**Luciana's POV**

"I wonder where it all started, how it all got to this. How did I get into this mess? Why am I here, out alone on the streets and not in a house, a home. The comfort of a family? "

I smiled bitterly.

Alas, I knew the truth but I refused to believe it. It was never my fault.

I grew up as the only girl in my family, and it was a big taboo in my family. My parents never wanted a girl but they got me. A girl.

I was always locked up inside , I never went anywhere without having anyone follow me. It was always annoying, but I had to put up with it. Until my eighteenth birthday. I was wrong.
.................

The moon was bright, big and full. I watched in horror and awe as I witnessed different teenagers turning into wolves.

My brother, Lorenzo, the only one who was nice to me in my family, smiled at me and I could feel my anxiety slowly dissipate.

It got to my turn and I stood in front of the instructor who gave me a quick smile.

"It's going to be okay, Luciana. It's always frightening and painful the first time, but I promise you that afterwards, it'll come easily and naturally to you."

"Shapeshifting into your wolf form is what differentiates you from a normal human. You are a member of the Creek Clan, a white wolf. It is your destiny." He said at last.

I was feeling motivated and I felt nothing in this world could bring me down.

"Focus on your inner wolf, let your inner beast take over. Give it total control." He instructed.

I did as he said and focused. I could feel my beast, it was clawing and trashing, trying to get out.

I glanced over and saw my parents, they were focused on me.

This was my time to shine.

I let my beast take over and I let out a scream.

Five seconds, ten seconds, thirty seconds. I heard nothing. No congratulations or compliments, nothing. Everywhere was silent as a graveyard.

I slowly opened my eyes and saw everyone looking at me with disdain.

I looked at the spot where my parents were earlier on and I couldn't see them. I was confused. I had finally turned into a wolf. They should be happy for me. I was no longer useless.

I looked down and saw my feet. Feet! Not paws!

I hurriedly ran my hands along my body and realized I still had my human form.

"No!"I screamed in terror.

This wasn't supposed to happen. I was supposed to change and then be regarded as someone worth living in my family.

I was supposed to change and be able to have dinner with my family, a happy dinner.

Life failed me, the universe hated me.

The maltreatment became worse after that. Apparently, my father , a clan leader, had been mocked by other clan leaders for having a child who couldn't shift.

The hate and anger directed towards me became worse.

Then it happened.

I was chased out of my house, I was banished from my clan with nothing to myself.
.............

I smiled bitterly.

"Cinderella sure had a better story than mine" I mumbled to myself.

I picked myself up and walked solemnly to the Blue river.

I turned back and whispered to the air.

"Bye world, bye earth. I didn't get to see a lot of you."
I turned back facing the river but I hesitated.

It took a lot of mental strength to end a life.

I backed the river again and raised my right hand making my middle finger stand alone.

"Fuck you." I muttered to no one.

No one was there to witness my death, no one would care if I died , no one would find my body.

Guess there's no point in living.

I took one last breath and jumped into the river.

Suddenly, I remembered. There was one person who would be worried about me. I still had someone who cared about me.

I lost the urge to die, I didn't want to die!

I tried to swim back up but I couldn't. I never learnt how to swim. I was drowning, and I could feel tears flowing down my cheeks in the water.

I didn't want to die, but I was going to. The water was already invading my lungs and I was finding it hard to breathe.

My whole life flashed before my eyes. It was full of nothing but pain. Pain and suffering.

Maybe it was better if I died.

I couldn't see anything anymore and I felt myself succumbing to the darkness.

I was de..ad.


**Duncan's POV**

I was walking to my room to retire for the night when I felt a sharp pain in my chest.

It felt like I was suffocating.

I knelt down and clutched my chest, trying to reduce the pain but it didn't work. I stayed in that position for five minutes and it was torturous.

I felt the pain lessen after five minutes and I could finally move.

I stood up and continued moving like there was nothing wrong with me. I couldn't afford to show weakness as the supreme alpha of the black wolves.

I brought out my phone and dialed Damon who immediately answered.

"It appears that I have been poisoned." I said over the phone.

"Who would dare do that?" He asked, rage evident in his voice.

"I have no idea, all I know is that I was walking, and suddenly, I felt a sharp pain in my chest." I paused a while in thought.

"The poison was very strong as it left me paralyzed for five minutes. "

I heard his gasps over the phone.

"Whoever poisoned me must be a fool, thinking such petty tricks could work on me." I said, chuckling coldly.

"Do..do you think the white wolves are responsible for this.?"

I reasoned what he said and discovered that it was possible.

"Call the seer." I said, ending the call.

I sat in my room and couldn't help but think of the pain I felt earlier.

It was excruciating. Although I had told Davon it was nothing, it was the most painful moment of my life. It felt like I was dying.

The seer came in and she wore a blank expression.

I explained everything to her and she nodded in understanding.

"The prophecy is already being fulfilled." She said,

"Fuck the prophecy, I dont give a damn about the prophecy. " I said, raising my voice.

"All I want to know is the type of poison that was used on me."

"Poison?" She asked.

"Poison? There was no poison." She said,

"What do you mean by that? " I asked, shocked.

"There was no poison, your mate was in danger." She said finally.

"My mate?"