The next day, Jackson and I were sitting in Karen's condo, watching the news on the television. Karen, on the other hand, was preparing some snacks. We were casually chatting about the school's upcoming programs and events to get us prepared for the possibilities until the news anchor's voice abruptly interrupted our conversation. "Breaking news, I repeat, breaking news," the anchor said urgently, causing us to immediately focus our attention on the TV. We watched in shock and disbelief as the news report unfolded in front of us. An entire village had been wiped out, believed to have been the work of wild animals but we believed from a group of vampires. The footage showed images of the destruction and terror, with devastated families trying to find their loved ones amid the rubble. "Wow," Jackson said, breaking the silence that had fallen over us. "This is truly horrifying." "I can't believe this is happening," Karen added, her voice strained with emot
Alpha Draku paused for a moment, his eyes narrowing as he considered my words. "Very well," he said at last. "If it brings you peace of mind, we will prepare for any potential threat. But know that I still do not believe in the vampire elders." With that, he dismissed us, and we left the pack village with heavy hearts. As we made our way back through the forests, we could not shake the feeling that something ominous was looming on the horizon. The next few days were spent in a flurry of preparations. Karen, Jackson, and I, and sometimes Simon joined us in, worked tirelessly to gather the resources we needed to ensure the humans' and pack's safety. We scouted the area of our school, set up traps, and laid out plans for different scenarios. We were determined to be ready for anything that may come our way. However, the days passed, and there was no sign of the Vampire Elders. We began to wonder if Alpha Draku was right, and our fears were unfounded. But just as
As Karen and I continued patrolling the city, the moon was high in the sky and the night was quiet. The occasional car would pass by, but for the most part, it was just the two of us walking through the streets. We were both on high alert, knowing that any moment we could come face to face with one of the Vampire Elders. "Thank you for doing this, Karen," I said, trying to open a conversation when the two of us were completely serious since we got out of the woods meeting with the vampires. "What about me?" Jackson blurted. He even moved his face closer to me to make sure he will be noticed. "Aren't you supposed to be thanking me as well?" Karen and I exchanged a short smile. "Are your wounds already healed?" I asked considering I am still seeing his bandages all over his arms after my wolf saved him from the wheel. "Don't change the subject, dude." Jackson insisted. "I managed to meet vampires, werewolves, hunters, and many more in the name of peace and justice." "Fine," I sh
The next day, I requested Jackon for a man-to-man talk in my apartment before we could head to school. "What this is about that we need to talk as early as six in the morning, huh?" Jackson complained before he dropped his body on the bed. I was in the bathroom at the moment, but the door was slightly cracked. "Our pack had an urgent meeting last night." "Okay. And what's in it for me?" he asked, still disinterested. "We talked about protecting our pack members from the Vampire Elders. And I proposed to help the humans." I said, then head out of the bathroom. Jackson lifted half of his body and looked me in the eye, this time, his face turned serious, especially when he was the only human I know who was well aware of what was certainly going on in New Orleans. And the high level of threat these Vampire Elders possesses to the humankind. "Let me guess, he did not agree to it. That's why you need my help." Jackson said. "Exactly! You get my point. No wo
Two days before the expected attack, Jackson, Simon, and I walked through the streets of New Orleans and were constantly reminded of the dangers that lurked in the shadows. In just two days, the city was set to be attacked by vampires, and we knew that we had to do everything in our power to prepare for the worst. We decided to visit some of the houses that were located beyond civilization, hoping that we could encourage the inhabitants to go to school and learn how to defend themselves against the vampires. Some of the residents agreed with us and were eager to learn how to protect themselves and their loved ones. Others, however, were reluctant to leave the safety of their homes, even in the face of imminent danger. As we walked from house to house, we were greeted with a mix of skepticism and fear. Many of the residents had never seen a werewolf before, and they were understandably cautious around us. We did our best to allay their fears, explaining that we wer
"Karen, are you okay? Did they hurt you?" I worriedly asked her while studying the ins and outs of the place. But Karen was not responding to my inquiry. She was still in shock when her parents are with her, and she was terrified she cannot protect them with her wolf. I could not help but grit my teeth when my wolf believed we were already too late. Then, I ordered Karen's parents to take their daughter to a safer place. Luckily, they nodded at me and quickly took their grip on Karen's shoulders. "What now, huh, Melvin?" Simon asked me. "What else there could it be? To do what we have to do. To beat the hell out of these vampires." I said before readying for the battle. Simon and I stood facing two vampire elders in the middle of a public library, our hearts pounding in our chests as we prepared for what was sure to be a brutal fight. These were no ordinary vampires - they were ancient beings with powers that far surpassed our own. But we were determined t
After it felt like an eternity, I lifted half of my body and growled like a bolt of thunder. The feeling was as if I have been drowning at the bottom of the ocean where I can breathe and finally, I was lifted above the sea level. I opened my eyes and found myself lying on the bed in someone's room. When I glanced at the four-sided wall, I realized that I was in Karen's soundproof condominium unit - back in my room. "What happened to me?" I uttered to myself while examining my arms, face, and down to the wounds in my left abdomen. The wound was still there causing my wolf to moan and gritted my teeth at the same time. Before I could frisk my left abdomen, the severe pain crawled through every fiber of my muscle and stopped in my brain. It was a sign to me that my wolf was not dreaming. I'm alive. But how? The last thing I remember was when Karen and Simon were trying to patch my wounds. One thing was for certain, I know my heart stopped beating at that time. Eve
The next day, Jackson, Simon, and the rest of the rugby team visited me in my tiny apartment after knowing I came back to life. Some of them even patently stayed outside just to see me. "Dude, are you all right? Do you need anything?" Jackson asked, his eyes started getting swollen but he was trying to control his tears from falling. Among them who are squeezing into the room, he and Simon were the closest to me. But I believe Simon will not cry for me if my wolf certainly dies back at the battle against the vampire elders. "I'm fine, Jackson. Good as new." I said back with a smile on my face, not because I appreciated their presence but because of those boxes of food and drinks scattered from the corner. Most of them brought something for me, especially Simon who almost brought everything I don't have in the apartment. Good thing I have a friend who was as loaded as him. "Thanks for these, guys. I truly appreciate all your concerns for my well-being. " I added
"Poor little wolf," Mr. James uttered. "All your plans failed. Everyone around you died because you encourage them to be part of your vision. With just one stab of my claw straight into your heart, there is no way you could survive. But there is no fun if I do that to you." He shifted back to his human form, and with a sadistic grin, he cruelly taunted me, relishing in his superiority. He unleashed a barrage of punches to my battered face, blood spewing from my mouth with each blow. The agony intensified, yet he continued to laugh, finding pleasure in my suffering. "How does it feel, huh, Melvin?" he continued. "Does it hurt? How about removing your fingers one by one? That would be music to my ears." But amidst this relentless assault, a spark refused to extinguish within me. Determination ignited a fierce resolve upon seeing the clouds from the sky as they started to get darkened. Lightning and thunders began to emerge in the sky. And the cold wind blows straight to
"They're killing our people! Get back! Get back!" Simon screamed, his voice laced with worries and fears combined. "Melvin, do something!" "This is not what we expected to happen, Simon. Let me think first, okay?" I screamed back before digging into the deepest part of my brain on what to do in this kind of scenario. "There's no time to think." Simon insisted. "You must do something!" Simon and I stood outside the entrance of the cave, our hearts filled with terror. Before our eyes lay a scene of chaos and destruction. The dense forest surrounding the cave was already engulfed in dark smoke and flames. The crackling fire licked hungrily at the trees, transforming the once serene landscape into a fiery nightmare. And at the center of it, all stood a colossal werewolf, towering over us with an air of malevolent power. The massive creature was not just content with burning the forest. It continuously released blasts of fire from its gaping maw, directing them n
Two days ago. "So you mean we are not just facing one huge terrifying monster but hundreds of them? Are you fucking kidding me, Mr. Parker?" the Sheriff slapped his hand on the surface of the table in front of us. My wolf some of the highest-ranking officials in the city, including the mayor and the Sheriff are gathered in the mayor's office. Behind me is where Karen and Simon standing still. The urgent meeting was palpable. It was I who called for an emergency meeting as it turned out that our pack got information from a reliable source that Mr. James was busy multiplying his numbers in our neighboring cities. "I'm so sorry, Mr. Sheriff. But getting angry and raising your voice will not solve anything in this case." I replied with conviction. "You already told us in our confession that we will be using everything the police department has to stop these monsters." "Yeah, I did that." The Sheriff replied. "But what I meant to that is to use all our weapons su
"Please, don't talk anymore. The rescue team is on their way." I reached out to her hand and studied her condition. Then I glanced at those werewolf guardians who were rushing in our direction. "Hurry!" I yelled. "Melvin," Jennie breathed out my name. She grabbed something from her pocket and grasped it in my hands. "Take that. Use it for good." Out of curiosity, I opened my hand and looked at what she just handed me. In Jennie's final moments, she presented me with a syringe filled with a mysterious green liquid. As far as I could remember, it was the same serum her father had used to transform me into a human. Her voice trembled as she spoke the instructions. "Please... use this... to stop my... evil dad. He already killed all the monsters and absorbed all their powers inside him. Please, be careful of him. He was no longer the..." she managed to say before her life slipped away. Her last words hung in the air, heavy with sorrow and determination. I clut
My wolf already expected that from him. With the new blood in my veins, I don't need to get worried if things go south. We barged into the village our rifles filled with bullets. On top of that, I already convinced myself that I must do whatever it takes to get the pack from the ruthless and manipulative leaders. And that must be done by hook or by crook time is not on our side at the moment. Meanwhile, a sly smile curled on my lupine face as I locked eyes with him, my voice dripping with concealed menace. "You doubt my capabilities? Perhaps you'd like a demonstration," I asserted, my tone unyielding. "How about a one-on-one battle between you and Julian? If you decline my proposal, know that I will personally end your life, just as I did to those pitiful men in masks." The room fell silent once again, every werewolf present captivated by the intensity of the standoff. The pack leader, although conflicted, understood the truth in my words. And the power I wielded w
Simon immediately shut his mouth, and deny it or not, my wolf started to sense the worries and fears that itched his expression right after confessing to him about the killings. The last I could do is blame him for that. Simon had every right to get suspicious of me when I just got back from my complicated past of being a ripper. Needless to say, I am their most feared enemy a few hours ago. I even almost killed Karen. But I must get to the bottom of everything now that I got back my consciousness. Everything. Even if I may not get the chance to correct the past, my wolf must protect the future. Meanwhile, Simon and I stood outside in front of Jackson's parents' house, fraught with anger and betrayal. The door loomed in front of us, a barrier keeping us from the truth we needed to confront. With a furious determination, I slammed my shoulder against the wooden door, splintering the lock and sending it crashing open. There are no cops around so who the hell do I ca
The mask fragmented into countless pieces. Reality itched me as I glanced back to Karen. She's dead. And it was because of me. I killed her, my mate. And the love of my life. But how? How did it happen? Why did I do it? My brain was frozen without getting any answer to my questions until all of a sudden, an unknown power surged within me - a tempest of raw, untamed energy pushing against the confines of my skin. My wolf stirred in startled wonder; it had never experienced such magnitude of power. My eyes, once blurred, now blazed fiery red. It was the same eyes when Karen became an alpha. Shaking off the remnants of the mask, my newly amplified senses caught whiffs of a brutal battle underway – Simon and our friends combatting the malevolence of the masked men. My gaze swiveled back to Karen's prone form on the ground, heartache seizing me, her peaceful face a harsh contrast to the chaos around me. The alpha blood in me roared throughout my veins with the urg
Everyone in the room fell into a heavy silence and the weight of my accusation echoed in the air. For a moment, not a single police officer dared to speak or move. The statement lingered like a dark shadow, casting doubts and fears among those who had believed in Jackson's innocence. With eyes darting nervously, Jackson's facade finally crumbled, revealing the truths he had fought so hard to conceal. His gaze fell to the ground, unable to meet anyone else's eyes. It was in that moment, amidst the deafening silence, that the harsh reality of his actions became undeniable. As I stood there, my heart heavy with the weight of betrayal, I hoped that the officers would heed my warning. The threat Jackson posed was too grave to be ignored. It was time for justice to prevail, for those in positions of authority to be cautious, lest they too fall victim to the treacherous lies that Jackson had spun. In this moment of immense tension and revelation, the precinct becam
"What the hell is going on?" I could not help but ask myself. "Karen!" Simon called out desperately, seeing me on the verge of turning around. He rushed towards me, gripping his arm tightly, pulling me back just in time. "Don't look, Karen! Whatever you do, don't look!" "What's going on, Simon?" I voiced out my question with my eyes closed. "Why did they turn into stones? Please, do something. They're our friends." Tears welled up in my eyes as the gravity of the situation dawned on me. Fear and disbelief locked in an intense battle on my face. I clutched my arm, seeking solace and answers in my eyes. In front of me were all our friends turned into stones. The worst part of the case was that my wolf, despite my senses being heightened, could barely hear their thunderous heartbeats anymore. "Best of luck, my friends," Mr. James said, his words laced with a bittersweet tone. With a wave of his hand, he and the two men in masks disappeared, leaving only a faint ec