My father's mate? Are they crazy? My mom is my father's mate. But my father didn't refute them, he just stood there, looking quite shocked with this woman's presence.
The boy behind her looked at me, intently. I hid behind my father, pretty embarrassed. He ushered his mom to lean down to ask her. His small hand covering his mouth and his mother's ear.
I become redder in shame. I'm still a werewolf in human form, but I can hear what he asked clearly. 'Mom, what's that creature?'
"That's Prune face", one of the kids said out a loud. Some of the villagers laughed while pretending to warn others to stop their jesting. This day has been extremely awful. I went inside, but not without hearing my father speak.
"That's my child, my daughter, Karah from my mate," My father emphasized, "Sefer… My love", My father hugged my mother close and kissed the temple of her forehead. "Can you join our sweet daughter inside? She might misunderstand."
The woman tried to speak but my father raised her hand to forbid her from uttering another word. I hear the woman asking my father to take care of her son for a while as she intends to speak with the leader to escort her to the palace.
'To the palace?' I wonder who this woman is that she can say that sort of request.
My mom ushered me in and as much as she tries to hide it, I can see tears streaming down her flushed face. I reached out for her hand and she apologized while moving her face away.
"I love you, mom" and hugged her. I don't understand what's going on but I hate seeing her sad. In my heart, I immediately felt tremendous hate towards that woman and her child. Whoever they are, they aren't welcomed here. I hope they will go away.
"She's not your father's mate, but she made our lives very miserable when we were younger. She has her own mate but we don't know what has transpired between them. She vied for your father for a long time, but your father is faithful to me." My mom hugged me as we cuddle each other at the fireplace. "Your father didn't get swayed even if she was an imperial princess. Perhaps she deluded herself to the point that she even believed her own lies."
"But why is she outside? Aren't we prohibited to go out of the country?" We were told not to breach the borders nor enter any unknown territory or else we'll be marked as rogues. Just thinking about it makes me shiver, imagine without a family and a home. And what's more surprising about this, is that she's a royal.
"We are prohibited. That's why perhaps, it took her years to have the courage to come back. She believes that the laws might bend for her." My mom exhaled heavily and sniffled. "People had bowed down to her influence and many citizens disliked your father, so even if her claims are untrue, corrupt people sided with her to get to us."
We waited for many hours, me and my mother busied ourselves with cooking and preserving meat. I constantly peered my eyes outside the window, awaiting dad's return. When I saw the villagers tying up the woman and the boy, the boy was screaming and so is his mother.
"How dare you do this to me! I'm the imperial princess!" She shouted, resisting capture, but the guards easily tied her up and her kid. "Let me see the king of Niveo! The queen! My brothers!" She repeated till her voice become hoarse.
"Was the imperial princess" The village leader mocked her and slapped her face to make her quiet. She fell on the ground and her pitiful son rushed to protect her.
My dad was behind them, averting his gaze. The guards and the village leader dragged them outside the village. Me and my mom went out to see where they will be taken, but my father stopped us from checking.
"To the caves", my father said, answering the question we didn't say out loud. The caves are far more dangerous than moving to other territories. Terrible entities and unknown environments are within them. The darkness and the mysterious ambiance around it are enough to scare and discourage anyone from attempting.
And they will be sent there, when the night is almost nigh.
The village leader continues to harass the woman, when suddenly, the boy screamed.
"STOP HURTING MY MOM!"
The people stopped on their tracks and the village leader, with his size and strength, fell down on his back. We felt heaviness in our heads, my legs got so weak that I have to hold on to my mom for balance. "Help me, mom… Dad…"
I almost fell to the ground, but both my parents were able to catch me in time. Yet, they were squinting their eyes and massaging their heads. Perhaps, I'm not the only one who suddenly feel dizzy.
The imperial princess stood up and broke herself loose from the rope, she carried her son and make a quick escape outside the gates. Other people remained to help the village leader up, while the rest shifted to chase the woman.
"What happened?" My mom asked. Most of the people collapsed on the ground are kids. The parents are grunting in pain, most of the people are confused with what happened. I felt that the pain is now easing and I can steady myself on my own.
"You know that the princess has always been peculiar. It could be one of her tricks. It's best you stay inside. I'll stand guard here for tonight and wait for some news." My father told me to sleep and not to worry.
I pulled the blanket over my face, it's difficult to sleep. I wonder if my dad is still outside. Despite my shortcomings until the present, I have never felt fear or uncertainties. However, tonight was a different case. I can sense something sinister will be coming for us.
And I was right, as my eyes opened, they widened to see the imperial princess towering over me, her toothy wide smile and extended arms trapped me in her embrace. Darkness engulfed us and I see my parents' home no more…