The Beasts Inside Us

Prologue

Thank you for choosing my story! At the moment I only have a couple parts done (hopefully more by the time some of you are reading this), but I'm hoping to continue the story! I want feedback and to know that if I continue, people will enjoy it.

I admit at first it might not be the best because I'm still figuring out where this story will go. But please leave comments and maybe even a vote for motivation :) . Thank you and enjoy.

Puffs of misty breath escape his lips as the castle behind him shrinks into the distance. His long strides—quiet and furtive—were almost inhuman in their soundless nature. Dark eyes pierced the darkness in a frosty glare.

Curiosity had gotten the better of him just five minutes ago when he had been awoken from a dreamless sleep by a haunting scream. Awoken with a jolt, sheets tangled around his ankles, his first instinct to reach for the dagger hidden just beneath his pillow. The scream had sounded again and it was then that he realized it came from deep within the forest.

Not able to slip back into his restless slumber, he slid from under his covers and started toward where he thought the yell came from. His fingers firmly grasping the cool blade.

A snap of a branch almost escaped his notice and his muscles locked up in anticipation. The crack was quiet, but his intense focus wouldn't let anything go by unnoticed.

At sixteen-years-old, he'd witnessed more than most kids his age and had learned to be cautious and aware of his surroundings. To always expect danger so it didn't catch him off guard.

He knew better than to turn his back on any foreign noise in the forest that encompassed his home. Or to even trust anyone that actually lived in his home.

Trust was a foreign word to him; the meaning escaped him a long time ago.

A sudden deep, guttural growl broke through the serenity of the never ending expanse of trees, followed by a small whimper. He was getting close.

The familiar growl set his spine straight, alerting him of a well-known danger.

Caide picked up a large branch as a weapon, not wanting to take any chances. He didn't want to use the small dagger he had slipped into his boot just yet.

More blood on his hands was not his intended goal when he first set out on this small quest.

"Please.. stop."

The breeze carried over the pained sob, the two breathless words just barely loud enough to be heard.

He weaved through the trees, dodged roots that stuck up from the ground, jogging toward the direction of the noises. The path was burned into his brain due to years of memorization.

Caide's footsteps slowed as he neared, then halted to a staggering stop before the horrific scene. He quickly hid behind a tree to take in the situation.

A young girl, blanketed in a thick layer of blood, cowered in fetal position with her hands protecting her head, as a large, seething wolf towered over her. The wolf seemed to be salivating at the chance to kill the poor, innocent child.

Caide shook his head. His eyes had sadly gazed upon this scene multiple times before; had seen this wolf in particular.

These beasts, they preyed on the innocent, claiming to be protecting their pack. They shunned him for his 'evil' deeds when, in fact, it is them who people should run in fear from—hide their children from.

These mutts were in the wrong but they turned the attention to him and hid behind the things he had done, when they had done much worse. All the while, they claimed to be heroes as they kept him and other 'outsiders' away from their pack.