“Ella, look it is snowing outside,” Denim called out, shaking Ella’s shoulder.

Throwing her head back on the wall of the train compartment, Ella Rose Francis was dozing. She was in the brim of falling deep in sleep any second but was jolted with Denim’s sudden call.

Feeling irritated, she flipped to the other side with her eyes still closed. The light penetrating from the glass disturbed her sleep, so she pulled the quilt above her head. She completely ignored what Denim was saying.

The train was running at its speed, which was making Ella sleepy. They were passing by the woods and seeing everything covered in white, Denim Turner, Ella’s best friend, was not able to resist. So she dared to wake Ella, knowing that she might turn into a beast if being disturbed in her sleep.

“Wake up, sleeping beauty. See how beautiful it is. You are the one who wanted to see the snow, right? Now, why are you not missing the chance? Come one, wake up…” Denim tried to pull the quilt.

“Stop it, Den. Let me sleep,” in a sleepy tone Ella blurted, gripping the quilt tightly above her head.

“What about snow then?” Denim raised a question in disappointment.

“We are going to be in Waillus Hill for the whole session, Den. I can see it whenever I want, so please not today. Let me sleep in peace.” Ella shut her eyes tight.

“But this is your only chance, Ella Rose. It is the last snowfall of this year. The school will start in spring and end in fall. You are not going to get this chance again, wake up…” Denim insisted.

Ella took a deep breath trying to not lose her temper. “Please, leave me alone. I don’t want my beast to come out, Den.”

“Fine, don’t complain to me afterward,” Denim muttered in annoyance and dropped back on her seat. She grabbed the magazine kept beside her and started to flip the pages.

Ella was about to fall asleep under the warmth of a quilt, suddenly she jerked, getting a glimpse of green eyes.

Hastily, she opened her eyes wide. “What the hell was that?” she muttered underneath her breath. Then slowly she pulled down the quilt till her nose.

Her blue eyes widened the moment she got fascinated by the sight outside the window. The forest which was green when they were traveling to Angelwood Academy, a day before for the school tour, was completely different. The green forest had turned completely white by the last snowfall of the winter.

It seemed like she was inside the beautiful painting of a talented artist, who had painted the white scenery. It made her feel like she was living on the painting as one of the artist's characters. The white powder was dancing in the air and falling on already white ground and trees.

The scene outside that window was not enough for her to quench the thirst of her eyes. As she was about to pull down the quilt and open the window suddenly, her eyes caught a giant white wolf darting at her from some distance.

The train passed the wolf and she thought it was gone. But suddenly she saw the wolf right outside her window running along with the train. She was scared to death and was not able to make a single move. She kept on staring at it with chills running through her spain.

“Den, look…” was all she could murmur in a trembling voice.

“Don’t talk to me. You didn’t obey my command, so I am not going to obey yours,” Denim stated in annoyance. Her eyes were still fixed on the magazine.

“Look…” Ella commanded with her eyes still glued on the wolf.

Denim averted her gaze at Ella, retorting, “What is wrong…” she gulped the last few words when she followed Ella’s gaze and saw the white wolf running outside the window.

“What the hell?” Denim muttered gulping hard.

Ella didn’t say anything as she was carefully darting the wolf. She was getting lost in those yellow pupils which were deep like the ocean. The feeling of having some connection with that wolf for many years rose in her heart and it was totally strange for her.

The snow was falling on the white fur of the wolf and vanishing on it. Its eye was fixed on the compartment where Ella and Denim were. It was gazing as if he had seen something which belonged to him and wanted to grasp that thing.

But suddenly it falls on the ground. Ella hastily pulled down the quilt and pressed her hand against the windowpane trying to look for the wolf. She saw it was struggling to get up but its leg was bleeding and making the white ground turn red.

Ella was not able to comprehend. She saw it finally getting up and running again. She rushed out of the compartment and started to watch the wolf one after another compartment that she passed by.

“Liam… what are you doing?” She entered the compartment which was passing by the wolf and snatched the knife from the boy. He was about to attack the wolf with the knife taking his hand out of the window.

“Ella…. Give me that knife…” Liam snatched the knife from her hand.

But the knife slashed her palm. “Ah!” she screamed out in agony. “Are you out of your mind?” she yelled, pressing her palm with her other palm.

“God, Ella, show me your hand.” Liam pulled her wrist.

“Don’t touch me. Why did you hurt that wolf?” She pulled her hand away.

“Wolves are predators. They can attack us if we don’t attack first,” Liam explained, still trying to reach out for her wound.

“He looked nothing like he was going to attack us,” Ella defended the wolf but as her eyes fell on her hand, heavy bleeding made her sick and dizzy.

Liam took the chance and pulled her wrist. As he wrapped his handkerchief around her wound, suddenly she passed out on his arms.

“Liam…” Ella cried out staring at Liam sprawling half-conscious on the ground.

He had a sore face and the side of his lips was bleeding. There were bruises all over his face as if he had been beaten all day and night. Pressing his hands against the floor, he was struggling to get on his feet.

Ella struggled to approach him, but something was dragging her back. Suddenly a dark figure stood from the throne, and wade gradually towards Ella. He was wearing a long black cloak that was lagging behind him as he walked.

Even though Ella tried her best to see the person’s face, she was not able to get a clear sight of him, due to the hood on his head. As the person finally approached her, he clasped the hood and pushed it back.

With the light of the moon, she was able to get a clear vision of a person's face. Fair skin, high forehead, straight nose, thin lips, and those green eyes which she evokes seeing before was the trait of the person standing in front of her. The person who was handsome like hell made it hard for her to take her eyes off him.

“Ella, run…” A sudden bellow of Liam winced her and made her shift her gaze from the person to Liam.

Seeing him hardly standing on his feet with his wounded body, she dropped back to reality, and without thinking twice, she took a step back from the person and ran away. She ran across the dark corridor and reached the balcony. Standing at the edge, she turned around and saw the person in the cloak standing a few distances away from her.

“Don’t come near…” Ella warned but the person didn’t say anything and started to pace towards her.

Ella glanced down the balcony but was not able to see anything due to the darkness. It was difficult for her to comprehend where she would land if she jumped. With no proper resolution, she turned back to the person. She flinched seeing the man standing very close to her. Seeing him raising his hand, she panicked. She took a step back and stumbling on the railing, she ended up falling off the balcony.

Surprisingly, she saw the person jumping down. When he gripped her wrist, she shut her eyes tight, apprehending that she was about to die. The next second when she opened her eyes, she found herself sitting on the back of a giant white wolf. She caressed the wolf’s soft and smooth fur.

~

Ella opened her eyes wide and flinched seeing her cat’s nose very close to her face. Her hand was above his back and she was stroking it. She flipped, smiling to herself, and gawked at the clouds painted on the ceiling. Oh, it's just a dream! She doesn't know why but she is a little upset.

Ella Rose Francis, the second child of Luke and Nova was a pampered child of the Francis family. She not only had loving parents but also a caring brother Ellis, who was always there for her protection. Beside them was one mysterious person, who always used to entreat for her well-being, but she had no hint of that person.

Sixteen years old, Ella Rose had long black hair and her eyes were blue like the ocean. She was very unique and was not only pretty from the outside but was also outstanding from the inside. Her kindness and easy-going behavior were also regarded as one of the biggest reasons for her to tackle the chronic disease at the age of thirteen and get back her healthy life as a boon.

“What was that? Who was that person? And that wolf? God… I have been driving insane since the day I saw that wolf. Come on, Ella Rose, it is already two weeks and you still adhere to that wolf. You need to do something of yourself.” She pulled herself up and massaged her temples.

She then glanced at her hand. Unwrapping the gauze from her palm, she glanced at her wound which had already healed leaving the scars. Gently, she caressed the scars, which made her recall the white wolf that she was trying to forget.

Suddenly, the door swung and opened wide. “Ella Rose, wake up…” Nova entered the room with a pretty smile.

“I am already awake, mom,” scratching her messy hair, Ella responded.

“Great, now get your ass off that bed and get ready. You are leaving today, you remember that right?” queried Nova, tucking her hands on her hips.

“Yes, mom… I know. My hostel life has begun. How can I forget that?” she answered, throwing her leg off the bed and getting up.

“Good… it’s your last breakfast with us, so I have prepared your favorite breakfast” Nova stated.

“I am not leaving for eternal, mom. I will be back in the holidays,” Ella grumbled, pacing towards the washroom.

Nova took a deep breath and murmured in a low tone, “I know.”

“Here we go again,” Ella rolled her eyes before marching back to Nova. “Mom, can you please not do this? We have come across this topic every day since I returned from the school tour,” Ella said standing before her.

“What? I didn’t do anything…” Nova looked sideways.

Ella pulled her chin and gaped at her teary eyes. “You are crying, again. I told you, I will be back during the holidays. I am not going to stay in Angelwood for my whole life. Am I?”

“No, but I still don’t get why you have to select the school far away from here? Can’t you go to the school nearby like Ellis?” Nova raised a question.

“Mom, you know it is mandatory,” she responded.

“And why is that so?” Nova raised her brows.

“I want to make my CV strong to impress my future boss. Whoever is going to be my boss, is inevitably going to take me in without any doubt, the second he notices Angelwood Academy, the top school on my CV. You don’t worry about anything. I am not going to be alone there. Denim and Liam both will be by my side and I know I will survive with them.” She wrapped her hands around Nova.

“Okay, fine, but your dad will drive you there,” came her mother's command.

“Liam is taking his car, I can go with him, mom. I don’t like bothering my lovely dad.” Ella pulled back and strolled to the washroom.

“No, last time you went on a school tour with him, you came back with a wounded hand. I don’t think he is going to take good care of you,” Nova complained in a stern voice.

“I can take care of myself, mom. I don’t have to rely on him.” She folded her arms, turning towards Nova.

“Still you are going with your father, and that is final.” Nova left the room without anticipating Ella's reply.

Breathing heavily, Ella entered the washroom, “God…”

After breakfast, Nova and Ellis stood on the porch to send Ella off.

Ella embraced Nova before saying, “take care of yourself, mom.”

“You too take care, my love. Don’t skip to call me time and again.” Nova rubbed her back.

Ella nodded pulling away. “I will miss you.”

“I will miss you too.” Nova planted a kiss on her forehead.

Ella then walked to her brother Ellis and hugged him. “Take care of mom and dad, Ellis.”

“Okay, my little sister, I will take care of everyone. You just be fine over there and do your best,” Ellis replied, hugging her back.

She then picked up her cat Floppy and caressed its back lovingly. “Take care, Mr. Floppy, I will be back soon.”

“Ellis, don’t forget to feed Mr. Floppy, okay? I am counting on you,” she said, passing the cat to Nova.

“Okay, little sister, dad is waiting for you. Now go before you change your mind and end up being a cheerleader in my school,” Ellis mocked, shuffling her hair.

She rolled her eyes. “Oh! Come on, that is never going to happen. You know cheerleader is not my thing.”

“I know and you are never going to be one,” he replied.

“My brother knows me very well. Anyway, I am leaving, bye both of you. Take care,” she said, giving the flying kiss and walking away.

Luke was waiting for her at the gate and seeing her, he opened the door for her. “Here you go, snowflake.”

“Thanks, Dad,” she mumbled before slipping into the passenger seat.

“Drive safe, Luke,” Nova shouted from the porch.

“Don’t worry, I will go and come back in one piece,” Luke shouted back, starting the engine.

They waved at each other for the last time before the car left the premises.

“I hope she will be fine,” Nova murmured.

Ellis draped his hand around her shoulder and said, “don’t worry, mom. She is brave and strong. She will be fine.”

The car came to halt in front of Denim and her mother Isabel, who were waiting for them outside their gate.

“Bye, mom, take care,” Denim said, opening the door of the backseat and slipping in.

“Take care, honey,” Isabel said and averted gaze towards Ella. “Have a safe journey, dear.”

“Thank you, aunt,” Ella replied with a smile.

When the car drove away, Ella turned back and questioned, “Did Liam leave already?”

“Yeah, just an hour ago,” Denim replied.

“Oh!” Ella turned back her head.

“So, how are you feeling girls?” Luke questioned.

“Unexplainable…” both said in unison.

“That is pretty intense.” Luke smiled.

Ella threw her head back on the cushion and shut her eyes.

“Are you okay, snowflake?” questioned Luke, shortly glancing at her.

“Yeah, just feeling a little bit bad for leaving home,” Ella replied.

“Don’t worry, you will get through this. It is a part of life,” Luke tried to console her.

She inhaled deeply. “I know dad."

Opening her eyes, she glanced outside the window. It was already the beginning of spring and everything had changed. Even her life was taking a new turn.

She had the mixed emotion of nervousness and excitement inside her, as it was the first time leaving her cozy home and living in a hostel. Thinking about what the new change was bringing for her, Ella had no trace of when she fell deep in sleep.

The next moment when she opened her eyes was when Luke applied the sudden break and she was jerked off her seat. Thanks to the seatbelt that it saved her from hitting her face on the glass.

“What? What happened?” Ella stammered in panic.

~~~~~

Deep inside the woods named Misty Basin covert stood a tall and gigantic mansion. On its east wing was a wide balcony which gave the view of hills far in the distance. There stood a dignified and strong figure leaning on the balustrade. His green eyes were scanning around as if it was in search of an inestimable thing.

Suddenly a person in his mid-thirties emerged behind him and queried, “Are you sure about going there, Sire?”

Jacob pulled himself up and turned his face to his right shoulder before saying, “You know that very well that I have no other option, Andrew.”

“Yeah, I agree. But are you assured about her?” suspected Andrew.

“Yes, I am. I got a potent aroma that day,” replied Jacob, averting his back to the scenery that he was scanning.

Andrew nodded. “I will make the preparation then. We can leave this afternoon.”

Jacob nodded before Andrew disappeared from the sight. Suddenly Jacob hearkened the scream of someone. He closed his eyes and tried to concentrate. But there was nothing. He turned around to walk away, but the scream repeated.

“Maybe someone is playing on the cliff,” he deemed and walked away.

As he was about to get in, swiftly he sensed someone’s heart beating out loud. He even sensed the droplets of tears falling on the ground. With his sharp sense, he perceived terror and heard the cry of helplessness.

He rushed to Andrew and announced, “We need to go…”

Without questioning anything, Andrew obeyed Jacob. They both stood on the porch and together they leaped. At the end of the stairs landed two gigantic white werewolves blowing the dust underneath their nose with their heavy breathing.