Catalina The Winter Ball "Why did I let you guys talk me into this? I don't even have a date?" "Girl, you're fabulous and fierce. You don't need a date." "What she said." Roman took a swig from the flask he snuck in here. I shook my head at him. "What she said. You are seriously whipped, bro." "Shut up." He bumped me with his shoulder. "C'mon, you two, we are here to dance and have fun." Katy Perry's song Last Friday came on the speaker, and Eden did her usual happy dance and jerked me by the arm, dragging me to the dancefloor so fast I almost tripped over my dress. "This song brings back so many memories of the night we got shit-faced." She laughed, spinning us in a circle. Yeah, from what we can remember anyway… Roman moseyed on over doing a groovy shuffle move. "Yeah, we got kicked out of Road Dog because you too were doing stripper moves on the bar." "What can I say they weren't ready for the Catalina twerk, ah!" I swung my hips in a figure-eight, swinging my hands in
A Month Later… Things on campus were finally getting back to normal. Dean Sandoval resigned after the truth about Amelia and her friends came to light. Of course, only a few people knew the truth thanks to a cover-up by the media. The higher-ups agreed it wouldn't be a good look for Rockrimmon to have rumors of witches roaming the campus. It was the burden we, unfortunately, had to carry with us always; however, there were good things to look forward to. This afternoon we were welcoming the new dean in the student center named in honor of Ella Lindsay and Fred Belford. The Lindsay Belford Student Center. After the witches had melted away, Ella's body was discovered in the woods near the frat house. Cause of death: stab wound to the heart. They believe the witches used a cloaking spell to conceal her body from view. I visit her grave every Friday before class, knowing we could have easily shared the same fate. " I'm sorry, we couldn't save you, Ella. I promise something like this wil
Catalina I was nervous when I moved into the Pi Alpha Nu fraternity house. Everyone seemed to be whispering rumors about why the previous leaders—Amelia, Landon, and Sylvia—had been "kicked out". It was obvious that the other members weren't too happy about me being appointed president. I missed rooming with my brother Roman and suddenly found myself sharing the smallest room with a girl named Bex. She didn't even give me a chance, barely uttering two words to me.Still, I was determined to make this work. I worked hard every day to prove my worth as president, focusing on making sure everyone felt included and recognized. I also worked on improving the house, from putting up new decorations to painting the walls. But most of all, I tried to be friendly and understanding towards Bex. I wanted her to know that I was there to work with her, not against her.Finally, after weeks of trying, I hadn't succeeded with Bex, but with the other housemates. And with their support, I was able to b
Catalina As I stepped through the bright front doors of Pi Alpha Nu, my newfound sense of belonging was instantly extinguished by the chaotic atmosphere that filled the fraternity house. Everyone was standing in a circle, some were crying, and some were embracing. I was engulfed by an eerie uneasiness that soon enveloped me. I cleared my throat, my confidence slowly fading as I hesitantly asked, "Can someone please tell me what's going on?" My heart tripled, and my mouth suddenly became dry. All my housemates had their mouths agape as if their voices had been stolen away. Then Emily, the housemate who had revealed to me that Bex had gone missing, pointed upstairs. My curiosity was piqued and I quickly made my way upstairs. As I reached the top of the stairs, tension radiated from the room. It was almost as if I was being watched, like something lurking in the shadows was waiting for me to take the next step. Swallowing the lump in my throat, I slowly stepped forward, and then, I saw
MalcolmI was mid-bite when my panther's keen senses picked up subtle changes in the air. Someone was nearing my front door, and in an instant, I had jumped up, determined to answer the door before the knock. But when I opened the door, I found myself staring straight into the beautiful face of Catalina. The young woman who in such a short time became my everything. Her bright, brown eyes were wide with surprise, as she hadn't expected to find me waiting for her, and before she could even get a word out, I had already taken her into my arms, kissing her; the fierce urgency between us was nothing short of consuming. I could feel the fire of desire in her body and I longed to caress her curves and feel her breath on my skin. With renewed urgency, I kneaded her soft body against mine, my own heartbeat thumping like an engine against her. My body was alive and my need for her was growing with each passing second. Suddenly, I was stopped by the sound of her voice, muffled against my lip
CatalinaI'm pregnant. The words echoed in my head with a heavy uneasiness in my chest. I was only a freshman in college and I wasn’t sure how I was going to be able to take care of a child. Not to mention that the baby’s father was my panther shifter professor, which made the situation all the more complicated. Was our child going to have shifting powers, too? I’m so confused.I knew I had to tell someone and I decided that the best person for that would be my brother, Roman. We had always been close and I knew he would understand. Hopefully…I took a deep breath and pulled out my phone. My heart felt as if it had stopped beating as I began to type a text to my brother Roman asking him to meet me in the quad. Nausea bubbled in my stomach as I walked to the destination, not knowing how he was going to react to this news.“What’s up?”I fumbled with my house keys within my grasp, glancing all around us. “We should probably sit down.” “Okay…” Roman gave me a sideways glance.We found a
Catalina We were living in complete bliss then when I was six months pregnant, the nightmares started. Every night the same dream: a woman draped in a black cloak was hovering over our baby's crib, and no matter what I did, she disappeared with our baby in her grasp with her maniacal laugh, lingering behind. I knew it was only a dream, but the fear that something could happen to our baby was too much. I'd wake up in a cold sweat, my heart racing. I was terrified of what this could mean. Malcolm tried to reassure me that it was only a dream, but I couldn't shake the feeling that something sinister was lurking in the shadows of our lives. So, I started researching shifters and their powers. I read about the different kinds of shifters and what they were capable of. I also studied the panther clan's history and customs. With Malcolm's help, we created a plan for when our baby arrived - how to keep her safe, how to teach her about her powers, and how to handle any potential danger she mi
It is said that long ago, the Crimson Moon tribe refused to ally with the wizardly clan, and as a punishment, they were cursed with a powerful spell. Legends suggested that the curse would cause anyone who dared defy the wizards' regulations to wither away unless they drank the panther's blood. Many chose to drink, while some perished. In the end, the tribe was saved, but the curse still lingered in their history and was passed down to their descendants. It is said that if any member of the tribe drinks a panther's blood, they will be cursed and bestowed with a peculiar power - the ability to transform into a panther - though not of their own free will. This is why it is strongly advised that all members of the tribe should wear an amulet around their neck at all times as a way to protect themselves from the black magic that has been lingering in their history since this ancient curse.Malcolm"I know it is a lot to digest but I thought it was important for you to know everything abou
Catalina I gazed at my reflection, fingers trembling as I adjusted the delicate lace of my wedding dress. The mirror revealed a woman I barely recognized - poised, radiant, on the cusp of a new chapter. Yet beneath the surface, butterflies danced in my stomach."You've got this, Cat," I whispered, meeting my own eyes. "Remember how far you've come."Memories flooded back - late nights in the library, stolen glances across the lecture hall, that fateful day I'd mustered the courage to ask Professor Wright for an extension. Who could have imagined where that simple request would lead?I smoothed my hands over the silk bodice, tracing the intricate beadwork. Each tiny crystal felt like a milestone on our journey - first kiss, first shift, first "I love you." My chest tightened with a heady mix of excitement and nerves."Deep breaths," I reminded myself. "Malcolm is waiting."At the thought of him, a smile tugged at my lips. My brilliant, passionate Malcolm. The man who saw past my fumbl
MalcolmI adjusted my tie for the hundredth time, staring at my reflection in the full-length mirror. The man looking back at me was both familiar and foreign - the same dark eyes and strong jawline, but there was a softness there now, a vulnerability I'd never allowed myself before."You clean up nice, old man," I muttered, smoothing down my jacket.My fingers trembled slightly as I fiddled with my cufflinks. In just a few hours, I'd be marrying Catalina - the thought both thrilled and terrified me. How had I, Malcolm Wright, confirmed bachelor and reclusive academic, ended up here? Catalina's acceptance of my true nature was the first crack in the walls I'd built around myself."You know," I muse aloud, "I used to think laughter was a frivolous distraction from serious academic pursuits."My best man, Roman, raises an eyebrow. "And now?""Now," I chuckle, "I can't imagine a day without hearing Catalina's laugh. It's like... sunshine breaking through storm clouds."Roman grins. "Who
CatalinaThe sunlight streamed through the window, bathing the room in a warm, golden glow. It illuminated the diamond nestled delicately on my finger, causing it to shimmer and sparkle like a tiny star. As I shifted my hand, the light refracted, scattering soft, colorful rainbows across the wall, each glimmer more dazzling than the last. I found myself mesmerized, unable to tear my gaze away from this exquisite gem—a perfect embodiment of Malcolm's deep love and unwavering commitment to me. Each time I caught a glimpse of it, my heart would flutter with a mix of joy and warmth, a gentle reminder of the bond we shared and the promise that lay within that beautiful stone."I still can't believe it," I whispered to myself, twirling the ring around my finger. The weight of it was unfamiliar but comforting, like Malcolm's strong arms around me.I closed my eyes, allowing myself to sink into the cherished memory of his proposal. The warmth of that moment wrapped around me like a comforting
CatalinaI was the luckiest woman on earth when, just a short time after we met, Malcolm proposed marriage to me. It seemed like such a dream—but every time I glanced down at the gorgeous ring on my finger and remembered that special moment it became real again. To say I was surprised would be an understatement.But a part of me has always wondered if it's because we already have one child—but the little things he does for me every day prove otherwise. The way he looked at me, his touch…it all filled in the gaps and made our love real again. I just needed to stop second-guessing our relationship; especially after everything that we had been through; he deserved at least that. Plus, Malcolm had put his life and career on the line for me time and time again. It wasn't just his love that made me realize how special he was; it was also the way he treated me. He made sure to take care of me, even when I didn't feel like it. And every time I felt like giving up, he was there to remind me wh
MalcolmToday was the day I would ask Catalina to marry me, and we'd been through hell together—so it seemed only fitting that she have everything within my power. She deserved nothing less. She deserved the world, and I would give it to her. I'd been planning this proposal for months, and even though I was nervous as hell, I couldn't wait to see her face when she realized what was happening. Our relationship had been rocky from the start, but I knew that deep down we were meant for each other—and this moment would prove it once and for all.Roman and Emily were in on the surprise. Catalina thought they were going out to dinner because the curse had been lifted over Emily and she wanted to celebrate and spend time with her like old times. She had no idea that she was about to be proposed to.Roman and Emily took Catalina to an Asian fusion restaurant downtown. The ambiance was perfect for a romantic evening out. Catalina loved it and couldn’t stop talking about how much she loved Asia
Malcolm My bones cracked and popped at a rate that my mind couldn't keep up with. Then I leaped out onto the porch and ripped into the first witch that caught my eye. But they keep coming and chanting, and the chanting got louder. So I had to kill them faster to stop the ringing in my ears. The more blood I tasted on my tongue, the deeper it drove me into insanity. When there was a clearing, Roman and Catalina dashed to the car, and I lost sight of them. Ms. Cleo was surrounded by witches. I fought my way to her, slashing through the witches with my heavy paws, feeling the power of rage inside me.The witches were no match for me; their blood spilled out as I growled with fury, and the thunderous of my voice echoed in the sky. The witches scrambled away in terror, and I reached Ms. Cleo. She was trying to extinguish the fire engulfing her home. but it was already too late.I watched helplessly as the flames engulfed her house until there was nothing left of it.Ms. Cleo collapsed to
"Do you hear that?" I asked her.She nodded. We both looked up at the ceiling of the tunnel, where the light from our flashlights began to bounce off something shiny above us—something wet and dripping down onto us like raindrops falling on leaves in summertime. "What is that?" I asked. "Blood," Bex said. We looked at each other and then back down the tunnel, where we could see the light from our flashlights reflected in several eyes staring back at us. There was nothing else to do but run. I don’t know if you have ever been chased by a coven of creepy witches, but it's not something I would recommend. The witches were angry, and they were fast. We ran through the tunnels as if we had been born with wings on our feet, but it was no use. The witches were gaining ground.The tunnel narrowed, and the walls were closing in around us. We ran faster, but it was no use. They had us cornered. There was nowhere else to go except back where we had come from. The witches were right behind us whe
CatalinaBex pointed at the tree again. "Is this where we need to be?" She asked again. The witch nodded, then walked away with a wave of her hand as if dismissing us. Bex and I looked at each other with wide eyes. Then we started walking toward the tree. We stood in front of it for a moment before Bex took my hand and pulled me behind her into a large hole in the ground.I looked around in awe. The tree roots were everywhere, and it was like we were standing inside a cave made of earth and trees. There were torches on the walls that lit up the space well enough for us to see where we were going. I had no idea where we were headed or what would happen when we got there, but at that moment, all I could think was how beautiful everything looked under the light of those flames. "Stay close to me," Bex whispered as held onto my hand.I nodded and followed her deeper into the cave. I didn't know how long we walked, but eventually, it opened up into a large room with what looked like painti
"We need to try," I said as my voice cracked. "There's no other choice." Ms. Cleo nodded and began to chant again. I stood there watching her, wondering if this would be our last chance at saving Emily.I looked at the table, trying to focus on it. My eyes seemed to be glued to it, and I couldn't look away. I could feel my heart racing as the minutes passed by. The room was silent except for Ms. Cleo's chanting, which had become louder and more intense. I looked at the table again and saw that it was beginning to move. At first, I thought it was just my imagination, but then I saw that the table itself was moving. It started to shake violently, like an earthquake had hit us. Ms. Cleo stopped chanting and stood up from her chair, looking around the room as if she were trying to figure out what was happening.The table continued to shake, and then, without warning, it flipped over, sending all of the items on top of it flying into the air. Ms. Cleo screamed as she tried to catch them bef