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 POVI 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, making m
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 continued to yell,
KELANI POVI turned to Riley, who shrugged, and as Vesper twisted the handle continuously, she hissed."Calm down, lover boy." She said, moving to open the door.As soon as it opened, Vesper stumbled inside. Sweat drenched his body, and the shirt he wore was stained with blood.Not worried about the state he was in, I ran into him, jumping into his open arms and wrapping my arms around him."You're okay," we said in unison.Vesper's arms wrapped tightly around my lower body, and I shuddered. This wasn't the first time he'd be hugging me, but this felt different.It felt as though he poured all his emotions into the embrace.As he let me go, he cupped my face, closing his lips around mine. I gripped his shirt, scrunching it, and stood on tiptoes to access his lips as well."I'd have said get a room, but then, I don't think I am really to have a mental image of what both of you could be doing in that room," Riley grimaced, clearing her through, which broke us apart. I flushed, gazing aw
KELANI POV"You left," Riley said as soon as I stepped in.I nodded, walking to where Vesper was. He was fast asleep, and I turned to Riley."I had to inject him since he didn't want to take any drugs. I tried to ease his pain until I am certain of what attacked him.""And I made sure he isn't going to die; I gave him the right dosage," She added.I turned to Nathan, "I didn't ask what attacked both of you. Can you tell us how to make our work better? It would help if you can describe as well.""Sure." Nathan stood, dug into his pocket, and brought out a sheet of paper with a pen in his hand. "I'll try my best to draw as well. Although I am terrible at art."Riley and I nodded. I didn't care if he drew it well; I only wanted to know what had attacked him so Riley could find spells in her book to cure him.At this rate, I didn't think we could do anything without Vesper. Since it was said teamwork was the only way out for most of the things we engaged in, I believed this wasn't differe