Chapter 1 The Innocence Of A Heroine

• Legend has it that centuries ago, werewolves were not always the feared shadows that roam the night. In their early days, they were humans, powerful and feared, kings and warriors who walked the earth with arrogance, conquering and waging wars in their insatiable search for power. Their hearts, wrapped in greed and pride, feared nothing—not even the winds their ancestors once revered. But the world, nature itself, never forgives arrogance.
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• The spirits of the earth, wounded by the violence and greed of the werewolves, raised their wrath in an irreversible punishment. They were stripped of their humanity, condemned to transform into monsters with bloodied claws and fangs that would never quench their thirst. The curse, like an eternal shadow, was sown into their veins, leaving a wound that eternity could not heal.
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• Over the centuries, the packs scattered, each seeking its own path. Some longed for redemption, trying to reclaim what they once were, while others embraced their new form, adopting it with dark pride.
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• But deep in their curse, a prophecy was born, whispered among the winds and the creaking of ancient trees: only a human, pure of heart and brave, could free them from their curse. Not just any human, but one who:
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• Discovers their existence on their own, untouched by the venom of the bite or the spell of transformation.
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• Sees beyond the monsters and, instead, recognizes the souls trapped within these creatures.
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• Dares to protect an alpha without fear, willing to sacrifice themselves for them.
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• This being would carry the humanity they had lost, the only one capable of breaking the cycle of their suffering. However, the reality was cruel: so far, no human had fulfilled these conditions. None had been pure enough or brave enough.
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• Over the years, humanity became their cruelest enemy. The hunters, with their sharp weapons and hearts as hard as stone, hunted them, capturing werewolves, selling them as soulless beasts. Their bodies became macabre trophies, and their skins, valuable merchandise. The legend of the werewolves, once sung in valleys and mountains, was now just a whisper in the shadows, waiting for the day someone would hear their cry for help.
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• But it seemed everything was about to change with the story of an innocent young girl, who, unknowingly, would become the key to the liberation of an entire race.
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• ...
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• The golden light of dawn filtered through the leaves, casting a warm glow over the village. The smell of freshly baked bread floated in the air, mingled with the dampness of the early morning. Ellie woke to the familiar sounds: the murmur of the market opening, neighbors greeting each other, the clinking of coins at the food stalls.
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• Her routine held no surprises. She put on her apron, tied her hair back, and spent the morning among pots and flames, preparing dishes and bread in the small kitchen where she worked. The restaurant was small, but unique in its style, in a village where everyone knew each other and every corner held a story. Sometimes, as she worked, Ellie's mind would drift to something grander, to those destinies filled with adventures that only existed in her dreams and the novels she never dared to share with anyone.
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• The sun began to rise in the sky, and the restaurant bell rang, marking the end of her morning shift. She wiped her hands and stepped into the fresh air. Today, something seemed different in the air.
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• Rumors spread quickly through the village: a caravan of merchants was arriving. The vendors came from distant places, bringing exotic fabrics, rare spices, and shiny objects that promised wonders. An unusual spectacle, a breath of magic in her daily routine.
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• Intrigued, Ellie walked through the stalls, observing the vibrant colors of the cloths spread out and the gleam of polished metal necklaces. Everything seemed from another world, as if a piece of something distant had arrived to disturb her peaceful life.
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• But as she ventured deeper into the bustle, excitement mingled with discomfort. The merchants shouted, and people pushed each other, eager to see the most coveted products. Ellie stepped away from the crowd, looking for some fresh air. And that's when she saw them.
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• In a secluded corner, beyond the colorful stalls, a group of men dressed in hardened leather and swords hanging from their belts walked back and forth, as though belonging to a much darker world. Their rough voices and mocking laughter cut through the air.
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• On the ground, held by thick iron chains, was a wolf. Its blackened fur was stained with dried blood, and its ribs marked the thinness of its suffering. Yet, in its posture, there was still something fierce, something untamable. It would not give up. But every time it tried to stand, the chains would throw it back to the ground.
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• One of the hunters kicked it brutally.
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• "Stop resisting, damn animal "he growled, laughing.
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• Ellie felt a lump in her throat. She wanted to move, wanted to intervene, but her feet remained firmly planted on the ground.
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• What could she do? What could a simple village girl do against men like those?
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• And then, the wolf looked at her.
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• Those eyes, cold and full of despair, pierced through her. It was as if it was looking beyond her, seeing her with disdain and an indescribable sadness.
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• That night, in the solitude of her room, the image of that wounded wolf and its fierce gaze wouldn’t leave her. She hated herself. Why hadn’t she done anything? Why had she always let fear decide for her?
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• Guilt consumed her, but in a burst of determination, something awoke inside her. She couldn’t live with that regret. She couldn’t stand by.
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• The sun had already set when she left her house, her heart pounding in her chest. Not knowing what she was hoping to find, she entered the caravan in search of the hunters. Most of the stalls were already closing, but she continued her search.
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• Finally, she reached a secluded area where the merchants stored their most valuable goods. And there, between cages and barrels, she found them.
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• The smell of blood and despair hung in the air. Inside the cages, the animals moaned, prisoners of the darkness.
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• A raspy voice pulled her from her trance.
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• "Looking for something special, girl? "asked a man with a scar over his eye.
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• Ellie swallowed hard and, with her heart in her throat, lifted her gaze.
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• "I'm looking for… a wolf."
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• The hunters exchanged mocking looks.
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• "What for? Are you hungry"
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• Ellie took a deep breath and, with a trembling voice, responded.
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• "I saw one this afternoon… Are you selling it?"
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• "That one’s no good for much "said the one with the scar, dismissing the idea". We’ll sell it for its pelt tomorrow.
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• Fear tried to envelop her, but this time, she wouldn’t let it dominate her.
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• "I want to buy it "she said, more firmly than before.
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• The hunters looked at her with surprise, but she didn’t hesitate. She took out her savings bag, trembling but determined.
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• "I have money. I can pay for it."
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• The shine of the coins under the firelight reflected the resolve in her eyes. The silence grew heavy between the men until, finally, the one with the scar smiled.
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• "Alright, girl. You’ve got a deal."
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• They led her to a secluded tent. Inside, chained and covered in wounds, was the wolf. It raised its head when it saw her, its eyes empty of hope. Ellie felt a shiver run down her spine. But for the first time in her life, she did something different. Something brave. Something that would change her destiny forever.