Chapter one

EMMELINE POV

"Emmeline, come now! Your dad is back!" My mom's scream pierced the air.

I dropped my color paintings, racing downstairs with abandon. Nima, my nanny, scolded me for my recklessness, but I couldn't help it – I hadn't seen Father in a year.

The carriage stopped outside, and Father dismounted, his worn leather coat and weary eyes telling stories of distant lands. I lifted my ball dress and flung myself into his arms.

"Easy girl, your old man's waist can't carry you anymore," Father teased, pulling my nose.

I laughed, basking in his scent. Santos Gray, renowned scientist and my role model.

Mother's gentle tap on my head broke the spell. We laughed, entering the house together.

Over dinner, Father shared tales of his revolutionary project. I listened intently.

"Dad, take me to Elgin sometime?" I asked, stuffing food into my mouth.

Mother's lecture on propriety began, and Father's frown deepened. "Elgin's too wild for you."

"I've lived in Dogar all my life; I need experience," I protested.

Father's dismissive gesture sparked anger. I stormed upstairs, slamming my door.

Inside, I fumed. Nineteen and still treated like a child! Elgin, capital of Elton, beckoned – supernatural creatures, beauty, and excitement.

Father insisted it was corrupt, but I yearned for city life.

Frustration fueled my sleep. Mother would chastise me for sleeping in my dress.

As Lord Gray's daughter, I must attract suitable suitors. In Elton, wealth and status mattered more than mates.

Father's voice outside my door pleaded for me to open up, but I feigned sleep.

Later, screams and shouts shattered my slumber. Smoke filled the air – the house was ablaze!

I rushed out, frozen in horror as Nima fell to a sword.

"Run, Emmeline!" Father yelled, pushing me toward the safe room.

I hesitated, witnessing Mother's desperate struggle. A sword sliced through her defenses, and she crumpled.

"No!" Father roared, charging at our attackers.

I heard the clash of steel, Father's grunts, and...

The sickening thud of his body hitting the floor.

My heart shattered. With shaky legs, I fled the room.

Tears blinded me as I stumbled into the forest. Branches scratched my face, and leaves crunched beneath my feet.

But I didn't dare look back.

They knew I'd fled into the forest. The pursuers' shouts and snarls echoed through the trees.

"Find the Gray girl!"

"Kill her!"

Fear fueled my flight. I ran, my breath ragged, my heart heavy.

My feet throbbed in agony, each step a reminder of all I'd lost. The Gray manor, our home, our sanctuary, lay in ashes.

Tears streamed down my face as I stumbled forward, driven by desperation and the faint hope of escape.

Wiping away tears, I gazed up at the starless sky, feeling abandoned by the world. "Why?" I whispered, my voice cracking.

But fate conspired against me. A hidden rock sent me crashing to the ground, my scream echoing through the forest. Pain shot through my ankle, and I curled up, helpless.

The sound alerted my pursuers. As I struggled to rise, searing pain and fear paralyzed me.

Wolves emerged from the shadows, swords pointed at my heart. Their snarls and glares chilled me to the bone.

One stepped forward, his eyes raking over me with a mixture of hatred and lust. "So, this is Lady Gray," he sneered, his voice dripping with malice.

Fear gripped me, suffocating me. I pleaded, "Please...please," my voice barely audible.

The shortest wolf snarled, "Kill her. She's no better than her father." His words cut deep, ripping open the wounds of loss and grief.

But the leader intervened, his gaze never leaving mine. "Death's too easy. She'll pay for her father's sins.." His words echoed in my mind, a haunting reminder of my newfound vulnerability.

As the darkness closed in, I thought of my parents, their laughter, their love. Tears streamed down my face, and I whispered, "Mother...Father..."

A blow to the head silenced me, and everything went black.

__________________________________

Cold water slapped me awake. I jerked upright, disoriented. Where was I? The metallic tang of blood and damp air filled my nostrils.

A squat, rugged man loomed over me, his eyes blazing with hostility. "Wake up, traitor."

My mind reeled. Traitor? What did he mean? And why wasn't he a wolf? Everyone in Dogar was a wolf.

Then, reality hit me like a ton of bricks. I was caged.

Beyond the bars, Elgin's vibrant cityscape unfolded. The grand architecture, colorful market stalls, and bustling streets teemed with supernatural creatures.

Father's paintings flashed through my memory. He'd told me stories of Elgin's wonders.

The man grasped my arm, yanking me out of the carriage. "Stop playing dumb, traitor."

I stumbled, confusion swirling. "Traitor?" How could he call me that? Didn't he know who I was?

Panic clawed at my chest. How did I end up here? Yesterday's horrors replayed in my mind – the attack, my family...

I frowned at the man, my confusion and fear simmering. "Mister, I think you've mistaken me for someone else. I'm Emmeline Gray, and my family was attacked last night. I don't know how I ended up here."

The man's laughter was like a slap, condescending and cold. "Damn all you Grays, always so pretentious."

Without a word, he dragged me into a grand, imposing building. The sign above the entrance read "Werewolf Council" in elegant, curved letters.

My heart skipped a beat as relief washed over me. This was where Father worked; they would help me, clear up this nightmare.

But as we stepped inside, the atmosphere shifted. Hostile gazes and growls greeted me, making my skin crawl. The elegant foyer, with its polished marble and crystal chandeliers, seemed to mock me, its beauty at odds with the malevolent energy.

I felt dread settle in my stomach, heavy as a stone. This wasn't the welcoming sanctuary I'd expected.

The man's grip on my arm tightened, propelling me forward. I stumbled, my bare feet scraping against the cold floor. My dirty, tattered clothes seemed to shame me further.

As we navigated the crowded hallways, scornful whispers followed us. "Gray's daughter...traitor's spawn..." The words stung, each one a tiny knife to my heart.

The buff man ordered me to stand before him, then bowed and left me vulnerable. The leader, seated in the largest chair, rose, casting a scornful gaze my way.

"My brothers and sisters, we have the traitor's daughter among us. Let us decide her punishment."

Confusion and fear gripped me. Traitor's daughter? How could they call me that? Father worked tirelessly to save lives, not betray them.

A familiar face in the crowd offered a glimmer of hope – Anthony Robbins, Father's closest friend and ally. But instead of the expected support, Anthony's expression mirrored disappointment and sadness.

"Santos Gray committed an unforgivable crime against our kind," Anthony said, his voice measured. "However, I believe his daughter is innocent."

The council's angry growls and curses silenced him. My stomach churned with uncertainty.

"What crime did my father commit?" I wondered.

The council leader's snarl cut through my thoughts. "Don't feign ignorance, girl. Your father experimented on werewolves, killing them to find a cure for humans – all for monetary gain."

My shoulders sagged, and I collapsed to the ground, shocked. How could they besmirch Father's good name? He was kind, compassionate, and dedicated to healing.

But the council members' faces confirmed the leader's words – their hatred and anger etched in every line.

I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. My father's words echoed in my mind: "It's revolutionary." But what did that even mean now?

The council's accusations swirled around me, a toxic storm that threatened to consume me. I couldn't bear to listen.

Santos Gray, my hero, my role model... How could you?

The council leader's voice cut through my fog. "Emmeline Gray, stripped of her title, will serve as a maid in the Rogue Alpha's manor."

Fear clawed at my chest. What would my life be like? Would I be treated fairly?

Hands grasped my arms, leading me away from everything I knew.

As I stumbled through the crowded hallways, the werewolves' jeers formed a humiliating chorus.

I was Emmeline Gray, no longer a lady, but a servant.

Darkness closed in. "Father, what have you done?" I whispered.