End of Backstory

[Ramona's POV]


"Father, I have brought mom's medicine," Annalisa exclaimed loudly as she entered the house. Suppressing his anger, David took the medicine from her hand and went to the kitchen. Annalisa followed him into the kitchen as well. "What did Mr. Theodore ask you?" She asked her father.


"What uncle Liam instructed about the medicine?" David asked, forcefully striking the knife onto the fish in front of him, causing Annalisa to look at her father's face in shock.


"What did Mr. Theodore say to you?" Annalisa repeated the question with concern. She was a 27-year-old young woman who had been adopted by David after the tragic Misty Rill River accident, which had claimed the lives of both his parents. Since that unfortunate day, David had dedicated his life to caring for Annalisa, providing her with love, support, and a stable home not knowing that she was his biological daughter which they lost 34 years ago.


Misty Rill was just a river to others, but it held a special place in David's heart as it had blessed him and his wife Ava with two daughters after years of infertility. David remained silent.


"Father, I just saw Mr. Theodore leaving. Was he demanding money again?" Worry was clearly evident on Annalisa's innocent face.


"Go and wake your sister, she is not listening to me," David said as he grabbed a nearby pan, threw it on the fire, and began cooking the fish with an intensity fueled by his anger. The sizzling sound of the fish hitting the hot pan seemed to echo his frustration. "And as for, Mr. Theodore's question, I'll take care of it myself. It's not your problem, so don't worry."


Annalisa looked at her father in silence. She knows he will never let them know about his problems so she made her way towards her sister's room. She was very worried about her father, but what else could she do? Upon entering Ramona's room, Annalisa couldn't help but chuckle at the sight before her. The room was small and cozy, with wooden walls adorned with paintings of serene landscapes. The air was filled with the scent of incense, creating a calming atmosphere. A small window allowed a sliver of sunlight to filter through, casting a warm glow on the room's simple furnishings.


Ramona's bed, positioned against the wall, was a peculiar sight. It was a traditional wooden bed, but instead of lying horizontally, it was placed vertically against the wall. Her head dangled off the edge, her long black hair cascading towards the floor. She had a serene expression on her face, undisturbed by the world around her.


The room itself was filled with various trinkets and curiosities that she had collected over the years. Shelves lined the walls, displaying an assortment of books, antique teapots, and intricate sculptures. A small desk sat in the corner, cluttered with papers and ink brushes, evidence of her artistic pursuits.


Annalisa approached her cautiously, trying to wake her up. She gently shook her sister's shoulder, but she remained unresponsive. Annalisa couldn't help but admire her sister's ability to find peace in such an unconventional position.


"Father, I don't think she's going to wake up anytime soon," Annalisa said, a hint of amusement in her voice.


"Ramona," David called out loudly, disturbing her sleep. Ramona groaned and shifted uncomfortably in her bed, trying to block out the sound of her father's voice. She had always found her father's lectures and constant nagging overwhelming, and had developed a unique coping mechanism to deal with it. Whenever her father's voice became too much to handle during her sleep, she would cover her ear with a pillow, creating a barrier between herself and the outside world.


"Father, Ramona isn't listening to you," Annalisa shouted near Ramona's ear, her voice filled with mischief.


Ramona quickly sat up and gave her a furious look. "Good morning, sister!" Zhi Yu said in a serious voice.


"It's only 10 am in the morning. Why did you wake me up so early?" Ramona said in a hoarse voice.


"Mr. Theodore was here," Annalisa said, her little eyes showing a mix of frustration and anger.


"What? But why?" Ramona exclaimed in shock, quickly getting out of bed. "We asked for an appointment for later this month, and there are still 15 days left. Why did he bother my father by coming early?"


Annalisa sighed, her frustration evident in her voice. "I don't know, Mona. But from father's reaction, it seemed that he was putting pressure on him to give money quickly. He wouldn't take no for an answer."


Ramona clenched her fists, her anger boiling inside her. She couldn't understand why Mr. Theodore would disrupt their peaceful morning like this. She couldn't help but mutter under her breath, her words dripping with venom. "You arrogant, self-centered fool. How dare you disrupt our peace like this? Just wait until I have the chance to put you in your place."


She hastily dressed and stormed out of her room, determined to confront Mr. Theodore and express her thoughts. However, Annalisa grabbed her hand and said, "First, deal with our father. If you manage to survive, then we can confront him."


Ramona freed her hand from Annalisa's hands and left the room, Ramona's mind raced with a flurry of insults and abusive words she wanted to hurl at Mr. Theodore. She had always despised the man, finding him arrogant and manipulative. But she knew better than to let her emotions get the best of her. Ramona was weak but she was known for her calm and composed demeanor, and she didn't want to tarnish her reputation by losing control.


As she walked towards the kitchen, she clenched her fists tightly, trying to contain the anger bubbling within her. She could feel her heart pounding, her blood boiling with every step she took. The words she wanted to say to Mr. Theodore echoed in her mind, each one more venomous than the last. But before entering the kitchen, she took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm raging inside her. She didn't want to say a word in front of her father that would upset him more.


Suppressing her anger, she approached him with a forced smile. "Good morning, Father," she greeted, her voice tinged with a hint of anger. However, Ramona did not respond to her.


"Father, how much money does he demand?" Ramona attempted to speak to him, because she couldn't bear to see him like that.


David didn't answer and placed the glass of water in front of her. "Water is beneficial on an empty stomach in the morning."


"That's not the answer to my question, Father," Ramona said, taking the glass of water from his hand.


David let out a heavy sigh. "It's not your concern. I will handle it. Will you come to the river tomorrow?"


"I am an adult, Father. You can confide in me," said Ramona, looking worried.


"That doesn't address my question," David replied, transferring the fish from the pan onto the plate.


"You know the reason, Father. I cannot go fishing with you," Ramona said, her mouth drooping. She recalled the catastrophe from 34 years ago.


The past event plays in her mind like a film reel. Thirty four years ago, Yuan village experienced an unprecedented disaster. Unbeknownst to the villagers, the calamity was caused by Ramona, who possessed an unknown magical ability that spiraled out of control. This catastrophe delves into the tragic events that occurred, the villagers' perception of Ramona as a devil, and the devastating loss of life that left a permanent mark on the village.


Ramona lived a quiet life, unaware of the immense power she possessed. She also wanted to become a great hunter like her father and sister but she couldn't. So her father wanted her to become a fisherman. Her magical abilities, rooted in the ancient magic which was a mystery even to her. The villagers regarded her with curiosity and awe, but little did they know that their lives were about to be shattered.


As she cultivated her magic in solitude to enhance her qi, an unfamiliar force surged uncontrollably within her. The elements she once commanded with harmony and balance now became erratic and destructive. Consequently, the village was swiftly consumed by a tempest of fire, water, wind, and earth, resulting in extensive devastation.


As the chaos unfolded, the villagers, terrified and desperate for answers, turned to her as the source of their suffering. Ignorant of her own role in the disaster, Ramona was bewildered by the accusations hurled at her. The once-admiring villagers now saw her as a devil, responsible for the deaths of their loved ones.


The village grieved the loss of numerous lives, with their homes reduced to rubble. Families were torn apart, and the once-thriving community lay in ruins. The devastation served as a painful reminder of the consequences of her uncontrolled magic, further fueling the villagers' hatred towards her.


In the aftermath, she refrained from practicing her craft. She constantly sought information about the event that had transpired. The catastrophe caused by her uncontrolled magic 34 years ago had left an enduring impact on the village of Yuan. The loss of innocent lives and the subsequent demonization of Ramona as a malevolent being served as a reminder of the perils of unchecked power.

That was not the end of bad luck in her life, a few days later her mother, who was suffering from liver disease, died and the village leader forced them to leave the village. They came to another city where David met Landon wh helped them. Here David and his family start living with their real identities as a ____HUNTER.

[AUTHOR"S NOTE: This is the end of the back story which is important for readers to know how a werewolf crown princess ended up as beta.]