Chapter 3

Benedicta's POV

I was still in my two piece lace satin, pajama short when it started. After seeing that creature in Beast Land, what I heard all the while I was assigned to come work there replayed in my head.

"Whatever you do, make sure to never go to Beast Land." My Dad warned me like he was sending me to hell for a rusted pin. There was a glimpse of fear forming in his eyes. "They kill and eat your flesh down to your bones if smelled from miles away."

At first, I laughed it off like Dad was saying bullshit. Or he was trying to scare me away from his treasure house? But when I looked deeper into his eyes, only a fool would doubt that there were indeed deadly creatures lurking around the place called Beast Land.

"You serious, Dad?"

"Dead serious, sweetheart. So stay away if you still wanna join me in the upcoming Thanksgiving day parade shit we always go to." Dad forced a chuckle.

Well, since I was an inquisitive person I decided to keep this one out. I hated anything that wasn't clear and made me feel sweaty. So from that day I left home, I swore never to go anywhere close to Beast Land. The dark vibes it emitted each time something pushed me close to that area kept me feeling sick for days. I would hear thick growlings from deep in that land. And each time I heard one particular singing voice that sounded like a painful weeping, I would always find myself standing at the boundary of Beast Land.

How I got there…no idea.

So I took it that I sleepwalked from my home to that death boundary.

But one weird thing was that, while I was being dragged to what I assumed was my death, through the words from my father and others, my heart secretly lightened. I felt elated in the weirdest way possible. The sharp screaming suddenly died.

"Who are you, people?" I forced out the words as soon as I was shoved into a cell with just the moon as my light. "You can't be humans...right?"

That naked one who stood rigid by the door said no word and just slammed the door shut in my face. The next thing I heard was his receding steps. Then it completely faded.

"Oh God. Daddy. I'm in big trouble, Dad." My bottom lip trembled.

When I shakily sank to a creaking bunk bed pressed to the wall, I then pulled my folded knees up against my chest. My eyes were fixated on the deep brown moon sitting on my face. It's quite odd to see such a moon for the first time. I wasn't sure if it just appeared or if it had been that way for a long time and I didn't notice it.

"Why is the moon brown? Or am I in a different dimension?" I buried my face into my hands and sobbed silently.

My heart ached. Regrets filled my head the more I thought about being stubborn enough to come for the stone instead of staying at home as my Dad warned. I had my life planned with my current boyfriend at that time.

"Have you read the history of where you intend to embark on? That place is known for weird and creepy shit."

"I'm gonna be fine, Mart. You and my Dad worry too much."

"You don't get it, do you? I worry for you because I love you."

My mouth hung open. "You do?" I stuttered while gazing into Mart's glistening eyes.

"Yeah." He pulled me softly against his chest and held my shaky eyes. "I wouldn't want anything bad to happen to you in a messed up town that is sitting in the mouths of beasts that are assumed to be werewolves. Though there hasn't been real proof about this in the city, yet."

All I could think about was Mart confessing his love for me at the most unusual time. His fresh face with that cheeky smile melted my heart. I felt my whole body floating on cloud nine.

"Werewolves aren't real, Mart. They are stories used to mess up our childhoods."

"Stay with me, babe."

I raised my brows just by watching Mart's reaction to the whole thing. Then I grabbed his hands roaming over me while licking his full lips.

"I want you here with me, not there in that unholy place."

"Are you like a cocky preacher now? Your sermon about that shit sounds weirder."

"It is what it is, baby. Come here for a sec." He took my hand gently.

When I felt his moves…my heart tickled. It had been a while, I understood him. But unfortunately, we were still at my Dad's.

"Mart, I need to pack up for my trip. We can't do this."

"Shh– A little romance would make you forget that cursed trip to damnation. Come here, girl. Sit on that hardness."

The way Mart's hands caressed my thighs released soft moans from my chest. Fortunately for me, they were covered by my jeans pants. Skin-to-skin would have sent my brain spinning with such a hot guy.

"Are you trying to jinx my trip already?"

"No one is jinxing anything, sweetheart."

I gasped at that intruding voice. It was such a pity to have been interrupted at such a moment.

"Learn how to knock, Dad. What if-"

"Mart is your boyfriend, yes, but this is still my home. So get up from that spot."

Then I realized when I looked down there that Mart's hands were clutching my ass. And I was straddling him still. So I quickly jumped out of Mart's thighs.

"Sorry, Mr. Jordan. Beni and I were–"

"Save it, you punk. As much as I would have loved to dispute this, Mart is right on this one." Dad gave Mart a dirty look. He took Mart's side which he never did, which made me reason that what they were saying was serious shit. "That place is highly dangerous for my baby girl to thread on."

Such a longing hug Dad gave me brought chills across my whole body.

"I told you, Beni. There are lots of bad–"

"That would be enough, Mart. Go home."

I pulled away from Dad's chest and looked at him softly. My tone was tender too when I opened my mouth to speak, "We still wanna discuss, Dad. Please let him."

"You mean that you two wanna get under the sheets? Nah. Not in my house, young lady."

"I'm old enough, you know." I folded my arms over my chest and plopped on the edge of the bed. I wore a huge frown on my face. "We weren't even gonna go that far, Dad."

"Far? Honey, you're the one telling me just now, the dirty things you two stored in your heads."

I let out a frustrating sigh while burying my head in my hands. But I felt my Dad's warm hands stroking my hair as he gently pulled me in for a hug.

As far as my luck went, that day came for me to head out. To go through with the search for that special stone instead of a paid hand to do it. Well, my stubborn decision drove out yet another boyfriend. Mart. He found me too… Anyway, this is what he said, "This is the end of the road for us, Beni."

"Mart…"

The unknown hit me hard and I felt my heart stop.

"I can't fucking wait for your bones to arrive."

"That's extremely mean to say to me, Mart. It isn't nice."

Mart licked his lips. Then he ran his fingers through his hair. "What it means is you selfishly going on that journey after we had that discussion. Your stubbornness is the reason I'm breaking up with you, Beni. I have a pretty girl who's pregnant for me anyway."

"What the hell did you just spit on my face?" My bottom lip trembled.

It felt like the world just crashed on me.

"I feel so sorry for that poor old Mr. Jordan you're gonna abandon for such a meaningless journey. I'll pray for you, Beni. For the sake of your father, I hope the future search parties can find your severed head with the skin on your pretty face for easy identification."

"Fuck you, Mart. Get the hell out of my house, you fucking bastard. Get out."

"I'm already gone, you crazy bitch. It's such a waste to die with such a ripe pussy that couldn't be eaten."

My mouth hung open just by listening to that joker. I felt so stupid for ever letting him into my life. But one thing I didn't do was cry over our breakup. So I comforted myself by saying, "Dad was right after all. All men are the same. They're all demons from hell trying to shatter a girl's heart into pieces, but I'm glad I glued my pussy so no man would toy with it. Bloody assholes."

Just like that, after saying goodbye to my Dad, I headed out to an unfamiliar place with a shredded heart. The truth was that I had wanted to stay but I just couldn't remain in the city after what Mart said to me. Leaving was a way for me to clear my head, or so I thought. Not until after getting my hands on that stone that I later tested it to find incredible properties in it.

"We want that stone, stranger. You can not come here and steal it from us." The bearded middle-aged man brandishing a large stick forcefully addressed me.

Through the screen door, I replied to him while faking boldness, "I never stole anything from anyone. Tell whoever sent you that I don't have any stolen stone they think that I might be keeping."

"You better hide, bitch. Because the next time you see me, you will be vomiting blood. And I'd advise you to go to Beast Land because that will be the only place we wouldn't foolishly come for that stone."

Threats turned into my nightmares. I couldn't sleep a wink. With the last human I had as a boyfriend then, I was able to hide pretty well.

Paul was good in his own way but when he told me to go into Beast Land, the same place the town's people kicked against, made me wonder what he had been smoking.

And now, I was stuck in such a place that I only saw in movies. Didn't know that a day would come in my life when I would become a guest. A time to see what isn't branded as common.

"Should I accept my faith that I'm already a lump of dead meat? But Dad…" My eyes focussed on the spooky moon once more. Trying to get every detail of it. "With what I saw- out there…or think that I saw- I– don't think I would want to die yet without finding out if truly I saw a humanoid beast of such a massive size. Come to think of it…wasn't it the same creature I saw by my window before fleeing?"

Just as I tried to put all the dots together, the rattling of chains filled my head. When I glanced up at the huge silhouetted figure, I swallowed. Then the door of the cell buzzed open, revealing the shackles the large hands of that hulky figure were clutching.

"Alpha Surge will meet you now, human." He said with such a drowning voice. "Count yourself unlucky for ever gracing his rage on a night like this unfortunate one. You shall bring a sense of joy to our grieving Alpha."