CYNTHIA

“Spread for me, little puppy,” he whispered against my lips, his hot breath brushing my skin.

A shiver ran through me.

His large hand slid between my thighs slowly, like he already owned every part of me. My whole body trembled beneath him.

“Soon you’ll carry my pup,” he said in that deep dark voice that made my chest tighten. “I’ll finally have an heir for my Kingdom.”

He chuckled softly, the sound rough and dangerous.

I still couldn’t see his face clearly.

He was too close, his body pressed against mine. I could smell him—unfamiliar, yet intoxicating. My mind screamed at me to run, but my body leaned into him instead, as if pulled by some invisible force.

"That's right. You were made for me," he breathed against my neck. Something sharp pressed against my skin. "You're MINE."

Before I could register what it was, his fangs sank deep into my neck. My vision filled with a pair of wolf-like eyes.

I screamed myself awake, bolting upright in bed, gasping for air.

Through the window, I saw it: the full moon.

My chest heaved. My body was drenched in sweat, my face burning hot.

"Was that… my first dream?"

I had never dreamed before, not once in my entire life.

Most people dreamed almost every night, but for some reason, sleep had always been empty for me, it was just darkness until this early morning.

Soon I became aware of the dampness between my legs. Pulling back the blanket, I saw the wet patch and felt shame crawl up my flushed face.

A wet dream. My very first dream, and it was a wet dream. Cynthia, how desperate are you?

The man from the dream lingered in my mind… He didn’t look normal. There was something about him that felt different from every human I had ever seen before. His body was larger, stronger, almost unnatural. Even his voice carried something wild inside it.

A loud bang suddenly came from my door... I jumped.

The door opened quickly and my mother rushed inside. “Cynthia!” she called out in panic. “What happened? Why did you scream like that? You nearly frightened us to death.”

I quickly pulled the blanket over my legs... even though she was the one who raised me, I didn't want her to see my embarrassment.

She hurried toward me, worry filling her face immediately. Even in the dim light, I could see how tired she looked these days.

Life has not been easy for us lately.

“I’m fine, Mum,” I said quickly, forcing a small smile but she didn’t look convinced.

She sat beside me and touched my forehead gently with the small cloth in her hand. “You’re sweating so much,” she murmured softly. “Your body is shaking too.”

Her eyes searched mine carefully. “Did you have a dream?”

My breath caught.

I stared at her.

How did she know that?

Slowly, I nodded. “I…” I looked away quickly. “Yes. I had a dream.”

“It wasn’t clear,” I lied softly. “I can barely remember it.”

I didn't know why I was lying. My mother should have been the person I trusted most, but instinct held my tongue. As if speaking the truth would somehow make something terrible real.

Pup. Kingdom. Heir.

Those impossible words still echoed in my head.

For a moment, only the sound of the morning breeze filled the room, then she sighed softly and held my hand.

Her thumb rubbed slowly against my skin. "Cynthia… time has passed so quickly." Something flickered in her eyes—something I couldn't read. "Tomorrow, you'll be eighteen."

A chill of unease ran through me. Eighteen. It should have been something to look forward to. But every time my parents brought it up, I felt an unusual weight behind their words.

As if they were keeping something from me.

My mother must have noticed the fear on my face because her expression softened immediately. “You’ll be alright, my dear,” she said gently.

She leaned forward and kissed my forehead. The warmth of it made my chest ache.

I love her, even if she wasn’t my real mother. They had adopted me when I was still young, young enough that I didn't know of my real parents.

Mom and Dad always told me that the moment they first saw me, they knew we were meant to be family. So they brought me home. And from that day on, they loved me as their own, giving me everything they had.

We weren't rich. But I never lacked love in this house.

Even now, when money had become a problem, when they were drowning in debt, they still tried their best to make me smile.

Mum stood up slowly from the bed. “Get ready soon,” she said. “We’re leaving not long from now."

I blinked. “Leaving?”

She nodded. “You know things are difficult for us right now,” she said quietly. “We can’t celebrate your birthday the way we did before, but your father and I thought it would still be nice to take you somewhere special.”

I listened quietly.

“We are taking you to visit our relatives,” she continued with a smile. “You’ll enjoy yourself there.”

Relatives.

That word immediately caught my attention.

My parents never spoke much about where they came from.

Anytime I asked questions growing up, they always smiled and said I would know one day.

Maybe this was finally that day.

“Now hurry,” Mum said softly before walking toward the door. “We’re waiting outside already.”

Then she paused. “And Cynthia?”

I looked up.

“Don’t be afraid of dreams.” She smiled once more before leaving the room. "They might be your gift."

The door closed gently behind her.

I sat there silently for several seconds.

My eyes slowly drifted toward the window where the first light of dawn was slowly beginning to show.

"Don't be afraid of the dreams." I shook my head. "Easy for her to say. If only she knew how real that dream felt."

I stayed a moment longer, then finally rose and headed to the bathroom. But for just an instant—I caught something flickering on my neck. A mark.

I rubbed my eyes. It was gone.

What the hell was that?