Lysander’s POV

What just happened? My mom, stabbed? No!!

I sprinted through the crowd, the cold air biting at my cheeks as I called out for my mother. She was on the ground, her face pale and still. I fell to my knees beside her, holding her body.

“Mum!” I screamed, my voice cracking. I held her hand, feeling the warmth fading away. Her eyes flickered open for a moment, and I could see the struggle in her gaze as she tried to speak.

“Please don’t leave me, Mum!” I cried, desperation clawing at my heart. But the silence that followed was deafening, her eyelids slowly closing like a curtain falling on the final act.

My mind raced, memories flashing before me—her laughter, her stories, the way she always knew how to make everything better. But now, all I could do was hold her tightly, feeling her life slip away, a cruel reminder of the Lupercus wolf that had torn our world apart.

Tears streamed down my face as I clung to my mother. I looked up at the towering Lupercus wolf, my heart pounding as I held my mother in my arms, my tears soaking into my shirt. Anger boiled inside me, a fire I could no longer contain.

I pushed myself up, fists clenched, and walked toward the beast that had taken everything from me. “Why did you kill my mother?” I shouted, my voice echoing in the silence.

Each step felt heavy, but I was ready to strike. Just as I raised my hand for a blow, the Lupercus wolf moved like lightning, slamming a powerful paw into my chest. Pain shot through me, and the world spun away.

“Take both of them to the carriage. We have no time to waste,” I heard a voice say, but it faded quickly. Darkness closed in around me, and everything went black.

~~~~

I slowly opened my eyes, the room blurry and quiet except for soft footsteps nearby. The dim light made it hard to see, and my head felt heavy and confused.

I was jolted awake by a loud voice. “Hey, it’s time to work!” The words cut through my fog, and I blinked my eyes open. As I looked around, I realised I wasn’t in my pack anymore; I was in the Lupercus pack now.

“My name is Madam Alina, and this is the Lupercus pack! We don’t accept dull slaves, got it?” The woman’s voice echoed off the walls, sharp and demanding. She was big and strong, with broad shoulders that made her look like a warrior.

I took in my surroundings, surprised by how luxurious everything looked. Even the rooms for slaves had a certain comfort. “This shall be your quarters for now," she announced.

“And you might be wondering why you're in good rooms.”

“Well, we do not like our slaves dirty and filthy,” she said. I remember reading in a book where the Lupercus wolves had acquired so many slaves whenever they won wars. But the number of people I saw looking outside the window wasn’t what I expected.

Suddenly a chill ran down my spine as my mind drifted to my mother. Was she really gone? Would I be forever alone in this cruel world? I thought as tears welled up in my eyes.

“You! I know you’re new here.” She said.

“We have a ritual ceremony happening tonight. So join the other men out there to work.” I nodded, prepared to face whatever lay ahead. I raised my hand, trying to get her attention.

“Yes,” she replied, giving me a sign to speak up. “I…I was brought in last night with my mother’s dead body. Please, can I see her body for the last time?” I pleaded, tears welling up in my eyes.

“I bet she would have been offered to the dogs; focus on your work and let the dead be.” She barked, making me flinch. I didn’t even get the opportunity to see my mum for the last time.

It was the worst pain ever; if only I had stayed back, at least she would have been alive. I realised I wasn’t the heir to the Shadowborn pack anymore but a common slave to the Lupercus wolves now.

And there was no way I’d stay here and not hunt that cruel wolf that killed my mother; I promised myself. We were given uniforms and shared in groups to work.

We were split into groups, and I found myself with four other men, all looking just as worn down as I felt. We were all taken to where we had to clean. I stood with the other four men, my heart pounding as the guards pushed us forward.

The air was thick and musty, and the flickering fire lamps cast eerie shadows on the damp stone walls. Each step echoed in the silence, and I felt a chill run down my spine as I glanced at the dark corners of the dungeon.

"Why are we cleaning this place?" I thought, looking at the dark blood stains on the floor. The red marks seemed to tell a story, one that made my stomach twist. I shivered, trying to shake off the fear creeping in.

The guards shouted again, their voices harsh and commanding, urging us to start. I exchanged worried glances with the others. “What does this dungeon have to do with the ritual ceremony?" I asked, but I got no response from them.

Hours passed, and I pushed myself to keep going, but the need for water clawed at me. I knew I couldn’t ask for a break. My hands froze as a loud growl suddenly echoed through the dungeon.

I looked around, but the other men kept working, brushing off the sound. I shook my head, trying to ignore it, and continued to work. Then I heard it again, even louder this time.

The growl came from the far end of the dungeon, deep and rumbling. “Did you guys hear that?” I asked. The others paused and looked at me with puzzled faces.

“Hear what?” one of them replied, confusion in his eyes. I knew I had heard something, but the others seemed unaware. Just then, Madam Alina appeared.

The men stopped working and stared at her, unsure of what to think. Her presence filled the dungeon with a strange energy. “You men are slow asf!” She yelled, staring at us like we were pieces of shits.

“You!” She pointed at me once again, and for a moment my heart skipped a beat. “The ritual ceremony is about to begin; take this tray to the chamber; they need it there,” she said, handing me the tray.

Why does it have to be me? I gently took the tray from her. “Don’t act like a fool; the guard over there would direct you,” she yelled. And with that I hurried to the guard and followed behind him.

The tray was filled with scented creams and oils. I knew what they were for; they were the kind of oils women used when the king wanted to have sex with them. I looked around the palace, amazed by the gold decorations everywhere.

The Lupercus wolves were indeed very wealthy. Finally we got to a huge golden door. The guard knocked and then pushed the door open for me to enter. I held the tray tight, my heart racing as I stepped inside the room.

But then, my eyes widened in shock as I saw someone familiar. And there she was — my mother, sitting silently on the bed, her eyes vacant yet so familiar. For a moment, the world stopped spinning.

All I could do was stare, my heart pounding in my chest. And then, like a dam breaking, emotions flooded through me. I felt a wave of relief, of joy, of sadness, all mixed together.

My eyes stung with tears as I took a step forward, my legs trembling beneath me. I didn't care about the tray in my hands anymore. I didn't care about the danger or the consequences.

With a quiet sob, I dropped the tray, the sound of shattering porcelain echoing through the room. I rushed to my mother's side, falling to my knees beside her. I wrapped my arms around her, holding her close as tears streamed down my face.

"Mum," I whispered, my voice shaking with emotion. "I thought I'd lost you." She was looking at me, but she didn’t say anything or show that she knew me. "What’s wrong with her?" I thought, feeling worried.

But before I could react, one of the women grabbed me and pulled me away from her. “She’s not meant to speak or touch anyone!” she yelled. “You can’t ruin the ritual ceremony. Weren’t you taught?”

What ritual? What ceremony? I asked, feeling confused and scared. The woman looked at me with a serious face. “She is being offered to the Lupercus Lycan king.”

“She’s meant to serve him tonight. Just hope he doesn’t catch your scent on her, or else she won’t come out alive.”