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81. Gift
Last Updated:
2024-03-31 12:09:28
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Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 82. Joy
Callista.A brand-new workstation awaits me.The previously small desk that resided in the corner in front of the window had been replaced by a brand-new study table containing a laptop and a number of binders and books. There’s a schedule printed out on the desk on the top of the laptop, and a set of instructions.“What is this?” I whisper, feeling overwhelmed. This is the last thing I expected to see when I realized that I was going to be able to come back to the tower.“Well, it came to our attention that you never really did get to finish school.” Kellin appears next to Haden at the doorway with a smile. “So, we thought we could enroll you in a remote learning program so you can finish your GED, and hopefully, attend college afterward.”I gape at the setup, speechless. I don’t know what to say. Thank you doesn’t seem to be enough. Especially after I thought I was going to be a glorified prisoner for the rest of my life.“We thought of enrolling you in a physical school but given h
Last Updated : 2024-03-31Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 83. Odd
Callista.That’s an odd request.“Why?”“We are going to need some privacy or this.” Then he grimaces. “I swear on the Goddess that I will not harm you, if that’s what you’re worried about. I won’t even touch a hair on your body. You are safe, I’m not…we aren’t going to be like before.”My eyes search his face for a moment, and see that he’s earnest. Well, that swearing is serious. So, I lock the door behind me and move away from the door.“Please take a seat,” He gestures at the seat on the other side of the desk. “I just want to talk.”I take a seat.Theon puts away some of the documents in front of me in a file and steeples his fingers together in an odd formal gesture. I sit ramrod straight, because no matter the swearing earlier, he is Theon, and I am Callista. Ever since we met, we have been nothing if not volatile.He leans forward, his voice low, “What did Valencia want from you the other day?”I’m taken aback by that question. I thought he was going to talk about the agreemen
Last Updated : 2024-03-31Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 84. Positive
Callista.School is hard.Never thought I would say that.After months of staying off schedule, it’s hard to work according to a timetable again. And it feels truly bizarre to learn things after all the things that had happened to me for the last few months. Taking a notebook and a pen, jotting down notes, and even answering questions bring about a strange sense of nostalgia. It makes me miss Esther. We had been so close before, attending almost every class together, sitting next to each other, and whispering when the teachers weren’t looking and snickering at one thing or the other while we had lunch. But now, I can’t do any of that. I don’t even know if Esther is aware of what happened to me, or where I went. She seemed as shocked as every other wolf on that dastardly coming-of-age ceremony day, but her expression had morphed into worry pretty quickly. If the Alpha’s men had not been there, I was certain she’d have come to my aid.I wondered if she thought about me once in a while,
Last Updated : 2024-03-31Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 85. Friends?
Callista.This news catches me off guard. I did not expect to hear that out of him. Theon is actually asking me to join him for a function out of nowhere and all I can do for a good half a minute is to gape at him like a loon.Finally, my brain kickstarts function and I give out a noise.“Huh?”“The Annual Festival to honor the Goddess? Your pack celebrated it too, right?” He asks, all casual and inquisitive, as if we do this sort of thing every day. Like we’re buddies who didn’t have the kind of past we did.Also, what kind of a stupid question is that?Of course, the Leighwen pack celebrated the Moon Festival. So did all the werewolf packs in the whole world. It was a major event in the werewolf community, where everyone takes to the streets to celebrate and honor the Moon Goddess through a night of fun and merriment.It’s an event that promotes the brotherhood between the wolves in the pack. Which is why I feel a spike of bitterness and anger rise within me. It’s not entirely logic
Last Updated : 2024-03-31Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 86. Power
Callista.I stare at her, wondering what the hell I am supposed to say.On one hand, I wanted a female friend again. I missed the easy friendship I used to have with Esther, the camaraderie, the witty quips and snickering over mean girls, having someone to tell secrets to and expecting no judgment in return, just support.Although I had a friend in Haden, he was busy half the time with duties. And even then, there were some things I couldn’t say to him without feeling embarrassed. Our friendship kept getting stronger by the day, but it was different from what I had with Esther. Not as easy-going.But I couldn’t expect the same friendship from Valencia either. Esther and Valencia are so different the very idea is laughable. Valencia was the opposite of easygoing. She is mysterious, passive and serious with a sketchy history, half of which I didn’t even know.Theon warnings ring in my head, and even though I can’t imagine Valencia doing something that unhinged, it leaves me aa bit wary
Last Updated : 2024-04-01Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 87. Cherry
Callista.“Defend yourself, Callista!”Valencia’s wooden sword hits mine with the intensity of lightning, and half the time I can’t even see her coming. I thrust my own wooden sword here and there trying to block as many hits from her as I could.“Defend yourself like I’m your enemy, come on!”Valencia is a ruthless teacher and a clever swordswoman. Her body moves like she’s dancing across the floor, elegant, almost regal, but effective and lightning fast. Her strikes were precise and powerful, always hitting her target, which, at the moment, is me.It had been three days since we started practicing with swords, and all the time, Theon came to watch us.That was not something I expected to happen in my lifestyle.I thought he was going to blow up when I told him about Valencia wanting to help me learn the way of the blade, as she called it. At first, I didn’t really want to tell him, but then I remembered his warning. So, when I went to him, I expected him to blow the socket. surprisi
Last Updated : 2024-04-01Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 88. Festival
Callista.The day of the festival comes.The castle has gotten busier than ever before with all the staff members working overtime to decorate the castle and its numerous courtyards and to cook a feast for the whole pack by the evening. According to the maids, they’ve been preparing for the event the whole week.After all, I should have expected that kind of dedication from the wolves for this particular festival, it was one of the most prominent ones we celebrate as wolves after all.Although I was not attending the festival itself, I walked around the castle before the evening came, helping out in any way I can while wearing an excessive number of scent patches. By now the castle staff is used to me, and no one gives me the cold treatment anymore. It feels nice to be finally included in something. I help the guards with decorating the castle walls with maroon-colored banners with gold trimmings, and the maids carry and hang curtains of the same color. The grand ballroom of the castl
Last Updated : 2024-04-03Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 89. Alpha
Callista.For a moment, I just stand there blinking, because his voice is the last thing I expected to hear at this hour. But soon I get over it and rush toward the door to unlock it, wondering what’s going on. Is it Elias? Had he somehow broken out? But why would he come to me if that’s the case, it’s not like I can calm him with my scent. In fact, my scent does the opposite of calming to him.“Alpha,” I greet him. “Is something wrong?”That’s when I notice what he’s wearing, and feel my cheeks heat up involuntarily.He stands at my doorway, dressed in a black tux that makes me catch my breath. His hair is styled perfectly with grooming products, and his jaw is clean-shaven. His dark eyes glitter under the dim light of my room, and the suit makes them pop out. His jacket molds onto his body, straining against his muscles. His powerful frame is accented nicely by it, all the curves and edges flexing with each movement, and I feel heat rush through my belly.Oh, by the Goddess, what is
Last Updated : 2024-04-03
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Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 242. Refuge
TheonAlthough I wanted to venture off in the night itself, it was not prudent to leave for Callista’s rescue given how everyone at the party was already exhausted. So, we decided to snooze for a few hours and hit the road in the morning.The Headmistress and Matron Aldar left for the Witches Guild that night itself, and Ophelia, Leita, Kiran, and Mater Tsertinand took refuge in the castle. Knowing that Callista was safe and alive while being taken care of, although she was imprisoned, eased my mind a little, and unlike the night before I managed to get a little sleep. Early in the morning when the sun hasn't even risen yet, we get up, grab the bags we'd packed in the night before, and meet up in the dining hall.“I hope you all had a good night,” I remark as soon as I enter the dining hall. “We got a long road ahead of us, and we might not be able to rest again.”“It was alright,” Leita says, buttering a roll. “But I forgot to send Dan with Matron Aldar last night, so I have to ret
Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 241. Solstice
Callista“That's... unexpected,” I mutter, not really knowing what I have to say now. In the past few minutes, I've learned more about my parentage than I'd known my whole life from none other than a man who called himself the devil and kidnapped me to kill me in the end. And that was a lot of unexpected information. I mean, I've never even dreamed of my mother also being a stealer. It was so surreal to even think about that. I've never thought of my being a stealer from a technical aspect. For me, it was rotten luck, and for the most part, a curse. I thought it was a punishment from the Goddess, perhaps for something I did in another life.As for my mother, well, I thought she was a rogue wolf who'd gotten pregnant by accident. Sometimes it happens with rogues, and in their crazed mental states, they'd just abandon the pups after giving birth to them. The pups would be born in human form and unless they are taken care of immediately, they would die.It was either that or my parent
Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 240. Eliana Auclair
Callista“So, you wanted me dead from the start, huh?” I say, not even looking at the ceiling before. “Should've known.”I'm lying on the bed on my stomach, my face half-buried in the pillow. I've been lying in the same position for a while, ever since Alpha Edwin Teller left my room after threatening my life as well as Theon’s life.Moments ago, my only wish was for Theon to find me, but now, knowing what Edwin was planning I pray that Theon does not fall into his trap. But that's just wishful thinking. I know that Theon has already started his search for me. Unless he'd found my ring and somehow tracked it to me. I don't even know if it's possible, but a girl can hope, right? Especially when she was kidnapped by supernatural creatures who eventually wanted her dead.I don't know if I'm actually sad or depressed about this new development. I feel conflicted. My emotions are all over the place. This isn't the first time my life has been threatened. Given how my life has been going,
Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 239. Cloak
TheonI entered the room that contained Kellin, Haden, Alan, and Terrel, all sitting and muttering at one another. As soon as I entered the room they died down and all of them stared at me eagerly.“So, Master Tsertinand found where Callista is,” I got straight to the point. “And guess what, she's being held by the bears from the Teller pack along with the devil, and the two of them seem to be allied.”My colleagues gape at me, and I don't blame them for being surprised at the news. No one saw this one coming.“How?” asks Haden, his voice high-pitched. “Why?!”“I don't know, but that's the situation,” I look at each of them. “So, I'm going to go rescue her.”“Alone?” Kellin questions but I shake my head.“The witches would join me. I don't want to risk any of you, especially against the Teller pack and the devil,” I say. “We need to have a small group because we have to be shielded from the devil. We got a plan that has the potential to work.”“You're going there alone?” Haden exclaim
Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 238. Trap
Theon“She's with the bears? The Brekett pack has her?” I utter, disbelief ringing in my tone. “How...?”“I think this devil fellow allied with the bears,” Master Tsertinand replies, scratching his chin thoughtfully. “The other man who I saw was someone dressed in black with red eyes standing next to Callista, who pretty much looked like what a devil would. The other man was blonde and big, not unlike me. Callista screamed the name Edwin at him, and when I told the Headmistress she clarified who he was.”“But why?” I question, trying to wrap my head around it. “Why are they allied?”“Alpha, that should not be your concern right now,” Kiran says. “We should move out immediately to find Callista! We've got a location already, what are we waiting for?”“But what if we're walking into a trap?” Ophelia protests. “Theon is right to ask questions regarding the presence of the werebears. Why have they allied with Xaveraq?”“Revenge, probably,” the Headmistress chimes in, taking a seat on a pl
Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 237. Lure
Callista“You're...you're that werebear!” I stammer as I stare at the blond man with cold eyes whose face is more than familiar in my nightmares.I remember him from that fateful night when he carried me through a forest under the light of the full moon only to lay me on a stone slab that was meant to be my deathbed. I remember him standing next to his Alpha in his office room as they watched me squirm on a chair, bound to it as I gave them a fake name and lied about my identity. I remember him carrying me into a room that was so full of darkness that it shattered my mind. I don't remember his surname; it has been purged away with the darkness that the Chamber of Despair instilled in my mind. I don't even remember his Alpha's name. But I do remember how cruel they were to me.“And you're actually a werewolf whose name isn't ‘Sharon’,” Edwin snaps taking a step toward me. I take a couple of steps back and feel the bedframe hit the back of my legs. Crap, I'm trapped here with a bear
Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 236. Werebears
TheonWe literally raced to the Rexellen pack town, breaking dozens of road laws in the process, almost summoning the human police and nearly running off a ditch more than three times. But none of that really matters to me or Terrel because the witches have found where Callista is!We're still on the road, driving as fast as we can when Haden calls me from the back of the truck fleet.“What the actual fuck are you doing? Did Terrel pass out with his foot on the pedal or something?!” Haden screams through the phone, “You're going two hundred miles per hour, you lunatic!”“The witches called,” I answer his shrieking/ “They'd found her!”“Callista?”“Yeah, they've found where Callista is!” “Okay, that’s good news. That’s the best news, but Theon, slow down before you kill yourself, you moron, you're no good for her if you're dead! We can't even catch up with you and I will not be bailing you out of a human police station!” With that, he ends the phone call, and Terrel slows the truck do
Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 235. Mother
CallistaWho the hell was the woman in my dreams? She's familiar to me, but I've never seen her before. Yet I feel like I should know her. I drag my hand down my face with a groan. Goddess, why was this happening to me? Seriously, wasn't one problem at a time enough? I already got that crazy devil Xaveraq to deal with, I don't have time for oddly specific mystery women talking to me in my dreams!I get off the bed and stretch. Goddess, I need to use the toilet so bad. But this damn chain is too short for me to even reach the door that leads to the bathroom.“Xaveraq, you bastard!” I shout out crankily. “I need to use the freaking bathroom! But how am I supposed to use the freaking bathroom when I can't even reach it?!”No answer comes from the ceiling, and that pisses me up more.“Xaveraq!” I yell. “Now you choose to go MIA. Of all the fucking time-”“Geez, I'm here, stop yelling,” Xaveraq's voice comes, and I nearly sigh in relief. “What did I tell you about blood pressure before? I
Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 234. Foster
Theon“This is so confusing,” I say, looking between the women. “Why would you lie about her origins? Why did you say she was found in a forest when she wasn’t?”“Because the truth was hard to tell,” Maddy reveals. “Especially to her family, because the way we acquired Callista wasn’t exactly legal.”We were not expecting that kind of a bombshell to be dropped on us.“I think you better start from the beginning,” Haden chimes when I continue having a mini meltdown.“One of our wolves went into the human city for a private matter,” Maddy explains, pulling out a file from the cabinet. “While she was there, she felt the scent of a werewolf within all the humans. At first, she was afraid it was a criminal because it's the criminals and exiles who normally tend to live with humans, but when she traced the scent, it ended up in a human foster home. There, she found a little girl who wasn't older than nine months, who smelled like a werewolf.”“Because it's not safe for wolves to be raised b
