Chapter 1: Beginning

Slap!

A crisp slap rang through my ears, making my head buzzed for a second and my face burned like I was stung by bees. However, this little sensation was nothing to me as I was already used to this.

Helen, my ungrateful mother, looks at me in disgust, as if touching me sullied her hands.

She said with a scornful gaze, "You stinky child thinking of going to school again?! Hah! You can only dream! In this life, you will only be a slave and nothing more!"

My mother's spiteful words are like a knife stabbed into my chest.

Why is Helen always saying that I will only be a slave in this life? Is she cursing me?

Ever since I was little, she was always against me going to school. I get that we're dirt poor, but I know my parents can still afford to send me to public school. But for some reason, they strongly refused my requests.

As a result, when I turned eight, I secretly went to an old man's house every day to learn how to read and write. My parents were too busy to notice my changes anyway, and it's not like they care about my well-being.

Surprisingly, the old man, Mr. Morris, taught me willingly, the reason being that I'm a fast learner.

Because of Mr. Morris, my innate talent was awakened as well as my inner wolf, Elle, at age 12.

The old man taught me without asking in return and treated me like I was his grandchild.

However, when I turned sixteen, the old man disappeared without a trace and left me his house and all his belongings in the house.

Of course, for fear that my parents would find out, I kept it a secret.

Now, it's been two years since the old man's disappearance. But someday I will find him so that I can thank him for all the knowledge he gave me.

Even though I learned enough according to Mr. Morris, I still dreamed of going to a school, a prestigious school of elites, specifically.

That's because Mr. Morris used to be a teacher at that school, but for some reason they fired him.

"What are you still standing here?! Go, fetch some water, and massage my feet! I'm tired after working all day!" Helen's nagging hurt my ears, and I could only obey her command. I quickly do Her Highness's bidding, albeit reluctantly.

Suddenly, frantic footsteps echoed through the house, and Father's anxious voice rang through my ears.

"H-Helen!"

"Alfred, what's up with you? You look so pale!"

"Helen, I think I messed up! I'm afraid we're done! Where's Arielle? We have to send her out now before they come here!"

I stopped in my tracks when I heard my father's anxious tone. Although they were whispering, I could still hear them because of my sharp and clear hearing.

I hid behind the kitchen door and kept listening but my ears picked up when I heard a lot of footsteps outside.

I frowned and looked through the window.

My eyes widened at the sight of fierce-looking men.

I heard something shattered and an angry voice bellowed, "Alfred Wilhelm! You are going to pay tenfold for deceiving an aristocrat like me! I, Garry Morgan, will take your head today!"

"L-Lord Morgan, please have mercy! I didn't do it on purpose! S-Someone made me do it!"

"Stop bullshitting me! Did you want to shirk responsibility? You can go to hell!"

"P-please, I'm begging you, Lord Morgan! I'll do anything you want just to spare my family!"

Thud!

"Ah! Alfred, are you okay?!"

What are they talking about?

Garry Morgan? Isn't he a high-ranking official from the Black River Pack who serves the Royal Family of the werewolf empire?

"Pweh! You disgusting freak! Who do you think you are? You are not even worthy to lick my master's shoes!" a disdainful tone echoed.

I peeked through the gap and slightly gasped, seeing my father and mother on their knees.

A middle-aged man, in fancy attire that screams noble at first glance, stood tall with a gloomy look.

"Alfred, you not only harm me but also the crown prince. As his right-hand man, I must eliminate people who offend him!"

"Milord, please forgive my husband! He didn't do it on purpose! He was just... a scapegoat! That's right! Please spare us!"

"Do you think I don't know? Do you think I'm a three-year-old? Being a scapegoat for someone else is why I have to eliminate this stinky man! No matter what, Alfred Wilhelm, you are still an accomplice!"

"Kill him!"

I froze as I felt my blood run cold when I saw a burly man approaching my father with a sharp sword.

"Stop! What are you going to do?!" I yelled when they were about to behead my father.

My body trembled as I calmed myself down.

All eyes focus on me instantly, and my parents look at me in horror.

At least for once, I saw Helen look at me with worry. I was inwardly surprised.

"Who are you?" Garry Morgan asked, his gaze was piercing and full of malicious intent.

"I-I'm—"

"S-She's just a servant!" Helen suddenly yelled and my eyes widened slightly.

"What—"

Helen glared at me and then faced Garry Morgan pitifully and said, "Please, Milord, spare my husband, I will—" Before Helen could finish her sentence, a slashing sound tore through the air, and blood gushed out of her throat.

"I hate it when someone talks so much." Garry Morgan said and handed a bloodied sword to the person next to him. Then he took out a handkerchief and wiped his hand with a disgusted look.

Thud!

My eyes widened in horror as I saw my mother's slit throat while blood kept gushing out like water and she fell on the floor with eyes wide open and looking lifeless.

I was stunned beyond words and my lips trembled as I was trying to speak but no words came out.

Memories of my mother keep flashing in my head, albeit a little unpleasant, and still make me tear up.

My mother is dead?!

"H-Helen!"

My father's cries snapped me out of my daze.

"Do it," Garry Morgan uttered coldly.

His people immediately raise a sword and are ready to slash it.

As much as I wanted to stop the sword, I couldn't because I was outnumbered. I will be dead too if I make a move now.

The old man always told me not to act rashly no matter what the situation was unless I was certain to win.

As a result, I watch my father's life taken away while he looks at me with remorse and self-blame.

I slumped onto the floor with tears streaming down my face silently, trying not to make a sound for fear that Garry Morgan would be stimulated and kill me next.

"For a servant, you're quite loyal to your dead masters seeing you shed tears like that." Garry Morgan looked amused as he stared at me. "I would have killed you too but I have better use of you. And remember not to disclose what you see today or I'll have your head next."

I didn't speak and looked down instead while silently grinding my teeth to stop myself from cursing them.

How dare he kill my parents in front of me?!

If it wasn't for my disadvantage of being alone right now and powerless, I swear I already killed him a thousand times!

"Get rid of the bodies and take the girl. Sold her to the Golden Crest Pack. She seems useful." I heard Garry Morgan order, and I was slightly taken aback.

He won't kill me because I'm useful... but sold me to the Golden Crest Pack? Isn't it the wealthiest pack in the entire empire?

My heart sank. Rumors say that the Golden Crest Pack is also the most ruthless and powerful pack in the entire empire that opposes the royal family. Both sides were in silent war all this time.

To think that Garry Morgan wanted to sell me to the Golden Crest Pack, the royal family's enemy, blew my mind away.

Does he have a connection to the Golden Crest Pack? Or the crown prince is also involved in this matter?

Just like that, the guards took me away while cuffing my hands and neck like a slave.

Slave?

Am I going to be a slave?

To think that mother's words came true made me shudder, and I didn't know whether to laugh or cry at my misfortunes.

I feel like I'm cursed.

However, thinking of the horrendous sight of my parent's death, made me feel like I was in an ice cave and I bawled my eyes out.

I wept bitterly and couldn't accept that they died just like that.

Even though Helen and Alfred aren't the best parents in the world, at least they still raised me well and made sure I ate properly three times a day.

I may detest Helen a little for treating me unfairly, but not to the point I want her gone in my life. She's my mother no matter what.

Tears streamed down my face while reliving the memories I spent with my parents. Although most of my memories were of Helen always scolding me and treating me like a servant rather than her daughter, I still cherish them.

Now that Helen's gone, I will miss her nagging and scolding every day.

Upon remembering the look she gave me before she died, my heart clenched tightly, and hot tears continued pouring down my face nonstop like a river.

Garry Morgan...

I will make you pay tenfold for murdering my parents.

I swear to take your head with my own hands. And I will take everything you cherish including the crown prince!

For now, I'll lie low and become stronger.

'Arielle, don't worry, I'll help you when the time comes.' my inner wolf, Elle, said in my mind.

That's right! I have Elle with me and with the help of my special ability, it will not take long for my revenge plan to materialize.

Early in the morning, the truck stopped in front of a huge golden gate. The guards took me out of the cage and pushed me to the ground.

I groaned as I felt my knees scrape at the fall. I gritted my teeth and looked up at the grand golden gate.

So... this is the Golden Crest Pack territory.