Prologue

In the depths of the ancient forest, where shadows danced among the trees and moonlight filtered through the canopy, a young girl named Kate stood alone. Her heart heavy with sorrow, she gazed up at the silver orb hanging in the sky, its light casting a soft glow upon her tear-stained cheeks.

For as long as she could remember, Kate had been trapped in a world of darkness and despair, her days filled with toil and her nights with longing. Her step-parents, cruel and indifferent, had shown her no kindness, their words like daggers that pierced her fragile heart.

But amidst the pain and the loneliness, there was a glimmer of hope – a whisper of something more waiting just beyond her reach. And as she stood beneath the watchful gaze of the moon, Kate felt a strange sense of connection, as if the forest itself were reaching out to offer her solace.

Suddenly, a howl pierced the stillness of the night, sending shivers down Kate's spine. She turned to see a figure emerging from the shadows – a wolf, its eyes glowing with an otherworldly light as it approached her with cautious curiosity.

For a moment, they stood locked in a silent exchange, each trying to decipher the intentions of the other. And then, without warning, the wolf turned and disappeared into the darkness, leaving Kate alone once more.

But the encounter left a lasting impression on Kate, filling her with a sense of wonder and curiosity she had not felt in years. Who was this mysterious creature, and why did it seem to seek her out? And more importantly, what did it mean for her future?

As she pondered these questions, a voice broke through the silence, startling her from her thoughts. It was Elias, a young lycan prince, his eyes filled with concern as he approached her. And little did Kate know, their meeting would set into motion a chain of events that would change the course of her destiny forever.