PROLOGUE - The Forgotten Past

The soft breeze of the afternoon plays with the leaves, rustling in rhythm. Amid the stillness, flutters of butterfly wings resonated, flying away from the small figure chasing its freedom.

Tiny wandering feet disturbed the silence as leaves rustled, twigs broken at every step.

“Don't go away, come back” the gentlest voice echoed, begging. But the innocent creatures heed not her plea.

“I just want to play…” the small red lips pouted while watching the butterflies fly away.

Standing in the middle of the wilderness, the figure looked around, searching for something. Not long when a pair of rounded doe eyes glimmers with excitement.

Picking the hem of her long dress, she sprinted in the direction where she saw a small white bunny. Her face reflects the enthusiasm as she mindlessly runs after the hopping animal.

“Don't go, please…I want to play” she begged as she continued to run. Unconcerned about the tree branches piercing her pale creamy skin.

“Ahhhh….” her small voice reverberated in the entire forest after she stumbled. Her small body slid, landing on her side.

“Arghh…” she groaned, wincing at the pain somewhere she still doesn't know where.

“Mother…” she whimpered as she lay still, unable to move.

”Father…help…” she continued, her eyes brimming with tears as she tried to look around.

All she could see were tall trees, towering at her.

“Erra…help please” she whispered. Her voice quivered as she started to panic. But after a while, she only got silence from her pleas.

She laid still, crying for several moments before she tried to move. Slowly, she turns around, lying on her back. More trees towered her. She cannot even see the sky.

“Mother, I escaped my tutor again. Sorry” she whispered to no one while tears welled in her eyes. Today is one of the days she escaped her strict tutor. She was bored being in one place for a long time.

“Father, I really need a prince to save me now…you can't be stubborn not to find me a handsome prince like you” she argued as if her father was just in front of her.

Silence answered her which made her cry more. She rolled her teary eyes around but all she could see were trees. No sign of someone looking for her. She is getting hopeless when her eyes catch a movement not far from her.

Grimacing, she turned towards it and she was met with a pair of red piercing eyes from a raven-black monster. Its red glowing eyes were fixed on her. Their eyes locked. If only she realized what animal she was looking at, she would surely be terrified.

“You are lost too, puppy?” she softly asked but she got no response.

“Don’t go, please…” she exclaimed in panic when the pup was about to turn away. She felt relieved when it stopped and turned to look at her again as if understanding what she said.

“I am hurt…” she whimpered, trying to sit up.

“Can you help me?” She talked to the animal as if it could understand her. Unaware of the danger she could have with its presence.

“Please…” she added after she succeeded in sitting up.

The animal continued to stare at her while she was busy finding a comfortable position for her injured leg.

“I won’t hurt you…” she added and even smiled. But the animal remained on his spot, watching her.

“I am just a small girl so I cannot hurt you and I love animals. Father promised to give me a horse when I’m old enough. I have a pony now and father said it will become mighty stead once it grows up and he will be mine” she added cheerfully while wiping the tears from her eyes.

Surprisingly, the animal stayed and looked like listening. It remained on its imposing stance afar.

“I’m Ahnarrah, but mother and father call me Narrah. I’m four winters" she continued like she found a new friend and she has to introduce herself.

She stared back at the animal with a sweet smile, waiting for its response. Which, she got none. They just stare at each other in silence while she is smiling expectantly.

“I also want a puppy, but my father doesn’t want me to have one. Can you be my puppy?” she enthusiastically asked, her doe eyes gleamed with happiness. But again, she got no response but a steady gaze.

She waited eagerly, her smile widened, and her eyes sparkled. Several moments passed but she was just welcomed by another silence. Though it’s a one-sided conversation, Narrah's mood was never dampened. She seems to be more enthusiastic every passing time.

Her wait ended when the animal took a step closer to her. By then she realized, it was not a puppy she was talking to but the size of an adult dog, bigger than her.

Her eyes widen with her mouth gaping low as she watches the huge animal walking towards her. His ferocious look and huge size are enough to scare a grown-up man.

“You are not a puppy!” she exclaimed in pure surprise but far from being afraid, which she is supposed to feel.

The beast stopped a few feet and stared at her. With its huge size, it towers over her while she is slumped on the ground.

“Well then, you will just be my dog. We can play here every day and I will bring you food. What's your favorite food? Mine is chicken” she exclaimed chirpily.

Like several times she asked, she got no response but it did not discourage her. She remained smiling while tenderly staring at the animal across her.

“Your fur is as black as my pony. Can I touch it? Please…” she pleaded with her puppy doe eyes. Smiling eagerly while waiting.

Silence ruled for a while with a smile plastered on her face as she waited. Straining her neck up, she patiently waited until it stepped closer, to her pure delight.

With sparkling eyes, she slowly reached to touch the animal who stood still in front of her. And, the instant her tiny hand touched the soft black fur, her eyes involuntarily closed, enjoying the softness against her palm.

“You are so soft…” she gushed while she continued to caress the side of its neck.

The animal remained still under her gentle ministration. Both became silent and unmoving, drawn to the enchantment, engulfing their whole being.

It was a while before the animal nudged her small hand, getting her attention. Its eyes were staring at her foot which she noticed to have blood gushing out.

“I’m hurt!” she exclaimed in panic as she gawked at her bloody foot. Her eyes brimmed with tears, realizing the pain she hadn't felt earlier.

“I will bleed to death…! Erra!” she wailed, looking so terrified. A growl rumbled from the animal from her sudden panic. She looked so upset and it was causing the animal to be equally disturbed.

She was about to wail again when she suddenly stiffened. A cold thing tickled her bloody foot and she was dumbfounded upon realizing what it was. The animal was licking the blood.

“What are you doing? It’s dirty!” she exclaimed in aghast but remained still.

She watches the animal with wide eyes, cleaning her wound. She doesn't feel pain anymore.

Not long before she realized her wound disappeared and the pain she felt earlier suddenly vanished.

“What did you do?” she asked curiously as she inspected her clean foot. No wounds nor blood.

The pair of red eyes just stared at her, watching her scramble to her feet. Testing herself, she even jumped and turned around. She was so sure, her foot hurt like hell earlier, but now she could even run.

“ What have you done?” she asked again as she gawked at the animal who remained watching her.

“Thank you so much “ she exclaimed happily and threw herself into its huge body. Tightly hugging its neck.

Her innocence prevailed, unable to realize the mystery around her healed wound.

Whatever it's reaction to what she did, she has no way of knowing. But staying still in her arms is enough for her to know she has its approval. She smiled widely with that in her thoughts.

Enjoying the softness in her arms, she buried her entire face to its fury neck and even inhaled its musky scent.

“I wish I could bring you home” she muffled, tightening her hold around the animal’s neck.

They stayed still for a while before she was nudged away. Looking perplexed, she stared at the pair of red eyes before it stepped aside. She watches the animal lower itself to the ground gesturing to her on its back.

"You want me to ride on your back?" she instantly smiles upon realizing what it wants her to do.

Without waiting for a response, which she didn't expect to have, she eagerly climbed on its back. Smiling excitedly.

Once atop, she instantly rounded her small arms around its neck, holding tight as it stood up.

Her giggle reverberated, as the animal sprinted through the thick forest. Her small frame perfectly snuggled atop the black beast while the cold breeze grazed her face. She doesn't know where they were heading but her innocent heart trusted the unknown creature with her life.

She closed her eyes as she snuggled for its warmth until she dozed off. Upon realizing her limp figure atop, the beast adjusted its pace until something on its way made it stop.

"What are you doing with a human!?" an angry stern voice echoed in its ears.

"She was hurt in the woods...I will return her to where she could be found" it calmly answered.

"Or I can just kill her. You are forbidden to interact with humans!" a thundering voice continued. Its sharp dangerous eyes turned to the sleeping girl.

"I will not allow you..." it muttered. His voice is chilling cold, challenging the older and way bigger beast.

"And who are you to challenge your Alpha?!" the bigger beast roared, causing the smaller one to wobble on its feet from the power of submission.

”Forgive me, Alpha" its tone is hard but the aura is compelling the raven black beast to submission, bowing its head to the Alpha.

"I...had already imprinted her. No beast could touch her, even you, Alpha" its words made the Alpha stunned. Their gazes are locked, fighting for dominance.

The present Alpha against the future Alpha. Father and son.

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