001: THE FIRE

ARYA

“There she is, the filthiest creature in Snowfur pack!" A voice called out, and I quickened my pace, wrapping my fingers around the pepper spray in the pocket of my hoodie. I didn't get very far before Ember, the leader of the group, jumped down from a building and landed right in front of me. I was surrounded in an instant.

"Boo!" Lewis, one of them said, bursting into laughter.

"Leave me alone!" I hissed, and Ember pushed me on the chest, hard. I stumbled backwards, instinctively aiming my pepper spray at her.

They all chortled in amusement, and one of them grabbed my hair from behind, pulling me to the ground while I let out a cry of pain.

"Don't be rude, Arya. We're just trying to wish you a happy birthday," Ember drawled, her voice laced with mockery.

With anger bubbling inside of me, I sprayed the pepper spray on her face. She screamed, and Aaron, her lap dog, yanked the bottle out of my hand, slamming his boot into my guts. I doubled over in pain, gasping for air.

"So tell us, Arya? How does it feel to be twenty-four and wolfless?" Aaron asked, releasing a puff of cigarette smoke in my face when he crouched in front of me.

"Go to hell!" I snarled, spitting at him. His yellow eyes glowed brighter, and he punched me in the face. My vision went black for a second, and when I came back to my senses, I was lying face down on the floor.

I could hear them laughing and prodding at me with their feet. My eyes burned with tears of frustration and rage. No matter how hard I trained, I could never beat their supernatural strength.

So I lay there and waited until they grew bored and left me there.

Swallowing my pain, I limped to my feet and made my way to the bar. No one paid attention to me or asked if I was alright. So I got changed into my work clothes and slipped on the brown eye contacts I constantly wore to hide my unusual eye colour.

Taking a deep breath, I mounted the stage and took hold of the microphone. I was the most alive when I was singing, and naturally, I enjoyed this job of mine.

I had just started singing when the door of the bar jerked open. A man stepped in, his presence seemed to fill up the whole space. He was dressed in black, his hood shadowing most of his face, but his eyes glowed in the dim bar like flames.

Crimson and Gold.

They were the most beautiful eyes I'd ever seen. But, at the same time, I could see the unbridled madness in the depths of his shining orbs. His hands were trembling at his sides, I noticed.

He did not take his eyes off me as he moved over to settle on an empty seat. With every second that slipped by, it was as though my songs were soothing to him, and the trembling of his hands gradually eased up until he relaxed.

After my final song, my audience erupted in applause until I'd left the stage. With my work for the night completed, I left the back room to see if the stranger was still in the bar. But there was no sign of him.

The moment I stepped out of the bar, I sensed that I was being watched. Worried that Ember and her friends had returned to finish what they'd started, I turned around with a start, only to bump into the stranger from before.

"What's your name?" He asked with a rough voice. He sounded as though this was the first time he was speaking in years.

I shifted uneasily, unsure of what he wanted from me.

"What's yours?" I said, and his brows knitted into a frown.

"I asked first."

Biting the inside of my cheek, I took a step backwards.

"Have a good night," I mumbled and started to walk away. But before I could get too far, he grabbed my hand and pulled me to himself.

My eyes bulged in their sockets, my heart threatening to explode in my chest.

He cupped my face, his palm rough against my skin.

"I want you," he said feverishly, and I frowned in disbelief.

"Let go of me," my voice trembled as I let the words out.

He blinked, as though he couldn't understand what I'd just said.

Afraid that he could hurt me, I slammed the heel of my boot against his foot. He released me immediately, and I took off running.

When I realized that he wasn't chasing after me, I let out a sigh of relief and continued my journey home.

I lived with my mother and younger sister in the annex of our alpha's home. Mum had worked as a maid in the alpha's property for as long as I can remember. Apparently, he took us in when we had nowhere to go.

As I grew closer to the building, I heard the wailing of fire alarms. Worried, I broke into a sprint and rushed home. When I got to my destination, I was greeted by the sight of a disaster. The annex was on fire, and this fire had spread to the alpha's main building.

Terrified, I looked around for my mother and sister, but they were nowhere in sight. Tears sprang to my eyes, my breathing quickening.

"Mum?! Maya?!" I screamed, rushing to the front door of the annex.

The firemen were focused on the alpha's main quarters, and the fire in the annex was worsening. Desperation clouded my senses so much that I rushed to a fireman, pleading with him to save my family.

They ignored me. If they heard my frantic cries and pleas, they didn't show it.

Sobbing hard, I decided to take matters into my own hands. Sweat rolled down my temples as I knocked down the window. Glass shards pierced my hands, but I paid it no heed. I needed to get to my mother and sister.

When I finally made it into the house, I saw my sister lying on the floor. The bookshelf had collapsed on her legs, keeping her immobile. My heart sank at the sight of her soot covered face.

"Where's Mama?" I asked as I worked on freeing her from the weight on her legs.

"I don't know," she sobbed.

A scream escaped our lips as an explosion shook the house, the door collapsing.

"Am I going to die?" Maya sobbed, and I shook my head, more tears rolling down my cheeks.

"I won't let you. You’re going to be okay.”

Straining against the bookshelf, I managed to push it off her. My eyes widened in horror when I saw the severe burns on her lower limbs. Inwardly, I prayed for my mother to be spared.

A lump formed in my throat as I lifted Maya into my arms, my lungs straining for air. The smoke was starting to get to me, but I refused to give up. Finally, I made it to the window and placed her in a sitting position on the window sill. Then I eased out of the window and lifted her off the window, setting her down on the ground.

Then I rushed towards the window to get my mum. But before I could get to the window, another explosion rocked the place, knocking me off my feet. My ears rang, my vision fading. Then I passed out.

When I regained consciousness, I was lying on a bed in what seemed to be the medical centre. Alpha Ronan was seated by my bedside with a grim look on his face. The moment he noticed that I was awake, his eyes darkened.

"What have you done, you brat?!" He demanded, and blood drained from my face.

"I don't understand," I croaked, and he narrowed his eyes at me.

"What did the tribrid alpha give you in return for your help?" He snarled, and my stomach dropped.

"W-what do you—"

I didn't get to finish my statement. He slapped me across the face, hard.

"Someone let that bastard in. He can't go where he is uninvited! Someone said they saw you with him!" He yelled, and tears filled my eyes.

"No, it wasn't me. I wouldn't do something like that!" I sobbed, panic setting in.

"You ungrateful little bitch! We took your family in when you had nothing!" Alpha Ronan hissed, and I shook my head, my body trembling.

Two of his men walked in and stood by the door as though they were awaiting his next order. Fear slithered down my spine. Did I just get labelled as a traitor?

"No, please..."

"Take her to the pit," he hissed, and I froze, my blood running cold in my veins.