PROLOGUE

POV: CALLIE

My paw splashed against the cold puddle in the forest, the sounds of the hunt growing louder and closer. With my heart racing, fear settled deep within me, and despair took hold. I stopped in the absolute darkness; my life had always been this way. Unable to see, I had to sharpen my other senses to survive the attacks from the wolves of my own pack.

I sniffed the air. I had been released into this wilderness by my father, who used me as live prey to train his warriors. Apparently, that was the only way I was deemed useful to contribute to the pack.

Because of my blindness, I was considered a burden by the wolves, especially during the difficult times we faced with a lack of resources. This scarcity was blamed on me. As the Moon Goddess’s outcast, my pack held me responsible for the hunger and suffering we endured.

But I knew it was just an excuse from my king—my father—who sometimes joined the hunt himself for his own twisted amusement, cornering and hurting me for sport.

“Moon Goddess, I beg you, be my eyes and my shield!” I pleaded, lifting my snout to the sky in desperation. “Or end my suffering once and for all. I can’t bear this pain anymore.”

A thunderous growl echoed, signaling that they had caught my scent. I focused on the surrounding sounds—the scraping of claws against the ground. By sniffing the air, I could identify how many wolves were hunting me. Five of them this time—a smaller number than the last.

A gentle breeze caressed my fur, carrying a sweet aroma with it. Instinctively, I followed the scent, keeping my nose close to the ground and carefully avoiding obstacles to prevent any falls. Under my paws, I felt something sticky. Inhaling and tasting it, I realized it was mud.

“Moon, you haven’t abandoned me.” I whispered, rolling over the cold mud, masking my scent.

“Wolf, we will find you.” A menacing growl came from one of the wolves.

“Your life is worthless, blind prey. Stop playing games and show yourself already!” Another creature snarled with a dark whistle. “We’re dying to play with your flesh.”

I heard the sharp, mocking laugh of the female wolf with them:

“Ugh, I thought we’d have a real challenge… Why are we wasting time on this dead carcass?” scoffed Esmeralda, the beta’s daughter.

“Why isn’t she dead already?” laughed Vincent, Esmeralda’s twin brother. “Let’s stop complaining and find her. We need to drag her back to our king.”

“We should do everyone a favor and finish her off. She’s just another mouth to feed!” Esmeralda growled impatiently.

“The rules of the hunt are clear. We have until nightfall to locate the blind prey and bring her back alive to our Alpha,” Dante reminded them firmly. “Besides, I won’t let anyone kill my future bride… She needs to be alive, though not necessarily whole!”

“Dante, why do you even care about this? I'm a much more worthy candidate for your time than that useless wolf,” Esmeralda purred.

“Oh, my lovely wolf, without a doubt, I only need her to secure the title and become the Alpha’s successor. After that…” I heard the click of Dante's tongue, accompanied by the chilling tone of his words. “She’ll be of no use. I'll kill her slowly and feed her remains to the wolves, who enjoy gnawing on bones.”

His laugh was demonic. I shuddered and started running again. They couldn’t find me. My legs wobbled, trembling, causing me to trip over something and fall face-first to the ground, grunting in pain.

“You can’t even hide properly!” I heard Esmeralda sneer behind me.

I felt Dante’s dark presence, his repulsive breath hovering over my snout.

“What did you do to anger the Goddess so much that she punished you as an abomination?” he said, sinking his teeth into my neck and tearing through my flesh. “Not even your taste is good!”

Spitting in disgust, Dante hurled me against a tree. I gasped, struggling to breathe, feeling my lungs fill with blood and my ribs shatter.

“Please…” I whimpered, but begging only excited them more.

“Are you not just blind but mute as well? Speak louder, trash!” Esmeralda dug her claws into my back as I tried to stand. I roared in despair at the searing pain. “That’s it; that’s how it’s done.”

“Please…” I managed to speak again, struggling for breath, my mouth filled with the metallic taste of blood, the nauseating scent of rust overwhelming me.

“What’s the matter, repulsive creature? Are you going to beg for your life?” mocked Zeek, one of the wolves hunting me.

“No…” I growled firmly through sobs, letting the tears wash over my fur. “Please, just kill me!”

The wolves fell silent, perhaps shocked by my plea. Their heavy steps echoed around me, their powerful and malevolent aura palpable from a distance. A thunderous growl resounded, and I sniffed the air, sensing the hunters bowing. Even through the agony and despair, I forced myself to do the same. The punishments of the Lycan king were far worse than death—just as cruel as his hunts. My father was a true sadist!

“Choosing the easy way out, Callie?” he bellowed in disgust. “Did you even try to hide or fight?”

Gripping my neck, I realized the Alpha had come in his werewolf form, his massive claws tightening around my throat, suffocating me.

“Forgive me, Father…” I whispered, struggling to breathe.

With a powerful blow to my snout, I was thrown harshly to the ground. His paws pressed my head against the cold forest floor, crushing my skull.

“Never call me Father again! I have no cursed offspring, you repulsive wolf!” Hunter roared into my ear before biting its tip and tearing off a piece.

I screamed in agony.

“Kill me, I beg you!” I sobbed, feeling blood trickling between my teeth as I began to lose consciousness.

Yanking me off the ground, he started ripping fur from my body, his claws playing across my lupine skin, leaving deep gashes.

“I'll punish you until there’s nothing left of your hide for cursing our family in the eyes of the Goddess, you blind wolf!” Hunter’s hatred-filled promise sent a final shiver down my spine before I blacked out completely.

I woke up sporadically, being dragged deeper into the forest, my body hitting every rock and root along the way. With each hunt, I wished it would be my last day alive. In my mind, I cried out to the Moon Deity:

“Divine Goddess, I don’t know what sin I’ve committed to deserve such a punishment. I beg for your forgiveness, though I may not be worthy of your grace. I plead with you—free me from this cruel fate. Take my life, and I swear my soul will serve you for all eternity!”

A strong gust of wind swirled around our bodies, brushing against my blood-soaked fur.

“Do not fear, my child. Soon, the promised one will rise again,” the divine voice spoke.

“The promised one? No, I no longer wish to live in this world under these conditions.”

I gave in to the pain and exhaustion, letting darkness consume me completely.