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Chapter 1-Gift of the Wolf Queen

Lucca POV

I regained consciousness amidst a bout of shaking.

The slave carriage pulled out of the quarantine station, filled with rogues like myself.

In the pack, those of higher status usually had pristine white hair, akin to milk, while the slightly lower-ranked nobles sported varying shades of blonde. Further down were individuals with mixed colors like flaxen or red. At the very bottom were those without citizenship, condemned to be slaves, like me, with pure jet-black hair.

I also possessed a pair of pitch-black eyes that matched my hair color. This only served to further demean my status.

I overheard the occupants of the vehicle engaged in a boisterous conversation.

"The Wolf Queen intends to present them as rewards to the participating Lycans in the hunt. They're really lucky."

One of he companions chimed in, "Who wouldn't agree? It's better to serve as a dog in a noble household than to be a mere driver with no prospects."

Another person nodded repeatedly, "Of course, except for Lycan Vincent. After the hunt, the Wolf Queen allowed him to have first pick among the slaves. Guess what he said?"

"What did he say?"

"I want the one with the shortest lifespan," the other person lowered their voice, deliberately speaking in a cold, disdainful tone, "Being in the same vicinity as these creatures for more than three days would poison me to death."

Laughter erupted from the driver's seat. The drivers were laughing to the point of tears, "The Wolf Queen was highly satisfied with his response! She chose the frailest and weakest little one for Lycan Vincent." One of them turned back and gestured toward me with a jerk of their head.

"There, that one."

I huddled behind the others, desperately burying my face in my knees.

I felt a bit anemic as I approached the quarantine station for the vaccine. I ended up fainting three times in total. Everyone deemed me too feeble and fragile, going so far as to consider excluding me from the rewards altogether and tossing me directly into the rogue hunting grounds on the outskirts.

Fortunately, Lycan Vincent came to my rescue and requested the "shortest lifespan" slave from the Wolf Queen.

"How old is she? Is she of legal age?" the drivers discussed amongst themselves.

"Eighteen. She belongs to the inferior race and grows at a slower pace than us," one of them remarked.

"How long do you think it'll be before she meets an 'accident' at the Lycan's estate?" another driver laughed.

"Hahaha!"

The drivers burst into laughter once again.

I held on to myself tightly, overwhelmed by fear.

The other slaves appeared desensitized, not even shifting their gaze.

They were all born and raised in the slave farms.

I was different.

I had been adopted by an ordinary family, attended school, and played with fair-haired children. Despite facing discrimination, I had more thoughts and ideas than the children who grew up in cages.

Within a pack, white wolves are born noble, serving as the aristocracy of the pack. Light-colored fur werewolves also enjoy a superior status, with some being alphas, while others are betas. Mottled werewolves predominantly occupy the lower echelons as omegas.

Regrettably, I am a rogue, a black werewolf, akin to being a mere ant in the hierarchy.

Recently, the pack had revised the system, stripping rogues of all their citizenship rights.

The constables snatched me away from my parents and locked me up in the slave farm.

And now, I found myself on this slave carriage.

"We've arrived at the pack," the driver said, bringing the carriage to a stop. Several guards dragged me out.

I'm bound by thick iron chains on my wrists and neck. The chains weigh me down, making me hunch over with their heaviness.

"Thanks to the Wolf Queen!"

"Long live the Wolf Queen! Thank you for her gift!" A clear voice and a cunning voice echoed through the air.

I muster the strength to lift my head and catch sight of a pair of angelic twins standing at the doorway, welcoming me.

They are Raffle, Vincent's eldest son, and Rino, his second son.

I felt a surge of excitement upon seeing the raffle.

They are dressed in extravagant attire, adorned with hunting knives at their waists, faces lightly powdered, and wearing tall, sturdy boots.

Their hair is a light shade approaching silver-white, closest to that of the royal family, and their faces possess a beauty that surpasses even the most skilled artists' ability to capture. It's hard to fathom the perfection of their parents' features.

Stretching behind them is a vast and opulent estate. It consists of pointed rooftops, slightly smaller than the Pack's ancient castle, twin clock towers, a church, a man-made lake spanning over 700 acres, a private hunting ground, a golf course, a stable, an airstrip, and a side gate that connects to a 50-kilometer private racing track.

Additionally, it boasts the most extravagant gambling club in the entire capital city. The daily maintenance cost of this estate is an amount that many families couldn't earn in a lifetime. In the Vincent family, money is merely a number.

The male head of the Pack is always extraordinarily wealthy and possesses unmatched beauty. The guards respectfully salute the twins.

"Well then, the Wolf Queen's favor is now entrusted to you, young Lycan." The twins nod arrogantly. As soon as the guards turn away, the servants drag me along, leading me into the depths of the estate.

"Damn, is she going to live in our castle from now on?" Rino questions his twin brother aloud, contemplating the situation.

I gazed at Raffle as he forcefully wiped his hands and coolly responded, "Not possible. Father wouldn't allow a rogue to be seen within his line of sight."

"When will he return today?"

"Very late."

Rino halted his steps, standing in front of the door, and turned to look at me.

He suddenly inquired, "Shall we find some amusement?"

I, a slender slave draped in tattered clothes, revealed glimpses of my snow-white skin through the worn-out fabric. Both my pure body and pitiful expression were incredibly captivating.

Raffle remained indifferent and cautioned his younger brother, "Your personal life may be chaotic, but if you dare to lay a hand on a rogue, Father will personally snuff the life out of you."

"He's returning late, he won't find out," Rino retorted. Rino dismissed the servants, then forcefully pulled me to the corridor on the first floor of the castle.

I could sense the atmosphere growing increasingly tense.

I looked at Raffle and couldn't resist pleading, "Save me, Raffle..."

Rino delivered a slap to me, exclaiming, "How dare you utter my brother's name!" The crisp sound startled Raffle, who quickly seized Rino, about to strike again, and handed him a handkerchief, saying, "I warned you, don't lay a finger on a rogue. If Father discovers it, you won't set foot in this castle for the next month. He'll personally send you to the quarantine station."

Rino smirked, "Swift and decisive, he won't find out."

He tossed the handkerchief aside and forcibly tore off my clothes, causing me to cry out in shock as he pinned me against the pillar.

Suddenly, the sound of a carriage could be heard approaching on the main road.

I trembled involuntarily.

Raffle swiftly pulled him away and then scrambled to wrap me in the tattered cloth, albeit reluctantly.

"He's back!"

"But you said father would return late," Rino panicked, straightening his clothes and smoothing down every disheveled strand of hair.

"I don't know!" Raffle's voice unconsciously elevated, unable to contain his fear.

"Damn it, you imbecile! You tore her clothes! Where are we going to find a piece of cloth to cover her up?" Rino scanned the surroundings, seeking a place to conceal me.

Seizing the chaotic and panicked moment, I broke free from Raffle's grip and desperately ran out, only to collide with a rigid object at the corner.

Silence enveloped the vicinity. The twins' gasps echoed sharply.

I tumbled to the ground. Before me stood a pair of deerskin boots, elegantly long legs, pristine white silk gloves, and a platinum wolf-head scepter.

Then, my gaze ascended to behold a face resembling the twins but noticeably older, exuding an icy and austere beauty. His hair cascaded down like silver, reaching his waist, meticulously swept behind his ears. Delicate brows, a prominent nose, and deep blue eyes with an unfathomable glimmer, devoid of any emotion, reminiscent of boundless snow-covered landscapes.

He was the king of our pack.

Lycan Vincent.

Raffle and Rino were both dumbfounded.

I collided directly with their father.

This was a thousand times more terrifying than being caught by him in the act with a rogue. I stood there, frozen in shock.

A strange scent wafted into my mind, and the sensation was incredibly peculiar.

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