LEOPARD DEN:Her Predator His Prey

New York, Seven Hundred Years Ago

The full blood moon hung low in the night sky, staining the world red feeling ominous as ever.

Inside a small cottage hidden deep within the forest, a baby slept peacefully in a wooden cradle, completely unaware that her world was going to change this very day.

A woman stood beside the cradle, tears streaming silently down her face as she brushed her trembling fingers over the infant's soft cheek.

"We have to send her away," she whispered, holding the baby's hand.

The man standing near the window clenched his jaw. Every instinct inside him rebelled against the idea but he knew this was the only way.

"I know."

His voice was clearly rough,he couldn't bear to be apart from the little one.

"But I swear to you, even if it costs me my life, I will protect our daughter." Stroking the woman's back consoling her.

A distant howl echoed through the forest.

The man's eyes widened.

"They're here."

He pulled back the curtain slightly and looked into the darkness.

He could see dozens of people coming with torches with his lycan eyes he could see and hear them.

He clenched his fist feeling betrayed than ever.

"They're closer than I thought." Closing back the curtains and going back to the cradle hoping the noise won't startle the baby.

The woman hurried toward a small wooden table and opened a carved box. Inside were red candles, black feathers, and pieces of chalk etched with ancient runes.

Without wasting another second, she pushed the table aside clearing the floor as she prepared to start the spell

The chalk scraped against the floor as she drew a large circle and placed the candles in the position it should be.

One by one, the candles flickered to life as she flicked her fingers

Ancient words rolled from her lips, her eyes changing colors.

The language had not been spoken for centuries and was nearly forgotten.

Her magic stirred as the air around the room became heavier as mist and smoke surrounded them.

Outside, the voices were growing louder and closer.

The hunters were almost upon them and she needed to hurry.

The man rushed to the cradle and carefully lifted the baby into his arms holding her carefully.

The little girl stirred but did not wake.

For a brief moment he held her close, breathing in her scent, trying to memorize everything and hold the last piece of memory he will ever get , he walked to the circle and then he placed her in the center of the circle moving back.

The woman drew a silver knife from her belt and without hesitation, she sliced her palm letting the blood flow from her hand and dripped onto the baby's forehead she held out the knife to the man as he took the knife and cut his own hand letting his blood also drip on the baby head as their blood mixed together.

The moment it touched the child's skin, a glowing mark appeared on her forehead as the floor trembled and the candles burned brighter.

A powerful force surged through the circle surrounding the baby.

The voices outside grew closer and closer

"They're breaking through the barriers," the man growled .

The woman nodded, fighting back another sob.

"I'll finish the spell."

He bent down and pressed a kiss to his daughter's forehead.

His eyes shone with unshed tears.

"Forgive us."

Then he turned and strode toward the door.

As his bone cracked and his features changed.

Within seconds a massive black wolf stood where the man had been

The woman buried her fingers in his fur one last time.

"Be careful."

The wolf nuzzled her hand then he charged into the night heading into the battle he had longed all his life to keep his family safe.

As screams of pain and howls of wolves erupt outside.

Inside the cottage, the woman remained kneeling beside the circle.

The magic intensified much stronger and the necklace around her neck began to glow.

With trembling hands she removed it and fastened it around the baby's neck.

"My little moon..."

The cottage door was kicked open as several armed figures stormed inside the small cottage ,the people she once called friends and allies are the very people she least expected to be betrayed by.

The woman sprang to her feet ,magic burst from her hands sending some of the people flying and bursting into flames.

For a moment she held them back, stopping them from reaching the baby but there were too many of them and she was already weak from spells she had been chanting.

A blade pierced her from behind as pain exploded in her chest.

She gasped, coughing out blood as it spilled from her lips.

The leader ripped the blade free from her chest, blood flowing from the wound and she fell down.

"You should have surrendered the child."

The woman collapsed to her knees.

Still, she smiled and it was of no use.

The circle was shining brighter than ever as the baby was beginning to fade.

"No!" one of the hunters shouted

The leader lunged forward but he was too late.

The child had vanished and the circle disappeared following the child.

The leader grabbed the dying woman by the shoulders.

"Where did you send her?" He demanded shaking the dying woman.

The woman laughed weakly coughing again

"You will never find her."

His grip tightened.

"Tell me!" He shouted

Her gaze drifted toward the empty space where her daughter had been.

As she looked relieved, it had not been too late and the spell had worked.

"You already lost."

With those final words, she took her last breath tears falling from her eyes.

Outside, beneath the crimson glow of the blood moon, a witch and a lycan gave their lives protecting the child they loved.

And somewhere far beyond their ene

mies' reach, their daughter began a new life.

Unaware that one day the entire supernatural world would hunt her carrying a destiny on her shoulders.