Chapter One

Tricia

Tonight is a full moon. Time for hunting. Since I was young, my parents taught me everything I needed to learn, from hunting to defending myself against the enemies. Of course, they expected so much from me. Even Alpha William knows my impressive records for hunting.

I belong to the most savage pack, the Hunter of Hunters, aka the Bone-Reavers. Everyone fears us. They bow their heads when our pack passes by. Our alpha doesn't show mercy to anyone who refuses to bow their heads. He cut them off. Call it cruel, but this is what makes us famous and respected, and because of this, our pack thrives.

“Behold! One of the most amazing hunters of our pack: Tricia Spruce. It's your time to shine!” James announces at the rostrum.

I looked at my parents; they are both betas of the pack, and so am I. They showed a proud smile, and I returned it. I promise I'd never disappoint them.

Walking towards the platform, I couldn't understand why my heart was pounding in my chest as if it were going to explode. Usually, I feel calm about my transformation, but tonight's different. I'm not calm at all, as if something's going to happen.

As the full moon came out from the clouded skies, I felt the beasts inside of me trying to get out. I released it. My bones cracked and my flesh expanded. I endured the pain for a while until I fully transformed into my animal form.

But I lost control over myself. I'm seeing everyone from a bloody lens. It reeks of menace. My bestial instincts made me growl and leap toward the spot where Luna Asfara was sitting. Everyone stood up and screamed, “Oh no!”

Oh shit! Oh shit!

I cursed in my mind repeatedly, trying to regain control over my body. I indeed got it back, but it was too late when I returned to my human form. I have killed the Alpha's wife by cutting her head off with my claws.

“What the fuck!” Alpha William cursed, his brown eyes filled with fury. “What did you do to my wife?”

“I... I'm... I'm sorry.” My lips quivered. Fear grew within me.

Alpha William clenched his fist and threw a punch to my face. The bone on my neck cracked, and blood streamed down my nose. I don't have the courage to look at Alpha William's eyes. I'm such a failure.

“William, no!” My mother rushed towards us. She stood up between me and Alpha William.

I don't really know what she's doing. Standing up for me against the alpha means she can get herself killed. Alpha William looks at me with clenched chin; the veins on his neck seem to expand, then at my mother.

“Are you trying to betray me, Melina?” Alpha William asked.

“Ple... please... Spare my daughter…” My mother begged.

“Don't tell me that after she killed my wife. An eye for an eye, Melina,” Alpha William affirmed. “Now step aside if you don't want to die.”

But my mother didn't move. She spread her arms to protect me.

Infuriated, Alpha William raised his clenched fist. But before he could throw it at my mother's face and send her flying a hundred meters away, my father arrived to our rescue.

“Don’t do this, William…” my father said, standing beside the alpha, touching his arm. “They are my family.”

Alpha William remained in that position for a while. Then he took a deep breath and seemed to calm down as he moved his fist down and turned to face my father. “Henry, your daughter killed my wife. What do you expect me to do?”

Although we are just betas, my father is known for his prowess as a punisher of the pack. Some of the pack members say that he's even better than Alpha William. That's why everyone fears him.

“Let's talk about this, William,” my father said. He didn't give me a glance, but I knew he was very disappointed with me.

“There's nothing to talk about, Henry. You know the rules. Your daughter has to die,” Alpha William replied.

“I understand your rage, William, but there must be an alternative. Rules are made to be broken, and I don't want my daughter to die,” my father said.

My heart melted in my chest when I heard my father say those words. He might be strict, cruel, and overprotective sometimes, but now I realize how much he loves me. He wouldn't go against Alpha William if he didn't care about me. My mother loves me too. I'm such a failure to my parents. They did everything they could to raise me well, but all I did was disappoint them.

Alpha William remained silent for a while as if thinking. Then he finally said, "I think there is. But you'll have to fight me, and whoever wins has the right to decide what to do with your daughter."

My father didn't reply right away. We all know how strong Alpha William is, and going against him would be like a suicide attempt. I was shocked when my father accepted the challenge. I don't know why he had to do that when he could have just let me die.

Our pack members have gathered around the rostrum to watch the duel. My father and Alpha William stood on the opposite side of the platform, blood boiling, ready to kill each other. I could see how angry Alpha William is at my father for defending me against him.

James stood between them. “Alright, so let the duel begin,” he announced and moved down the platform.

My father and Alpha William growled as they lunged toward each other. Everyone screamed as Alpha William threw continuous killer punches to my father's face, who returned the punches at full speed and strength. Blood sprinkled everywhere until my father fell to the ground.

“What's up, Henry? Are you giving up already?” Alpha William asked, wiping the blood from his nose. “Don't you want to save your daughter? Come on! Get up and fight me!”

My father kicked Alpha William's leg so hard that he fell down on the ground face first. Then they wrestled against each other. Alpha William got my father cornered and punched his face, blood splashing everywhere.

“Oh my! Henry…” My mother put her hands on her mouth.