VERONICA
"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 witnessI 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...VERONICA.Too late for me, as I stepped out, I noticed that our hideout has been surrounded by men with lamps in their hands. Many people were held hostage; I feel they searched every other house before stopping at mine. I see a man approach me; he looks exactly like the man I escaped from earlier. "You won't run again; don't worry; you can't even if you wish to," he mumbles. His voice is the same as the man I bumped into; there is no doubt he is the one. He seized my hands and tied them both to my back, and then he bundles me into a trunk with the others. I feel like something is repeating in my life.I remember grandma; I will never forget how she died. And why she did that, I still can't figure out, especially why I suddenly was able to mind- link her. Although she wasn't my real blood, she took care of me and treated me like her real granddaughter. We were isolated by people. Everyone calls her a witch, including me, the daughter of a witch. I cared less and paid deaf attention
VERONICAI hold my clothes tight with my last strength. Everyone stares at me precisely, wondering what gave me the nerve. Honestly, I don't know what gave me this audacity, but whatever it is, it should also not let me die at the hands of this Lycan. "Let me go... you monsters," I scream, and I move away from the vampire. Tears clouded my vision as I stood. Inwardly, I am too scared to even breathe properly, but how I put up with the act of acting strong is one thing I don't know of."You are the stubborn one, huh?" "Kill her," he orders. My heart sank to my belly. Grandma died for me to live... And all I could do to keep her last request was to get myself killed? The fear of my blood being sucked until I drop dead on the cold, bare floor creeps up on me and hunts me.I shiver and move backwards with each of the vampire's approaching steps. I hear the Lycans call him Mike. He kept on moving until I got to my dead end. I was trapped by the crooked wall. I see a glimpse of a smile acro
VERONICAI shift my gaze away from him while he still looks at me with his furrowed brows. He surely has met me somewhere, but I can swear this is the first time I have seen his face in my entire life. "Who was blaring about food a while ago?" He finally got hold of himself and asked questions. Everywhere was dead silent as his deep, authoritative voice echoed. Even the growls and noises I hear from the other rooms have seized. I looked around to witness the accusing glare everyone gave me. I try to remind them with a coded signal from my face expression that "I did it all for us" and so they should not hand me over to him. "The girl over there, with the long hair and oval face," one chubby girl points at me. I knew I had long hair, but I never knew my face was oval; I always thought it was just a circle. After all, I have only had the opportunity to look at my reflection in not very clean water. I swallow hard, trying to hide my face. It wasn't so difficult for me to get caught.
VERONICAI've always despised Lycans, and the mere thought of falling in love with one made me want to retch. For years, I searched for my mate in silence, praying that the moon goddess wouldn't pair me with a Lycan.But fate had a twisted sense of humor. Now I find myself stuck with a Lycan man who seemed to be infatuated with me. I can't stand the sight of him, but I know I could use him to accomplish my mission."What the hell do you think you're doing?" I snarled, my voice filled with fury as I push him away from me. "What am I doing? What's wrong with you?" he shot back, his voice deep and masculine, his face etched with annoyance. "Why did you let yourself get dragged to my father, and why didn't you postulate in front of the king?"For a moment, I felt like a toddler being cautioned by her father. My heart is blank. I don't know whether I should hate him more or just a little less. "What's the meaning then?" "Meaning of what?" He replied impatiently. I can't even bring my
VERONICA"This is your room." "Stay here with your little puppy," Grimgor says, standing up to leave."Little puppy?" Alice," he answers reluctantly, and then walks towards the door.I feel grateful that he let me stay with the little girl. I can't even imagine how cruel her life can ever get since she lost her mother this very night as well.He slams the door behind him. Although not too loudly.The room wasn't too fashionable, like the one we stayed in to eat. It was just the perfect room for a rich man's slave. Not as shabby as where I lived and still not as standard as Grimgor's room, or whatever that was. I'm just realizing that the room is just opposite mine!I lay the bed down with the bedsheets and duvets that are on it. The room is also a bit dusty. I have to clean everything up before doing anything else. Alice helps out in the little way she can. After the whole little chore, I made a warm bath for her and then made her sleep comfortably on the bed.Remembering the whole e
VERONICAI stop once I feel the cold, rough surface of the wall behind me. My heart races as I try to keep my voice steady. "I don't know what you're talking about," I stutter.The man in front of me, whom I assume to be Prince Ezra, narrows his eyes. "Don't lie to me," he growls. "Why were you lingering around the castle?"I glance around, panicking, hoping someone will come to my defense.Fortunately, Prince Grimgor did, but not in the way I expected. "Leave her be!" he screams, standing between us. "She's with me."Ezra sneers. "Brother, don't be foolish. Or mad at me" He places his hands on his brother's shoulder. "I'm just doing a quick investigation. You don't expect me to turn a blind eye to a stranger lurking around the castle, do you?"My guess was right; this man is Grimgor's brother. But why were they fighting against each other? I watch as they glare at each other with fierce looks that send chills down my spine. If I ever had a sibling in my whole lifetime, I would have t
VERONICAIt's been weeks, and nothing has improved. The same daily routine of waking up as early as 4:00 a.m. Tidy my room, take my bath, and then force Alice to wake up, which she would sluggishly do and take her bath only to go back. I have managed to ask one of the servants to help me tutor her in the little way she can. I didn't even go to school either, but I miraculously know how to do some reading.I'd go out to watch as they make breakfast for the Lycan King and his family. They said I must learn how to do it because the king could randomly select someone to make his breakfast, and a little mistake could cost one's life. Afterwards, I tidy Prince Grimgor's room and do repeated cleaning whenever he has a bad mood and takes it out on me. Before everything, it would be midday; I would take my breakfast and then continue with work.So annoying. Life here is more difficult than I could have ever imagined. However, I am a bit relieved that I wasn't still in prison. Theirs seems to b
VERONICAI tiptoed back nervously, not knowing what would become of me should I get caught.However, just on the last hallway to my room, I unknowingly hit a flower vase with my leg. Luckily, it didn't chatter, but it made a very alarming noise. calling attention to the figure I saw at the end of the hallway."Hey, come with me!" he gestured. I look around beside me and at my back, trying to confirm to whom exactly he was talking.I pointed to myself when I clearly couldn't see anyone behind or beside me. "Do you mean me?" I ask tenderly.Prince Ezra has very little patience. I know that, and yet I am crossing the line."Yes you... Just follow me!" He says it impatiently. I guess he is short of the annoying word he would cuss at me with."Sorry." I bow my head in apology and start to run over to where he is. Before I get to him, he's already in his office. I followed suit almost immediately.There is something very striking about Ezra. His presence alone gives me shivers,maybe because