Prologue

The night was eerily calm. Under a barren sky, a pregnant werewolf trekked an uneven path that led her into a thick canopy of trees.

She should have been afraid. There were creatures that lived in these woods. Creatures that only came out at night to hunt. No werewolf, especially not women or children, dared to come here after nightfall. But she had no choice.

The chilly night wind brushed over her, causing goosebumps to erupt on her arms, slithering through the gaps of her clothes and seeping under her skin. Werewolves could withstand cold to a certain extent as their body temperature ran high. But a pregnant wolf was much weaker, even at an early stage of her pregnancy. It took all this she-wolf's strength to keep moving, so she had barely any energy left to keep her temperature stable.

She wrapped her shawl tightly around her body as she entered the forest. This was the only place that would keep her safe tonight. Glancing at her surroundings once more, she took a deep breath and dashed through the woods, leaping over thin winding creeks and their slippery rocks.

She was thankful for the recent rains. Her scent blended with the earthy musk, making it harder to catch amid the trees. Still, for extra security, she jumped in a nearby muddy puddle, soaking her dress. Now they wouldn't find her even if they did catch her scent.

They wanted her—or, more precisely, her baby. It'd been two months since she'd started running from him and his men. She would be safe only until he found out about her secret. He would come for her once he learned about her pregnancy, but she still had time.

Lost in her thoughts, she didn't realize she'd almost reached her destination. The woods began to widen, and the branches of the trees started to thin. Turning along a twisted creek, she came across a small clearing, one with a cave hidden behind its fallen pines.

She let out a relieved breath. This had been her mother's favorite spot. They used to come here every now and then for picnics. She would be safe here for the night. She could restart her journey tomorrow.

Her stomach rumbled, reminding her that it'd been a full day since she'd eaten her last meal. She hadn't eaten anything when she'd started her journey in the morning, and she'd had no time to hunt. It would have been far too risky. Now, as she stopped to rest, her adrenaline faded away and her hunger poked its head out.

She needed to eat something for her baby. Deciding to hunt for something quick, she went out, making sure to stay close to the cave and careful not to leave a visible trail. It took a while, but she found a rabbit. It would suffice for now.

After feasting on the rabbit, she settled back into the cave, thinking about her uncertain future. Would she be able to survive without a pack? How long could she raise her baby alone and keep it hidden? What if they found her? With all these questions in mind, she drifted to sleep, hoping she would remain safe.

***

Rays of warm, amber sunlight danced across her face, waking her up from her deep slumber the next morning. She sat up immediately, hands clutching her belly automatically, and glanced around, nostrils flaring. She relaxed only when she sensed nothing out of the ordinary.

It was still early, so if she started now, she could reach her destination by evening. She hurriedly washed herself in the creek before making her way out of the clearing. Her limbs were sore, aching from all the traveling she'd done on foot.

Chirping birds and amber sunlight accompanied her, soothing her nerves. Along the way, she picked small red berries from the bushes. They did not satisfy her, but they helped to keep her hunger in check.

She had a clear view of the sky now, meaning she was no longer protected from the rain or the night. She could smell the moisture in the air. Soon, it would rain again. It was rainy season after all. The rain would wash away any markings or scents she'd left behind. She just hoped they wouldn't come looking for her trail before then.

By now, they must have realized she was gone. Had they already sent out a search party? There was no time to waste.

Fortunately, the rest of her journey was uneventful. She stopped a few times for food but mostly kept moving.

Then, her struggle finally bore fruit. She'd reached New Rocknesse, as expected, in the late evening. Now she just needed to find the one she was searching for. Spying a grocery store on the corner, she made her way toward it, deciding to start there.

"Ex-excuse me?" she hesitantly greeted the person at the counter. He was human, in his mid-thirties, and he smiled at her welcomingly.

"Hello, how can I help you, Ma'am?"

"Can you tell me where I can find Mr. Thomas?" she asked, fiddling with the corner of her shawl.

"Sorry, Miss, but there's no Mr. Thomas here. You must have the wrong address." The man gave her an apologetic smile. She returned his smile before turning away and moving toward the door.

She needed to find Mr. Thomas. He was her only hope for survival. She knew he'd been here as she'd received a letter from this town. But she also knew he did not stay in one place for long.

It was possible he had already moved out or was living under a different name.

She paused and went back to the guy. "Sorry, but can you tell me if you've ever seen this man?" Removing the picture hidden in her breast pocket, she showed it to the guy. "Did he ever visit this town?"

The guy's eyes lit up when he saw the picture in her hand, and he snatched it away.

"Oh, that's Stephen! He looks so young in this picture."

Stephen? Isn't Mr. Thomas's first name James?

So, she'd been right. He'd used a different name here. New hope bloomed inside her.

"Do you know him?" The guy was startled, and he looked up at her. It was like he'd just remembered she was still here.

His smile brightened at her question. "Of course. That's Stephen Elliot, one of the richest men in town." He pointed to the east. "Head straight, turn left, and then continue straight again. You'll find his home at the end of the lane." She thanked him and followed his directions. After ten minutes of walking, she stood at the front gates of a small mansion surrounded by huge walls. She peered around but saw no one, so she pressed the bell.

"Who is it?" A low voice answered from inside.

"It's me, Father. Please…" She rattled the gate, her knees growing weak. "Please let me in."

Maybe it was the urgency in her voice, but the gates opened instantly, and she made her way inside. There, at the door, was a man in his late fifties, waiting for her. As soon as she saw him, she ran into his waiting arms.

"Father! I finally found you." Tears started to fall from her eyes, and his arms tightened around her. "I missed you so much."

"Why are you here? Is everything alright?" The softness in his voice brought more tears to her eyes.

"I-I should have listened to you." She choked on her words as the emotions she'd been holding in burst forth. "I'm sorry, Father. I'm so sorry."

Her father glanced around them. "Come, we'll talk inside." He urged her inside, closing the gates behind her.

The mansion was warm, and her father smelled just like she remembered. After so long on the run, she finally felt at ease as she settled into his home. That night, she slept in a warm, comfortable bed, and for the first time, she believed she would be safe. Her father would protect her no matter what.

***

A scream woke her from her slumber. She shot up from her chair, where she'd been feeding her baby earlier. Disoriented and still groggy, she tried to make sense of her surroundings. The fire was out. Only embers remained.

What was that?

"Father…?"

She walked to the door with her baby securely in her arms. Had she imagined it? The baby fussed in her arms, and she held her close to her chest, rocking her.

She heard another sound outside, and she immediately went on high alert as she hurried out of the study and down the stairs to the living room, where the sound had come from. Her heart raced, and a scream tore out of her throat, but it was too late.

"No!"

Her father was dead. His empty eyes stared aimlessly at the ceiling.

"F-Father…"

What came next happened too fast to stop. A blade plunged into her back, and her baby cried out as her grip unintentionally tightened around the bundle. Her vision swam as pain shot across her back. She glanced around at the werewolves in the room, her vision blurry, her body weakening at an alarming rate.

She gasped as the blade struck her yet again, and someone ripped the crying baby from her arms. She fell to the ground, panting for breath, eyes trained on her crying child.

"M-my b-baby…"

The blade came down once more. Then nothing.

***

In the silence of the night, a savage pack of werewolves ran out of a small mansion. One of them clutched a crying bundle tight in his arms as they disappeared into the dark.

Inside the mansion, a she-wolf took her final breath as a new wailing cry started up in a separate room.