The Fallen Wolf

New World

Modern World - Present Day

Eva smiled as she read the mail once more. She was about to be awarded and promoted for her groundbreaking research and complex surgeries over the past few years. Her hard work was finally paying off—she was set to become the youngest professor in her field.

"Have a drink to celebrate," Helly, her best friend, said, handing her an iced coffee.

"You know me best!" Eva smiled, taking a sip from the cup, while Helly wore a sly smirk.

Suddenly, Eva felt dizzy and tried to stand, but before she could react, she fainted.

When Eva came to, she found herself in her lab, bound to a desk. Helly was sitting in front of her, a cold determination in her eyes.

"Why are you doing this? I'm your best friend!" Eva pleaded desperately, but she could see Helly was resolute. They had shared so much over the years—why was Helly now intent on killing her?

"Do you think the world belongs to you? We worked together, yet all the names and fame are yours. It’s always been this way. I can never achieve anything as long as you’re alive!" Helly complained as she tightened the ropes. She planned to set the lab on fire, removing the greatest obstacle to her success—Eva. No matter what, Eva always came out on top. And now, Helly couldn’t tolerate Eva stealing her man, Richard.

"Helly! I’ve done nothing wrong. You know it was all my work and dedication that brought me here!" Eva cried, her voice trembling with fear. Her life flashed before her eyes. All she had wanted was to be a successful doctor. Why was Helly so determined to kill her?

"You have to die before Richard proposes to you! I can’t let you steal my man!" Helly said, preparing to inject Eva with something. Despite Eva’s desperate struggles, Helly had bound her tightly, rendering her helpless.

"I don’t want to die." Tears streamed down Eva’s face as she saw Helly starting a fire in the lab. Helly’s injection had left her immobile and unable to scream. Eva closed her eyes, praying for a second chance at life.

First-Person POV - Eva

"Did she get drunk on her wedding day? She's bound to make a fool of herself!" murmurs drifted in from nearby, jolting me awake. It felt as if I was emerging from a deep slumber. My head throbbed with pain, and my ears rang. Everything was hazy, and my body felt sore, as if I had been hit by a car. I tried to reach for my phone, but then the memories of being burned by Helly flooded back. The burning sensation felt all too real.

I snapped my eyes open. For a moment, I was relieved to find myself not in the lab. Maybe it had all been a terrible dream. How could I die? I was alive and well, wasn’t I? Helly could never hurt me. But as I became more aware of my surroundings, I was struck by confusion. I found myself in a strange place, being carried in what seemed to be a palanquin. And what was this red garment I was wearing? It was so bright! My head felt heavy, weighed down by elaborate decorations that I cursed the hairdresser for.

"Am I wearing a traditional wedding dress?" I whispered in disbelief. "Am I in some kind of costume drama? It must be!" I reasoned, still struggling to understand how I ended up here. I didn’t want to believe I had transmigrated. I peered out of the small window, and it felt as if I had traveled back centuries. I was at a loss for what to do or say. Would they think I was mad if I spoke the truth? I desperately wanted to see my face, but there was no mirror. My frustration mounted as everything seemed to be spiraling into an identity crisis. I had been on the verge of a major career breakthrough and now... I wanted to kill Helly. Engulfed in my thoughts, I overheard a conversation from someone walking close to my carriage.

"She lost her virginity this morning, and now she's drunk. His Majesty should cancel the decree and spare Prince Kai all this trouble," someone said outside.

"Didn't she lose it to Prince Kai?" a man asked.

"Even if she did, she must have drugged him. She’s just playing games with both men. What a shameless woman!" the woman responded. She spoke with such authority, passing judgment on me without a hint of hesitation.

Her loud comments about someone sitting inside the palanquin showed a shocking lack of fear. Didn't she realize I could hear her? But who were they talking about? I was desperate to understand my situation. Although it was beginning to dawn on me that I had traveled through time, I wasn’t ready to accept it yet.

"She can’t shift. She has no powers and isn't skilled at anything. No one knows why the Alpha Crown Prince wanted to marry her. She's such a disgraceful wolf," the first person remarked.

"Of course, she must have used black magic or seduced him. Even if Prince Kai is known for his debauched behavior, he would never dishonor his brother’s woman the night before the wedding. He wouldn’t risk losing his royal status after losing his legs," the second person quickly judged.

"What if she doesn't wake up for her wedding? Do we have to carry her?" Another person complained. I was shocked.

By now, I knew they were talking about me, or rather the original owner of this body. Why did everyone dislike her so much? I wondered. Was she such a bad and useless person? But what happened to her? Did she die? Why am I now in her body? And was there any way I could travel back? Many thoughts evaded my mind, as I felt anxious about the whole ordeal.

I should have died in the fire. How did I transmigrate here? I sighed, puffing, closing my eyes to process everything. But as soon as I closed them, memories of the other Eva started flooding through my mind. I started to see her life play through my head like a very fast-flowing motion fantasy picture. Well, they were also wolves like me! No! No! No! She was also wolfless like me!

I cringed, squealing in fear, banging my head on the roof. It was such a small space. I let out a deep breath, before accepting the current truth of my situation, despite being in heavy shock. I had transmigrated to a different time. Not only the man I was going to marry was a stranger whom I didn't know, but he was a werewolf prince! It was too much for me to process. I screamed in panic, pinching myself. I slapped my cheeks repeatedly, hoping it was all a dream. I wanted to escape this cruel reality. But I was afraid there wasn't any way out.

"Are you alright, Lady Eva? Do you need anything?" One of the servants who was gossiping against me a while ago slid the curtain from the palanquin's window and inquired.

The girl looked at me with puppy eyes. It was as if she had never gossiped about anyone in her entire life, let alone the other Eva.

"Stop the carriage! I don't want to marry anymore!" I pleaded with urgency. I wanted to escape now and then plan later for this forced marriage.

"But my lady, you have to marry." she paused for a bit before deciding to let me know the cons. "Otherwise, the general's family will disown you. This morning you have humiliated the crown prince. Lady Angela was generous in saving both Prince Adam's and the general's honor by agreeing to marry on such short notice. And now, if you run away from your marriage with Prince Kai after what you did last night, the alpha king will surely banish you from the pack. You won't be able to survive a day among the rogue wolves," she tried to explain to me. She might not like me, but she wasn't hiding facts from me. She had put out the bare truth of my current situation in front of me.

"What? There are rogue wolves outside?" I whispered in fear. All the scary werewolf news I had read was starting to feel frighteningly real.

I pulled the curtain down without replying, needing time alone to reevaluate and rethink. I must have done something right to get a second chance at life, even if it was in a different world. I didn’t want to die again. The only way to survive while I learned more about this world was to marry the prince. It seemed safer than wandering alone and facing rogue wolves. Besides, this Kai was a cripple. How much harm could he inflict upon me? I sighed, resigning myself to my fate. Time and space had brought me to marry a werewolf prince!

When we arrived at the wedding hall, another palanquin was already there. I was curious about who else was sharing the same date, time, and venue with us. I had no intention of sharing my husband with another woman. My dignity and beliefs were at stake. I was determined to seek a divorce as soon as possible. I was no one's castoff; I was only pretending to be submissive, to understand this new world. These people were predators, and the moment they discovered I wasn’t the real Eva, they would likely kill me.

To my surprise, a woman who resembled Helly emerged from the palanquin and entered the hall. She must be Angela. I had a sinking feeling about her. It was a face I never wanted to see again. I was barely holding back my rage. She had hurt me, and she had also hurt the other Eva. She was a sinful woman, no matter where she was. A sudden thought crossed my mind: What if Helly had crossed over and was now pretending to be Angela? I scrutinized her more closely. She was different; more feminine and cunning.

The way she glanced at me, smirking and scolding, was nerve-wracking. I vowed to avenge both myself and Eva.

I felt helpless, sharing this wedding hall with these treacherous people who had schemed and plotted. It was a forced marriage that led Eva to despair. Even if Kai had stood up for Eva, I wondered if his intentions were genuine. I was suspicious of everyone. It had become second nature to me. I was more engrossed in their affairs than in my own predicament. I realized that the original owner's feelings and experiences had become my own. I felt her pain, grief, and need for vengeance.

"Alpha Crown Prince Adam enters!" My heart raced when I heard his name announced. I rolled my eyes. The original owner of this body had been too weak. No wonder she had ended her life. She had seen through his true nature but chose to die instead of exposing him. But I wasn’t her. I would avenge these people and make them pay.

"Alpha Prince Kai enters." I found myself more curious about him. He was the only mystery. Why had he stood up for Eva? Was he being responsible, or was he protecting her silently? Or perhaps he was seeking revenge against his brother. The royal family was clearly a mess. I knew I needed to watch him closely before forming any conclusions. Luckily, the man I was marrying seemed less devious.

I was relieved that the veil hid my face. Otherwise, a decree for my death might have been issued by now. As Adam walked past me, I felt a knot tightening in my chest. It was heavy. I rolled my eyes in annoyance. I had to learn to control this body and manage these overwhelming emotions.

Following Adam, a man of imposing presence appeared in a wheelchair. This must be Prince Kai. I was surprised to sense his powerful aura. I had never experienced anything like this before. Was it a wolf trait? Despite being crippled, Kai exuded a more potent aura than the crowned prince. It confused me. He was not what he seemed. He was hiding his true self beneath layers. For some reason, I was intrigued by him. He didn’t appear to be the playboy the servants had described. I wondered if he was marrying me to secure his position as a prince. It seemed like a reasonable motive, yet I wasn’t entirely convinced. When those flashbacks played in my mind, it seemed he genuinely cared about Eva in that short frame. What was the truth? I needed to find out.

Still, I reminded myself to be cautious around him. For all I knew, he could tear my heart out with his bare hands. As if sensing my thoughts, he looked at me. I flinched, but his gaze seemed to convey something like... love? Maybe it was pity. He had a deep red scar on the left side of his face, extending from his eye to his ear, marking a large portion of his cheek. It gave him a dangerous appearance. If I could ignore the scar, he was a very handsome man.

For the first time in my life, I felt my heartbeat quicken as he maneuvered his wheelchair closer to me. I knew it was all directed at me.