Chapter 2.

Serana POV.

FLASHBACK! THREE DAYS BEFORE!

The night of the hunter’s moon, all the women who turned 21 that year are led to the labyrinth to willingly participate in the annual hunt. 

I say willingly, as it’s anything but willing, as we are all slaves. 

Humanity was destroyed sixteen years ago when the Lycans attacked our world. The king was a human and was kind to everyone, shifters included. So the reason for their attack is not known. Some think it’s because of jealousy, others think it’s greed, but whatever the reason is, it’s not good enough to destroy us. 

“Move it scum.” I’m hit from the side by a Lycan guard who snarls at us. We are all chained together like cattle. Metal collars and shackles around our wrists and ankles. 

I was brought here when I was five years old. I watched my mother being slaughtered in front of me at the hands of these monsters. She said something before she died, but I can’t remember what it was. All I know is that it was important and caused the shifters to fall into panic. Over the years, the Lycans, and other shifters forgot who I was, and no doubt thought I died years ago. 

But either way, I will die tonight. The things I’ve seen and heard are enough to make sure I don’t survive this slaughter. Death is all I wish for and tonight I will be granted that wish. No more Lycans and other shifters trying to touch me, beat me, or force me to watch as they rape and torture my fellow sisters. 

We all stop in front of the vine gates of the labyrinth as shifters of all species all cheer and scream for the impending slaughter. I look up at the full moon and close my eyes. 

“Dad, Mom, I will see you both soon even though I can’t remember much about you, I will find you in the afterlife.” I say when I’m kicked from behind and I fall to my knees as the Lycans remove the chains and our shackles. I rub my wrists and neck as the weightless feeling is strange. 

“You will all be given fifteen minutes to run and get your weapons, then the hunt will begin.” Women whimper and cry, praying to their god while I look straight ahead. I won’t fight.

The crowd grows louder as vibrations through the earth flow through me. The siren sounds as the earth splits and an explosion is heard not far away. I turn my head to the volcano and see it erupting. 

“RUN!” Shifters and humans scream and take off running as rocks and lava balls fly towards us.

Another explosion happens and an almighty roar follows. I skid to a stop. My eyes widen as I watch a winged beast crawl out of the crevice that is flowing with lava. 

Dragon! It shouldn’t exist?!

I turn and take off, running past shifters and other humans. Chaos, it is a damn free for all. I run towards the forest when I’m grabbed by my hair and thrown to the ground as a Lycan male, a guard, stalks me with a smirk on his face as he licks his lips, lust in his gaze. 

“You’re mine now, princess!” he advances as I crawl backwards, but he is suddenly ripped away through the smoke. I don’t know why the heat kills him instead of me. Lycans are supposed to have thicker skin than humans. 

But there’s no time to think. I scramble to my knees and up, pushing faster to run. Roars and howls echo around the dark forest. I can’t see anything, only fire behind and in front of me. Thick plumes of smoke assault my senses.

I’m trapped.

I turn looking for an escape when I bump into a man when I push on and run again. Landing on my ass, I scream out as he stalks closer. His bare chest is broad and muscular, with tribal tattoos on his chest and down his arms. He has a devilish smirk on his face. His green eyes glowed at me. 

He is beautiful. But the flicker of flames surrounding us makes him dangerous. 

“What the fuck?” something screams in me and I stand and run in the opposite direction towards the labyrinth. The heat of the fire and lava don’t hurt me. 

“STOP!” he commands and I find myself stopping at his words uncontrollably. The volcano spews more as I pant, looking up at this monster. 

“Do you want to die?” He walks in front of me like a predator, towering over me. 

I nod my head yes, straightening my spine.

“Well.” Not expecting my answer, he is visibly gagged for an instant, but he soon plays it off. “Such a pity, though. You are a beautiful little thing.” He takes a few steps back and inhales the air before he blows his fire at me. 

I throw my head back as the fire flows over me, engulfing me. I close my eyes as I hear something screech inside of me. I open my eyes and look down. My skin is glowing red and gold. The rags were completely gone. The fire dies down and I stand in front of him, naked. He looks at me, dumbfounded.

“How? Fucking Lycan whore.” he curses as he looks at the floor, searching for an answer. 

Well, I’m not a Lycan, nor a whore.

He turns his attention elsewhere as a Lycan woman runs past us. He inhales again and blows his fire towards her. I scream as I watch her burn to nothing but ash. 

“Interesting. My fire didn’t kill you. How?” 

I shake my head as I sob.  I don’t know either. I look at the pile of ash as it blows in the wind and my knees buckle as I sink to the floor.

“Answer me!” He snaps.

“I don’t know, please. I don’t know.” I sob when he grips my face, forcing me to look at him.

“I will give you a choice. You will die as the dog you are or you will come with me and do as I say. Don’t you want answers too?” 

I look at him. I was more than willing to die, but now? He is right. I want answers too.

“What will it be, mutt?” he smirks at me, pulling me up and putting his nose to my skin and inhaling. 

“I’m not a mutt.” I say, glaring at him. Out of the corner of my eye, I see the lava crawling towards us. A dragon can only withstand this kind of heat.

“Yes, you are. A Lycan bitch for me to play with and destroy. I can smell it on you.” He laughs as he releases me and I crash to the floor.

“I will get my revenge.” He says as he shifts into his gigantic black dragon with silver edging to each scale. 

My eyes widen when his talons snatch me up in his paw. He flies higher, talons closing around me but not pinching me as I’m encased within them. 

“God help me.” I whimper to see the destruction below. The fire’s glow below me with smoke wafting into the air. I hyperventilate as darkness makes its way into my vision. 

My new hell awaits me. I should have let him kill me.