Packing Up

Serenity stood before her wooden closet. Her lips were pressed together in a thoughtful line while her hand crossed her chest, deep in contemplation. Her gaze roamed across the assortment of clothing options that lay before her, searching for the perfect selection to pack.

From the information she had gathered, she knew that the climate in the Silverclaw Pack was drastically colder than her current location, with half the year blanketed in a snowy embrace. As a mere human, she was acutely aware of her vulnerability to the bitter cold, unlike the resilient and fur-cladded werewolves.

She carefully chose each piece of warm attire, meticulously arranging them in her luggage next. Then, she turned her attention to gathering her other necessities, methodically cross-checking them against her list to ensure nothing vital was overlooked.

A voice cut through her concentration.

"Are you seriously not reconsidering it?" questioned her friend after noticing her jolly friend.

Serenity turned her head to look at the redhead. Subtle signs of disapproval were etched in the emerald depths of Jane's eyes, evidence of the genuine care she held for Serenity. A grimace sat on her face.

"Jane, I thought I already proved my steely determination by applying for the position of pack's doctor," Serenity joked, her tone being lighthearted.

Jane's brows furrowed deeper, her displeasure apparent.

"But that's Silverclaw Pack. You're potentially risking your life by entering the territory. Their beliefs are rooted in archaic values, and their Alpha takes pride in this primitive mindset.

Not only that, but they are also one of the strongest packs out there. That's why, the council doesn't dare touch them no matter how much wrongdoings they accumulate. They could take an innocent life, and no one would be able to do anything against it."

Frustration laced Jane's voice as she rose from the edge of the bed. Flecks of golden sparkled within her eyes, mirroring the intensity of her emotions towards her stubborn friend.

Serenity smiled.

"I won't give them a reason to harm me," she asserted confidently.

"They, especially that beastly Alpha of theirs, they hate humans. They regard humans as pathetic and weak creatures that are below them. They don't take human lives to be of any value."

In the past, indeed the werewolves looked down on humans. They had treated them as disposable playthings, subjugating them to lives of servitude and exerting their dominance at will. Humans had been mere pawns, groveling in reverence before their werewolf masters.

However, with the passage of time, the tides of perception had shifted. Perhaps born out of empathy or humans being unwilling to endure such torment, the treatment of humans had changed.

Rules were implemented, and humans couldn't be killed carelessly. As more time passed by, the worlds of humans and werewolves separated into two.

Although they co-existed on certain territories, for most humans, werewolves have becoming nothing more than a myth. As for the werewolves themselves, they had shed much of their feral nature and predatory instincts. They now sought to lead peaceful lives alongside humans, their desire to maintain harmony outweighing any urge to disrupt the delicate balance.

There remained werewolves who bore disdain for humans, but that hardly made an impact in the grand scheme of things.

"Jane, I will manage just fine," Serenity reassured, trying to alleviate any lingering concerns.

Truth be told, going to the Silverclaw Pack did stir a hint of trepidation within Serenity's heart. Growing up here in Bluemoon Pack, she was treated with utmost love and care. Even after the untimely death of her parents, the pack had tried their best to ensure that Serenity never felt the weight of their absence.

Perhaps it was this foundation of unwavering support that fueled Serenity's positive outlook, inspiring her to face the unknown with courage.

Maybe everything wouldn't be that bad, and what was presented to the outside world could just be a misconception.

Serenity wasn't willing to let her determination get waned.

"Seriously, I don't think you are even aware how dangerous this is. Do you know what happened to their last doctor? He was chopped into pieces and sent back to his pack, packaged in a gift box," Jane voiced out. Her horror-stricken expression was clear as she mentally painted a vivid picture of the atrocity.

That was indeed nauseating.

"Isn't that a mere rumor?" Serenity countered, reluctant to accept such gruesome tales as truth.

"Well, rumors are usually born from a grain of truth. My third aunt's daughter lives within that pack, and I heard it directly from her. Serenity, look at you. You're so tiny. You won't even be able to fight back."

Amusement danced in Serenity's eyes— a glimmer of mirth cutting through the tension.

"Standing at a height of 5'7, I am taller than the average human female. I assure you, I am far from being 'tiny'," Serenity retorted, playfully reminding her concerned friend.

Of course, compared to the large and muscular build of werewolves, humans did fall on the daintier side. And Serenity stayed in a room all year long, either focused on her studies or lost in the digital realm of her phone.

The thought of stepping outside and exposing herself to the sun's rays held little appeal. Furthermore, Serenity struggled to recall the last time she set foot in a gym. Perhaps it was during her fleeting curiosity at the age of twenty, when she had momentarily entertained the idea of exploring the world of fitness, only to swiftly dismiss it within the first five minutes.

Jane hissed.

"I heard that their Alpha indulges in cannibalism. Under the full moon's ominous glow, he plunges his hand into the chest of his prey, seizing their bloody, pulsating heart, which he devours with savage relish, akin to a monstrous beast," Jane's voice trembled as she recounted the grisly details, her words punctuated by a cry of desperation. "What if he sets his sights on you?" 

The idea of that was bone-chilling.

"Isn't that a mere hearsay?" Serenity asked— her tone laced with skepticism, refusing to surrender to the specter of fear.