Chapter 1

“ They say the souls rejected by the world are loved by the God.

And he?

He was her God.”

…….

Her - The Prey

The Stolen Apple

I gripped my shawl tightly, letting it drape over half my face as I navigated the bustling fruit market. The crowd pushed and jostled me from all sides—a blessing in disguise. With a quick glance at the distracted shopkeeper, my hand darted under the shawl, and an apple disappeared into its folds.

Stealing wasn’t righteous—I knew that. But when survival is the only game, morals become a luxury.

I bit my lip nervously, stealing another glance at the shopkeeper. Still chatting with a customer. Thank the moon goddess. Saved.

A pear caught my eye next. It had been ages since I’d tasted something sweet. My stomach growled at the memory. I slid it into my makeshift pouch, followed by a few tomatoes. Before long, my hands were full. A victorious smile tugged at my lips.

For the next few days, at least, hunger wouldn’t claw at my insides.

I was happy. Content.

But my celebration came too early. I wasn’t watching where I was going and slammed straight into a man. The collision sent me stumbling, and all the precious fruits tumbled to the ground.

“Watch where you’re going, bitch!” the man barked.

His voice sliced through the air, drawing the eyes of everyone nearby. I froze as the crowd’s attention shifted—first to me, then to the scattered fruits at my feet.

“She’s a thief! That’s my fruit! Someone, catch her!” the shopkeeper shouted.

Dread gripped my chest. My heart pounded as the first wave of panic hit. And then, I ran.

“Stop her! Thief!”

Their shouts followed me, growing louder as footsteps pounded behind me. I pushed my legs harder, my bare feet slapping against the scorching stone floor. My tattered shawl fluttered behind me like a flag of guilt.

A quick glance over my shoulder made my stomach drop. It wasn’t just the shopkeepers anymore—royal guards had joined the chase, swords gleaming at their sides.

They could have shifted into their wolf forms and caught me in seconds, but the city’s rules forbade shifting within its boundaries. A small mercy.

I knew these streets better than anyone. I veered sharply, diving into the narrow alleyways of the city’s maze-like slums. My confidence swelled as I heard their footsteps lag behind. Within minutes, the shouts faded into silence.

Finally, I rounded a final corner and collapsed against a wall, struggling to catch my breath. My heart still thundered in my chest, but relief flooded me.

Close call, Eve. You need to be more careful next time.

I reached into my pouch and pulled out the last remaining apple. A smile spread across my face as I wiped it clean with my shawl. My teeth were just about to sink into the fruit when a soft whimper made me pause.

I turned and spotted a little boy huddled near a dumpster, his frail frame trembling. He couldn’t have been older than seven. His wide, innocent blue eyes stared at the apple in my hand before darting away in shame.

My heart clenched. He wore no shirt, shivering in the biting cold. How could anyone leave a child like this?

Without a second thought, I walked over. My shadow fell over him, and he hugged himself tighter, his little body shaking like a leaf in a storm.

“I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to stare! Please don’t hurt me…” His voice cracked with fear.

I knelt and draped my shawl over his thin shoulders. His blue eyes widened in shock as he looked up at me.

“Well, I’m not that heartless, you see,” I said with a soft smile.

“Y-you’re… you’re the…”

“Scarface?” I finished for him, my smile unwavering.

He looked away from the scar running down my cheek, ashamed as though it were his fault. Children shouldn’t carry guilt for things they couldn’t control.

“Where’s your family?” I asked gently.

He hesitated, his voice barely a whisper. “I’m alone. My mother… she left me. She ran away with another man.”

I sighed, anger flickering at the cruelty of it all. How selfish could people be?

“Do you want to come with me?” I asked, keeping my tone light.

His eyes lit up with a glimmer of hope, a fragile thread in his otherwise lifeless gaze. “Where?”

I glanced up at the overcast sky. “Somewhere warm, at least.”

He studied me, hesitant but desperate, and finally nodded. As he stood, I tossed him the apple.

“Catch.”

He barely caught it, staring at the fruit in disbelief. “But you—”

“Eat it, kid. Trust me, I’ll manage. I always do.”

As he bit into the apple, I led the way through the crumbling streets. The cold wind bit into me, and I shivered. A castle would be nice, wouldn’t it, Moon Goddess? Are you listening?

“What’s your name?” he asked between bites.

“Eve,” I replied, stopping in front of a broken-down building.

“Welcome home, Adam.”

Inside, the abandoned shelter buzzed with life. Kids, women, and elders—all like us—gathered around bonfires or curled up on old mattresses. Adam’s eyes widened as the children swarmed him, introducing themselves with bright smiles.

For the first time, I saw a flicker of happiness on his face.

As I watched him, a familiar voice scolded me. “Scar! What were you thinking, stealing from the market? They had royal guards chasing you! What if the Alpha King himself caught you?”

I turned to see Lilly, her worried brown eyes boring into mine. I placed a hand on her head and gave her a reassuring smile.

“Relax, Lilly. I’m fine. Nothing’s going to happen to me. I’m not leaving you.”

“Never.”

She sniffled, throwing herself into my arms, and I hugged her back.

We didn’t have much—not food, not clothes—but we had something far more valuable. We had love. And in this world, that was the rarest treasure of all.