10 YEARS AGO...
"YOU KNOW that it's unfair for our dear daughter! She's just eight, for Pete's sake! Are you out of your mind, Mauro?!" Madelyn's voice quivered with disappointment and frustration. Her brown hair danced with each shake of her head, unable to accept the harsh reality.
Mauro sighed as he massaged his head. "I have no choice, Madelyn. This is the only way for us to prevent them from tormenting our pack," he answered.
Madelyn's eyes watered, and she started to cry. "So, you're willing to sacrifice our daughter? Is that it, huh?"
"No! But what about the people?"
"Milena will find her true mate at the right time! She doesn't need to be offered to that old hag from the other pack!"
The next thing that could be heard inside the room was the loud cries of Madelyn as Mauro tried to reach her, hugging her as they both tried to think of a better solution to save the Frostflow Pack.
Unbeknownst to them, the young Milena was also crying silently as she hugged her little stuffed toy from the other room.
She was maybe too young, but she could perfectly understand what was happening. Milena knew that their pack was almost falling apart. It had been constantly attacked by foreign packs, and their forces had become weaker. Their wolf warriors weren't strong enough to fight them all. Some of the pack members chose to become rogues and left, not wanting to be involved anymore. They just left like that, as if Mauro and Madelyn hadn't done their best to help them when they were the ones who needed help before.
Milena's hold on the stuffed toy tightened as she sniffed. She wants everything to just... end! She doesn't want to be given to the old hag who looked like a monster! Her parents can't do this to her!
With her aching heart, Milena brushed her tears away from her cheeks as she quietly went down from her bed. It was already dark outside, but she's a strong, independent kid! She's not afraid!
No one noticed Milena as soon as she got out of their mansion. The only wolf warrior left guarding at the gate didn't even notice her because he looked like he lacked sleep and was about to doze off.
Milena ran freely when she was too far from their mansion already. Her only guide was the light from the moon above with the stars. She was in awe looking up, not until she heard a growl near where she was standing right now.
"Uh-oh! It seems like our dinner is served tonight! And hmm... this one is fresh! It's a pup!"
Laughter filled the surrounding, making Milena's hair on her nape stand up in fear. It's a rogue! Not just one! But there are three of them!
Milena stepped back as the rogues went closer to her direction with a grin on their lips. The hunger in their eyes was so evident it just made her even more scared.
"Hello there, little pup! Wanna play with us for a while?"
Milena shook her head as she started to tremble in fear. "N-No..." If she only knew that this would happen, she didn't think of escaping from their mansion anymore! This is the consequence of her being a bad girl! But then... her parents would still give her to the old hag. There's still no difference!
Why is she so damn unlucky?
"No? You're rejecting us? Aww, that's bad. We still want you..." The other one said as he started to shift, making Milena scream. The other two rogues also shifted, making her run as fast as she could.
But maybe the Moon Goddess is not really in favour of her this time. The rogues were able to catch her, and the only thing that she did at that moment was close her eyes and wait for the pain.
However, nothing happened.
A few seconds later, Milena slowly opened her eyes and gasped upon seeing the situation of the rogues who were about to attack her earlier. They're all... bloody. Their heads rolled in different directions, and their bodies were full of deep scratches.
And a big wolf was the one who did that to them!
It's not just an ordinary wolf! It has deep crimson eyes that an Alpha possesses!
The wolf shifted into its human form, and Milena was still in awe. The big wolf turned out to be a handsome guy with green eyes. The moonlight wasn't enough to justify the beauty of the man in front of Milena. And for some reason, her heart skipped a beat as her blood rushed through her veins faster than usual.
"Are you okay, sweetie?"
A gasp escaped from Milena's lips as she heard his deep masculine voice. He started walking towards her direction, making her suddenly shy. He's naked... and it was Milena's first time seeing that thing between a man's thighs in person! It was so thick and long that it could pass as a third leg!
Geez! Is that what they call... dick? OMG!
"Maybe you're still in shock, that's why you couldn't even utter a word. Don't be scared, sweetie. They're... gone," he said once again, making Milena gulp the lump in her throat.
The man knelt down in front of her. She was able to stare at his face closer this time. He has thick brows, almost meeting, which makes him look so mad. Although his face has a trace of blood from the rogues, Milena couldn't help but admire the man in front of her.
"You're safe now. You shouldn't be wandering at this hour, sweetie. It's dangerous," he said. "Where do you live? I could take you there-- oh fuck! I'm running out of time!"
"W-What..." is all that Milena could utter as her brows furrowed in confusion. The man suddenly pulled his necklace then pulled Milena's small hand. He put the necklace in her palm and made her hold it tightly.
"This is a... well, magic necklace. I'm giving this to you so rogues won't be able to smell you. I need to go."
"But--"
Milena wasn't able to complete what she was saying anymore when the man suddenly stood up and jumped in the air, shifting into his wolf form once again and left. She looked at the necklace she's holding and realised that it was a rare type of gem that only the wealthy clans have.
But she also noticed that at the back of it, she saw that something was carved.
"Angelov..."
Milena smiled upon reading it. The guy who just saved her has to go by this name. It fits him well. Milena already knew at that very moment who she would one day marry... the man with whom she will share her life with.
As she began to make her way back to their mansion, she prayed to the Moon Goddess to fulfil her wishes. Her problems and worries all vanished in an instant. Her head was so full of optimism that she had already forgotten why she had to run away that evening.
However, the moment she arrived at their mansion... Her delight disappeared in an instant.
Their mansion was on fire.
...and her parents and the other wolves didn't make it.
