The Gate of Shadows

Chapter 1: Where It Began...

At first, I didn't understand what I was meant to do. I wondered why I was alive. Why did I have to live after what happened? So many died... So why was I still here? Before my fateful encounter with him. My life was simple. Why did he have to teach me how to feel?

Why did he have to open my eyes to a world I didn't want to see? Why did he have to do all that? It would have been much better if I'd never met him... But... if I never met him... I wouldn't have ever learned how life was meant to be lived. Thanks to him... I got to see beauty in this forsaken world.

Fourteen years earlier. A month before the fall...

Staking out the store they frequented, it didn't take long for the boy who had caught my attention to come into view again. I had first noticed him weeks earlier while running an errand for the coven.

What caught my eye?

A young Lycan boy with a beaming smile strolled into a bustling game shop with his companions. Each of them belonged to his kin and hailed from the same clan.

How can you smile like that? That was the first thought that ran through my mind.

The enigmatic boy who captivated my attention wore striking silver hair that shone like moonlight. His fair skin perfectly complemented his captivating amber eyes—a distinctive feature shared by all Lycans.

This unique combination of features served as a telltale sign to identify them, especially when they concealed their wolf-like ears and tails with clothing.

Their attempts to conceal their identity by wearing colored contacts made it challenging to spot them. Unfortunately, if they lacked training, their quick temper, and pride often gave them away. In their wolf form, their hair color perfectly matched the hue of their fur.

Their humanoid form was unique, with wolf-like ears adorning their heads instead of the typical human ones. Their clothing often featured a specially designed gap to accommodate their long, fluffy tails. It appeared uncomfortable for them to keep their tails confined within their clothing for extended periods.

Their features beckoned to me, tempting me to reach out and touch them. Yet nothing captivated me more than the boy's radiant smile. The feeling of freedom was so intoxicating that I yearned to grasp it.

Whenever I managed to slip away from the sisters or was running an errand for them, I sought the boys out. Concealing myself from view, I observed the wolves frolicking around the town. It was a buzzing city full of many establishments of different calibers.

The floors were made from colorful bricks. Each color led to a different section of Silverant, our beautiful home. The scent of perfumes and foods filled the humming streets, also filled with people wandering around.

Frequently, the boys would purchase playing cards and test them at the outdoor tables adjacent to the store they frequented. Alternatively, they would bring their electronic devices and gaming until dusk.

On other occasions, they would make purchases and proceed to the beach to play ball or do anything that looked fun for the day. Hiding in the dark recesses of the lonely alley, I observed their infectious laughter.

The fated day started like any other; I observed them from afar and was satisfied with that alone. The atmosphere shifted when one of the wolf boys, with a mane of brown hair, seized the silver-haired boy by the arm. Although rough play was their norm, he leaned in and whispered something to the silver-haired boy before they stepped into the shop this time.

The situation didn't seem significant at first, but as time passed and they still hadn't appeared, a sense of unease began to creep in. Suddenly, I felt a firm grip on my shoulder, sending a shock through my entire body. A startled yelp escaped my lips as I quickly turned to see who had grabbed me.