CHAPTER ONE

Eva

My heart was racing against my chest. It felt like I was being hit severely by a thunderstorm. I wish I had sharp senses like the others. That I could defend my family in this time of chaos.

"Don't worry, Eva, everything will be fine," Nessa whispered to me as we hid in the emergency underground room of the palace. She was my best friend and the next Royal Beta of our Kingdom.

"You should be outside, defending the pack," I muttered, tears brimming heavily in my eyes. I have never felt as helpless as this before; not even when Father locked me up in the dungeon for days without food.

 The palace was under attack and as if not being able to help wasn't enough, I had to be protected by Nessa when she should be helping the pack. Maybe Father was right, I am just a burden. Useless…

"Please don't, Eva," Nessa said, wiping off the tears that were racing down my face now. "I would give my life for you and you know that."

That statement. Only one person had told me that before. The one who gives me a reason to hold on to life. Dennis… the love of my life. "Thank you," I muttered as she lay my head on her chest. I allowed the comfort of her arms and Dennis' comforting words race back into my mind.

The quick open slap of the door forces me to snap my head around while Nessa adjusts at alert. Two hefty Men badges into the room with a blood-thirsty menacing look in their eyes. The Lycans…

"So this is where the little Princess hides…" They laughed before a wicked grin played on their faces. They were about to advance towards us so Nessa pushed me behind her before taking a defensive stance, daring them forward.

"Don't you touch her!" A familiar voice growled before his intimidating figure came into view. My heart started to race in distress as I stretched above Nessa's shoulder to see. Dennis… no! He shouldn't be here. They would kill him. They were too huge for him. Yet I didn't miss the way they obeyed.

"Traitor!" Nessa yelled at him and I couldn't stop the frown that laced my face. What is she saying?... "We trusted you!" Nessa barked out again, still maintaining her stance, ready to fight.  

I so badly wanted to oppose her. Dennis is not a traitor. What had he done to deserve such? I knew him better than myself. I could bet my life that Nessa was just paranoid. 

Maybe the Lycans suddenly attacking our kingdom was getting to her head, but I couldn't let her know about my secret affair with the palace guard. It might complicate everything. They might consider him a nobody, but he was my world.

"Go with these Men and I will spare the Little Princess," Dennis spoke. A foreign coldness that I hadn't seen evident in his voice. I pushed off the strange feeling pulling on my gut about all this. I am sure he is just putting on an act so that we will be alone.

"You have no choice, Nessa. The Pack is already surrounded and the Palace subdued, so you better heed my instruction or face the consequences." His warning voice came again. I didn't miss the way those Men stood behind him. Like he was their Mast… no. I'm sure he has a perfect explanation for me. Dennis always has.

I could see her resistance with all this. But the way her eyes flashed made me realize she was receiving mindlinks which made her shoulders slump in defeat. She turned towards me, a defeated look in her eyes.

"She will be fine. Now go!" Dennis ordered again and my heart clenched. I have never seen him act so harshly. Like ever…

Nessa tugged on my fingers and I pulled enough assuring eyes I could to help her ease up as she drew further away from me. I would surely scold Dennis for treating my friend so harshly. It just wasn't necessary.

When they had left and I was left with him in the little faintly lit room, I advanced and hit his chest hard as I always playfully did. "Was that really necessary?" I hissed before laying my head on his chest to calm myself. I wrapped my hand around his torso like I always did for a few seconds but the lack of response from him caused a void to grow in my heart.

Was he angry? "Hey! I'm sorry. I didn't really mean…" I tried to say as I tightened my hold on his body but the way he dragged me off him dumbfounded me.

I found myself on the ground with a hard thud on the cold concrete floor. The coldness of the floor and confusion because of his actions caused a cold shiver to run down my spine. I don't understand… 

Tears were now brimming in my confused eyes as I looked up at him from the floor. Multiple stabs hitting my chest all at once. He has never acted this way with me. 

I could see that my tears, which he had sworn made him stay up all night wanting to take its cause away, did not affect him now. Coldness… indifference… that was the only expression in his emerald green eyes.

"Now that I have gotten what I wanted. I think it's time you knew the truth. As it is, I'm tired of putting up this act already." He slugged, bending to my level. I was too dejected to speak. Too shocked to make sense of what was going on…

"My name is Daniel Swarv and not Dennis Greystone as I told you. And if you have a Brain in your head, maybe you would figure out my kind and rank without being told." He snickered, strengthening himself on his feet.

Swarv… that surname only belongs to one family in Woodland. The Lycan royal family. Is he?... No…

"I came into this palace because I wanted to seek information to bring the Alpha King down and take back the Halo your kind uses to threaten us powerful Lycans to submission. And thanks to you, My little bird, I did." He grinned wildly. An evil victory glint present in his eyes. This is not Dennis. It can't be…

His huge hand grabbed my chin, forcing me to steady my fleeting attention on him. My heart was racing with confusion, unbelief and hurt. Tears pouring down my eyes. There was no remorse in his eyes. A proud smirk played on his lips. He was enjoying all this. Enjoying my pain.

"Don't cry, Little bird." He pouted as his huge hand grabbed my face and I sniffed.

"You were the weakest link I could easily penetrate so I did. Don't get me wrong; I don't have anything against you since you are practically human and not like those mutts. It's just… politics. I hope you understand. Thank you for being a valuable help anyway. You have served your purpose, so I don't need you anymore. You were just a pawn to me and for your own benefit, no one will know about our little affair, okay? That's your reward. " He took his hand off my face and left me there to wallow in my own pain and foolishness.

Everyone was right. I'm just dumb and stupid. How could I not have known?...