Chapter 1

I sniff the air, tasting the different scents hovering in the area, and notice I am within pack territory. A powerful one too.

I should have paid attention when I blindly barged in here, blaming myself for being caught by rogues of all nasty creatures. I guess they are better than those blood-sucking leeches. Fucking vampires are becoming a nuisance around this area.

I desperately need sleep. How many days has it been already?

It's dangerous to sleep out in the open on pack territory. I could risk getting caught by border guards.

Does the Alpha sense my un-familiar presence? I masked my scent, an ability only I have – or so I know of.

I should leave, but those rogues are waiting for me. Also,  I'm fairly certain that if I go, traffickers will take the opportunity to snatch me. I'm all for fighting, but behind a cage and against my will with thousands of other bloodthirsty creatures? I’d prefer to play it safe and stay the night here.

And if the Alpha finds me before then, I guess I can get a little forceful. It wouldn't be my first time. 

I find a clearing in the woods with a beautiful,large crystal blue lake. It gave me a sense of calamity and peace. I take another whiff of the air. With the wind carrying the different aromas in the area, and judging their potency, I am nowhere near the town nor border. 

So, I lay beside the lake watching the night sky of Eldora in sheer fascination.

Unlike earth, there were no stars or constellations to find, only a sky on fire. Eldora is never silent at night; sirens hummed their melodies, Faeries manipulated the weak, Vampires tore through flesh, Wolves howled, Demons brought chaos - the list goes on.

The human world is far more peaceful during the night. I visited twice, but apart from the pollution suffocating the world, I did enjoy it. Unfortunately, Nia just wanted to sink her teeth into their flesh. I couldn't get out of there quick enough.

After days of endless running all day, fatigue crawled up on me, quickly taking me by surprise. Before I knew it, sleep took me into a nightmare of pain.

****

'I love you, Valerie.'

Those words were everything; Her presence comforted me; her light kept me warm, her hands were gentle, her eyes were soft and loving. 

'I come here to escape.' 

She had said those words in sadness; it broke my heart and scared me. 

I thought she would leave me.

'I could never.' 

Relief washed through me. Did that make me selfish? Did that make me a monster? I wouldn't have blamed her, father.

"He is misunderstood. I promise he will snap out of it soon." 

She smiled when she spoke those words. The wind brushed past her as the two suns of Eldora shone down on her. She looked stunning. But even I saw through her false expression. 

'Come. We must be on our way; your father will be upset I brought you here.'

I remember the fear in her voice when she spoke those words, the wild rhythm of her heart as she pressed me close to her and ran, the goosebumps along her arms, the way she shook in the heat before they even began running. 

'Go to your room Valerie. It's okay baby.' 

No, it isn't okay. I knew that, still I listened. Screams filled the mansion. I locked my door and cried silently in my pity. My heart-breaking slowly. 

****

My eyes shot open, an overwhelming amount of heat simmered down my body. My lungs burned, desperate to be filled with oxygen. Dry tears clung to my cheeks, followed by beads of sweat. 

I felt completely paralyzed. My body shook with an all-consuming rage, knowing immediately Nia had awoken, trying to take control of my mind.

My claws dug into the soil beneath me. But when I saw my reflection in the water, I realized my amethyst eyes were flickering from red to purple.  Without thinking too deeply about it, I let my body sink into the lake.

The low temperature cooled my body down, though Nia continues to claw her way to control. My head throbs painfully and my body continues to sink deeper. I scream, allowing the water to consume the sounds.

Nia begins to slow down, her whimpers echoing in my thoughts. “I'm sorry.” It seems that, no matter how many times we go through this, it never gets easier.

“It's alright.”  I reassure her. My eyes drifted open slowly and the blurry picture of Eldora’s two suns shone down on me. Kicking the water, I take advantage of my speed and jump out of the lake. My feet, bare as always, land gently on the soft soil.

"Holy shit!" A loud feminine voice shrieks, bursting my eardrums. 

I snap my gaze to meet hers. We both study each other in silence. She's gorgeous. Her glamour green eyes matched nature on its sunniest days. Her hair was a fiery red that complemented the night sky and she had a heart-shaped face and lips, along with a button nose and a tall, wide figure. 

Beautiful. But her scent...what is she?

That power too- if felt far more superior to any Alpha I've encountered before. "Who the hell are you?" she asks, her tone shifted from surprise to guarded. "What are you?" She adds, her eyes bore into my own.  I knew that look; fascination and awe. I returned it, but I was still lost in her beautiful colored eyes. 

"A wolf obviously," I say.  "Well, a lone wolf to be exact." I add.

Surprise crosses her features. Less than a second later, a bubble of water surrounds me. I quickly hide my surprise. "Hm. A witch." I murmur, pressing my hand against the barrier, assessing its strength.  "You abstain from the earthy scent of a witch, but I guess the eyes are a big give-a-away." I scoff. For some peculiar reason, I don't feel threatened by her.

"You have trespassed on Warrior territory and, as procedure states, I am required to turn you into his highness, the Lycan King." she states. My brows shoot up in surprise. Lycan King? Why the King and not the Alpha? 

My mother used to whisper stories about him to me as I drifted to sleep. She spoke of them with enough passion that I was in awe. Unlike the rest of the world, my mother told me he was dangerous but misunderstood. She said to never fear them. He was good. They were good. 

My mother’s words allow me to consider the possibility that I let this fiery redhead take me to him. But why should I even risk being so close to someone so dangerous? Though, the way she used to speak of them as if she knew them only made her wonder..

Ugh, what do I do now? I was incredibly young at the time, so trusting my old, blurred memories is difficult.

"Do you have a name?" She asks softly, her glamour green eyes boring into my own. 

I hesitate for a moment. "It's Valerie. Just Valerie." I smile. She returned the gesture. Her eyes scanned my face for so long that I began to feel uncomfortable, but I kept my silence.

"There’s something about you, Valerie. Something...unusually hopeful." she hums. What the fuck does she mean by that? 

A mansion-like building takes our attention. Mansion? Is this the Kings territory?

A large field surrounded the area. Wolves stood in multiple single-file lines while they learned advanced self-defence. We stood far enough away to not be detected, but the trainer stole my attention.

Why does he feel familiar?

This whole place looked breathtakingly gorgeous. I have never seen a forest overflowing with as much life as this one. The flowers, the grass, and the trees all looked well-kept together. I almost wanted to break free and feel it all. The mansion isn't the biggest one I've seen, but it is beautiful nonetheless. 

I had to tilt my head back to take it all in. It wasn't big in width, but its height is monstrous. I noticed a few human pets scurrying around on the grounds. But, unlike other territories I've crossed, they weren't naked.

Yes, there are humans in Eldora. Some are born here, some are kidnapped, and others choose this life. And, considering how cruel this world is, they regret that decision. I guess even humans are running from something. That seems to be the price of life.

We entered the mansion but it was empty. Massive crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling that was five stories high. Cream painted walls glistened with a brush of gold flecks stressing the Lycan Kings fortune. 

The witch moved quickly up the staircase that was made of amazon rosewood- which is exotic and rare- and embedded in diamonds. Portraits of Lycans during war clung to the walls. Some large and others small.

I ask, "And your name is?" 

The witch glances at me and smiles slightly. "Sophia Storm," she introduces, taking a left up the stairs and walking down a corridor. 

Nia stirs within me, my ears now perked and nose held high, sensing something. Danger? No, her reaction would be different. I sniffed the air, my eyes drifting shut to feel what she is sensing, and I found it.

Cinnamon and spice.

It drifted around me in a cloud of smoke, with darkness cold enough to stiffen my bones. With every step to that door, my nerves were at unease. I felt like I knew why, but I can't find the answer. Nia stiffened and  excitement began rolling off her in waves.

"Stop," I murmur. I didn't know why, but I did. What am I feeling?

"I'm sorry but-"  she is cut off by the door slamming open- no, getting completely ripped off its hinges.

And that’s when I saw him.

His eyes were so pale they looked white. They bore into my own so deeply, it felt like he saw my soul in all its damaged glory. His thick, dark, charcoal hair was tousled back, having run his hands through it many times.

Gorgeous.

His straight nose and angular jaw, those chiselled abs on full display- I couldn’t help but stare. I slowly traced the tribal tattoo that was painted over both pecs. A scar ran along with his left eye, giving him a dangerous look. I wasn't intimidated- my wolf loved it actually. He adored leather pants that hung off his hips so low I fear they may fall off.

And I heard *that* word. I dreaded the day when I would hear it echo through me and strike fear into my soul.

"Mate."