Chapter 2

VERONICA

"I ask, what are you?" The man repeats, "He forced my face to look at his." But I still avoid his direct gaze.

"Let me go," I mutter.

"Open your eyes," he says harshly, like he would use his claws to tear my body apart if I didn't look up to him. I have no other option but to look at him. His golden-glowing eyes peer into mine.

"You are not a human, are you?" I can sense it. Your scent..." He whispers, and then his face is all over me like he is trying to get familiar with a scent. He kept on sniffing as if he were perceiving something.

I manage to break free from his grip and take to my hills. I run as fast as I can, jumping fences at the few places they exist, until I get to our hideout. I move quietly inside, calming my nerves down before going to meet grandma.

"I am back, grandma." I say throwing myself on her while she wraps my back in a hug.

"I became really worried, Vorenica." "What took you so long to come back?"

"Nothing grandma. I will prepare the meat that I have. You just wait a little while—she nods, and I rush to the kitchen nervously.

I am scared to death at the moment. I don't know if the Lycan followed me. It's almost dark; coming out at this hour is just for one thing—a suicide mission. The vampires are out. Those blood-sucking demons The Lycans also should be on the hunt for whomever they have been trailing for some days now.

I arrange some firewood in one corner to help heat the room up, and then another one not too far from the first one to cook what I have brought.

Our underground just has one large room, which we use for everything—the sitting room, bedroom, and kitchen.

In less than an hour, the food was done, and I dished out enough meat to feed Grandma. I take the plate to her for acting as naturally as I can. I don't want her to notice how nervous I am right now.

I offered to feed her until she accepted, and I did. I make sure she is full before I devour my own portion of meat. I was so hungry that I felt dizzy at some point. For days, we have been surviving without food. One more night for us might bring my grandma to her deathbed. One moment I won't ever want to witness

I lay Grandma on the bed, cover her with a blanket, and then cover her body with a wrapper. I lay close beside her, my face turned upward, looking at the ceiling. I am just realizing that we have been living in a cave all this time. as long as I can remember. Somehow, I feel that I am missing some memories of mine. Did I really grow up there and live all 20 years of my life hiding?

I don't even have a mate. Grandma, do tell me that we werewolves don't have the full right to choose who we want to end up with. The moon goddess does that for us. And we are always mates with one man, whom I know will love me and protect me forever. Someone who will free me from the shackles of fear That's also one of the reasons I go out sometimes: to know if I'd eventually bump into him and feel my body electrified with his irresistible scent filling my nose.

Yet, all I could think about was my encounter with that man. He came as a human, but I am sure he was a Lycan. His face was well-structured and masculine. Only foreigners won't believe that within that handsome look lives a monster.

He might have figured out what I am. that I am no human. He should be somewhere hunting for me at the moment. They don't allow werewolves to live a minute longer once they get hold of them. It's just as if they prey mostly on us, while vampires prey on humans. I manage to escape him. I wonder how Grandma would be feeling if I didn't make it back alive.

I wipe the tears falling from my eyes and turn to look at her. She is sleeping soundly, much better than the previous day. I lay back, this time at my side, covering my body with a wrapper as well and drifting to sleep.

Not long after I shut my eyes, I hear a shrill cry of pain. I sat upright, paralyzed with fear. I go over to the window, pulling the curtains to one side, and then peering outside. There were out there, the Lycan and worst of all is that they are going door to doors.

I look back at the mattress, only to be surprised not to see Grandma. I searched everywhere, calling out to her until I got to the door, and she stood precisely waiting for them to get to our door.

"Veronica, it's a good thing you are awake; you must run away now."

"What? "What about you, grandma?"

"You must go now. I think I have fulfilled my promise to your mother; even if I haven't, my end is already here, and I won't like to drag you to it." Take the back and run. "I will only slow you down if I come with you," she says.

I can't leave her alone there, even though she insists. I went over to her and dragged her along with me.

"How do you even imagine my life without you, granny?" "You are my only family, and... you are giving up already?"

She obliged while I took her with me to exit from the back door. Almost immediately as we were leaving, the door banged open; obviously those hunters have come to hunt us.

I increase my pace and run with grandma by my side. Truly, she was slowing me down. But that was better than leaving her alone there to die.

"You have to let me go Vera.You need to save yourself first; you must do that to save the whole werewolf clan. We will go extinct if something happens to you, my little girl."

"No, grandma, wherever you go, I go," I insist. She stops suddenly and then drags her hands out of my grip.

"Don't forget the stories, Veronica. Try and remember who you are; that way you can save us all. "You can avenge us all," I hear Grandma's voice. I did not see her mouths moving, so it was as shocking to me.

"Yes, I just mind-linked you." "You've got the ability to hear people's thoughts if you wish as well." She also... said... I mean mind- linked me.

It should be a happy moment for me. I have always dreamed of the day I will finally be able to have that ability that she said werewolves should have. Does that mean that my wolf is awakening?

I was still drawn in by my imagination when Grandma drifted away from my presence and ran back to the sound of clicking doors I had heard earlier.

"No... Don't grandma. Don't die. "It's my fault all this is happening," I cry out, trying to mind-link her, but she doesn't respond, or maybe she is ignoring me... Or, I just don't have that ability yet.

I hear the sound of claws clashing and then blood flowing down to my side.

It was painful to watch as I drew closer to see that the victim was my poor grandma. Her lifeless body lies helplessly. I crouch to my feet and sob slowly. I killed her. I killed them all. If I hadn't adamantly gone out even after Grandma warned me, this wouldn't have happened. That Lycan man is definitely looking for me. and then finding out about others because of me.

Footsteps start to approach me; I have to run outside if I want to keep her last request.

To survive, at all costs...