PROLOGUE

Vivian was seated on the cold floor of a poorly lit room. Her copper-brown tresses bounced on her forehead in the light breeze that blew in through the window.

The loneliness and despair of the moonlit sky reflected in her electric blue eyes. She fiddled with the IAD (Information Analyzing Device) In her hand. It was just a piece of metal since its power had long died, and there was no way to power it up.

The door burst open with a loud creak. Vivian understood that it was Sandilo without even looking up. He always used unnecessary force to open the door.

She stared at the floor, not daring to look into his honey gold eyes. An intense fragrance of crisp mist assaulted her, making her feel strangely drunk.

“Today it is the full moon night. I will secure this room with chains and heavy locks. Don’t knock or try to attract other’s attention in any way.” His rich, husky, but slightly hoarse voice resounded in the room, making her jump slightly.

Her chin was pushed up by his rough fingers when she didn’t reply. Her eyes held the molten gold ones that oozed of power. His pupils had turned slightly red due to anger.

Vivian forgot everything and lost herself in them.

“Didn’t you hear me?” Sandilo said in a slightly louder voice that made her jump right out of her skin.

She gulped and bobbed her head up and down immediately.

“Good…” He said and turned on his heel. Then he walked away without even sparing her a second glance.

Vivian couldn’t help but admire the view. Even in the dim light, she could see his silhouette. The muscles on his bareback flexed as he moved. The velvet trousers he wore highlighted the taut muscles of his calf.

She placed her hand on her chest, trying to calm down her racing heart. She was afraid that she would die of a heart attack before these hunky men killed her.

No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t sleep that night. Sandilo’s words kept repeating in her head like a record. She wanted to ask him why he was going to lock the doors. But, she was rendered speechless whenever he came close to her.

She walked to the window and peered outside. The moon had now completed its half journey and was almost overhead.

The moment the moon reached exactly overhead mournful howls echoed through the environment. Her eyes widened as several robust men gathered in the open ground facing the room.

She could clearly make out the silhouette of Sandilo in the center of these men. He was taller than most of them, and he seemed stronger too.

Her heart almost stopped beating when she heard a howl erupt from his mouth. She heard popping noises. Then more growls and howls resounded, sending shivers down her spine.

Soon, Sandilo had morphed into a large black wolf. It was almost double the size of an average human. The only thing that stayed the same were his eyes. They remained the color of molten gold.

Vivian hadn’t even recovered from this shock when burning rocks started raining down from the sky.

“What the f**** is going on!?” She exclaimed as she watched the scene unfold before her eyes. She was too terrified even to shut them. Her knees shook severely, and she had to grip the window sill to keep from falling over.

Suddenly, she heard a loud yelp, and pain shot through her. Her eyes swept around the ground, looking for Sandilo. Her heart sank when she saw him lying beneath one of the burning rocks.

The other wolves seemed to be in a trance. None of them came forward to help Sandilo. She looked below the window. It wasn’t too high.

Without giving it a second thought, she climbed on the window sill and jumped down. Unfortunately, she landed in an awkward angle, causing intense pain shoot through her body.

She had to clench her teeth to muffle the scream that threatened to escape. She hobbled to the place where Sandilo was lying under a burning rock. By this time, he had already thrown off the boulder.

She watched with wonder as the wounds healed as if by magic. Soon the fur that was matted with blood became speckless as if he was never hurt.

“Thank God, you are alright.” She said, sighing with relief, but she didn’t get a reply, for Sandilo was in his wolf form.

Today was that fateful night when the men lost control over themselves and turned into ferocious wolves.

When Vivian realized what she had done, she tried to get up and run, but her feet gave way, and she fell back. Her movement attracted the attention of the other wolves. They let out a low growl and moved towards her menacingly.

Her hands and legs shook severely, as she crawled backward with each step they took. They seemed to be in no hurry. Saliva dripping out of their mouths, they kept moving at a steady pace.

Unfortunately, her back hit the wall, and now she couldn’t even move backward.

She looked into Sandilo’s mesmerizing eyes one last time and pleaded, “Please, don’t kill me.” Those remained in her head as her mouth was too dry to utter a single word.

She shut her eyes tightly, waiting for them to pounce on her. Being an astronaut, she had been in several life-threatening situations.

She knew that risking her life was a part of an astronaut’s life. She often thought about the different ways in which she could die during her missions. But, none of them were as painful as being torn apart by wolves.