***ALICE***
"I hate you!" The words escaped my throat before I could swallow them back.
For a moment, time stopped. The air between us thickened, my chest thudding as the echo of my voice bounced off the walls. I had never—ever—raised my voice at my father before.
His face hardened, but I saw the tremor in his hands. "Can't you see, Alice? I'm doing this to protect you. That's exactly why I don't want you to be moving with those wolves—they're clearly influencing you the wrong way." His voice carried the weight of iron, but it cracked at the edges, as if the words cost him something.
A bitter laugh escaped out of my guts. "The same way you protected Mom?" The room tilted, my pulse slamming against my chest. I couldn't take it anymore—this constant prison of fear he wrapped around me. "I'm not missing this funfair. Not this time." The last words slipped out like a vow I whispered to myself.
I sank into the chair, legs weak, rage buzzing under my skin like hornets. "I'm so sick of this," I muttered, my voice resentful. If he hadn't led that cursed coup, if he hadn't painted a target on our family, maybe I wouldn't be living half a life in the shadows.
He said nothing. Just stared. That silence was worse than shouting. It pressed down on me—making my lips tremble.
"Babygirl!" Diacam's voice broke through from outside the window.
"Shit," I hissed under my breath, pushing the chair aside.
"I'm sorry. Just go without me!" I responded before she could say anything else — guilt burning through me. If I saw her face now—her excitement—paired with the storm brewing inside me, I'd break.
I grabbed my bag and slipped into the bathroom.
"You're not ruining this for me," I whispered as I massaged lotion on my face—staring at my own reflection inside the mirror. I did a few makeovers, but I still didn't look the part. So, I did it over and over till it looked manageable.
By the time I was ready, the sky was dark, the pale moon behind drifting clouds. Still, my feet longed to move forward, not back. Tonight mattered. Tonight Xander was going to make us public.
Shadows stretched unending on the path through the forest—the moonlight was barely helping. Crickets chirped. Dry leaves crunched under my shoes and each step I took made my heartbeat grow stronger. The quiet air wrapped around me, cold but almost comforting, and for a moment I could breathe again.
Then the fair came into view—lights blazing in spectrums, drums pounding, voices rising in song. Fireworks crackled above, scattering colors across the night. My breath caught. "I would've hated myself if I missed this," I whispered, smiling as I pushed into the crowd.
I searched, making my way past dancers and other people at the fair. And then—
I froze.
My eyes widened, my heart thundering so loud—the sound of the drums went silent in my ears. There, amidst the glow of lanterns, Xander was pressing his lips passionately against Diacam's.
"What the fuck are you doing?" My voice broke, trembling. A tear sliding down my cheeks
"Xander!" I called out again.
They didn't stop. Didn't even notice me at first. His fingers were buried in her hair, her fingers clutching his shirt as though the world belonged only to them.
Finally, he pulled away, just long enough to glance at me with a smirk that made my stomach turn.
"Calm down, babygirl."
My vision blurred, series of emotions flooding me at once. Is this real? My best friend—my boyfriend—kissing like it was a performance for everyone to see.
"So even a wolfless bitch thought she could score with an Alpha," Diacam jested, her laughter so sharp it felt like needles underneath my skin. Xander joined in—mockery ringing like drums in my ears.
Wolfless. The word pierced deeper than claws.
"Baby, kiss me," she moaned, holding his chin slightly as she pressed her lips against his again. A tragic sight that almost made my heart explode.
I took a few steps back at first, choking on sobs. My father had been right. I never should have come.
I ran, the fair's lights blurring, as tears ran down my eyes. The forest swallowed me whole, cool air drying my wet cheeks. The more I paced, my chest ached, each breath shortened, becoming harder to breathe.
Then—snap.
The sound cut through the quiet of the night.
I froze, every hair on my neck prickling. "Who's there?" My voice quivered. Nothing answered—just the sound of leaves as the wind brushed through them.
I forced my feet forward, quickening my pace, but the sound followed. Soft and steady at first, then faster.
My breath stopped for a moment. Cold sweat slid down my spine.
And then I saw it. Golden eyes glowing under the faint moonlight, muscles brunching so much that it left me breathless and saliva dripping from its jaw. The whole sight screamed fear at me, but I'm not giving up.
"No," I whispered, knees weakened. "No, not tonight."
It pounced.
The impact slammed me into the ground, its claws raking into my neck slowly. My scream ripped the air apart, but there was no one to save me. I expected it to be painful, but it wasn't — it felt awfully sweet. But the suddenness of everything started to make my eyes blurry.
And then—nothing.
***
When I stirred again, the weather was cool and soft. Light flickered beneath my vision, warm and steady. My body trembled as I forced my eyes open.
"You're awake?" The voice was low, steady, and sweet. My gaze sharpened—and I froze again, but for a different reason. Golden eyes, bright as sunlight, stared down at me. Hair, silky and brown, all attached to a well framed face—he looked so beautiful that he made my heart stutter.
I had never cared for looks. But this man—he was carved out of something different.
"What… happened yesterday?" My memory seemed fuzzy. The wolf. The claws. The blood. My hand flew to my neck—smooth skin. My clawed neck was already healed into a scar.
"How… how am I alive, and how is the wound healed?"
"You're safe now," he said, his gaze steady. "I found you bleeding. I helped a bit." But something in his tone wavered. He was hiding something.
"My name is Lancelot," He said while reaching out for me with his hands stretched out. I took his hands and responded,
"Alice."
Then it occurred to me—my dad would be crazy worried already.
"Shit!" I sank the heels of my hands into my knees to stand upright, ignoring the dizziness.
I muttered a quick "thank you" and bolted.
The path home was long, but familiar. My legs carried me fast, though my mind whirled with too many questions. Behind me, footsteps echoed. I glanced back—the same golden-eyed man. He said nothing, only followed. My cheeks burned slightly and I bit my lips. Does he like me too? Or is he a stalker?
I smiled faintly and increased my pace.
Until I reached home.
The sight knocked the breath from me. Doors broken apart. Chairs overturned. Blood littered the floor.
"Fuck, fuck, fuck!" My chest seized.
My father was gone.
Captured.