CHAPTER 1- AN HORRENDOUS SCREAM

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~Fear scorched their very beings, eyes big and red upon seeing something so unreal. It was so dangerous, something that not even shackles could conceal…it was here to take their lives as though with the devil it had made a deal.~

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The forest was dark and silent, but with hazel eyes as bright as the moon, Verya could see her path.

Nothing went unnoticed to her, not even the sight of a tiny thorn. The breeze felt cool against her skin, whistling by the leaves as it passed. The grass beneath her feet sunk with her every step and under the full moon were beautiful fireflies that drifted slowly along the wind.

The night was beautiful, more so than the day. The silence and the darkness always calmed her desperate heart and soothe her wandering soul.

But tonight, her heart was erratic, the pace of it was far faster in velocity and far louder in frequency. She was nervous, she hadn’t fought anything but ferals and rogues, and yet she was going out to hunt something even more dangerous.

What if it killed her?

That thought was scary, but the thought that she wouldn’t get to prove anything to her lousy father scared her even more. That was the very purpose of her journey and if she didn’t get to fulfil it, what was the sense?

Sighing, she tugged at her bag straps, her footsteps quickening when she neared the borders. She had confidence in herself, she was well prepared.

The weapons in her bag were abundant and well thought out. If the beast was bigger than her, faster, stronger, then there was no way she could fight it in her wolf form. It’d take her down instantly.

She had to have something it didn’t, it was an old trick in the book, but strategizing always worked. It had wings on its back, that meant it could fly which was why Verya had a bow and a stack of arrow in her bag.

The rumours said its claws were long, if that’s the case, she had to have something to deflect it which was where the swords strapped beneath her bag came in. She had backup knives, a shotgun with ten bullets and she had an armour beneath her blouse.

Nothing could stop her now, not even the Goddess.

Trudging pass the east borders, Verya looked back at her pack lands one more time before dropping her knapsack and unclasping her armour. If she didn’t make it back alive, then it was their fault for giving her something to prove...especially father’s.

She crouched down on the low grass, her bones cracking as she changed forms.

Silver fur shining like diamonds under the light of the full moon took over her skin, her little hands turning into paws, deeming her transformation complete.

The backpack on the ground, Verya took it into her mouth, that along with the armour and then she sprinted off, destination; the Barren pack.

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It took her two days and barely a night and a half, but she arrived in one piece at the borders of the Barren pack. Her wolf was breathing heavily, it’s silver fur moist with sweat. She was tired, she had slept in the form of her wolf in the open for protection from the cold wind as well as any passing disturbance, and she had hunted and eaten meat that was barely roasted.

It tasted nasty without seasoning, but to preserve her strength, she had to eat.

Looking over at the bag of clothes and weapon by her feet, Verya transformed back into her human form, her bare, tanned skin viewable by the grass and trees and anything that lurked beyond it.

She grabbed for her bag, picking out clothes suitable for a fight. Black leggings along with straps around her thighs, one side for her knives and the other holding a pocket for her gun.

She grabbed for her armour, locking it around her before throwing on a roomy black T-shirt her father had given her.

Her eyes darted towards her sword belt, but before she could pick it up, a voice interrupted her. “Daddy’s little princess already arrived I see.”

Verya’s eyes narrowed as she looked towards Simon; an alpha she hated with both her heart and soul. “And?”

“Nothing, nothing. I’ll be looking out for you on the battlefield, you might be an alpha now, but out there you’ll be a damsel in distress.”

“Don’t watch me, Simon...watch yourself, you’ll probably be in more distress than me.”

“More distress? Say that again you little b*tch!”

“I’m a b*tch now, huh? Is it because I denied you the chance to become my mate when father appointed you?” Verya smirked over at him, the motion slow and sly. “If so, then I’m sorry for breaking your little heart Simon, but no way in hell would I mate someone who has less balls than me.”

She grabbed her bag off the floor, throwing it over her shoulder before walking away from the dumbfounded man. “W-W-W-W-What did you just say? I swear to god Verya, I’ll kill you when I get the chan—”

Verya ignored him, entering the unknown territory before her. She’d only been to this pack once, and yet everything about it was still unfamiliar. The woods seemed so much denser than the ones back home, it was leafier, darker and crickets howled at the top of their very lungs.

She followed the path where she smelled the most people in, gripping tight to her bag straps. This was it, even if she wanted to turn back, she couldn’t do it now…

In no time, she made it out of the woods and into the open, finding wolves piled up in groups. A man walked up to her, his scent equating to that of a beta’s. “Are you here for the hunt?”

Verya nodded.

“I’m the beta of the Barren pack, I’ll lead you to where the other alphas are currently camping out, but you’ll be the only female there.”

He looked at her, probably expecting to see some form of reluctance on her face, but when he saw none, he stepped towards the right, and Verya followed him. He took her pass what seemed to be the pack house and a little further down where she could see multiple sleeping bags and thick, bulky men spread out across them.

She walked over to an unreserved one, dropping her bag on top of it. “Thank you, beta...?”

“Beta Hamilton...” the man replied, turning his back towards her. “I’ll be on my way.”

Verya nodded, laying back against her bag. She was sleepy, but she couldn’t sleep n—

“Hey Verya! That’s my f*cking spot!”

Not Simon again, what the f*ck was wrong with this  idiot?

Verya peeked up at him, sighing out in frustration. “Could you have not just pretended you didn’t see me, Simon? A big, bad, male alpha bullying a damsel in distress, don’t you think you’re making yourself look bad?”

“No, I—” A scream cut Simon’s speech off, his eyes dashing towards the south where he could now hear footsteps thundering against the earth. “What’s going on? That couldn’t be the beast, could it?”

Verya sat up in a hurry, barely managing to stand to her feet. Her heart was now raging in her chest, and the thought to back down ran right across her mind but she would not give in.

If this was the beast, then she would not run away from it.