The Shadow

Lunabella's P.O.V

"I can't help, falling in the love with you~~" 

As I walked inside our home, mom's singing while looking out the window. 

Her curly hair flew beautifully, and the dress that she always wears is swaying with her every step. The happiness in her eyes shines brighter under the moon. If I didn't know her, I would think that she doesn't have any flaws. I would even think that she's a Goddess. 

"I'm home," I said. 

Her eyes widened when she saw me. 

"Oh, my baby!" She hugged me tightly, I did the same. The cut that I had earlier that I only wrapped using my handkerchief stinks, but this is what I needed right now. A hug. 

Mom went to my father. 

"Look darling! Our baby's here already! Come, hug her!" She said happily. Gesturing for Father to come to me and hug me. 

A pain strikes my heart. I let out a sigh. 

"Mom, Father's dead, he can't hear you." He can't hug me…

Mom looks at me as if I'm crazy. 

"What are you talking about? Your dad's here! Look!" She looks at my father. "Go say sorry!" She pointed at my dad's picture on the end table. 

I sigh heavily. I can't do this today. 

"I-I'll go to my room…" 

"No! Darling look! Your daughter's not nice anymore!" Mom freaked out then she started crying.  

"Mom! Please!" I pleaded. 

Just how many times do I have to tell her that Dad is not here anymore? I'm so tired! 

But I immediately felt sorry for shouting. 

Her round beautiful eyes looked at me. Her expression tells me how shocked she was by my shouting. 

"I'm sorry Mom. Please…I'm tired…" 

I put the snacks on the table and went to my room. 

As I closed the door, I collapsed on the floor. 

I can't even tell her what happened to me because the word 'werewolf' would trigger something in her and will make her run amok. 

"Mom…" 

We've been like this ever since I can remember. My mother had this mental illness which doesn't require any medication. 

We were able to live up until now because of our relatives who would come here from time to time to give food and supplies, and of course, because of my part-time jobs. 

I wasn't able to finish secondary because I prioritize getting paid and looking after my mother. 

But at times like this, I can't help but ask him why he left us early. Would my life not be like this and would my mother not have that illness if my Dad was still here? 

A knock on the door stopped me from thinking. 

When I opened it, I saw my mother, she was spreading her arms. The shocked expression on her face changes into a sweet and caring one.

 I hugged her, and as usual, she hugged me back but her head was on my chest. 

We hug each other when one of us isn't in a good mood. I don't know, my mother would say something crazy but she knows when I'm sad. Just like now. 

Ha… 

I carefully pull her to my bed. There, we sat and hugged each other. 

"Mom?" I ask. 

I've been meaning to ask this for a long time, but now, I think both my mind and heart are ready. 

"Hmm?" 

"How did my father die?" Cruel. I know. My mother's sensitive when it comes to my dad, but I want to be selfish for now. I'm still his daughter and I deserve to know everything about him. 

We've been avoiding this topic until now, but I want to know even just a little bit about him.

Mom hugs me tighter. 

"Darling…" She whimpers. "Darling's resting right now…" 

I closed my eyes tightly. My chest tightens as she sobs. She's right, my dad's resting now, aside from his face, that's all I know about him. He's now resting peacefully while we're like this. Struggling to live every day. Does he even know that Mom has this illness before he dies?  

I know that I won't get a proper answer from her, but I didn't regret trying. 

Mom fell asleep afterward. I lay together comfortably.  

"Shiha Organization…" 

Huh?  

"Mom, what is it?" I look at her face, her eyes are closed. Is she dreaming?

She whimpers. Oh, it looks like my mom's sleep-talking. 

"Portia…School…" What is she talking about? 

This is the first time that my mother talks in her sleep. 

Portia School… Why does that sound familiar? 

Oh right! That's a prestige school only for werewolves. But why is she mentioning that school? 

"Aurelio…Portia…" Wait, that's my father's name! 

I waited patiently, but after those words, nothing else came out from my mother. 

Portia School, organization, my father… What does it mean? 

Did my father go to that school? But he's not a werewolf - 

Does it have any connection to why my mother seems to loathe the word 'werewolf'? How is my Father connected to that place? 

I need to find out. I need to know what happened to my father. 

Our relatives won't tell me anything about him even when I beg. They would just tell me to not dig deeper and would always change the topic. I can't ask my father's family either because I don't know them. No one tells me who they are, or even where they are. 

I'm completely lost. 

Father… 

Please, help me know what happened to you… 

Maybe, if I learned everything, I will learn to accept our faith right now. From my mother's side, I always love how they describe you as a kind and loving man. So for sure, you had your reason for leaving us early, right? 

Haha… I laughed at myself. 

Just… A little more information about Dad would help me move on, I guess. 

I don't even know if he passed away because of a disease. Is it disgusting enough for everyone to keep it a secret? 

This is frustrating. 

****

"Hmmm." My throat's dry.

As I opened my eyes, I saw someone lying beside me.

Ah, right, I slept together with my mother. 

 "What time is it already?"  

I checked the bedside table. My phone was off, and instead of waiting for it to turn on, I went out to get a glass of water.

Tap water's what we usually drink, but during this time, it doesn't taste the same so I had to reserve a bottle of water.

After filling my glass with water, I went out to the veranda. 

Our house is huge. We have two rooms, a dining room, a veranda, a small front yard, and a small fountain in front of this veranda. 

This is the house that my parents provide for our family, but after I was born, and my father's death, as mom's not okay, she can't clean it anymore. 

The beautiful place that everyone would dream to have isn't as beautiful as it was before anymore. 

"The moon's quite bright tonight." It's a bit chilly, but it's bearable. 

I hugged myself, how long has it been since I had the time to feel this relaxing feeling?  

It's been nine years since I stopped going to school and started working. Since then, I became the father figure of this house, I wanted to give my mother whatever she wanted, and that's why I started working. 

Because the minimum wage in this city is lower than the average, I need to work different part-time jobs to meet our needs. The things that our relatives give us don't come regularly so I can't depend on them. They've been too good for us already. 

I leaned on the wall and yawned, but then my eyes caught something. 

What was that? 

I think something moved that way. Do we have a cat around this place? 

I rarely see one though, maybe it's new.

As I narrow my eyes to see it clearly, goosebumps fill my body. 

Sh*t. 

I couldn't blink. Not when I finally realized what it was. 

A tall and masculine figure is standing right outside our gate. From where I am, I can see burning red eyes, and it's staring at me. 

I was frozen in my spot. I just caught my breath when a breeze flew to my face. 

I immediately went inside and closed the door and curtain. 

My heart's beating so fast and I'm catching my breath already for the few seconds I've seen it.

It's staring at me, I'm sure of it. 

Wait. What the h*ck. Why is there a werewolf here? Did it come here to end me? 

I slowly open a small portion of the curtain to see if it's still there, but it's gone. 

Huh? Where did it go? 

I looked around carefully, but I couldn't see the shadow anymore. 

Am I just seeing things? No. I'm fully awake right now. And it feels so real, it can't be an illusion. 

I locked the door and went to the kitchen to put the glass on the sink and went back to my room. I made sure that every door and window are closed. 

As I sat on my bed, I couldn't help but remember what I saw. That figure looks like it belongs to a male, an alpha male. 

Wait, doesn't it look like the one who helped me from the gamma? 

Right! Even his figure is the same. They have the same build and eyes. 

But what does he want from me? How did he know where I live? 

Sh*t. I thought that he went away after he disappeared. But it turns out that he followed me here without me even realizing it. 

Argh! Why have I kept on seeing werewolves since yesterday? If he's that werewolf I saw yesterday, then there's something he wants from me. That's for sure. 

Is he here to ask for something in return for saving my life? 

What if he asks for my life- what the h*ck am I thinking? Let's not think too negatively, that won't help me right now.

I grabbed my mother's hand. She's sleeping peacefully. Doesn't have the slightest idea that someone suspicious is at our gate, looking at our house. 

Sh*t. 

The only time that I'm home is during the night as I'm always at work. What if that person does something to my mom? 

"Hm…" She touches my hand and places it on her cheeks. 

I hugged her. Please, don't let anyone hurt my mother…