Chapter 1

R

 Seating on the balcony of her chambers. The cool desert breeze caressed the air, and the clash of swords could be heard from afar as her father's warriors practiced for the day.

"Sophia "her handmaiden called " standing on the balcony of her room "Your father seeks your presence". 

"Why, if I may ask" reading the fear in her words. She has never seen Clarissa so scared before, so scared her hands couldn't hold on to the balcony.

" I wouldn't know my lady but the king of the wolf clan is here if I am to say, it would be the reason" fear engulfed her knowing the stories her mother told her the stories passed from mother to child, the stories of the wolf clan who were the God's punishment to earthling for there sins. stories were told of how vicious and wicked they could be in their wolf form, stories of their strength and weakness the stories of the blood moon.

 "Father you requested my presence," She said as she walked into the palace 

 adorned with the gold given to her by her mother before her passing, the gold was an heirloom passed down to females of every generation, and it was her turn to take up the mantle.

 "Yes I did," he replied as he sat on his throne made of gold and beautiful marbles. I am to host the king of the wolf clan he is already in the hallway awaiting my presence and I would like to request your presence on this occasion." she was scared knowing what the wolf King was capable of, but refusing the king was out of the picture it was seen as a direct insult refusing the king and those who disobey were beheaded. 

"Yes, father I would do that for you," she replied now smiling at him. He was her bundle of joy since the death of her mother, her death still hunts her to date. she could see the hurt in his wrinkled face as he tried so much to smile back at her.

"And please look your best," he said now taking her hands and kissing them.

" I will," she replied bowing to her father.

           

 " Clarissa prepare a bath for me am hosting the wolf clan with my father and I would love to look my best, we need to show these people we are no barbarians," she called out to Clarissa who at that time already prepared a bath for her. Soaked in rose petals bathing basin the seat of rose soothed the air, her legs could be seen at the other end of the basin her hair curly and slowly brushed by Clarissa who sat behind her.

 "What do you think they look like?" she asked Clarissa who brushed her hair smoothly.

"Who my lady?" she asked trying to understand who Sophia spoke of.

"I mean the wolf King, have you seen him before?" she asked nitpicking at the hair Clarissa just brushed.

 "No my lady but I have heard stories," she replied standing up to get Sophia's towel which was Hanged at the top of the slick cotton material used as a demarcation from the rest of her room.

"Tell me," she ordered taking the pink towel Clarissa gave her. Curiosity wrote all over her face.

 "He was said to be the worst of them all, his strength unmatched, rumor has it he usurped the throne. He betrayed the last king in battle spearing him to death from the rear making a deal with the human king to usurp the throne."

" I wouldn't be surprised with what he did they are savages after all."  She muttered.

"I am worried," she said hands akimbo as she let Clarissa put on her shoes for her.

"Why if I may ask? "Clarissa asked from where she was kneeling to assist Sophia put on her shoes.

 "father is scared" Sophia confided. I could read the fear in his voice I could see it in his eyes something scares him. His eyes were gloomy the fear written all over just as how it was when he lost my mum.

 "I don't think you should be, he is hosting a cold-blooded killer it's normal for one to be scared," Clarissa said trying to bring down the rising tension within her.

 "I do hope so Clarissa, I sincerely do hope so."

 

Walking to the palace in her neatly slick gown adorned with gold and blue diamonds, it was her mother's gift to her on her eighteen birthday she could remember the smile on her face as she strolled into her room that morning with the gift in hand and a peck on her four head. This was no heirloom, it was a gift from mother to daughter a gift she holds dear.

 "My father requested my presence."

speaking directly to Adina her father's bodyguard who has worked in the palace way before she was old enough to speak, she was the only female warrior there Is. rumor says she was the direct descendant of Atina the goddess of war, the personal guard to Zeus. I guess that answers the question of people worrying about her being a female warrior.

"He's been expecting you, "Adina replied. Sophia walked into the main room

walking into the main room with slow music playing in the background by her father's choir, headed by her mother's sister her voice heavenly as always.

  "Join us, Sophia." her father said seating at the Hem of the table with his eyes looking directly at the untouched food before him as if looking for something in it.

  "Yes, father," Sophia replied. Sophia refused to look into the eyes of the stranger who sat beside her father he wore a thick leather robe with his hair parked in a ponytail and a perfect chiseled chest in full display. He was dressed as one who has no bother for what people would say.

"This is king Hector the wolf King." he introduced the stranger who sat beside him.

"I acknowledge your presence sire" she greeted still trying to avoid his gaze.

"look at me, or are you scared? " he asked his voice cold like the Atlantic Ocean sending a sensation vibe in-between her legs.

 "I fear nothing sire but it's unladylike to look at a stranger's face, not that you would understand." She added now looking him directly in the eyes. He had blue eyes with shades of grey within. His eyes were cold and sensational, he had the eyes of a killer and a lover.

"Are you saying my females act unladylike?" he inquired at the same time smiling at her he was intrigued by her audacity.

"Am not, sire, history says so," she replied with no hesitation or fear.

 "Fiesty I like."

"Sophia, Hector is your new Lord," Her father declared breaking the conversation she was having with Hector.

Sophia couldn't believe what came out of her father's mouth, she sat looking at him silently her brain trying to analyze what he said.

 "I am sorry I didn't tell you. I am sorry, but the kingdom has been going through hard times and I  needed to protect my crown if my brother had an idea that the kingdom was bankrupt he would usurp the throne and I couldn't let him. I am sorry."

 "I guess this is family time." Hector broke the silence that overcame the palace hall. " I will leave you be. I will be waiting in the hallway to take my bride, don't keep me waiting" he winked at her walking proudly towards the next door leading to the hallway.

               "You did what?" losing all-atom of respect and woman-like venture 

"You are giving me out to that animal. How could you? , what was my offense?" she asked in tears.

"Do you despise me so much? Have I not paid enough for being the cause of my mother's death? why not kill me instead? father, I would respect that but not this, you can't give me away without my permission." she knelt in tears holding him by the hem of his dress as if to plead his conscience.

 "It's settled I can't go back on my words a king should keep to his words." He said turning his back on her, trying to show no emotion.

  "What am I to you? Do you ever love me? I know you resent me for being the cause of my mother's death but this, father! this is cruel."

 "I am sorry," he said now on his knees, he couldn't keep up with the act of showing no emotion.

 "I will never forgive you for this," she swore as she walked out hastily in-between sobs towards her chamber.

                  "I didn't mean to. I wanted to protect her and the kingdom," he said in-between sobs 

 "Am sure her Majesty would grow to understand, she's just a child," Adina said standing hands akimbo with her sword in its shaft showing no emotion as one would after seeing another in pain.

  "I would like to ask something of you," he mentioned while trying to pull himself off the floor. "Go with her," he said looking for signs of resentment or hate but there were non.

 "It's been the job of my family for centuries to protect the king and his bride, not the princess," she said not out of fear but an obligation.

"I know that, but I need you to protect the princess, you are the best at what you do, you have been with her before she could speak, I see no one better to protect her than you," he begged almost on his knees.

"As his Majesty wishes, may I be excused," she said walking towards the door. 

"Adina," he called out 

"Will she forgive me?"

 "I wouldn't know that, but she would grow to understand that I can say."

             "Clarissa I want to be left alone,"

she yelled at her handmaiden who stood beside the door of her chamber trying to stay out of sight.

"Am sorry but the chief guard is here to speak with you" She said taking a few steps back 

if there was anyone who could change father's mind it was Adina. 

" let her in," she ordered.

"Adina you have to speak with father," she said almost immediately as Adina walked in.

"He is giving me to those barbarians, he wants me dead," she yelled.

 "Nobody is dieing Sophia you need to pull yourself together." Adina held her dress trying to speak some sense into her.

 "How could you say such, you know what they are, you know what they are capable of how could you." she fired at Adina.

. "That's why am coming with you," Adina said trying to ensure her safety.

 "As much as I appreciate your kind gesture this changes nothing, you are a strong warrior and people fear you, not to offend you but you can't take on a pack of wolves." Sophia still attempting to convince Adina.

"He gave his word," Adina yelled trying to get Sophia to keep quiet.

"Their word means nothing to them," she yelled back at Adina trying to make her see her reasons.

 "He is a king, if he is anything like your father he wouldn't go back on his words," Adina promised her.

Sophia fell to the ground crying, knowing her father was a man of his word, it was decided she was bound to a beast forever.

              Sophia stood at the monument of her mother's grave, with tears in her eyes. the thought of living her even in death was one she never prepared for. 

"I am  sorry mother. I am sorry I wouldn't be here to take care of you, I am sorry I wouldn't be able to Clean your place of rest, I am sorry I wouldn't be around to sing to you every day, I may never get the privilege to stand before you again, but this I promise I will survive I won't let him have me.

 Sophia walked towards The Palace hall gate trying to grasp every sight she could knowing she would never see them again her new home now with people who turned into monsters on a full moon.

             The journey to the wolf clan was a smooth one at least for those who were conscious to witness it, Sophia cried herself to sleep after watching her father give her away to the one who could end her without breaking a sweat, it was the worst kind of betrayal a father's betrayal.

                "I fear for her majesty, she is not strong enough," Clarissa said while adjusting cotton at her side of the chariot.

 "I don't think she would survive this," Clarissa said with concern written all over her face.

  "If she was anything like her mother she will live, "Adina reassured her.

 "Why did you come along? you were not obligated to." Adina questioned.

   "I am an old woman I know nothing more than taking care of her majesty, where she goes I go, she's the child I never had."

 "On behalf of the king I am sincerely grateful, she will need the company," Adina said putting her hands on Clarissa's lap as a sign of her gratitude.

"Have  you fought one before?" Clarissa asked. "I mean the wolfs."

 "Once when I went hunting at the hours of the night, it was a full moon, I never knew a teenage wolf wandered into our territory, I was attacked from the rear lucky for me I was with my spear but he survived.