Prologue
In the dead of the night, a lone figure fled from packs of snarling, moon-cursed creatures - their human forms shredded, revealing razor-sharp claws, glowing eyes, and savage fur, as if the darkness itself had taken on a life of its own. Leo's ragged breaths echoed through the night as he clutched the stolen gems. Moonlight transformed the pond before him into a shimmering oasis, but his own race's deadly pursuit cast a darker shadow. He hesitated, unsure if his desperate plan was salvation or doom. His eyes bore witness to the unspeakable horror: his family, slaughtered by treacherous hands, their lifeless bodies strewn before him. Now, he stood as the sole survivor of his pack, a haunting reminder of his own powerlessness. Self-loathing gnawed at his soul - why had he, the weakest, been spared? The memory of that brutal attack still seared his mind, leaving him drowning in despair, consumed by feelings of hopelessness, uselessness, and crippling vulnerability.
"Your situation is hopeless. Submit to my demands!" his predators commanded.
Leo with determination faces his chaser one last time and with a smirk he give them a middle finger. "You'll have to be faster than death itself! Catch me if you can… but don't say I didn't warn y'all"
As the predators closed in, Leo swiftly hurled the gems into the pond, shattering the night's stillness. The water's surface erupted in a blaze of light and a swirling portal materialized. Without hesitation, Leo leaped into the shimmering vortex. In an instant, he was transported to a cosy chamber landing with a thud on a plush bed. A startled woman's screams pierced the air followed by a sharp slap across his face.
"What in the devil's name?!" The woman's piercing shriek accompanied a forceful shove, sending Leo tumbling beneath the bed. A pained groan escaped his lips as he struggled to stand up. "Help! Help! Please help m-" her desperate cries were abruptly muffled as Leo swiftly clambered back onto the bed, his rough hands clasping her mouth in a silencing grip.
And with a menacing shaky voice, result of being chased earlier, he warns. "Shut up! Woman! Scream again and I'll bite you!"