. With a swing of his tail, the rope that bound me was torn off. I imme

one bite. Its big head sniffed at me. I closed my eyes and dared not move. His fur brushed my body and sent shivers down

in the forest trembled. It was so familiar and angry t

f I were his prey. His golden eyes were glued to mine. I lay still in his circle, trying not to move. But he was

m realize that I was not human, that I w

me when werewolves were losing their strength during the

bloodshot, and the heat from his nose made my long chestnut hair fly up over my bare back. As th

over my shoulder and could see the saliva on his fangs. I finally burst into tears. The reality of being abandoned by my father and the fear of bein

can finall

..............

d as I sat next to my mother's dresser and watched her

olding me in her arms. She ran her long fingers through my hair. "My little princess, y

ugh the window on her bright face. It was so beautiful. My mother had a soothing scent th

f I'm a monster

looked sadly at me, not saying a word. Tears flooded out

her figure. She took off her pearl necklace from her neck and, with the last of her strength, gave it to me. I su

d kept calling out to her, but her

mother's distant voice, "The moon

der my pillow for my mother's final gift, a simple silver necklace with pearls on it. I put it arou

d me out and took me to the woods by the lake... A big

I finally broke down and cried under the pressure of the wolf. I don'

. I'll protect myself

nce. I was supposed to clean up the hall, so I scrambled out of bed, put on my tattered sackcloth, and

bucket of cold water was p

y bum?" Bernice's bossy

water off my face, and my hai

n front of me with two attendants, who were car

gown, "You're like a wild dog in the water," she said maliciously, admiring my disheveled look with delight. "I can't hel

e prince knew that his fut

a little of my temper, so I did not remain sil

ords, I couldn't help tiltin

o my pale left side. Bernice came forward, and she tugged at my collar so hard that

ted as she spat out humiliating words. She examined my face carefully, wanting to see sadness or anger on my face, wh

here was a slight tingling in my red, swollen face, and it was only when her long, slen