DARKSTONE CITY...

LUCY couldn't help but feel irritated as she sandwiched herself in between the mass of werewolf civilians gathering around the central borough of DarkStone. There was a parade at that moment which caused the huddling making it hard for her to walk faster for the people's heavy numbers were blocking her like a thick wall.

"Oh, for Goddess's sake!" Lucy groaned in frustration. She's in a hurry and she couldn't risk being stuck there for few more minutes.

It's already midday and she's still not preparing her Aunt Selene and Katrina's breakfast. They were the two witches who made her daily life a living hell as villains did in the books and movies. At the back of Lucy's head, she could see her stepmother's stiff face turning grim and her step-sister turning bright red in anger. That filled her chest with worries.

She'll get punished when she gets home, that's for sure. Even if she gives them excuses why she took more than an hour in the city, they would not accept it. She admitted that it was also her fault. She should have taken off to the market first and bought what she needed in the kitchen before spending thirty minutes in the temple praying to MoonGoddess to enlighten her Aunty Selene and Katrina's minds. For them to stop treating her like a slave.

When her father; Edward del Romance died from a rogue attack while he's on his way home from a long business trip, Selene Clayton and Katrina took Del Romance's wealth and stole the ranch from Lucy. They possessed everything that was rightfully hers and made her an Omega in her own house. Lucy couldn't do anything about it nor ask for help cause her aunt has friends in the higher ranks. She also compelled she'll kick her out of the ranch if she tells anyone about the things that were happening in their household.

Lucy couldn't compromise her only home. There were so many memories of her parents there and if Aunt Selene sends her out of the ranch, she doesn't know where she would end up to. She has nowhere else to go. Also, even if her stepmother and stepsister treated her like a dirty rag, Lucy still considered them as her only existing family. She had high hopes that someday, they would bump their heads in the wall and have amnesia or something and then change their behaviors towards her.

However, her wolf; Sky believed Lucy was dreaming for the impossible. She said it's like asking for rain in the middle of summer means only a miracle could change her Aunt Selene and Katrina's villain's heart.

Lucy heaved a deep sigh for Sky is right. It would take a lot of head-bumping before that thing happen.

“We love you, Alpha!”

“Alpha Zacria, be mine!”

Lucy shortly flinched and her mind darted back to where the parade for the preparation of the mating season ball was. She rolled her eyes at those female wolves who were screeching at the top of their lungs like pigs being butchered.

"Damn it! Give space, please!" Lucy once again tried to shove them and get through the Alpha's massive fandom with all her strength. She was already sweating that the strands of her red hair stuck in her face like glue. She cuddled the basket full of goods tightly in her arms afraid she would lose it when suddenly, the civilian's solid defense loosened.

That made her sighed in relief as she finally had a whiff of air.

"Fucking hell, the Alpha is coming this way!" a she-wolf blurted out behind Lucy which made her ears perked up and her wolf Sky jumped out of its hideout.

"The Alpha is coming? Where? Here?" Lucy muttered instantly feeling excited. She turned to where the civilians snapped their necks and her eyes widened when she saw their leader a few feet away from their spot. He's up the giant black wolf float, standing so tall and wearing a formal three-piece suit and a leather... mask?

Lucy automatically grimaced feeling disappointed. She almost forgot that Zacria Reid of DarkStone City never once revealed his face in the public.

There was a rumor circulating in their pack that, when their Alpha was still a small pup, an unknown shadow secretly entered his room one night and tried to kill him. Although it was a big failure, a deep scar was left on Zacria Reid's face from the attempt.

Since the tragic incident, the Reids made sure no one could approach Zacria until he's at the right age to inherit the Alpha title. And when the right time finally came, Zacria Reid stepped outside their mansion wearing a leather mask covering almost half of his face.

It's been almost five years when he ascended to being an Alpha, yet no one knew what he looks like. No one could tell if the rumor is true. Only those who were in Reid's mansion, those who were close to him and he trusted the most knew what's behind his leather mask. Either way, no one is allowed to take videos or pictures of him for that's one of the strictest orders he gave to the people of DarkStone.

With that, the werewolf civilians only recognized Zacria Reid and could tell that he's around by his powerful aura and his mixed mint and wood scent that is extremely intoxicating and could bring anyone down to his/ her knees.

That just how compelling the Alpha of DarkStone is.

On the other hand, Zacria Reid governed DarkStone competently with the help of his second in command; Magnum Sasha. The two bachelor male wolves made their city one of the most exceeding land in the werewolf realm and made sure that no rogue could enter their pack and tarnish their stability. Moreover, they were also cruel, ferocious, ruthless, and showed no mercy to those who broke the stringent regulations of DarkStone. Enough to scare the criminals and scoundrels away from their land.

A small smile formed on Lucy's lips as respect for their leaders filled her whole being. She won't deny that, like the other she-wolves, she also admires them especially their Alpha.

Even if he's wearing his mask and she has no idea what he looks like, she felt warm whenever she saw him. Even from afar, she grew a crush on him which made her forget her Aunt Selene and Katrina in the ranch just like what was happening at that moment.

Distracted, Lucy moved towards the crowd in front of her to see the Alpha much more closer. “Alpha Mayor, be my mate!” she shouted joining the other female wolves in their madness.

Lucy knew he would not notice her but it was a big shock when he suddenly turned his head towards her direction and his deep orbs behind his mask settled into her.

"What the---" Lucy's eyes enlarged, her jaw dropped and her body froze in surprise.

His gaze lingered on her for few seconds before he turned in front of the big float and waved to his other pack members.

"Oh, holy pineapple! I think he noticed me, Sky," Lucy mumbled to her wolf in disbelief feeling her blood rose to her cheeks. Her smile stretched almost reaching her ears as she continued watching their leader.

She's just an Omega and it's impossible for her to have a mate like him but, to be noticed by Zacria Reid is a different thing.

It's like a dream for someone like Lucy. It made her too overwhelmed and made her felt like sitting in the clouds. She unawarely clutched the basket tighter to her body, breathed deeply, and was about to join the festive civilians once again but was cut when a gunshot interrupted the jovial parade.

"You're dead, Zacria Reid!" a deep angry voice of a male filled the air and another gunshot was heard.

Curses, screams, and panic shoutings from the crowds followed that stopped the event. All began to run in different directions in fear that the bullets might hit them. Lucy on the other hand stayed rooted on the ground for she felt frightened too and didn't know what to do. Her face turned pale and her body trembled while her eyes never left the Alpha who was in the middle of the street and was immediately surrounded by the pack officers.

"Find where the gunman is! Now!" Beta Magnum Sasha ordered their men and the parade became more disastrous.

"What are you still doing there! Run!" Lucy's wolf abruptly snapped at her and that wakes her up from her stupor.

"But the Alpha---" Lucy was about to object when she suddenly caught sight of a lanky man wearing old faded jeans, a black jacket, and worn-out boots not far away from where she was.

He was in the middle of a crowd stuck in a narrow alley and using the herd as cover to hide his presence. He was holding a rifle and was targeting the Alpha once again.

"No..." Lucy mumbled.

Whoever the man was, she knew that he was evil. He is going to kill their Alpha and she couldn't allow that as a concerned and law-abiding pack member of DarkStone City.

Without thinking about the consequences, Lucy's fear evaporated and she quickly moved.

The pack officers, even Alpha Zacria Reid and Beta Magnum Sasha already spotted the gunman but their distances were extremely far to stop his next assault. He might fail to shoot the Alpha again but what if the bullet hit innocent civilians?

"Die, Alpha of DarkStone!" The gunman rested his finger on the trigger and was about to pull it when a basket full of fruits, vegetables, and ingredients fell right on his head and deterred his scheme.

"How dare you bully my Alpha!" Lucy del Romance who was infuriated appeared on the stunned gunman's side and using the basket, she hit and hit him non-stop all over his body that he knocked on the ground groaning and the rifle in his hand fell beside him. Breathing rapidly and with her nose flaring, Lucy flung her basket behind her before she snatched the alarmed gunman's weapon and pointed it directly at him. "You had the nerve to cause trouble when you don't even know how to properly fire on your target! You want me to shoot you and send you straight to hell where you belong, you piece of scrap!" Lucy spat furiously.

"No! Fucking hell, woman!" The gunman scooted away in apprehension. "Fucking drop the rifle down! I won't do it again!"

Lucy snickered and kicked his leg. "Be thankful that I am in a hurry and OH- MY-FREAKING-GOD!" she gasped aloud when she suddenly remembered her Aunt Selene and Katrina which made her immediately discarded the gun on the cold pavement of the street and picked up her empty basket. "I'm so stupid! I must go home, now!"

Like nothing happened, she hurriedly darted towards the direction of the ranch like a bunch of devils was chasing her, leaving the shocked crowd who witnessed everything, the trembling gunman, the surprised pack warriors, the Beta, and the Alpha behind her.

"What the actual fuck," Beta Magnum Sasha muttered while scratching his nape.

Zacria Reid approached him with curiosity in his eyes. "Find out who she is." He ordered his second in command in a deep and thick voice and behind his black leather mask, he watched the strange, red-haired woman who saved his life ran away. "Interesting."