1: Our Beginning

~Emma~

Today is the day I leave the Sacred Flame Healer Tribe. The Phantom Ridge pack representative will arrive to fetch me. The Alpha king's heir to the throne has been afflicted by a mysterious illness that no other healers can cure.

They summoned one healer from our tribe to cure the Alpha. If we didn't send someone to comply with their wishes they would use force to get one.

Grandma Dacia put a plain silver necklace around my neck. "Child, this necklace will protect you and keep you safe from harm. Once you arrive at the mansion, stay vigilant, be careful with your words and actions. Do not give them any reason to suspect you that you came to investigate why your cousin Josephine was missing," she reminded me sadly. Her eyes welled up.

Josephine was the daughter of my mother's older sister who had passed away along with my parents during the attack by barbaric rogue wolves. Josephine was raised with us by our beloved grandmother. She was like an older sister to me.

I took a deep breath and hugged my grandmother lovingly. "I will do anything to find out the truth, Grams," I said in a determined tone.

"I believe that your cousin didn't leave the mansion, they have done something bad to her that's why she's missing. If you find out they murdered her, make them pay a hundred fold!" Grandmother hissed. Her eyes were blazing with fury.

"Yes, I will make them pay a thousand fold!" I replied solemnly. I repeated my oath several times in my mind like a mantra.

"Good," Grandmother said, pleased with my reply. She put the black bag in my hand. "I trained you since you were young about healing and different types of poison and their antidote. The outsiders only knew we are a tribe of healers. They didn't know we had many hidden skills. Don't let them know more than they have to know. Do you understand?"

"I understand, Grams," I responded with a nod of my head. I put the black bag in my travel bag.

After hugging me one last time, Grandma left the room and my sister came in.

"Sis, take me with you. I can be your assistant. I want to live in the Alpha King's mansion!" Emily gushed excitedly. "Cousin Josephine told me that they have a big swimming pool there, modern appliances and lots of delicious food! I want to live in that kind of house. So luxurious!"

I rolled my eyes. "Sis, just stay here if you don't want to go missing just like cousin Josephine." I reprimanded her with a sigh. "I'm not going to the mansion to have a vacation. I'm going there to investigate why cousin Josephine went missing."

Emily pouted. "You are so lucky. You can live in a luxurious house and meet handsome Alphas. While I'm going to be stuck here for the rest of my life," she grumbled resentfully.

"It's your fault because no matter how hard Grandma tries to teach you everything about healing and poison making, you are not interested. It's not too late yet. Start learning while I'm away," I said, double checking the contents of my bag, making sure nothing would be left behind.

I have no time for my sister's drama. Right now my mind is preoccupied with what's waiting for me in the Alpha King's mansion.

Emily sighed. "I don't want to be a healer and poison maker. I want to be a fashion model!" She declared irritably.

I rolled my eyes.

"The city is a dangerous place for women like us to roam around. We are not werewolves. We don't have wolves that can protect us. If you start learning about healing and poison making you can protect yourselves out there and pursue your dreams at the same time. Beauty is not enough for survival, we need skill. Do you understand, sister?" I said, trying to drill sense into her thick skull.

Since she knows I don't have time for her whining, my sister left the room with a bang.

Brat!

I looked at the door with a sigh, shaking my head dejectedly.

Not everyone can enter the Phantom Ridge Pack mansion out of whim. It is off-limits to strangers, only invited people can enter. They think I can cure the Alpha's illness so I'm being summoned.

Will I be able to cure Alpha's crippling disease? I hope so. It all depends on what kind of disease the heir to the throne has. Ordinary illnesses can be cured easily, but the ones that are recurring and difficult to cure are mostly instigated by witches, poison makers and above all people with bad intentions.

Is it possible that the illness was caused by enemies lurking outside or inside the mansion, unseen by the Alpha King's family?

It's a big possibility.

And what exactly happened to my cousin Josephine? She was the last healer from our tribe that had been taking good care of the Alpha King's family for the last three years.

What happened to her?

Why did the Alpha King family declare that my cousin left the mansion in the middle of the night with her lover and never returned? They thought Josephine had a lover and eloped with him. The last time I talked to Josephine, my cousin told me that she had no lover or enemies inside and outside the mansion.

Josephine's statement and the Alpha King's family's claim are contradictory. Who is telling the truth or spewing lies?

Suddenly my brother entered the room. "The Alpha King's representative is here to fetch you, sister. Take care of yourself," he said.

I hugged my brother. The lingering feeling that I'm heading to the danger zone alone intensifies the uneasiness we both feel in our hearts.

"Watch your every step, sis. Be careful. The Alpha King's family is notorious for their excess and what not. You don't know what's waiting for you there," he warned.

"Thanks for the heads up, bro," I replied with a nod. "Take care of everyone. I'll come home soon after I solve Josephine's case," I told him.

Brother Arnold patted my shoulder affectionately. "May the spirits of our ancestors keep you safe from harm, sis."

"Thank you, bro," I said, my eyes welled up.

He grabbed my bag and we walked to the door and exited the room.

In the living room, my grandmother, Emily and my pregnant sister-in-law were waiting for us. I hugged them one by one.

"I gotta go," I said, walking to the door.

"Take care of yourself," they replied in chorus.

Outside our humble abode, a luxurious car was parked in front of our house.

A good looking guy was standing beside the car, looking at me.

Wow! 

My heart skipped a beat. 

Then my eyes widened in shock when our eyes met. He looks familiar! I think I saw him somewhere! But where?

The guy has piercing blue eyes, tousled brown hair, and a sun-kissed tone. His slightly rugged appearance enhances his masculinity, creating a magnetic appeal around him, making him the type of guy who can turn any woman's head.

I can't take my eyes off him because I finally remember where I saw him.

My brother put my bag in the car's trunk. "Take care, sis."

"You too," I replied. My heart was beating erratically in my rib cage. The guy's presence made me feel nervous.

The guy opened the door and ordered me in a gruff tone. "Get into the car, Miss."

I quickly got into the car and fastened my seatbelt nervously.

The guy slid into the driver's seat and started the engine.

I waved farewell to my family with anxiety and sadness in my heart.

The car was speeding towards the main road, leaving our village behind.

Heavy silence enveloped the car. My anxiety intensifies. The reason why I'm feeling uneasy right now is because this guy has been appearing in my dreams many times. I've been dreaming about him for five months.

In my dream, he commanded his terrifying wolves to catch me dead or alive. I always wake up in the middle of the night gasping for breath, terrified because my dream feels so real. And now that I finally see him face to face, my dream is getting real!

This is crazy and surreal!

I had difficulty breathing. His presence terrified me.

After a few minutes of driving, the guy parked the car on the side of the road under the shade of a tree. He looked at me, observing my face.

"Are you okay, Emma? You look pale," he observed.

"I... I'm okay," I stammered.

"You know what? The first time I saw you, you looked familiar," he said. "Now I know why because we already met," he said. A muscle in his jaw twitched.

"Huh? W-Where?" I asked surprised. He only appears in my dreams and I have no memory of meeting him anywhere else.

"I met you in my dreams," he replied with his eyes glued to my face. "I kept dreaming of a beautiful woman with whom I shared a night in my bed and in the middle of the night when I opened my eyes, the woman was already holding a knife in her hands. She stabbed me repeatedly on my chest. She wanted to kill me in my dreams," he said. His lips drew back into a snarl.

I stared at him, frowning. "Why are you telling me about your dreams, sir? I'm not interested in hearing them," I said politely.

"Because that woman who stabbed me in the chest is you!" he said accusingly, his tone cold.

My eyes widened in shock. "Whaaaat!?"