01. Artic Forest

/PROLOGUE /

Elara was lying on the slope of a small horizon, looking graceful with the sun's warm colors around her. Above her head, at the peak of the horizon was her majestic inner wolf, Lyas, lying with fur as white as snow.

Their appearance made a peaceful picture in the golden glow of the sunset. Elara's body matched the beauty of nature. Her hazel eyes, reflected the sky's colors as she focused on the colorful atmosphere.

It was like she was connected to the sky as if the sun whispered secrets to her.

Her inner wolf, coming out to the surface implied her inability to shapeshift into a wolf or werewolf unlike most of her packs. The wolf guarded and accompanied her only when she was in danger or at a peaceful moment.

The wolf's eyes bore two different colors of shaded green and purple, showing the nature of two mate bonds, however, a sense of friendship came from those watchful gazes.

As the sun went down blissfully, its warmth gave a final kiss to their body. Elara with her sleek red hair, touched by the fading sun, frames her face like a halo.

While shadows replaced the glow of the sun, they both relaxed, making time feel frozen as though the whole sceneries were created for them only. —The calm air with only the sound of leaves and the wind's occasional sigh made nature all beautiful to them.

Meanwhile, in the woods, under the umbrella of the rustling leaves, was a man standing and capturing the beauty of Lyas as she majestically laid. His camera has taken a lot of her moments unaware.

As though Lyas was aware of the man, she stood tall, its fur catching the dappled sunlight filtering down the horizon. Elara, noticing her wolf's movement, followed her with a yelp.

"Lyas, one more minute, please! It's not yet the time to leave!"

The man quietly captured the essence of the wolf, its sleek fur aglow with the fading sunlight and the red-haired girl running after her.

Enthralled by the scene, an effortless smile formed on the man's face. "Beautiful!" Unconscious of himself, he whispered.

Lyas didn't respond to the echoes that were ranting behind her, leaving a huge gap between them, she was in the woods.

Meanwhile, as the man continued to record the captivating moment and saw the fast approach of Elara and Lyas, he disappeared, leaving no trace of him in the woods.

"Did you sense the kindred spirit of my mate?" Lyas asked, one of her eyes, the greenish orb ignited rays, adding confirmation to her question that she truly felt the presence of one of her mates in the woods but why did he disappear?

Chapter 01. Artic Forest

"3!"

"2!"

"1!"

Immediately the countdown dropped to zero, and a bass sound of trumpet resonated through the Romic Moon Pack, indicating the beginning of the game.

Followed by it was the ferocious breath of Lycans, unbridled from their cages. The earth shook from their adverse foot on the ground and claws slashed across all the trees they passed in the forbidden forest called the Artic Forest, all aiming for prey.

Under the moonlight, in the Western part of the Artic forest was Elara, a third-generation werewolf of the formal Romic Moon King, found blindfolded with a spell.

Elara's body burnt in agony. The hope for revenge was the only sedative she lived on.

There with her in the forest were similar slaves thrown in the forest to withstand the harsh reality of the Artic Forest.

"My Lady, are you with me?" Freya murmured, roaming her hands in the air while relentlessly searching for Elara.

"My Lady, are you with us?" Fiora, Freya's twin sister, called their lady, both cooking in agony and pain.

They were bathed in their blood yet screaming for the safety of their Lady. Freya and Fiora have been Princess Elara's handmaids since she was a child.

"Preserve your energy so it will be enough for you to survive this forest!" Elara caught them through their laments.

Fiora and Freya both rushed to where her voice was felt, clinging to her as though she would disappear again, "My Lady, don't leave us again. Our lives end if we fail to protect you." Freya said.

A rude smirk formed on Elara's Face, "I'm no longer your lady. We are all slaves sent to this forest in the name of Game, Freya."

"Until when will you understand and accept that you can no longer protect me as my maid and neither can I treat you as my handmaid?"

"This Romic moon pack no longer belongs to my father!" Elara said, screeched an earthy cry at the remembrance of her parents. Her wail carried the weight of a huge howl.

Her wolf, Lyas, surged out of her at the thought of how her kingdom was ambushed overnight and her parent, the Draven family, formal king of the Romic Moon Pack, was killed 2 years ago.

"I told you multiple times that you have to protect yourself! This kingdom no longer belongs to King Draven!" She squealed, sending an outrageous warning to them.

Fiora and Freya quavered, weighing down with the harsh truth of Elara's words. "We both made the oath to stand by you till our last breath and this is exactly what we will do, My Lady."

Elara couldn't withstand them anymore, she followed the thudding sound of her wolf's foot on the dried leaves. "Your Highness, we are useless without you. Don't leave us alone, please!" Fiora and Freya pleaded, following the scent of their Lady.

Elara halted her maids momentarily and pulled them behind her abruptly. They both succumbed to Elara's sudden protection.

Whereas Elara had smelled the ferocious scent of Lycans surrounding them. Their eyes were blinded but not her sense organs which had become heightened.

Perching through the thick forest and analyzing the scent of the different creatures therein, Elara waited for their attack.

"Lycans are here, they are three in number and each of them may aim for each of us at once. Stay closer to me." Elara whispered, counting the number of hearts that were pumping around her.

Elara's muscles tensed, and she awaited the upcoming attack of the Lycans. She felt the ferocious beating of their heart getting closer, full of hunger and thirst.

"Your extraordinary talents have helped us to survive to this moment, My Lady. We believe in you." Freya said, praising the various gifts bestowed on Elara.

The first Lycan lunged, claws slashing through the air. Elara swiftly avoids it, pulling Fiora and Freya together.

As soon as the first Lycan lunged out, the second one followed. Elara's fighting skill livened. Her heightened sense of smell perceived the fast approach of the other Lycan, enabling her to sidestep the second attack.

The air embraced the musky dust from the sands and claws designed the ground. They balanced their feet, getting annoyed by her skillful moves.

"Don't panic… They are likely to attack you once they sense your fear." Elara warned.

The Lycans circled them, attempting a surprise attack. Elara acutely followed their track, sensing each of their moves. A swift kick sent one of the Lycans reeling and another one landed against the tree.

The tree crashed, rustling the leaves under the tensed moonlight. The Lycans howled angrily. They seem to be surprised that a little girl like her has such skillful and strong strikes.

The third Lycan withdrew, causing a silent atmosphere while the other two were still groaning. "He left…" Fiora breathed out, unusual silence brimmed them.

"Lycans never back off easily. I can still feel their presence. Prepare for an ambush attack." Elara had not finished her statement when the Lycan leaped from the shadows, teeth bared and claws lashed.

Elara relied on her instinct, but her wolf braced the Lycan from the neck with a fang attack. Both of them landed on the floor, battling each other relentlessly.

Despite the disadvantage of being blindfolded, Elara fought them with wild moves and each of her strikes was precise.

After a long non-defeating fight, one of the Lycans howled wildly. One after the other they are all restricted. Elara exhaled, breathing heavily under the full moon.

Shortly, Elara did not feel their heartbeat again, "They are gone." she said, calling the attention of her maids.

Instead of her maid's response, it was a quiet breeze that answered her. A fearful frown embraced her face, "Fiora! Freya!" She called and then listened carefully. She couldn't perceive their scent nor hear their heartbeat nearer.

"Fiora! Freya! Are you with me?" She shouted, their absence dumped on her and fear began to kick in.

Meanwhile, Freya and Fiora had fallen into a sloppy pit not far from where they were attacked by the Lycans.

"Fiora!" Freya spoke in a low voice, calling for her twins who lay lifelessly beside her.

Fresh wounds designed their body. They were in pain and throes. Fiora tangled her hand with her sister, weeping in grief, "They blind our sight with a spell, play a mind game with us, and ordered us to return with flag."

"Freya! Fiora!" Elara shouted, the scent of their blood led her to the pit.

Upon getting closer to them, Freya's hurtful voice flinched her steps. "Stop wherever you are, Your Highness. We have fallen into a pit full of thorns."