Ariel's POV ❤

In the year 2200, it was an era where werewolves ruled over humans. Fifty years ago, overnight, humans became slaves to the werewolves.

My name is Ariel, a human, and we became the lowest class in society within our designated areas - even lower than the Omegas, treated as slaves and playthings. If we showed even a hint of defiance, we would be taken away for punishment. When I was ten years old, I witnessed a human who merely touched a werewolf's clothing get dragged into the town square, where a werewolf impaled his heart with their claws.

Father tightly hugged me and Alice, who were terrified. He told us not to make a sound, that we must endure, and one day, we would escape this hell.

We soon forgot the shadow of that day because my parents loved each other dearly and treated us well, despite our poor living conditions. When father looked at Alice and me, his face only had smiles. "You two are the best treasures I've ever received." My father often said.

Although Alice and I were twins, my eye color was green like father's, while Alice's was brown like mother's.

Alice and I also had very different preferences. I enjoyed staying by father's side, listening to him explain the construction of weapons and playing with weapon models. He supported our family by working at a weapons manufacturing factory, and I greatly admired him.

Meanwhile, Alice preferred following mother to learn which hairpins looked prettier on her head. We would often argue and fight over these things, and then father and mother would separate us.

Our parents' doting love made me overlook the unreasonable rules of this world.

All of this came to a halt on our fifteenth birthday when werewolves broke into our home and informed us that father had died. Humans without jobs would lose their independent housing, so we were sent to a flea-infested slum with terrible living conditions. Unable to accept the sudden change, mother soon left us too. Her only wish before dying was for me to take care of Alice.

I have always seen protecting and caring for my sister as my responsibility. I took over father's job to support Alice.

But last night, when I witnessed a tall, naked werewolf appear in my bedroom and attempt to mark my sister, I angrily grabbed a baseball bat and fiercely struck the guy's head.

Blood, screams, and then many werewolf guards came to our home, trying to capture Alice and me. But Alice cried and immediately shifted the blame onto me. "Sir, it's none of my business. This was all my sister fault. All humans can testify that she hates werewolves. But I've been different from her since childhood; I would never attack my mate."

I widened my eyes in disbelief that Alice would betray me. Alice immediately lowered her head guiltily. I clenched my fists, knowing what would happen next, and my body trembled in fear.

"Alright," the werewolf said to Alice, then pointed at me. "If you want to prove you're different from her, come to the town square together. We need to see your sincerity."

"No!" I struggled, but my strength was too small. I immediately recalled the bloody scene I witnessed at ten years old. I was dragged to the town square and tied to a cross.

Then lash after lash struck my body. My clothes were torn, my flesh ripped open, and blood soaked my entire being as my consciousness gradually faded. Then I saw Alice approach me with her arms crossed.

"You should apologize," Alice said coldly, her eyes full of disdain. "Werewolves hold the highest status. Jack is my mate; how could you attack him?"

I looked at her, not a shred of guilt on her face, and my heart painfully clenched. I protected her with my life, yet now she acted as if the werewolves had protected her all along. She had found her mate just a day ago, and she betrayed the sister who had always shielded her.

She forgot our parents' expectations for us! They told us we must care for each other, love one another! And crucially, werewolves would never cherish their human mates.

My friend Ron was the prime example, how could Alice not see this?!

"Get lost! Alice, you betrayed me for the stupid mate bond. Have you forgotten Ron's mother's fate?!" I angrily said. Ron's mother was his father's human mate, and her demise pained us all.

Clearly, Alice had grown too arrogant to remember any of this because of the damned mate bond! She probably thought she was a princess, different from everyone else. I felt guilty; I must have spoiled her, making her forget this wretched reality!

"You cannot imagine the power of the mate bond, Ariel. When you feel it, you will absolutely submit," Alice said, then placed her hand on Jack as if they were inseparable.

Disgusting! I would never accept becoming a werewolf's mate, even if it cost me my life! "You're dreaming if you think I'd ever be with these pricks who get hard at the sight of a pretty woman!"

"Shut up!" Jack screamed, gripping my throat tightly. "As a human, the weakest species, you should feel honored to become our mate. Werewolves are far superior to useless humans like you!"

"Did you hear that, Alice? Your mate sees you as just another useless human," I said, looking at Alice, hoping she would come to her senses.

She quickly changed her tune.

"Shut up! How dare you compare yourself to my mate?" Jack furiously slapped me. "Alright. I must have let you get away with too much - you've forgotten how powerful werewolves are." With that, his claws extended, tearing the skin on my neck. Blood immediately gushed up to my chest.

"Ah...ah..." I whimpered. Was this how it would end for me? I bit my lip as a tear rolled down my cheek.

"Stop, Jack!" Alice screamed.

Jack turned to her. "You want to save her?"

"Jack, you can't kill her. The Lycan Elijah Yeager is coming to collect blood samples to find his mate. If anything happens, it would be trouble for the pack. Ariel is a registered human female - she cannot disappear," Alice frowned. "At least until the gene testing, we cannot kill her."

Jack frowned but eventually released my throat, albeit reluctantly. I gasped for air as the world around me seemed to spin, but I clearly heard the name Elijah Yeager. Should I thank him? Because of his arrival, I could continue living.

No, I would never thank the man who made my life so miserable. Elijah Yeager - the cruel and merciless Lycan. Rumor has it he has yet to find his mate, so he pins his hopes on the gene testing system. Every unmated female must submit a sample at the testing station.

He has scoured all other regions, and our area is his last chance. I curse him to never find his mate. I've heard werewolves only grow stronger with a mate, so I hope he suffers a painful death because of it!

If the test reveals I'm his mate, I'll grab the gun hidden in Ron's medical room and blow his head off.

I bit my lip and defiantly yelled at Alice, my voice hoarse yet firm, "I will absolutely never accept a werewolf as my mate!"

"You?" Jack struck my face again, hard, and my vision immediately blurred.

"I...will never...never..." I repeated as I collapsed to the ground, everything fading to black. I...lost consciousness.