9

...

Nayla's face drowned in dreadfulness. She was beyond shock. This man!!!

"What? You can't do it?" He mocked her. Her mouth moved as she wanted to speak but only a whiff left her mouth. He took her hands and placed a dagger in her palms. "Do it... It's an order" he said, voice domineering.

She was so scared and shocked. Her shaky hands took to the sword and then the anger returned.

She then swung the daggers and pointed its sharp tip at his chest. She wanted to pierce it deep in his chest where his heart lies. "Do it if you dare" he thundered.

She looked at him in the eyes and she saw it.

A slight hint of sadness and gladness mixed together. This was the first time she saw his eyes have these emotions. His eyes were always blank, like he was soulless.

She felt her heart somewhat normal by just looking at them. She didn't feel scared again.

She could see pain in those pair of golden eyes. Her hands slowly moved and she removed the dagger from his chest. "I can't kill you" she said, still lost in his eyes.

"Why? You got the chance to just kill me and end your problems." He said, looking at her eyes.

"Because... You don't have a heart. What's the use?" She replied, now looking away.

Suddenly he rapped his hands on her neck and started strangling her.

"You could have..." He roared at her but halted, she was crying. Why was she crying?

Seeing those tears were making him angry. He didn't know why but his heart pounded hard in his chest as he removed his hands off her neck. He walked away without saying a single word. Nayla was left dumbfounded.

Why was she crying? She felt her heart ache at just looking at his eyes. Those pain filled eyes were causing chaos in her mind.

She looked at his broad shoulders as he walked away. He was being a beast a moment ago and now he was acting all emotional even though he was trying his very best to hide it.

Nayla looked around and saw the king and his daughter, holding each other in fear. "Don't worry, he won't hurt you..." She tried to assure them. " My lady, this man hates me. I was only doing my job and obeying the king" the man said. Nayla looked confused, yes she wants to know what their crimes were that made Verin call this his hunting.

"Tell me, what did you do?" She bent low to their level.

"The former Alpha only asked me to build a factory at the borders of this kingdom and Alpha Verin now opposes it. I promised the late Alpha that I will build it" the king said to her.

She wanted to ask what Alpha mean but just couldn't. This wasn't the right time to know everything because she needs to tell Verin to stop. She needs to stop him from killing innocent people. She walked through the hallways of the beautiful kingdom but didn't see him. Lewan had been following her since, making sure she was okay. The two other guards were with Verin. When she couldn't see him anywhere she asked Lewan to split up and look for him but Lewan only said he was okay and he will come back.

She decided to obey Lewan and wait for him to come back at the courtroom when she saw a small teenager run passed her.

They were already outside the palace's premises. She felt something wet splash on her hands just immediately the girl ran passed her. She ran after the girl and asked her to stop.

The girl refused to stop and kept running away. Nayla increased her steps as well and finally caught up with her. "Hey what happened?" She asked, panting in front of the girl. The girl's face wasn't that visible under the moon but Nayla could tell she was crying. "Why are you crying?" She now asked as she came close to her. "I'm scared... He will..." She said, voice teary. Nayla patted her back and gave her some time to gather herself.

She took her time and cried her eyes out as she rapped her hands just below Nayla's underburst pulling her into a hug. She was so scared.

After a while, she told Nayla everything; her father was a guard here in the palace while she works as a maid.

He was drunken and wanted to pleasure himself with the girl.

"Oh my goodness, that's molestation! How old are you?" Nayla's hands flew to her mouth as she asked.

"15..." The girl answered and held Nayla even tightly.

She was devastated, fifteen years old? Suddenly she saw a pair of dark red eyes, hiding in the shadows, looking at her.

She subconsciously tightened her hold on the little girl. She was scared but needed to be strong for the already scared and weak girl. "Who are you?" She asked, voice loud for him to hear.

She was already far away from the palace. The place which the girl had run was quiet and lonely. Lewan had also lost them both, especially Nayla who was his responsibility.

"Give her to me!" The voice spoke.

"Come out of the shadows if you're not a coward!" She responded so bravely.

A well built man came out and stood in front of them both.

"He's the one. He's my wicked father" the girl hid behind Nayla.

He looked horrifying,

Nayla was already filled with nettlesome. She was very disgusted by what goes around from this kingdom.

"You want to bed a young child. She's your daughter!" She screamed at him.

The man then jump right in front of Nayla and tried dragging the girl.

The man then attacked Nayla as she tried to protect the girl.

He dragged the girl so forcefully, causing little bruises on both Nayla and the poor girl, making them fall hard on the floor.

The man slapped the girl, making her to shiver and stay still, then went towards Nayla.

"Since you don't want me to touch her, then I will touch you. At least you're old enough" he said, crouching below her level, his eyes filled with purr lust.

He slowly crawled to her, trying to capture her in between himself but she too was also crawling back. Her back hit the hall, there was no way out anymore.

Her heart thudded loudly in her chest, he looked like he would force himself on her. 'No it can't happen' she thought to herself in fear. She looked towards the girl who was slowly and quietly sneaking away.

Nayla wanted to shout but she couldn't. It was as if her voice was lost. She felt the sands on the floor and packed a handful.

She poured it on the man's face, making sure it enters his eyes.

Seeing he was distracted, she took to her heels and started running when suddenly the man jumped in front of her. Her heart flew far away, so far away she thought she was just a body without a soul. Her body became numb at the sight before her.

She could not move and her hands became chilled cold. Her mouth opened and closed creating a whiff. She gasped at the horrifying creature that now stood before her.

The man was transforming into something she never thought she'd imagine.

His fingernails elongated, pure black. His head having the ear of an animal she couldn't fathom, his side teeth also grew longer than the rest, like canines. His eyes turned pure black and his body started having furs. He crouched below and before she knew it, he turned to the animal she never expectef. He was a loup-garou

'Oh my, a wolf! He's a wolf?! How did it happen?

What on earth just happened?