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Chapter 1: When I lost everything

Maddie

I remember when we didn't know werewolves existed. They lived among us, they were in school with us, they were our neighbors, we walked the same streets. We just didn't know what they really were.

They were usually strong and attractive... but maybe we thought it was a matter of genetics. Until everything exploded: news of wolf battles began to arrive from other towns, and the reality came to light.

At first, everyone was afraid, but over time, the wolves gained the trust of the humans.

"Maybe they can help us!"

"They are strong and will defend us!"

"They are our friends and neighbors!" some said.

But I saw them for what they really were: Monsters.

And sadly, it didn't take long for me to realize that I was right. In my small town, people began to disappear. The wolves who had been with us said it was because of enemies and that we had to cooperate.

The people who fought them lost, and some of us began to understand that they were the real threat.

"Dad, don't go...please," I said, begging. I was a girl, and I saw him nervously walk away with his rifle and a few provisions.

"Little one, a group of us are going to explore. Maybe we can ask for help from other towns, get rid of the werewolves for good," my father said. He said goodbye to my mother and left my big brother Mark in charge.

"I will take care, I promise. You will be a big girl soon. I trust you, Maddie, you are clever...don't go near the werewolves. Promise me," he told me, leaving his watch in my hand. It was my most treasured possession.

That was the last thing he said to me. My father never returned.

Fights between the packs became more frequent, and rumors spread that they were competing for our territories. And when I was fifteen, the defining moment of our lives came.

"You have to leave here... Now!," said the wolves who came to talk to us. They were no longer friendly; this was an order.

"We can't leave our homes! Our lives!" my mother cried, but all we heard was growling. My family had a small farm; it was our livelihood. Without it... what would we do?

"Live wherever you can... that's not our problem," the wolves replied. They were from the Moonvalley Pack, I remembered that name.

"We have to fight, who is with me?" my brother said, and with his best friend Kevin, they formed a small resistance between humans.

I always liked Kevin, and I want to fight, so I joined them, even though they insisted I was too young.

"Please, don't put yourselves in danger..." my mother pleaded.

"Mom, not only will we lose the farm, we'll have to go to another school, if there is one. We're going to be left with nothing, and all because of them," I replied.

I had lost my father, I couldn't lose more.

"Stay alert..." my brother said as we walked to the wolves' camp. "Maybe we can attack them before they attack us."

I wasn't sure if I was ready to kill anyone, but I was desperate.

"At least there are no women and children..." Kevin whispered and gave me a small smile. His blond hair and attractive features always made me sigh. I thought he felt something for me too.

"There are never women and children..." I sighed. I had never seen them. To me, werewolves were just… men.

"Do you have your weapon, little Maddie?" my brother asked me. He was tall and strong, with dark, smooth hair and dark eyes that gave security.

"I'm not little...and yes. I made it myself," I said, showing him a knife. It wasn't very strong or powerful, but the blade was coated with wolfsbane that we had collected in the forest.

It was the only thing that protected us, the only thing we humans had against those beasts.

But something I learned that night... is that wolves are not only strong and attractive... they also have surprising instincts and senses.

We didn't know anything about them, and you have to know a lot about your enemy to defeat him. Big mistake.

In no time, they had us.

"Run!" Kevin yelled.

"Maddie!"

I managed to escape and ran through the woods until I was finally pushed and rolled to the ground. When I saw who had attacked me, I was out of breath.

No, it can't be... did it have to be them?

"Well, well, well... look what we have here. Isn't that the nerd, the loser of the school?" one of them said, appearing in the darkness. He was blond and brown-eyed, ridiculously attractive, I remembered his name, Kurt.

I knew them well by sight; they were triplets, very popular at school because of their attractiveness and because they excelled in sports, they were on the football team, the ideal boys.

They were clearly werewolves. They left school and returned to what they said was their territory and their pack.

I don't know why, but they always hated me. I was younger than them, and they used to push me down the hallways, take away my food, and call me names. Everyone loved to see them humiliate me.

"Is it true! The loser of the school... what are you doing here, little mouse? Have you really come to attack us stupid human?" said another one of them, with slightly darker hair and bright green eyes, Dominic, looking at me with hate.

After confessing that they were wolves, they did not hide their hatred for us: we were weak, poor, incapable in their eyes.

"Is your name Madeleine? Do you think you're French? More important than anyone else? You're just an ugly, weak girl," said the oldest and most terrifying of them all, Logan.

They were called the Three Dragons, supposedly the most powerful brothers among the wolves. They were triplets, equally attractive and strong...and for me, terrifying.

They approached me as I crawled backwards.

I thought it was my end; I had fallen into the hands of my worst enemies.

I thought that would be the end of me, but it was really just the beginning.

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