The She-wolf and The Prince

The meeting in the forest.

PROLOGUE

December 24, 1799!

The snow fell without respite, enveloping the Sherwood forest in a thick white blanket. In this hostile environment conquered by the cold, a little girl was walking barefoot without worrying about the freezing temperature. She felt drawn to something, a breath; a slow breathing that grew weaker the closer she got. Guided by her instincts, the little girl found herself near a stream and was surprised to discover a thin figure lying flat on its stomach.

Cautiously, she approached the stranger with hushed steps and, when she reached him, turned him on his back. He was a boy of about her age. His disheveled hair was white as snow and his scratched face was extremely pale. His clothes, worthy of a child from a good family, were torn apart while his shoes were gone.

The little girl stuck her ear to the nostrils of the dying man as her father had taught her. The coldness of his body stunned her. She slapped him twice, but nothing helped.

"He caught a cold. That's why he's frozen and doesn't sulk anymore. Poor thing. I'll warm him up," she thought as she picked him up.

- Let me die here. The child suddenly whispered.

- No way," said the other.

Without paying attention to the stranger's complaints, she took him under a rock a few meters away from them.

The dying man wanted to get rid of the iron ties that kept him on the back of this intruder, but his weak and light body did not have the strength. So, he resigned himself, cursing the destiny that did not want him to leave this earth and allow him not to suffer anymore. His eyes closed again and his nightmares came back to torment him.

Lying down, with her arms around the boy, the little helper tried as best she could to bring him some warmth. However, there was no effect and she was thinking of giving up when she heard him cough and saw him open his eyes as his breathing became steady. A sigh escaped her lips; he was alive. She had a lot of questions to ask him and didn't waste any time.

- Hi. What's your name? Where are you from? Are these clothes yours? She began, and the poor boy had just straightened up

- But, shut up. He replied painfully.

- I'm sorry. It is the first time that I see somebody except my dad. I am Alia. And you are?

- Ryan. He answered, surprised by this girl with silver hair, a little pink dress on her shoulders and a bag slung over her shoulder. Nice to meet you.

- Your name is pretty.

- Thank you. It's the first time anyone has said it to me.

- And how old are you?

- Seven. How old are you?

- Six. We're almost the same age.

The two smiled at each other:

- I'm hungry," Ryan said suddenly, his stomach rumbling.

- Don't worry. I've got food in my bag," she said, rummaging through it. It's not much, but it will help.

- I do not need food. He stopped her. I need blood.

- Haha. Very funny. If you don't eat, you'll die.

- I know that. But I'd rather die than hurt innocent people for food," he said quietly.

Alia didn't understand what her new friend was saying.

- But why do you want blood? Humans don't drink blood, do they?

Ryan was stunned. This girl knew nothing about the world around her:

"How come?" she wondered.

- You've never heard of vampires?

She shook her head.

- What are they?

- They're undead people who feed on human blood.

- Really? So you're a vampire? I thought there were only werewolves here?

Curiosity could be seen on Alia’s face.

- No. There are also vampires. They are the ones who rule this kingdom. They drink a lot of blood and like to kill.

This last sentence had a bitter taste in her mouth.

- Aren't you afraid of me? He asked suddenly.

- No, I'm not. I know you are a nice person and you don't want to hurt anyone. I can feel it.

She held out her hand to him.

- You can drink my blood if you want. It will be our friendship pact. Will you do that?

The young vampire hesitated for a moment before sinking his fangs into the outstretched wrist. At that moment, he sensed that Alia was anything but an ordinary she-wolf and that an unbreakable bond had formed between them...