{A/N: Congratulations on 1K reads guys.}

"Wild

Nonchalant

Assertive

A monster wanders the land after midnight. His appearance is so frightening that it might send the heart of bravest man into overdrive with a single glance. A prodigal beast who otherwise stays hidden emerges from the depths of a troubled mind when influenced by the mistress of midnight- the moon. He wasn't turned or born but cursed to become deadly after a scorned backstabber betrayed an innocent womb. A lost soul weeping in a strange world where humans were considered prime species. He is the spirit of an unborn who died in pain in the womb of a vengeful mother.

He is a tale told to children. He is a primeval enigma dissolving and roaring into the ossein of a sinner. He is the first of his time yet an ancient kind. He hungers for flesh and blood and like a pharaoh, rides evil to cut this grey world.

With claws so sharp he tears into the skin of his prey to grab a precious jewel. With muscular legs and long feet, he runs faster than the air, measuring the area of his territory. With arms so thick, he unroots trees and lives that block his way. With the musky scent of his pores, he marks the boundary around his home. Those who enter unannounced had to pay a grand penalty. His eyes provide a clear sight even in the darkest trenches and neck of the woodland. His nose is highly sensitive for it could smell your fear from miles away. He can smell your blood, your disease, your virtue, and your lies. His ears remain erect and alert to sense the tiniest vibrations emitting from the ground or the cries of innocence carried through the air from miles. He hears it all and waits in shade to reveal his form. He is the true king of this jungle and has learned every corner throughout the years.

The stories of ancestors proclaim he is the hunter who can be hunted on the nights of the full moon when he is most powerful and deranged at the same time. His carnal desires and instincts fog his intelligence."

The oldest in the small hunting party explains as they enter the forest fully armed, light on their feet.

Sub Inspector Radhika and a terrorized Vikram, who are investigating Rekha's murder, quietly follow the team and listen to the stories. The small group of 8 men was local and had deep knowledge about the incidents occurring in small villages surrounding the thick forest. They've heard it- the howls of a lone wolf on many nights but didn't bother to disturb his territory because of previous failed ventures, where the entire party was found mangled and dead, rotting in a pool of dried blood and vultures.

Hiring a hunting team of willing and daring men was not easy. Everyone was scared of touching this project until a cluster of loons assembled in front of the police station and demanded a handsome price for the job. She could not say no because this was a life-threatening situation.

Vikram Singh failed to understand the reason behind his presence in the dreaded area where people are scared to walk even in daylight. He wanted nothing but to return to the safety of his covers in a peaceful home. If his wife came to know about it, she would kill him anyway.

"Madam, I think we should leave the hunters to do their job. What's the need of following their lead?" he whispered while jumping over a fallen log. The humidity was increasing and he was sweating bullets.

"Stop being a wuss, Vikram. It is just a wolf and we have a trained team to hunt it. What could go wrong?"

"Madam, there are thousands of possibilities that might result in my wife and children conducting a funeral tomorrow if this is the same wolf who has been on a murder spree for the past six years. I value this job but I value my life more. If something happens to me, my wife will marry my two daughters to her best friend's sons, admit my son in the military and settle in Vrindavan over my pension." Vikram whispered nervously, making Radhika chuckle.

"That isn't a bad plan. She is far-sighted."

"Far-sighted, my ass. I'd rather have my daughters at home all their lives than marry them off to those two idiots. They sell samosa and jalebi."

"Shhh..."

One of the hunters interrupted the light-hearted conversation and gestured to stop. Vikram curses under his breath, shifting closer to the group while Radhika tenses. Bending on his knees, the leader of the party traces a large footmark on wet soil.

Another hunter took it as a cue and ties a lamb to a tree.

"Now, we take cover." He mumbles lowly and all of them spread into the area, trying to camouflage with the darkness of the jungle. For them, it was a regular norm. For them, hunting was a sport that they learned from both experience and accidents. They do it by book, by putting a bait. The scent of a young lamb was more enticing than any of the prey in hideout.

Only if they could see the cloaked figure of reapers laughing at the absurdity. They may have killed wolves before, but this one was no mammal walking on four limbs. It was an intelligent species coming from a long line of lost folklore. This was a beast. As they scanned their surroundings on the ground, their death drooled from the top of an old tree.

The nightmare of each animal was keeping a keen eye on all 10 people invading his territory. His front was plastered to the thick trunk of a dead banyan tree.

One of the young boys feels tension crawling down his spine when noted the deadly silence. The crickets have stopped their music. Only the sound of blowing wind and with it shivering of dried leaves resonated.

A fat globule of sticky saliva landed on the forehead of a man who neared the trunk of a dried banyan. He froze. An owl hooted in the distance, bringing the ominous news of doom. The earlier humidity got replaced with coldness and fog settled over the ground.

Before the man could've looked up, the beast jumped on him with a wide open mouth and bit his skull. The first gunshot of the night was fired shaking the fearless hunters from their stupor. The lycan rips the slim and tall body of man into two and tosses the pieces in opposite directions.

Chaos broke.

The men lost their cool and their fear kisses peak. They blindly searched for the creature in fog. Vikram was already chanting the names of God and when heard more screams, held Radhika's hand in a death grip and started dragging her toward the periphery of the jungle. The lady Inspector didn't oppose and ran with him. Suddenly, the entrails of another man fell in front of them and she lost her balance registering the animosity. The slimy- bloody gore made her barf. Vikram didn't care, he didn't leave her hand and kept dragging her stumbling and shocked body toward the destination. A howl rang in the night sky accompanied by multiple gunshots and manly bellows. The crunching of bones followed next, driving sickness of Vikram's stomach to throat. He didn't dare look back for doom was on his heels.

The beasts kill one human after another while dodging the bullets aimed at him. His canines tore into their necks, claws dug into their chests while fists crushed bones with powerful punches. It was the night of violence. The surroundings bathe in warm red and suddenly, the silent forest comes to life.

Vikram tripped on a fallen log and went spiraling ahead on rocky terrain. Radhika screamed and tried to help him but was mercilessly pushed into a tree with raging breaths fanning her neck. Long fangs embedded into a wide-open jaw winked at her beneath the moonlight. Her end was near as she dangled two feet above the ground with the beast's arms wrapped tightly around her torso. Controlling his shaking arms, Vikram shot the hound from hell on the shoulder, causing the beast to loosen his grip around the woman and rushed into the cover of darkness.

"Madam, quick."

A crazed Vikram yelled as he pointed at the end of the territory. A disheveled Radhika stared at him emotionlessly. His words didn't reach her ears for she was long gone. The tight grip of the beast had suffocated her to death after breaking her spine.

Realizing the truth of the haunting night, Vikram crossed the borders alone and swore to never return. He was a lone survivor and his scent was imprinted on the beast's mind forever.

The wise man chose to leave the town and disappear.

She woke up with a start and checked the time on the digital clock blinking at the bedside. It was past midnight. Perspiration coated every inch of her skin as if she has run a marathon. Intense pain floods her entire back as if something solid was rammed deep into her shoulder blade and spine.

Gauri winced and gasped before falling back on the bed. Her breathing was rapid and short, her heart thundering hard against her chest. She felt the euphoria of a chase she never gave. Her limbs complained of covering miles even when she has been sleeping for the past three hours.

Ripping the covers from her body, she puts on a robe and leaves the security of the bright room. Since she has come to Rana Fort, Gauri has slept with lights on because the rooms were too big and she had to sleep alone.

Light on her feet, the girl trails the dimly lit hallways ignoring the growling stomach. She badly wanted to have snacks but thought differently. The silent palace was scary enough, let alone developing the guts to hunt for food at night. But for some reason, she felt restless. Staring out from one of the windows, she lets the coolness of the moon engulf her. Closing her eyes, Gauri basks in the soothing attention of the gentle breeze. Her hair flew around her, playing with the rebellious wind.

The peaceful tranquility was ruined by the onslaught of heavy pants coming from the far corner of the wing. Her body went still and she stopped breathing to focus on her surroundings, making sure she wasn't imagining things.

Goosebumps erupted on her rigid frame and fear licked the back of her icy neck. Backing away from the open window, she clenches her fists and turns to face the dark end of the hallway. She swore she felt eyes on her and the doubts were proven right when blood-red optics glared back with frightening ferocity.

Gauri wanted to melt in a puddle when a shadow emerged from the obscured area and solidified into a bulky furry mass. Her teeth started chattering and her knees quacked. She stumbled back but couldn't run feeling lead filling her limbs. The bloody canines on the animal made her dizzy. A spell was cast in the air and the Chitrakoot palace registers the exchange in bewilderment. Gauri's frame started to shiver like a leaf on a wintery night and the screams she wanted to release got stuck in her throat. The creature in front of her was otherworldly and had a dominant aura. He moved on two feet effortlessly while long arms hung by his side.

When the distance between them was a breath apart, he fell to his knees. Gauri almost jumped out of her skin when the beast's hands raised robotically and wrapped around her frame loosely. Tears spilled from the shocked hazel eyes as she stared emptily at the darkness which once hid this godly prince of nightmares. The head of the wolf-like animal nuzzled her breasts and a low squeal escaped her lips. The creature whimpered in her stomach because for the first time in a long time, he felt like he belonged. He felt he finally found his home. The woman whom he married and swore to protect was everything this lone spirit craved. She completed him in a way he couldn't explain and soothes the bleeding heart which has begged for a friend for so long.

A shaken Gauri brings her hands on his broad and muscular shoulders intending to push him away but froze when the palm of her left hand encountered a thick crimson oozing from a hole. The animal tensed and whimpered.

He was wounded, she realized and something shifted in her. Gauri had no idea why was she not screaming to God for protection and her twisted mind was constantly fabricating a ridiculous sentence, that he wouldn't hurt her. Her fingers dig into the furry head and caressed gently. The lycan mewled. His hold on her tightening a little, pulling her further into himself.

"Leave me."

She croaked hoarsely. The reluctant beast lazily pulls away and kept kneeling in front of her. His thick thighs folded beneath him gracefully. It is when Gauri noticed that he was bleeding all over the white marble. Taking a deep breath and filling her bones with courage, the fragile beauty asks the wounded beast to follow her. To her surprise, he complies as if understands every word coming out of her mouth along with her dilemma.

Scanning the hallway, she leads him into her room and directly to the posh bathroom. The beast growled when bright light attacks his eyes suddenly. He preferred dark because of the ultra-sensitivity.

"Shh..."

Gauri tries her best to calm him before she runs water into the big tub. The blood and gore covering his body made her nauseous.

"Sit here."

She pointed at the slowly filling tub and the grumbling beast saunters towards it.

Grabbing a piece of rag, she wets it in the washbasin and reached for the door only to be stopped by a threatening growl. Her shoulders tensed and she eyes the snarling beast nervously.

"I need to clean the blood in the hallway before someone notices it. We might get into trouble." Saying that she quickly escapes, by now the lycan had lost too much blood to chase her and defy her commands. He was feeling lightheaded and exhausted. As soon as the cool water reached his torso, he sighs and gives into the pull of unconscious.