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108. Thunder
Last Updated:
2024-05-31 23:09:46
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Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 109. Ring
Callista. With a gasp, I open my eyes to the waking world.The jitters, the shock, and the disconnect is the same as before when I wake up from an episode. But this time, there is a glaring difference.This time, I remember what happened. I remember the orchard, I remember seeing Farris. I remember the blackness.And I remember hearing Theon’s voice. I remember the rope.The chanting had stopped, and so had the storm. The Headmistress crouches next to me, her arm on my shoulder. She peers at me with those deep grey eyes."Callista," she says. "You held on until the very last moment. But suddenly your concentration broke.'"I remember," I tell her, "I remember the episode."Her eyes widen, and she looks at the round candle table. There, near the edge, one single candle had gone out. And half of it is pitch black colored.The Headmistress gets up to walk towards the candle. She picks it up from the white end and tries to touch the dark part. But upon contact, she hisses and draws her f
Last Updated : 2024-07-10Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 110. Burns
Callista.I let go of the ring as if it burns. As soon as it loses contact with my skin, the eerie glow stops."Did you see that?!" I exclaim, glancing at the Headmistress and back at the ring. "Is that normal?"The Headmistress shakes her head, her eyes wide. "No, it is not. It doesn't happen in the hands of non-magical supernaturals."We both stare at the ring for a beat.Now that I look closely, what an ancient piece of jewelry it is. The circular band is a dark color that looks a bit greenish, and the crystal sphere doesn't shine as much as newer crystals do. There are some carvings on the outside, but none is clear enough to be decipherable.It’s cold to the touch now. But when I picked it before, I swear it hummed against my skin."Take the ring to your hand." The Headmistress instructs me. "It might just be a fluke, but it never hurts to rest again.”I heed her order, and the crystal begins to glow. I lift it off the chest.Then I feel it.A tiny vibration emanating from the ri
Last Updated : 2024-07-10Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 111. Origin
Callista. "A stealer?" The Headmistress repeats, as if she's confused. And then in a moment, realization dawns upon her. "Ah, yes, you are a stealer too.""Yeah," I admit, a little ashamed of my condition. "People consider me a taboo, and my previous pack basically exchanged me for land when they found it out.""I'm very sorry to hear that, Callista. No creature, whatever their circumstance be, does not deserve to be treated as such." She looks sincere and her tone is fierce, so is the indignation in her eyes, which I am stunned to realize is on my behalf. I shoot her smile of gratitude, and nod, which relaxes the set of her shoulders. "That being said, stealers are very specific to Were kind. You cannot find such creatures in other species. And throughout the years, I've noticed that most of the stealers to exist are born into wolf packs.""Have you met a stealer before?" I ask, taking a bite of my salad which I upgraded with salami and chickpeas."No, I can't say I have. I only bec
Last Updated : 2024-07-10Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 112. Gaul
Callista."She killed him?!" I cry out, my pitch squeaking. Werewolf legends are particularly rife with copious amounts of violence, so I should’ve expected that, but still!"Indeed so.” The Headmistress responds, calming arranging her food to be consumed. "And then she avenged her fallen pack and decimated the rival pack by enticing them with her scent."Not going to lie, Lucienne was kind of a badass."And then what?""Then she disappeared. Legend says she died soon after. Her love for her mate drove her to be maniacal, and before she could go fully rogue, she killed herself." The Headmistress finishes the story. "Legend also says the soul that resided in Lucienne's body latched onto a newborn baby girl as soon as she passed, who was in the vicinity. A soul can never die, and the woman cursed herself to never reach the afterlife. Her soul roams the earthen plane for an eternity, and whoever it gets latched onto becomes the stealer."I'm truly speechless after this story. I've never h
Last Updated : 2024-07-12Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 113. Phone call
Theon. I’m making an inventory of the tower ammunition when I get a call from an unknown number. "That's strange," I muse, staring at the screen and trying to flit through all the contacts I knew in my head to see where it was coming from. Werewolves never really got unknown contacts like this; we pretty much knew everyone around.Kellin walks over to me and takes a look of his own at the screen."Huh. Isn't that your personal number?" He asks, "The one you only give to your most trusted and guard like a dragon with an egg?"I roll my eyes, "I don't guard it. I’m cautious, aren’t you the one who used to rag me about having a sense of self-preservation worth an Alpha King?""Well, I sure am glad you’re taking me up on that so well.” I decide to ignore his sass and press the green call button."This is Theon Rexellen," I answer, instead of saying 'hello', "Who is this?""Theon?" A familiar female voice comes from the other side, and I stand straight up, "it's Callista. Sorry for the n
Last Updated : 2024-07-12Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 114. Heal
Callista.As the days go by, fragment by fragment, I heal.I honestly did not think it would be possible, but turns out, I shouldn’t really question the experts no matter how absurd their methods seem. After all, they were experts for a reason.I was moved to the hospital after the first session, where I got my own level of room. The same wards that were in the tower were placed here and they kept the nightmares at bay.The room I got was not open like the rest of the hospital was, but surrounded by linen curtains that were a light beige draped around cherry wood pillars that supported a circular roof. My bed was in the middle of the room, and at the foot of the bed, there was a chest, which was full of the robes worn by the patients of the hospital. They were a very light aqua color, and as everything in the Guild was, enchanted so they were warm when it was cold and vice versa, light and flowing. Some preferred to wear pants underneath, some didn't. Anyone was free to accessorize th
Last Updated : 2024-07-12Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 115. Children
Theon."Hello, Theon," Valencia says as soon as I enter my office.She looks pretty sedate and more exhausted than usual. There are deep bags under her eyes as if she hadn't gotten a good night's sleep in days, and her shoulders are hunched. She seems defeated, which is uncharacteristic of her. But she still wears her signature jacket and sword and still looks more put together than many others I know on a good day.Still, concerns creep up on me."Hello, Valencia." I sit back on my chair behind the desk. "I'm surprised to see you here, to be honest. Especially as Callista isn't here anymore."She perks up at that, expression too neutral to be concerned. "Oh? And what led her to be absent? Where might she be now?”"If you must know, her episodes became too much for us to keep her safe here. She tried to jump off a wall, and we figured it was the right time for her to go to the Witches Guild."Even saying that I feel a hint of melancholy run through me. Goddess, I miss Callista."So,
Last Updated : 2024-07-12Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 116. Patrol
Theon."What?" I can’t believe what I heard. "You stepped down?"Before she left for the festival to her own pack, Valencia had told me how much she loved her role as the Gamma of the Geraldine pack. It gave her a separate identity from her father. Her title was hers, and she wasn't just the Alpha's daughter anymore. And she had been good at her job. She had a keen eye for any details that were out of the normal. Although she didn't have Haden-level expertise in weaponry and strategy, she was a good Gamma who served her pack well. "Yeah," she replies. "I couldn't take the pressure anymore. I had to go away.""Valencia," I say her name and her gaze lifts to mine. "Are you thinking of leaving your pack?"She sighs, "I honestly don't know, Theon. Once, the place was home to me. And I still love it. I love the people, the customs, the town, I love the forest, I love the life I lived there. At the same time, I want to escape. As if it suffocates me. I feel like a coward for saying this, b
Last Updated : 2024-07-12
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Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 212. Raid
TheonI ran outside the pack, calling out from the top of my voice, “Callista!”Outside, the battle was almost over.The hostile pack members surrendered as soon as they felt their Alpha die, and the Rexellen pack guards and members worked together to apprehend them.Now they stand in lines with their heads bowed, standing side by side with one another as my own guards cuffed their hands. But unlike them, we didn't use silver-rimmed cuffs because we weren't savages even to our enemies. Several Rexellen pack members and guards turn to me as soon as they hear me bellow my mate's name, their expressions puzzled. Kellin comes right up behind me.“Theon, calm down!” he huffs. “The people are on the edge right now; the littlest thing can set them off. Don't make them panic again!”I blush at my own idiocy.“Right,” I give him a curt nod and turn to Ophelia. “Where did you leave her?”“By a clothing boutique near the town square,” Ophelia replies, looking around. Then she winces. “We had to
Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 211. Snow
CallistaMy heart beats fast in my chest as I pursue Valencia through the snow-laden forest. The tall trees loom around me, stripped off their leaves unless they are evergreens. I'd lost sight of Valencia's distinguishable red hair for a while, but the prints of her footsteps are still clearly visible on the snow. I don't know if I should be following her right now. Maybe I should've stayed with the wolves and taken them to Theon before going after Valencia. I had to tell him about what happened and see if he was okay after being dragged into the castle with Ophelia’s vines.But if I let Valencia escape the Rexellen pack lands, Goddess only knows if we would be able to find her again. She'd been suspiciously elusive before. She would definitely use the same tactics to hide again. As I run through the forest, I wonder if I had done the right thing leaving without even a weapon in my hand. Valencia had her sword and her wolf with her. What do I have?Nothing!Okay, I may have done som
Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 210. Afterlife
TheonAs soon as I tell Haden the news of Elias's death after I find him in the hallways of the castle looking for us, his face pales and his eyes widen. Then, without a word, he runs in the direction of the hospital. "He's going to be devastated," Kellin shakes his head, voice guttural and low from sorrow. Then, he glances at me. "Listen, Theon. I know that Dr. Haeger said that you need to step up as the Alpha now, but your brother just died, and you're only a wolf. If you need some minutes alone-""No, Kellin," I reply. "Thank you. But I need to sort this out. After that, I can mourn."I lower my voice. "Elias is finally at peace now. You were right before. He's released now. As much as I can't imagine waking up tomorrow without him, I know that he is in a better place."Kellin stares at me and nods. "He definitely is. We have to hold the funeral as soon as possible to ensure that.""Yeah. So, let's get to work. Round up the hostiles, throw them in the dungeons, secure the perimete
Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 209. Goodbye
TheonI scream until I feel the taste of blood in the back of my throat. There’s blood already on my tongue, the blood of the enemy that felled my brother, but this blood is my own.I scream until the foundations of the very castle vibrate beneath my feet, as if we’re in yet another accursed earthquake that started this all, but no, that’s just my body vibrating with the maelstrom of emotions rushing through it.I scream, cradling my brother's dead body to my chest, shaking him, asking him to wake up just one more time, dammit, to open his eyes and look at me because he can't leave, not after everything, not after us winning back our pack. How is this possible?How can he die like this?He was just alive a minute ago. He was breathing minutes ago!I ask- beg people for help. Anyone to come and revive him. But it's useless because there isn't anything anyone can do. There’s no magic in this world that can bring back a dead werewolf, not without turning him into a zombie or a thrall. Th
Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 208. Panic
TheonSomeone moves in front of me, blocking the incoming wolf. It's a man who is taller than I am, but also very skinny. My eyesight is too blurry to register properly.Farris’ jaws clamp around his human neck, hard. A scream, a guttural, painful scream echoes through the great hall, and I…I recognize that scream. Suddenly, my vision clears as panic runs through my entire being. I know that voice. That voice belongs to Elias!Elias falls in front of me with Farris still attached to his neck, hitting the ground with a thump. Blood spurts out from his neck, splattering all around us. Seeing that the target he attacked wasn't his intended one, Farris walks away, confusion marring his features. Elias writhes on the floor, trying to breathe. Half of his throat is gone. I don't know what takes over me as I witness the sight of my brother on the floor, fighting for his life as his blood bled out of him at a catastrophic rate. All the pain I feel is overcome by my rage, and I turn to Fa
Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 207. Sorry
TheonOnly a few minutes pass but that is enough for us to draw enough blood from each other to make the floor wet and slippery.My body hurts from all the tears and bites on it. I don't have instant healing as Callista does, so my wounds stay open for a long time with my normal werewolf healing. Farris is no better. He limps because of a rather powerful bite I delivered on his front leg. His teeth drip blood, and so does mine.I don't think I will ever forget the taste of blood in my mouth again. I get up from the floor, swallowing the copper taste in my mouth. My body protests, especially my legs. But I can't quit. He is so strong though. The strength of the Alpha King is no joke. But I have got to endure. I must defeat him. I must win. I need to get my pack back. With a growl, I collect all my strength yet again and pounce on him. As we grabble to bite and claw each other, distantly I wonder how Callista is doing. She hadn't made her way into the great hall yet, only Kellin is
Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 206. Fight
TheonFarris Leighwen laughs out loud."You? Duel me?! Do you think you can win against me now, Rexellen? I’m the Alpha King here, and my strength surpasses your puny average-wolf abilities by miles. I can crush you under my palm like a bug even in my human form.""Well, then accept it," I tell him, feeling my anger rise with each second that passes. "If you're so fucking sure that you're going to win, accept my challenge and duel me!""No!" Valencia screams, interjecting. Her eyes are wide, and she looks afraid. "No, you can't do that Theon. He will kill you.""So what?" I ask. “Better yet, tell me what makes you think that you still have a say in what I can or cannot do?”"You can't die, you're mine!" she says, and I see red. "I'm not yours! I will never be yours, how many times do I have to say that before it gets through your head?!""We've known each other since we were children, and I know you inside out. We were meant to be each other’s love forever! And finally, I have the ch
Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 205. Cure
CallistaOphelia and I collide in a bone-crushing embrace as soon as she pulls me out of the metal cage.My relief is tremendous, making me tear up. Around us, people are still running around. But now, instead of running away, with the help of the two witches and the griffin, the guards and people of the Rexellen pack are fighting against the hostiles. Kiran cast a spell that made the guns clog so they couldn't shoot, so they had no choice but to fight physically as humans or as turned wolves. "Oh, my Goddess!" I wheeze. "I don't know what to say. How?""We got a call!" Ophelia says as we break apart. "They called the Headmistress and said you're in trouble and the Headmistress notified us. We can't act on an official level because this is technically a pack war, so she told us to go discretely.""Won't you get in trouble for that?" I ask, concerned. Ophelia shrugs. "Not if we were just visiting you as friends, but then caught you in the middle of trouble. I mean, we have every righ
Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 204. Duel
Theon"Theon, are you crazy?!" Kellin shouts as we run down a staircase that leads to the ground floor of the keep. "You can't challenge him to a duel like you are, he's the Alpha King!""I have to try, Kellin," I throw over my shoulder without breaking my stride. "That fucker used the voice about ten times for just shits and giggles. He’s got no thought of consequence at all! I can't have someone like him, a sociopath, running around holding that much power.""I agree with everything you said about Leighwen but is this the time?" Kellin grabs me by the shoulder, finally halting me. He turns me so he can look at me, wearing a very worried expression. “You’re an average wolf now, and you’re weak enough from the wolfsbane. Please, think this through. Screw honor, let’s attack him together. Let’s take him down without a duel. This is madness and you know it, Alpha!”"No, Kellin. I’m afraid this is how we have to do it,” I say. "I’ve never fought with dishonor in my life, and I can’t star
