Chapter 1: Stormy Forest

In a small country on the northeastern coast of South America called Lycappice, a storm was about to make landfall that could cause massive damage to its land. Lycappice was a country known to have the most forests in the entire world, making it the best place for every animal as well as the werewolves who protected the land.

Upon the news that a storm would hit their land, King David Jones and Queen Adele Jones dispatched their kingdom’s knights to provide shelter for the forest animals as well as their pack members. Everyone was busy and in chaos preparing for the storm, so much so that the servants lost sight of Princess Aurelia Jones—the only heir to the kingdom.

With a camping bag on her back filled with various clothes and canned goods, Aurelia ran barefoot through the woods as she dismissed any thought of pain from her mind. The clouds turned dark as the rain began to fall, and strong winds blew against the trees and other plants, making them sway in the direction of the gusts.

Leaves and twigs began to snap from the branches and fall onto the ground. Aurelia used both of her arms to shield herself from being harmed, especially when heavy fruits like coconuts fell from the trees. She ran in zigzag movements, her feet getting drenched in puddles of water and mud every once in a while.

Strikes of lightning flashing from all around made her flinch in fear that the next bolt would strike her.

Aurelia Jones...

She's a princess carrying tons of responsibilities and weight on her shoulders. She was strong, stubborn, and willful, yet she was willing to risk everything she had—even her own life—to run away from the palace she once called home.

With tears dripping down her cheeks and mixing with the raindrops, she took a deep breath and wiped them away before throwing the bag she was carrying onto the ground beside a giant tree. With her head held high, she looked up at the moon that was almost covered by the dark clouds and said, “Bring me where I should be, and I will accept my destiny.”

Upon saying that, the cracking of bones was heard as she transformed into a giant black wolf. Her fur was smooth and almost shimmering. Her eyes were the colour of rain clouds; her pupils were black, while her irises were cloudy and almost white. It was both magnificent and terrifying. However, what truly drew everyone's attention was the patch of white fur on her head that formed a crescent moon—the symbol of being the wolf Princess.

A symbol she could never hide.

Looking back, her vision could still catch the giant palace where she had come from.

‘Not far enough,’ she thought to herself as she gripped her bag in her jaws and ran in her wolf form.

Her paws left marks in the wet ground, but she was sure that with heavy rain like this, her tracks would soon vanish as the dirt quickly turned to mud. Without looking back this time, she ran and ran, avoiding every obstacle along the path.

Travelling through the forest during a storm was the most dangerous thing to do, but it was also the safest time for her to flee without being tracked too quickly. She loved her people. She loved her pack. She loved her parents, but some things in life simply could not be forced.

She believed that she had her own path to walk, and that path was not something her parents could choose for her.

She was running when she looked to her side and saw a giant rock about to fall onto her. Whining in fear, she threw her body into a roll to keep from being crushed. Just as she was about to tumble over a cliff, she dug her forearms and hind legs into the ground until she came to a halt right at the edge. Looking down, she saw the water below and the forest beside the falls... She remembered this place.

“At the kingdom, all of you will be protected. Love, cherish, and respect each other. Aside from that, there is only one rule you must all follow: Do not go beneath where monsters live.”

That was the rule her parents had always told her as a pup and repeated to their pack members.

It was said that the ones beneath the cliff were murderous wolves who had caused the war years ago until a treaty was forged between both sides.

No one from below was to climb up, and no one from above was to go down. As long as everyone obeyed, they would all live in peace on their own land. But as a child, she had always wondered: how bad could those wolves below really be? Were they truly as wicked as everyone claimed?

“Princess!”

“Sweetheart!”

“Princess Aurelia!”

Aurelia’s eyes widened as she heard the shouts of her father calling her sweetheart. She whined, as hearing his voice made her miss him even more. She could also hear the calls of other servants and knights echoing through the mind link. Her people were drawing nearer, having realised that she had run away.

Her gaze darted back and forth between the cliff edge and the dark forest as she contemplated what she had to do.

It was forbidden to descend into the territory below, but she did not want to be caught by the palace guards either. Before running away, she had already decided that she would not return until she found whatever was missing in her life.

With her eyes closed, she shifted back into her human form and swung her bag over her shoulders once more.

Casting one last look back at their forest, she whispered, “To cherish, love, and protect. I’ll see you all soon.”

With those parting words, tears fell from her eyes, and a faint smile appeared on her lips, and then... she jumped.