Tabitha's POV

“What is going on? Where are you taking me?” I questioned as they dragged me in such a hurry after we arrived at the Northwood Kingdom, but no one answered.

No one speaks as if they were forbidden to do so. The hallway filled with their footsteps, marching to the darkness as the moon peeked from the window. The cold breeze of the wind envelops me, but the fact I'm inside the king's territory sends shivers to my spine.

“Can you please tell me. Please, I'm begging you!” I try to convince them but none of them try to speak.

I was barefooted, feeling the cold stone floor and the wounds in my sole. They unlocked a door, we ran downstairs and dragged a torch. After that we reach another floor, dark and creepy. The cold surroundings ignite here. A man uses a separated key to unlock another door.

And then they throw me inside before locking it again. I rose and started banging the door, “Hey! What am I doing here?! Please, let me go! I'm useless!”

“King Donovan! Please, listen to me! Hello?! Is anyone there?!” I yelled.

Later on, I heard a clinking sound and soon the rusty metal door opened wide. A man wearing steel armor with fur on his shoulder, tied long black hair and his cold gaze fell on me.

I moved backward as he marched inside. I was trembling from head to toe, sensing danger brought by this man as he cornered me. His eyes travel through me before gesturing to a two young lady behind him, and they start ripping my clothes.

“Let go of me! No!” I cried.

They pulled my clothes, leaving no fabric in my skin. “Get your hands off me! Let go!” I slapped one of the servants, causing her to stop.

I pushed myself to the wall, hugging my naked body before the two servants moved aside. The young man in front of me kneels on my level, scanning me thoroughly. His silenceness was disturbing and terrifying.

“Is she really the one?” He asked.

“Yes, Beta Simon. The King returns with her, so she is the woman in the prophecy.”

I frowned, “Prophecy? What prophecy?”

“None of your business, woman.” He checked my back but I quickly removed his hand and hugged myself tightly.

He rose and murmured, “How could she be the one in the prophecy if this woman doesn't bear the mark?”

“She's wolfless, Sir Simon.”

“Make sure she's clean and not sick. We don't want the king to catch any illness from this woman,” he commanded.

“Yes, sir.”

Their conversation paused when the king entered wearing only his loose shirt and pants. He's no longer wearing that mask, and it became clear to me his cold eyes that can shiver anyone who sees it. His scar on the eyes was intriguing, but I don't have the right to ask.

His cold gaze fell on me before turning to the man named Simon. “Prepare her,” he commanded.

He nodded, “Yes, my king.”

The king went to the wall, chained himself and remained calm while I'm confused at the event going on before me. He was like used to do this every night, or occasionally. Soon after they stop after hearing a howl from outside, and then everyone froze like they've seen a ghost.

“The full moon is here,” Simon murmured.

I glimpsed outside and the moon was round and full. Fear envelopes me quickly, wondering what is happening and why they seem scared of the full moon.

“Prepare the woman. Now.”

“What? Why me?—wait!” A man pulled my arm and cut my palm, I groaned in pain as blood dripped from my hand.

They use a goblet to catch it before letting me go. Simon took it from the man's hand, and handed it to an old man who chanted something and a black smoke appeared from the goblet. After that, he gave it to the king to drink.

His veins exposed, his breathing became heavy. They backfired as the king started growing black fur on his skin. “Out. Get out!” Simon shouted.

They quickly got out and locked the metal door. I was horrified by the king's changes. His bones cracking, mouth becoming long and fangs growing. His hands become huge paws with sharp claws, and the room is filled with terrifying howls.

I snapped when his eyes landed on me. I rushed to the door and banged it, “Hello?! Get me out of here! Help! Help me!”

But no one listened.

“Help me! I don't want to die!” I yelled, keep banging the door.

The king growled angrily, causing me to turn around and he already turned into a monster. A werewolf that lives in ancient stories, standing like a human and power like werewolf. His breathing became sharp and unwavering, sending fear in my chest.

“Your majesty…” I swallowed, “Please, don't kill me…”

Even though he was chained, I can tell those are useless. I notice the scratch marks on the door and walls, making me realize that he can break from his chains.

“Please, let me go…”

The monster roars and in a flash, he breaks from his chains. His claws reach me, making me cry in pain. I touch my wounded shoulder as blood covers it. I dodge when he tries to attack me again, but this time he only cuts my hair.

He roared again, feeling disbelief. I slid under him, kicked the door to stand up and jumped to the side when he threw the wooden chair at me. I thought I dodge it, but he hit me and I blew to the wall, feeling the pain from my back.

I can't stand…

“My king, please…” tears fell on my cheeks. “Please, don't kill me…”

However, he didn't listen. His claws were scraping on the stone floor, like he was sharpening it. I swallowed because this monster seems to have no plan on letting me live. I looked around, and I saw a wood with a sharp end. As the monster got closer, my heart beat faster.

I didn't hesitate and ran to the piece of wood, and grabbed it but he slashed my legs. I endured it before stabbing his leg with the wood, making him cry in agony. I run to the door again and keep banging it.

“Get me out of here! Help me, please! I don't want to die!”

I turned and the monster had already recovered. Damn!

“Please, open this door! Open this damn door!” I screamed.

“Open this—” I stopped when the door finally opened. I felt relieved. “Thank you!”

Simon glanced behind me, so did I. The monster was already behind, enraged. I froze in my standing position and felt like a cold water was poured at me. I closed my eyes as he raised his paw, accepting my death.

“Maybe this is really my fate now…”

“Close the door!” Someone shouted.

Suddenly someone pulled me out of that hell. They closed the metal door while I landed on the floor. They were using their strength to hold it, not letting the beast come out.

“We need to put him to sleep!” Simon grabbed the old man's collar and shouted, “What the hell are you waiting for?!”

The old man nodded and threw something inside through the small window and later on the beast stopped banging on the door. Their disappointed eyes fell on me, sending uneasiness.

“Take her to the dungeon and wait for the king's order.”

“What? What order? Why do I get to be sentenced if I didn't do anything?!” I reasoned.

“Exactly, woman. Your job is to break the king's curse, but it turns out you are useless. You will be sentenced to either death or exile, but in your case it's just death.”

“The king is cursed…” I murmured.

“Lock her up and make sure she won't escape. This woman has seen the king's face, and no one can get out of this place alive with that important information,” he commanded.