Aiden felt like he had been punched in the stomach. He had been so desperate to save Penelope that he hadn't stopped to consider the possibility that she might not make it. He had been so convinced that the silver bullet would work that he had staked everything on it. But now, with Penelope gone, he felt like he had nothing left to live for. He had been consumed with thoughts of revenge and justice, but now he realized that none of that mattered anymore. Penelope was gone, and there was nothing he could do to bring her back. I put a hand on his shoulder, and Aiden felt a glimmer of hope flicker within him. He knew that I would never leave him, that I am his brother who would stand by him through thick and thin. Even though he didn't know what he wanted to do next, he knew that he wasn't alone. The doctor then excused himself and left us to grieve. We sat in silence for a moment before Aiden spoke. "We still have to find that werewolf hunter," he said. "We still hav
As we entered the town in the middle of the night, my wolf could sense something was different about this place. The air was filled with an eerie silence, and the streets were empty, except for the debris left behind by the monster. Then we hopped out of the car and walked cautiously, keeping an eye out for any signs of the creature. "Do you think it is really a mountain lion?" Aiden uttered while holding his rifle with both arms. Because we cannot disclose our true nature in the middle of our journey, Alpha Romulo sent us some of the werewolf hunters' weapons such as daggers, crossbows, arrows, rifles, jars of powdered wolfsbane, and mountain ash. Not that I enjoy the idea of becoming and thinking like a hunter instead of using werewolf's claws and fangs, but it is the best way I could think of so the humans we could pass through will not suspect us. I mean, carrying guns are already legal in the country, as long as it will be used in accordance with the law.
Right after getting the things we needed from the travel bags, Aiden and I started our journey searching for the monster and at the same time, getting information about Hunter Grey and his men's whereabouts. The image of the streets looked the same as we witnessed last night. Perhaps the residents were already frightened and wise enough to wander outside even if the sun hasn't finally set. "How many days are we staying in the motel?" Aiden broke the silence between us in the car. We plan to stay in the car for an hour or two, waiting for the streets to get cleared. A few cars are still in a race coming in and out of the streets. But I could barely see someone walking anymore. "We will be checking out in two days. If we cannot get any information about Hunter and his men, we will go to the new place on the list." I said back, sharpening my werewolf senses while scanning the entire street within my range. Aiden, on the other hand, focused his undivided attention
Before ascending to our room, I brought us something to eat first. But instead of the restaurant Aiden and I usually dine, I asked the reservation officer to give us something and ask to deliver it to the room. When I got back to the room, Aiden was already in the bathroom. I jumped on the bed and scanned my phone's inbox. Still, I received a few unread messages from Karen. I don't know how but my heart and mind suddenly longed for Penelop's voice and text messages. My inbox has ten messages from her to which I did not reply, not even once. And I regretted it. If I did something for her, our relationship could have been better. Though I am into reminiscing about small things that happened to me, my heart and brain want to remember what we have. Let alone she took her profound courage to confess her feelings for me. I could have confessed to her that, at some point in my life, I started learning to like her even if my conscience knows it was not advisable. Do you th
"No... Isla and I want to join you guys." Sophie said, her voice undeniably stuttering. "It's just, I think, we know someone named Hunter Grey..." Sophie's words were cut off when I accidentally stepped onto the car's brake. Aiden was almost thrown away from the glass wall in front of us when he was pointing his gaze behind us when that happened. Good thing my hands manage to hold his chest before his face could reach the glass. "You know him?" I asked, feeling suspicious and at ease at the same time. My instinct has been suspecting Isla and Sophie since the first day we met them in the restaurant. I know that something about them doesn't add up behind those good-looking faces. Let alone Isla already confessed that they belonged to a certain group that looks after us. However, none of them mentioned that their group was indeed another type of werewolf hunter or some sort. I just find it odd that there is a group out there on the surface of the world who are protect
Grey shrugged. "you tell me," he said. "I just want to be left alone right now, enjoying my meal. But you guys showed up the less I expected." Aiden and I exchanged a look. We had been prepared for a fight, but this was something else entirely. "Listen, Grey," I said, my voice low and steady. "We know what happened to you. We know about the old man and how he tried to help you. But it's not too late. We can help you now." Grey's eyes flickered with something like amusement. "Help me?" he said, his voice full of scorn. "You think you can help me? I'm beyond help. I'm a werewolf hunter, Ethan. And nothing you can say or do will change that." And with that, he turned and bounded off into the woods, leaving Aiden and me standing there, alone and empty-handed. "Why didn't you attack him?" Aiden blurted in disbelief. "We've been looking for him for weeks yet you just let him go?" "Don't know, Aiden." I furrowed before I drag my gaze to him. "Something's not addi
Three hours later, Aiden and I managed to pin down the real Hunter Grey, his teeth bared in a fierce snarl. His werewolf, as minutes, passed by, his strength got drained compared to us who were born naturally. He then looked up at Aiden, his eyes pleading for mercy. But Aiden never sees him as a human anymore. He was the hunter who killed Penelope no matter whether he turned into a monster or a human. Because of that same reason, Aiden has beaten Hunter with all his might. Break all the bones in his body knowing the wolf's blood still runs through his veins. Hunter can still get healed in due time. "Aiden, STOP! We have to bring him in," I said softly, my hands shaking as I looked at him. "Alpha Romulo ordered us to bring him back to the pack for further interrogation." That was utterly a lie. Alpha Romulo simply ordered me to kill Hunter Grey. However, at some point, my wolf got more interested in how he turned himself into a werewolf without getting bitten by a
But Aiden and I refused to be discouraged. We had taken down Hunter Grey and had shown that werewolves were not defenseless against their attackers. And even if the fight was never-ending, I knew that we could never give up. As we left the holding cells, Aiden and I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. We knew that there were people out there who wanted to destroy the werewolves and that we were facing a fight that may never truly be won. But we also knew that we had each other, and the rest of the pack. We were part of something greater than ourselves, a group of beings who had bonded together in the face of prejudice and hate. And at the end of the day, that was enough. We would continue the fight, would continue to protect and defend the werewolves, no matter what. And we would never give up, no matter how insurmountable the odds may seem. Aiden's POV The next morning, Ethan and I separated ways. I went to my dorm while Ethan stayed in Alpha Romulo's mansio
"This changes everything, Ethan," he murmured softly. "We might stand a chance against the witches if we unite our forces." Despite that my wolf still hadn't gotten the picture of his plan, I nodded in agreement, feeling a newfound sense of hope coursing through my veins. "Then we must get this done, Hunter," Aiden replied on my behalf. "The entire city has been hunted by the witches. It was them who are behind this madness." "Count me in," Conrad seconded, "Even if I don't have anything about magic spells or my wolf being the weakest in this group, I will help you with all I could have." "By the way, who are you people?" I could not help but ask those two werewolves Hunter Grey brought with him. They barely open their mouths as soon as they appeared in the bunker. And if I am not mistaken, they are not Hunter's friends or part of his pack. However, my instinct tells me that they were twins or siblings when they did not just have the same physical appearance b
"Okay, I think we plan B?" Conrad asked, his voice strained with worries, especially when Penelope's wolf started getting wild. "Ethan? Aiden? Plan B?" Penelope was now in her full werewolf transformation. And just like the first time that I met her in my dream, even my werewolf eyes could barely recognize her anymore. She was as though everything changed in just a blink of an eye from the once loving and caring Penelope, who turned into a wild murderer werewolf. And it was proven when she just jumped on top of me and began attacking me with her sharp and elongated claws and fangs. Aiden and Conrad were both stunned and dumbfounded by how strong Penelope's wolf really is. They were simply standing on their spots with their eyes wide open while Penelope was trying to bite and rip me apart. But I did not let her do what she really wants to happen. So, I put enough strength into my fist and punched her straight in the face. Aiden and Conrad's jaws dropped to the g
"Who said I am leaving her here?" I asked. "I brought her here so we could save Penelope from the witches. But first, we have to make sure she cannot escape or do something to us." Conrad, without asking further questions, wandered the entire house to look for anything we could use to hold Penelope. Aiden kept on talking to her, begging her to wake up. My wolf, on the other hand, kept my sharp eyes monitoring outside the house. I had to make sure no werewolves managed to follow me, especially since the house we are in has no fences around. Anyone can barge in at any time. Needless to say, our scents are everywhere. Newly bitten or shifted werewolves have more heightened senses compared to us. "Are you sure, Brother Ethan?" Aiden's face started to brighten. "Please, we need to help her. She must remember us as soon as possible." I nodded to Aiden without looking at him. Based on my quick observation, Penelope's condition after getting hit by lightning and thunde
"Penelope?" Conrad and Aiden breathed out her name in disbelief. "Is that really you, Penelope? What are you doing? Why are you with them?" Aiden asked, his voice laced with concern. "Isn't it obvious?" Penelope extended her response with a smile on her face. "I am here to be with you and Ethan, Aiden. And I missed you both so much. Get out of there, Aiden. Come. You can hug me." Despite Penelope's sweet and convincing words, my heightened wolf could barely sense and feel any emotions from her eyes. She managed to spill those words but I didn't sense any sincerity from her voice. Sad to say, Aiden was blinded by it. He begged me to remove the protective barrier so he can hug Penelope. I cannot blame him to fell for her words. My little brother was still in love with Penelope even if he already knew that she no longer belongs to him. Penelope loves me. That is why she accepted my wolf to be her mate. "Please, Brother Ethan," Aiden continued. His tears began pour
"How I wish you won't regret losing us again, Alpha Romulo," I replied, my voice strained with utter regret and dismay. "If we were the monsters you think we are, isn't it ironic that we are still locked up in this hell of a place?" Alpha Romulo's expression remained impassive, save for a flicker of curiosity in his eyes. Perhaps he was intrigued by my sudden shift in tone, my sincerity flowing through each word. After a lingering pause, he nodded to his betas, signaling their departure. They evacuated the place, leaving us alone once again, a sense of resignation settled upon us. We were trapped with no way to escape the inevitable. The hours ticked by. And the weight of our impending doom hanging heavily in the air. "You could have done something, Ethan," Conrad highly suggested it. "The Ethan that I know would do something, everything, in his power to make things right. But you didn't. And I started to doubt if you are the real one." "We are the real ones, Conr
All the information Conrad and Alpha Romulo brought to us was news to me to the point that I no longer knows what to do. Using magic was no longer an option for me. If I am gonna use magic, then what? Aiden and I will be running for our lives again? Where? To the outside world where we could only see burned trees, abandoned buildings, shoved grounds, and empty streets? To start a new life? There is no life outside anymore. We see it with our own eyes. Everyone was already occupying this underground world in order to survive. The three werewolf packs, despite their differences, managed to survive for two consecutive years. It only means there is no hope outside. While holding onto those awful thoughts, I could not help but drop my butt to the ground with my arms wrapping around my knees and my eyes closed. The holding cell was dimly lit, with the only source of light coming from a small window, casting shadows across the cold, stone walls. Aiden and Conrad lay on
"The only person who can answer our questions is Alpha Romulo, Aiden. The two of us missed the chance for two years, remember? And I can't wait to see him," I replied, my voice filled with overwhelming excitement. "Me either, Brother Ethan," Aiden agreed before he shrugged at me. "But do you think he grows old that much in two years?" I don't know what kind of question was that but all I know is that within those years, a lot of things could have happened. That includes Penelope. My wolf missed her so badly. I want to hold her hands. Kiss her lips for like ten minutes straight. But then again, it has been two years passed already. A lot of things could have happened within those long years of waiting. Perhaps Penelope happened to have her new mate by now. After a few minutes walk, Dexter stopped walking. Then Alpha Romulo emerged from the shadows, his tall figure illuminated by the pale tube lights. His intense gaze assessed us from head to toe, suspicion clouding his piercing e
"Yes. He's pretty alive." Dexter replied, his voice calm. "If you have more questions to ask, please, address them to Alpha Romulo. I am not allowed to give you more information about anything. My wolf was simply tonight's in charge to keep an eye on the mansion." Indeed, I had a lot of questions to ask Alpha Romulo. Questions that he was the only one who knows the answer. On the bright side, knowing that he was alive gives us faith and hope. Who could have thought the protective spell I cast two years ago remains strong and become their source of protection? But two years? Sorry, but it was pretty hard to believe when we just stayed in the past for weeks. Meanwhile, Aiden and I walked side by side, our spirits high, as Dexter confirmed the incredible news. Alpha Romulo and some of our werewolf guardians were still alive. For the past two years, they believed we perished in the battle against the witches, but now there was hope shining through. Dexter had confir
"What about the pack?" Aiden highly suggested it. "Perhaps if we go there, we could find Alpha Romulo. After all, he is one of the most powerful wolves I have ever known. Or at least one from the pack, right?" Everything began with Romulo's pack. His mansion has been the haven for the witches. They come and go without being noticed. And as far as I could remember before these terrible incidents happen to our world, the witches were furious at me for breaking the deal. I involved everyone, including Romulo's pack, believing that my plan of saving humanity will work, but it didn't. Perhaps this was the result of what I did. So I highly doubt Aiden's claim to be true. The pack, I believed, was the first target of the witches. Even if Romulo is a powerful alpha, his claws and fangs, or even his wealth don't stand a chance to someone who can cast magic. However, we can't stay in an empty school either. We need answers as soon as possible. I need to find someone to ask