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115. Children
Last Updated:
2024-10-29 19:42:56
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Once 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
Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 117. Academy
Callista.Matron Aldar teleported us in front of the Academy and bustled away to meet up with the Headmistress before the ceremony started. Ophelia and I watch her go for a bit and turn towards the Academy building. This is my very first time seeing it, and boy, if it isn’t a sight.I have to say when someone mentions a ‘Witches Academy’, the image of a gothic castle with black-clad emo kids comes into mind. Like every other kid in my generation, I’ve grown up on the hilarious ideas humans have on us put into movies and books, so sometimes, I expect the stereotype first and the reality second.Oftentimes, reality is much, much different from fiction, but this is not such a time.The Witches Academy building is situated near the foot of the mountain. Just like the tower, it’s decorated with swirling vines and creepers, but the old, gothic mansion that lay underneath is visible from the tall doorways, Roman pillars, and the narrow, deeply set windows that peek from under the overgrowth
Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 118. Aspect
Callista.I cannot believe it.There, in between a boy who looks very young and another girl, Jenny stands, staring bewildered at the explosion of light that filled the ceiling of the hall with light spheres, bobbing serenely. Her mouth is open in wonder. She wears the robes of the students, grey colored with pants underneath, with their cloaks held together by iron chains.The light reflects on her lovely dark skin, and now I can see how unhealthy she’d looked before. Her hair and skin used to look dull, her eyes surrounded by more creases, and her face gaunt. But now, she looks different, happy, excited…And she's too busy staring at everything else to notice me.Not that I blame her, because this place is amazing, but I had been worrying about the bears getting to her the last time I saw her, and my protective instincts rise within."Callista!" Ophelia hisses me. "You can't disturb the ceremony!""That girl," I hiss back. "She's human! I know her!""She's not human, she's the one I
Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 119. Jenny
Callista."Oh my God!" After the ceremony, Jenny runs towards me and jumps, wrapping her arms around my shoulders as she traps me in a tight embrace, I bury my face in her shoulder and take a deep whiff of her scent, familiarizing myself with her according to wolf tradition. I hope she isn’t creeped by it. "You're alive! You're alive!"I laugh with happiness. "I am, alive and safe. I never thought I'd see you again!""I thought those men killed you!" She says in a shaky voice and her arms around me tighten. "I'm so glad they didn't."They certainly tried, but I don't think telling those details to a sixteen-year-old is wise. The last thing I want is to give her more trauma."My pack saved me before they could do anything like that," I tell her instead.She untangles herself and holds me at arm's length, her big, brown eyes scanning my being with awe."You're really a werewolf?" she asks reverently. "And you have a pack?"I nod. "Yeah. It's called the Rexellen pack.""Oh wow," she mutt
Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 120. Extinct
Callista.The next day, the Headmistress looks at me and hums contemplatively."Perhaps you ought to take a break today."That was after I failed to break a fragment for the third time that day. I don't know what's wrong with me, but every time I try to go into my mind, I get lost, and phantoms make me lose track of the chant. Also, I don't end up in the orchard, I end up in various places of my past.It was annoying the first few times, but I felt particularly drained and exhausted after the last attempt."Yeah," I sigh. "I think that's a good idea.""Come walk with me." The Headmistress invites me as I scramble up from the ground, "Sometimes fresh air is the best cure for a troubled mind."We walk from the meditation room to the hospital. It's near noon, and the sun shines ever so brightly above the clouds, which move like cotton swabs through the clear blue sky. The mountain air is crisp and dry, the fog has reduced a bit today. Witches stroll around, guiding enchanted baskets heav
Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 121. Manticore
Callista.“What is that?!” I scream, tensing as another roar follows the first.It sounds like the wail of a wounded animal, a strange trumpet quality mixed with the growl of a predator, echoing through us. It's as if an elephant and a lion were sounding at once.From above, we can hear the witches screaming. That cannot be a good thing. During my time being here, I’ve never seen the witches panic like this."Oh, no!" The Headmistress exclaims, and the next thing I know, she’s rushing to the hospital. I know that at the moment, what I'm supposed to do is run far away from the hospital and let the experts handle it. After all, I was just a patient in the hospital, a werewolf who couldn't even transform. There is nothing I can do to help.But logic had never been my strongest suit.So, I run after the Headmistress and enter the hospital. People are all running in the opposite direction, towards the entrance, novice physicians, orderlies, nurses, and patients. It's a hassle to get insid
Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 122. Amulets
Callista.The griffin never gets to attack us.It squawks as I hear it hit something, a thump coming from the impact, and I raise my head to see.Surrounding me, here was a light purple translucent shield.It is dome-shaped, trapping the students and me inside a large bowl. I feel tingly all over looking at it. The color of the shield is familiar, and my eyes immediately snap to my hand. It’s so beautiful and mesmerizing.My ring is glowing.My ring is glowing purple like a light, and I feel waves of slight buzzing erupting from the crystal sphere on it. It feels as if the ring is alive. The ring was protecting us.The griffin, who'd been thrown backward by the impact squeaks again and charges at us. When it hit the shield again, I feel the impact upon myself too."Callista, how are you doing that?!" Jenny asks, her voice hysterical. She clings to me from behind as I crouch in front of her, holding my crossed hands above my head."I don't know." I grit my teeth as the griffin flies in
Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 123. Shield
Callista.The smithy is a cave that is located deep in the mountain. It's hidden from the outside with the same vines and creepers that decorate most of the old buildings in the Guild. Two large doors that open upon the touch of a witch guard the entrance to the smithy. They open with a deep groan as the Headmistress touches them."The smithy is run by Master Tsertinand," says the Headmistress when the doors still open. "He's an expert in magical devices, especially amulets. He was the one who made Matron Aldar’s staff. Amulets and sigils help us focus our powers more, and we often wear them to do heavier tasks. But be wary, he's not the most social fellow. He resides within this cave and never comes out unless it's absolutely necessary. I haven't seen him in two years, in fact."That sounds like quite the character. I wonder why he dislikes the company that much. "Are you certain that we won't be intruding upon him, then?" I ask the Headmistress.She scoffs, "oh, nonsense. Even if i
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Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 145. Kill
Theon.Barely concealing my mounting anger, I follow Valencia.I didn't know why she was so snappish at Callista before, but I'd chalked that up to her having her own issues to deal with. Perhaps she got a troubling message from her pack. Perhaps her father was calling her back to the Galdine pack to carry on with her duties.The only reason I asked for a sparring session was to show her that she had a lot to teach Callista still. Callista absolutely obliterating her in the duel was something I did not expect. I knew Callista had a natural talent for swordsmanship, but the way she moved today was similar to that of a pro. She defeated Valencia in record time, and she did that while using a real sword for the first time. That was almost unheard of, and I still wonder how she did that without even injuring herself.I saw the way Valencia fought with Callista, and I noticed how towards the end Valencia aimed at her gut.I watched with fear as the sharp sword tip neared my mate's abdomen
Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 144. Learned
Callista.I can't believe what I'm hearing."Really?" I ask, confused.I don't think I'm as good as she is as a fighter yet. Maybe her tiredness was making her see things that aren't necessarily true. Also, this whole thing just lands out of nowhere.Just yesterday she told me that I need to adjust my form a bit more because I was a little wobbly on my right leg still."Because I don't feel like I'm that good yet.""Trust me, you are," Valencia replies in an offhanded way. "Besides, you must have more important things to do than waste the morning with me. I mean, you should be close to finishing with your GED now. You should pay more attention to those."I notice that her voice becomes sharper as she spits out the last part, and the expression on her face is strange. It looks almost like she is angry about something.Just as I open my mouth to ask Valencia what was really troubling her, Theon walks up to us, his hands stuffed into the pockets of his overcoat."I heard some of your dis
Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 143. Stop
Callista.I wake up in my own bed in the morning, and for a brief second, I wonder how I ended up here. But then I remember how I was afraid that someone would catch me and Theon in bed together, and how I'd snuck out of his room in the middle of the night, dressed in my wrinkled clothes. The very memory of the last night makes me blush and grin like an idiot. It had been so amazing.I still can't believe it happened, that Theon and I finally made love.I know that it had only been a few months since we even met, but werewolf relationships progressed much faster than humans. Most of the time, those who found that were mates carried on with mating just days after.Theon and I haven’t mated yet because it still wasn't the right time for us. I know this, and so does he, and we were fine with waiting. We still had a lot of problems, and mating with each other was the last thing we ought to do right now. Honestly, sleeping together was also the last thing we should be doing.But last nigh
Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 142. Bashful
Theon.My heart races in my chest as I guide Callista to my room. My room is just two doors away from my office, so it doesn't take long. We sneak in, glancing around to see if there was anyone watching us."No one's there," Callista whispers. "It's near lights out time, so all the servants are in their quarters.""Better be safe," I reply. "I don't want anyone to know it just yet.""Me too," Callista agrees.As soon as I close the door behind me, Callista slams me into the door. I'm a little surprised by her eagerness, although I wonder why I am. Callista is confident in almost all aspects of her life, so why shouldn't she be the same with sex?Her energy excites me in return, and I feel myself harden in my pants. I twirl us around and push her against the door, kissing a line down her neck to the collarbone. Kissing her neck is addictive, as she reacts deliciously to every sensation. I can't get enough of the sounds she makes.I grind my pelvis on her thigh, letting her feel the har
Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 141. Kiss
Callista.We forget the crashed chandelier. We forget about the glass-embedded muffins. We forget the castle, the pack, and the staff. We forget everything except for ourselves. Because at that moment, we are the ones that only matter. Here in this room, warmed by the lit fireplace, surrounded by his wonderful scent that seems so intense, we are the world itself. Our souls sing for each other, and we dance to their song.We kiss and kiss, not wanting to stop. It’s always like this with him. His lips glide over mine, languid and warm, equally soft and equally firm. He's such a passionate kisser, and I can't help but sigh into his mouth. His hands take my waist, and I marvel at how his hands just feel so right. I let my own arms wound around his neck, and I use them to raise on my tip toes so I can feel him more."I know that you're still unsure," I tell him. "So please, don't feel pressured...""I'm not unsure about this, Callista," Theon replies. "You're my mate. You're my intended."
Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 140. Deserve
Callista."You know what, I’m going to call the Headmistress and ask her if invisible people are a part of the supernatural world," I inform Theon as we sit in his office, once again sharing drinks. Him a glass of whiskey, and me a glass of ginger ale. "Because at this point, that's the only explanation I have for this whole thing. How can anyone be clever enough to erase their traces so well?”As I'd thought, we'd found nothing. The camera hadn't caught a single suspicious activity, not even someone loitering next to my door. There were the usual appearances of me and Haden, Valencia, and Kellin, the maids, butlers, and guards. And all of them went on in their own businesses."I don't know," Theon sighs. "At this point, maybe you should. Maybe we got the damned invisible man haunting the halls of the castle.""Or a ghost," I suggest. "Can ghosts hold things though? I've always believed their translucent hands sort of went through physical stuff. Does this castle have ghosts, Theon?"
Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 139. Safe
Callista."Whoever they were, they didn't want to kill you," Theon says.He holds the bags of muffins in his hands, squinting at the torn up, vandalized particles of food within. We sit on either end of my bed, and the doors are locked, and the curtains drawn. Two guards are placed outside the door, because Theon was not going to take any chances. Theon’s still sweaty from running all the way from the university to the castle. I cannot help but feel relieved knowing he was taking this so seriously."I gathered that," I say in a meek tone, feeling weary to my very soul from it all. "There's no way I would've swalLeanderd that big of a glass shard.""And this handwriting is so different from mine," he taps the note. "I don't write this clearly. My handwriting is basically scrawling. Also, the signature is visibly forged. I don't have so much finesse when drawing out the 'T' of my name.""I wasn't thinking when I saw it," I confess sheepishly. "I just saw the note and naively thought i
Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 138. Bag
Callista.Cautiously, I approach the bag. There had been far too many weird things happening lately that my paranoia acts on overdrive, and I won’t be taking chances with something so suspicious.As I get close, I nice, buttery scent wafting from it, and marginally relax. Pinned to the bag there is a note."Hey, I'm sorry I couldn't help you with the move. Consider these compensations until I get back :)"The note is signed by Theon.I smile. I've never seen his handwriting before, and I'm awed at how neat it looks.I open the brown paper bag to find three muffins inside. I love muffins, and my heart warms because Theon managed to find that out!They are warm, fresh from the oven, and I don’t hesitate before taking a bite.That's when I feel excruciating pain in my mouth, along with the taste of blood. As soon as I taste blood, I spit the bite of the muffin to the ground.A bloody glob smears the plush rug, and for a brief moment, I feel pity for whoever will clean the thing.That’s
Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 137. Reputation
Callista."I won’t lie, Callista, but this won’t do your reputation any favors," Haden ribs me as we carry boxes from my room.It is the morning, two days after the accident, and I’ve already finished with my swords practice. Valencia goes easy on me and lets me off early due to the 'accident', which I was still bummed about.I’ve got two hours before class, so I thought that I might as well use the time to pack up my things to move.After the incident, the very thought of being alone in the tower with only a bunch of guards and a manic wolf was not soothing. I barely slept the last two nights because the smallest sound woke me up. Elias’s howls, which I'd gotten used to were suddenly scary to me once again.So, when I woke up this morning, I knew my time in the tower was done. I had to take Theon up in his offer.I really didn't expect Theon to make the offer to move in next to him, and when he did, I was ecstatic with joy. It felt like a significant step in our relationship.I mean,
