Angela, a powerful and hardworking werewolf who had suffered terrible heartbreak and shame. Her mate, the one she was meant for, rejected her, leaving her humiliated. The agony of his rejection caused the collapse of her family, as she couldn't bring herself to forgive him for what he did. Desperate to escape the grief and disorder, Angela left her pack and moved to the human city to start anew. There, she began to rebuild her life, finding a small sense of peace and direction. But just as things were settling down, fate had other plans for her.
Chapter 1 Burn Down
Angela's Point of View
It only takes a single moment to destroy someone's entire world. One minute, I was so happy, living life to the fullest, my heart light and my smile always bright. Then, in the blink of an eye, all that joy slipped away, leaving me in a darkness so thick I could hardly breathe. Sadness wrapped itself around me, filling every part of me with endless tears and silent cries that I couldn't stop.
I stood there, staring at the house, my heart breaking as tears streamed down my face. That place had been my everything, and in mere moments, everything within me had shifted.
"Mom, where did you put the board? I can't find it," I called out as I searched the storage room, hoping for a response. But silence answered me, and a sense of unease began creeping in.
"Mom!" I called out again, louder this time, straining to hear any sound. But there was nothing. I turned my head, trying to catch any sound, any hint of movement. Something felt wrong.
Then, like a whisper in my mind, I heard her voice. "Don't come out of the storage," she warned, her words echoing in my thoughts.
"What? Why?" I asked, confusion and worry settling in.
"Stay put. I'll be there soon," she said, her voice tight. My chest tightened in response as anxiety crept in. I took a deep breath, catching a familiar scent that made my heart race-the blocking powder we used during hunts to mask our scent-it was already in the air.
Then, the storage door creaked open, and there she was, my mom, standing there with wide eyes, her breath quick and shallow. She looked like she had seen something terrible, something haunting.
"What's happening, Mom?" I tried to ask, my voice unsteady, but before I could finish, she raised a finger to her lips, silencing me.
"Not now," she whispered.
"Baby girl, you have to do me a favor, okay? You have to stay here, quiet. Quiet! Don't say a word, okay?" she said in a rush, her gaze constantly flicking toward the door.
"What's going on? At least tell me what's happening. The atmosphere is so tense, and why is the powder here? Do we have uninvited guests?" I asked non-stop, anxiety lacing my voice.
"My love, this isn't the time for questions. Keep your curiosity to yourself, or you'll end up where you don't want to be," she said quickly, her tone firm but filled with fear.
"What's wrong with wanting to know what's going on?" I asked, trying to hide my frustration.
"I'm sorry, but I can't tell you anything right now," she said quickly. She glanced over her shoulder before turning back to me with urgency.
"Use this on yourself to hide your scent. I need to go back before they start looking for me. I don't want them to find you," she said, glancing anxiously toward the door. She shoved a small tube into my hands and rushed out, securing the door behind her.
Who were they? I moved quietly toward the door but before I could reach it, it opened suddenly. I gasped, then sighed in relief when I saw it was only my mom.
"I told you to stay put, didn't I?" she said angrily.
"I was just worried about you, I don't..." I tried to explain, but she suddenly grabbed the tube from my hand and poured the contents over me.
"Don't worry about me, worry about yourself," she said calmly, caressing my face gently. She pushed me into the corner.
"Sit here and stay calm, wait for me or make yourself safe," she said softly before kissing my forehead and hugging me tightly.
"Be safe. Stay alive," she whispered before walking out again, shutting the door behind her.
I sat in silence, trying to tune in on the sounds outside. There were so many mixed scents in the air-powder, blood, sweat, and something else I couldn't quite place. Were my parents out there? The maids? Our guards? They were struggling, their voices faint and desperate, talking to someone terrifying.
I crawled from my corner and moved to the door, pushing it open slightly. Almost instantly, regret hit me. My mom was being held by the throat by a large thug, her legs dangling in the air.
I counted five figures in total-one holding my mom, three standing by someone I couldn't fully see. Where was my dad? I gasped when I finally saw him, kneeling at the feet of a man sitting in my father's favorite chair.
A scent hit me, and I turned just in time to see a massive reddish-brown wolf approaching me, blood smeared across its mouth.
I quickly shut the door, crawling back into my hiding place and grabbing a bear costume to cover myself. I waited until the coast seemed clear before venturing out again.
They were still talking, voices low and indistinct. My mom and dad were pleading. Then, suddenly, the man in the chair grabbed my dad by the neck, his nails digging into his skin.
I gasped, covering my mouth to stifle the sob that escaped me. My mom's eyes met mine briefly, and for a moment, we held each other's gaze before she turned away, quiet as a whisper.
"...love you so much, sorry... sorry I failed you... but you mustn't fail yourself," I heard him whisper faintly before he collapsed, dead, his eyes wide open and staring straight at me.
"Please..." I heard my mom's voice tremble.
"...I got blood on me..." the voice brushed past my ear. That voice...!
Thud! Without warning, my mom's body fell limp, blood covering her face. I shuddered in terror as I watched her fight for her life.
"We're sorry, baby! We love you. I'm sorry our time together is cut short. You have to live, you must survive. You're the only one left. But please, try to forget this image... I'm sorry..." she pleaded as I screamed silently in my mind.
I reached for the door knob, about to rush to my parents' lifeless bodies, when the man suddenly turned, locking eyes with me. Oh no!
I remembered my mom's words, "Be safe, stay alive. You have to live, you must survive, you're the only one left. We love you." I had to survive!
"Go get her!" he shouted.
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