Chapter 1

"I am high key nervy right now, Vera. I know you could hear my heart beating rapidly like it wants to come out from my ribcage," Mira uttered then resumed biting her lower lip. She has been feeling sick in her stomach since she discovered her mate from another pack last month. She wanted to introduce herself but a myriad of negative thoughts hammered her self-esteem the moment she saw his mate.

"Get a grip on yourself, Mira. Let me remind you about the game that will begin shortly. Alpha expected us to win."

The gravity on my voice shows my determination to prove my worth. I continued wrapping my hand with the white bandage. On the other hand, Mira had finished preparing herself for the competition. Hence, she was quite bothered by her mate.

I understood how highly strung she was. Her mate would watch the game which brought so much ripples of anxiety to her being. But we had to pull ourselves together to bring triumph to our pack. We were entrusted with this once in a lifetime chance, we shouldn't let the pack down.

Before she could utter any words, the host called the name of our pack. I stood and looked at her meaningfully, expecting her to get stuck to our ulterior motive. The vestige of vivaciousness has finally faded in her eyes, shifting to her defensive countenance. I just hope that her focus would not go to somewhere...or someone.

We revealed ourselves to the crowd as they screamed out of their lungs. I darted Alpha Duran immediately, seated with other personified alphas in the city. His golden orbs met mine as he slightly nodded, acknowledging and reminding me of the simple mission he bestowed upon us.

I surveyed other participants in the annual game. Judging their body built, I could say who were the contestants who deserve to gain my attention since they possess the energy and power I was familiar with.

Today marked the twenty-seventh death race between packs. It was not a simple race. It was bloody, and most of the time, participants were fated to die to bring shame to their pack. And I promise, despite my form and inability, I would end up brandishing our pack's flag.

"Human are really dumb for entering this game. I just hope that someone here will manage to escape," someone from another pack spoke, trying to annoy me. It was inevitable for them to know that I was not like them.

I looked at the girl with brown short hair with my piercing gaze. Her thin pink lips stretched into a victorious smile when she managed to get my attention. But her smile suddenly vanished when I reciprocated her with a 'sweet' remark.

"Escape is for numby-pamby cowards who specialized in mundane threats without demonstrating it," I asserted with conviction.

"Whoa," a man said who looked amazed at my rebuttal. Among the participants, he looked careless and not worthy of my energy. "We can play this game without staining our hands with blood, right?"

"Shut up!" the girl gritted as she perforated me with her blazing emerald eyes. "I will not forgive you for talking back against me, filthy human!"

I only looked at her like she was the only stupid she-wolf in the competition. Her face darkened even if I was not uttering any words to defend myself from her stupid outburst.

"Participants, enough," the host said when he noticed the commotion. If I was not mistaken, he was the Beta of the Cameron pack—the host of this annual event. "You can continue talking when the game is done—only if you survive the game."

The crowd fell silent when they understood what he was saying. Everyone knew that this blood-thirst game was not easy.

"I know that you all know how this game is played but let me explain the new mechanics for a change."

Mira and I looked at each other. The mechanics of the game was— I gritted my teeth. I looked at Alpha Duran, why didn't he tell me about this? He really wanted me dead. Whatever changes they made, I must win this game.

"One of you will be placed somewhere in the forest. You have to find them first before proceeding to the race," he said. "Make sure that the finder has a great sense of smell or else, you know what might happen."

D*mn. Unlike wolves, I didn't have a great sense of smell. I didn't want to hope that Mira would be the finder. I knew that it would be me. I gritted my teeth and looked at Alpha Duran who was smiling devilishly.

And I was not wrong. The host announced that I had to find Mira first.

"You are fast. You can find me, I knew it," Mira said, trying to boost me up. "The race is easy since you know how fast I am. Don't worry about it."

Instead of telling her how problematic I was, I kept it within myself. I didn't like to look weak in front of my opponents. I didn't want to lose this game. I should win.

The host of the game ordered his people to place the other five participants including Mira in the forest. Even if my heart was racing nonstoply, my mind was thinking of ways on how to win the game.

I should win no matter what happens. When I win, there is a possibility that I will regain Alpha Duran's trust.

I looked at the moon above which beautifully illuminated us by its moonlight and prayed to the Moon Goddess. Wolves from our pack told me constantly that I was a parasite. A human. That Moon Goddess would never listen to me. However, Luna Beatrice told me when she was still alive that the Moon Goddess could sometimes grant wishes from humans, insisting that Moon Goddess would listen to people. Someone like me.

Moon Goddess, please guide me. Please grant my wish to win this game.

"Scared?" the girl asked while mustering her impish smile. "As much as I want to let you live, the forbidden forest deserves a sacrificial lamb as an offer. Don't show yourself to me in the forest, I wouldn't have a second thought to kill you."

"Likewise," I uttered, which darkened her. I've observed that she was really short-tempered.

The host whistled, a sign that we could finally find our partner in the forest. All of the participants morphed into their wolf form except me instantly. All of them run towards the forest, leaving their torn clothes.

I started to run as fast as I could. I've already expected that I would be left behind. Well, everyone expected it. All I heard was their ear-splitting boos.

However, I've trained with the fastest wolf in the Vactic pack so I only consumed enough time to enter the forest. My eyebrows arched when I saw a wolf caught in a trap. Based on her wolf form, she was a she-wolf. If she changed into her human form, it would be easy for her to get herself out of the trap. However, her body will be exposed to the city. This game will be broadcasted where all the wolves community can watch.

The caught she-wolf must be conservative. I shook my head in dismay. Her determination to win was overpowered by her cautiousness. She really deserved to lose.

I see, the finder should still be carefull. There might be numerous traps in the forest. I needed to be observant to my surroundings. It was a good thing that I spent my life in the forest.

Aside from the participant I've seen earlier, one of the four remaining participants was heavenly wounded. I watched him healing his wound discreetly.

I looked around and tried to find Mira. Where could she be? Where did they place her?

"Gotcha!"

Someone choked me from behind then the stupid girl a while ago appeared in front of me, mustering her signatured irritating smile.

"You b*tch! You tried to talk back a while ago. You deserve to be beaten!" she said. She was about to hit me when I kicked her stomach. I elbowed the person who was choking me from behind then let a violent blow with the crown of my head. I picked up my pocket knife from its handle and instantly stabbed him to one of the wolf's weak spots..

Compared to the stupid girl, the man was one of the participants who have more energy. He looked powerful too. That was the reason why I was being violent. He could kill me if I didn't move.

"Oh my gosh! How dare you hurt my brother!" the girl said as her brother wailed in pain. Before she could reach her brother, I picked up his helpless brother and put my knife near his neck. "Oh my gosh!"

"I will kill him," I said with so much terror in my voice. Fear was evident in her face while looking at me. "You should leave the moment you find him but you are the one who will put him on his deathbed."

"Please! Don't kill my brother! I begged you!" she cried. I shook my head as the distance between his neck and my swiss knife compressed. "I know where your partner is! Promise, I will bring her to you! Just let my brother go!"

I smiled devilishly. I saw how anger showed up in her face but she couldn't do anything. She was under my mercy. She knew that.

"I will give you five minutes. Bring her to me," I said which made her face lightened up. "Now!"

She immediately morphed into her wolf form to find Mira. On the other hand, I let her brother rest under a big tree. I picked up a herb inside my pocket which could help his wound.

"I apologize. I have no choice but to hurt you," I said to him. I looked at him. He looked younger than me. He was watching me while I was applying it to his wound.

"Why?"

I looked at him.

"I just hope that you will not turn like your older sister. You are lucky because I am not that ruthless."

"Sorry for it. I wanted to proceed to the race but she wanted to hurt you. Maybe she deserves to feel scared."

I laughed at his remark and shook my head.

"Treat this immediately after the game. It would be fatal once you refuse to apply medicine."

"You belong to what pack?" he asked suddenly. "You are faster than my sister. Faster than me."

"Vactic pack. I trained," I said. "If you want to be the fastest, it could be developed through proper and thorough training."

"I could smell my sister," he said. "Do I need to pretend that I am unconcious?"

"No need—"

"I insisted. I will only open my eyes when you leave. There is a high chance that she will get back at you."

"O—okay. Thank you."

"Welcome. I hope we'll see each other later….or again."

"Vera!"

I looked around then found Mira. She immediately went to me. I let the stupid girl go to her sleeping brother.

For the last time, I gave her brother a glimpse. I just hope that our fate will converge once more.