Prologue

Victoria was born on a stormy night; her father was fighting off snow lions that night and was unable to see his very own daughter being born. Her hair was as white as the snow and her eyes were as blue as the sea, but one thing about her didn't seem right. No one could ever figure it out. Not even her own mother.

"What do you think is wrong with her?" asked her father when he realized that unlike normal children she was born with all of her teeth.

"I'm not sure," said the doctor.

"Well, I really don't care," said her mother, "I think she is beautiful, no matter what."

"Well, one more birth to the Elvin world is a great treasure," said the doctor packing up his things and leaving into the night, "Let's just hope she won't be the last."

Chapter 1- Victoria POV

It was just one of those days where you wish you were like all the other teens. Sadly, I was never like any of the other teenagers in my village. None of them had to guard the village from lions or any other creature that tried to get past her and into the village. My father has always told me about all of the deaths that have been caused by the "monsters" or the "beasts". So now the only thing that is keeping them out of the village is me...

"Victoria?" called my mother from the kitchen. I sat up, tired of trying to fight staying awake, I swung my feet off the end of my bed and gracefully crossed my room and quietly snuck out of my room and into the kitchen right behind my mother.

"Yes, mother," I said when I was right behind her. She squeaked slightly in surprise before turning around to see me standing there.

"Dear, you almost scared me to death," she said holding a hand to her chest, "I swear the more you spend time out of the gate with all of those beasts the more you start to act like one." I watched her nose curl up slightly at the word beast.

"Oh mother; there is no need to worry. I'm not turning into a beast," I said smiling, "I already am one." I jumped forward and hugged my mother tightly as she laughed. Her laugh ran through my ears like sweet bells or the sweet call of beautiful song birds in the morning.

"I think that you need a free day every now and then," she said in all seriousness.

"Oh mother, you know that if I take a free day, the town will probably be attacked," I said allowing her to land a kiss on my forehead.

"Yes, but you need to learn how to be a girl," she said pulling me back just enough to look into my sea blue eyes.

"Mother," I said before I pulled away and turned from her, "I should get ready." I slowly walked back into my room. I brought my bow and arrows out and placed them on my bed. I pulled on my dark green tank top and my black Jean shorts. My belt hung loosely around my hips. I pulled on my black leather boots.

"So," said my mother standing in my doorway, "Have you noticed that some of the boys here have gotten older?" I looked over her with a raised eyebrow.

"Mother, even if I did start looking,"I sighed cause I knew that all she wanted was for me to be normal like everyone else, "It's not like they would see me."

"What do you mean by that?" she asked me putting her hands on her hips.

"They don't see me as a girl," I said looking at her and crossing my arms in front of my chest, "They see me as the girl that guards the gate to the village, nothing more; nothing less."

"Well, how do you know that?" she asked me. I raised an eyebrow at her and turned around to grab my bow and arrows.

"I just know. I need to leave," I said pushing past her.

At the edge of the Golden Gate, I set up my spot in one of the nearest trees. I climbed out on one of the top branches and watched the wild life all around me. I felt as if I could fly.

"I don't see why my mom keeps wanting me to be like every other girl in the village," I said to myself, "I mean I'm happy to be by myself..." I looked down at the ground underneath me. I watched as a rabbit hopped around happily, but then something happened. One minute the rabbit was hopping the next it was dead on the ground. I looked closer, but no claw or teeth marks. I jumped down from where I was sitting and landed on my feet. I looked over at the dead rabbit before trying to figure out what had killed the poor thing.

"I swear you're half cat," said a guy's voice from behind me. I frowned and turned to find Shawn; standing there as if he owned the world. I felt as if I could pounce on him and not feel sorry.

"Only you would think that," I said tightening my hand on my bow. I let a low growl rumble from my chest.

"Well, can I take my catch back to the village with me?" he asked me smirking as he nodded towards the dead rabbit.

"You... You did that?" I asked feeling faint almost. Surprisingly it wasn't because I couldn't stand blood or the smell of dead animals, but it was the fact that it was him that killed the rabbit. That he could kill and not give a damn about the animal that he just shot. It wouldn't shock me any that if I turned my back to him, he would shoot me in the shoulder and laugh.

"Yeah, beautiful," he said holding his hand loosely on his gun that hung on his belt.

"Fine," I said turning and running into the forest.

"Victoria!" he shouted after me, "Come back! Victoria!" I could hear him start to run after me, but then I didn't hear anything. I ran all the way to a beautiful meadow, that only I knew about. I leaned up against one of the trees, trying to catch my breath. Once I did and looked up, I would never forget what I saw that moment. I saw two beautiful white lions. I could tell that they were males, because of the mane on their heads. I took a step towards them, but then noticed them eye me cautiously.

"Oh,"I said putting my bow and arrows down on the other side of the tree; then taking, yet again, another step closer. I watched as the lions looked at each other; I could have sworn that they nodded slightly at one another. The one to my left came closer to me until he was close enough for me to either scream or pet him.

"You're beautiful," I said watching him sit and cock is head to the side. I took a step closer and held my hand out for him do either bite or sniff. I closed my eyes ready to either feel fur under it or teeth as he took a bite out of me. Instead of feeling teeth, I felt him lick me. I opened my eyes and he didn't move away, but moved towards me a little more. I placed my hand near his nose expecting him to pull away, but he placed his nose against me. I smiled slightly and slowly moved my hand over his nose and up his head. I scratched him behind his ears and listened to him purr. I giggled as the other one came over to me and nudged me with his head.

"You're beautiful too," I said kissing his nose.

"This way! I think I saw her go this way," said a guy's voice. I looked over and my eyes widened. Both lions moved past me, almost as if they wouldn't let anything hurt me.

"No, please," I whispered so that they had to turn their heads to look at me, "can you just take me a little ways away so that they don't find me here?" The lion that saw me first, came over and pulled past me enough just so his back was level with my hips.

"My name is James," I heard him say to me, but his lips didn't move.

"James," I said swinging my leg over his back.

"My name is Matt," said the other one. I nodded at him and gently wrapped my arms around James's neck and held on as he ran into the forest. They ran for what seemed only a brief time before they stopped. I looked up and saw that we had stopped only a few yards from the Golden Gate. I slid off and kissed them both on their noses before starting towards the Gate, but I stopped and saw that they were still there.

"Please go," I said.

"When will we see you again?" asked James sounding hopeful. I looked back at him and then thought for a moment.

"Tonight," I said hurrying back to him to hug him and then I turned to hug Matt slightly. They both started purring.

"We will be waiting here for you," said Matt.

"No, please. I don't want them to find you. I will just meet you in the clearing," I said putting my hands under his great head. He sighed, but then nodded. With that, I turned and hurried to the gate; this time when I looked back they were gone.

"That's my boys," I said quietly. Then in a far off distance I heard two happy roars. I smiled before I turned and walked back to the gate to wait for whoever it was that was looking for me. I looked around and saw no one there. I smiled to myself before I climbed up the tree and into my spot again.

"Shawn, you said you knew where your little girlfriend went," said Jake thumping Shawn on the back.

"Well, she is quite the wild fire she is," he said looking smug. I rolled my eyes and waited for him to stand right under me. He walked right under where I was at, slowly I positioned myself into a pouncing position and jumped from the tree and landed right on top of him. I grabbed a fallen tree branch and placed it under his chin.

"So when where you going to tell me that I was now your property?" I asked feeling angry.