Chapter 1

Freya's p.o.v

It's 12:00 a.m., and it's my eighteenth birthday today. It's been twelve good years without that noise — the one that sings at my door step every birthday morning and sings me my favorite birthday songs.

A noise. That has been what I tell him each time he comes in with a trumpet in his mouth, but to think I'd be sitting on my bed the moment I turn eighteen only to miss that noise is pretty overwhelming.

I was just six when the news of my father's death spread like wild fire. He used to work as a truck driver and once, I had heard that he used to be a hunter too— before my birth. My mother died at childbirth and for all I know, she was beautiful—her pictures confirm it too. My father hardly spoke about her, perhaps it's because I was so young and always get pretty emotional each time he did and he hates to see cry. I held her picture standing on the nightstand beside my bed in my hands and heaved a sigh. My father had thought taking in a new wife would help fill in the void of a mother's love in my heart, but honestly, I really wish he never did.

Dorothy had been nothing but a bitch since she arrived and it got worse after she gave birth to my half sister— Cassie.

Cassie is a perfect replica of her mother in every way imaginable except that she's worse. She never ceases to taunt me at every chance she's got— a trait I had observed in her since she was like two.

The thunder claps roared and I could only wish I could go out in the rain to play, but that would be a dicey and dangerous thing to do this hour. Not with the Lycans lurking around. It has always been that way with our worlds— the Lycans rule the night while we do the day.

I should be able to go to my favorite restaurant at sunrise to celebrate with Gina and Cole—my two best friends from school.

Even though my father wasn't rich , he was able to leave me a fortune just sufficient enough to get me through high school and university but unfortunately, Dorothy wouldn't allow me have access to it until I turn eighteen. As my guardian, she had all the right to—another big mistake my father had made. I had to work from an early age of twelve after school to be able to pay my fees and some important things I needed, thankfully my smartness also helped in easing my challenges through my earned scholarship programs. Wishing I could get hold of my right with Dorothy as my guardian even now at eighteen is a mere wishful thinking!

A knock came on the door, and I only sat upright, my hold stiffening on my mother's portrait in my hand.

I rolled my eyes as Cassie barged in. Very typical!

"Perhaps, you don't know it's wrong to barge into people's room like that, Cassie. Where are your manners?"

"Finding them," she retorted harshly, taking a slow stride towards me on the bed and her eyes darting around my room.

"What do you want, Cassie?" I sneered.

"Food. I'm hungry. I can't sleep."

I arched my brow at the words spewing off of Cassie's mouth.

"Well then, go get yourself food," I snapped.

"No. I want you to make it for me," she said, settling on the recliner in my room.

I got quite infuriated.

"You are fifteen Cassie. There's no way, you'd have me do your laundry all the time, make your meals during the day and now come to interrupt my sleep for your own selfish comfort."

She shrugged her shoulders. "Whatever, Freya. I need food and you'd get it now."

"Why don't you go fuck yourself," I finally lost it.

A commotion erupted between Cassie and I and somehow she managed to grab my mother's portrait, smashing it to the ground and without remorse.

As if that wasn't enough, she went ahead to separate it from the frame, tearing it into several pieces whilst she smiled.

My anger piqued and I jumped on her, hitting her hard on the face and pulling her hair. Dorothy rushed in minutes later to separate us but not without a thunderous slap landing on my face after.

"You have been a menace lately, Freya," she glared, pointing accusing fingers at me like her daughter didn't start it first. "How dare you hit my daughter?"

"Why don't you ask your miserable daughter what she was doing in my room in the first place , Dorothy."

Dorothy's suppressed anger exploded. She grabbed me by the arm, dragging me out of my room. And since our house is a bungalow, she was able to drag me out to the Veranda outside.

"You can't leave me here outside, Dorothy," my lips trembled as I fidget in the cold. I do not know if it was as a result of the cold night or what is to come.

"Shut it," she snapped back at me. "You are starting to grow wings and it's better I cut them off before they start to fly."

"Wh...What?"

Dorothy slammed the door at my face and I stood frozen by the Veranda. Scared of what awaits me in the dark, I began to bang heavily on the door, screaming both Dorothy and her daughter's name.

"Please, let me in Dorothy, I'm begging you. I'm so sorry, I promise not to defy you again. Cassie, I pro...promise to make your meal just please let me back in."

My sobs got heavier as my heart pounded and after some minutes of trying I still didn't give up. I only intensified by banging until... until I heard a strange noise emanating from the darkness of the night.

I froze in fear.

"Dorothy? Cassie?" my banging slowed down a bit as I turn to back the door, my gaze staring at the darkness as I swallow hard.

I heard a howl follow the noise and I blinked as two figures came out of nowhere, heading towards me at the Veranda.

I ran. I ran as fast as my legs could take me into the woods and I could only wish my legs did better as I trudged through the wet mud.

"Oh God, please," I cried as I ran in my black pyjamas, hoping someone would save me from whatsoever those figures coming after me were.

I thought I was fast, but they seem faster. They were undoubtedly a member of the Lycan world, but I'd do anything to have me far from their reach.

My body hit a boulder as I try to turn to see if they were still following me. My legs hurt and I fell to the ground with a loud thud.

As I winced in pain and try to move, the two figures appeared before me. Their gaze sparkled with feral intensity, their eyes aglow like lanterns in the night and the glow suddenly start to subside, turning off as they look down at me.

"What a fast leg this one is!" one of them with red hair sighed, dusting off his coat, his subsiding gleaming yellow eyes like polished amber. He looked at the other one who transformed from his wolf form into human with a white hair and I had never imagined Lycans to be this good looking to say the least. They are beast looking from what we've heard and not any better even in their human form. "She should fetch us good money at the slave market. We obviously haven't had any catch since a week ago and considering the weather, I doubt if we would be any lucky again."

The other Lycan with the white hair grinned satisfyingly, raking his wet hair back.

"Of course. She will definitely fetch us more money with those large dark eyes and succulent lips. Ah! blessed be the moon goddess!"

My eyes opened wide. Me? A slave market? They are going to sell me off? Is this what they do to the humans?

Scared and dumbfounded, I managed to get off the ground but couldn't last few paces and I fell back to the ground. I felt my body turn weak and numb from the cold and extreme tiredness.

I blacked out.