Someone started the fire, wreaking havoc on the villagers. The red flame grew big in a matter of seconds that engulf the whole village of Malven, almost burning it to the ground. Screams of terror echoed on the deepest part of the forest in the middle of the night. This diversion has led the Men of the great Malven pack torn between two atrocities, and Tovari took advantage of it.
Tovari's men search for every member of the pack from one house to another and killed them on that very spot. Their eyes, sharp and keen, show no mercy on the innocents. Women and their children who managed to flee were subdued and slaughtered right away. They regard them as easy prey. And prey for Tovari's men were playthings before they eat them.
They feed on their fear of the presence of the greater evil. The new, profound power needs to be satiated by the sight of blood. The killing spree went on and on till the very last one drop dead. They laughed out loud, maniacally gleeful at the prospect of the bloodbath.
Their power grew tenfold, overthrowing the rival pack. That's when the full moon appear from above, lighting the catastrophic event predicted a long time ago.
The strong smell of blood and war thickened the air, making it harder to breathe. Claws against claws. Fangs against fangs. The battle for supremacy and power had gone for hours. Hours of sheer torment that brought immeasurable pain for the men and women of Malven. The ground has been soiled of the blood of the innocents and tears of the oppressed. The war ended with Tovari winning and Malven annihilated.
The bright full moon had witnessed the downfall of the once-celebrated Malven pack. They were overpowered by the greedy Tovarians who secretly make an alliance with Sari, an evil witch of the North. They now solely rule the lands of the East. They rejoice under the grace of the full moon, howled successively in commemoration of war that has been seen by the oracle.
The war that will bring Malven to ruins.
But they haven't heard the second prophecy.
A young boy will exact revenge for the death of his family. He'll come stronger and will rise as the greatest warrior of all. His scar will penetrate deep into his heart. He'll be in a relentless pursuit of power and justice. Tovari will fall underneath the boy's feet. And that is absolute.
That boy's face was marred with bruises and had a deep cut across his bare back that still bled. He was also taking shallow breaths which meant that there could be broken limbs. His body was hurting all over but somehow he regained consciousness. Slowly, he crawl his way into the corner of the room where he hid himself and take refuge.
He's catching his breath when he noticed what had happened in their humble abode. His eyes had never seen such an act of evil. Their whole house was turned upside down but what's horrifying to see by a mere 8 year's old boy was the lifeless bodies of his dear family. He screamed at top of his lungs.
Her older sister, Hana, was naked with a deep cut on her abdomen as if someone feasted in her insides. Hana lies next to her twin little brothers, Jiro and Hiro, which all limbs were detached from their bodies. Their eyes were wide open and the boy thought those eyes were all looking at him.
"H-Hanz..." It almost came to a whisper. The boy looked to his right to see his mother on the floor, bleeding to death. She had her throat slit and from there, flesh blood gush out of it. "S-Son..."
He hurriedly came beside his mother and held her frail hand. His eyes were burning with hot tears as he watched his mother draw shallow breaths. He tried to control the bleeding but she shook her head.
"Run, my child," she coughed blood and her grip tighten around his hand. She's crying while staring at her dearest child as she draws her final breath.
"Live...and don't ever come...back."
-+-
Hanz woke up in the middle of the night with beads of cold sweat all over his body and taking deep, shallow breaths. He immediately sat on his bunk bed and ruffled his slovenly jet black, military cut hair. His eyes roam in the pitch dark room till they settled to his other roommates, Lucian and Max. Both are sleeping soundly, tired after their last mission. Senses heightened, he got out of the bed and make his way out of the house to ease himself.
The cold winds of September welcome him. His jaw tightened as he filled his lungs with air.
Nightmares of his past haunted him now and then. It's as if he's reliving everything he'd been through. Every pain. Every torture. Every tears and blood he'd shed that fateful night underneath the full moon.
Just like tonight. He's staring right at the full moon ahead of him. The same moon that has witnessed the death of his family. He had to reign his inner wolf that wanted to take over. He closed his eyes for a second and took a deep breath once more. As he opened it, his then bright golden orbs turned back to their original colour, icy blue.
Another gust of wind blew into his direction, but this time it brought another havoc to his senses.
A faint smell of sandalwood and a natural woman' scent assaulted his senses. He'd never known such aroma that was so enticing and addictive as this particular one. It was something else. Something he couldn't quite identify. It's far cry from the scent of wildflowers, of green earth and of river water...
It was like the highest form of aphrodisiac that draws him into its source.
And so he did.
With the guide of the moon, he followed the trail that leads to the river nearby. The hunter in him exhilarated as he followed that immaculate scent, and he could feel himself hardening with every breath he took. After what seems to be eons of tall grass and rows of unending shadow of trees, Hanz finally reaches the said river.
The scent becomes as potent as drug. It draws him to the woman on the river.
A woman. His wolf rejoiced at the sight of her.
It gripped something inside him, as someone punched him in his gut.
The moon shines above what Hanz could attest the most beautiful silhouette of a woman he'd ever seen. She bathes on the river, naked. The droplets of water glistened like stardust all over her. It was as if a beautiful nymph manifest before him. Hanz was enthralled at the moment. He couldn't speak a word and just watched her from the distance.
She must've sensed him that she drastically turned around to meet his assessing gaze. A spark of recognition flashed on those almond-shaped brown eyes. Slowly, she withdraws herself, ger dressed in a matter of seconds and run in the opposite direction. Away from him.
His eyes grew darker in shade.
'Mate' Hanz could never be mistaken.
He just found his mate.
