A/N: Hello again, Amores! A lot of you have been asking who Xzavier was and if he's part of the TBG. Well, you'll know the answer soon as the story progresses. Anyway, for those of you who haven't bought their own copy yet of my book 'OWNING THE WILD HEIRESS'; it's  already available on SHOPEE, LAZADA & all bookstores nationwide in the Philippines! Thank you for all the support. :)

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PROLOGUE

2019

SABINA's POV

My forehead crinkled when I turned to the next page of the text book just to discover that I already finished answering everything. I didn't even notice it. I heaved a sigh, feeling kinda disappointed.

"What's with the long face, dear? Are you done already?" I looked at my mom who just came in my room.

"I'm done with my homework, mom."

"Then, what's with the long face?"

I sighed again. "Nothing." I then stood up from sitting at the coffee table and then threw myself into bed. I hugged my pillow. My mom sighed and sat on the edge of the bed while staring at me worriedly. Then, she noticed something.

"Why is this book here? Didn't I tell you to never read this book? I don't think, you're ready for this one." She said as she took the black book which was on my pillow.

"I saw it on your table while I was looking for a new book to read. I was just curious about this book. I'm already 18 and old enough to understand things like this." I reasoned out.

"No. You're not, period. Anyway, are you still thinking about going to university? You know that it's impossible to get out of here let alone go to university to study. Out of all the youngsters here, you're the only one who has knowledge about the city life because I secretly told you about it even though it's forbidden.

"Children here aren't as fortunate as you that's why they don't have any idea about the city; that after high school, colleges and universities exist. Sometimes, I can't help but to regret teaching you about it because while growing up, your desire to see the outside world is slowly getting out of hand. I'm afraid that you might get caught having knowledge about it and get us both in trouble."

"I don't understand why we don't have any right to do whatever we want to do. This is not fair."

"I already told you the answer to that, my dear. Our life here is not the same as the life outside of here. Our freedom is limited but as long as we don't do anything that goes against the teachings of the leaders, then we can continue living a normal life."

I looked at her in disbelief. "But our life here is not normal at all! Even though I only hear your stories about the outside world, I learned a lot from it and I know for sure that this is not the life that we deserve! We're like prisoners here and I want nothing but to get us out of here as soon as possible!"

"I understand what you feel but if staying here ensures our safety then it's okay. Your safety is more important to me."

I got up full of frustration. "But this is my life! The leaders don't have the right to dictate what I'm supposed to do with my life!"

My mother panicked. "Tone down your voice, will you?! If someone hears you, the leaders will surely punish you!" She whisper-yelled at me.

"I don't understand why I can't go down to the city to study or leave this place for good. I don't want to stay here all my life, mom. I want to strive and be successful someday. I don't want to spend my life here doing nothing but to follow the leaders' orders like a puppet. Why are we even here? Why can't we leave?" My eyes watered as I felt the familiar bitter emotions that I've been hiding inside of me for so long.

Her eyes became somber. "I'm sorry that you're suffering the consequences of your dad and I's poor decision-making in the past, my dear." That was when I suddenly felt guilty for lashing out at her like that.

I just couldn't take it anymore. Ever since I was old enough to understand our situation, I've had nothing in mind but to get out of here and be free. I've longed to study in a normal school, meet new people, experience life in the city, finally see my dad and many more, but I couldn't do it.

Before I was born, my parents faced a lot of problems including losing their home and they had nowhere else to go. Just when they prepared themselves to live on the streets, a group called 'Savior From Heaven' helped them by offering them their help in exchange for joining the group.

My parents hesitated at first but because they were desperate, they accepted their offer. But they didn't expect that they would bring them to a separate place. The SFH promised them great things and brought my mother to Safe Haven while my father went to a separate location.

But a couple of days after that, the leaders told my mother that my father went missing and until now, no one ever found him until the leaders formally declared that he's already dead.

Though, everyone believed that, my mother never did. She raised me full of knowledge about the outside world, especially about my father. Even though we're not with him right now, my mother and I have been hoping to be reunited with him one day.

But looks like it's kinda impossible for now because we're in Safe Haven which was located in the mountainous area that boarders France, Italy and Switzerland.

It's far away from civilization but that's not our main concern. Leaving Safe Haven is forbidden because of the teachings of the leaders that people will be soiled upon interacting with people outside the community. Talking about the city or the outside world in general is a big taboo too.

Our way of living is very conservative and according to the ancient scripture that only leaders have the privilege to touch and read.

"I want to leave this place, mom. Even though I've never known what kind of life I could have outside, I know that our lives will be a lot better if we leave this place and be with dad."

"I understand what you feel, my dear, but you know that we can't just leave this place."

"But why not?" I didn't even try to hide my frustration because I felt like we've been having the same conversation over and over again ever since I was old enough to understand that our situation wasn't normal at all.

"Because the people here in Safe Haven will be after us and we can never hide from them even if we managed to escape. The moment your dad and I accepted their help, we already surrendered ourselves onto them and gave them the right to us." She smiled sadly and then caressed my cheek with her hand gently.

"The other teenagers here don't complain about living here because for them, this is their home. But you're different. Ever since you were young, you were always curious and asked me a lot of questions."

"That's because no one ever gave them knowledge about the outside world. They think that if they get out of here, there's nothing but endless trees, mountains and dangerous animals. Unlike me, they managed to brainwashed them.

"Thankfully, you taught me everything that I needed to know. You even let me read the books that you've been keeping from everyone's eyes just for me to learn a lot about this world. I was lucky enough not to have been caught learning from all of these books until now.

"But because of these things that I learned through you and from the books that I've been reading, it made me want to learn even more. I want to see and experience everything and I can only do that if we get out of here." I then rested the side of my head on my mother's shoulder. I felt her kiss the top of my head as she wrapped an arm around me.

"You're really smart, my dear. Ever since you were young, I wanted nothing but for you to live a normal life that's why I did whatever I could to teach you everything that I know even though it was against the Safe Haven's rule.

"But I knew from the beginning too that my knowledge would never be enough for you. Even though you never attended a normal school, it was easy to notice how special you were. You're a smart girl that's why it's just normal for you to seek for further knowledge outside of this place." She heaved a sigh.

"I'm sorry that that I can't give you what you want for now, my dear. Crossing the leaders will never do us any good. I just don't want something bad to happen to you." I pulled away from her and then stood up.

"You've been telling me the exact same thing over and over again and I'm tired of hearing it, mom! If you don't have any plans of leaving, I do and I will do everything to make that happen!" I then stormed out of the room full of anger and frustration.

"Sab!" I heard her calling for me but I ran out of there, ignoring her. I wanted to shout in so much frustration. I felt like a trap little bird, unable to free myself no matter what I do.

I opened the door and was about to get out of our small house when I bumped into someone.

"Sorry..." I mumbled and looked up to see his face. It was the highest rank leader of Safe Haven, Father Nicolas. Everyone in this community is female and he's the only male. According to the rumors I heard, the male members of the SFH are staying at a different community but no one here really knows where it is exactly.

"You look like you're in a hurry, Sabina. Where are you going?" As usual, his voice was gentle.

"Ahm, I'm just going to pick some fresh vegetables from the garden for dinner, Father Nicolas."

"Oh, is that so? Your mom is really lucky to have such a good daughter like you."

I forced a smile. "No. I'm the one who's lucky to have a mother like her. I'll go on ahead, father Nicolas. See you around." He nodded his head.

"See you around, Sabina." While I was walking away, I looked back and saw him already talking to my mother at the doorway. I gritted my teeth and quickened my pace.

I don't know what's happening but I noticed that he's been coming over to our house to talk to my mom ever since last week and they always look like they're talking about something very important.

I quickened my steps but instead of going to the garden to pick some fresh vegetables, I decided to go to the river which was around 15 minutes away by foot from Safe Haven.

I was almost there when I ran into someone from Safe Haven.

"Where are you going, Sabina? It's already 4 pm." She was caring a big basket full of fruits and veggies.

"I'll just go get some herbs by the river." I made sure to sound as believable as possible.

"Okay. Just make sure to come back before 5. You know that it's not allowed to stay out of Safe Haven after 5."

I smiled. "Don't worry, Ms. Patty. I know that."

"Good." She then went on ahead while me on the other hand continued on trekking until I reached the river. I looked around and when I saw two guards talking on the other side of the river, I crouched down, taking cover with the tall grasses by the riverside while slowly moving forward to my target destination.

I carefully followed the flow of the water without them noticing me until I reached the waterfalls.

Safe Haven is located on the highest peak of the mountain and we're lucky to have such waterfall. The view from there is spectacular, overlooking the endless trees.

People from Safe Haven are only allowed to go to the nearest part of the river from Safe Haven and that was the part where I saw two guards a while ago. It's forbidden to go down further but I didn't care. 5 years ago, I came across this paradise and I fell in love at it at first sight.

Even though coming here has been difficult because of the guards around, they never caught me sneaking out. One day, I tried to go down further, wanting to see what lies ahead but around half a mile from the waterfalls, I discovered that there were a lot of guards stationing there, making sure that no one could ever walk past them.

Then, this place became my favorite spot. I always come here whenever I feel lonely and wanting to be alone. I even shared this place to my best friend before she passed away...

I heaved a sigh as I sat on top of the big flat rock and then watched the water cascading from the waterfalls. I suddenly felt melancholier than ever. I wanted to run off from this place but I couldn't just leave my mother behind.

The leaders will surely punish her the moment they'd learn that I escaped. Besides, the possibility for me to get out of this mountainous area is very slim.

As far as the eyes could reach, it's all nothing but mountains full of endless trees. When I was still young, the leaders including the elders in Safe Haven already warned us about escaping. They said that it would be dangerous wandering off into the woods because of all the wild animals.

But despite all the warnings, my best friend, Sammy, tried to escape and 2 days after she disappeared, they found her remains in the mountains. According to the leaders, she probably got starved to death and then got attacked by wild animals.

Because of that, most people in Safe Haven were afraid to even step foot past the river. I released a breath as I remembered about Sammy. Just like me, she wanted nothing but to escape this hell but unfortunately, she failed to do so and only went straight to her death.

Before she disappeared, she tried to convince me to go with her but I couldn't leave my mother behind. I tried to convince her not to do it because it would be too dangerous. She didn't respond and remain silent. I thought, she changed her mind but the next day, I learned that she went missing.

According to my mom, someone abandoned Sammy when she was still a baby at the entrance of Safe Haven. The community took her in and raised her. We were the same age and had been best friends since I could remember.

"Can I ever gather enough courage to do what you did and try to escape this place, Sam?" I muttered to myself bitterly and then sighed. Whenever I remember about Sammy, it always brings me so much pain in my heart.

I remained on my spot for I didn't know how long while watching the beautiful scenery. Everytime I feel upset, I always come here to calm myself down. Even though I hate living here, I love this particular place.

I looked at the endless trees. The sun was already starting to set but it began to pour down and for some reason as if the weather was sympathizing with what I was feeling. The weather changed just like that. Well,it had been windy since this morning.

That's when I knew that I had to go back before they notice my absence. I carefully stood up from sitting on the edge of the big rock and was about to get down when I lost my balance and fell.

I squealed as I fell into the river. Incomparable fear attacked my senses as the reality of me seconds to my death dawned on me. Around 50 meters was the waterfall drop. I tried to reach for something to hold onto and luckily, a got a hold of a big root, sticking out from the big tree located on the riverside.

I held onto it tightly but the current of the water was too strong. I could tell that my strength wasn't enough to fight the strong current. It rained earlier today that's why the current of the water was stronger than normal.

I screamed for help once again, uncaring if the guards could hear me. I just wanted to be saved. But unfortunately, no one came. Then, my eyes widened when the root that I was holding onto was starting to snap.

"Mom..." I cried and closed my eyes as I waited for my cruel fate. But just when I thought I was already finished, I heard a voice.

"Hold onto this, quick!" I opened my eyes and saw someone. It was a man! He threw the other end of the rope that he was holding to me before tying the other end around the tree. Without hesitation, I did as I was told. There was a knot at the end of the rope that's why it was easier for me to hold onto it.

"I'm gonna pull you up so do everything you can to hold on as tight as you can!" He started pulling the rope and I groaned as I felt the pain on my palms but I persevered. I would never let myself die without even seeing the outside world!

"C'mon, don't give up! You can do it!" He gave all his strength into pulling the rope and miraculously, I managed to hold onto it until I was finally near enough for him to grab my hand and pull me into safety onto the riverside.

We both slumped down on the ground while breathing hard. I couldn't believe what just happened. I just came here to my favorite place to breath some fresh air and to calm myself down but this happened. I looked at the river and my body shivered of the thought of me being carried away by the strong current towards the waterfall drop.

"Are you okay?" I heard the man ask and I shifted my gaze on him. My lips parted as our gazes met. I intended to thank him, but the thought of me seeing a stranger man this close to me overwhelmed me.

"Are you okay?" I gasped when I heard his voice again and immediately got away from him by scooting over backwards.

"W-What is a man doing here? Who are you?"

His lips curved with a sensual smile as he chuckled. "Why do you suddenly look so scared of me? Don't worry. I won't bite." I didn't know why but my heart suddenly started beating weirdly. Then, I noticed his gaze going down to my chest and I caught a spark of something pass through his eyes as he swallowed hard.

My eyebrows furrowed and followed his gaze. I saw that my breasts were very visible through my top.

I was wearing a white shirt and a white bra underneath but because I got wet all over, my bra clad breasts became translucent. Not just that. My nipples were shamelessly protruding that my bra failed to conceal them.

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How's the prologue, Amores?

Do you still remember about Sabina? 

Do you have any idea who Xzavier is? 

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