Run, Little Wolf: A Retelling of Beauty and The Beast (The Poets of Once Upon a Time Book 1)

Prologue

“It’s been four years Lyricist Abigail,” Master Oberon sighs, both our gazes set on the manor up ahead. The sun has yet to rise, leaving its stone walls cast in shadows. From afar, it looks like an idyllic home for a princess.

But something tells me that the woman I’m looking for will be the furthest thing from royalty. Unremarkable in his eyes.

“Yes, I’m aware,” I say dryly, watching the forest around us, certain I got the day and time correct. She should be here any moment now. “I was there, if you recall.”

“Yes, and you cursed someone without consent from the Anthology,” Master Oberon points out. “At the time, I let you go unscathed because I thought that maybe you were onto something. But this cannot go on.” He sighs, rubbing his face in exasperation. “Lyricist Abigail, she hasn’t shown up, it’s time for you to undo the curse.”

“Sh.” I raise my hand to silence my superior’s words, and he spears me with an indignant look, dark eyebrows raised. But I ignore him, unafraid. Master Oberon is stern, but he lets me get away with too much. “Someone is coming.”

A moment later, a silhouette steps out from between the trees.

Moonlight and the eerie grayness of a coming dawn light the person enough for me to see that it’s a young woman with dirt on her cheeks and twigs stuck in her mane of dark hair. Her expression is heavy with caution as she makes her way through the forest with quick precision.

Master Oberon takes a step forward, watching the woman move unknowingly closer to us. There’s a sound further off and I see my cursed victim step into frame.

I watch with excitement as the two interact, unconcerned with their mutual animosity. He always hates them. But this girl is one of few who have openly hated him back. A grin spreads across my face when the woman runs through the manor gates a few moments later.

“Well, she’s here, isn’t she?” I smirk, finally feeling hopeful. “Still want me to undo the curse?”

Master Oberon shakes his head but says nothing, and we watch in silence, waiting for some kind of sign that things are going well. Somehow, I think it will be a while before we see one…