Kimberly’s eyes fluttered open to find her slender body drenched in hot sweat. Vigorously, she swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood up, planting her legs firmly on the ground.
“What’s the time?” she mumbled to herself in a hoarse voice, rummaging through the sheets for her phone, but it was nowhere to be found.
Suddenly, she heard her heart rate increase as a fragmented memory flashed in her mind, transporting her back to the moment her phone slipped out from her sweater, during the terrifying attack in the woods.
“The woods.” She said softly to herself, still unable to remember how she ended up there.
“BEEP BEEP BEEP.” She heard the digital clock on her study table cry, alarming her that it was 6:00 am. The date on its screen read: Friday, June 10. She scoffed, realizing it was her birthday — a day she loathed.
Throughout her childhood, birthdays were never a grand affair in her family. It was just another day devoid of fanfare and celebration. They never made a big deal out of it, except for Clark, her sentimental brother. He always made a heartfelt fuss over them, just for her.
But for her 18th birthday, Kimberly felt different. The gloom she'd always felt was replaced with an unknown feeling of elation, the anxiety replaced with confidence, and the fragility of her whole body, replaced with robust energy.
Unable to shake off these feelings, she strode into her bathroom to prepare for school, expecting the day to be like any other day.
As she undressed for the shower, her gaze fell upon her reflection in the mirror and she became baffled by the mysterious disappearance of the claw marks.
“They are all gone” she whispered to herself, her fingers tracing the spots where the bloody claw marks had been on her body just hours ago. But not her neck wound. It was now just a fading bite mark, almost as if it never happened.
As soon as her hand grazed the scar on her neck, she gasped, stumbling backward. Pieces of memories burst into her mind as she felt herself back in the woods, the vivid image of the terrifying wolf sinking its fangs deep into her neck. She shuddered.
Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to composure. “It could've all been a dream,” she thought, but her intuition said otherwise. She shifted her focus to the present and went ahead to take her bath and prepare for school.
Once she finished getting ready, she fixated at her reflection in the closet mirror, feeling uncomfortable and irritated by her own appearance. She was dressed in her usual baggy outfit; a baggy t-shirt paired with a baggy jeans jumpsuit.
“I look like a trainwreck,” she muttered, her brows furrowing in distaste.
“Nah. I'm not wearing this.” She decided, and began rummaging through her closet, while tossing out her frumpy baggy clothes, in search for a fresh look.
Finally, she came upon a sleek black mini dress that made her heart skip a beat. Despite her past insecurities about wearing bodycon dresses, Kimberly felt a surge of confidence as she gleefully slipped into the fitted dress.
She adored how the dress accentuated her curvy waist. She paired it with a sheer hose that highlighted her slender, long legs, and completed the look with black boots which added a bold, edgy touch.
Fully satisfied with her outfit, she let down her bronze wavy hair, glossed up her heart-shaped lips, and spritzed on a sexy cologne. The effortless transformation stunned her. She felt beautiful, and her reflection on the mirror confirmed it.
“New age, new Kimberly Silversmith,” she grinned, winking in admiration at herself. Then she grabbed her school bag and headed downstairs, where the chatter of her family filled the air.
As she descended the stairs, her father, Arnold, exclaimed, “HAPPY BIRTHDAY PRINCESS!” and all eyes fell on her. All of their faces were lit up with excitement, except for Aaron's, who always maintains his stoic composure.
Kimberly was stunned. She spotted the presents on the table, “Are those birthday presents!?” she thought to herself in disbelief.
Just then, her mother, Rebecca strode in from the kitchen with a tray of cake — her first birthday cake from her mother. She too was gleaming. “I love the new look. I think it suits you,” she complemented. Kimberly's eyes narrowed, unsure how to respond.
“What's going on?” Kimberly asked, her voice laced with surprise. This was unprecedented. It was as if she woke up in a parallel universe where she felt strong and confident and her family cared about birthdays.
“Where were you all last night?” She queried, ignoring all their sentiments.
“In our bedrooms of course, love” Her father replied curtly, a sinister smug plastered across his face. The fact that it was a lie encouraged Kimberly not to push the issue. Even if she was to tell them what happened to her last night, there was no proof.
Rebecca reappeared with a small rectangular box and handed it to her daughter. “Happy 18th birthday, Kimberly. You should know that today marks a very significant day in our family.” She stated with a subtle smile.
Kimberly was befuddled. “What does that even mean?” She asked, gazing down at the box in her hands.
“Aren't you going to open it?” Rebecca asked, folding her hands.
“Mother, maybe we should do this when she's back from school. Or she'll be late” Clark intervened.
But Rebecca countered, “Today is even more important than school, Clark. And you know it.” She turned to face Kimberly, “You can choose to skip school for the day, if you want to,” she added.
Kimberly's confusion deepened. But she'd rather spend an entire year in school than spend one more awkward minute with her family. “I'm going to school, Mother,” she replied firmly. “Can I open this when I get back? I'm running late.”
“Sure.” Rebecca nodded.
“I'll drive you.” Arnold, her father suggested happily. Kimberly recalled how he had left her stranded the day before. His bizarre reason being “Major traffic and dead phone inconvenience.” She rolled her eyes and headed out of the house, her father following closely behind.
As soon as her eyes met the natural lighting of the day, they ached, forcing her to wince. She dug through her school bag for her glasses, but when she put them on, her vision only grew blurrier. Perplexed, she removed them and discovered that she could see perfectly without them.
Just to be sure, she tried on the glasses again and her vision clouded once more. Frustrated, she flung them aside.
“Why are you throwing away your glasses?” Arnold asked, confusion etched on his face as he approached the car.
“I don't need them anymore,” Kimberly assured confidently.
“Since when?” Arnold queried, his brows furrowed in disbelief.
“Since now,” Kimberly replied curtly, her tone brooking no further discussion. She slid into the car, her gaze fixed ahead.
Arnold raised an eyebrow but didn't press the issue, starting the engine instead. The car pulled away from the house, the tension between them palpable.
After a 20-minute drive, they pulled up at Lunadelephia High School’s parking lot. That was when he turned to notice the bite mark on her neck.
“Kimberly?” Arnold beckoned in a sharp tone. “How did you get that?” He asked, his eyes fixed intently on the bite mark, his fingers drumming against the steering wheel in agitation.
“Oh.” Kimberly cringed. She heard her heartbeat escalate as she came up with a quick lie.“An insect bite, from last night. A bee sting.”
Arnold's piercing gaze remained fixed on her, his silence screaming disbelief. Unable to stand his intense scrutiny Kimberly hastily exited the car. “I'll be here to pick you up after school.” Arnold finally said, his tone neutral.
Kimberly shot back, “Yeah? Like you did yesterday?” She slammed the car door to leave but Arnold's hoarse voice stopped her. “Kimberly?” he called, his face stern as he lowered the window.
“Today holds great significance for our family, beyond just your birthday,” Arnold said in a low, serious tone. “Show some respect.” He admonished, his eyes narrowing.
“And never slam the door on me again.”
With a scornful glance, he rolled up the windows and pulled away from the curb, the tires screeching in protest.
Kimberly scoffed, “Like I know what that means,” she said, her voice laced with sarcasm. She shrugged off the tension, her shoulders relaxing as she regained her composure.
With a flick of her hair and a confident stride, she turned her back on the parking lot and walked into the school
, her head held high, eager to meet the surprised look on her schoolmates when they saw her new look.
The night of the full moon was ablaze with magic and love. The air was filled with the sweet scent of blooming flowers, and the sky was painted with hues of crimson and gold. It was the perfect night for a wedding, and Kimberly and Nicholas were ready to seal their love forever.Clark, with a warm smile, led Kimberly to the altar, where Nicholas awaited her. The ceremony was a beautiful blend of human and werewolf traditions, with the binding of the treaty being celebrated simultaneously. Aaron stood by Clark's side, a symbol of their newfound peace and unity.As Kimberly and Nicholas exchanged their vows, the full moon rose high in the sky, casting a silver glow over the gathering. The pack, a sea of familiar faces, watched with tears in their eyes as their beloved alpha and luna-to-be promised to love and cherish each other.With a final pronouncement, Kimberly and Nicholas were declared husband and wife. The pack erupted in cheers and applause as the newlyweds shared a tender kiss
Kimberly, still wailing on the ground, caught sight of Nicholas going about his killing spree, now about to kill her brothers, Clark and Aaron. "No!" She screamed, her voice hoarse from crying. "Enough! Please!" She begged, scrambling to her feet and rushing towards Nicholas.Reluctantly, Nicholas turned to look at her, his brows furrowed in confusion. "What's wrong, Kimberly?" he asked, his voice still laced with the fury of his bloodshed."Enough of the killing!" Kimberly pleaded, grabbing his arm and holding him back. "Enough of this unending war, this carnage, and massacre! We've lost so much already!" She looked at Clark and Aaron, her eyes welling up with tears. "My father, Levi... how many more lives must we lose?"Nicholas's expression softened, and he looked at Clark and Aaron, who cowered in fear. "You want me to spare them?" he asked Kimberly.Kimberly nodded vigorously. "Yes, please. I want us to end this war, to find peace. We can't keep living like this, always looking o
Arnold, Rebecca, and Aaron sat huddled and bound together with chains, their eyes fixed on Kimberly, Levi, and Nicholas, who stood before them with the remaining two werewolves. Arnold's gaze darted around the room, his eyes widening in agitation as he realized Clark was missing."Where's Clark?" he demanded, his voice rising. "What have you done to my son?"Kimberly's expression remained calm, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Calm down, Arnold, he's fine. He'll probably join us soon."Arnold's face reddened with anger, he leaned forward saying; "We spoilt you too much, look at you calling me by my first name. Spoilt brat." He spat.Kimberly's eyes sparkled with amusement as she turned her back on them, focusing on Nicholas, who lay injured and breathing heavily on the ground. "Oh, would you rather I called you Father? Daddy? Papa?" She chuckled dryly, her voice laced with mockery.As she tended to Nicholas, her voice softened, and she whispered quietly, "You're okay, you're okay," r
With a sinister sneer, Kimberly raised her hands, and her fingers danced in the air, weaving intricate signs that shimmered with a malevolent glow. Her voice was low and hypnotic, chanting enchanting words in ancient languages that sent shivers down the spines of the Silversmiths. The air seemed to vibrate with dark energy, and the three werewolves within the magical bubbles instantly vanished from sight, leaving the Silversmiths stunned, confused, and disoriented."Just tie them up, I'll let Nicholas decide what to do with them," Kimberly instructed in English, her voice dripping with malice. The Silversmiths exchanged fearful glances, knowing they were being hunted.As the magical bubbles dissipated, the Silversmiths launched a frantic barrage of bullets and arrows, firing wildly into the air. Clark, Arnold, Aaron, and Rebecca unleashed a hail of projectiles, but they kept missing their targets, as if the werewolves were phantoms.Suddenly, Arnold yelped in pain and vanished into th
The hours ticked by quickly as Kimberly meticulously outlined the plan to rescue Nicholas and Levi. Her eyes scanned the room, meeting the gaze of each werewolf as she spoke. "I know the layout of the Silversmith's house," she reminded them. "I was once their captive, and I know exactly where they'll be keeping Nicholas.”The werewolves listened intently, their faces set with determination. They were ready to put an end to the Silversmith hunters once and for all.With the plan in place, the group set out, their movements swift and silent. After a two-hour drive in their various cars, they reach the heart of town, where the Silversmith residence was located. As they approached the Silversmith house, Kimberly's heart pounded in her chest. The moment they stormed the crossed over the fence, the alarm system blared to life, and the sound of gunfire echoed through the air. Men dressed in black, armed with silver arrows and guns, poured out of the house, firing at the werewolves.The batt
What was thought to be a week's training, turned out to be a 72 hours non-stop training for Kimberly. Given her unyielding determination and resolve, she worked so hard until swift transformation became nothing short of remarkable. Under Hannah's guidance, she harnessed and possessed incredible power, her magic growing exponentially with each passing hour with and with each passing practice. Hannah took great delight in teaching Kimberly, who proved to be a fast and eager learner.As the hours turned into days, Kimberly's abilities continued to astound Hannah. She demonstrated a natural affinity for magic, mastering complex spells with ease. Her powers were raw, yet refined, and Hannah found herself intrigued by the depth of Kimberly's potential.Their training sessions were intense, with Kimberly pushing herself to the limit. She practiced tirelessly, honing her skills and perfecting her technique. Hannah watched with pride, knowing that Kimberly was destined for greatness.Finally,