For thousands of years, the tale of the Lycan beast who lurked the forbidden forest had been told. Every five hundred years, six females were allegedly sacrificed from the wolf village to the beast and it was rumoured that their bodies were left to rot at the entrance of the forest for all to see. Many times, this tale was retold to scare the young wolves from venturing into the forest and keep them in check, because no one wanted to be a scapegoat in the hands of the unforgiving and murderous beast. Nola Reynolds has always been a headstrong fiery pure blood who has always believed there was no Lycan beast and all the tales about him were just made up myths and fairy tales, aimed at scaring the younger ones. Little does she know that one night was all it was going to take to change her life forever. Things take an unsettling turn for Nola when she, alongside five other girls, are chosen on the night of the full moon. She is faced with the most shocking revelation of her life standing before her, in flesh and blood— The Lycan Beast. Is it her fate to run away and free herself from the hands of the predator, or does she have to give in to her sweet, twisted story of beauty and the beast?
View More“Once again, we gather here to commemorate the festival of the beast. As we all know, this tradition is what preserves us a pack and these brave women who gave up everything for their people will forever be immortalised in our hearts…”
I was one in about a million wolves who had gathered here tonight for this bullshit.
The only reason I was at this cursed place was because Sam practically begged me to go. Everything about the ceremony irked me immensely, but my brother insisted that disobeying the government of the Village — the High Table— would only earn our family their heads.
This was a festival in preparation for the Night of the Chosen. According to tradition, on the Night of the Chosen, all the members of the Wolf Village were ordered by the High Table and Council members to come together to pay respect to the beast and all the lives it had taken for the past thousands of years. It was ironic and pretty dumb to me how the entire village worshipped this imaginary evil creature they say has lived for thousands of years in the dark brooding forest. According to the tale, it came every five hundred years to take away with him six girls and legend had it that they were killed and left there to die at the entrance of the forest.
The High Table and the Members of the four councils had made a pact with the beast years ago, and every five hundred years, the Night of the Chosen was held to pick six unfortunate girls to die in the hands of the Lycan Beast. They say most wolves never get to experience a night like this in their lifetime, having it was hundreds of years the event was held. Boy, was I unlucky.
I was not afraid. I was just tired of this made up fairy tale and how the Government has always used it to exploit the girls of the Village and take them away from their families forever. There was no Lycan Beast, just a corrupt and delusional government.
So, as I stood there in the crowd and watched those wicked members of the High Table and council in all their glory, anger brewed in me. King Theo, the most powerful Alpha in the village sat on a high seat while his brother, Alpha Romero addressed the multitude in the dark of the night.
“We have survived for so long only because of this, and will continue to do so. To our ancestors who so graciously accepted the loss of their daughters, we thank you, and to those who will soon follow suit, we—”
“Why don't you offer up some members of your family, or even your lovely brother, oh great Alpha Theo for the Sacrifice?”
My interruption silenced the crowd, my voice was loud like two microphones. Around me were gasps and shouts and the crowd was starting to dissipate, leaving me and my loyal brother who was panicking by my side, in the spotlight.
Undeterred, I looked Romero in the eyes and spoke my mind.
“Why does it have to be the women who have to be brave for the pack? Or is the ‘beast’ a picky eater?” I mocked his highness.
I felt the surprised stares of everyone on me and Sam was frantically gesturing at me to keep quiet. I was done, this was exactly why i tried my best to stay away from the ceremony. I couldn't stay quiet. Some faces looked towards me in awe and mumbled in agreement.
“She’s kind of right…”
Damn right I was. Some others mumbled up in agreement, why did anyone have to give up their loved ones anyway, who had seen the beast before?
“Yes! Why do we continue to do this, tell us!'' I yelled even louder, empowered by the crowd.
“Silence!” Alpha Theo growled, rising from his high seat in thunder and the uproar died out immediately. The Alpha was not to be challenged.
“Have you no respect for the Alpha? How DARE you interrupt my speech in this auspicious place?” Alpha theo thundered from the platform. “You dare challenge the tradition that preserves us, do you wish to invoke the wrath of the beast?” The rest of the council glowered at me whilst the crowd moved away from where I stood.
“I only challenge what I believe to be a lie and what harms people. How come no one has seen the beast that we are to appease?” I could feel the gaze of the alpha as he locked eyes with me. Somehow my wolf stood strong.
“How is she doing that? No one can stare down the alpha!” someone yelled from the crowd.
When he realised the stare down wasn’t working, he snapped his eyes away, “let there not be a repeat of this, Nola, you are walking on thin ice. I pardon you for the last time, you are but a sharp tongued child who thinks she has seen enough. Don't push your luck. Well then, shall we continue?'' Alpha Theo smiled mechanically and gestured for his brother to continue addressing the pack.
“We shall gather here once more as you all know in a fortnight during the full moon to pick the women.” I let out a sigh and looked around, the moon had come out from behind the clouds, casting a silvery sheen on everyone around. There was nothing special about the circle, but for the stones placed to remember each girl sacrificed. There were many moonstones placed in an endless spiral—six stones each five hundred years for as long as anyone could remember. According to the legend, the moonstones helped to choose the next set of women to be sacrificed.
“Why do you keep doing this, Nola? no one stands up to the alpha, are you trying to get yourself kicked out…or even killed? You just got lucky because this is the period of the festival—” Sam was quite angry with me, he trembled as he spoke, “you know it’s just the two of us, i don't want anything to happen to you, you're my little sister.” He said, looking away.
I took his hand in mine and squeezed it, “I know, Sam, I know.”
“But it’s not just me, other people agree, they're just too scared to speak up.” he shook his head and headed home without me.
I remember when I was younger and my mother used to tell us stories of the forest and what lurked within it. Stories meant to curb my curiosity, it was the only place out of bounds. I believed it was a story concocted to keep everyone in and from wandering out. I hated it so much, we were like prisoners, isolated from other packs and the real world. We barely knew what lay beyond because of the silly tradition perpetuated by the council.
“One of these days if you're not careful Nola, you'll get eaten by the beast." Elder Madeline once told me, one of her ancestors had been sacrificed and she was always ready to talk about the beast and his significance.
Soon enough, the Night of the Chosen came by; the village was abuzz with excitement and anxiety. children chattered excitedly and swapped tales, some claiming to have heard sounds unlike anything from near the forest.Women were trying to spend as much time as they could with their loved ones, who knew they could be next. Today was the day their fate would be decided.
“How come no one finds this to be quite odd. They are literally sacrificing women to some made up creature!” yelled Kayla in exasperation. Kayla was my best and only friend, we basically grew up together and her family raised my brother and I when we lost our parents. A few were quite vocal about their opinions on the festival but she was one of the few bold enough to speak up. “Tell me about it, there’s no such thing as a monster in the woods. That’s straight out of an old wife’s tale.”
“Explain what happens to the girls then.” chipped in sam, i didn't know if he believed in the myth but he was always quick to defend it. We had all thought it was a sick joke until the alpha called a meeting during the beginning of the year to remind us that the sacrifice was due for renewal. We had been unfortunate enough to be born into this century.
“Don't they bind them with silver or something? Obviously they die of starvation or get taken by other packs, who knows?” said kayla, whilst rolling her eyes.
“I can't believe you support this sam, imagine if nola was picked.” we all let out a laugh, that was impossible. “The beast better choose the girls who get a kick out of this tradition. You know, the silly ones ready to give up their lives for honour and what not. Definitely not me. Im glad it only comes once in a lifetime, i can't listen to one more stupid speech from alpha theo abut bravery.”
By nightfall we were to gather in the circle before the High Table and the council made up of the alpha, his beta and five of the oldest wolves in the village. Any woman of age to be chosen was to be present, and unlike the memorial, it was enforced with a strong hand. The beta and his men went from door to door to confirm everyone was out and a headcount was conducted. The women who were either too scared to come out got dragged out with force. Sometimes, they would shift and try fight in their wolf form it was no match for being cornered by trained soldiers. I didn't bother resisting this time, just had to get over it and wait for the next year.
“Let me go! Please i don't want to go, please…'' I heard a female voice scream, she was being dragged to the circle. “Why don't you let her be!'' I growled at the man holding the girl by the wrist. “Mind your business, aren't you supposed to be headed to the circle?” he retorted. “And aren't you supposed to do your job properly, she’s not of age!” he looked at the girl and me once more before he let go of her and went to join the other men, cursing under his breath.
“Thank you so much, I don't know what I'd have done without you…” the poor girl looked so scared and looked around until the men were out of sight and whispered to me, “but I just turned 18 yesterday, they will come after me again.”
“Don't worry, you have nothing to be afraid of. They won't pick you.” i promised her. She gingerly agreed and we walked to the circle together. Kayla was already there, pacing about and when she saw me, she came over. “What took you so long?”
“Oh nothing much, just met up with a friend,” I said whilst smiling at the girl.
Soon enough, the moonstones glowed as they were illuminated by the moon, it felt almost eerie like the ghosts of the girls were present, I shivered a bit. One of the council members began speaking, she was one of the oldest in the pack.
“We gather here to pick the six women who will save us all and guarantee our safety from the beast, as our ancestors before us did. The women that will be called out have been chosen with the help of the moon goddess and shall be left at the beginning of the cursed forest for the beast to devour. In return, he shall let our pack be free for the next five hundred years. I know some of you are scared, but be strong, six is a price to pay for everyone and our upcoming young.” The council had never picked a child from the alpha’s family or theirs, I wonder if the moon goddess exempted them from the honor of saving the pack.
“Sarah Oliver, please step forward…” and everywhere was silent, it had begun.
“Dennis martin—quick! stop her before she runs off!'' There were those that went quietly in tears and those that tried to escape or fight. Kayla unconsciously grabbed my hand for comfort, I knew she was scared, “say Nola…wh-what if I get picked? Or even you…'' I looked at her and smiled, that’s impossible. She nodded and laughed, “of course, I'm just being silly.”
“Nola Reynolds.” Kayla's hand fell from mine, and she gasped. All eyes turned to me, there was no way this was happening. “Nola Reynolds, please step forward.” The woman said again, staring directly at me.
NOLA BAYESIt had been months since my bonded died, but for the first time since that sordid night, I was feeling confident, happy even.The mountain city troops had grown to staggering numbers in the past months, so I had dispensed a good number of guards to survey the old wolf village.My new city. The King and I hadn't decided on a name yet, but I knew it was going to be soon.We had freed the wolf village captives the next day, after the gruesome war. Alpha Theo’s rescue had been one I handled myself, with admittedly way too much joy than I could think to hide.“R-Reynolds? I-is that you dear girl?” He had rasped, the curved nails of his claws coming through the wrought-iron bars to lace over my hand before I snatched it away, incensed.“That’s Queen of the Highlands to you Alpha Theo, a shame to see you like this I must say, especially with the way you threw us maidens out on our behinds with nothing to our names.” I spouted, watching with a measure of satisfaction when he bent
HECTOR BAYESI didn't want to let her go, Nola, but I knew in my heart that I had to.And she did run, jerking away from my arms, to throw open the underground chamber grates with a strength I hadn't imagined her capable of.I followed on her heels as we ran down the stone slab of stairs at breakneck speed, into the crematorium where Kalden was lying, still as a statue, encased in the frosty insides of a glass coffin.I felt my breath catch in my throat and I paused at the doorway, my eyes widening when I saw the wreath of white and blood-red hydrangea flower bushes decked in small steps around the dias.“Kalden? Kalden, say something!” Nola gasped, slapping open the casing as a whoosh of frigid air swept up from the body, hitting me right in the nostrils.“Hector, you can't do this, I won't let you!” She screamed, turning to grip the lapel of my shirt with tears glistening on her cheeks.I nodded to the mourners huddled off to the side, darting tear-filled looks at us, and they bowed
HECTOR BAYESThe feeling of the dead man’s body as I writhed on top of him had not left my chest as we rode on horseback, into the gates of the mountain city.“Are you alright?” The green-eyed woman who had been watching me since we passed through the gates whispered, clumps of mud and twigs sticking out of her hair from where she’d brushed her face against mine.The porcelain of her high cheekbones was ashen with dust and grime, and the sight of the salt streak of tears dried and flaky sent a pang through my frame.I allowed myself a shallow breath, We had come a long way, the imp and me, and I was almost certain I couldn't have won the war if it weren't for her quick thinking with the sword.God-freaking dammit, Was I alright? I couldn't tell.The singed fur of my son’s corpse weighed heavy on my heart. Or It might have been the hole of my soul sword that refused to heal.I hadn't wanted to kill the boy, the monster, far from it. Saints! Lord knew Japhtar deserved worse for coming
NOLA REYNOLDSThe sound of a woman screaming reached my ears, distorted in the quake that seemed to shake the earth all around us before I realized I was the one who had been screaming.The Lycan’s sword shook in my hands, the weight of the huge beast pressed against it towered over me, the sprain in my wrist threatening to explode through the net work of veins.“Oh, Dear God!” I screamed again, darting away and watching the impaled beast fall heavily to the dust with a rumbling groan, the Lycan following as I clapped cold hands to my mouth to stifle another scream.“What's happening?” They whispered,“By Joves!”“...Do you reckon he's dead?” The hushed voices of the werewolves gathered rose, seeming to come to a standstill with the skewered monsters as they huddled around the intertwined mass of the Lycan and his son, with the silver tip of his sword- MY sword, shooting up from the soaked due of his back.“Hector!” I shrieked, falling to my knees beside him as I watched the Lycan fal
HECTOR BAYESI am halfway across the field when I realize something is wrong.The man on the other end is grinning, the defined barrel of his chest rising and falling with excited breathing as I closed the distance between the two armies.“For the mountain city!” I bellowed, gripping the silver hilt of my sword as I sent the blade flying through the air in a neat arc, slashing the werewolves in my circle as the black goo of their blood sprayed into my eyes, stinging the liquid from them.Why the fuck did Japhtar keep smiling at me?I let my eyes roam over the lot, catching Nola’s tear-streaked face briefly, before the horde of werewolves fighting closed around her and I felt the rake of claws slice across my back.“Eyes in the heavens! Feast on their bones!” Japhtar’s deep voice boomed in the space as I felt the pound of my heart starting to hammer wildly in my ribcages.I snapped my head up to see that the same type of mist that hung over the city walls had climbed to cover the moon’
JAPHTAR“You’re sick Japhtar! That's what you are, a sick fucking bastard-” The maiden rasped hotly and I felt a bitter fork spike through me at her words, only seconds before I let the back of one giant hand rip across her cheek, sending her back into the hay with a loud thump.“Stupid, stupid girl,” I growled, stalking toward her and snatching the porcelain-faced dwarf by the lapel of her gown, raising her until she was suspended in the air, whimpering loudly.“Make no mistake wench,” I wheezed, shaking her roughly, as one would do to a dirty kitchen rag and watching the muscle in her tight little jaw tighten, no doubt holding back her pained screams.“I am not my father. I will not hesitate to snap your pert little neck, doesn't make a difference to me if you're alive or dead wench, pussy’s pussy.” I grinned, letting my eyes roam delightedly over the maiden’s body as I slammed my hairy paw into the crevice between her legs, her ear-splitting screams music to my ears.“And that's on
HECTOR BAYES“What did you just say?” I wheezed, my heart hammering wildly between the cages of my rib as heat rushed to my head and ears.“Y-your highness, I- they saw her, being carted away, over the north of the forest,” Gordon murmured in a mousey voice, and I felt my eyes grow until they were the size of fucking beach balls in my sockets.Japhtar had Nola? How did that happen? Saints! Why didn’t the imp ever listen to me? The irritation building inside me grew until it blotted out everything else as I clenched my fists until they shook lightly beside me.Taking my woman was the worst thing he could have done, and now, I was going to make him pay for it.“Assemble the royal troops, we're going to storm the outskirts.” I gritted, making a few of the werewolves present gasp as they cuddled around themselves before I strode out, Gordon running last me to assemble the troops before I got there and thoughts of the fair maiden swirling in my head.“Your highness?” Sarah whispered as I m
NOLA It was the whirl of the overhead ceiling fan I heard first as I came to, the ache in my temple searing through the balls of my eyes as I allowed my eyelids to flutter open, the memory of what had happened hit me like a freight train so that I let a loud gasp slip.What the fuck was that smell?I gagged, huffing frantically as I struggled against the wires that twisted into my skin painfully, the stench of male musk and excrement sticking to the hairs in my nose.“Oi! I reckon the princess’s awake, get a look at this eh?” A gravelly voice jeered as hushed whispers rose around me, the crooked claw of one werewolf poking the flesh of my hand hard enough thank screamed, tearing my eyes open to see the obelisk of their misshapen faces hovering over me.”Get the fuck away from me!” I screeched, aware that my chest was rising and falling frantically with suppressed pants as I watched the trio throw back their heads and laugh.Shit. How long had I been out? The man with pink eyes. I cou
HECTOR BAYESJaphtar Bayes was in the wild, He’d fled. The bastard.It was lucky that he had when he did, the moon goddess had hidden her silver bulb behind the iron-grey mist that kept as the fight died down around and wearied-looking soldiers from the royal army speared off the rogues that lingered.“After them!” I roared, struggling to my feet as the cobblestones of the ground rose to my vision again before I came down hard, my hand shooting out to strike the pavement, the tremors going through me.I’d been halfway up and on his heels, the ache from the gash in my midriff stinging enough that tears rose in the pools of my eyelids before I yelled for the soldiers to follow him, my heart sinking with each second that passed when I noticed he had run toward the castle.Nola! I couldn't let him make it to the gates even! Not when the stone city castle held the remainder of the survivors that had managed to escape the gruesome war.I straightened with a large inhale, feeling my muscles
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