"Your eyes are so much prettier when they glisten with your tears, little Olivia."

Cold palms cupped my drenched cheeks, and my eyes drifted shut, my wail of despair slipping away, diminishing under the sound of crackling flames and the snarls from Lycans.

Anabelle's touch soothed my eight year old body and mind, but only briefly. The scent of burning flesh assaulted my nostrils and I stumbled backwards, away from the female lycan and collapsed to my knees.

My fingers curled around dry grass as my shoulders shook, lips parting as vomit arose, splattering the earth, it's foul scent nothing compared to the smell of the flames eating away at my parents. My vision blurred when I shakingly lifted my head to stare blankly at the roaring flames in a garden. Several lycans standing around the small area howled in joy and victory.

"Stand." The collar of my shirt was gripped and I feebly struggled, lungs burning and vision clearing. I met the cold dark eyes of the lycan, recoiled at the way she lifted a hand to hold my chin, shift my head. Left. Right. Down. Up.

Something akin to disappointment settled momentarily in her piercing eyes, but vanished when she saw that I observed it. This lycan had promised my parents and myself shelter from the lycans currently howling their pleasures at the deaths of my mother and father.

She had seemed so sincere, so desperate to save us from the lycans searching for persons who had been part of a protest which had ended in the death of an Alpha.

The female had, after stumbling upon us in what we thought to be an abandoned barn, asked us to join her in her home.

We had initially been wary of her offer, but her seemingly genuinety and sweet words, which were so rare of lycans, had been enough to convince my mother and father. We stayed in her home for two days, accepting her food and sleeping in her beds.

Only to be hurled out when the Klawmoon Pack warriors came, promptly seperating my parents and myself.

I had not witnessed their deaths. But once I was forced to leave Anabelle's house, I saw the scattered limbs and flesh in her garden, the broken necklace my father had gifted my mother months ago, the pink dress Anabelle had given my mother, which was now torn and resting amongst limbs and bones jutting from flesh.

The lycans had been quick to pile them all into a heap in the garden, set fire to them. And I was forced, with a tight grip on the back of my neck, to watch all of this, my screams of horror being dismissed.

The female lycan's grip on the collar of my shirt tightened and I staggered forward, icy horror shooting up my veins as I was directed to a male lycan, clothed in a dark green uniform, his hands dripping with the blood of my parents. He smeared it against my cheek as he examined me with piercing eyes, fangs elongated as my low cries returned.

"Olivia," The female's hand drifted to hold my hair so that I held eye-contact with the male. "Meet Kanes. Kanes, meet Olivia." She crouched low and my skin itched at the feel of her soft blouse touching my shoulder, her hot breath hitting the shell of my ear as she snarled, "You will be seeing plenty of him from now on."

**********

My palms ran up and down the material of my pants in a self-soothing manner and after a moment of hesitance and contemplation, I stood. My footsteps barely made any noise against the floor and I paused to survey the hallway. The two lycans, who I assumed to be guards of some sorts straightened at my appearance.

My fingers curled around the doorframe before I pushed myself off, narrowing eyes focusing on the guards who remained on either side of the hallway. My chest constricted as I neared them, but my expression remained stoic when they both stepped forward, blocking my path.

"Can we assist you, ma'am?" The bearded lycan asked, expression guarded and eyes gleaming with keen observation. I shook my head, unable to speak. The two guards exchanged a look with each other and my eyes followed the movement of the female pressing against her temple with a finger, the action quick and almost unnoticable.

"There is food in the dining room if you are hungry." She said, her voice lacking warmth, just cold formality. "I shall show you there if that is what you desire."

My stomach tightened at the mention of food. I was very hungry, but accepting meals from lycans had led to devastating results. I instead shook my head once more, swallowing the rise of fear as frustration and bewilderment began to dwell in their gaze.

"I'd like to tour the house," My voice was steady, so unlike my fingers currently by my sides. "Alone."

The male guard was quick to shake his head. "We have been instructed to follow you ma'am by-"

My chin lifted. "The Alpha?"

His head dipped in a firm nod. "The Alpha."

My teeth gnashed together and my fingers lifted to itch irritably at my arm. "Fine." I brushed past them, attempting to ignore the strength of their bodies as I did so. Their footsteps echoed as we walked down the spiral stairs and I came to a pause at the bottom.

The double doors of the room which had once held lycans were empty. I made my way over to it cautiously, flinching when the female guard began speaking, divulging specific details about the room even though I hadn't asked.

Her hands would touch everywhere as she explained the many ornaments in the sprawling living room and I winced at the prices she so easily recalled for each item, the pieces of furniture, as if the information would impress me.

All the while, she spoke in that strange, cold formality sort of tone which somewhat made me uneasy.

"I apologize ma'am," The male interrupted her, eyeing my stiff form in the middle of the living room. "But we may have to continue this tour another day. The Alpha has asked that we promptly show you to the dining room immediately."

His hand seized my arm almost immediately, not allowing me any chance to protest physically if I wanted to. The female lycan jogged to my left side whilst I was made to walk, their pace slowing once they realized my bandaged ankle. I was directed further into the room, through an opened glass door.

A long, wooden dark table rested in the middle of the dining room, with atleast twenty white empty chairs on either side of the oval table. My nails kissed my palms as I briefly made eye-contact with the Alpha who sat on the opposite side in which I stood and for a long while, all that could be heard was the sound of boots as the guards left and the crackling of flames from a nearby fireplace.

My fingers trailed along the top of the chair I stood behind, eyes flickering around the many dishes on the table. My mouth immediately watered at the sight of succulent meats which I had imagined for many days in the Klawmoon prison and then my attention lifted to the fruit bowl, hunger punching my stomach at the grapes, sliced apples and strawberries resting in it.

My tongue ran over my lips and I swallowed harshly in frustration.

Annabelle had food just like this in her home.

“Have a seat, Olivia.” The Alpha commanded. I swayed ever so slightly, lips parting to protest but the swift, sharp look sent my way made me hesitate. My stomach growled softly when I slowly dragged the chair from the table and sat, hands folding in my lap. Immediately, my gaze was pulled back to the delicous smelling food around me.

“The food seems to have caught your attention,” The Alpha rumbled, honey eyes so probing as he gestured to various dishes around me and then to my empty plate. “Help yourself to whatever you want and eat.”

When I did not move, he raised an eyebrow. “Either do so or I shall feed you myself, Olivia.”

I recoiled at the thought of him doing so and my hand lifted to pull a dish close, stabbing the already hot, sliced meat with a fork and maneouvering it onto my plate. I did so with various other sorts of food, taking some and scooping them onto my plate, all the while aware of the Alpha watching me, not touching his own until I was finished laying out the food I wanted on my plate, not eating until I nibbled at my meal.

A pounding headache began to form as I swiftly ate the warm meal, in awe of the taste and feel. It was so soft and so flavourable compared to what I was forced to eat for twelve years.

I was finished far before the Alpha had completed his meal and I wiped lazily at my lips with a napkin afterwards, stomach full but nerves abundant as I wondered what my fate would be. My hands shook as I raised them to swipe at my eyes as my vision blurred with tears, guilt settling heavy in my gut as memories of death arose.

The Alpha stood abruptly and my eyes sprung to him in suspicion, neck twisting to the side until I could no longer see him as he momentarily came out of my view, only to return when I saw a jug of water. I was silent as he poured it from beside me, the sound of the glass being filled echoing in the large room.

The jug was placed a few inches away from my plate and I exhaled slowly when the lycan withdrew from my side, taking a glass for himself and filling it up with water as well.

"May I be excused, Alpha?" My voice was cold and my body felt drained. All of a sudden, I actually longed for sleep. The jug rested noisily against the dining table and I resisted from wincing.

"Where do you intend to go?"

I bit the inside of my cheek and I rolled my bandaged ankle, the pain distracting me from any other emotions. "To the bedroom, Alpha." I bit out tersely.

I stood before he could say anything, the chair dragging noisily against the floor. I refused to meet his gaze when I realized his close proximity, the way he angled his large body to block the exit of the room.

"My name is Hannes," The Alpha spoke, his warm breath hitting my forehead. He shifted closer and my eyes narrowed on his chest. "You do not need to call me Alpha, Olivia."

I could feel the way my face hardened at his gentle, low tone and I sucked in a deep breath, expelled it loudly as my gaze trailed away from him, to rest on a framed photograph resting upon a cabinet.

And immediately, everything else became a blur as I honed in on that picture. I was moving past the lycan quickly before he could speak again, strides fast and determined, disbelief and rage mounting the closer I moved towards the photograph. I distinctly heard Hannes behind me, calling my name in concern but I brushed him aside, my hand swiftly snatching the photograph, blazing eyes narrowing on the woman seated beside young children on a sofa.

"Anabelle." Her name left a bitter taste in my mouth and my fingernails pressed against the glass protecting the picture.

"How do you know her name?" Hannes questioned from behind me. The glass began to crack under the pressure of my nails and I could feel my anger begin to shake my body as I stared into her dark eyes, at her lips which were lifted in a sly, almost mocking smile.

For years I have dreamed and longed to split her skull open, dance in her blood and listen to her screams as she succumbed to the death I would give her.

"Who is she to you?" I asked hoarsely. I recognized one of the little boys to be Hannes in this picture. He was holding a ball, and his smile was toothy. Almost cute.

"My beloved aunt," Hannes reached over then, wrestled the picture from my clutch. He examined the damaged glass with a frown and his lip curled slightly in amusement. "You are stronger than you look."

My mind was racing with many thoughts of murder. "Is she alive?" My voice was so unlike my own. It was deeper with cold fury, yet strained with disbelief.

Hannes lowered the photograph and rested it carefully on the table. "As far as I am concerned, yes. She is."

"Does she live in this house?"

Hannes eyebrows furrowed as he turned to study me. "No, but she visits frequently. Why are you asking all of these questions?"

My jaw clicked and I straightened, ignoring his inquiry."Would she be coming here anytime soon?" My foot tapped against the floor. "Say, tomorrow?"

Hannes grunted, muscled arms folding across his wide chest. "There's a snow storm outside, Olivia. I doubt she will be able to come tomorrow. And you haven't answered me."

My eyes drifted away then, heavily disappointed. Without a word, I made to leave the room, but Hannes blocked my path.

"Your beloved aunt is responsible for the deaths of some people who were very dear to me, Alpha," I spat through clenched teeth, hoping he would leave me alone if I responded to his question. "And I intend to murder her when she steps into this house, if I am still here."