4: EQUINOX HUNT  

20 YEARS AGO

“UNA, bring this to your father!” Ursila called her daughter, who was busy picking fresh flowers and herbs in their small garden.

“Yes, mother!” Una beamed. Her favorite white dress shimmered under the light of the morning sun. She held a basket and hurriedly brought the flowers inside their hut.

Their house was located in the lush greenery of the Banxi Mountains on the southern side called Qalin Forest. The servants’ families lived there. Mostly a typical shapeshifter who had weak wolf form. In short, they were just a lowly immortal commoner in this new haven created by the faeries and deities after the Great Fae War.

Ursila handed Una a bottle of fresh milk, a newly baked bread, and marble potatoes cooked in butter. “Here, your father is busy hunting. Maybe he’s starving now.”

“All right, mother.”

“Don’t wander around. You know the rules.” Ursila reminded her. Knowing she was stubborn sometimes.

“Rest your mind, mother. I would never put my life in danger. Especially now that some Gwiazdan royals are hunting our kind for fun.” Una knew about the infamous Equinox Hunt happening twice a year in Gwiazda. These days, so many powerful shifters and faeries gathered in the vast forest of Ryk. Unfortunately, the hunting ground was only a few kilometers away from Una’s home, and some hunters would pass by.

“It’s hunting season, Una. Beware because these shapeshifters are ruthless.” Ursila was somehow agitated.

“I know. You have been protecting me for eighteen years. I know what to do.”

“We may be considered immortal, but our lifespans are much shorter than faeries. Remember, we only have one life, and it wouldn’t hurt to protect it.”

“Yes, I am only eighteen and considered a baby.” Una fought the urge to roll her eyes. Her mother never failed to remind her about their safety, and she was old enough to sense danger.

Ursila nodded before heaving a sigh. “Fine, now go.”

“I’ll see you later, mother!” Una hummed her favorite song as she merrily strolled out of the house.

She followed the trail left by her father, Nivo. He must be hunting at his favorite place again. Una planned to join him in his adventure. Surely, her mother wouldn’t mind it.

However, Una’s smile suddenly vanished when she reached her father’s usual hunting ground. There was fresh blood scattered everywhere. Did the royals get here and catch a beast?

Una refused to think that something terrible had happened to her father. She could be wrong that he was here. Una convinced herself that Nivo was safe somewhere.

“Father!” Her voice echoed around. She was surrounded by colossal trees covered in moss. Even if she was a weak shapeshifter, Una still had a keen smell compared to mortals.

A shiver ran down her spine when she suddenly picked up a faint scent, and it made her uncomfortable. What if the royals made Nivo their prey?

No! Una hardy shook her head.

“Father, where are you!” She called out again, hoping it reached her father’s ear.

Her heart pounded fast, but Una tried to calm her mind. She hurriedly walked in the direction where the spattered blood was visible.

Until Una finally reached one massive tree trunk, and she was frozen in shock. The basket fell from her hand.

“Una,” said a familiar voice.

She gazed up. Una was horrified to see her father tied to a tree while his body was severely injured.

Nivo was bathing in his own blood. He was struggling to breathe. But he was strong enough to sustain his life…for now. Being a lowly shapeshifter, it was hard for him to regenerate to heal himself.

“Oh, father! No!” Una looked around. It appeared that hunters targeted her poor father. True enough, she heard someone cackling, followed by a loud growl.

Una was baffled when three brown wolves appeared from the thick bushes. They were crouching as if she was their prey.

“Una, run!” Nivo couldn’t do anything but warn her daughter. Some wolf shifter brats made fun of him earlier. And because he was outnumbered, he ended up this way. Una would surely suffer the same fate as him. “Please, run! They will kill you!”

“No, father! I won’t leave you here!” Una glanced up before she focused on the snarling wolves in her direction. “Take me instead.”

The wolves kept advancing.

“What is wrong with you? We’re Gwiazdan citizens, too!” She glared at the massive beasts, trying to conceal her wobbling legs. Despite knowing she might die now, Una would never regret that she chose to stay with her father and fight for him. Even though her idea was utterly absurd, offering her life without a chance of winning.

The brown wolves scattered and moved in circles. Una was sweating hard as her head followed the movement of the predators. They could not easily bring her down without a fight.

Una drew the small dagger that she hid in her skirt. She could not take them down, but she’d ensure one of them would follow her to the afterlife.

“Cowards! Come on!” Una urged them to attack.

When one of the wolves jumped, Una stepped back and fell to the ground. She still clasped her dagger, glaring at the beasts. Her hands were shaking, but Una had no plan of running away.

“How can you hunt your own kind? If that satisfies you, then go ahead. Kill me!” She was breathing heavily.

“Please, no…” Nivo was too helpless. Tears cascaded down his cheeks as he watched her only daughter being a plaything of these royal brats.

The three wolves simultaneously attacked. Una blinked rapidly to prepare herself to meet her demise until one majestic gray wolf jumped out of nowhere to prevent them from hurting her.

Una gasped. The gray wolf stood before her and snarled at the three brown wolves, who were way smaller.

The brown wolves suddenly shifted back to their human forms and immediately arched their heads down.

Una was right. These bullies came from the royal family based on the markings on their arms. They were from the Sabre Pack.

The gray wolf’s golden eyes met hers. Una felt a weird thug inside her chest, probably because it saved her.

“Thank you,” she murmured.

The gray wolf shapeshifted back to his human form and lay down his hand. “Stand up. They can’t touch you anymore.”

Una’s hand slowly motioned up to hold him. And there it was again. A jolt of electricity flowed in her body, making her heart race. What was happening to her?

She stood up and let go of his hand. “Please, help me untie my father.”

The gray wolf shifter glared at the three men whose heads were still arched down. “Clean this mess and heal him. I’ll deal with you later.”

“Yes, prince!” Everyone quickly obeyed.

“You are a prince?” Una gaped at the shifter. “Are you, by chance, from the Palace of Night and Stars?”

The shifter chuckled, ignoring her question. “What is your name?”

“My name is Una….” She was drawn in his vibrant golden eyes.

“I’m Hevian.”