Laughter echoed across the open field as Luna's father playfully chased her mother, while she and her brother ran circles around them, giggling.

"Mama! We're gonna be happy like this forever and ever, right?" Luna asked, her smile wide and innocent.

Her mother's laughter softened into a warm smile. "Yes, my little Luna," she promised.

But the scene changed too soon.

"MAMA!!" Luna's voice cracked with terror. "LET HER GO! LIAR! CHEATER!" She screamed at her father as he painted the field red with her mother's blood.

The once-vibrant hydrangeas—soft blues and purples swaying in the breeze—were now drenched in crimson. Her father had planted them from scratch because they were her mother's favorite. But now, only the scent of burning petals mixed with the metallic stench of blood remained, suffocating her.

Her mother's screams had stopped. Only the crackling flames filled the silence.

Beside her, Zephyr stood frozen. He didn't make a sound, but Luna knew he was crying.

He always cried silently.

Then, in a whisper so soft it almost got lost in the wind, he said, "At three, we run. Just like Mama taught us."

Their mother had shown them the forest paths countless times. But never—not once—had Luna imagined they would use that knowledge to run from their own father.

"Three."

No other words were spoken. Not even a glance exchanged. But they both knew which direction to take

.Their seven-year-old legs could only carry them so far, and eight grown werewolves were right behind them. But they lured them toward the traps their mother had set for prey, buying themselves precious seconds.

They ran and ran, hoping for salvation.

Then came the distant growls. The whimpers.Luna didn't see the pitfall until it was too late. The autumn leaves gave way beneath her feet, and she plummeted down.

"ZEPH!!! HELP!!! Please!" Tears blurred her vision as she sobbed.

"LUNA! LUNA!"

"Zephy! Beneath you!" She could see him, hear him—but he couldn't see her. He kept running in circles, calling her name.

A cold sensation coiled around her ankle.

Something slithered.

A snake.

Then a voice—low and mocking.

"Hello, scaredy little fox."

She screamed—

—And woke up.

Reality Hit Like a Whip.

The basement door slammed open.

"Fucking bitch," Alpha Draken's voice growled. "If you're gonna keep waking the whole damn house with your fucking pathetic screams, then get the fuck out. Last strike, you hear me, little shit and clean this fucking stink hole?"

Luna barely flinched. Wow. Six curses in one sentence. New record, retard.

"Yes, Alpha Draken," she muttered, her voice devoid of emotion.

He sneered. "Stay outside with the guards for two nights. Maybe then your head will clear up."

With that, he stomped out of the room.Luna exhaled, staring at the damp walls around her. Can I even call this a room? It was more of a cell—a basement with no windows, once used to interrogate rogues.

But at least it was something.

"Liz!" Mary's voice rang from the kitchen.

"I'm on my way!" Luna—no, Liz—called back.

Her real name was Lunara. But every household she had served in had found her name 'insulting to their Luna,' so they had either called her girl or slave. Eventually, she had given up and renamed herself.

Liz.

A nobody.

Her mother had thought Luna wasn't unique enough—so she had added a spark. Lunara. But that name belonged to someone else now. Someone who had died the day her father burned the hydrangea fields.

Her mother was dead.

Her father?She didn't know.

Didn't care.

She hoped he rotted in the twelfth level of hell.

The dream—no, the memory—was real. But the details? Blurred. She had three versions of that night, and in all of them, one thing remained true.

Her father was a monster.

"LIZ!!"

She jumped.

"I'M COMING, MARY!"She sprinted toward the kitchen as if her life depended on it. Because, in a way, it did.

Kitchen, Hell's Headquarters.

"The New Year Celebration is in a week, and you think now's the time to be lazing around?" Mary snapped.

"No, ma'am. I'm sorry." Liz lowered her gaze.

"The guards' room. NOW.

"Liz didn't argue. "On it."

/Guards' Room/

"Liz, heard you made a scene again this morning." Lisa poked at her side.

"I wouldn't call it a scene. Nightmares are scary, you know."

Lisa raised a brow. "I wouldn't know. Only humans, children, and royalty have dreams or nightmares."

Liz shrugged. "Well, I'm human and have no power against it."

Lisa ignored her and smirked. "Anyway, your birthday falls on the New Year Celebration, right? Since our pack is hosting this year, wanna have some fun? Maybe someone from another pack will fancy you." She wiggled her eyebrows.

Liz shot her a deadpan stare.

"What? You know some humans get lucky and become a wolf's mate," Lisa teased.

"Lisa, shut it. Let's go."