I growled at the rogue that attacked me. He penetrated his claws into my flesh and pushed me down on the ground. Sour pain erupted in my leg and a sickening feeling rose in my stomach. Death flashed in front of me again, just for a second before Cordelia used her magic and killed the rogue above me.

I shifted back immediately and crimson blood covered my leg where a deep cut began to form.

"Are you okay?" Cordelia asked, handing me over my clothes.

I groaned while putting them back on. The cold weather gave no mercy. I left the wound uncovered while wearing my clothes. As soon as I was done, I got up from the ground and walked over to the rogue's body with one leg broken.

"Who was this?" My chest tightened and my breath caught at my throat while I struggled with breathing.

Cordelia bent down and looked at his face, "It's not a rogue and not from here as well." She muttered, carefully. "Werewolves here have a different scent." She lifted her head, her eyes cautioning me. "I think someone wants you dead."

I flinched at the words. "No." I whimpered, remembering the last time someone wanted me dead. The wolf could be anyone, from somewhere else if not from here. "I don't think so."

Cordelia shrugged and rose up, "It could be. He attacked you the second you shifted because when you're a wolf, you're vulnerable and you cannot preform any magic."

All the fear slipped back to me and gripped me hard. I snorted and turned away from the scene, ready to sprint out of the woods.

Who would want me dead from the werewolf world? I made no enemies there as far as I knew.

I bit my lip till it throbbed. While exiting the woods, I dashed around and looked at Cordelia. "You saved me. Why?"

Her expression was mute for a moment. "Things have changed, Red. If whatever you say is the truth, then the day isn't far where I'll have to bow to you."

"You don't have too." I mumbled. "The title may be given to me but I know that I'm nobody to become a Queen. I've made horrible decisions, put people's life in danger and killed innocent people at one stage of my transformation. The only reason I want the throne is to protect my daughter, so she wouldn't have to face the brutal reality of the two kingdoms."

Cordelia's hand fell over my back. "I'm sure your daughter wouldn't have to worry about anything as she'll have you as her Mother." As she completed, she delivered a smile to me and I smiled back.

"Thank you," I said, taking a quick breath. "I should leave. Bernard's coming in town and I've to speak to Dillion tonight."

I walked past Cordelia with the intention of leaving the woods.

"Good luck." I heard her, still standing on the same spot.

—

My phone clung by my left ear, I waited for the call to go through and for Anna to pick it up already. It was getting way too late now. I was alone in a house full of wolves, including the pervert Bernard and his men who wouldn't put their eyes away from me.

"Where are you?!" I asked as soon as my sister attended one of the thousand calls I have been sending her. "It's going to be nine now."

"Just five minutes away. I'll be there!" Anna exclaimed between her raspy breaths. "Where is Dillion?"

"I don't know. He left for something a few minutes back. The servants are attending 'the guests' and honestly, I don't even want to enter that room." I was grossly put off by the men inside the room. It was fine as long as Dillion was there, but when he left, I ran away like a spider too.

"Don't. I'm almost there. Where is Luciano?"

"On the way." I grunted, rolling my eyes.

"All right. I'll come through the back entrance. Wait for a couple more minutes, okay?"

"Yeah, yeah." I closed the call and scurried to stand at the back entrance of the mansion where I stood and waited for Anna.

A minute standing alone, I was being approached by the same old Bernard who had suddenly gotten lost around the house and couldn't put his ass on one place.

"The restroom is to the left." I said, pushing my shoulders straight and acting like I wasn't waiting for someone.

Bernard chuckled at my response, "Who said I wanted to go to the restroom?"

"Is there something you need?" I crossed my arms over my chest and cocked a brow at him.

"Yes," He inched closer, lust growing further in his eyes when he exchanged a look at me. "I've a thing for young blondes." He extended his hand to take a hold of me.

I froze for a split-second, unable to think anything. My body didn't move but my heart thundered in my chest. I felt the prickles on my skin when his hand fell on me. My stomach twisted with disgust and a shudder snaked down my spine.

His icy fingers swept through my arm and he came in closer with his dirty intentions clear in his eyes. I gave him a threatening glare but he didn't stop with his forceful advances so I snapped out of my moment and lashed at him.

My hand swung in the air, colliding with his cheeks as I struck him on the face out of complete anger and disgust. He moved back, jaw dropped and surprise lingering in his eyes.

I kicked him in the groin and shoved him down on the floor.

"First of all, I'm not a blonde and you certainly need to learn some manners before I kill you—which I won't hesitate to do after tonight. Bastard." I seethed from within while the words flowed out of me.

"You bitch." He reached to yank my hair out but before he could do, I rolled my hand into a fist and drove it into his face, giving him a bruise of lifetime.

Read the full book on Patreon; www.patreon.com/miakerr