Chapter 5

The full moon had risen last night. Never did she thought that the son of the Alpha — The King would survive.

“That wretched Luntian.” The wicked witch hissed through gritted teeth. “That old hag really doesn't know how to mind her own goddamn business.”

Sitting on the rusty throne, Ursula, the Wicked Witch combs her hair, her inch long fingers dragging and combing the straight black locks. Her smooth pale skin contrasted her black and purple cloak that pooled down to her ankles. Ruby lips, violet eyes. A beautiful face.

Men from all over the world would fall for her ethereal beauty.

Only there’s a secret behind that beautiful face and youth. She sold her soul to one of the Seven demons. Before she became this beautiful, she was one of the faithful Shaman’s who served the Kingdom of Shaldan. But things changed, her heart changed.

And even after hundreds of years of the Kingdom’s decimation, she cannot move on. Not until every single descendant of the Alpha is killed and turned into dust.

Days and nights passed by, she has done everything. To eradicate them from this world, for she thinks if the lineage is gone. Then she will be able to have what she wants. His love.

Footsteps resounded around the hollow palace. Twenty shadows, the undead she created from the rotting flesh and bones from the carnage appeared. They’re nothing but skeletons. Only Ursula’s power gives them power. The very purpose of their existence is to hunt and kill the last beast from the east.

Her cold and distant voice resounded against the wide empty halls. "Shadows of the night. I summon you."

In a snap of a finger, a number of Skeleton like creatures appeared just right before the entrance of the fortress hall.

"Have you found him?"

The troop walked closer, their light footsteps barely making a sound. The shadows step down, going down on one knee. They lowered their heads in her mighty presence. The biggest Shadow of all marched forward, on his hollow chest rested a yellow ember of fire. A soul. “He escaped.” The Shadow's voice was deep and hoarse. Unpleasant to the ears. “He disappeared. The old woman helped him escape.” Was his humble answer.

Ursula’s long fingers played rhythms against the throne. She gnashed her teeth and her face went red from sheer anger. ‘The fool, the fool did it again.’ She cursed mentally, and everyday she wished for Luntian’s death. The young man has reached maturity, he will soon find a mate.

And if he did, all her hard work would mean nothing. His power, his pheromones and strength of a young Alpha. She will be no match for him once he finds Luna.

"The boy is now six hundred years old. His body is different from mere humans. He is now used to the transformation. Soon… he will be more powerful than his father and he will have the right to reclaim the Kingdom of the East… Shaldan…” The Wicked Witch stopped and her already menacing smile turned wider, showing the fangs on her mouth. "...I need you to capture him. I need you... to get him for me... I need you to catch him before he finds his mate."

The leader of the Shadows stared at the Wicked Witch then immediately looked down and understood the burden that was being enforced on him. "We will not disappoint you… But the boy is getting stronger. And fast. We can barely catch him during the full moon."

The Witch stood up from her throne and screamed, her screech making the walls shake, dust and debris falling on the ground. "SILENCE! I just need you to do what I say!" Her anger flowed throughout her body, raising her left hand, she swiftly used black magic to blast off all the Shadows, making them crash against the paved walls.

Dust subtly fell and some of the Shadow’s died from the impact, bones scattering all over the floor. The surviving few stood up, the essence of those who passed merging on their souls. They immediately ran in front of the Witch and begged for forgiveness.

"Forgive our incompetence, oh Wicked one." The leader of the shadows, Katalka. Sincerely apologized. "This time we will catch him."

"Make sure of it. By the next full moon I want him dead or alive. And make sure to capture the old woman too." Ursula whispered. "And this time, don't disappoint me."

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“Excuse me?” Accashia said, baffled and a bit offended.

Calleb did not mind Accashia’s glare that’s directed at him and simply walked towards Luntian. Clearly he was not amused. Unhappy. After his instructions of taking the girl back to the tree where she was found, why is that ‘thing’ still here?

The tall man stared at Luntian’s amused laced expression. He can feel his lips twitching into a scowl after staring at Luntian’s wide smide. “I thought I told you that I don’t want her here.”

Luntian’s smile disappeared. “And I thought I told you that I know better than you.”

Calleb clicked his tongue and turned to the girl named Accashia who looked sulky, sad. The girl was playing with the tips of her ginger hair. With a deep breath, Calleb turned to Luntian again, with a stern expression on his face. “You know this isn’t the right time.”

“Then when is the perfect time, hm?” Was Luntian’s sarcastic answer. She gestured at the girl. “You’ve already marked her. She is now bound to you.”

After hearing the word ‘bound’ Called let out a growl, he almost lunged at Luntian, his claws appeared and fangs grew out of sheer anger. “She is not bound to me!” He screamed in anger.

Both Accashia and Luntian flinched at Callebs outburst, the old woman was used to it, but Accashia… Accashia felt rejected. Unwanted.

“Then what was the mark on her back then?” Luntian retorted with a frown. “A souvenir?”

The young man slammed his feet against the ground, creating a crater below him. The Earth shook.

Accashia was rendered into a mess, shaking and her eyes were wide and filled with worry and anxiousness. As Calleb turned to her slowly, fuming with anger, the young woman could only swallow hard against her drying throat. Her eyes built up with tears as she whispered, “Please… don’t hurt me.”

Calleb growled, his bluish gray eyes looking at Accashia, spiking another emotion to the young woman.

“Calleb, what are you doing?!” Luntian stood up from her chair, raised her hand. A gesture for the young man to stop. “You’re scaring the poor thing!”

“I don’t care.” Calleb hissed. “She is of no use to me…”

And that was it. That’s the words Accashia needed to hear to have the courage to runaway from them. She bursted out in tears, crying as she ran away from the man who used her body for his own pleasure last night.

As she runs and runs, her entire body is aching. Her back, her hips and legs were screaming for her to stop but she could not. She felt utterly dejected, used and played with. Luntian’s words, telling her that she was mated with Calleb made her feel special.

As if she was going to feel the love that she had longed for in a long time.

‘It’s too good to be true.’ She thought to herself as she cried while she ran. ‘It’s a lie, nothing but a lie.’

Her lungs begged for air, and her head was spinning. And a few more steps, her body already gave up. She fell on the ground with a thud, her chest hitting the ground first.

Oh how cruel life can be.

But isn’t this her everyday life anyway? Accashia pulled herself together, prompting herself up by placing her hands against the ground, feeling the grass against her hand. Good thing she still has her mother.

Her family.

She is not alone.

Accashia bit her lips as she wiped her tears away. “That was a dream. Nothing but a dream.” She told herself like a mantra. The young woman braced herself, it’s still her birthday today. For sure her mother is home and is waiting for her with a warm smile and a delicious meal.

She will forget about Calleb, and she’ll keep telling herself that what happened last night was a nightmare.

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Luntian sighed as she shakes her head. She looked at Calleb and what she felt for him was utter and complete disappointment. "You hurt that girl's feelings." The old woman pointed out as she walked closer to the young man. "You shouldn't have done that."

"It was the only thing that could make her go away."

The old woman opened the palm of her hand and conjured a long stick, her staff, and then swiftly hit Calleb's head with it.

"OW!"

The young man turned to Luntian. "That hurt!"

Luntian sniffed then chuckled. "Good."