PROLOGUE

VERONICA

“Vera...Vera, get up!” I hear a familiar voice say something to me, but then the weird noise coming from outside won’t let me confirm whose voice it was.

"Vera, get up! "It's me, your mother; we have to leave now.”

I stand up from the bed. Mom’s voice sounded urgent. Beads of tears were all over my face, and my body was drenched in them. I couldn’t understand what was going on, but obviously, things are not as they used to be.

“Mum, what is wrong?” I ask in a shaky voice. I tremble in fear as the half-moon casts its ray on my room. Mom’s eyes were filled with tears, which she managed to hide from her voice.

"Shiii," she places her index finger on her lips. “Everything will be fine, Vera, but we must go now."

She dragged me up from the bed and made her way towards the door. I am sure it’s still midnight. Where then are we going, and what in hell is happening out there?

A bloody scream from outside has my eyes opening. Something was really going on out there. I tried to peep from the window, but mom was dragging me too fast.

My mind can’t even place what is going on. The castle seems empty, unlike what it used to be. Even at night, when I sneak out to get some air, the servants and guards would still be out there, but now, no one is.

The glowing sounds of pain became louder as we moved down the hallway. It was painful even to hear, and the sound of claws clashing in the air filled my ear. It terrifies me not to imagine what’s actually going on in there.

Our pack has definitely been invaded. I am sure of it. Those huge figures that looked twice the size of my father, who is a Gemini wolf, were outside—thousands of them.

“Mum, where is Father?”

I am scared, so scared that I can’t even feel my feet. My eyes searched through the figures outside, which I can barely see thanks to the moon that casts its ray. Father is not there, or maybe I haven’t seen him yet.

"Veronica, hide!“ my mother screams in a whisper. I crouch down to my feet immediately. I was standing near the window, maybe one of those creatures has seen me. I tiptoed; still crouching at my feet to where Mom was shivering, I feared. I embrace her tightly as we weep silently in each other's arms.

"What are those, mother?”

“LYCANS”

I could sense the fear in my mother’s tone as she pronounced it. The Lycans... they have finally gotten us. I have heard stories about them that I considered to be fairy tales. Those dangerous creatures have finally gotten to our pack.

“They are after us, Veronica,” Mom whispers to me.

“why​?’ I am curious to know why the Lycans are after us, but before I could get a response, we heard a startling glow just inside the castle.

I hear another cry of pain, followed by absolute stillness, then a head falls just beside me. I whimpered in fear and cringed more tightly at Mom. She shot me the “you must not move” glare, and I nodded nervously.

The lycan looked scarier at a closer glance. It sure resembles our kind, but its face is shorter and it has less fur. The height is magnificent, and it moves at an incredible speed.

It darted its eyes around the room, scattering things, to probably “find us." I froze at the corner with mom, waiting for it to finally catch up with us. It kept on coming closer and closer, then suddenly stopped when a voice came from the entrance.

“It's gone, mom....” I quivered, pretending to be okay.

She nods and stares around the castle. Everywhere was gravely quiet. The noises I hear have completely disappeared.

“Come with me,” mom dragged my hands and made me follow her outside. Everywhere was calm and quiet as I looked around. Cold shivers ran down my spine as I saw piles of corpses heaped at a corner.

We walked past them at a fast pace, and all the while, my heart sank to my belly. a little footstep sound, and we had to increase our pace and finally break into a run. I had screamed at my wolf to run faster, but that was useless; I was just ten, and hence my wolf has not surfaced at all. My mother held me all this while, not turning to her wolf. I wish she did; maybe she would live. I knew she was desperate to live, and I was too, but it seems like the moon goddess didn’t fate us to live; I turned around to see the lycan behind us. not one, not two, but a group of them. They were all coming after us, although they were still a bit far from where we were. It won't be difficult for them to catch up with us because of their great speed.

We ran as fast as we could, my partner at the front dragging my hand as she ran. I am tired, and my legs hurt. I could have pleaded with Mom to at least let us rest a little. She was also tired and panting heavily.

It was almost too late. They are finally here, almost catching up with us, and I have already given up. I was ready to sacrifice myself to them; however, it would really be so unfair if I died without knowing why the Lyans evaded my pack and killed every single living creature in there.

Skillfully, we diverted to the bush part, and mom hid me beside a large tree surrounded by glasses.

“Veronica, listen to me; no matter what happens, you are going to remain in here." Promise mommy that you wouldn’t die no matter what; you must live and avenge the deaths of your family and your pack. And never forget that you are a special breed. Your wolf is more gifted.

Mom held my hands passionately as she cried into them. As little as I am, I knew for sure that she was not planning to continue the journey with me.

“I promise, mom,” I stutter as my voice trembles in fear. "But where is Father?”

"Your father fought well, and I will join him soon." Just look away until they are gone. Then you run away through this path,” she points in a particular direction in the bush, and then dashes out even before I could look back at her. My eyes could only grace her beautiful white fur, but I looked away immediately, remembering that she asked me to run far away

I gasp for air as I run as far as my legs can take me. Suddenly, I bumped into a boy. He came looking straight into my eyes.

I stopped as I felt my heart has frozen. I couldn't even breath properly...

"Werewolf girl?,” he says with a steady smirk on his face, like he was mocking me.

“How did you know... I am a werewolf?” I ask bluntly. I was in my human form and just like Lycans we look like humans apart from when we shift.

“Which other creature would be doing what you are doing right now—hiding? Although I cannot save you from us, I assure you that I will make sure you live. I kind of feel that it is not right that I leave you alone. And like this. You look pathetic already."

I kept quiet, looking up at him. He was not as little as I am; probably he should be eighteen or less. It shows in his face and the way he speaks, it was as if he was a prince or something. I wasn’t greedy at the moment. I hear my mother’s scream of pain as the clashing of claws fills the air minutes after I left She is probably dead, and my father is as well. All I wanted was to be alive. I wanted to live for my revenge, so I pleaded with him. regardless of the anger that burned in my weak heart

"Save me. please.You must at any cost," I said, almost commanding him. i was not use to plead for things, I am a princess after all. but now all I needed was his help, if he could offer any.

The first ray of Sunlight that showed it was morning made my eyes burn. The last thing I saw was the boy’s face. I cannot hear what next he is saying, and then my eyes slowly closed...