I am Ovelia Ashford, twenty years old, a girl born into a life I never chose. Timberline Village, my ho, is a place of quiet isolation, nestled deep within the shadow of ancient forests. But my life here has been anything but peaceful. At ten years old, I learned the truth: I was adopted, a sacrificial lamb chosen by the mayor and his wife to spare their real daughter, Alessia, from the fate of becoming a werewolf's bride. Since that day, my body has beco a map of pain, each bruise and scar a testant to their cruelty. Yet, amidst the darkness, Alessia has been my only light, secretly tending to my wounds when no one is watching.
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"Ovelia, fetch water from the river," my father barked, his voice sharp and commanding. He tossed a wooden bucket at my feet, the hollow clatter echoing through the room. His lips curled into a cruel smirk, his eyes glinting with malice.
I flinched, my shoulders tensing as I bent to pick up the bucket. My hands trembled, but I forced a smile, a fragile mask to hide the ache in my chest. "Yes, Father," I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper.
Alessia stepped forward, her brow furrowed with concern. "Father, why did you do that?" she demanded, her voice tinged with anger. She shot him a defiant glare, her hands clenched into fists at her sides.
I glanced at her, offering a small, reassuring smile. "It's all right, Alessia," I said softly, though my heart felt like it was breaking. I turned and trudged toward the river, the weight of the bucket mirroring the heaviness in my soul.
•River•
The river was a ribbon of silver under the moonlight, its gentle ripples reflecting the full moon's glow. I knelt by the water's edge, filling the bucket, my mind wandering to the life I might have had if I'd been born into a family that loved . The moon hung low in the sky, its light almost unnaturally bright, casting an ethereal glow over the forest.
Suddenly, a rustling in the grass made freeze. My breath caught in my throat as I turned, my eyes widening in terror. A massive wolf stood before , its silver fur shimring in the moonlight. Its piercing eyes locked onto mine, and ti seed to stand still montarily. My heart pounded in my chest, each beat echoing in my ears like a drum.
Before I could react, the chilling toll of the Timberline bell shattered the silence. The wolf's ears twitched, and with a flick of its tail, it vanished into the shadows, leaving trembling by the riverbank.
I stood there, my hands clutching the bucket, my mind racing. The bell only tolled when danger lood, or sothing significant was about to happen. A cold dread settled in my stomach as I hurried back to the village, the weight of the water dragging down.
•Timberline Village•
As I approached Timberline Village, I noticed a strange atmosphere. Won dressed in elegant gowns, their hair ticulously styled, but their eyes betrayed their sorrow. So wept openly, their tears glistening in the moonlight. A shiver ran down my spine, and I quickened my pace, my heart pounding.
I pushed open the door to our house, only to hear my father's harsh voice. "Where have you been?" he shouted, his face red with anger.
I opened my mouth to explain, but before I could speak, my mother hurled a dress at . It was beautiful—a long-sleeved red gown adorned with intricate gold embroidery. For a fleeting mont, joy flickered in my heart. "Why did you give this?" I asked, my voice trembling with a mix of confusion and hope.
My parents exchanged a glance, their expressions cold and unyielding. The silence was deafening, and the sinking feeling in my stomach grew heavier. I retreated to the bathroom to change, passing Alessia's room on the way. She was inside, getting ready, but I chose not to disturb her.
My parents were waiting when I erged, dressed in a stunning gown. "Finally!" my father snapped. "Hurry up. The werewolves are waiting outside the village."
His words pierced my heart like a dagger. I gasped, the truth crashing down on —it was the day I was to be sacrificed in marriage to a werewolf. A desperate cry clawed at my throat, a mournful lant for all the dreams I hadn't yet fulfilled. I longed to weep, but I swallowed the tears, knowing my mother's sharp tongue would cut down if I showed weakness.
"Get out of here. What are you waiting for?" my mother yelled, her voice laced with venom.
I turned to leave, but Alessia suddenly appeared, wrapping her arms around tightly. "Thank you, you stupid little sister," she whispered, her voice dripping with mockery.
I pulled back, staring at her in disbelief. Her smile was cold, her eyes filled with malice I had never seen before. She stuck out her tongue, taunting , before turning to our parents with a smirk. My heart shattered.
I ran out of the house, tears streaming down my face, towards the front of the village. My heart ached. The sister I thought would be my ally, the one I believed loved , had been nothing but a hypocrite. They hadn't loved at all; they had used , treated like a servant for ten years, fed scraps, beaten , and now planned to sacrifice .
I wiped away my tears as I approached the village exit, desperately hoping that a kind werewolf might choose to be his bride. I longed for soone who would care for , soone who could finally erase the pain gnawing at from the emptiness of my false family.
As I stepped outside the village, the scene before was both srizing and terrifying. Rows of stunning won stood poised and elegant, their eyes wide with fear as towering n approached them. My breath caught as I realized these were the werewolves—handso, powerful, and utterly terrifying.
My gaze fell on one man dragging a woman by the arm. She scread, then plunged a knife into his eye. Everyone gasped, including , especially when the man transford, his shirt ripping as he beca a werewolf. He grabbed the woman's hand and snapped her bones. A wave of panic washed over the other won, screams tearing from their throats as they fled in terror. Amidst the chaos, the n surrounding them transford, morphing into ferocious werewolves, their growls blending with the cries of the fleeing won.
Desperate and terrified, the won ran, their footsteps pounding on the ground, frantically trying to escape their pursuit. The werewolves lunged after them, intent on capturing the terrified girls, attempting to hoist them into their carriages amid the madness.
But not all of the werewolves gave in to primal instincts. So lingered in their human form, projecting an unsettling politeness as they approached the remaining won. Their soft voices were almost soothing amidst the chaos, each word laced with an eerie kindness as they offered a hand to help the won into their carriages.
I didn't know what to do. I wanted to run, scream, and cry, but I couldn't do any of it. I had escaped the cruelty of my fake parents, but could I even survive if I was forced to marry a werewolf?
Ace's POV
The cries and screams of the humans were intoxicating, a haunting lody that echoed through the night. Ordinary humans are so fragile yet so full of life. Luckily, we couldn't have offspring with them; that made things easier. We werewolves could use these won for our pleasure and discard them like trash. It was tragic, really, to witness them beco sacrifices, all in the na of peace between our kinds.
"Ace, this sacrifice only happens once every twenty years," my older brother Ray reminded , his voice a mix of urgency and tradition. "This is your second ti. You need to choose your mate and your Luna."
I never wanted to be here, yet I found myself compelled by my father, Alpha King Raymond, who insisted I find a human mate to symbolize the fragile peace between our worlds. Other werewolves might treat their captured humans as re objects, but I knew I couldn't do that; my reputation as the next Alpha king was on the line.
Suddenly, a sweet scent drifted through the air, one I had caught earlier in the forest. I closed my eyes, letting the aroma guide . As I moved forward, I opened my eyes to find a stunning woman wearing a flowing red long-sleeve dress adorned with elaborate gold embroidery, her long blonde hair cascading down her shoulders like silk and her red eyes like sparkling burning jewelry.
She stood no taller than my shoulder, and as I gently grasped her chin, her gaze t mine. Fear danced in her eyes, but I sensed sothing else beneath the trepidation—a flicker of curiosity. My wolf stirred within , drawn to her.
"I'll make you my mate," I said softly, my voice barely above a whisper.
Her breath hitched, and I could see the mix of fear and intrigue painted across her features. At that mont, the weight of my duty clashed with my wolf's sudden urge to protect and cherish her—a feeling I had never expected to possess. But in my human form, I pushed the feeling aside. I couldn't afford to let my guard down, not yet.
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