The light from the sun illuminated the room giving it a serene look perfect for having time alone. Music sounded distant in her ears and all she could see is darkness and emptiness.

Inside her as she closed her eyes, oblivious of her surroundings. It felt like she was been thrown into a bottomless pit where she kept falling.

Suddenly, a light emerged from the end and her face was lined with smiles. Finally, it was here. But why does it still feel like she's in the darkness?

The song had begun to echo like it was a dirge made for someone and when she turned her head, she was whirled by what felt like the wind into another dimension where she stood in the middle of the forest. Her forehead was laced with beads of perspiration. The air was misty and her throat sore.

"Hello?" She managed to call but there was silence t first.

"Who's there?" She heard shuffling footsteps, almost like the owner was trying so hard to walk unnoticed or unheard.

"I know you're somewhere hiding! Whoever you are, you can't scare me. My name is Lyne and I am the Luna." Covering her mouth she wondered if she always say that word confidently.

Soon, in the dark, two red eyes surface staring at her. Her heart skipped beats a hundred times as she watched the bulging eyes move closer. They had a catlike profile. As it moved closer, she heard a soft voice call her name.

"Lyne? Lyne?"

She opened her eyes and saw Zeidan standing over her, towel in hand. Her heart clutched seeing how handsome he is. She hoped that everything she thought had happened was just a dream. However, they weren't as she heard her sister's voice filling the room.

"Doing the husband's work already, I can see." Korba scoffed as she sat at the edge of the bed, watching her.

"I'm sorry if I'm being a little forward..."

"You're marrying her for a contract," her annoying voice filled her head and Lyne shut her eyes tightly, cursing under her breath.

"Remember your place and help her remember hers too."

There was silence for a while and Lyne wondered what Zeidan was going to say.

His next outburst shocked her.

"Whether I'm marrying for a contract or not doesn't matter. She's human with blood flowing through her and humans are expected to be treated delicately with care. I'm only doing my job." He rose, smiled curtly at her, and left the room leaving both Korba and her speechless.

"Lucky you. Someone thinks you deserved to be valued for once."

She walked back out of the room and Charles walked in seconds after.

"Hey," he called, trying hard to conceal his concerned looks.

"How're you doing, freak?"

"I'm doing well," she smiled a bit. She was only going to put up with their attitude for a short time before going into a different world.

"What happened?" He threw in the question, causing Lyne to glance at him, memories of the previous day flashing through her eyes.

"I went to confront Dad."

Charles whistled and jogged towards her sister, his eyes widened.

"Tell me about it. You confronted the old Alpha?"

"He already made up his mind. I'll be marrying Zeidan." Her last sentence sounded like a life imprisonment verdict passed to a prisoner accused wrongly.

"So much for being a freak, freak," he folded his arms akimbo, face thoughtful.

Together, they were both lost in their thoughts. Lyne unaware of what the future holds for her and Charles thinking of his next meeting with his old acquaintance. His gaze darkened.

They all stood in a straight line on the field. Their faces were straight and focused on the vastness of the place. Their pupils dilating and their breathing palpitating.

On a high rock opposite the whole Royal siblings (except Lyne), Azrael lay already in his wolf form. His eyes not leaving Charles, the eldest, Reb, Diana, Olivia, Tara, Frank, Korba, and the twins, George and Georgina.

"When you hear the whistle, you must run with all your might. You must be one with the wind and sky not forgetting that nature must be your best friend. Let the air breathe on your first, and let the sun suck up your fury. You are and must forever be the best hunters in your clan. As it stands, you all are nowhere near the best but you have proven to be good."

He continued to talk while the siblings in their white sheets wrapped around them looked forward.

On the first floor, Lyne resumed her position as an audience. Always watching them shift as usual.

Sometimes she would see the nakedness of those who would throw away their sheets before shifting totally and have a good laugh herself. It was always a good sight to behold, but she dared not tease anyone of them about it.

"Look at that freak. She's watching us now, obviously jealous of us." George a redhead whispered into Charles' ears and they both peeked up at her. They held back their laughter for fear of facing Azrael's wrath.

"At the count of three, you all will go out there..."

"Enough with the same preaching, old man. We are used to it." Reb muttered, taking her fingers through her brownish blonde hair.

The drum gave a loud sound and they all ran five feet, some six before throwing off their sheets and shifting into big wolves, their claws hitting the floor and gathering dust behind them. All of them going to bring home the best meat.

The breeze blew Lyne's hair as she watched them leave. Her face expressionless like she was deep in thought but it lasted for a few seconds as she burst out laughing.

Zeidan came out of a corridor and saw her from afar wondering what was making her laugh. Whatever it is, she looked beautiful with her smile.

A bright light emanated from the corridor, coupled with speckles of golden dust and smoke. After a while, it subsided and a man with a black hat and grey coat emerged. He removed his hat and entered the guest room where Zeidan kept his belongings.

He moved to where he kept his boxes of clothes and started searching through them. After a long moment of cursing and moving about, hands on his waist, he sighed in despair.

"Where the hell did I keep this thing?" His frustrated voice held in hushed tones like a confused woman who doesn't know where she kept her baby.

Lyne walked in carrying a basket full of trash. She was cleaning everywhere. He was startled.

"Mr. Wikh?" She called at the man who looked at her mischievously as if he had done something bad.

"Are you ok?"

Dropping the basket, she searched around for the trash bin while Wikh stuttered looking for the right word to explain why he was searching for his master's bag.

"I was looking for my medicine," he managed to say.

"You're on medication? What happened to you?" Lyne had paused what she was doing and faced the older man.

"Nothing. I just use it for this little pain I have on my shoulders. It's been like that for some years now."

"How about we take you to the best hospital on the outskirt of this jungle? I'm sure you'll be fine." She resumed her work and turned.

"Thanks, but you need not worry about me." She heard him say behind her.

Walking down the corridor, she saw Zeidan staring at a picture on the wall, arms akimbo. She got to his side and looked at the picture he was staring at.

Embedded in the squared frame is the mixture of oil paints splattered across the surface, creating shapes and colors that later display on it the face of a beautiful young girl in a blue dress.

"This you?" She heard him ask and she glanced at him, brows furrowed.

"Of course, it's me. More reasons why you should get medicated glasses. Your eyes are failing you."

She scoffed before leaving, while Zeidan laughed.

She knows there was no use fighting it. She would get married to this tall handsome-like-the-devil vampire and live her life with him. He is nice, she could give him that. But what if he is only putting up a show since he's still in their territory and hasn't gotten what he wants?

Getting down the stairs and off to the lawn to throw all the trash into a big can, she made up her mind to face whatever life throws in her face.

This week, she'd be leaving her family to live with a man she barely knows in a world she barely knows. All because she is the black sheep of the family.

Once she's gone, she'd make sure Zeidan never gets to bully her the way she's always been bullied by her siblings. It's time to stand up for herself and stop whining as her father would say.

She opened the big can and dropped the whole white sheets and other trash into it. But her eyes caught something. A white paper with a stamp that showed the letter had come from royalty. She picked it up out of curiosity, the wind blowing hair into her face.

She opened it after reading where the letter came from. It indicated it had come from Vampire City. From the palace itself.

"Come home, quickly. I found something important. I also missed you, sweetheart. Love, Luana." The content read.

Her heart burned like fire. Her head pounding like there was a war going on in there and she could feel her blood boiling immediately. Why is she feeling this way? It's just a letter. It couldn't be from his sister because from what she's heard, he is the only child of his parents.

And the name, Luana. Didn't she hear him say that name in his room? So, they were already living together as couples. Tears rolled down her cheeks and it looked like her hate for Zeidan had grown more. She turned towards the staircase and ran to her room.

Zeidan strode into his room and saw Wikh sitting on the chair in front of the dressing mirror, head bent. The room was exceptionally clean and he wondered if this was Wikh's job. But that will be strange considering how arrogant his aide is when it comes to doing the maid's job.

"You okay?" He sat on the edge of the bed, back turned towards Wikh.

"Yeah, I'm just tryna rest my head. In a few days, the wedding will commence and we'll be on our way back to Vampire City." He ran his hand over his almost bald head. "Why is she the one taking out the trash anyway?"

"Poor girl!" He muttered as he remembered looking down at her beautiful face while she was on his bed.

"Being different from your whole family can be a whole lot of work. It's hell on earth."

"I'm inclined to agree." Wikh sighed.

"I just hope she will be able to adjust to our system."

"Our people are less discriminating. They don't consider themselves above others, unlike the Werewolves. We believe in equality irrespective of what kind of magic you have or the power you possess. But whatever it is, I will make sure I treat Lyne right." His face looked determined especially as he remembered the note he got from Luana. He had trashed it without reading it.

He already knew who he want. It's time he tried his best to make Lyne want him in return, and this time he doesn't want any interruption.

"Do you think we should give Styx the Onyx?" Wikh asked, eyes following Zeidan as he moved about the room.

"That's what I'm contemplating on?"

He saw the man's face change and wondered what it is he was thinking. He decided to get into his head.

'Oh my world!' he heard him say in his mind. 'if this onyx is given to someone else, I'll be done for.'

Zeidan frowned and his guts told him to suspect Wikh. However, he kept his mouth shut and went to lie on the bed again.

It was night already and Lyne lay on her bed sulking and sobbing softly. Her room gave off a feminine impression with the red and pink fabrics covering everywhere. Cosmetics and deodorants fill the dresser and a rack of beautiful dresses lay on a brown wooden rod placed above on the other side of the room. Candles surround everywhere giving the room a beautiful scent.

On her bed, a big pink net covered the bed, leaving only a slight space open at the front. It made it look like she was under a tent.

With her knees under her chin, she cried hard. She knew she would be a second choice yet again and she wasn't ready to dive into it again.

"Lyne?" She heard a deep but warm voice call. It was calming and assuring. She didn't get out of her bed. She didn't want to see his face for fear that she might forgive him instantly. His face was too good-looking.

She sniffled.

"Are you okay?" She heard him call again. After a minute of silence, he spoke up.

"I was wondering if we could talk before the wedding and get to know each other better. If that's okay with you, of course."

"Go away," her voice was shaky and it gave her off that she had been crying.

"Are you crying?" She flinched as she heard footsteps come closer to her bed. The net was further pulled apart as Zeidan looked through it at her red puffed face.

"Oh shit!" He exclaimed as he sat on the edge touching her chin with care and rubbing her cheek with his thumbs.

Lyne cried more with mixed feelings. She has never been treated with this much care but she can't possibly lose her guard.

Zeidan frowned as he took time to access her face red from crying, her lips, and soft neck. He rubbed his hands on them slightly and felt her shiver.

"You're beautiful." He moved in on her bed and kissed her briefly on the lips. He turned to go but was surprised when she pulled him back with his shirt, grabbed his face in her hands, and kissed him fully.

Smiling, he returned her kiss with the same energy and made sure he was careful. He could feel a tingling sensation deep within his stomach and he knew this was it. He decided to take control as he felt she was young and inexperienced but was wrong when Lyne began to open his shirt and rubbed his chest with her soft hands. He felt a cold shiver run down his spine and he moaned softly.

In return, he removed her clothing gently until she was only in her underwear made of tiny linen. He could see her hardened nipple through the tiny fabric and this got him aroused instantly. His heart was pounding as he grabbed her waist, pulled her to him, and kissed her on the mouth, neck, and moderate mound on her chest. Not forgetting to run his hands on her thighs, and stomach before landing on one of her breasts and fondling it.

He felt his blood boil in excitement and something inside him couldn't wait. It's like it had waited for this moment and soon he heard her moan and gasped at the same time. His eyes itched and his gums were throbbing hard.

Lyne couldn't help but give in freely. He was good with both hands and mouth. Although the only time she felt this was when she had touched herself while crushing on Azrael, she didn't want it to stop as well.

She also did a good job by making sure her hands traveled to the places that were most sensitive and places she's been longing to touch from the first time they met.

His shoulder, his neck, his hair that was so soft, his abs, and she did not forget to kiss them too. Immediately, he began to fondle her breast with his hand playing with her core, she closed her eyes to savor the moment.

She felt like she was flying high with new energy. While keeping her eyes closed, she saw something big walking out of the dark towards her. It was white and beautiful but so daring. It snorted and howled. It was a white wolf. As soon as it finished howling it moved to jump on her but she opened her eyes instantly, only to meet with more scaring that caused her to scream.

Zeidan's beautiful eyes have turned black now with two sharp fangs gorging out his mouth.

She scrambled about the bed trying to escape but she realized she had been pinned against the wall.

"Go away!" She screamed and didn't stop until he stood up and walked out of the room.

How could she be so stupid? She could have been killed. But then, what's the point, she'll be married to this monster soon. She should go by what he said earlier when he came into their room.

They need to know each other better.

She rose from her bed, wearing her clothes back and going out in search of Zeidan, still shaken. After going into his room and meeting it empty, she looked at the table clock that stated the time was 11:05 pm. She moved to check the balcony.

There she saw him on the lawn, head bent and he looked like he was thinking. He was sitting on the grass. He was now wearing a new shirt. How did he get in and out of his room so fast?

"I know it's going to be a while before you get used to it." He said, without turning.

She sucked in her breath. How will they ever be compatible when she as a pure human will have to see his monster side often and still keep in mind that she is married to him? Would Luana react this same way if she was the one? She thought.

"I think it's time you stop worrying about her. I'm not even married to her yet."

Telepathy. Cool. She thought.

"What else can you do?" She asked rather to herself, as she took a seat beside him.

Zeidan chuckled at the woman beside him and shook his head.

"Whatever it is you're feeling towards me, I hope it isn't fear because I have no reason to hurt you." With that, he stood up and turned to go inside.

Lyne kept looking towards the sky, her future undecided and unknown. She remembered the white wolf and wondered who that was. It couldn't be her mother, she was pure human. Since her dreams do come true, she'll have to sit back and wait for the white wolf to walk through her door.