Mated to the Lycan king

VERONICA

"Vera... Vera!"

I heard a familiar voice speaking to me, and I quickly crawled out from under the bed. Outside, the clamor of shouts and roars continued unabated.

"Vera, get up! We need to leave now."

I stand up from the floor. My mother's voice sounded urgent. Tears streamed down my face, and my entire body was drenched in sweat. The soaked clothes clung tightly to my trembling body, as fear continued to make me shiver. I didn't understand what was happening, but evidently, there was a massacre unfolding outside.

"Mum, what is wrong?" I ask in a shaky voice. I tremble in fear as the half-moon casts its ray on my room. Mom's eyes were filled with tears, which she managed to hide from her voice.

"Shiii," she places her index finger on her lips. "Everything will be fine, Vera, but we must go now."

She dragged me up from the bed and made her way towards the door. I am sure it's still midnight. Where then are we going, and what in hell is happening out there?

A bloody scream from outside has my eyes opening. I see bizarre-looking wolves with fierce, menacing gazes attacking and devouring old people, women, and children. Their eyes emit a bloodthirsty red glow due to excitement. I attempt to look out the window, but my mom quickly pulls me away.

My mind can't even place what is going on. The castle seems empty, unlike what it used to be. Even at night, when I sneak out to get some air, the servants and guards would still be out there, but now, no one is.

The glowing sounds of pain became louder as we moved down the hallway. It was painful even to hear, and the sound of claws clashing in the air filled my ear. It terrifies me not to imagine what's actually going on in there.

Our pack has definitely been invaded. I am sure of it. Those huge figures that looked twice the size of my father, who is a Gemini wolf, were outside-thousands of them.

"Mum, where is Father?"

I am scared, so scared that I can't even feel my feet. My eyes searched through the figures outside, which I can barely see thanks to the moon that casts its ray. Father is not there, or maybe I haven't seen him yet.

"Veronica, hide!" my mother screams in a whisper. I crouch down to my feet immediately. I was standing near the window, maybe one of those creatures has seen me. I tiptoed; still crouching at my feet to where Mom was shivering, I feared. I embrace her tightly as we weep silently in each other's arms.

"What are those, mother?"

"LYCANS"

I could sense the fear in my mother's tone as she pronounced it. The Lycans... they have finally gotten us. I have heard stories about them that I considered to be fairy tales. Those dangerous creatures have finally gotten to our pack.

"They are after us, Veronica," Mom whispers to me.

"why?' I am curious to know why the Lycans are after us, but before I could get a response, we heard a startling glow just inside the castle.

I hear another cry of pain, followed by absolute stillness, then a head falls just beside me. I whimpered in fear and cringed more tightly at Mom. She shot me the "you must not move" glare, and I nodded nervously.

The lycan looked scarier at a closer glance. It sure resembles our kind, but its face is shorter and it has less fur. The height is magnificent, and it moves at an incredible speed.

It darted its eyes around the room, scattering things, to probably "find us." I froze at the corner with mom, waiting for it to finally catch up with us. It kept on coming closer and closer, then suddenly stopped when a voice came from the entrance.

"It's gone, mom...." I quivered, pretending to be okay.

She nods and stares around the castle. Everywhere was gravely quiet. The noises I hear have completely disappeared.

"Come with me," mom dragged my hands and made me follow her outside. Everywhere was calm and quiet as I looked around. Cold shivers ran down my spine as I saw piles of corpses heaped at a corner.

We walked past them at a fast pace, and all the while, my heart sank to my belly. a little footstep sound, and we had to increase our pace and finally break into a run. I had screamed at my wolf to run faster, but that was useless; I was just ten, and hence my wolf has not surfaced at all. My mother held me all this while, not turning to her wolf. I wish she did; maybe she would live. I knew she was desperate to live, and I was too, but it seems like the moon goddess didn't fate us to live; I turned around to see the lycan behind us. not one, not two, but a group of them. They were all coming after us, although they were still a bit far from where we were. It won't be difficult for them to catch up with us because of their great speed.

We ran as fast as we could, my partner at the front dragging my hand as she ran. I am tired, and my legs hurt. I could have pleaded with Mom to at least let us rest a little. She was also tired and panting heavily.

It was almost too late. They are finally here, almost catching up with us, and I have already given up. I was ready to sacrifice myself to them; however, it would really be so unfair if I died without knowing why the Lyans evaded my pack and killed every single living creature in there.

Skillfully, we diverted to the bush part, and mom hid me beside a large tree surrounded by glasses.

"Veronica, listen to me; no matter what happens, you are going to remain in here.Promise mommy that you wouldn't die no matter what; you must live and avenge the deaths of your family and your pack. And never forget that you are a special breed. Your wolf is more gifted."

Mom held my hands passionately as she cried into them. As little as I am, I knew for sure that she was not planning to continue the journey with me.

"I promise, mom," I stutter as my voice trembles in fear. "But where is Father?"

"Your father fought well, and I will join him soon." Just look away until they are gone. Then you run away through this path," she points in a particular direction in the bush, and then dashes out even before I could look back at her. My eyes could only grace her beautiful white fur, but I looked away immediately, remembering that she asked me to run far away

I gasp for air as I run as far as my legs can take me. Suddenly, I bumped into a boy. He came looking straight into my eyes.

I stopped as I felt my heart has frozen. I couldn't even breath properly...

"Werewolf girl?" he says with a steady smirk on his face, like he was mocking me.

"How did you know... I am a werewolf?" I ask bluntly. I was in my human form and just like Lycans we look like humans apart from when we shift.

"What other creature would do what you're doing now-hiding? Poor thing, tell me, do you want to stay alive? At any cost."

I kept quiet, looking up at him. He was not as little as I am; probably he should be eighteen or less. It shows in his face and the way he speaks, it was as if he was a prince or something. I wasn't greedy at the moment. I hear my mother's scream of pain as the clashing of claws fills the air minutes after I left She is probably dead, and my father is as well. All I wanted was to be alive. I wanted to live for my revenge, so I pleaded with him. regardless of the anger that burned in my weak heart

"Save me. please.You must at any cost," I said, almost commanding him. i was not use to plead for things, I am a princess after all. but now all I needed was his help, if he could offer any.

The first ray of Sunlight that showed it was morning made my eyes burn. The last thing I saw was the boy's face. I cannot hear what next he is saying, and then my eyes slow closed...

Ten years later..

My grandma does tell me stories, stories about werewolves, while I listen with all I've got. She has told and retold the same story to me, and all I keep wondering is when the little goddess will finally be born, or, at the very least, if it were to come true, when someone will rescue us from the shackles of fear. Every day we wake up knowing full well that we could be preyed on before the day ends, yet there is nothing we could ever do.

We live in an abandoned underground, just me and my grandma. Every other one of my kind lives either in some other underground or somewhere that's hidden enough. We hid from the Lycans during the day and from both the Lycans and vampires at night. My grandma used to tell me that werewolves were also as powerful and had magic as well, but after the Lycans suddenly invaded our land and killed as much as they could, they kept some of us captive in their land. The children who were not yet able to get their wolves remained wolfless, and those who did were not able to shift. However, I have seen grandma shift a few times, although she never knew I saw her. She is probably the only werewolf with that ability.

We became like humans, and most of us, especially myself, are forgetting that we are other creature. Humans also lived in the town, although few of them, although they are safer than us, they only have to avoid the vampires at night. so sometimes we just pretend to be humans, dirtying our skin with a little ash to avoid looking too beautiful. That's just one thing that makes us different from humans. Our skin was tan and spotlessly glowing, and our eyes were different colors according to our descendants' families.

Mine was green; sad enough, I don't even know my family's descendants' names. Humans usually have brown or just black eyes, and in order to blend in, I have to wear contact lenses whenever I go out.

"Don't go, Vera. "It's dangerous out there," grandma says. My mind is already made up. For the past few days, the Lycans' hunt for werewolves has increased, like they need us for something. I don't know what it could be; all I know is that whoever enters that majestic gate will never be out alive. We hide more these days, but grandma is visibly shaken without food. She looks like she will give up on life soon; that's why I have to take the risk and go out to buy some food.

"I will be fine, grandma; just wait a little while, okay?," I assure her.

"We still don't have enough money," she insists. I smile childishly; she knows what I can give out instead of cedi. She said mom has lots of golden things kept for me. I usually exchange them for money.

"Don't do that again, Veronica, not this one."

"Grandma, I will be fine." There are mine now after all. I will be back before you say..." I can't complete the sentence more like I can't remember the long name she uses whenever she makes the quote for me.

I dash out just when I have calmed her down enough. My hoodie was covering my shiny hair, which I packed into a ponytail and folded into a bun. My hair is straight and really long, and, strangely enough, I haven't seen any hair with such a nice texture as mine. Grandma always warned me to cover it up and never let anyone get a glimpse of it.

The street is scanty, with two or three persons moving around, not freely though. Soon enough, I saw the already dirty sign that shows I have gotten to the address of the shop owner.

Matthew's face lit up in a smile as he saw me. He beckoned on me to come inside instead of lingering outside, which I did. For some reason, I have a feeling that he suspects that I am a werewolf and not a human.

"You got money this time, huh?"

"Something better as usual" I scoff, he looks at me with a very serious face almost forcing my heart to sink and then grabbed the round golden pendants from me. He starts to smile suddenly after observing it for a while. I guess he must have hit the jackpot just for some meat.

"What do you want?"

"Meat. Plenty of it. I answer.

He nods and start to cut meat for me, surprisingly he really cut plenty huge amount for me. I grab it from him, and without thanking him, I dash out of his store.

"Veronica, stay safe out there." Matthew's voice echoes in my ear.

Outside was freezing, and I felt numb for a while due to the cold flapping my feet. A pair of socks is a luxury for us, and we couldn't afford any. I just managed to get my hands on Grandma's old boot. Thanks to my hoodie, it's really helping out a little.

I increase my pace, not ready to run back home. Also, because of some prying eyes I see outside Matthew's shop, I didn't bother to greet anyone, and I also didn't bother to run; maybe they'd suspect something about me if I did.

I walk with my face straight to the floor, minding my own business. When I reach the junction, I mistakenly bump into someone.

I muttered a "sorry" to the person only for him to grab my arms and force me to turn towards him . I could see the man's socks and his thick black boot. I dare not look up, but somehow I sense what he could be.

I tried very hard to free myself from his grip, but it was so tight. My arm was aching where he held me . I try again, but it seems that he tightens the grip each time I try, and I swallow the scream of pain that would have escaped my mouth.

"Take off your hoodie," he orders, and without waiting for me to refuse, he dragged the hoodie cap out of my face and even went to the extent of loosening my ponytail. My hair fell to my shoulders and then down to my waist.

"What are you?" The man's deep voice questions...

"I ask, what are you?" The man repeats, "He forced my face to look at his." But I still avoid his direct gaze.

"Let me go," I mutter.

"Open your eyes," he says harshly, like he would use his claws to tear my body apart if I didn't look up to him. I have no other option but to look at him. His golden-glowing eyes peer into mine.

"You are not a human, are you?" I can sense it. Your scent..." He whispers, and then his face is all over me like he is trying to get familiar with a scent. He kept on sniffing as if he were perceiving something.

I manage to break free from his grip and take to my hills. I run as fast as I can, jumping fences at the few places they exist, until I get to our hideout. I move quietly inside, calming my nerves down before going to meet grandma.

"I am back, grandma." I say throwing myself on her while she wraps my back in a hug.

"I became really worried, Vorenica." "What took you so long to come back?"

"Nothing grandma. I will prepare the meat that I have. You just wait a little while-she nods, and I rush to the kitchen nervously.

I am scared to death at the moment. I don't know if the Lycan followed me. It's almost dark; coming out at this hour is just for one thing-a suicide mission. The vampires are out. Those blood-sucking demons The Lycans also should be on the hunt for whomever they have been trailing for some days now.

I arrange some firewood in one corner to help heat the room up, and then another one not too far from the first one to cook what I have brought.

Our underground just has one large room, which we use for everything-the sitting room, bedroom, and kitchen.

In less than an hour, the food was done, and I dished out enough meat to feed Grandma. I take the plate to her for acting as naturally as I can. I don't want her to notice how nervous I am right now.

I offered to feed her until she accepted, and I did. I make sure she is full before I devour my own portion of meat. I was so hungry that I felt dizzy at some point. For days, we have been surviving without food. One more night for us might bring my grandma to her deathbed. One moment I won't ever want to witness

I lay Grandma on the bed, cover her with a blanket, and then cover her body with a wrapper. I lay close beside her, my face turned upward, looking at the ceiling. I am just realizing that we have been living in a cave all this time. as long as I can remember. Somehow, I feel that I am missing some memories of mine. Did I really grow up there and live all 20 years of my life hiding?

I don't even have a mate. Grandma, do tell me that we werewolves don't have the full right to choose who we want to end up with. The moon goddess does that for us. And we are always mates with one man, whom I know will love me and protect me forever. Someone who will free me from the shackles of fear That's also one of the reasons I go out sometimes: to know if I'd eventually bump into him and feel my body electrified with his irresistible scent filling my nose.

Yet, all I could think about was my encounter with that man. He came as a human, but I am sure he was a Lycan. His face was well-structured and masculine. Only foreigners won't believe that within that handsome look lives a monster.

He might have figured out what I am. that I am no human. He should be somewhere hunting for me at the moment. They don't allow werewolves to live a minute longer once they get hold of them. It's just as if they prey mostly on us, while vampires prey on humans. I manage to escape him. I wonder how Grandma would be feeling if I didn't make it back alive.

I wipe the tears falling from my eyes and turn to look at her. She is sleeping soundly, much better than the previous day. I lay back, this time at my side, covering my body with a wrapper as well and drifting to sleep.

Not long after I shut my eyes, I hear a shrill cry of pain. I sat upright, paralyzed with fear. I go over to the window, pulling the curtains to one side, and then peering outside. There were out there, the Lycan and worst of all is that they are going door to doors.

I look back at the mattress, only to be surprised not to see Grandma. I searched everywhere, calling out to her until I got to the door, and she stood precisely waiting for them to get to our door.

"Veronica, it's a good thing you are awake; you must run away now."

"What? "What about you, grandma?"

"You must go now. I think I have fulfilled my promise to your mother; even if I haven't, my end is already here, and I won't like to drag you to it." Take the back and run. "I will only slow you down if I come with you," she says.

I can't leave her alone there, even though she insists. I went over to her and dragged her along with me.

"How do you even imagine my life without you, granny?" "You are my only family, and... you are giving up already?"

She obliged while I took her with me to exit from the back door. Almost immediately as we were leaving, the door banged open; obviously those hunters have come to hunt us.

I increase my pace and run with grandma by my side. Truly, she was slowing me down. But that was better than leaving her alone there to die.

"You have to let me go Vera.You need to save yourself first; you must do that to save the whole werewolf clan. We will go extinct if something happens to you, my little girl."

"No, grandma, wherever you go, I go," I insist. She stops suddenly and then drags her hands out of my grip.

"Don't forget the stories, Veronica. Try and remember who you are; that way you can save us all. "You can avenge us all," I hear Grandma's voice. I did not see her mouths moving, so it was as shocking to me.

"Yes, I just mind-linked you." "You've got the ability to hear people's thoughts if you wish as well." She also... said... I mean mind- linked me.

It should be a happy moment for me. I have always dreamed of the day I will finally be able to have that ability that she said werewolves should have. Does that mean that my wolf is awakening?

I was still drawn in by my imagination when Grandma drifted away from my presence and ran back to the sound of clicking doors I had heard earlier.

"No... Don't grandma. Don't die. "It's my fault all this is happening," I cry out, trying to mind-link her, but she doesn't respond, or maybe she is ignoring me... Or, I just don't have that ability yet.

I hear the sound of claws clashing and then blood flowing down to my side.

It was painful to watch as I drew closer to see that the victim was my poor grandma. Her lifeless body lies helplessly. I crouch to my feet and sob slowly. I killed her. I killed them all. If I hadn't adamantly gone out even after Grandma warned me, this wouldn't have happened. That Lycan man is definitely looking for me. and then finding out about others because of me.

Footsteps start to approach me; I have to run outside if I want to keep her last request.

To survive, at all costs...