It was almost eight in the evening as Lucia bid her friends, the future triplet alphas of the Blood Moon pack, goodnight. It had been a day of good tidings for her not only in relation to the training, but also due to the realization that the three were actually crushing on her despite her still being wolfless. At seventeen, the fact that her wolf had yet to appear was quite bothersome and she hated it that she could not be identified by her mate. Nevertheless, she smiled at the fact that she could be regarded that highly by the triplets.
She had just turned a corner when she heard some piercing screams emanating from her pack house. Imagining the worst, she tore through the darkness with her eyes fixed on the bright light whose source was obviously from torched houses. Despite her being wolfless, she was endowed with extraordinary speed and agility that distinguished her from other pack members. These were further qualified by her unique fighting skills. She was not only good in using arrows, but she also displayed such great swordsmanship that baffled even her trainer.
"Oh my God!" She exclaimed on seeing several houses up in flames and figures on fire running helther-skelter trying to save themselves. Other figures stood on guard with machetes busy dismembering anyone trying to escape. In a frenzy, she fitted her bow with her trademark arrows and released them in rapid succession. Many bodies fell down while agonizing screams rent the air as she charged into the Alpha's house, her father's abode.
On the entrance, she encountered her mother's mutilated body and she was overcome by emotions. She bent down and embraced it, her whole body shaking with grief. Suddenly, she heard a movement behind her and she turned while reaching for her sword. It was when she saw the attacker.
"Rise, boy!" A tall, lanky man of about nineteen ordered her. He was dressed in war regalia and a heavy mask covered his head. "Come on, boy! I don't think I would have any problem dispatching you after your mother," he challenged her, thinking she was a boy because she was in a boy's clothing.
"Only a fool could be so sure!" She retorted, standing up and drawing her sword. "Who are you and why are you doing this to us?" She demanded angrily.
"Don't play dumb with me! You damn well know who we are because your pack killed my brother under the leadership of your father!"
"So you are the stinking lycans?" She sneered back at him as she readied herself. "What kind of a man are you that kills defenceless women and children!" She wailed as she lunged at him.
He foresaw her lethal move and moved aside as the tip of her sword whizzed just an inch past his chest. He retaliated with a forward thrust of his dagger, targeting her left bosom. She ducked, but her clothing was almost ripped off, revealing her firm and rigid buds.
"What! So you are a girl disguised as a boy?" He quipped, greatly surprised. "I'm a Lycan Prince. I don't fight with girls, do you understand?" He added as he dodged yet another lethal swash.
"No, there's nothing to understand in as far as you have murdered my mother," she said furiously, swinging her sword ominously. She hit harder and he was not able to completely evade contact as the blade embedded itself on his right thigh.
He growled with pain such that only two things made him not to summon his wolf and tear her into shreds. Foremost, he had not smelled her which only meant that she was wolfless and therefore his pride would not allow him to shift into one. No, it would not be a fair fight.
Secondly, his accidental discovery that she was a girl, coupled with her generous, well-formed bosom, had sent some mixed emotions through his body. It would be a waste of resources to kill such an enticing, beautiful soul like her. He rationalized.
Time stood still as he dislodged the sword slowly while staring at her with his enflamed, blue eyes. It was when she saw her father engaged on a deadly, personal duel with the Lycan King upstairs.
"Run Lucia, please!" Her father implored her. "Don't let them take you!"
"Watch out, Daddy!" She screamed on seeing the Lycan King's deadly swing, after taking advantage of the distraction.
Her warning came in too late as the sword cut through her father's neck, separating the head from the rest of the body. The severed head blurted out some words as it bounced on the floor as if it was protesting against the action.
"Daddy!" She lamented as she tried to charge past her immediate opponent in vain. More lycans approached from behind her, eager to attack on the Prince's orders. The latter chose to halt her movement by holding onto her hand.
"Stop this madness right now, or I will amputate this arm!" He snarled, baring his teeth.
"Raphael, finish off that lad and make sure that nothing is left moving in this pack!" His father ordered, appearing on the stairs after dispensing with Lucia's father.
"No, Daddy," Raphael demurred. "She is not even a boy, but a disguised girl. I wish to take her as my slave."
"I hope you don't make any mistake as she might turn against you one day," his father counselled. "Hurry up and ensure that everything has been accomplished. Gather all our men and check on the casualties."
"Why don't you kill me now like the others?" Lucia posed, sobbing and seething with anger. "Are you cowards now?" She could not imagine a life without her family and her triplet alpha friends, let alone being a slave to anyone. She had just applied to college for admission to do a course in medicine. She foresaw her dream of becoming a doctor going up in flames and she wanted to die rather than being taken captive. She summoned all her energy and lunged at Raphael, throwing him down onto the floor.
She raised her sword, but she was forcibly jerked out of balance before she could stab him on the chest.
"Tie her up and make sure she doesn't eat anything for two days!" Raphael ordered his Omega, his blue eyes aflame with controlled fury.
She fought hard and broke loose again. She suddenly threw her dagger, getting him squarely on the chest. He fell to the floor with a thud.