Chapter 1

*Dreams weren't supposed to be able to kill you.*

Master! Master!

 A woman in her 40's rushed into his chamber, her hands shook and her lips quivered in great panic. She fell on her knees, bowed her head and hid her face from the man with a set of warm amber-gold eyes that wouldn't have looked out of place in the face of a tiger.

   "Master! Bad news!" She cried.

   He got up with deep frown lines on his forehead, his eyes squinted at her trembling figure. "What has happened?"

   "Mi…mistress, she's…"

   The man sprang off his chair and stride towards her. What has happened to your mistress."

   The woman's eyes widened in utter despair, she gulped nervously and nodded quickly. "Please have mercy and spare my life, master Damien."

   "Then speak!"

   "I swear on my mother's grave…it's never my thoughts to wish mistress ill-fated…"

   "Just speak!" His voice thundered.

   "Yes, yes."

   He stared at her impatiently. She raised her a bit and stared at his feet while she spoke.

   "The midwives couldn't save her, they…" she choked on her words when she didn't see her master's legs no more, he's teleported from there. She breathed a sigh of relief.

   He'd teleported into the bedroom.

   "Master!" The midwives greeted him and quickly bowed when he strode in. He ignored them and walked straight to the bed.

   "Alpha," the male figure beside him acknowledged in respect, but he also ignored the male and sat on the bed, close to the lady who looked in her 20's.

   The amber-eyed male took the lady's hand in his, he felt her pulse and narrowed his eyes. "Why can't I feel her heart beat? Why is she so cold? And blue?" He asked in a deadly calm voice.

   None of the midwives uttered a word, they wouldn't speak a word for fear of their lives.

   "None of you dare speak a word?" He asked again, turning to them.

   But they still stayed silent, taking slight glances at each other…each, silently waiting for the other.

   "Master asked a question, speak and your lives shall be spared!" The figure beside him growled.

   One of the midwives fell on her knees, her head to the ground. She crawled closer to him…though still in a safe distance.

   "Have mercy on us, master," she stuttered. "W..we..we tried our best, but.. but..we..she.."

   He slowly turned away from the mistress, he glared at the midwives with his flaming eyes. They were all suddenly lifted off the ground, their hands flew to their necks and began struggling…as if trying to get away from him. He clenched his fist and they began choking.

   "Filthy bunch!" He growled loudly. He clenched his fist tighter, his eyes shut and the midwives stiffed as though they were statues. "Useless creatures."

   He opened his eyes and released his fist. Their bodies slumped down, he turned back to the mistress and turned her head to the side. He quickly bit her neck. He waited for a few minutes, but got no reaction from her…he frowned…

   "Master, do you wish to resurrect the mistress?" The figure beside him asked.

   "Silence!" He snapped at him. He thought maybe he didn't bite her right and bit her again—but still no reaction.

   "Master, she—"

   "Shall I bite her again? Why isn't it working?" He asked. He stared at her hard, surprised the bite wasn't working.

   "Forgive my impudence, alpha, but I'm afraid she is dead." The figure said.

   "Nonsense, I gave her the bite." His eyes turned red…scarlet red! Anger and betrayal flashed in his eyes, he clenched his fist and his jaw. "I mustn't let it be true. I mustn't let it happen!" He reached for a small dagger, the male beside him held his hands in his.

   "Master, you mustn't use this dagger, your wounds shall take time to heal." 

   He snatched his hands from the man's grip, his chest rose and fell rapidly as he breathed heavily. He looked up and growled loudly, the whole chamber echoed at his deep growl.

   "This is injustice! You are being unfair! Punish me and spare my mate! She's innocent, I beseech thee…she is innocent." But she still remained unmoved, he growled again.

   The growls drifted into my consciousness, weaving their way through vivid dreams.

   And that cry!

   I jerked awake, my heart thundering so loudly, I was still hearing the cries.

   I was still hearing the cries.

   Wasn't I?

   I scramble out of bed, the sheets and blankets dropping onto the floor, my flannel pajamas tangled around my waist and legs. Wind rattled the windows, the darkness beyond the single-pane glass complete. I cocked my head to the side, heard the room creaking, ice pattering on the roof. Other than that, there was nothing. My hand shook as I brushed bangs from my forehead and tried to take a few deep breaths. Tired, but my lungs wouldn't fall.

   "Calm down!" I muttered. "It was just a dream, and you're still waking up from it."

   It wasn't as if I hadn't had the dream many in the six months since my process of discernment, and it wasn't as if I hadn't learned how to deal with it.

   I paced to the window then back to the bed, inhaling, exhaling, forcing myself to relax.

   There was pain—so much pain in his eyes. He was hurting and I was powerless to help him. I didn't even know him but somehow his agony affected me deeply. I woke up with tears in my eyes most mornings. My heart clenched like a fist in my chest, his name—a name I could never quite recall—trembling on my lips.

   I tried to tell myself, my dreams were just that—only dreams. Lots of people had reoccurring dreams. Why my head chose to replay the same scene night after night was a mystery but it was no big deal. I shouldn't have to worry about this man, this mysterious stranger who was hurting. Shouldn't have to care about the pain I see in his unusual amber eyes. But I still did.

   Until this night, the dreams changed. I could finally see the lady's face. And it frightened me. Cause somehow the lady who laid helpless on the bed was no one but me…me..

   Why? Why was this happening? Why does this matter? I walked to the table where my rosary laid in waiting. Pictures of Christ hung crooked on the wall. The statue of Christ on the cross and pictures of him lined the table, their frames covered with dust.

   I pulled back the curtains and stared into the tiny front yard. The convent butted up against a road that dead-ended a half mile to the west. I lived in the convent willing to take religious vows, and live, with other women, a life in the service of God. I saw It as a blessing, but that was the way I'd always been. Focusing on the positive. Willing to work hard to make dreams a reality.

   Something moved in the early-morning darkness, and I leaned closer to the glass. Probably just a deer. This far out, I saw plenty of them. There were coyotes, too. The thing crossed the yard, heading too father Williams property. No street lights illuminated the shape, but I was sure it was biped. Too small to be a bear. A man?

   I flexed on the outside light. The shadow darted across the street, disappearing into heavy shrubs.

   Father William?

   I hoped not. Two days ago, he'd been outside barefoot, walking up the road. I'd spotted him on my way to the nunnery from evangelism at the medical clinic. He'd said he'd been heading to his mail-box at the head of their road, but that hadn't explained the barefeet in fifty-degree weather.

   I grabbed my phone and dialed his number, but he wouldn't answer. But if he was outside, he could freeze to death before anyone ever realized he was in trouble.

   I yanked on jeans, pulled a coat over my flannel nightie and shoved my feet into boots. I touched the bear spray I kept in my coat pocket. Better safe than sorry. It was cold for early November, the temperature well below freezing, ice coating the grass and trees. It took five long strides to cross the nunnery, the wind snatching my breath and chilling my cheeks. Across the street, father William's house stood shadowy and dark.

   I walked to the edge of his property and made my way along his driveway. My flashlight been bounced over cracks in the pavement and illuminated the three stairs that led to father Williams from door. I jiggled the door knob, knocked twice, wondering if he would hear if he was asleep. My fingers were freezing, but I wanted to check the back door, too. I swept the flashlight across the front yard, my pulse jumping as it pressed over what looked like footprints on the icy grass. I scanned the area, found another set of prints near the edge of the house.

   "Father!" I screamed, my voice carried away by the wind. "father! Are you out here?" I rounded the side of the house, following the footprints to a gate that banged against the fence with every gust of wind.

   "Father!" I tried one last time, my flashlight tracking footprints to the edge of the woods that separated father Williams yard from the church. The only church I had ever known. I knew the path that cut through the woods so well I wouldn't have needed my flashlight to follow it. I used it anyway, making sure the footprints didn't veer off into the woods.

   Father William couldn't be too far ahead.

   If it was father William.

   I glanced back, could see nothing but white-crusted trees.

   I walked another half mile. I'd reach the church parking lot soon, and then what would I do? The place was closed for the night. I was already frozen. I'd be all the way frozen by the time I walked to the church.

   This was a stupid idea. A colossally stupid one. I needed to go back to the convent and alert the others. If father William was out in the cold, they'd find him. The problem was, I couldn't stand the thought of the priest freezing to death while I cowered in the nunnery. I couldn't stomach the idea of a person dying because I hadn't been able to offer the help he needed.

   "Father!" I shrieked, my words seeming to echo through the woods. The trees grew sparser as I neared the church, and I flashed my lights toward the end of the trail, hoping to catch sight of the priest.

   Suddenly, a figure stepped out of from behind a tree. Not stooped and old like father William. Tall and huge. My light flashed on thick paws. It glanced off a thick black fur, landed straight on fangs and scarlet red eyes that reminded me of the one's in my dreams.

   "A…a..wolf?" I said, my voice wobbling. "Please,God…"

   Please…Dear God, please…

   It let out a deep, rumbling growl. It had a feral dominating look that got me scared. It took a step closer to me, it's eyes not moving an inch away from me.

   I dashed into trees as it ran after me. The tumbled down a small hill, pushed through a thicket. Behind me, branches cracked and feet slapped against frozen earth. It was following me!

   I didn't know where I was, where I was heading. I knew only that I had to run. If I didn't, the death I'd seen in my dream was going to find me.