CHAPTER 2

I was unable to look away from the werewolf in front of us. Its size...was twice as big as my father, and it has greyish hair. My father is huge and has a massive manly build. However, this werewolf was dreadfully enormous. 

I won't accept that the creature in front of me is my father. I could still see the blood trickling from its abdomen even though it was in this form. In fact, it is only getting worse.

Unable to comprehend what we had seen in front of us, my brother took a step behind.

His voice was full of doubt and concern as he murmured, "F-father." His right upper lip was quivering. 

The werewolf shifted his attention to my brother. Our gazes briefly met before shifting to my brother. The eyes made it clear that it was him…our father. Although the body and hair we are seeing do not resemble our father's, the eyes reveal otherwise.

Gasps filled my ears. I have nearly forgotten that we are in a life-and-death situation right now.

“You filthy beast!”

“You really are the monster of our village!”

“He wiped out all of my sheep! He must not escape!”

The hatred towards our family intensified even more. The metallic clanging that I had earlier heard as we were running, I could hear it again. But this time, it was more audible and noticeable. 

“You have ruined our village! We weren't wrong to condemn you, after all!” 

My father roared. It was frightening and loud. His sharp teeth were visible. It may literally harm people or animals by looking at it. Did he actually kill those domestic animals? How could he continually reassure us that we did nothing wrong? 

The metallic clatter grows increasingly unsettling. Aside from that, the wrath of those who have cornered us grows increasingly intolerable. The anger was evident in their eyes. The sight of my father didn't make people fear him; it only fueled their hatred. 

“End that beast!” One of them shouted angrily. 

Those words made me stand up from my trembling knees. I was about to run towards my father when I heard a loud thud…that is when I witnessed a man hitting my father from his behind. 

“Don’t!" I screamed as if my life depends on it when I saw additional men pursuing him and preparing to strike him with those pipes in their hands.

My eyes started to tear up as my father groaned in anguish. He fought back by stopping them with his sharp teeth. I witnessed my father biting on human flesh. Blood spreads widely. That made me tremble. 

They became much furious as a result of my father's action. More of them raced in the direction of my father. Some of them are holding things with sharp edges. 

I started running in front of my father, hoping that this would be enough to stop them from hurting him. IN between sobbing, I pleaded  “I-I beg you…do not h-hurt him… He did not do anything wrong."

Despite that, the resentment and wrath in their eyes remained unabated. They are prepared to destroy us. 

They didn't stop; they kept striking and stabbing my father. I sobbed uncontrollably, unable to move except to stand in front of him. 

My father is in advantage in terms of size, no doubt about it. However, he was unable to defend himself against everyone as a result of the numerous individuals who assaulted him at once with their weapons. My father suddenly lost his balance and fell to the ground. He is even more soaked in his own blood.

Some hands pulled me away from him as they attacked him. I fought valiantly to free myself from these men's grasps.

"He's dead already!” said one of them. A smirk was evident on his face. 

“N-No! It’s not t-true...," I said in shock. Despite the fact that the reality is right in front of my eyes, I refuse to accept that he could leave us in that situation. His eyes were closed, and he showed no indications of breathing. Blood is all over the place.

He was treated like an animal. He was slaughtered by them. 

The same person who had previously attacked my father remarked, "Take her as a sacrifice...It is the only way the deity will favor us once more."

I was unable to move to attack them or escape this man's grasp. 

"How about this young man?”

That’s when I realized that I am still with my brother.  I searched the area for him and discovered him being held captive by other men. He was staring squarely at our father—the werewolf lying on the ground. His eyes were full of tears, but he dared not speak. Definitely, my brother's heart is as broken as mine is. How are we ever going to get over this?

“Charles.” I tried to catch his attention. 

He refrained from looking at me. I could only see from a distance his empty eyes. 

One of them said ruthlessly, "Kill him...or he'll soon turn into a monster, like this father." 

When I heard those words, my heart raced. “No! Don’t! He is only a child!” I yelled at the top of my lungs.

Charles said, "Kill me," with no expression at all.

"Charles, no! Don't act that way!" I shouted. Tears began to roll through my eyes again

Fuck it. I need to keep my brother safe. Deities, if you are really there, please let my brother go…I could not ask for more. 

“Quiet!" The man who was holding me yelled. I was shocked when he punched me in the abdomen, causing me to scream in agony.

That did not satisfy him, he decided to throw a punch at me once again. But this time, it seemed heavier and more painful. I collapsed after that as it was too much for me to handle. 

I found myself being taken toward the terrifying cave when I opened my eyes. There are rumours that wolves reside in this cave because they are frequently howling in this place.

“C-Charles,” I whispered softly… the exhaustion and the anguish of my injuries had taken a toll.  

“He is already dead,” the man who was carrying me said. He, then, left me by myself in the pitch-black cave. 

When I heard those words, I knelt on the ground. I sobbed uncontrollably, everything was too difficult for me to process. He is only a child, he knows nothing about this. Why is this life so painful? 

I sensed someone staring at me when I was still in grief for my family. It felt like someone was keeping watch on me. 

I attempted to crawl out of the cave even though I had nothing left to give. However, I felt a chilly touch on my shoulder just as I was about to leave the cave.

A deep male voice said, "Mine."

After that, I felt a sting on my neck, and then everything went black.