Echo.

The moon was full and high in the sky, casting an eerie glow on the dense forest that surrounded my pack and I. I was running, heart racing, fear gripping my chest tightly as I heard the sounds of branches breaking and leaves rustling behind us.

The forest was dark and thick with trees, making it difficult to see where we were going despite our night vision. Branches and twigs scraped at our faces and clothes as we pushed through the undergrowth, and the ground was uneven and treacherous underfoot. But despite the obstacles, I continued to run, my wolf instincts driving me forward.

The pack was in chaos, and the lycan beast was behind it all. My heart raced with fear, knowing that we were no match for the the beasts’ brute strength. We had fought bravely, our wolf forms snarling and clawing at the Lycans. But it was no use. They were too powerful, too fast, and too ruthless, so we had to retreat, to save the rest of us, lest we all die in their hands.

My best friend, Dora, was running beside me, and I could see the fear in her eyes as much as she could probably see mine if she ever even had the chance to look sideways at me while running for her life. Her fur was bristling with so much fear. We had been best friends since we were pups, and I was sure that I would not even be able to bear it if I lost her, I could not even bare the thought much more the happening.

I risked a glance over my shoulder and saw the hulking form of Caesar, leading the charge. He was a towering, fearsome creature, standing at least eight feet tall with broad, muscular shoulders and limbs that seemed too long for its body. He was massive, easily thrice the size of any werewolf in our pack. His fur was a mottled mix of grays and browns, with streaks of black that seemed to shift and shimmer in the moonlight. His eyes were a piercing yellow, almost glowing with a fierce intelligence that sent shivers down the spine of anyone who met its gaze.

The lycan beast's presence alone seemed to radiate a palpable sense of danger and menace, and even the bravest of warriors would think twice before facing him in battle. He moved with a fluid grace that belied his massive size, his muscles rippling under his fur as he loped across the forest floor, his pack in tow.

Caesar was infamous for his cruelty, his penchant for killing any and all werewolves who dared to stand in his way. He had already decimated our pack twice before, and now he was back for more. This time, he was more brutal than ever. He killed every person who stood in his way, including our warriors and epsilons. It was as if he had planned this attack meticulously, and we were caught off guard.

I ran faster, trying to put as much distance between us and the lycans as possible. But it was no use. They were too fast, too strong. And suddenly, I heard a blood-curdling scream coming from behind me, and I turned my head to see Dora being dragged away by the Lycan beast.

“DORA!” I screamed out her name and tried to run after her, but it was too late. The beast had already torn her apart, leaving nothing but a pool of blood in its wake. Dora laid motionless on the ground, her eyes staring blankly at the sky.

I screamed out in agony, my heart shattering into a million pieces. My heart sank as I watched my best friend take her last breath. Before I could even react and work on the horror that I had just witnessed, a smaller yet massive lycan beast compared to our own form charged towards us, teeth bared and claws extended. Chaos erupted as my pack members tried to defend themselves, but the beasts were just too strong.

I felt a wave of grief wash over me for the deaths I kept witnessing and most especially my best friend’s, but there was no time to mourn. The pack was still in danger, and we needed to keep running. But we were soon tired, and our bodies were starting to give out so we had no other choice but to stand alert waiting for the beast to barge on us and start attacking. I stood there as brave as I could and I could already feel my heart beating in my mouth. The whole forest seemed to ear the cries of war too and the thunder rumbled above us.

Before I could take another breath, he already appeared before us. His towering frame along with the ones next to him was intimidating but we won't go down without a fight. Just then, he shifted into his human form and stretched his bone lazily, one of his subjects immediately handed over a robe to cover himself with. "Well well well. What do we have here?"

I could hear the hint of mocking in his time and it only enraged me but there was nothing I could do about it. I couldn't just jump before him and start stabbing him for mocking my family. "I guess it's your turn to die Alpha King. Look all around, you already lost almost half of your population in just one battle. You aren't fit to be a king at all. Neither is your pack fit to be alive." Ceaser said which annoyed me more.

"Neither is a beast like you fit to be a king not to talk of an alpha. You think my pack and I would let you take the rest of us? Dream on." My father growled angrily and Ceaser let out an ear piercing laughter which echoed through the forest.

The dark look in the forest was both scary with bodies scattered everywhere and we ourselves covered in blood.

"I am Ceaser, the most vicious and ruthless lycan. I didn't get that title by being scared and hiding in the dark like you. I prove myself and now, I'll prove myself again by putting an end to the this dreadful pack of yours and an end to you too."

"Don't talk to my father like that." Easter's thin voice said and I looked back at her like she was crazy. She definitely was or else she wouldn't dare face Ceaser.

"Oh well, what do we have here? A Daddy's pet?" Ceaser asked mockingly as his gaze swept across Easter's body and he licked his lips. What a pervert.

"Stay away from my daughter." My father growled protectively but before he could make any move, Ceaser was already holding Easter in his arms with his fangs bared.

Her black hair was captured between his hands as he pulled her closer to himself with the other hand. The twigs beneath my feet cracked as I help myself back, trying very hard not to launch at him to save my sister from his deadly grip.

"She's going to make a very good sex woman. An additional one to my collection." He laughed like a maniac and Easter began to fight against his grip as he licked his lips again to sink his teeth into her skin.

If it wasn't Ceaser, I would be glad her life would be ruined by another man marking her since he wasn't her mate because she wouldn't wish less for me but now, it was Ceaser and if he wants to destroy anyone's life, not hers.

He was a beast, a monster no woman would want to associate herself with. All the massacre he had done in my pack, taking away ladies to be his sex slave and them never returning would never make me wish he should have my sister. Easter was also frozen with fear, and I could see tears streaming down her face. I knew she would rather die than go with that monster.

"Let go of my daughter Ceaser." My father growled, ready to pounce on him but he was stopped by his beta. If he attacked Ceaser, there are chances Easter would get hurt.

"Let go of my you filthy beast. If you don't let go of me, I'll kill myself and none of us would have me." Easter screamed threateningly and Ceaser's fangs stopped midway to her neck.

He was threatened by her? Why on Earth would he be threatened by a mere princess and not an alpha king himself.

"Feisty, aren't you?" Ceaser said as he tightened his grip on her hair and she winced. I was fighting the urge not to go to him and cut her out of his hands but I would be a fool to do so and I definitely would be blamed if anything bad happened to their 'oh so perfect princess.'

Although Easter and I weren't different in looks really, the only thing they differentiated us with was our personalities and it was always obvious.

"I'm warning you. Let go of me or I will kill myself this instant if you do not do as I said." Easter screamed as she tried to shift but surprisingly, Ceaser let go of her, by throwing her.

Father caught her in time and she looked as scared as a five years old being thrown. My father snarled at Ceaser who still had his sinister look on and didn't take his eyes off the father and daughter combo.

"There's no doubt that she is your perfect princess King." Ceaser said signaling to his men who looked like they would pounce on ours that were snarling at them.

I watched father as he examined her carefully and I turned back to see the bored look dancing on Caeser's face. "What do you want with my daughter, Ceaser?" Father asked as he stepped back to the front line.

"Since she is so precious to you. I want her as my new favourite sex slave. She is beautiful enough to satisfy me all I want." Ceaser licked his lips again which was quite irritating. "Let's make a deal King."

Everyone looked shocked at the words he just uttered and I wasn't left behind. I was really shocked he even uttered the word deal.

"What deal?" My father asked immediately.

"You give me your daughter and we make a truce for the time being." Ceaser said, his eyes gleaming with desire. I felt a surge of anger and disgust rise in me, but I kept my emotions in check and I also tried my best not to laugh out loud.

That was simply outrageous. If I was the one, there's no doubt he would allow me to go to settle their truce but Easter, his favourite? His next in line to the throne? His Precious alpha? He definitely would not do that, he'd rather fight him till the point of death. But to my utter shock, father agreed on it.

"We will think about it. Just for today and tomorrow, please." Father said as he turned his back.

"I hope you know that this is a once in a while opportunity for you guys to escape my clutch," Ceaser said, his voice dripping with malice. "I am not so generous, so I would use it wisely if I were you. So tomorrow it is."