Night covered the land, meteors streaked across the firmament, wolves howled sadly and loudly, and the grey foggy towns in the mountains swayed with disturbing lights.
Everything seemed to portend a sleepless night.
Lorelei 'Rory' Blackwood stood at the rooftop's edge, her athletic figure dimpled, her black hair disheveled in the wind, her beautiful red pupils glowing wildly and bluntly in the moonlight.
She was the strongest wolf paw of Kieran Wolfsbane, the wolf king of the Darkmoon Clan, and tonight was about to carry out an irresistible order. --Arrest the human maiden Anna Sterling and bring her back to the Wolf Clan lair.
As for why, Rory has never had the right to ask; she's only responsible for carrying out the order and pleasing Kieran with the results.
Though Rory detests the dirty work from the bottom of her heart, she can only obey the irresistible orders of the wolf king.
Rory's claw tips slashed through the tiles, accompanied by an ear-piercing scuffing sound, and her figure jumped from floor to floor with speed and silky smoothness, like a ghost that came and went without a trace.
She endured the sting of the wolf claw tattoo on her back, a mark that Kieran had carved with his iron brand when she had just turned sixteen.
She remembers that day well as Kieran took the red-hot iron brand from the hot coals and carved it viciously into her tender skin. She fought back tears, endured the bone-chilling sensation of burning skin, and swallowed her humiliation.
Everything was because he had saved her from fire and water and picked up her life, so he wanted her to pay the price, pay back the gift of saving her life, and swear to serve the Wolf King Empire to the death.
Because he has been through countless battlefields, Rory believes that there is no essential difference between wolves and humans, they are just divided interests, each working for their own.
Anna's scream cuts through the air, her prey has been apprehended, Rory searches low in the shadows for her prey, 18-year-old Anna is dragged towards the alley by two werewolves.
Rory's eyes sharpen and she yells away at the werewolves, 'Hurry!'
She picks up the pace, her red pupils dead set on her prey, and leaps off the roof to become one with the shadows.
In the alley, Anna struggled as hard as she could, her clothes torn and disheveled, but it all seemed too late, and she was left struggling in the werewolf's trap.
'You stupid, dirty werewolves, let go of me!' She roared in a suppressed voice, doing her best to maintain human decency as the crisis approached.
Dane was one of the werewolves, and he wasn't a nice guy, showing rows of obscene teeth and grinning as he warned Anna in a gruff voice.
'Be quiet, little beauty, the wolf king wants you alive.' The werewolf was so provocative and rude that Anna finally couldn't take it anymore, she kicked him hard in the crotch, Dane grimaced in pain and curses rang out.
Rory stepped forward, facing her prey, she could have no feelings, her red pupils pressed straight into Anna's pale face, and said coldly.
'Stop it and cooperate, or I'll kill you.'
Anna's gaze wandered into Rory's red pupils, her disordered breathing gradually calming down, and a strange light flashed in her eyes - not fear, but some kind of determination.
Just then, there was a thumping roar from the mouth of the alley, the voice from the hunter, his stride firm and powerful.
'You monsters! Let her go!'
Rory turned around at the sound of the voice, and before she could react, a bolt of silver light broke through the air and shot straight into her eyes. She dodged sideways, narrowly avoiding being hit by the chain, which just grazed her ear and nailed into the wall, sparks flying everywhere.
Miles 'Milo' Ashford stood at the mouth of the alley, his blonde hair glinting coldly in the moonlight, his amber eyes ablaze with fury, his nose straight and handsome, his features silhouetted like an artist's sculpted masterpiece.
He was dressed in the attire of a hunter, the silver holy emblem swaying on his chest, and the longsword in his hand glowing with cold light.
He looked righteous beyond measure, with a kind of innate purity and determination.
'Wolf Girl, it's you again!' Milo slowly approached Rory, his cold and deep gaze straight at her, 'Let her go! Otherwise, I will exterminate you!'
As soon as his words fell, Milo pointed the tip of his sword straight at her, and the wind blew up his jacket, revealing a row of silver daggers at his waist.
Facing this old foe, Rory didn't know how to appreciate his gallantry as she let go of Anna, the corners of her mouth tugging to reveal sharp canine teeth.
'Paladin, have you come to die?' Before her words left her mouth, her body sank, her muscles tensed, ready to pounce.
Milo's pupils shrunk, and without replying, the chain in his hand shook, and silver light curled towards her like a snake.
Rory let out a low howl and swung out a sharp claw, sparks exploded in the air, and the chain was slapped raw and deflected by her, followed by a roll, pouncing on Milo, her speed was so fast that it was impossible to catch.
Milo's sword flashed and slashed at her shoulder, Rory twisted to avoid it, and his claws went straight for his chest, ripping through his jacket, only to see the holy emblem fall to the ground, clinking.
It was clear that their powers were not on par with each other, years of chasing each other had made them very familiar with each other's tactics, and after a few rounds of fighting, it was still hard to tell the difference.
'Enough!' Anna suddenly interrupted while they were fighting soundly, her voice trembling but firm. She broke free of Dane's grip and stood to walk over to Roly and Milo, the answer that bubbled out of her mouth was surprising.
'Don't fight, I ... I'll go with you guys.'
Rory froze, a hint of suspicion swept across his red pupils, his claws hanging in midair. Milo's sword also stilled, an uncomprehending light radiating from his amber eyes.
'Anna, what did you say?' His voice was low and magnetic, masking the tenderness within.
Anna breathed a slow sigh of relief and walked towards Milo, her blue turquoise eyes even more sad and innocent in the moonlight.
'Milo, I've had enough of this, I know what the werewolves want, let me go.'
Tears slipped down her face without her realizing, 'I volunteered.'
'Anna, are you crazy?' Milo stepped forward, the tip of his sword hanging down, his tone urgent, 'They're werewolves, they'll kill you!'
Rory sneered, retracting his claws and standing up straight as if he didn't care about their boring entanglements.
'She chose us, Paladin. You can't even capture her heart, and you want to save her?' Her words were like a sharp knife stabbing into Milo's chest.
Milo didn't retort immediately, his hand shaking slightly as he gripped his sword, his gaze darting between Anna and Rory, finally settling on Rory's red pupils.
'She's my fiancée.' Milo's voice was so low and hushed it felt like it was being squeezed out of his throat, 'All you beasts do is prey, and I won't let you take her!'
'Then try.' Rory grinned, fangs bared, and his body shortened into an attack stance.
Dane and the other werewolf rounded up as well, growls echoing through the alley.
Milo raised the tip of his sword, pointing it straight at the werewolves, desperate to squander the hate that had snowballed into dryness.
A killing that was about to explode.
Just then, a low wolf howl came from the distance, the sound resounded through the sky, regaling the soul, like muffled thunder before a storm.
Rory's nostrils flickered, her keen perception allowing her to pick up a hint of something unusual in the air - the scent of Kieran, mixed with a hint of an eerie signal.
Her gaze swept over the grey mountains.
'Go!' She grabbed Anna by the hand and dragged her towards the end of the alley. Dane quickly followed, throwing Milo a string of teasing sardonic grins.
Milo, feeling bored, yelled towards them and charged, flinging his chains away angrily, only to pounce.
Rory subconsciously looked back at Milo, his red pupils flashing with a hint of provocation, 'Play next time, Paladin.'
Milo suppressed his anger, his eyes dead set on Anna's figure as he stood still, plunging his sword into the ground.
In the middle of the day, he picked up the holy emblem that had fallen on the ground and held it in his hand, his mother's gentle face floated in his mind - she had also stood on the side of the werewolves and ended up dying under the hunter's blade.
Milo clenched his trembling fists, and a deeper anger flared in his eyes.
'Wolf Girl, I will never let you take Anna.'
On that side of the mountains, Rory dragged Anna along, her unease throbbing violently as she sniffed the familiar, unfamiliar scent.
It wasn't just any wolf smell, like something ancient was awakening.
Roly noticed Anna's blue eyes staring right back at her with a wry smile.
'Do you know what you're doing?' Rory asked in a low voice, his tone provocative.
The corners of Anna's mouth turned up and her face was calm, 'I know more than you do, Wolf Girl.'