...BELLE...

...This was how the world...

...ended....

...The king of wolves, the mythic...

...monster; the majestic man I'd...

...grown to love and lust for...

...with my every breath, he lay...

...there…bleeding out beside his...

...throne. Dying....

...Towering over him was a...

...grinning demon..the Demon...

...Lord. He pointed at me with a...

...long, black, spindly finger....

..."You're mine now,...

..."he...

...croaked, fire spitting from his...

...mouth....

...“Annabelle”...my...

...“princess of darkness..”...

...I fell to my knees and cried...

...out in anguish. But as the...

...tears trailed down my cheeks,...

...I felt them.....

...hubbling…....

...boiling…..melting through my...

...skin. I shrieked, tearing at my...

...face, trying to make it stop....

...But there was no stopping...

...what I was becoming now. I...

...heard the Demon King's...

...cackling laugh as my tears...

...became black scars, my eyes...

...voids, my lips….. that would...

...never know the taste of his...

...again.....

...the Werewolf King I...

...loved.....

...He was lost....

...I was lost....

...The world was lost.....

...Only...

...darkness ruled now....

...I woke up with ...

...shaking, hyperventilating, but...

...the world was still dark....

..."What?" I said, freaking out....

..."What's happening?"...

...I realized I was wearing an...

...eye mask, and as soon I...

...pulled it off, I could see I was...

...safe and sound in my...

...chambers. Phew....

...That damn dream again. It'd...

...been recurring for weeks. But...

...every time I woke up, I...

...couldn't remember a single...

...detail. Only the terror, the...

...dread, the feeling that...

...something big was coming....

...But what?...

...A heavy knock at the door...

...made me jump....

..."Honey?'...

...I turned to see my father. That...

...was all. Get a grip, Belle, I...

...scolded myself....

..."What is it, Dad?'...

...‘There's something important...

...we need to discuss…’...

...He came and sat down on my...

...bed. My father was the alpha...

...of our pack, built like a brick...

...wall, but with a quiet...

...kindness in his brown eyes...

...that couldn't be rivaled. He...

...was fiercely devoted to his...

...family, which is why what he...

...said next shocked me to my...

...core....

..."Anabelle;...

..." he said, eyes...

...lowering. "I don't know how...

...to say this, but it's time for...

...you to leave the pack...

...behind."...

...My eyes widened....

..."What??...

..."Your mother and I are...

...sending you somewhere.....

...safe. Warm. Far away from...

...here."...

..."What are you talking...

...about?" I said, standing up,...

...backing away....

..."This is my...

...home! I can't leave the pack....

...I belong_____...

..."You belong where I say you...

...belong!" he bellowed, and I...

...was struck quiet....

...My father rarely raised his...

...voice. That meant this was...

...serious. It meant that he, the...

...alpha of our pack, was scared...

...of something. But. what?...

..."Why... why are you doing...

...this?" I asked, and now tears...

...filled my eyes....

...I thought of my brother, Sean,...

...my best friends, Joshua and...

...Danny, and most of all, of...

...Gregory, the man I believed I...

...was destined to be with. How...

...was I ever going to live...

...without them? What was...

...happening? My world was...

...slipping from beneath my...

...feet....

...I can't explain,...

..."' Dad said....

..."But you must understand...

...Annabelle. It's for your own...

...protection."...

...Protection from what? Was...

...this related to that damn...

...dream? If only I could...

...remember the details. But I...

...wasn't scared of it... whatever...

...it was. No. This was my...

...home. And nothing, nobody,...

...was going to take that away...

...from me....

...«Annabelle,...

...» my father said,...

...seeing the wheels turning in...

...my head. "Don't___...

..."Try to stop me," I said....

...And before he knew what...

...was happening, I ran from the...

...room, out of the house, and...

...into the woods as fast as my...

...feet could take me....

...I was running for my life. In...

...the distance, I could hear my...

...father's booming voice....

..."Come back here,...

...Annabelle!?...

...But no way was I stopping...

...now. I shifted and felt the...

...familiar warmth seep into my...

...skin. My limbs stretching, a...

...pelt of reddish fur emerging...

...from my body, covering me...

...like a thick blanket....

...Now on all fours, I sped...

...toward my secret spot in the...

...forest. I discovered it when I...

...was much younger. Sean, my...

...big brother, had teased me...

...relentlessly, leading me to...

...flee into the forest in tears....

..."You're not my sister!' he...

...shouted. "Go back where you...

...came from!' He was five...

...years my senior, and all I'd...

...ever wanted was to be loved...

...by him....

...That night, I stumbled...

...exhausted into the clearing,...

...but the full moon looked...

...down on me, blinding me...

...with its fluorescent majesty. It...

...spoke to me silently, soothing...

...my worries. It was my secret...

...friend when I was lost in the...

...darkness....

...I was running there now,...

...hoping to find the same...

...solace and comfort I first felt...

...those thirteen years ago....

...Being sent away meant I...

...would have to leave behind...

...my special clearing, too. I...

...couldn't bear the thought....

...Where could I turn? Where...

...could I be alone? Oh. dear...

...Moon Goddess, don't let this...

...be my fate. Don't let my...

...father send me away!...

..."Belle, stop! Wait for me,"...

...hollered Sean. Time had done...

...much to resolve our...

...differences, making us close...

...now. I knew he cared, but...

...something inside me refused...

...to let my legs stop running. I...

...needed to be away from...

...everyone....

...I heard him shift behind me,...

...his large six-foot-ten-inch...

...frame morphing into a...

...massive grey wolf that was...

...just as quick as it was strong....

...He would catch up with my...

...small. weak wolf at any...

...moment....

...When I first shifted at fifteen,...

...I thought my wolf would get...

...bigger, but it never did....

...Unlike the rest of my family,...

...my wolf remained small and...

...scrawny....

...I heard him shift behind me....

...his large six-foot-ten-inch...

...frame morphing into a...

...massive grey wolf that was...

...just as quick as it was strong....

...He would catch up with my...

...small, weak wolf at any...

...moment....

...When I first shifted at fifteen,...

...I thought my wolf would get...

...bigger, but it never did....

...Unlike the rest of my family,...

...my wolf remained small and...

...scrawny....

...Which made me easier to...

...catch....

...Sean's wolf jumped on my...

...back, pinning me to the dirt. I...

...tried to wriggle free, nipping...

...at his legs, but it was no use....

...Sean snarled and dug his nails...

...into my pelt....

...Relenting under the pain, I...

...morphed back to my human...

...form and he let me get up....

...One upside to being an...

...undersized wolf? I was the...

...only one in the pack who...

...could keep my clothes on...

...while shifting....

..."We need to talk?. Sean said....

...putting on his shirt....

..."I'm not going anywhere,...

... I spat....

..."If Dad sent you after__...

...me...

...You have to, Belle. It's the...

...only way."...

..."I can't believe you're on his...

...side,...

...» I shot back....

..."For the...

...Moon Goddess's sake, will...

...you tell me what the hell's...

...going on?"...

...Sean looked away. I knew it...

...must be something serious....

...He wasn't one to avoid...

...confrontation. In fact, he had...

...quite the reputation in the...

...pack for knocking out anyone...

...who looked at him wrong. Or...

...any poor guy who looked at...

...me, for that matter....

...He's coming for you, Belle,...

...Sean said quietly....

..."He knows...

...where you are. You can't be...

...here when you turn eighteen....

..."He? What are you talking...

...about? Who's he?'...

..."That's not for me to say. If...

...Dad didn't think you should...

...know..?...

..."It's my life, Sean!' I...

...shouted....

..."I deserve to know if...

...someone's after me. Please?...

...Tell me. Who is it? Who's...

...coming for me? Is it another...

...alpha?"...

..."No, he's not a werewolf....

...He's. he's something else.'...

..."Something else? What do...

...you mean? There isn't...

...anything else. Just humans...

...and werewolves."...

..."There's a lot you don't...

...know. Belle.....

...I felt like the world I knew...

...and loved was falling apart...

...and not even my secret...

...clearing could protect me...

...from what was coming next....

..."Look, do you remember that...

...day you ran away in the forest...

...because I was taunting you,...

...and no one could find you all...

...day, and Mom went...

...ballistic?”...

..."And then you were grounded...

...for a week?" I replied. "Yes,...

...of course. I hated you that...

...day....

..., 99...

..."Sure, I would have, too,...

...Sean said impatiently, as if I...

...was keeping him from...

...making his point....

..."But, do...

...you remember what I was...

...saying before you took off?"...

..."You said.. you said that no...

...one loved me, and Mom and...

...Dad were lying to me. You...

...were a real jerk back then,...

...you know that? You made my...

...life a living hell."...

..."I also said, you were found...

...at the Pack border....

..."Whatever. That's the same...

...stupid joke every older...

...brother makes. What does it...

...matter?" But my body...

...betrayed my true feelings. I...

...could feel my heart pounding...

...fiercely in my ribcage. A...

...revelation was coming....

...I could feel it....

...Sean looked at me with heavy...

...eves and let out a deep sigh....

..."That wasn't a joke, Belle."...

...I silently pleaded for him to...

...smirk or wink, anything to...

...indicate he was just pulling...

...my leg. Instead, his face...

...remained solemn....

..."I remember one night, Dad...

...came back with a bundle in...

...his arms, and he and Mom...

...argued. I had never heard...

...them argue like that. So, I got...

...closer and started to...

...eavesdrop. Mom wanted to...

...keep you, but Dad was...

...worried....

..."He kept saying, there must...

...be more to the story. He said...

...somebody was going to come...

...back for you one day. I...

...rushed downstairs to see what...

...they were talking about. And...

...that's when I first saw you,...

...bundled in that blanket. You...

...were so small and fragile,...

...Belle....

..."That's why I was angry for...

...so long. I was scared to love...

...you because I thought you...

...might be taken from us, and I...

...couldn't bear the thought of...

...losing my little sister. It took...

...me a while to realize, it didn't...

...matter if someone came,...

...because they weren't your...

...family. We were your family."...

...It was too much to process all...

...at once. I didn't know where...

...to begin. I looked at my...

...brother, my protector, my...

...friend. This was tearing him...

...apart from the inside....

..."That's why you're so over-...

...protective?" I asked....

..."I can't help it," he said,...

...nodding....

..."I promised I'd...

...never let anything bad happen...

...to you. That's why you have...

...to come back home with me,...

...all right?"...

..."First. tell me,...

...I demanded.”...

..."Who is he? Who's after...

...me?”...

...Sean sighed, looking down. I...

...knew the answers were...

...imminent, though, I...

...suspected, they weren't going...

...to make anything clearer....

..."Last week, an ultimatum...

...was issued to the King. It said...

...to hand you over or else war...

...would be declared on all...

...werewolves."...

..."The King? A war?' ...

...I...

...stammered....

..."What could that...

...possibly have to do with...

...me?”...

...*Belle," Sean said, holding...

...me firmly....

..."We don't know...

...much. But we know he's a...

...ruler of all his kind. We know...

...he's called…. the Demon...

...Lord."...

...A flash of horrifying imagery...

...struck me silent. A black....

...spindly finger pointed right at...

...me. A fiery, cackling mouth....

...The dream....

...That was who I'd dreamt of....

...The Demon Lord....

..."I wish I knew more,...

...» Sean...

...said....

..."All we know is, he...

...incredibly dangerous. And...

...he's willing to go to war if it...

...means getting you back."...

...I choked for breath, my hands...

...clammy. I felt like I was...

...suffocating....

..."Why? Why me? What could...

...he want with me??'...

..."Belle…Sean said, looking...

...into my eyes....

...I think...

...you're…I think that's where...

...you came from. You belong...

...to him."...

...I took a shaky step back, eyes...

...widening, hyperventilating....

...Everything started to blur,...

...and it felt like my body was...

...weightless. I was falling....

...And now, I could hear his...

...voice again…the voice from...

...my dream.....

..."Annabelle, my princess of...

...darkness.....

...Sean's voice was screaming;...

...he was trying to reach me....

...But he was too far. It was too...

...late. My secret clearing,...

...illuminated by the moon, was...

...drowning in darkness, the...

...stars blinking out, one by one....

...And as all went black.. as the...

...world ended around me…all I...

...could see was the other man...

...from my dream, the Werewolf...

...King, lying in a pool of his...

...own blood....

..."Belle," I watched his lips...

...silently mouth....

..."I love you."...

...And then there was nothing...

...but darkness....

...BELLE...

..."Are you okay? Answer me....

...Belle!" I heard a distant voice...

...that sounded like my...

...brother's. Was that Sean? My...

...head was throbbing with such...

...intensity, I could hardly think...

...straight. But then, through the...

...blur, I saw him peering down...

...at me....

..."What happened?" I asked....

...Sean sighed....

..."When you...

...backed away, you tripped and...

...fell. You must have hit your...

...head on a rock or something,...

...because you were out cold....

...I tried to sit up, but I still felt...

...woozy. I ran my fingers over...

...the new tender bump on my...

...head, remembering flashes of...

...our conversation and the...

...dream all over again....

...The Demon Lord....

...The Werewolf King....

...The truth about who I really...

...was....

...I shook my head. It was still...

...too much information to...

...process all at once. I checked...

...my surroundings and realized...

...I was back in my bedroom,...

...lying in my bed....

..."You brought me back?"...

...Sean nodded. "Mom and Dad...

...are waiting downstairs....

...Whenever you're ready."...

..."I don't want to see them,...

...33 T...

...said tearins up....

..."I can't....

...« know." Sean said, pulling...

...me into a tight hug....

...«But,...

...Belle, they're still your...

...parents. Even if it's not...

...biological. They love you."...

...Love. Something about the...

...word reminded me of the...

...dream again... of the...

...Werewolf King. Had he said...

...something to me? It didn't...

...matter. What mattered was...

...that everything I'd ever...

...believed was a lie....

...Who was I really, I...

...wondered? I'd always...

...thought of myself as the...

...daughter of an alpha of a...

...strong pack. Another typical...

...she-wolf. Now, my wolf's...

...diminutive size made sense, I...

...guess. It made sense why I...

...didn't resemble either my...

...mother or my father....

...But the idea that I......

...belonged...to the Demon...

...Lord? That he was willing to...

...wage war on all werewolves...

...in order to get me back? I...

...couldn't wrap my head...

...around it....

...There was only one way to...

...find out more. I took a deep...

...breath, looked at Sean, and...

...nodded....

..."All right, I said. "Let's go...

...see them__...

...My parents were waiting in...

...the living room for us...

...downstairs. They both wore...

...grave expressions as I threw...

...myself into a chair....

..."Honey, we're so glad you're...

...all right,...

..." my Dad began....

..."You shouldn't have run off...

...like that,...

...» Mom said sternly....

..."Not after-"...

..."The Demon Lord's...

...ultimatum? I interrupted....

...watching both of their...

...expressions ripple with shock....

..."Yeah. Sean told me...

...everything.”...

..."Sean! Mom exclaimed....

...«Sean!" Mom exclaimed....

..."T'm sorry, guys,...

..." Sean said....

...looking aside....

..."But she has a...

...right to know. She's almost...

...eighteen years old."...

..."Which, apparently, is some...

...sort of cut-off date?" I asked....

..."Do you mind explaining?...

...Mom? Dad? Or should I call...

...you by your first names...

...now???...

...Dad looked down, his eyes...

...sadder than I'd ever seen...

...them. I didn't like hurting...

...them like this, but after being...

...kept in the dark for so long, I...

...was angry and needed to lash...

...out. At anything. Anyone....

...These two just happened to fit...

...the bill....

..."You have a right to be...

...angry,...

..." Mom said....

..."But know...

...that we kept the way we...

...found you a secret for a...

...reason."...

..."To protect me, I know. Dad...

...already said that."...

..."But not from the Demon...

...Lord. We knew, one day...he...

...would come back…. one way...

...or another. It was bound to...

...happen."...

..."Then, from what?'...

...Mom and Dad looked at each...

...other with a hint of concern....

...Then, Dad leaned forward...

..."The truth is, our King? He is...

...not always the most...

...benevolent man....

...99...

..."You're saying... you were...

...protecting me from the...

...Werewolf King? Why?"...

..."He would never have...

...approved of your adoption,...

...Dad said....

..."He would have...

...cast you out of the pack years...

...ago, had he known....

..."And now?'...

..."That's why we're sending...

...you away, Belle," Mom said....

..."So he can't get you first."...

..."Do you think he would...

...really turn me over? To the...

...Demon Lord?'...

..."If it meant protecting every...

...werewolf in the world?" Dad...

...said, shaking his head....

...believe he would. That is...

...King Keith's way. The greater...

...good"...

...I shook my head with...

...disbelief. And here I thought...

...I'd only have to worry about...

...one powerful enemy. My...

...parents were saying both...

...were bad?...

...Mom started tearing up, and...

...Dad tenderly grabbed her...

...hand. The look he gave her, it...

...reminded me how much these...

...two meant to me. To each...

...other. After all these years,...

...they were still madly in love....

...Sometimes, I couldn't believe...

...their spark still remained so...

...alive and strong. One day, I...

...wanted to be in love like that....

...But none of my fairytales...

...were going to come true if the...

...Werewolf King and the...

...Demon Lord were after me....

...How was I ever supposed to...

...find my mate when my life...

...was falling apart?...

..."Pack your bags, Belle," Dad...

...finally broke the silence....

...We leave first thing in the...

...morning....

..."Won't I have time to...to say...

...goodbye? To my friends?'...

...They looked at each other...

...again, then Mom shook her...

...head....

..."I don't think so, Belle. Not...

...this time."...

...I could feel the tears welling...

...up. The reality of my...

...situation hadn't kicked in...

...until now. Mom leaned...

...forward to hug me, and I...

...recoiled....

..."Don't. Just...leave me...

...alone."...

...Mom and Dad both nodded....

...stood up, and left the room,...

...leaving me and Sean in...

...silence. He squeezed my...

...shoulder....

..."Hey" he said. "You may get...

...to say goodbye to one person,...

...at least."...

..."You? No offense, Sean, but I...

...was thinking more like... "...

..."Not me.? He winked. Just...

...then, there was a loud knock...

...on the front door. My eyes...

...widened. and Sean smirked....

..."Relax," Sean said, walking...

...to answer it....

..."The Demon...

...Lord doesn't knock."...

...Very funny, Sean....

...He went to the door, and who...

...should he come back with but...

...Gregory… the boy I was...

...madly in love with. The one I...

...always imagined when I...

...thought of who my mate...

...might be....

..."Hey, Belle," he said....

...blushing and looking away....

...Gregory was the son of the...

...pack's beta. He was shy but...

...in a cute sort of way. He had...

...curly black hair that fell down...

...to his shoulders, and vivid...

...green eyes with long lashes. I...

...loved watching how he...

...twirled the locks at the back...

...of his nape, or how he...

...chewed the inside of his...

...cheek whenever he was...

...nervous....

...He had a killer body, which I...

...had ogled on many occasions,...

...but he carried it with the...

...uncertainty of a lanky...

...teenager, hunching his broad...

...shoulders and keeping his...

...chin down....

...I never understood why he...

...was so insecure with such...

...amazing looks....

...Sean knew we were close, but...

...he didn't know the way I...

...really felt about Gregory. Or,...

...so I thought, anyway....

...Something about his knowing...

...smirk suggested otherwise....

..."So." I said....

...What brings...

...you here, Gregory?'...

..."I guess, uh, I just wanted to...

...check in and see how you...

...were doing.....

...I heard about...

...the, uh, the ultimatum....

...I stepped closer toward...

...Gregory, to kiss his cheek, to...

...show him how much his care...

...meant to me-...

...thinking, this...

...could be my last chance-...

...when we heard a commotion...

...outside....

...Wolves were howling. I could...

...hear the scratching of their...

...paws as they circled the...

...house. Before I could ask...

...what was going on, my father...

...rushed downstairs and flew...

...out the door. Sean and...

...Gregory followed close...

...behind....

..."Where are you going?' I...

...asked in vain. Then, I caught...

...sight of my mother, her...

...beautiful face riddled with...

...worrY....

..."He's here;...

..., 99...

...she said in a...

...shaky whisper....

..."Who? The Demon Lord?''...

..."No. The King."...

...I didn't like how spooked...

...everyone was. The Werewolf...

...King's appearance at our...

...home was highly unusual....

...After what my parents had...

...told me, I knew it could only...

...mean one thing....

...I stepped outside, and my...

...father held out an arm to stop...

...me....

..."We're too late," he said,...

...helpless. I couldn't bear to...

...see this despair on his face....

...He was the pack's alpha, and...

...any emotion besides supreme...

...confidence was cause for...

...alarm....

...I have to be strong for all of...

...us. Even if I'm not this man's...

...real daughter, I was still...

...raised as an alpha pup, and I...

...know how to act like one....

..."It's okay, Dad. Take me to...

...meet the King....

...«I won't let him take you...

...away from us. I swear to you,...

...Belle.?...

...But this was one promise we...

...both knew he couldn't keep....

...The Werewolf King was the...

...alpha of all the alphas, and no...

...one, including my father, had...

...the power to disobey him....

...I took a deep breath and...

...walked forward, past my...

...father. My legs trembled as...

...adrenaline surged through...

...me....

...Sean and Gregory had already...

...shifted into their wolf forms,...

...while other members of the...

...Pack began to appear in small...

...groups, working themselves...

...into a frenzy, baring their...

...teeth and nipping at each...

...other. Their soulful howls...

...rose to the heavens, paying...

...tribute to the Moon Goddess,...

...asking for strength and...

...bravery....

...When they saw me, they...

...rushed to my side, forming a...

...ferocious shield of fangs and...

...vicious growls. They were a...

...loyal pack of soldiers and...

...would lay down their lives to...

...protect me, the alpha's...

...daughter....

...If only they knew the truth....

...This is all very noble, but I...

...would stand down if I were...

...you....

...The warning came from a...

...voice with a deep timbre....

...Behind the shield of wolves, I...

...couldn't see the man it...

...belonged to, but his voice...

...alone was enough to make...

...my heart tremble and my legs...

...give out. I felt dizzy....

...Is he doing this to me, or is it...

...my own nerves?...

..."Please, my King,...

...99...

...my father...

...growled...

..."She's my daughter....

...We can't-"...

..."Step aside!' shouted the...

...King, this time issuing an...

...alpha command that not even...

...the strongest mind could...

...withstand....

...Within seconds, all the...

...wolves except for Sean and...

...my father submitted, bowing...

...their heads....

...My brother and father were...

...resisting the order with all...

...their might. They struggled to...

...tolerate the explosive pain in...

...their heads....

...My father pressed his fingers...

...to his temples, wrenching his...

...head from side to side like his...

...mind was being eaten from...

...within....

...I couldn't bear to see my...

...family like this. I pushed...

...myself forward and threw up...

...my hands....

..."Stop it! Stop it, please! You...

...can have me. Just don't hurt...

...them any more!" I cried out....

...Sean howled, collapsing to...

...the ground, finally free from...

...whatever torture the King had...

...made him endure. I looked to...

...my father, who lay motionless...

...in the dirt....

...He will be fine,...

...' the King...

...growled...

..."Now, come here,...

...girl. Let me see you."...

...I finally turned to see the...

...King in all his colossal...

...wonder....

...He had daunting black eyes...

...with such depth, it felt like...

...you could fall and keep...

...falling into them forever. His...

...eyelashes were thick, his jaw...

...chiseled as if from stone....

...I found myself drawn to him...

...by some mysterious pull....

...wanting to know him on...

...every level. His broad...

...shoulders, muscular chest,...

...and ripped abs heaved with...

...his every breath. I couldn't...

...stop staring, feeling,...

...imagining…....

...Hold on. What the hell is...

...happening to me?!...

...I shook myself out of my...

...stupor. He was the enemy....

...Look what he'd done to my...

...father and brother! He was...

...here to take me away....

..."So, you're Belle, are you?"...

...he asked....

...All I could do was nod in...

...response. There was a hint of...

...a smile on his lips, a glint in...

...his eyes, as if he knew...

...something about me I didn't....

...For a second. I remembered...

...the faraway dream in which...

...the Werewolf King lay dying,...

...whispering four words to me:...

..."Belle, I love you."...

...How could this man, this...

...beast, this King ever love me?...

...It was impossible. Without...

...another word, he morphed...

...into the largest wolf I had...

...ever seen. Then, he threw me...

...onto his back with one lethal...

...paw....

...I was powerless to resist him....

...I spun to see Sean and my...

...father howling in heartbreak....

...But there was nothing I could...

...do....

...Suddenly, I felt myself flying...

...through the air. The trees...

...flashed by in a blur as I...

...gripped desperately to the...

...King's fur....

...I had no idea where he was...

...taking me...but I knew, from...

...here on forth, my life would...

...never be the same....

...I didn't get to say goodbye....

...That's all I could think as the...

...Werewolf King rode on,...

...carrying me to whatever...

...future lay ahead. My father,...

...my mother, my brother...

...didn't know if I would ever...

...see any of them again....

...To think, the last thing I'd...

...said was that they weren't my...

...real family. It made me sick...

...with myself. If only I'd told...

...them how I really felt.that I...

...loved them. That they were ...

...my world 🌎 ...

...Now, all I had to hold on to...

...was the fur on the King's...

...back....

...The King. How I despised...

...him. His ravishing looks...

...didn't fool me; the man was...

...the definition of cutthroat. He...

...was willing to dispose of...

...whoever got in his way....

...Including me....

...After hours of clutching onto...

...him for dear life, I didn't...

...know much more I could...

...endure....

...I was exhausted and...

...famished. At points, I...

...considered letting go, falling...

...and cracking my neck,...

...anything to escape the fate...

...that lay ahead of me....

...But I didn't have the courage...

...to die. Not today. Finally,...

...thankfully, the King came to a...

...stop, and before I could climb...

...off, he began to shift....

...Within seconds, I lay in his...

...***** arms, staring up into...

...those black eyes. His bare,...

...powerful chest heaved with...

...exertion. In his eyes, I...

...thought I sensed a trace of...

...compassion. Of interest....

...But then he blinked and threw...

...me aside, grabbing a pair of...

...trousers and slipping them on,...

...addressing his men. Back to...

...business....

..."We rest here! Make camp!'...

...he shouted....

...I tried to hobble away, to find...

...shelter in the cold dark of...

...night, but I felt a hand grip...

...my arm....

..."Not so fast,...

..." the King said....

..."Where do you think you're...

...going?...

...I turned to him, suddenly...

...remembering what he'd done...

...to my father and Sean, to me,...

...and felt a volcanic rage boil...

...up within me....

..."Let go of me," I hissed....

...You dare give your King...

...orders?...

..."No King of mine would...

...have acted the way you have....

...To his own men. His own...

...alpha....

...99...

...His eyes narrowed and his...

...nostrils flared....

..."You think...

...you know everything, do...

...you?"s...

..."I know where you're taking...

...me. You're giving me up to...

...the Demon Lord. To keep...

...peace. For the "greater...

...good "...

...You would rather I let every...

...werewolf die? So vou may...

...live?...

...When he put it like that, I...

...didn't know what to say. I...

...looked aside, feeling ashamed...

...all of a sudden. Selfish....

..."No," I admitted....

..."You have...

...to do what you have to do."...

..."Belle."...

...I turned, surprised to hear my...

...name on his lips. The first...

...time, it had been purely...

...logistical; a way to confirm...

...my identity. This time....

...This time, I didn't know what...

...I was supposed to feel....

..."I am not a monster," he said....

..."I must appear that way to...

...you now. But I assure you…I...

...only hurt those who defy me....

...I am the King, after all. I...

...cannot back down. Ever."...

..."What if I refuse? To back...

...down?" I said, staring him...

...straight in the eve....

..."Then you would force my...

...hand.?...

..."You would hurt me."...

..."I wouldn't enjoy it."...

...Before I could stop myself, I...

...flung a hand at his face to...

...slap him. He was so fast, I...

...didn't even see him move....

...His hand was around my...

...wrist, gripping it tight...

...-SO...

...tight…it hurt....

..."Please," I begged...

..."I warned you, did I not?' he...

...growled...

...For a second, I thought he...

...was going to snap my wrist in...

...half. His eyes burned with a...

...rage I didn't know him...

...capable of....

...I fell to my knees. I had never...

...known pain so excruciating in...

...my life. But I refused to let a...

...single tear escape my eye....

...I wouldn't give him that...

...satisfaction....

...Just when I thought I couldn't...

...take it anymore, I heard a...

...voice in the distance....

..."Keith, let her go. She's had...

...enough!"...

...The King glared at the man...

...who yelled. But, much to my...

...relief, he finally let me go....

...I grabbed my wrist, feeling it...

...swell already. Then, he turned...

...sharply and stomped away....

..."Are you okay?"...

...asked one of...

...the King's warriors, with...

...unexpected kindness in his...

...eyes....

...«You should get a...

...handle on those outbursts if...

...you want to stay alive. Don't...

...push him."...

..."He is a beast." I seethed....

..."That, he is,...

..." he sighed. "But...

...that's what makes him so...

...good at being our King. I'm...

...sorry, I forgot to introduce...

...myself. I'm Xavier.»...

...When I attempted to say my...

...name, he stopped me with a...

...hand gesture....

..."I know who...

...you are. You're the mystery...

...girl the Demon Lord wants,...

...he chuckled....

..."Something like that," I said....

...He handed me a blanket, and...

...I covered myself, grateful....

...I was going to ask him where...

...we were going when the King...

...returned. He had washed...

...himself. His hair was wet....

...Small droplets cascaded...

...down his sculpted chest to his...

...torso before disappearing...

...beneath his trousers and....

...No, no! It's happening again....

...Control yourself, Belle!...

...He caught me staring and...

...gave a wicked grin....

...I immediately looked away,...

...disgusted with myself. How...

...could I be attracted to the...

...man who had hurt my...

...brother, my father, and me,...

...just a few moments ago?...

...But some uncontrollable urge...

...inside my chest drew me to...

...him. Made me crave his...

...touch; made the most intimate...

...parts of me warm with desire....

..."Come," he said, nodding to...

...me....

..."You will sleep in my...

...tent tonight."...

...I took a step back, eyes...

...widening....

..."So I may keep an eye on...

...you,...

..." he corrected my train....

...of-thought....

..."Can't have you...

...running off now, can we?"...

...He nodded to Xavier with...

...thanks, then escorted me into...

...a large tent. I expected a most...

...decadent setting, fit for a...

...king, but the adornments...

...were simple and spartan....

...He saw himself as a warrior...

...first, clearly....

..."You will sleep here,...

...9 he...

...said, nodding to a small bed...

...that had been made up....

..."Don't try to escape. I have...

...guards watching the tent....

...Then, without another word,...

...the King collapsed on his...

...larger bed and almost...

...immediately fell asleep. The...

...run must have really taken it...

...out of him....

...Looking at him- quiet now,...

...peaceful-...

...I felt my disgust...

...and anger subsiding…and...

...curiosity taking their place....

...Who was this Werewolf King,...

...anyway? He was alternately...

...terrifying one second and...

...considerate the next....

...He was gorgeous and...

...monstrous. Powerful and...

...pitiful. A contradiction I...

...longed to truly understand....

...But not tonight....

...No. Whether guards were...

...watching or not, tonight, I...

...intended to escape....

...They seemed to swarm all...

...around me, their skin slick...

...with an oily, glowing...

...substance....

...For a second, they almost...

...looked like.....

...But they couldn't be, could...

...they? The Demon King...

...would wait until I was...

...eighteen years old. Surely, he...

...wouldn't be sending his...

...minions after me now.....

...would he?...

...But then. I saw one of the...

...creatures grinning...

...demonically, eyes fixed on...

...me....

...It stepped closer. Closer. It...

...stretched a hand toward me,...

...and even though it stood ten...

...meters away, the arm kept...

...stretching, impossibly long...

...and elastic, until its ugly...

...black, oily hand was about to...

...tear at my face....

...I was done for....

...I was just about to shift into...

...my wolf form and try to make...

...my escape, when a big jaw...

...closed around his neck,...

...ripping open his throat. Green...

...jelly spewed through the air....

...The King had come to my...

...rescue. And suddenly, the...

...King's men were everywhere,...

...fighting every demon in sight....

...For a second. I was almost...

...grateful. Until I remembered...

...he'd gotten me into this mess...

...in the first place....

...When the creatures were all...

...disposed of, I stepped out of...

...the shadows and approached...

...Xavier....

..."Are you okay?" he asked...

..."I am," I replied. "Are...

...these....

.....?" I expected Xavier...

...to finish the sentence....

..."Demons,...

...» he nodded....

..."Were they here for me?"...

..."Probably. You...

..."ve never seen...

...them before? Wait until you...

...see a nymph!'...

...At first, I thought Xavier was...

...joking. But his expression...

...made it clear-...

...-he wasn't....

...I was so stunned. I couldn't...

...speak. There were more...

...beings in this world than I...

...could ever have possibly...

...imagined. One of which had...

...already tried to kill me....

..."We're leaving." the King...

...growled as he approached...

..."Unless, of course, you want...

...to try escaping again."...

...The asshole hadn't even...

...asked me how I was. But...

...then, a thought crossed my...

...mind....

..."Why did you fight for me?'...

...I asked....

..."Why not just let...

...them have me??'...

...The King looked away....

...Had he changed his mind?...

...Was he not going to hand me...

...over to the Demon Lord after...

...all? Why else would he have...

...fought so ferociously to...

...defend me?...

...Maybe there was more to the...

...King than met the eye....

...As the sun cast its vivid hues...

...of oranges and yellows across...

...the sky, slowly disappearing...

...beneath the horizon, we...

...finally stopped at the base of...

...a majestic castle....

...The King hollered to the...

...werewolves on the wall, and...

...the massive gate before us...

...opened, revealing a gorgeous...

...female, who rushed toward us...

...with her thick auburn hair...

...flying behind her....

...She threw herself at the king,...

...wrapping her legs around his...

...waist and locking her mouth...

...to his, thrusting her hands...

...into his thick black hair....

...For reasons I couldn't...

...explain, it made me burn with...

...jealousy. I wanted to rip this...

...woman's heart out....

...Moon Goddess, why does this...

...keep happening?...

...I didn't want the King. Far...

...from it. And yet my body...

...seemed to have other ideas....

..."Xavier," I asked, turning to...

...the warrior. "Who is she? The...

...bitch??'...

...«That bitch is my sister,...

...Zena,...

..." laughed Xavier....

..."Don't worry, she is a bitch,"...

...he reassured, after seeing the...

...embarrassed look on my face....

...Zena left a trail of kisses...

...along the King's jaw, making...

...my stomach twist in envy and...

...disgust. I couldn't believe it....

...It was actually making me...

...nauseous....

...She turned and eyed me up...

...and down....

..."Who's the girl?'...

...He considered me, and for a...

...moment, I thought his...

...traveling hands and lust-filled...

...eyes were imagining what he...

...might do to me....

..."Somebody.…singular," he...

...said...

...Zena didn't seem to like that...

...answer because she pulled...

...back and frowned....

..."Singular,...

...how???...

..."She's the first woman ever...

...to defy me."...

...Now, Zena understood, and...

...her lips curled into a cruel...

...smile....

..."Did she, now?"...

..."She even tried to escape me,...

...can you believe that?"...

..."Unforgivable."...

..."I don't know about that." the...

...King muttered, with a playful...

...flicker in his eyes....

..."But a...

...little time in the dungeon may...

...do the trick.?...

..."What?!" I screamed....

..."Keith, is that really...

...necessary?" Xavier protested....

...The King didn't bother...

...answering. He turned and...

...continued to make out with...

...his woman....

..."I hope the Moon Goddess...

...strikes you down, you...

...heartless animal! I cried, as...

...two of his warriors dragged...

...me away by the arms....

...I tried to catch Xavier's eye,...

...but he wouldn't look at me....

...I shot my eyes back to the...

...wretched King one last time....

...His mouth was buried in...

...Zena's neck, but his eyes...

...were watching me,...

...unblinking....

...And for a second, the look in...

...the Werewolf King's eyes...

...made it clear as the full moon...

...above us....

...He wished he was kissing...

...me.....