Chapter 1: Proving Her Worth.

The reflection in the mirror bounced back at her and her hand traveled on its own to her neck. She loved the feel of the necklace that adorned her neck and she admired the pendant lovingly. Its intricate design was rare and special but she was never allowed to show it off. She was brought to reality when the ever nagging voice in her head hummed softly.

“Bella?”  She called out of herself.

“As always, I’m right here.”  Luna Bella replied cheerfully.

“Keep quiet!” She ordered, slightly irritated at Bella's cheerfulness.

“I can’t, I’m just so happy this morning.” Luna Bella's voice rang in her head once more.

“Keep quiet or get out of my head!”  She yelled.

“We both know I can’t get out and technically you’re arguing with yourself, because there’s no one around.”  Luna Bella pointed out, chuckling happily.

“Please tell me, how can I get rid of you?” Tiana demanded with an air of desperation.

Luna Bella laughed loudly, “No way hon, coz we stuck together.”

“Why!” Tiana demanded, her irritation getting the better of her.

“Because I’m your wolf!” Luna Bella snapped at her in annoyance and continued her humming.

Tiana groaned and touched the necklace again. “Bell?”  She called softly, after a couple of seconds.

“What is it again?!” Luna Bella barked at her.

“Do you know why mum gave us this necklace?”

“This is the upteempth time you’ve asked me.”

“I'm curious.” Tiana replied warily.

"I am too, I don’t know why. I am technically a wolf not a seer.” Luna Bella answered.

“If she wants us to have it, why can't we wear it proudly?” Tiana queried, confused at the situation.

Luna Bella was silent for a while,“I think she’s protecting us.”

“From what?”

“I’m clueless.”  Luna Bella replied and resumed her humming.

Tiana ran her hand over the pendant, she’d had the necklace on since she was ten. It was her tenth year birthday present.

“Never let anyone see or know you have this on, Tiana.” Her mother had told her that day as she helped her secure the lock on her neck.

“Why?” She'd demanded as her curiosity got the better of her.

“It’s your guide to those who need you…it’s your family too.” Her mother replied.

“But if they can’t see it on my neck, how can they know they need me, mom?”

“Darling, they’ll find you when it’s time, until then keep it on and keep it safe.” Was her mother’s reply. 

She combed her long hair and carefully curled it into her favourite bun before heading to the bed to examine the clothes she had arranged earlier before going to take her bath then headed to the vanity table. Carefully collecting her contact lenses from its box, she carefully wore them. She had always had them on since she could remember to call her name whenever she was going out of the house. Her parents had spent a fortune to get this particular one that concealed her eyes’ colours perfectly. She had brown eyes that always changed colours according to her emotions. Her father had once told her that it was an abnormality that came from his own side of the family tree and not forgetting to always mention how unique she was to have them.

Today had come with a lot of expectations for her, she had an interview by 4 P.M at Sean Corporation right after all the classes she had lined up for the day as being schooled in History at a prestigious University such as Tena University came with a high price of dutifulness, hard-work and diligence. She wore the white long sleeved shirt with navy blue stripes and carefully did the buttons after making sure her necklace was well concealed. She dragged her nude hose over her legs and gracefully wore the knee length navy blue skirt she had borrowed from her kid sister Emmaline. She sat on the bed to enable her to put on the 4" peep-toe heels.

“Tiana, breakfast is ready.”  She heard her mother call her.

“Hang on mum, almost done, I'll join you guys soon.” She replied.

She wasn’t from an affluent family though she carried herself like one, her family was one the many families living above average in the commercial city of Lagos. She was the eldest of two girls, her father worked as a banker while her mother was a teacher but recently there were discussions between her parents to start a catering and business academy. Her father still had a poultry farm that earned him income on the side. Her parents were Alex and Karen Mante.

She grabbed her Boston bag hanging on a nail in the wall and poured its contents on the bed. She wanted to be sure she wasn’t forgetting anything. She picked her pen and scratched the tip on her palm to confirm it was still working properly then picked the notebook and her lipgloss. She had never been an avid fan of cosmetics…she had to look classy today specifically for that interview if she was to ace it. 

BEING CLASSY IS THE MAJOR TOOL TO GETTING A JOB.

 She’d read that in one of those many articles about interviews. She put on her favourite pair of hoop earrings and slipped on her ever reliable wrist watch then walked to the mirror to check herself, she looked prim and proper.

Her mind wandered as usual, she couldn’t for the life of her stay calm, not even for a full damn day.  She either talked to Luna Bella, remiscened the past or day-dreamed about the future. As a child she had a pretty sheltered life unlike her younger sister who was termed as the life of the party. She had no friends in school, no one wanted to be friends to a girl who’d beat the living daylight out of them. She never seemed to get the human relations right hence she became an introvert. 

At twenty-one she couldn’t boast of a boyfriend not that she was bothered but she hated guys with everything in her, it could probably be because all the guys she had met were all assholes, egoistic bastards who believed in the total subservience of women and she hated that.

“You're just a control freak.”  Her sister, Emmaline had jokingly told her one day at family time.

Well, it was either that or be a door-mat for some guy. All she truly wanted was a man she could share with not one who would want to dominate her. One who would sweep her off her feet while she remained standing. Well, she was unlucky in that aspect so all she did now were blind dates with random guys from dating sites in search of the very man who’d treat her like the queen she was.

Though there wasn’t any pressure on her to work, she was tired of drooling around the house and her parents rather she stayed at home to work. In their own words, they just wanted her safe, but could they be faulted for that? No…she was different from everyone she’d ever come across. She had the tendency to become violent and she always resorted to it which scared her, it still does.

She didn’t spare a second glance at the job posting Ad when she saw it on F******k despite how under-qualified she was for the job. She wanted and needed to feel the thrill that came with having a job and a pay-check at the end of each month. She was stupefied when she received the invite for an interview.

“Guys, I applied for a job.” She'd announced it at dinner that evening. The silence that followed her announcement could be cut through with a knife.

Her sister was the first to speak, bailing her from the awkward silence,“Really? When?–”

“Never mind, you’re not going.” Her father interrupted briskly.

“Tariana…” Her mother had called her full name tenderly which was rare.“We agreed on a no work policy for you, didn't we?”

“Mum, dad,” Emmaline had answered in her place and Tiana was grateful for such a nosy sister. “I think it’s a good idea, let her do it.” 

“Never!” Her father barked in response and Tiana felt her control button zap off.

A dangerous air sizzled around them as she looked her father in the eye,“Either you let me work peacefully or I leave this house and never return!”

She was sure her eyes had turned gold and her voice had a convicted calmness to it from her father’s fidgets.

“Honey, what your dad and I mean is that it’s too dangerous out there.” Her mother had explained gently. Her mother's tone confirmed her suspicion, they all knew whenever her eyes turned gold, everyone and thing in sight was in grave danger.

“Mom, I’m twenty-one.” Tiana began slowly,“I can handle myself fine, I’m dying of idleness mom. I aced to the interview stage.” She announced in an eerily calm tone.

“When is the interview?” Her father asked in a defeated whisper.

“Two weeks from now, plus I’ll be getting my own place if I get the job…” Her mother’s fork fell from her hand making a loud clatter on her plate. “Please let me prove to you that I can take care of me too.” She had added glancing at parents with a pleading look.

Her parents had shared a look and sighed defeatedly.