KELANI POV I was overly nervous. Puffing out two gulps of air, I tucked my hands into the back pocket of the denim knee-length skirt I wore. Pulling down the crop polka dot top that Riley had forced me into, I gazed at myself in the mirror close to the entrance. Riley had dolled me up. I never expected her to do such a thing as it was only meant to be a casual date or whatever it was that Zain had in mind. But I expected it to be causal and didn't care about making myself up, but she had blocked my path, sat me down, and threatened to hex me if I didn't allow her. Riley hadn't hex me before, but at that time, I didn't doubt the fact that she wouldn't. I'd rather be indoors, listening to some cool music while reading the new novels I had recently acquired, or even watch some movies and, afterwards, list out all the things I needed to do to get myself ready for the incoming break. Here I was, ridiculously dressed up and looking unlike myself. Stepping towards the entrance relucta
RILEY POV Letting my attention wander back to the newscaster on the television, I raised a brow. "Two killed from animal attack in Mystic Height," I read the heading, shaking my head. I, for once, knew it wasn't an animal attack. It had been going on for a while. Ever since the competition ended, one thing or the other had been happening. The sudden change in the atmosphere I had attributed to the championship at first, but after a few rumors going about animals killing humans, most significantly, I was keen to look into it. But I hadn't found anything meaningful. Now, another attack had happened, and it had exactly the same mark- a deep gash at the neck. Whoever had done that was really awful in covering their mark, or perhaps they wanted to be known; hence, they hadn't made any effort to cover up. Jumping as a sound from outside caught my attention, I looked around the lonesome room. Everything was in order. Shrugging, I gazed back at the television to see the reporter was
RILEY POVThe morning wasn't exactly as I had planned it to be. Rudely jerked out of my slumber, running from what I could barely see; I and Kelani had been on the run.I panted, swatting at a twig that curled towards me, still running.Kelani, on the other hand seemed to be filled with energy. I couldn't fathom where the energy had exactly come from.But she had neither stopped to take a break nor was she breaking out in sweat.Also, it didn't look like her lungs were about to collapse, unlike me."I-I can't!" I stuttered, rushing towards a nearby tree to catch my breath."Why?" Kelani frowned. "It'll catch up with us!""Well, I didn't see exactly what we were running away from." But I wouldn't deny I didn't feel it.It was evil, but I believed it was best to face it head-on rather than flee from it."I just need to catch my breath," I muttered as Kelani gazed at me with narrowed eyes."I didn't plan to spend my summer break running away from monsters. I didn't even know how we were
KELANI POVI felt powers coursing through me. For the first time since my existence, I felt the intense power.This was even more powerful than when I had taken Williams down in Werewolf 101. This felt as though someone was inside of me, trying to rip my inside apart.But I had the ability to suppress the urge. I didn't know how I could do so.Seeing Riley being held up and almost killed had snapped me out of my daze. It had driven me into action.I couldn't watch Riley die for me. A lot of my friends had tried their best to save me, and I could only watch in hopelessness each time.Right now, I believe it was my turn to save her.The monster snarled. It was the only monster standing, and it charged towards me.Jumping out of his path, I gazed at Riley as she stood to her feet."Stay away," I said to her as she started coming forward."No, Kelani...""This fight is mine, Riley!" I repeated.The monster sprinted towards me again, and rather than jump away from his reach, I faced it hea
KELANI POV I just knew it. There was no way I could take three steps away from Riley's side. She gripped my hand, pulling me back. Placing my feet to the ground as she started to move, I shook my head. "I don't want to," I muttered. "Is something wrong?" Riley asked me. "I don't want to be here," I said. "You didn't say you were bringing me to his side. I'd rather have stayed in the forest than be here." "That's absurd. The forest is dangerous, Kelani, and this is the closest place that I can think is safe." Riley said. "How do you know where he lives anyway? And how are you suddenly friends with Zain that you can visit him freely?" I asked her. Riley sighed, letting me go, "We've always been friends, and perhaps this is the time I need to mention some things to you." "Some things like?" I asked her. Were they best of friends? Or did she tolerate all of them until she couldn't any longer? "Riley," Zain called. "It's a surprise to see you here." "I am always here," Riley said
ZAIN POVGrimacing, I watched as Kelani stepped away from me to the other side, very much closer to the gate.She acted as though I was some kind of monster she desired to get away from—the kind of monster she had killed.Her back was turned to me, and I saw her shoulders heaved.The desire to approach her and apologize once again filled me, but I doubted she would appreciate any of the apologies."When you wish to come in, you are free to." I hollered before turning and stepping indoors.Meeting Riley at the entrance, her brows were scrunched up."What happened the night you went out?" She asked me."She didn't tell you?" I asked, surprised.Even though Kelani wasn't the kind of person who went about tarnishing people's image, I had assumed she would, at least, say it to Riley.In this context, she wasn't tarnishing my image. I had been mean to her, albeit intentionally.Also, Riley wasn't just anybody to her; she was her best friend. It was strange she still kept her in the dark."W
VESPER POV"Alpha!""Fuck off," I grunted, blocking out Ethan's voice with my pillow."Alpha!" He called again.He had been doing that for the past five minutes. I was glad the door to my room was locked but, at the same regret giving him access to the main door.Ethan woke me up this way each morning. It wasn't as if I couldn't do so myself. During the holiday, I tend to oversleep, trying to relieve all the tensed muscles during the school session.But lately, I have been unable to have the most decent sleep. Not even a good six hours of sleep.The recurring nightmare of a monster rising and Kelani dying was what I saw all the time.It didn't help that I couldn't reach Kelani. The first time I tried was the last, and Riley had mentioned going into the dreaded forest to spend the break with her.That was the same forest I dreamt of each time."Alpha!" Nathan called loudly this time.Groaning, I pushed myself out of bed and trudged to the door.Undoing the lock, I glared at him, "Do yo
KELANI POV "Guard the house," A yell from Zain made me jerk out of my slumber. With wide eyes, I gazed around the dimly lit room before searching around for the switch of the lamp. Pressing it down, light flares in the room. I shrieked as a hooded figure stood before me. "It's me," Riley said, stepping closer. "Riley!" I exclaimed, eyeing her as she let down the hoodie. "I'm sorry," She winced, pushing a hand through her hair. "I couldn't sleep, and the noise from outside kind of made it worse." "What happened?" I asked her. Climbing down from the bed, I stepped towards the window and peered out. One of the best things about the room I currently was in was the ability to see all that was going on outside without needing to go outside. The fact that Zain had explicitly asked for the room to be cleaned for me even though I wasn't actively speaking to him says a lot. And for some reason, the kind gesture made me want to forgive him. "What's going on?" I asked her. Zain contin
KELANI POVOh goodness, what does he want now? I mused, straightening as I saw Vesper coming towards me.I had woken early to come to the ice cream shop in search of my phone before leaving for school. At least, if it were going to be here, I'd be the first person to see it since not many students were here after the event of yesterday.I was here because Riley had put a call through to Zain, and he said he hadn't seen any phone. He even said he didn't notice any with me but promised to help me search.I didn't want to let him go through all that trouble for my phone. Hence, I had come here before he would.I turned away as soon as Vesper reached me. He stayed for a while without saying a word to me, but I could feel his eyes on me."Kelani," he eventually said.I ignored him and continued looking under the seat, which I had been doing since I arrived. The phone wasn't even microscopic and could be seen easily, even from afar.Also, it would really stand out if it was here since the b
KELANI POV"What happened, and who's she?" I asked as soon as Zain returned. Vesper had left with the girl immediately. The ambulance came, and the activity that was taking place continued as if nothing had happened.I tried not to think about who the girl was with Vesper, but I couldn't help it. As far as I was concerned, he had no relatives from here.Riley, who was a big mouth herself, hadn't mentioned that Vesper had any relatives. Riley would have said one or two things about the Vesper family. Now, it left me confused."Are you worried that he's seeing someone else?" Zain asked me.I snorted, rolling my eyes. "Why should I be?"Zain narrowed his eyes at me, "Do you love Vesper?""That's not the point. I am just worried about the girl. I haven't seen her from around here before. You know this is the start of the session; what if we are getting attacked again?" I couldn't stop thinking about what had happened to Mary.What if there was an enemy lurking around the school area, targ
KELANI POVI stared at Jake for a long time before shaking my head."You don't have to give me answers right away; I can wait," He said."I can't... You know what? I need to speak with Chase, and I'll give you a response soon," I said."Great," Jake grinned. "I should leave this with you." he handed me the book and began to walk away."Um..." I trailed off, grimacing as I stared at his retreating form. "I guess you're stuck with me." I stared at the book again before stuffing it inside my bag.I walked to the fountain near the huge gate, then back to the gym's entrance.Now that I thought of it, I didn't have anything else to do besides practice, but I had blown that by going to meet Vesper.I thought it was a reasonable thing to do. Now, I believe I was stupid to have thought that.I could return to practice and ignore the scorn looks and snide remarks from Lia, but I was too prideful to do so. I had told her off and admitted I wasn't interested in the practice, so it was best to st
KELANI POVLia blew the whistle around her neck, signaling the start of practice. We gathered in the newly renovated gymnasium. Gone were the peeling paints I remembered from the last session. Fresh coats of white paint and Mystic's signature navy blue accents now adorned the walls, revitalizing the space. The polished hardwood court shimmered, the school's logo emblazoned at center court. Once a pale blue, the bleachers now boasted a deeper hue, sectioned off with crisp white railings.Despite the renovations, the gym still felt cozy and familiar. It still felt like the first time I was here, where I was whacked in the head."Alright, Fawns! Let's get warmed up," Lia called, her voice echoing off the gym's walls."Thirty minutes," Lia announced.Although I didn't know what I would be doing the whole thirty minutes, I was sure it wasn't warm-up alone.My thoughts wandered back to what happened at the cafeteria. After the announcement was made, Vesper had excused himself. Headmaster Ke
KELANI POVIt was recess, which I was grateful for. The lecture was annoyingly long, and Chase didn't even make it easy. I didn't understand why he was hellbent on trying to make us bring out our wolves.If one had a wolf they could communicate with, it was fine, right? But he had tried to make me switch to Kelly, which I had been unable to.I had gotten my ass whooped three times today, and I was glad to be in the cafeteria to mull over my inability to bring out my wolf rather than do so in the classroom where he could watch me."All I see is back, sexy, well-accentuated backside in that leather pant, and oh, how perfect his legs look," Riley groaned.I thought all that she was saying was from the book she was reading as it was on the table, but from the hushed silence in the room, I didn't think it was.I turned to where students were lined in front of the food table to see Jake. He stood in the room's center, and all eyes were on him. When I said all eyes, I meant all the eyes in t
KELANI POV A MONTH AFTER "And it's called black magic, black magic, yeah!" I groaned, grasping the pillow and using it to cover my ears, but it was barely doing its work. Riley's voice could pierce through even the hardest stone; sometimes, I wonder how she did it. It wasn't because she was singing while I was trying my best to sleep, it was due to the fact that the song had been on repeat for about three hours now. I wondered if she had just come across Little Mix. Hence, she decided to stream all the musics they had, or maybe she was just doing it to annoy me. "You sound like a broken record, Riley. I am trying to sleep," my voice was muffled by the pillow. "Wake up, Lani! It's a new session, the start of a beautiful morning, and I can see the sun peaking out from the sky. Oh, do you know we are going to know who gets shortlisted today in the battle of the strongest? I can't wait to find out who the alpha of the academy will be!" Well, I wasn't looking forward to it. I had ha
KELANI POVRiley and I stayed in the position much longer before Zain cleared his throat, breaking us apart.He was standing by the door with his hands tucked inside his pocket."I'm genuinely surprised at your quick recovery," He said, nodding towards Riley. "Now, I presumed help isn't much needed, is it?"Riley shrugged, "I'm a witch, and just like you werewolves heal after an injury, we do too.""Never knew that," It was Zain's turn to shrug.He probably knew but didn't care for much details."Now you do," Riley said, then added, "When you said help, who is coming? The police or staff from the infirmary?" She asked.Now, thinking about it, I hadn't asked him who the 'Helps' exactly were.I doubted it was any of the staff from the infirmary. It was possibly the police he had called. And to be honest, there wasn't much any of them would have done in this situation."Mrs Periwinkle and Coach Jensen," Zain said, "They should be arriving anytime soon.""They responded?!" Riley question.
KELANI POVOh, My Goodness."Somebody, anybody, help me!" I cried again, for the second time, my eyes moving around the room to see no one had made a move."I did this, I did this," I chanted over again, my hands trembling as I held her closer. I hurt Riley. I had hurt the only person who cared about me.But then again, I was only trying to defend myself. I wondered if that counted.Biting my lower lip as it trembled, I sniffled and then blinked back, the tears brewing in my eyes away. But the more I blinked, the more tears that gathered."Kelani," I felt a pull on my shoulder, but I didn't let Riley go. I couldn't let her go.She was bleeding, and by the look of things, if no one came to save her soon, she was going to die."Kelani," I heard Vesper's voice again.I turned to stare at him and saw his brows were creased with worries. Shaking my head, I let out a throaty sob."I need help!" I snapped, swiping at the tears pouring down my cheeks. "Why are you people doing nothing? Riley
KELANI POV My wolf. Kelly. I had a wolf, just like everyone else. I had a freaking wolf. Excitement unfurled inside of me at the thought. I had thought I was wolfless. A werewolf wouldn't be one without its werewolf identity. I had assumed I was different because I could barely channel any real powers within me. Now, I felt it. With Kelly prowling inside of me, I felt her energy surging inside of me as well. "I'll help you defeat her," Kelly said. "No," I whispered, shaking my head as I approached Riley. She had slammed Lia into a box several times, almost making her go unconscious. But then Lia was as resilient as Riley. They both had strength and great stamina. They could endure a lot of things that many werewolves wouldn't be able to endure. Well, the weaker werewolves, though. Riley tossed her head back and cackled, the air cackling with energy as she did. The wind drifted into the room from nowhere. I couldn't see any windows in sight nor cracks in the wall to indicate