Chapter 1

Ten years later..

VERONICA

My grandma does tell me stories, stories about werewolves, while I listen with all I've got. She has told and retold the same story to me, and all I keep wondering is when the little goddess will finally be born, or, at the very least, if it were to come true, when someone will rescue us from the shackles of fear. Every day we wake up knowing full well that we could be preyed on before the day ends, yet there is nothing we could ever do.

We live in an abandoned underground, just me and my grandma. Every other one of my kind lives either in some other underground or somewhere that's hidden enough. We hid from the Lycans during the day and from both the Lycans and vampires at night. My grandma used to tell me that werewolves were also as powerful and had magic as well, but after the Lycans suddenly invaded our land and killed as much as they could, they kept some of us captive in their land. The children who were not yet able to get their wolves remained wolfless, and those who did were not able to shift. However, I have seen grandma shift a few times, although she never knew I saw her. She is probably the only werewolf with that ability.

We became like humans, and most of us, especially myself, are forgetting that we are other creature. Humans also lived in the town, although few of them, although they are safer than us, they only have to avoid the vampires at night. so sometimes we just pretend to be humans, dirtying our skin with a little ash to avoid looking too beautiful. That's just one thing that makes us different from humans. Our skin was tan and spotlessly glowing, and our eyes were different colors according to our descendants' families.

Mine was green; sad enough, I don't even know my family's descendants' names. Humans usually have brown or just black eyes, and in order to blend in, I have to wear contact lenses whenever I go out.

"Don't go, Vera. "It's dangerous out there," grandma says. My mind is already made up. For the past few days, the Lycans' hunt for werewolves has increased, like they need us for something. I don't know what it could be; all I know is that whoever enters that majestic gate will never be out alive. We hide more these days, but grandma is visibly shaken without food. She looks like she will give up on life soon; that's why I have to take the risk and go out to buy some food.

"I will be fine, grandma; just wait a little while, okay?," I assure her.

"We still don't have enough money," she insists. I smile childishly; she knows what I can give out instead of cedi. She said mom has lots of golden things kept for me. I usually exchange them for money.

"Don't do that again, Veronica, not this one."

"Grandma, I will be fine." There are mine now after all. I will be back before you say..." I can't complete the sentence more like I can't remember the long name she uses whenever she makes the quote for me.

I dash out just when I have calmed her down enough. My hoodie was covering my shiny hair, which I packed into a ponytail and folded into a bun. My hair is straight and really long, and, strangely enough, I haven't seen any hair with such a nice texture as mine. Grandma always warned me to cover it up and never let anyone get a glimpse of it.

The street is scanty, with two or three persons moving around, not freely though. Soon enough, I saw the already dirty sign that shows I have gotten to the address of the shop owner.

Matthew's face lit up in a smile as he saw me. He beckoned on me to come inside instead of lingering outside, which I did. For some reason, I have a feeling that he suspects that I am a werewolf and not a human.

"You got money this time, huh?"

"Something better as usual" I scoff, he looks at me with a very serious face almost forcing my heart to sink and then grabbed the round golden pendants from me. He starts to smile suddenly after observing it for a while. I guess he must have hit the jackpot just for some meat.

"What do you want?"

"Meat. Plenty of it. I answer.

He nods and start to cut meat for me, surprisingly he really cut plenty huge amount for me. I grab it from him, and without thanking him, I dash out of his store.

"Veronica, stay safe out there." Matthew's voice echoes in my ear.

Outside was freezing, and I felt numb for a while due to the cold flapping my feet. A pair of socks is a luxury for us, and we couldn't afford any. I just managed to get my hands on Grandma's old boot. Thanks to my hoodie, it's really helping out a little.

I increase my pace, not ready to run back home. Also, because of some prying eyes I see outside Matthew's shop, I didn't bother to greet anyone, and I also didn't bother to run; maybe they'd suspect something about me if I did.

I walk with my face straight to the floor, minding my own business. When I reach the junction, I mistakenly bump into someone.

I muttered a "sorry" to the person only for him to grab my arms and force me to turn towards him . I could see the man's socks and his thick black boot. I dare not look up, but somehow I sense what he could be.

I tried very hard to free myself from his grip, but it was so tight. My arm was aching where he held me . I try again, but it seems that he tightens the grip each time I try, and I swallow the scream of pain that would have escaped my mouth.

"Take off your hoodie," he orders, and without waiting for me to refuse, he dragged the hoodie cap out of my face and even went to the extent of loosening my ponytail. My hair fell to my shoulders and then down to my waist.

"What are you?" The man's deep voice questions...