waiting.” Her mother said,

They finally went to join Rhea in the car, but Lilian's mind was with flower boy. She didn’t have the luxury of saying goodbye to him before closing the window.

She found herself at the backseat with her nine-year-old elder sister, who didn’t bother sparing her a glance.

Lilian smiled at her, “Your dress is beautiful, Rhea.”

Rhea glared sideways at her. “I can’t say the same thing about yours, so mind your business.”

Their mother spoke from the passenger seat, “Rhea, stop being mean to your sister.”

—

Liliana tensed in the ballroom.

She stayed close behind her mother, while Rhea was already socializing with elite kids her age.

Liliana watched as her parents introduced Rhea again and again.

But not once… did they call her forward.

Quietly, she slipped away.

She found a pillar at the far end of the hall and crouched behind it, pressing her hands over her face as tears spilled freely.

A small hand gently wiped her cheek.

Lilian froze. She looked up and gasped. “Flower boy!” This was her first time seeing him outside her window. Then she quickly wiped her tears away. “You shouldn’t see me crying.”

The boy grinned at her then pulled a paper and pen from his pocket and wrote in it. He gave it to her and she read- “I will make you happy when I marry you. You will never cry again.”

Liliana started laughing without realizing it, her sorrow immediately forgotten. She suddenly felt him press a soft kiss on her cheek and she froze, feeling a strange force shoot through her. She didn’t understand it. She looked up to see his blue eyes glow silver, but it was gone almost immediately. She blinked, unsure if she had imagined it.

Rhea surfaced in her glittering pink dress.

“Mum is looking for you, Lilian. What are you even doin…” Rhea noticed the boy and she beamed, recognizing who he was.

She stretched her hand forward at him. “Hi, I’m Rhea, the only daughter of Mr and Mrs Veyne. My parents and yours are friends.”

Liliana frowned.

The boy looked confused for a moment, leaving Rhea’s hand stretched without taking it.

Before any of the kids could react, gunshots exploded through the ballroom.

Rhea screamed. Lilian remained silent but visibly shaken.

Flower boy grabbed Lilian’s hand and tugged her along, but she snatched it back from him when she saw her mum running amidst the chaos. “Mum! Dad!” She ran to the hall’s center where the chaos targeted.

Fear pounded violently through her tiny body as she saw her parents on their knees. Guns were pressed against their heads. The floor was now stained with blood. Many had been killed, including guards.

“Go away, Liliana,” Her mother urged, while her father’s eyes said the same thing. But she remained there, frozen to the core.

A tall scary looking man with a long jagged healed scar across his face stepped forward. “Beta Tal,” Lilian’s father acknowledged the man with surprise etched over his features.

But Beta Tal ignored him and crouched before Lilian’s mother instead. Cassandra Veyne.

“Cassandra,” He called her name at eye-level, his expression intimidating. “Which of your daughters here bear the lightning crest?”

Cassandra Veyne growled angrily as she tried to transform into her beast form but failed.

“Don’t bother, wife. They have numbed the entire place with magic. We can’t transform.” Adrik Veyne said beside her and Beta Tal’s sadistic smile even deepened. “Your husband is smart. Now, don’t waste you and me’s time. Which one?”

His eyes immediately flicked to a confused and frightened Lilian. “Her?”

Cassandra roared protectively. “Not her!”

Beta Tal suddenly pivoted and hit Cassandra’s head with the bottom of his gun. Blood gushed from the side of her head as she fell to the ground. “Mummy!” Lilian screamed and rushed to join her mother on the floor.

“Face me instead! “ Adrik Veyne growled with agony, knowing they were outnumbered. There were about twenty of them. Each were armed, either with magic or guns.

Beta Tal suddenly turned to him, but his gun was pointed at Cassandra. “Tell me which of your daughters bear the crest now or I will kill your darling wife right away.”

Adrik glared at him from his kneeling position. “I stepped down from my position as Alpha for peace to reign. But it seems that isn’t enough for you.”

“No. You stepped down to cover your daughter’s true identity.” Beta Tal adjusted the gun, ready to shoot Cassandra. Seeing this, Adrik shut his eyes and shouted. “It’s Rhea!”

Rhea, who had already peed her pant from where she was hiding and watching the whole horror- froze at her name being mentioned. She choked out a sob.

“Adrik No…they…they can’t take any of my daughters.” Cassandra stuttered with geat fear.

Beta Tal simply turned around as one of their men dragged little Rhea forward. “This is their biological daughter. The other is adopted.”

Lilian took the whole situation in while terribly scared for their fate.

“Good. Take her away.” Beta Tal ordered, not caring about Cassandra’s incessant pleads as Rhea was taken away. “Mummy! Daddy! Don’t let them take me away.” Rhea cried out, but the men didn’t listen.

Lilian’s father looked directly at Lilian for the first time that night. And the guilt in his eyes terrified her more than the guns.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered to her.

Someone grabbed Lilian roughly and took her away from her mother, Then gunshots rang out. Her parents collapsed instantly.

Lilian screamed wildly till her throat felt raw. But she wasn’t released.

Another man pointed his gun at her. “This one is useless. We should kill her as well.”

But Beta Tal raised his hand to stop him. “No. She would be useful.” He smirked with amusement as his eyes narrowed at a sorrowful Lilian.

“I heard she’s human. She’s a liability to us.” The man insisted. But Beta Tal glared at him with warning. “I say, the girl lives.”

Liliana was dropped to the floor shaking. Her eyes narrowed at her dead parents. The traumatic pool of blood. Rhea was gone. Flower boy was nowhere in sight. She was alone now.

She was finally taken along with them. And as she sat at the back seat of their car with Beta Tal, one thought buried itself deep inside her broken little heart- One day… She would find her sister again.

And no matter how long it takes, she would make the people who destroyed her family pay.