The windows whistled loudly as the wind hit them, rattling the panes, the noises filling the silence of the room I sat in.

The light from the bulb above flickered occasionally, and from where I sat, perched on the edge of the bed, I watched it, counting the number of times the light went out and then shone bright.

When silence eventually settled in once more, I knew it would not remain that way for long. According to the Alpha, Vakkar, a battle was soon to come.

I was not sure I could trust him, Vakkar. To me, the mere thought of a lycan actually being interested in my safety, was almost laughable.

I have only known pain and humiliation to come from attempting to trust lycans, and I did not want to make that mistake again.

However, my experience with lycans was only based on the ones here in this pack. Vakkar was not from Feldon. And the way he'd watched me as I had walked with him to this house, was unlike any way the lycans in this pack ever had.

My eyebrows furrowed and I looked down to my palms, seeing the small marks that rested on the skin because of the way I had dug my nails into them.

My nervousness had caused this to happen when I had felt Vakkar's gaze upon me whilst we had made the short journey to this tall, but rickety house.

When I had met Vakkar's gaze, briefly, he had continued to observe me, unashamed by the way I had caught him doing so, boldness and something akin to a striking possessiveness that made my throat dry, heavy in the depths of his dark grey eyes.

This was a strange thing to see, as I was only accustomed to someone watching me with either disgust or disapproval.

The wood beneath my feet and around the room abruptly creaked loudly, the sound terrific and odd.

My jaw clicked when I clenched my teeth, and I cast my gaze towards one of the nearby windows, straining to hear for any gunfire and the sounds of lycans roaring as they engaged in battle.

Nothing could be heard but the noise of the wind, however.

I certainly did not want to be in the midst of the battle when it did happen, so, I decided then that it was perhaps for the best that I did stay in this house. But, I couldn't help and question why Vakkar wanted me safe.

My eyes moved from the window and darted to the empty plate resting on a table. The taste of the cheese and warm bread that Vakkar had given me still lingered in my mouth.

The food had temporarily sated my hunger, but still, I craved more. I knew that there was perhaps more cheese and bread in the kitchen below, but I did not move, even though I contemplated getting them.

I looked towards the door of the bedroom, and as time passed by slowly, and my stomach burned painfully from hunger and the thoughts of food, I began to shift on the bed, only to jerk to a complete halt when I heard the lone sound of a gunshot piercing the air, the noise so striking and loud that a memory of my past filled my mind.

My fingers dug into the material of my father's pants as he hefted his gun up and took aim. Terrified, I held him tighter, weeping softly as repeated gunshots ricocheted in the night sky, screams, yells and roars strengthening the flow of my tears.

When I teared my gaze away from where my father aimed his gun, I saw the bodies of Alberrechians scattered along the grass, eyes open and staring at nothing, whilst gunshot wounds littered parts of their bodies.

Blood and spit flowed in my mouth when my father cursed and jabbed the butt of the shotgun he held into my face.

"Get the fuck off of me!" He roared at me, his face flushed red with his rage before he resumed taking aim, shooting that gun, his body jerking just slightly with each bullet that was released. Because of the hit, I fell to the ground, dazed, feeling the blow and sting from where he had slammed that gun in my face.

And I remained seated on that grass, amongst the deceased, choking on the smell of their blood and the taste of mine, and watched as my father and those from his army stride towards those they intended to kill.

The horrific sounds of lycans roaring forced me to the present. I scrambled to my feet, terror seizing my chest as my gaze swung to the window. I did not get close to it, but I knew now a battle was occurring outside.

Other memories threatened to slip into my focus, but I pushed them away and began moving, pacing the floor, hearing the roars outside become screams and then yells.

And still, I did not dare look out that window. Shadows began to crowd my mind, and darkness filled my vision when the light above completely went off.

I paused from my pacing, and rubbed my cold fingers against my face, hesitating, but then I crossed the room and swung the bedroom's door open, seeking light, which I found outside of the room.

The carpeted floor of the hallway I stepped out on felt so soft under my feet, and for a moment, I focused in on it, letting its softness take me away from the chaos outside.

When another round of gunshots echoed however, that moment of peace shriveled away and I hurriedly moved down the hallway.

My fingers clutched the banister of the stairs as I walked down it, and my eyes swiftly went to the front door, one which Vakkar claimed his warriors would be entering so that they could direct and guide me to safety.

When I passed by that door, I continued to hear the noises of the battle outside and the need for a distraction grew.

The wooden floors of the house creaked loudly once again as I walked to the kitchen, and after a quick search, I discovered that there was no cheese left in the fridge. I did find a loaf of bread however, so I ate several slices slowly, soothing my hunger.

I had just eaten a third slice of bread when the front door of the house flew open, something I could see because of the way I was positioned in the kitchen.

Immediately I stiffened, saying nothing, not moving or breathing as I watched two lycans, a male and a female, enter the house.

After seeing that they were dressed in an unfamiliar dark green uniform, I knew then that they were not Feldon's warriors, and were more than likely from Vakkar's pack.

When one of them, the male lycan called out my name, seemingly unaware that I was close by, I swallowed the remainder of the bread in my mouth, and even then, I found it difficult to respond to him.

Both of the warriors' clothes held splatters of blood, but none of them appeared to be injured. They were tall, as most lycans were, and frowns adorned both of their mouths as their eyes roamed around them.

My response to the male lycan was stuck in my throat, and remained that way when I saw the claws from his hands which were darkened with black blood.

I swallowed and blinked slowly, hesitating to reveal myself.

But then, the male lycan took several more steps into the home and immediately saw me. His gaze ran over me, and he nodded to himself, satisfied.

"Leora, we need to leave the house. Alpha Vakkar has explained to you about us taking you to safety, correct?"

My gaze flickered to the stern faced female lycan behind him who was watching me silently, and I nodded. "He did say that."

He tilted his head towards the front door. "Alright. We need to get going."

I took several steps forward at his words, but faltered when I saw his gaze dip to my bare feet.

He exchanged a confused look with the lycan behind him, and then returned his attention back to me. He lifted a hand and curled his fingers. "Quickly, Leora."

His hand snagged my elbow when I neared him, and immediately I was directed towards the front door.

The female lycan moved to stand before me, and for a moment, I could not see anything but the back of her head as I stepped out of the house.

But then, her body shifted, just barely to the side, and I saw a mass of lycans in the near distance, a sea of dark green, grey and shifted lycans in my sight.

Several houses had been, from the looks of it, lit on fire, and even from where I stood, I could feel the heat of them tickling my skin.

The male warrior behind me pushed on my elbow, directing me forward, keeping me between him and the female lycan as we began to cross the road.

But then, just as we began to reach a sidewalk, where a jeep was parked upon, the noise of a gunshot which sounded very close made my ears burn, and I heard the grunt of the female lycan before me.

Her body stiffened, and I saw her hand raise to her stomach.

"On your right, Jaqueline!" The male behind me snarled, and I felt his arm go around my waist, hoisting me up and maneuvering me away.

I landed heavily on my feet and watched as several Feldon warriors barged forward, fighting my guides immediately.

I remained standing in the middle of the road, feeling helpless as I watched the lycans fight, seeing more Feldon warriors emerge when it became evident that Vakkar's warriors were killing those that attacked them easily.

Soon, a swarm of lycan warriors came, some of them Rothman's and others, Vakkar's.

Bodies pushed against my own as I was disregarded, and soon, I completely lost sight of those who were to guide me to safety. I began to back away, desperately not wanting to be in the midst of the fight.

"Leora!"

My head turned, and I stared, surprised when I saw a slave, a woman who I knew to be Adeline, and who had never spoken to me before, watching me, urgency in her features.

"Do you want to get out of here or not?" She called out to me, and then began walking, her pace fast, dodging those who passed by her.

My gaze followed the direction which she appeared to be goings in; it was towards the jeep parked on the sidewalk.

Several people were already inside, seated, all of them human. One woman in particular was by the driver's side of the vehicle, and from what I could see, was fiddling with something at the corner of the wheel.

The unexpected hit of a body against my back sent me stumbling forward, and I watched as a Feldon warrior barged past me, joining into the fighting crowd.

I began to see blood drip upon the roads, and I shook my head, fighting the panic that began to flood my mind.

My gaze returned back to the jeep which Adeline was now entering. I could not stay here. If I wasn't trampled by the lycans, I would be killed by a bullet or by a swipe of claws.

I started moving towards the jeep, shoving past people as I did, stepping over bodies until I reached the vehicle.

The engine of the jeep was on, and I could feel its heat, but I hesitated, glancing behind me, trying to look one last time for my guides, and then, when I didn't see them, I turned back to the jeep and hoisted myself up into it.

And for the first time in years, I was directly acknowledged by several humans, and space was made for me in the jeep, which, although not large, was big enough for at least six people to be seated in.

The sound of a whoosh erupted, and I turned in my seat, looking for where the noise had come from. The house I had been in was now in flames, and those who had been standing and attacking each other close to it quickly scattered away.

My fingers moved to curl around the edge of my seat when the jeep began moving from the sidewalk, bucking uneasily at first before the wheels slammed against the road.

Around me, people were talking, anxiety and fear dripping from their voices, whilst I remained silent, observing the houses and people we passed by, an acidic taste in my mouth.

Where this driver intended to go, I was unsure of, and so when I eventually managed to peel myself away from the seat I had been pressed against, and leaned forward towards the driver, I asked.

All I got in response was a wide-eyed stare, and almost immediately, I felt dread pool in my stomach.

It was evident that the man had no idea where he intended to drive us to, but by the looks of where he was directing the jeep, it was away from the pack and the chaotic events inside of it.