The Goddess' Blessed

VOLUME 1

CHAPTER ONE (NEW MOON)

ARC ONE: Landow Pack: The Landow's Home and Graveyard

Chapter One: The Birth of the Savior and the Threat

...

Long ago, in a world ruled by vampires, the creatures of the night held dominion with their immortality and deadly prowess. Humans were mere prey, easily slaughtered without resistance. Terrified, they sought refuge in the forest and underground, desperate to avoid attracting the vampires' attention.

Even werewolves, blessed with strength under the moon's glow, proved inferior to the undead. Their only defenses were sunlight and silver, but both had limitations; one can't be with them for too long, while the other is equally poison to them. Faced with the vampires' unyielding immortality, werewolves retreated to the wilderness, hiding for survival.

Then, a prophecy emerged, foretelling the birth of the Goddess Blessed. This prophecy threw the vampires into chaos, leading them to mercilessly hunt and slaughter werewolves in a desperate attempt to prevent its fulfillment. Yet, after eighteen years of searching, they found no sign of the prophesied figure.

The vampire king remained anxious, the prophecy hanging like a guillotine over their heads. Meanwhile, the werewolves adapted and improved their hiding skills, making it even harder for the vampires to track them down.

Despite their relentless pursuit, the vampires failed to uncover the Goddess Blessed. The search continued, but hope seemed to dwindle with each passing year. The world remained in a state of perpetual fear, with the prophecy's promise of change and salvation still a distant, uncertain dream.

...

Lyall placed her hand on her hips, her face slightly contorting from the difficulty of standing. She looked down to watch her bulging belly. Slowly, a warm smile blossomed on her face.

It's her time of the month. Finally, after months of suffering, the baby is about to be born.

Suffering? Lyall wants to laugh at herself. It was hard, yes. But carrying your child is hardly called suffering.

Lyall looked around and heard the distant laughter of the children and the noises of labor everyone was doing at that time. With the aid of the lush and gigantic trees around them, the harsh light of the sun was greatly minimized, making them gently touch the skins of the werewolves in the pack. The night was coming, everyone was preparing for dinner.

Lyall stood by the door of their house, looking at the peaceful scenery of the pack. The smile on her lips never left, and the pain she felt earlier was gone, just like that. The pregnant were-woman stood there until the sun descended on the west.

"Hi," Lyall looked, and the smile on her face automatically stretched widely and brightened even more. "How was your day?"

"Remus," Lyall gently called the name of her husband and watched him take her hand and gently press his lips on it. Her gaze softens upon the sight, and her heart can't help but flutter. Unconsciously, Lyall whined. "It was laborious. Our baby wants out."

Remus laughed, held her on the waist with one hand, then leading her to their house while also opening the door using his free hand.

They were half-hugging. Lyall, with her extra sensitive nose from pregnancy, could smell the sweat oozing from his body. She nodded in her head and commented with a laugh, Dada's working hard!

As soon as they entered the house, Remus dropped to his knees and cupped her big belly. He then thinned out his voice as if he was talking to a born child. "Baby, please don't give your mom a hard time, okay? You'll be out soon, don't worry! After that, we can hunt prey together!"

Lyall's sweet laughter erupted. "Please! When they get born, they can't even walk for a few months!"

Remus returned the laugh and stood up. Curiously, the man asked. "So, did you ask the elder for their gender?

Lyall shook her head. "Not yet. I was told that the elder is not feeling well."

"Is that so?" Lyall could hear the disappointment in his voice.

Lyall understood very well. Just like he is, she wants to know their child's gender to give them a name.

Lyall mused when an idea popped into her mind. "Ah! Remus, let's do it like this; if he's a boy, let's call him Conri."

"Conri..." Remus repeated the name, and his smile turned deeper. "I like that. So, what if it's a girl?"

Lyall smiled at him. "If it's a girl---"

Crash!

"AHHHH!" A shrill scream erupted outside, jolting the two out of their comfort zone.

Alarmed, the two looked outside the window and saw other werewolves running left and right, as if they were trying to escape some monsters.

Puzzled, the two simultaneously asked, nervousness can't be hidden in their voice. "What's happening?"

"Vampires!"

Their eyes diluted the moment they heard that. Their gazes locked and with no more words, the two tactically went to their room and packed their clothes in a bag. They carried their movements with urgency. They had no seconds to waste. Some clothes dropped on the ground, but the two ignored that and just stuffed the bag as much as they could.

Nothing was uttered between them, but they could hear each other's heartbeat quickening.

Lyall feels the sweat sliding down her face. Fear slowly ate her heart, and she held her stomach. 'Goddess, a vampire attack? Now?'

Why?

The last time they attacked her pack was at least a hundred years ago. Their village was destroyed and was unrecognizable afterward. She and others had no other choice but to enter a new pack. Lyall then found Remus here. They bonded, and now they're having a family together. Everything is going fine-it supposedly continues like that, but it's happening again.

Sensing his wife's anxiousness, Remus stopped packing and looked at her. She was getting paler as minutes passed by. Remus has his heart in his throat too, but he ironed his heart and held his wife's hand reassuringly.

"Lyall? Are you with me?" Remus softly shook her out of her trance. After seeing her regain the light in her eyes, Remus wiped her forehead with his hand. "Don't worry, we can just quietly escape. We have long known what to do whenever something like this happens, right? We just need to do by the rules, and we will be fine!"

His words greatly reduced the stress in her heart. Lyall's nerves loosened up, and she looked at her husband with determination. "Right. Sorry."

Remus only hugged her in return. Gathering their bags, he urged. "Now, let's go!"

The two quietly opened the door behind their house and, with the bags in their hands, they rushed toward the end of the barricades.

They built their village inside tall wooden fences to keep other creatures from invading their crops and stealing their food. Outside was a forest that if you don't have a prior understanding of, you'll find yourself trapped.

Screams and inhuman growls engulfed the air. Crashing and banging noise almost drowned the voices of the clamoring werewolves, but it failed to cover the terror in the atmosphere.

The husband and wife continued running, ignoring everything, not even when someone dropped dead a distance away from them.

When the vampire saw them, with his red eyes and bloody face, he smiled at them. Lyall's heart dropped, knowing that he changed his target to them when an elder of the pack changed into his wolf form and blocked his path.

The vampire looked at the elder angrily, and then with his sharp nails, he slashed at him, creating a deep, bloody wound on the wolf's face.

Lyall's eyes watered. She knew who that was. It was the elder who gave them divination whenever he could. He was the elder Remus wanted to divine the gender of their child. He wasn't able to help them identify their child's gender, but he was there to protect them from vampires.

From the distance, she could see how weak the elder is compared to the vampire. He was sick. Any time soon, the vampire would escape from his grasp-or even kill him-and run towards them.

Remus tightened his grip on his wife and turned away from the scene, running away as far as they could, not even bothering to save the older one who clearly had no chance of surviving alone.

They had no other choice. It was the rule.

Preservation of the race comes first.

They lack the power to defend themselves from the vampires except for the few werewolves that were successfully blessed by the goddess. But even so, their ability is not much, not even the alpha of the pack can kill one without the help of others. That's how weak their pack is.

Their pack has written some rules because of it;

One; if the number of invaders is less than five, do your best to defend our home ground.

Two; if the numbers of the invaders are more than five, run.

Three; if situation two comes, werewolves who can defend stay and block the vampires to ensure more survivors.

After reciting the rules in his head, Remus suddenly stopped running. Lyall looked at him in alarm and puzzlement, but after seeing his eyes, Lyall felt her heart drop. She sobbed and shook her head. "No..."

"Go," Remus smiled at her and held her face. "I'll be right beside you."

"No!" Lyall held his hand, not wanting to let go of it.

"Lyall..." Remus' eyes slowly turned red. Clearly, he was also unwilling, but if that gave his wife and child a higher rate of survival, he would do anything he could. Even if that means sacrificing his life for it.

Lyall choked, wanting to deny the fire in his eyes. But no matter what, this didn't disappear. Lyall's tears couldn't stop from welling out. Her vision blurred.

Taking a deep breath, she held his hands and said seriously. "Okay. Follow me after, okay?"

Remus only smiled and hugged her. This made her cry even more.

"Go!"

Lyall only took the bag she was carrying and, without turning back, she ran.

She doesn't know how she escaped the pack, but amidst the explosions and flying debris, Lyall found the exit and fled.

After getting distance away, she can't help but turn back.

The trees covered the village view, but they didn't block the red-orange fire that was lighting up the sky. Her heart tightened, and without any warning, memories flooded her brain, making her recall everything she had in that place; happiness, sadness, loneliness, and anger.

Everything mixed inside her and this continued even after she couldn't see the pack anymore.

She was already that deep in the forest.

Lyall can't see, nor does she remember where she was. All she knew was to run aimlessly. Later on, she felt her stomach aching and felt water flowing out, wetting her thighs and legs.

Lyall's eyes widened, and without a second thought, she changed into her wolf form and bit the bag. When her four legs touched the ground, she quickly surveyed the area and let out an inaudible sound.

Echolocation.

It was the blessing the Goddess bestowed on her. An ability to locate things a kilometer away using sound waves. She always thought that it was useless. She wanted something more-something that she could help herself fight back. Something that could fight and kill vampires.

But now, the Goddess proved her wrong.

A second later, Lyall senses a deep cave just a distance away from her.

Without hesitation, Lyall ran in that direction and saw the cave.

As she ran, the moon was lighting her way towards it, as if it was afraid that she would lose her way. Lyall silently thanked the Goddess in her heart and entered the cave. She then dropped the bag and immediately changed back into her human form.

She looked down and saw blood and water coming out of her.

The pain in her stomach intensifies, and Lyall just wants to pass out. She laughed, thinking of how much preparation she did in the pack, but to only give birth in a random cave.

Lyall took a deep breath to ease herself and searched the bag for a cloth that belonged to Remus. Clenching it tightly near her lips, she whispered. "Please, give me strength."

After putting everything to cushion the fall of her baby, Lyall began to push painfully. Sweat drenched her body and her silent whimpers and screams were silenced by the cloth she had between her teeth.

Outside, the cave was like a place under the ocean. Nothing can be heard, as if all the creatures were giving the birthing mother the silence she needs for a successful delivery.

Minutes later, a sharp shrill of a baby's first cry swamped the cave.

---

Deep underground in a majestic castle, a lone coffin surrounded by black-clothed servants was in the center of the room. The room had no windows, and the source of light was only a few candles on the sconces.

The room was as silent as death.

Bang!

All the servants jolted and looked fearfully at the now-opened coffin.

A handsome young man opened his eyes. Despite his young appearance, his eyes held the wisdom of a thousand years. Without a word, he pushed himself up, sitting on the coffin that was also his bed.

The pale candles' light illuminated his face, showing everyone the dangerous frown on his face.

Every vampire in the vicinity trembled. Collectively, they all asked in their minds, 'Why is his majesty angry?'

"Your majesty, Alaric the king!" The oldest-looking vampire kneeled. The others were not a second late as they followed. "You have awakened a year early! May I ask what disturbed your slumber?"

The ruler of the vampires ignored him and stepped out of the coffin. When he stood up, the vampires quickly gave him his coat, but they were a step too late as their king disappeared into thin air.

Panic issued in the air before they followed their ruler's aura and blinked successively after determining his location.

They felt the wind slapping them on their faces. They looked around and saw that they were on top of the palace.

They looked at their king in confusion, then they realized that he was looking at the moon as if he was cursing it. Deep anger painted his youthful face.

They felt a chilling sensation traveling down their spine.

-

Somewhere deep underground.

Humans were hitting a stone against a stone to create a fire for their bonfire. Their laughter resounded in the whole cave when someone failed to do so. After watching him try a few more times, someone finally got tired and replaced him.

Not far away was a shelter made of wood and animal skins. Inside were three elders, two of whom were doing tasks on paper, while the other was on his chair, sleeping quietly.

That moment of peace passed by when the human elder stood up suddenly, scaring the others inside.

They looked at him, only to see him looking somewhere. It took them a second or more to realize he was looking directly at where the exit of their underground village was.

The other elder asked cautiously. "Chief? Is something wrong? Do you want to go out?"

The chief took a second before slowly responding. "... It has finally come."

The other elder furrowed his brows in confusion. "Pardon?"

The chief looked at the two of them, a smile that is hard to describe stretched out on his face. "The moon has finally responded."

---

A village deep inside a forest.

The werewolves were doing their usual routines when suddenly, the house of their Alpha banged open. This stole the attention of the werewolves nearby, and they all looked at the door. They discovered their Alpha covered in sweat, his eyes darting around and it felt like he was holding a bomb that was so near to exploding.

"Alpha?" someone called to him in concern.

Their Alpha looked at them, and it shocked them to see the overflowing happiness in his eyes.

As they were wondering what the Alpha wanted to say, he didn't leave them hanging.

With a loud voice, he revealed. "The Goddess Blessed has been born!"

---

Lyall gathered the child in her hand. She looked at it before and whispered with a laugh. "Remus, it's a girl."

Lyall waited, but no matter how much she waited, she didn't hear her husband's voice. After giving birth and realizing that no vampires were after her, she felt a bit of pressure getting off her shoulders. But at the same time, Lyall felt her heart getting heavier as minutes passed. There was no sign of Remus.

She sobbed.

From sadness, from happiness, from anger.

Lyall can't pinpoint what exactly her heart wants her to feel. All she wanted to do was to close her eyes and rest. Ignore everything and fall into a deep slumber.

"Do we have a name for them yet?" The prying voice of her husband suddenly resounded at the back of her head.

Lyall laughed before sobbing again. She threw her head back and looked at the cave's ceiling. "I didn't get to tell you, I'm so sorry."

Lyall felt the child move. She looked back down to comfort her when she saw the baby opening her eyes. Lyall froze, and if that wasn't shocking enough, she saw something in her child's eyes that was not supposed to be there.

The symbol of the moon.

Lyall fell into a state of shock before coming to a realization.

Silence hung in the air before the cave heard Lyall laugh loudly. Her laughter echoed all throughout the cave, giving it a touch of eeriness.

Was it because of happiness?

No.

Sorrow.

Lyall laughed out of sorrow.

Her eyes caught sight of the moon, and Lyall didn't hide her anger. "Why, out of all werewolves, my daughter? Why?"

Like always, the moon didn't give any reply. It hung silently in the sky.

Lyall bit her lips. She sobbed for a long time, and miraculously, no single living being disturbed her.

And then, once again, her husband's question came into her mind.

"Do we have a name for them yet?"

She stopped her tears and looked at her daughter.

Fondness and pity emerge in them as she imagines what her daughter will face in the future.

Lyall thought for a long time.

"Sorry Remus, but whatever name I had is gone now." Lyall caressed her daughter's face and smiled sadly. "Your name is..."

CHAPTER TWO (NEW MOON)

Chapter Two: History Repeats Itself

---

She is The Goddess' Blessed,

Was told to save her people from their fate.

But the Goddess' Blessed couldn't

save herself from her own fate.

---

"Mallory!" Damian's voice rang out, making her look up in surprise. He was standing a few feet away, his hands on his hips, a playful grin on his face. His blue hair gently flowed in the wind. "Fishing again?"

Mallory blinked, momentarily taken aback by his sudden appearance. "Damian! Yeah, I don't know what else to do..." she replied sheepishly.

He chuckled and walked closer. He looked at the bucket, half of it full of water. Fish swam in the tight space, wriggling out in an attempt to escape.

Jokingly, he said, "If you keep this up, there will be a shortage of fish next season." Then his eyes found their way back to hers. He beckoned. "Come on, we're up for lunch. Ma and Oddny are preparing something delicious," he said, reaching out to help her up.

Mallory nodded, setting aside her fishing rod and standing up. As she moved to pick up the bucket filled with the day's catch, Damian quickly took it from her hand.

"Hey, I can carry that myself," she protested, trying to grab the bucket back from him.

Damian only snorted playfully, holding the bucket out of her reach. "Nonsense. Ma said to treat my sisters like a princess, at least until they reach the Age of Blessing."

Mallory couldn't help but laugh at Damian's antics. "Princess, huh? I'm not even your sister," she said, raising an eyebrow.

Undeterred, Damian dropped an arm over her shoulders and looked at her with a fond smile. "So what? We may not share a drop of blood, but family isn't just about that. It's about the bond we have, Mallory. Why do you still not see us as your family?"

Mallory sighed, feeling a mix of frustration and a slight hint of happiness. "Of course I do," she admitted. She noticed how insensitive she sounded and immediately apologized. "Sorry."

Damian laughed again and rubbed her head affectionately, dismissing the topic. "Let's hurry."

With the bucket now in Damian's hands, they headed back to his house. Melita and Oddny were bustling about in the kitchen, preparing a mouthwatering lunch.

"Ah, there you two are!" Melita exclaimed cheerfully when they entered. "Come, come, sit down. Lunch will be ready soon."

"Ma," Damian went to Melita to give her a kiss on the cheeks. Mallory stood by the side, watching the mother and son exchange. Melita then spreads her arms, inviting Mallory for a hug. The seashell bracelet on her hand clattered.

Mallory gave her a short one. She could tell that Melita wanted some more, but they couldn't delay the lunch any longer.

"Let's eat while the food is hot. We had a plentiful harvest, so let's treat this as an advance celebration for your coming-of-age ceremony next month, okay?"

Mallory looked at the table full of delicacies and nodded her head.

Oddny chimed in, saying that she would get the fermented wine underground for them to drink.

Mallory hesitated, feeling a bit overwhelmed by their kindness. "You don't have to do that. You should save it for next month," she said, trying not to impose. She knew how Oddny treasured that fermented pot of wine.

But Damian clapped his hands to retort. "No way we'll refuse that wine! Come on, Mallory. Oddny's kindness only comes once in a blue moon!" he exclaimed, the mischievous glint in his eyes leaving Mallory with little room to argue.

"The moon doesn't turn blue, Damian." Oddny rolled her eyes at his brother.

Damian snorted." Exactly."

Resigned, Mallory finally relented, smiling in defeat. "Alright, alright." She conceded.

As Melita and Oddny continued their preparations, Mallory observed them conversing with each other. They shared laughter, stories, and moments of camaraderie that only families could have. She couldn't help but feel grateful for being welcomed into this tight-knit family.

It didn't take long before they could eat the appetizing foods and their lunch lasted longer than usual. As if the four of them were savoring every last drop of grain as they shared their accounts in their daily life.

Mallory thought that her life was a full circle of house, chores, fishing, and a bit of foraging was boring, but the three listened as if it was the greatest tale they had ever heard in their lives.

Mallory's heart warmed again. Though she's been with them for almost a year, she still can't get used to their kindness.

"Mallory," suddenly, she heard a familiar voice at the back of her head. A sweet voice of her mother that used to live. "Please, live well."

When the time came to wash the dishes, Mallory volunteered, wanting to contribute in some way to show her appreciation. As she went down by the river, she ran into other women who similarly went there to wash their dishes.

They waved their hands at her and waited for her to merge into their circle before continuing their topics. Then, after seeing a suitable spot to sit and gossip, the small circle of women resumed. As they chatted, the Blessing Ritual, most known as the coming-of-age ceremony, came up.

"I wonder what the Goddess prepared for me as a Blessing," one woman said with excitement.

Another woman chuckled. "Well, I hope something good!"

They all chimed in, agreeing and hoping that they would get something that was useful for them. They don't want the usual double heightened senses or strength, or a bit of pyrokinesis that can only be used to lit fire a bonfire. They want something that can keep the vampires from being alive.

But then, a small voice sounded in a corner. "I don't really care about that. As long as I can gain the freedom to fully switch on my wolf form and human form, that's enough."

Silence engulfed them before they all smiled. The corners of their lips carry a tint of sadness. "Yes, as long as we can finally use our wolf's form freely, that will be enough to save us someday..."

Mallory silently nodded, understanding their desire. The ability to transform into their wolf forms would be a gift that could help them escape faster from the vampires' pursuit. With the ability of the wolves, the percentage of survival is higher...

Just then, her gaze caught something in the forest, right at the edge of her vision. Squinting, she tried to make out the figure, but it disappeared before she could get a clear view. It can't be helped.

As unblessed, they just basically has the same constitution as humans.

Concerned, she turned to one woman beside her.

"Did you see that?" Mallory asked, pointing in the direction she had seen the figure.

The woman followed her gaze and saw nothing. She shrugged. "Probably just someone foraging or something. Don't worry about it," she replied nonchalantly.

Mallory nodded, trying to shake off the unease in her chest. Maybe it was nothing, just her imagination playing tricks on her.

After finishing the dishes, Mallory bid farewell to Damian's family, who warmly invited her to join them for dinner. Grateful but feeling that she shouldn't impose any longer, politely declined and headed home, with Melita giving her some food to take with her.

As she stepped outside, the sun was beginning to set, painting the sky with hues of orange and purple. Unconsciously, she turned to look in a certain direction. Just in time, Oddny went out of the house and saw her.

"Hey!" she chirped, hopping towards her and hugging her waist. Oddny, who is two years younger than her, followed her eyes and stretched her lips. After a moment, she asked. "Still thinking about your mother?"

A sad smile played on Mallory's lips as she confessed, "There hasn't been a time I haven't."

Oddny empathized. She hugged her tighter. Mallory, without a second thought, returned the hug. The two stood there until the sun was not visible anymore for a long time in silence.

Sometimes, a company is enough more than a string of words.

Thanking Oddny for what she's done, Mallory and Oddny then parted ways for the night. As darkness fell, Mallory ate her dinner alone, her thoughts drifting to her past and her newfound home in the pack.

As she prepared to settle down for the night, the absence of the moon caught her attention. A moonless night was rare and brought an eerie stillness to the surroundings. Mallory frowned, but seeing the pack as peaceful as usual, she cast the thought aside and turned to enter her room. Just as she was about to close her eyes, a loud bang echoed through the air, shattering the peaceful night and sending shivers down her spine.

CHAPTER THREE (NEW MOON)

Chapter Three: Blood Gushes from Open Wounds

Bang!

Mallory instinctively sat up as the sharp, booming sound penetrated her ears. Her eyes quickly shut close. Her pale, skinny hands were pressed tightly against her ears, her whole person was trembling like leaves against a heavy storm. Amidst the cacophonous ringing in her ears, Mallory heard the distinct chaos happening outside the house.

Woods were breaking. She could hear flesh tearing and smell blood in the air.

Her heart raced, feeling a sense of familiarity in her heart. That made her almost deny the reality, but the noise of destruction and screams of terror only continued.

This brought her sense of self, and immediately, she stood up and left her room to look outside the window.

And just in time, she saw a figure piercing one of her kind with a rapier, its hilt covered in gold. The man looked down at his bloody chest, his eyes gleaming with malice and unacceptance.

The figure's face was slowly illuminated by the fire.

Plae face, bloody lips, long fangs, red eyes.

Vampire...

Mallory's heart constricted from the sight. She shrunk back and almost screamed in terror.

They were a quiet distance away from her house, but Mallory clearly saw who that was.

The familiar build, that familiar face, and that eye-catching blue hair.

Her lips trembled, and slowly, she whispered. "Damian..."

Damian, Melita's eldest son. Oddny's older brother. The pillar of the family that protected Mallory.

Her whisper attracted the vampire's attention. The blood-sucking creature snapped his neck towards her, and when their eyes met, he grinned devilishly. Even with the distance and the glass window separating them, Mallory still felt the bloodlust in those eyes.

Every hair on Mallory's body stood up without missing a beat. She couldn't even scold herself for being so careless when the vampire took out the blade from Damian's chest and, in a blink of an eye, the vampire was already outside her window, towering over her pathetic figure.

Mallory suck a cold breath, she fell on the floor with a thud. The vampire peered at her, his fangs peeking out from his lips. He raised his hand to smash the window--

Mallory closed her eyes to accept her fate.

However, no matter how long she waited, Mallory didn't hear the shattering of the glass window and didn't feel the shard rapier digging into her.

"Run!" Mallory jolted back to her senses from Damian's loud shout.

She immediately opened her eyes and saw Damian in the middle of holding back the vampire. Slowly, his fur was coming out of his body, slowly transforming him into his wolf form.

"Damian!" Mallory shouted in alarm. She pushed herself up, wanting to help him. Her eyes looked at the scene. Horror doesn't fail to hide in her eyes. The sense of familiarity even thickens.

She reached out an arm, trying to stop the person she already looked up to as her older brother. "Stop it!"

Damian hadn't reached that age yet! He had not undergone the Blessing Ceremony! If he did that–he wouldn't be back as human again and lose his mind!

Obviously, Damian knew that. He looked at Mallory and smiled slowly.

'It's fine.' He mouthed. Mallory can't help her tears from rolling down her cheeks. Damian's smile immediately disappeared as if it had never been there to begin with. He looked at her seriously and shouted again. "RUN!"

Mallory stood on her feet, and with much difficulty, she ran out of the house, her heart aching from the scene of Damian. The last time she'll ever see him.

The situation outside was more devastating than she thought. Many were running like headless flies trying to save their lives while the older ones in the pack were trying to save as much as werewolves as possible. They used their own bodies, transforming into big, furry wolves with their sharp fangs and claws glistening under the moonlight.

Fire erupted everywhere. The pack where normally dark during the night and was like a place for festivals, there were lights everywhere. However, contrary to the cheerful atmosphere of festivals, only shouts of fear are heard all over the place. And the lights from the fire didn't emit a festive atmosphere, but it emitted a sense of destruction and horror.

Mallory ran and ran. Her feet ran towards a familiar path while trying her best to stay away from the fight.

Her feet never stopped; they sped up as the thought of the place where Damian's family lives entered her mind.

'Melita, Oddny!' Mallory yelled pathetically in her head, hoping for some miracle that the two would hear her shouts.

Thud!

Far away, a heavy body fell on the ground, lifeless.

Another werewolf died.

Next to it, the vampire who put an end to its life looked at Mallory. He had blood smeared on his face, and when he smiled, his long canines revealed itself. They were covered in blood. Some even leaked from his mouth to his chin. Mallory felt herself shiver, but she didn't stop. Her feet kicked more on the ground, leaving a dusty trail on her path.

The vampire saw this, and tried running after her, but then was pounced on by another werewolf that had lost his rationality, biting forcefully on his shoulders, tearing it up. The vampire yelled in anger and used his sharp nails to dig holes into the wolf's body. And then the two engaged in a fearsome fight.

Mallory saw this and couldn't help but cry inwardly. 'Goddess, it's happening again! Why? Why? Why? Why must this happen again to me?'

Vampires had been actively killing their kind for the past eighteen years. Everyone knew why because, like them, humanity and the wolves were looking for it too---the goddess blessed. Their only hope, and the only poison to the vampires.

But the search only brought forth nothing but bloodshed. Eighteen years had passed, but no one found the only hope for the two species. This also means that the vampire hasn't seen the largest threat to their race.

Mallory touched her left eye as she ran as if she felt an unbearable pain in there.

In her eighteen years of life, she had switched packs three times already. With this pack for the fourth one. Last time, their pack got attacked, with only her and a few survivors living. Almost everyone there died protecting the young, including her mother. This left Mallory alone.

Afraid, she hadn't opened up her heart to anyone, until Melita found her who, after that, treated her as her own daughter. With that, she also gained a sister, Oddny, and a brother, Damian. Since then, a year has passed.

Damian and Mallory's birthdays were only a few days apart. They are turning eighteen next month, and they would undergo the ritual to obtain the goddess's permission to freely use their werewolf form as well as receive additional power to protect themselves.

The two of them were supposed to go together...

Mallory held back her tears to prevent them from blurring her vision, and she couldn't help but curse in her heart. 'Could you tell me why? And where is the Goddess, and her Blessed? When are they planning to stop this massacre? Have we not suffered enough?'

She bit her lip and strengthened her resolve. 'I will protect them in your place, Damian!'

Without hesitation, Mallory zoomed through the once a peaceful pack, but now a bloody battlefield. She bypassed everyone and miraculously survived the chaos. And then, finally, the familiar wooden house entered her eyes.

The door was tightly shut, and for some reason, no enemies could be seen.

Mallory felt relief from what she saw.

'They haven't reached this part of the pack yet!'

Her lips unconsciously formed a smile as she sped up.

Bang!

Mallory slammed the door open.

Her heart was beating so fast. Immediately, her eyes scanned, and she instinctively called out. "Melita---"

The house is dark, but the lack of light is nowhere a liability to the creatures who can see in the dark.

So Mallory instantly saw the situation inside.

Her heart sank.

Initially, she had already smelt blood when she was running towards the house. However, as everywhere was practically stained with blood, Mallory thought it was 'normal'. But the scene in front of her says otherwise.

There were women everywhere on the floor. Dead, with two deep holes in their necks. They were all pale, like the snow in winter. Their eyes were closed as if they were in a deep slumber. A sleep where no one would wake up ever again.

And in the middle of the room was a vampire wearing different clothing from the vampires outside. It was more elegant, refined, and clean-looking.

'Ah,' Mallory understood it now.

It wasn't that the vampires hadn't reached the part of the village yet; it was because someone with a higher status than all of the vampires outside had already claimed this place.

A noble. The vampire who leads troops that attack a pack.

A noble was inside the house, feasting on the blood of the female werewolves.