MATED TO THE RUTHLESS 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.