1: Alpha Knight

The wind tickled the woman's golden hair as she hurriedly ran from those beasts that were after her. They were creatures that were hungry not for flesh but for power; they cannot fathom. Bathed with sweat and filled with anxiety, she slipped past grazing rock formations found scattered in the mainland grandeur. It was eerily quiet that night, and although she had no one to aid, the full moon was there to mend her de-escalating hope. The creatures, unlike humans, had remarkable speed and agility, abilities hard to imagine, and with the wrong intentions and state of mind, they could take over and rule places of tranquility.

A slither of moonlight appeared at the grand expanse, and with careful concentration, the woman chanted a few known spells that would help her with the situation.

"She's manifesting!" She heard another man growl. Perhaps the man hasn't shifted. That call was their signal, though; the men wailed as a knot in her chest tightened. Why wasn't it working? Why now, out of all times?

Thinking about how the moon abandoned her growing fear and determination made her lose the last string. Her upper arm burned with archaic markings, and she clutched it desperately, praying to the Moon Goddess in agony to lend the woman her energy. Her mind was repeatedly chanting. Instead, a repulsing pain enforced its way up in her limbs and torso. Suddenly she had a gist of what was happening, the ripping and tearing clawed like her passing nightmares. In exchange for power, a fragment of soul must be given. This was it, mother had grown too greedy she dreads this day where she can no longer make use of the power stored within the family bloodline…she thought to herself.

Sometimes she wonders if death served as their payment.

Twenty years ago, her mother had shown a path that no one else knew except for them. The family kept it secret. She was bound to find that path once more but failed.

As the woman sprinted through the thick undergrowth, her feet captured a few stubbles on the ground. It was painful, but she was dead set on escaping those vile creatures. They were shifters of the blood orb pack set to assassinate the last of her kind. It was pure genocide; seeing her pack's corpses was pure trauma and hell. Snapping out of her daze, the woman peered and saw how they were gaining in proximity. She might not transform just yet, but she was capable of running with her two legs; sprinting under sheer pressure is part of their training, and now did she only appreciate the endless torture she had to go through to strengthen her durability.

Then, the woman came to a complete halt.

The waves of sea thrash against the walls of canyons as her golden hair looked ghastly against the shone of the moon, and as she looked back again, saw their wolves growling ferociously, she then stumbled backward. The woman was cornered and outnumbered. Even if she managed to put up a good fight, there is no guarantee that the book in her hands will be kept safe and away from their hands. The knobs on her mind were turning, and the clock was ticking...it was now or never.

She quickly leaped into the unknown...

****

Head throbbing. Body feverish. I squeezed my eyes due to the amount of pain I was feeling. A soft and delicate white-stray light met my face just as I was slowly being awakened from the pain from my upper arms. At first, there was the typical calmness like how every morning sunshine meets my face in a caress, the next thing I knew I was struggling to get myself together. My heart pounded in bewilderment. It took me quite a while to notice that my hands were tied to a wooden chair. I slowly looked around and saw no signs of any human or person. Instead, a pole was at the center of the white tent, a desk table with a few crumpled papers, a washbasin, a minute bed, and weapons propped against the wall. There was minimal furniture inside but enough to make sense that this person staying here captured me. Where was I? How did I get here? And most of all...why can't I remember anything?

Questions clouded my head, and no matter how much I tried to recall what had happened, my mind came out blank. Immediately, I became wary and vigilant of the situation. I'm a woman who is held captive, probably against my will. I do not know this place, and I sure do not know who I am either.

My train of thoughts was suddenly interrupted. Outside of the dome tent, murmurs and chatters ring in my ears. This isn't good...I need to escape, find any means to get out of here. Then, in the midst of my struggles with the rope tied in my hands, I paused upon hearing a low growl.

"Where is she?" A deep voice asked. Hearing that voice made me shiver. It intensified something within me that I could not explain, and it was stirring inside me, begging to be let out. Unable to fathom me from feeling this way, I slowly take a breath.

My nervousness did not cease, especially when I sensed someone arriving. With a stunning set of features and a muscular build, there stood a man at the entrance of the huge dome tent.

My heart hammered inside my ribcage as he made his way towards me, slowly becoming clearer that this man was the most gorgeous man I had ever laid my eyes on. Of course, I can't technically guarantee that he was since I lost my memory, but besides the point, his beauty was indescribable. I snarled, and it took me by surprise while the man proved to be amused at how I reacted.

What was happening to me?

"What is your purpose for entering my territory?"

I didn't find the strength to speak. Other than that, I do not know the answer to that as well. But I do feel the heat rising in me, and if only I weren't tied, I would've smacked myself from making lightly of the situation.

He scrutinized me for a moment, gauging any signs of temperament.

"I told you to speak."

I swallowed the lump in my throat. Burrowed inside me were emotions I cannot convey.

"Rest assured. I am utterly speechless as well and to make your death quicker. I, Alpha Knight Strevus of the Western Kingdom pack, will not accept you as my mate. You will be executed the next thing in the morning,"

There was a slight nudge on my chest when he muttered those words. As much as I didn't want to admit it, his words held so much gravity that the instant connection I had with him—burned and crippled my insides. And the eerie thing was I didn't know why. My mouth was hanging open as tears plunged forward when the man left me inside the tent.

I still couldn't comprehend what he was implying. Pack? What does it even mean?

After a while, my eyes roamed to the person who just arrived at the tent. This time, it was someone different. He had blue eyes with streaks of blonde in his ash-like hair. He was dark-skinned and somewhat built as well. My mind wandered to the man I saw a while ago, the man who came and professed his rejection and my beheading. I should be afraid, but why did I think about him?

The man with grey hair came forward and pulled me from the ground, his hands gripping my tied arms. I fought hard not to make a sound, however, as soon as he got a hold of me, he harshly kneed me in my stomach and made me vomit and coughed up. Blood started oozing out of my mouth, and tears swelled up. I don't know what I've done to be punished like this, but I know that I didn't deserve this.

I was forcefully dragged out from the tent by this man—a stranger. Instantly, the intensity of the sun made me winced and squint my eyes. Outside, there were bystanders eagerly waiting and watching as I was being dragged. They briefly exchanged looks, though most of them already had malice looming behind their eyes. A few children were curious as well, but I ignored them.

"She's from the Southern...she should be killed,"

"Kill her!"

"No! We must let her suffer after what her kin has brought upon us!"

Why?...

As I relinquish my mind of any shard of memory, the breeze swept my golden hair and dried away my glistening tears. The folks were still waiting when I gazed at them with fear and besieged. I had no memory, had no one but myself. They didn't say any word—basking in my apparent defeat and turmoil.

Besides that, my heart was heavy, as if it was about to give in. A while ago, that man, Alpha if I heard correctly, rejected me. It wasn't just an exchange of words. Rather the rejection stirred something within me. For unknown reasons, the pain was greater than it did when I woke up feeling uncertain and alone.

Why does he affect me this much? I stumbled as the pain built its way up to my core.

I lowered my head when pebbles and rocks hit my skin—several children tugged at one another, and on impulse, I put my arms against my face when it reached to a point where it was bound to damage and form wounds. A sob escaped my trembling lips, but no one heard my silent cries. I don't know what made them stop throwing rocks at me, but I was sure it had something to do with someone's arrival.

"Alpha…"

I looked up—barely visualizing a man who was standing a few feet away from me. Everything was still and dragging at this point. I saw how all folks bowed in unison, clearly acknowledging his presence and authority. The man they called alpha stride past me, and that's when I learned that he was the man I saw earlier. He is addressed as Alpha? Then that means he is the leader of this tribe? Perhaps if I explained myself to him, then he'd probably understand?

All thoughts and emotions set aside, I force myself to find courage. "Please! I beg you! I did nothing wrong! And even if I did, I don't remember anything!"

Forcing my breath and voice to appear steady was difficult but I needed to keep my act straight to survive and live. The corner of Alpha's lips shifted upwards while he narrowed his eyes at me when I spoke.

I intently stared at him. Behind my eyes, my emotions were overflowing.

Dimly I could hear their conversation growing weaker as I subdue to my consciousness. I wanted to fight. I wanted to live, but my prayers are always unanswered. It was the worst pain I've ever felt—the pain of humiliation and the pain that man gave.

Perhaps I was too engrossed with this new world and context I woke into, I tried redirecting my gaze, but I failed. As soon as I drifted into darkness, the last that I witnessed was his cold, piercing stare and his eyes that seemed to be glowing.

LATER THAT MIDNIGHT, my eyes stung while being tortured.

I wailed. My voice cracked with each noise I made, and my head jerked back and forth as my fingers scratched the wooden surface of the stool I was tied to. This time I was tired of holding back my desperate bellows.

"Stop,"

I paused while panting, half-eyes closed. The Alpha reached out to my face. I can feel his stare but all I can visibly make out of is a blurry mess of a face. Then tears started flooding my eyes, making it hard to visualize the scenes transpiring completely.

"Who sent you here?"

"F-for t-the last time...I d-do not remember anything…"

"What are you hiding?"

"I h-have no cl—" I was cut off by my own screams when I felt the lash of a whip against my bareback.

"Why did you come here?"

"I-I don't know!" I cried, bloody tears flowing against the dingy ground.

Over the course of hours, they repeatedly questioned me, and I didn't change my answer. It was the truth. Even if I was to lie, I had no clue what they were referring to.

"Just kill me...my family has probably abandoned me…."