Lib Novel Page 1
Prologue
First there were the big lizards that roamed the Earth, inhabiting the skies and the waters. Their bodies adapted to the land, and they considered themselves at the top of the food chain. But the Goddess Vuna had already designated that position to other children of hers: a species that was even more terrifying than the massive lizards.
This species was adaptable.
Its members observed and learned, which made them dangerous. Unlike the lizards, this species was fast, strong, and cunning. They could think for themselves. When the God of Storms wiped out the lizards, Vuna protected her special creatures from the ice that shattered bones and teeth. She couldn’t save them all, though.
In her grief, she created another species that would cause less chaos in the world: humans. Her remaining creatures studied these new predators and began to learn from them. They managed to take on the humans’ shape, but as they preferred their own link to nature, they chose to maintain both forms, a humanoid one and that of the wolf.
The humans called these creatures “shifters” because of their ability to shift forms. To maintain a balance of power, Goddess Vuna gave some of her humans the gift of harnessing energy from nature. These humans were few; they formed covens and called themselves “witches.”
But humans, unlike the large lizards, had a greedy nature, and the now shifters began to display the same traits. The shifters observed the humans fighting for land and power, and they began to do the same. Hence, the Great War began.
The shifters banded together in different groups, and the wars decimated their numbers. These groups fought for territory and resources, and according to the history books, every day was a bloodbath. Peace was nothing more than a fantasy. The shifters enjoyed the violence to the point that they grew obsessed with it. With the creation of packs within the groups, they were now divided, and each pack fought to seize the mantle of apex predator.
Then there came a day when humans outnumbered shifters. That was when the wolf shifters realized they were heading toward extinction due to their fighting. They noticed the divides among them, but the chasms were too large to be crossed. Pushing aside their innate instinct for violence and control, the shifters chose to deal with this matter with civility. They decided to exist as separate packs, with those on each continent establishing their own rules.
The two continents bordered by the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans decided to create three Alliances that ruled these land masses. Three packs were chosen, one from each region, to lead their respective Alliance.
The North Alliance, whose wolves had fur as black as charcoal.
The Central Alliance, white wolves that hid so deep within the mountains that they remained elusive.
And the South Alliance, with its wolves of brown fur.
That was not to say that the Alliances remained peaceful. Conflicts still raged, but the leaders squashed them quickly and cruelly. Leaders came and went, chosen on the basis of power. Those who were strong reigned. But as the centuries passed, and the shifters pushed their boundaries, eyeing the territory of the others, Vuna became aware of the greed growing in the hearts of her beloved creatures once again.
In her eyes, only the Central Alliance had stayed true to their vow and not gotten involved in any of the conflicts. Vuna gave them a gift, a gift no other Alliance knew about, not till the prophecy was revealed—a prophecy that would turn the tide, a prophecy that had the fate of the Alliances resting on the shoulders of one shifter alone.
Chapter 1
Sophia Hope
Getting punched in the face is never a fun experience.
I can feel the sharp pain in my left cheekbone as my head swivels back from the force of the blow.
Had I been human, the punch would have shattered the bone entirely. But being a wolf shifter has its perks. I can take a beating without sustaining long-lasting injuries.
The sound of the spectators’ frenzied cheers as they lust after the violence taking place in the cage spurs me on. I’m used to these howls and screams for more savagery, more blood. I watch my opponent circle me, trying to read my next move. Sweat is glistening on both our bodies, glaring bruises a testament to how viciously we have fought. My face feels hot under the mask, trails of perspiration dripping down my neck to stain the dark tank top I’m wearing.
As inconvenient as the mask is, it is the only way to hide my identity from the world.
My opponent darts toward me, and I step to the side, my movement fluid. He has left himself vulnerable; I wrap my arm around his elbow, ready to dislocate his shoulder and throw him to the ground, when my eyes land on the man standing at the back of the room, in the shadows. He shakes his head at me, and I sigh internally before loosening my grip. That’s all my opponent needs to kick me in the stomach and make me go reeling. My back slams against the steel cage, and my opponent—a nasty piece of work—roars in triumph as the crowd howls at his apparent victory.
Idiot.
Scoffing under my mask, I pretend to be dazed as the fool thumps his chest like a gorilla, letting the fanatic audience pump him up.
I wish I could say arrogance is a human affliction, but I know firsthand that wolf shifters are no different. If I didn’t have to drag out this match, I would have knocked this annoying jerk out cold four minutes ago when we started. But I’m supposed to let him rough me up plenty, so that the crowd goes wild—and then, in a fit of rage, I can knock him out and win.
The Wily Vixen is known for her sudden victories, the flares of wrath; that’s why she’s such a favorite in this illegal, underground cage fighting ring. Whenever I’m scheduled to be in the cage, there’s an uptick in ticket sales. And that’s why Mathew Rivers sets matches for me two to three times a week. My presence is like sweet honey to the gamblers who wander this way when I’m fighting. I’m almost always a sure bet. Except for the days when I’m told to lose a match.
My eyes flick to the timer above us.
Two more minutes.
I have to drag this out for two more minutes.