Chapter 1

My heart was burning as I was running towards a destination I didn't know about.

I wanted to stop, I wanted to just sit down on the ground even if it was cold, but I wanted to stop. But I didn't know that someone or something was chasing me violently. I felt like I was going to die if I stopped to take a rest.

My mind was going on with endless thoughts of how I would end up here. And who is chasing me? All I could remember was that I passed out because of the punishment I received from my father. He told the servants not to give me food for three days and to not help me with the chores that I was given, which was all the work around the house. I didn't mind doing extra chores as I am used to this kind of treatment after my mom died in an accident, and my father found someone just right after that.

A loud growl pierced through the dark forest, making the hair on my body stand up. I picked up my pace even though I couldn't. The sound of paws hitting the ground and coming closer is when I tripped and fell on the cold and damp ground.

My heart was pounding against my chest as I turned my head and looked behind me to see the creature that was chasing me. As soon as I looked behind, I felt like my heart stopped and my eyes popped out of their sockets. It was a wolf, a big black wolf. He snarled at me as his red eyes shone dangerously under the silver moonlight.

My body started to shake violently as I got up from the cold and merciless ground. The wolf growled again as he started to walk towards me slowly like a predator ready to hunt. I gulped the lump in my throat as beads of sweat started to form on my forehead.

" I…. I…. Please…. St.. stay away, ``I started to bubble as I looked at the beast carefully. I know I don't stand a chance against this huge deadly monster.

He growled again, but this time it felt like it was a knife that pierced through the silent night. I took a step back when he took a step closer to me.

" Please," I begged, as if he could understand me. But my pleas made him more furious as his nose flared in anger and bared his teeth at me, making me fall to the ground again.

His red eyes flashed dangerously and a low growl rumbled in his throat. I looked at him and my eyes widened when he licked his lips, looking at me like he was going to devour me at any moment.

I narrowed my eyes at him when I saw him smirk like he knew I didn't have any chance to escape now.

" Scarlett," I heard my name being called, but I froze in my place to do anything. The beast finally reached my feet and hovered over me.

" Scarlett!" I heard my name again.

A scream left my mouth as the beast finally sank its teeth into my shoulder, piercing my skin and reaching my bones.

" Scarlett. Scarlett!"

Suddenly, my eyes snapped open and I found myself panting. The first thing I saw was the ceiling of my room.

" Scarlett, get up," my father said. Then my eyes fell on my father, whose expression was telling me that he was scared and afraid. I narrowed my eyes and stared at him.

" Get up, we don't have any time," he said, raising his voice a little.

I got up and sat on the bed as I felt myself still shaking from the nightmare I just had. My hands and feet are still cold.

" We have to leave now," he said, his voice hushed.

" What? Why?" I asked in confusion as I tilted my head and looked at the clock. It was past 12.

" Don't ask me questions. Do what is told," he said, his eyes full of warning for me. I knew I had better do what he just told me without angering him. I nodded my head and he turned around to leave the room.

" I will be in my car. You have 10 minutes, no need to pack anything from here," he said coldly before leaving me alone, wondering.

What the hell was that? I don't need to pack my things? Even when I am leaving in 10 minutes? I shook my head in disbelief, remembering it had always been like this. Whenever I ask him something, I end up being starved or beaten in my room.

I got out of bed and made my way toward the closet to find something decent to wear. I found a pair of jeans and a turtleneck sweater as it is falling now and at that time it was cold outside. I quickly wore my clothes and picked up my little backpack, put up some of my important things, and hurriedly left the room.

I made my way outside and saw my father was already waiting inside the car as he was lost in his deep thoughts. I jogged towards the car and opened the passenger side of the door. My father flinched at the sound of the door.

" Hurry up!" He yelled at me angrily. I got inside the car and the engine roared as we hit the concrete road.

From the corner of my eye, I saw him sweating and gripping the steering tightly. What had he done to make him this scared? I thought mentally. I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn't care what was going on or how much time had passed.

I was pulled out of my thoughts when the car stopped abruptly, making me almost hit my head. I instantly looked at my father and saw his face turn pale white as he looked towards him.

I followed his gaze and saw a Bentley and behind that car many cars were standing there blocking our road. I knew whatever my father did was nothing normal and people were behind him, or should I say us.

Behind the Bentley, a car door was opened and a bulky man came out smirking in our direction. He looked at my father and then me before walking towards our car, with a grave expression on his face.