~~Prologue~~~

The first sign that my marriage was doomed from the start was at the bridal shower. My noisy cousins and strangers from the groom’s family were having a blast while I, the bride-to-be, who was supposed to be excited, sat in a corner like a zombie.

Surrounded by gift-wrapped boxes and balloons, I watched the girls mingle and laugh over games and drinks. Then I looked up to the sky and prayed a single prayer to the moon goddess. 

“Please, take my life. May I sleep tonight and never wake up.“

Although I didn't believe in the goddess anymore and stopped praying to her since my tenth birthday, my future was decided and tomorrow, I'd be married to an evil being from the lowest depths of hell, Seth Darkwood, who by the way, was fifteen years older than me. 

A man whose first four wives died mysteriously. I shivered with disgust at the picture of that demon pouring his cursed seed inside me. 

“Ashanti, it's time to open your gifts!” One of my cousins announced. My response was a small smile. 

“I have a headache and would love to retire early. Would you please excuse me?” I said with a sickly tone and rose slowly from the chair.

My cousin moved aside to make way for me. Without waiting for any reaction, I walked out but my ears caught one of the girls from Seth's side whispering to the rest.

“She's so stuck-up. She doesn't know how lucky she is. Seth is loaded.”

“He's old enough to be our grandfather!” one of my cousins said with distaste and I headed to my room.

Unlike popular belief, being the daughter of the Lycan king and living in this huge mansion brought me nothing but pain.

My wedding dress sat comfortably in the closet. It was made by the priciest bridal couture in the Lycan world and beaded with over twenty carats of diamonds and white gold.

While I ran my hands through it, a thought struck me like lightning. Instead of praying for my death, I could escape this horrible marriage now that it wasn't too late. 

"Leave immediately," a firm voice inside of me said. "Get out before it gets too late."

At first, I dismissed it. My father was powerful and embarrassing him on this important day was asking for trouble. 

Once the vows were exchanged, I wouldn't get a say in the matter again. Escaping would save me from Seth Darkwood for sure, even if I had to die along the way.

Without thinking, I stashed some gold into my locket which was a pendant of my mom’s. The only problem was how to leave the house without getting caught by my dad's fierce guards who guarded every entrance and exit.

And even if I somehow managed to sneak away undetected, there were more guards outside the mansion. So, that ruled out that plan.

Plan b was to make a daring escape through the backyard fence, which led to the animal farm, shift into my wolf, and then run for my life.

 It was now or never. 

A big balding guy dressed entirely in black narrowed his eyes suspiciously when I stepped out of my room. Thinking quickly, I thought of a convincing lie.

"I'm having a runny stomach," I said, pretending to be unsettled. "Some herbal tea from the garden usually helps.”

The guard paused, watching me for a moment before nodding. "Make it quick," he grumbled, unlocking the door and allowing me passage.

With a fake smile, I walked past him, suppressing the urge to break into a run. Once outside, I made a beeline for the backyard.

The first step of my escape had been successful. I shifted into Bea, my ginger-colored wolf, and made a daring escape through the backyard fence, which led to the animal farm. 

 But just as I reached the fence, disaster struck when my wolf fell into a sewage pit, the stench overwhelming my senses.

She shook off the filth, climbed out of the pit, and ran to the main fence which was surrounded with sharp spikes. Then she leaped over the fence and landed on the other side 

But my freedom was short-lived when I spotted guards with flashlights and sharp swords. A shout sounded and without wasting a second I fled for my life without daring to look back.

And so, we ran, leaving behind the mansion and all its secrets, venturing into the unknown with the hope of a new beginning.