PROLOGUE

THUMP THUMP THUMP

THUMP THUMP THUMP

Pounding in the hallway wakes you. You groggily sit up and rub your eyes, adjusting your eyes to the doorway of your dark room. Your great white wolf stands in front of it, growling and snarling. The scent of smoke immediately catches your attention and uneasiness washes over you as you scramble out of your bed to investigate. Softly, you call out the canine's name and he approaches you and whimpers, a sign that whatever is beyond that door is not friendly.

The intense knocking gets closer to your bedroom as you hastily slip your boots and cloak on in the dark. You get the feeling you need to get out of the room, now.

The pounding reaches your door, "Quick! In here!"

There's the queue. You rush towards your window, unlocking it and throwing it open. The cold wind of the biting winter hits your face as you urge your companion to come. At the same time, your door bursts open and armed men rush in.

"Stop!" they shout at you.

Your wolf leaps out the window and you vault out after him. You barely manage to grab onto him, positioning yourself on his back. He jumps down the snowy roof into the courtyard. You lead him towards the throne room, where you hope to find your parents safe and sound.

As you enter the throne room, you know you've spoken too soon.

"(Name)!" your mother cries out.

Her voice reaches your ears and you feel dread brew in your stomach as you take in the scene. Your parents are bound and on their knees in front of the man you had just been engaged to several hours ago.

"Mom! Dad!" you call out. The guards, who are not yours, advance on you.

Prince Hans of the Southern Isles stands at the throne, wielding his blade. The guards step closer to you.

"Now, hold on," he tells his men. They stop in their tracks but keep their weapons raised towards you.

"Prince Hans! Why are you doing this?!" you shout.

He looks at you with a smirk, "Why, my dear, I'm simply taking this kingdom for my own."

Of course. Hans was 13th in line for succession in his own kingdom of the Southern Isles. You knew it was suspicious when you saw the excessive amount of crewmen on his ship.

You're watching the guards carefully through the corner of your eyes. You glance around, seeking an opportunity to seize a weapon for yourself. You notice there is a straight, narrow path between the enemies that leads to your parents. If only you could make it through that without being apprehended.

The room fills with a deep laughter from Hans, "But of course, the overtake starts with the death of the rulers and their heir."

Your eyes widen in horror as he takes your mother's life.

"MOM!"

"(Name), RUN!" Your father's life is taken by the same blade.

You can't believe your eyes. You were hoping it would be all a dream. But it isn't. Hans has taken the life of your family and your very kingdom. You're terrified. All you hear is your mother and father's last words ringing in your ears telling you to run.

"KILL THE PRINCESS!" Hans orders, pointing his blade at you. He looks at you with a victorious face as his men begin to charge at you.

You turn your mount around and make a run for it. You feel useless as you hear the walls and roof cave into the flames. As you leave the castle grounds, your town comes into the view. Your citizens are injured, dead, and their very homes are burnt to the ground. The kingdom you know is being annihilated and you don't have the power to stop it.

And so you turn to face the path ahead of you and run. You don't turn back.

You suddenly feel heaviness in your abdomen. A moist feeling fills the area, and you shakily slip your hand over it. A warm liquid spills over your fingers and you fear for the worst as you look down.

An archer's arrow has pierced you. Your crimson blood stains your cloak and the fur of your wolf below you. You're in so much shock you can't even feel the agonizing pain of the piercing object. Your breaths become shallow as your companion escapes the kingdom.

The trauma pulls your consciousness away.