Chapter One

Claire ran as hard as her legs could carry her. She put one foot after another with great difficulty. Her lungs burn from the cold winter air. 

She felt herself getting strong as her wolf began to take over. She tried to fight off the pain with only a whimper escaping her lips.

She heard voices and paws hitting the ground behind her. They were fast approaching; Rogues. She didn't know what happened. Everything seemed like a blur. 

A wave of sadness enveloped her but now isn't the time to cry but save herself. 

Her wolf finally pushed out now running at a better speed than before. Although she was tired and hadn't eaten a good meal in days, the adrenaline coursing through her veins was enough to keep her going.

She quickly sidestepped a branch from a tree but stumbled on the ground as her leg caught on a root. 

A sharp pain pierced through her leg. Looking down, she found blood coating her wolf's coat. But she didn't care less as she got up once more and began running.

Her pace had been reduced by the pain. She stopped by a big tree frantically looking for anything to tie her leg to stop the blood flow but found nothing.

Her leg ached with a dull pain but she had to continue moving as their smell grew stronger which only meant one thing; the rogues were closing in on her.

All her energy had been depleted. The blood loss made her lightheaded. She began limping, barring her teeth to the pain. And praying to the moon Goddess she doesn't pass out.

Her wolf suddenly came to a stop as it saw a small cottage in a clearing in the middle of the woods.

'Who would build a house in the middle of the woods?' she wondered.

She contemplated going her way and ignoring the house. But she couldn't take her chances. Her leg had begun to hurt terribly.

"There she is. Get her. I'll have your heads if you let her escape!" Jack, the leader of the prison guards of the rogues shouted at 4 large wolves who were running at a full speed toward Claire.

The area was enveloped with a stench of rogues as they began to fill the area in numbers. 

Panic settled in Claire's heart when she saw him - Her greatest nightmare. She had no other choice but to run into the cottage, ignoring the pain in her leg. She'll bother about that later.

Pushing open the gate to the cottage, she ran towards the house praying that whosoever was inside wouldn't sell her out.

There were several large wolves out there who could overpower who was in the house. But she didn't care at that moment. Her only thought was survival.

She quickly changed into her human form. She limped to one of the rooms at the far corner of the house in all her naked glory.

She found a blanket on the bed using it to cover herself from the biting cold. She sat on the bed waiting for her death to come, quivering in fear.

Five minutes had passed since she came into the house but the rogues were still outside and hadn't come in.

"Bloody murder! How did you lost her? She was right here. Can't you do something right for once?!" Jack shouted 

Claire was stunned when she heard this. Did they lose her? How? They saw when she ran into the compound, hot on her tail.

She tiptoed towards the small dirty window, parting the curtains to get a view outside carefully so as not to be seen.

Although it was nighttime, wolves had a strong sense of sight which could see clearly in the dark from a mile.

She had left the gate opened in her haste to flee and right now, could make out Jack's silhouette. He was seething with rage, shouting at the wolves. Some of which had turned to their human form.

The other wolves hung their head in shame not daring to say a word. Confusion was evident in their faces as they exchanged glances. They were just as confused as her. If not more.

Claire limped towards the bed and sat with great difficulty, a million and one questions running through her mind. 

'Does it mean they can't see the house?' but that's impossible. But it's a good thing they didn't catch her for whatever may be the reason. The moon goddess didn't fail to answer her prayers this time.

She sat tensed up on the bed, her hands fiddling with the bed sheets around her body. She couldn't let her guard down just yet. Anything can happen.

A heavy wave of dizziness washed over her. She bit her lips hard, fighting it off. A strong metallic taste filled her mouth as blood began to pool in her mouth. 

She can't pass out now. Not when the rogues were still out there albeit gone now. They seem to be veering in the opposite direction, their search for her not over. 

She tried to distract herself with something, anything. She looked around the room, taking in her surroundings for the first time.

The room had only a bed, a table, and a chair. On the table sat a book, an old book from what she could tell in the darkness, a flower vase, filled with dead, decaying flowers, lacking the care and attention of human touch. 

On the left of the bed was a closet designated to hold a few clothes. Beside the closet was an old metal door which was probably the bathroom.

The night had become still with only the sound of the forest. She slumped on the bed, her body sore and aching all over, and the adrenaline rush faded. 

The pain in her legs came in full force with tears stinging her eyes. She gently pulled up the bed sheets over her legs to take a look at the wound.

There was a big gnash which had turned purple, running from her mid-thigh to her knee. Whatever had cut her must be pretty sharp.

The blood had stopped coming but it looked like it'll get an infection if not treated properly and quickly and that was the last thing she wanted.

She took up great courage and strength, pulling herself from the bed with great difficulty. Sweat had coated her back, and her breath ragged. 

She swayed unsteadily on her feet as another wave of dizziness hit her. This is stronger than the last. Black dots filled her vision. She blinked them away trying hard to stay awake. 

She couldn't as she felt herself falling on the floor against her wish. The last thing she remembered was the door knob turning ever so slightly.

'How?' she wondered as she haven't heard a sound in the quiet house. She didn't have the time to ponder further as darkness suddenly engulfed her.