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54. Free
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Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 55. Escaped
Callista.Two weeks after the ankle monitor is removed, I decided that it is time.Kellin and Haden make noise about making me an official member of the pack, sending me to school again, and helping me graduate, so I can attend the Rexellen University, and maybe even get a job. I nod at them, agreeing with everything. At least their sentiments are nice. I wish I could expect to live that ideal life.But I can’t.My mind is set, and I have somehow talked myself into leaving Haden and Kellin. After all, without me around, even their lives would change for the better. There would be no tension between them and the Alpha King, and they would once again be able to run the pack like they’d done before.With no stealer polluting the passages of the Rexellen castle, everything will be right again.So, after my second plan is complete, I lock up everything that’s hurting my heart in my mind and start to act.At the very beginning, before my first attempt, I had only one plan, but now I have tw
Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 56. Human City
Callista.The city is huge.I’ve seen them before, but only on TV or videos. Before escaping, I made sure to do as much research as possible into living as a human, especially a homeless human who had no identity outside the werewolf. There were so many articles and forums that gave me the information I wanted, and I noted them all in my head. I had somewhat of a foundation of knowledge of what I was getting myself into.But knowing facts about the human world and seeing it for the first time are different experiences.The moment I enter this place, that’s what I register. How damn gigantic it is. The buildings rise so much that they nearly touch the clouds, and the light…there is so much light. And vehicles. I’ve never seen so many vehicles before.Also, the people. Even at this time of the night, the streets are so busy.With normal humans, who didn’t believe in the Goddess or mates. Who didn’t care for stealers. Who weren’t in packs. No one spares me a second look, and all of them
Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 57. Bus
Callista.There are two transportation options I can take because I do not have enough cash to rent a car.So, train or bus. Train or bus?I decide on the bus.I march straight into the terminal and ask the lady behind the counter for a ticket. This is my first interaction with a human, and I try my damndest to be natural. I don’t want to look like a scared teenager out here, that’s bound to backfire on me. I already look bad, don’t need to add more to the story and make them think I’m a runaway. I don’t know enough about humans to wonder if they’d take me straight to the police if they think I’m running away because I do look a bit young. But in my state of being essentially a ghost in the human system, I refuse to take the risk.She looks at me, surprise evident on her face. My stomach drops. Did I do something wrong? Is that now how people ask for things around here?“Um, hello. May I ask to where you want a ticket to?” And then she rattles off a bunch of questions with ticket type
Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 58. Interlude
Interlude.Four days later.“I found a human,” A man said with his head held high above his shoulders. He stood facing the window that looked into the far city, its light pollution preventing him from seeing the stars. “A very strange smelling one.”He was a large man, at least seven feet tall with a broad muscular frame. He was clean-shaven with russet brown hair that grew past his ears, brushing the top of his shoulders. All in all, he looked like a man who’d seen much in life, and who’d done much as well. There was a scar running down his cheek, from his eye to his jaw like a tear track. He wore only a pair of pants, standing barefoot on the plush carpet of the office.Another man sat behind a desk facing the same window. He was as big as the other one, but with dark blond hair, dressed in a casual outfit. His face was covered in a thick beard, and he wore an expression of interest.“What kind of a smell?”“Beautiful, really. Enticing.” He shook his head, “It smelled like her.”“He
Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 59. Shelter
Callista.“So, does that mean we can sleep here, for free?” I ask my new friend, looking at the run-down building in front of us.There is a line of people near the building, dressed like us. Some of them have the same look of misery on their faces, their hands tucked into various pockets in their layers of cloth, some carrying bags and some without anything. Some others look cheerful, some just look ordinary if this is a regular occurrence for them. When I was researching, I never did get a clear idea of what being homeless was like, and thought that it was misery all the time. I basically resigned myself to a sad existence when I decided to run, but seeing some of the people here I start to think that maybe it won’t be so bad. Maybe with the right friends, I’d be able to make it through.We have to stand in line for some time more because the building was still closed, only opening at 05:00 PM to take the people in. Apparently, it was only a night shelter, where you came in, had a m
Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 60. Shower
Callista.Somehow, we got in.I honestly didn’t think that it would be possible, given how long the line was even if we had come relatively early. But about fifteen minutes after the place opened, we have two cots in the female section with a small bag of supplies each. I place my bag on the top of my cot, which doesn’t look much compared to the accommodations in the Rexellen castle. But I’ve been sleeping on park benches and even the cold, hard ground, which means that this cot would be heaven to sleep in tonight.Jenny looks happy as well. Well, calling it happy might be stretching it. She looks content for now, but her eyes are still so tired.We sit on our cots for a moment in silence, taking in the sudden change and making sure that it won’t go away anytime soon.“They told us that dinner's in an hour, right? Better get ready.” Jenny reminds me in a quiet voice. “Wanna take a shower? Bathrooms are communal but the water’s hot.”“That’ll be nice.” I don’t remember the last time I'
Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 61. Advantage
Callista.As I predicted, they don’t go after her.Three were-creatures chase me through the city. I don’t know what kind they are, wolves or otherwise, but I know that their intentions toward me are far from benevolent.I navigate through various streets, trying to get away. Being in the midst of humans means that they can’t transform, and I take that to my advantage. I weave through the alleys and lanes, entering two-doorway shops from one end exiting from another, and passing street vendors and street shops trying to lose them. But they don't fall away.“Excuse me! Coming through.” I yell at people getting in my way leaving a lot of angry people in my wake.My legs are burning and my heart is beating like a jackhammer. No matter what I do, I can’t lose them.I run and I run and I run. I turn left, right, and further right. My head spins, my breath coming out in short pants.There’s a mall in front of me and it seems crowded. Yes, it is perfect.I enter the mall and pull the hood of
Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 62. Story
Callista.I wake up in an office room with a moan.“Oh, Goddess…” My head throbs so much and my mouth is dry as parchment. I try to move my limbs but to no avail. My whole body feels heavy yet floating at the same time, a common feeling after regaining consciousness. This is not a new experience to me by now, given how many times I’ve been knocked out over the past few months, but I’m getting really tired of it.As my vision focuses on my surroundings, I realize that I’m in a rather nice office. There’s a plush carpet under my feet, and a sturdy desk in front of a large book cupboard that covers an entire wall. The books are neatly lined behind the glass panels of the cupboard. I sit in front of this desk.I try to move my legs, but I cannot. I look down, the inclination makes my head hurt more.I’m bound to the chair.“What the hell…” I mutter.Memories come back to me, and I remember how three men chased me through the city. I remember separating from Jenny and toppling a bookrack 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,
