Chapter 1
EXTENDED BLURB.
In the days of old, there not only used to be werewolves shifters, but tigers and dragons as well. Each one were powerful in their own ways, filled with numerous qualities and governed by the moon goddess who looked after all and ensured there was peace.
Until, the humans attacked. Jealous of their supernatural neighbors, they went into deep research, finding out their weaknesses and using it against them in battle. A lot was lost during the war, but the most painful was the loss of the moon goddess who used all her powers ending the war and vanished from the universe.
Enraged, the shifters turned feral, loosing all morality and began attacking humans and subjecting them to immense torture and enslavement. Centuries passed, but no one could save the humans from the hands of these despicable shifter beings. It is believed that the moon goddess will return and restore peace to the world. But who is she and what form will she take? Even if she is here, will she be able to turn the blackened hearts of the shifter kings around?
Trigger Warning.
This is a very dark romance. This book contains sensitive and potentially triggering material, including themes of [ Sexual assault, violence, abuse, trauma, etc.]. Reader discretion is advised. If you are sensitive to graphic or disturbing content, please proceed with caution. Take breaks when necessary and enjoy the ride!
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Lienna.
If I could close my eyes and disappear to anywhere else in the world, then I absolutely would have done that. Anywhere, than this cold, horrid smelling carriage that I had been locked up in.
Tears cascaded down my cheeks as I sat huddled up in the carriage, my body cold but my heart colder. I couldn't believe the man I called my father would do this to me. All because I refused to marry the man he had set up for me. The bastard who had tried to rape me from the very moment he saw me.
I shivered, gritting my teeth as I tried to suppress the sobs that tried to get past my lips. I could still remember the argument I had with him, the conversation that led up to this moment. If only I could go back in time.
I had just met my betrothed, Lord Apollo Guivanni, A man my dad had talked so fondly about and had informed me was going to be my husband. Although I didn't like him from the moment I heard him, I had resolved to do my best and be a good wife to him under normal circumstances.
That was until we went on a walk and the bastard tried to force himself on me. Terrified and full of rage, I had attacked him and also rejected his proposal. I thought my father would be proud of me rejecting that sick pervert but he did not take it well at all. I whimpered as memories of my father selling me off replayed in my head.
"Father please! I beg you, don't do this!" I screamed at the top of my voice, grabbing onto his feet as I sobbed my heart out, wishing he would change his mind.
"Get away from me, you mongrel!" He screeched, kicking me away from him and I curled on the floor, sobbing uncontrollably. "You have brought shame to this family and I cannot stand to have you around. You will leave this very instant or I will sell you off!"
I whipped my head up to look at him, my body trembling. Surely, he didn't mean that, did he? My eyes widened and I scrambled to him again. "No, you can't do that! It isn't my fault that I don't have a wolf! Moreover Apollo tried to hurt me! I couldn't stand it." I cried out, my father must have hated me speaking back as he raised his cane up and the next thing I saw was it falling down on me.
My father's cane landed on my shoulders and I whimpered, clutching the throbbing spot as more tears spilled from my eyes. "To think that you have the nerve to talk back to me." He snarled, and I froze in fear. I curled to myself, fearing another hit but what I heard caused something in my heart to break and die.
"Guards! Carry her away from my sight and sell her off to the nearest slave market!" He bellowed and I stiffened. This couldn't be happening! All of this for a rejection!?
"Father, father, please... Don't do this. Don't sell me off! I'm your daughter! You can't sell me off!"I screamed as the guards grabbed a hold of me, ready to lead me out of his sight. He stiffened and glared at me, his eyes narrowing.
"Of course I can. And, what makes you think you're my daughter?" He snickered, his voice suddenly dropping. I felt chills run down my spine as I stared at him. What did he mean by that? He saw the question in my eyes and cackled. "I saw you in the forest while I was going on a hunt all helpless and crying. You looked so unique I thought to bring you with me and raise you as mine. If only I knew you'd turn out to be this useless, I would have sold you off a long time ago!" He bellowed, his voice reverberating in the entire room.
My tears dried up instantly. He wasn't my father? I was adopted? Everything made sense now. The inhumane treatment I suffered in their hands, all the humiliation I had to endure and the nature of my recent marriage. None of it was out of love, I was a tool to them.
"So now that you know who you really are, get out of my house!" He screamed, raising his cane as if he wanted to hit me again. I flinched, but didn't try to avoid it anymore. The guards pulled me away before the cane landed on me, dragging me out of the place I called home. Snickers and jeers followed me and for the life of me, I couldn't raise my head to look at them.
They hauled into me into a carriage and without giving me a chance to gather myself, began to move the thing, the mansion I grew up in growing smaller and smaller as we moved away from it. I began to sob, tears streaming from my eyes like rain. I still found it so hard to believe. All my life was a lie? I'm going to be sold off as a slave in this world that was cruel to human beings? Though I possessed otherworldly beauty, I wasn't a shifter and I didn't have any supernatural powers as well. In other words, I was useless.
The mansion continued to grow smaller till it disappeared out of my sight and the woods enveloped us. Other the sounds of the nocturnal animals hooting in the distance, there was an eerie silence. My heart began to pound and I licked my parched lips. I can't go down like this. There needs to be something I can do!
Run away from here. My mind whispered to me. Summoning all my courage, I crawled to the door of the carriage and began to push against it, willing it to open. My body hurt but I pressed on, desperation fueling my actions. Finally, the lock loosened and with one final thud, the carriage door fell open and I tumbled to the ground.
My body hurt at the impact but I didn't have time to care about my wounds. I immediately picked myself up and started to run away but I barely made it anywhere when a hand reached for me, lifting me off the ground and dragging me back to the carriage.
"Where the hell do you think you're going, you little bitch!" The voice bellowed as I struggled against him, desperate to break free from his hold.
"Let me go, you bastards!" I screamed at the top of my voice but they just snickered. Enraged, I bit into their arm and they groaned out in pain, their grip on me loosening. Using the opportunity, I slipped out of their grip and tried to get away but another one yanked me by my hair, causing a piercing pain to tear through my skull.
"Do this again and we won't hesitate to pin you down and have our way with you." He threatened and I froze. That terrified me more than anything. They brought me back to the carriage and threw me in even more harshly. The one I had bitten was still furious with me so before he locked the door, he hit me in my stomach, causing me curl up in pain.
"Crazy witch... No wonder our master got rid of you." He snarled as he slammed the door shut. I gasped, the pain too much for me to handle. Unable to hold on to my breath any longer, I passed out.
