Two.

"MOTHER! FATHER! DON'T LEAVE!" a thirteen-year-old young lad cried out.

A few meters from where he stood was a beautiful couple. The woman was as beautiful as a goddess. Her long, wavy, white hair fluttered in the strong wind. Her beautiful purple eyes held pain. Her lips curved into a warm smile as she locked hands with the muscular, powerful-looking man beside her.

"PLEASE DON'T LEAVE!" The lad broke down in tears. "They've got to be another way."

"Take care of yourself," the goddess-like woman said. Her voice was more soothing than a massage and from the lad's reaction, he wanted to hear that voice every day. "This is for the better."

"We love you," the man said with a warm smile and they both began to wither away until they disappeared, leaving the lad behind.

"NO!!!!" The lad cried out in pain.

"Alpha Romulus! Alpha Romulus," a voice kept on calling.

"NO!" Alpha Romulus' eyes snapped open and instead of being a thirteen-year-old lad standing in a windy, deserted land, he was older and was lying on a soft bed in a luxurious room.

"My Lord," the man-servant standing beside his bed called out. "It was just a dream, my Lord."

Immediately, Romulus sat up and grabbed his neck.

"It was not just a dream," his eyes were dead with rage. His voice was venomous. "It happened and it's because of her."

" I'm s... sorry m... my Lord." The man-servant was scared to death.

"Look at me in the eyes."

Romulus' voice was low, husky, and commanding.

"I dare not, my Lord."

Using his nails, Romulus pricked his flesh till it turned red. "If you do not," he said in a threatening voice. "I'll snap your head off your neck."

The servant froze and slowly, he lifted his head till his eyes met Romulus’.

"I will make her pay in tenfold," he said as his eyes met that of the man servant's. He was telling himself those words than he was telling the manservant. It was like he was making himself a promise... A sacred promise. One that cannot be broken and he won't break it for anything in the world.

His grip on the man servant's neck tightened till his face turned blue. The man could not help but wonder who the Alpha was talking about. He regretted coming into his room only to be used as a scapegoat. Alpha Romulus let go of him and he staggered backward, coughing and trying to catch his breath at the same time.

Romulus got out of his bed and walked across the room to a large mirror. He stared at his reflection for a while. Then, he made a fist and began to punch the mirror so it shattered into tiny pieces. The manservant watched in awe. He wondered what kind of dream had made the Alpha go mad.

~~~

"Why are you smiling?" Maya asked as she watched Lupita smile at her diary. As Maya walked into her room, she looked around to be sure that no one had seen her enter the room, and then she closed the door behind her.

Maya was the only one who was nice enough to keep Lupita company but she did that secretly.

"Don't worry if anyone comes in, I'll fake tears and pretend like you are here to hurt me," Lupita said with a reassuring smile, and Maya smiled back at her as she sat on the hard bed.

"I feel bad for being nice to you only in secret but you know how the other werewolves could be."

"I do and that's why I don't mind."

"You should mind. Real friends are always there for each other no matter what," a small voice in her head said. Lupita had no idea what voice was that but it has always been there and she had always avoided it.

"So, why were you smiling?" Maya asked her initial question.

"I made a new friend," Lupita beamed and Maya's eyes widened in surprise.

"A new friend?" Maya was stunned. Who was as crazy as she was to talk to Lupita? Lupita was undoubtedly nice and fun to be with but she was more of an outcast. "Tell me all about it."

~~~

It was time for dinner so the pack's cafeteria was packed. After telling Maya everything that had happened with Conan, Lupita had to rush down to the cafeteria to carry out her duties. As usual, she was insulted and laughed at.

"Rag," Lupita heard Lilith call out and she groaned. More trouble was calling.

Lupita tried hard not to glare as she watched Lilith walk to her.

"Look at the floor," Lilith pointed to the floor. "It's dirty." Of course, the floor was dirty. Almost all the werewolves were in the cafeteria, eating and drinking. Food crumbs and spilled drinks will stain the floor and she planned to clean it when everyone was done.

"I'd clean it when everyone is done," Lupita said dryly.

"How dare you?" Lilith lashed out and everyone's attention was now on them. "Do you think you have a choice? I want you to clean it now and you'll do just that."

Cleaning the floor while everyone was eating was a Herculean task because after cleaning a part, it will be messed up immediately. Most of the werewolves present ate like animals and they could not be blamed since they had the traits of an animal in them.

"Okay, I will." Lupita had no choice but to obey Lilith. The last thing she wanted was more trouble. She turned to get a broom.

"Stop," Lilith ordered and Lupita was stopped in her tracks. She turned back and faced Lilith. "Where are you going?"

"To get a broom."

"You're using your body just like the other time."

Lilith had a wicked smile on her face.

"I'd clean the floor more efficiently with a broom and a mop."

Lupita's voice was soft. Heaven knew how much she was trying to maintain the soft voice. She was trying not to sound harsh but Lilith was pushing her.

"I'll deal with you for arguing with me," Lilith raised her hands to slap Lupita who closed her eyes, bracing herself for the impact. But, she heard a voice call out instead.

"Enough."

The voice held much power.

Lupita slowly opened her eyes to see Lilith's hands frozen in mid-air. She too froze when she saw Alpha Romulus walking toward them.

Lilith dropped her hands to her hair and began to arrange it. She looked at her clothes and when she was convinced that she looked good enough, she dropped her hands to her sides.

"Alpha Romulus," she called out, pouting like a spoiled child. "She deserves to be dealt with."

Alpha Romulus’ face darkened at her words and then he maintained a poker face immediately.

"I know how to deal with her," Alpha Romulus made eye contact with Lupita and she shuddered in fear. His eyes were intense. They were dark and Lupita could see so much... hatred. But, why should he hate her?

"She'd serve me in bed."

Lupita and Lilith froze and everyone gasped.