Under the soft glow of candlelight, the school paid their respects to Garry, a beloved friend to some, a classmate to some and a bully to others. The air was heavy with grief as they shared stories and memories of Garry. Who would have known he had a good side….I stood silently amidst the flickering flames, my heart heavy with sorrow. I still couldn't believe Garry was gone. Nico stood over the other side of the crowd and held up his candlelight in deep remembrance and agony."He wasn't so bad after all," Ariana let the tears form in her eyes as she listened to the students talk about Garry. I knew she reminisced the other day on the bus when they were on each other's necks.I reached out and held her hand. She wasn't the only person who felt bad about not being able to see the good side of Garry, I was too.Although the gathering was spearheaded by family, friends and acquaintances, I somehow still had an eerie feeling that the hunter was close by and he was going to act again. "I
Silence hung heavy in the air as Nico and I were bound to chairs in the centre of the room. I had no idea how we got there but I knew when I opened my eyes, I was dizzy and was tied in a room filled with weapons.Nico was still unconscious from the hit. I struggled to free myself from the chair, but then the hunter walked."In a hurry to leave are we?" he mocked. "The party has not even started yet."He moved closer to Nico with a bucket filled with liquid inside. "Stop!! what are you doing?" I screamed at him, scared of his next act on Nico.He splashed the liquid on Nico and I realised it was just water. Nico came back to consciousness in an instant."Let us out of here Crazy man," I yelled.He turned and gave me a cold look that sent shivers down my spine. "Crazy man? You are the crazy one," his voice pitched with bitterness. "You are crazy to follow the likes of this when you know what they can do to people."He looked at me in disgust. "Does your friend know about your secrets an
8 months ago…….in Trento"Forget about such feelings girl, guys like Josh only hang out with hot chicks like Diana." Kelvin wasn't helping issues by indirectly telling me I wasn't cool enough for Josh but he wasn't trying to paint it to my taste either. He was right, Josh was out of my league and I had no chance with him."You don't have to be so blunt you know," Clara glared at Kelvin "Gabriella is as beautiful as Diana, if not way more beautiful."I smiled at Clara who had my back ever since huge Harwy played a prank on me by pouring red sauce on my chair in grade five."No, Kelvin is right…I am not as classy as Diana. I shouldn't be way ahead of myself. Wishing for things that are out of my league." I closed the door on any possibility of being with Josh, severing every thread of hope."Nonsense," Lucy walked into the cafeteria with her tray of food. "You are as good for Josh as Kelvin is as good for Barbara.""Hey," Kelvin intercepted "I never mentioned anything about liking Barba
Present-day New Orleans…. "So you knew all along." It didn't seem like Lola was asking a question and I wasn't ready to speak about the past night.I tried to empty the books in my bag, ignoring the presence of Lola, but she stuck like a tattoo."Who have you told huh?" she pushed my shoulders."No one.." I said, already getting scared of what might happen." I always knew there was something about you," she spat "How you like butting in other people's business."I was in no condition to judge how she reacted, seeing that a lot had happened this past few weeks and just a few nights ago, she almost lost a pack member, an Alpha for that matter."I understand how you feel Lola…" I consoled "You don't!!" She yelled. "You don't know what fear or rejection feels like, you don't know what being different feels like." Maybe a flashback to my past would give Lola the feeling that she wasn't the only one who suffered rejection and fear because the past months had been nothing but excruciatin
My fingers trembled as I dialled my Dad's number for the umpteenth time. The relentless ringing echoed in my ears, each unanswered call deepening my anxiety. My heart pounded like a drum against my ribs, its rhythm echoing the unanswered questions that plagued my mind. Why had Dad gone to Trento, their former home, without telling me? Why was he avoiding my calls?A wave of frustration washed over me, momentarily drowning out my worries. I dropped my phone down on the table and decided to take things one step at a time. I would visit home and then I would speak with Dad.My thoughts drifted back to my recent conversation with Clara. She had gone on and on and on about how she thought Nico might be my soul mate. I had advised her that she shouldn't keep her hopes up, not even for me because the boy in question didn't think of me in that manner. She assured me that she knew true love when she saw one. It wasn't a conversation to debate because I didn't want to put my effort into it, I w
My stomach somersaulted as I rode the bus home to see Dad, my mind replaying the events of the past day. The kiss with Nico had been unexpected and electrifying. But instead of feeling joy, I had run away, consumed by shame and guilt. But amidst the guilt, there was an undeniable truth, my body had responded to Nico’s touch in a way I couldn’t ignore.I had always prided myself on being sensible, logical, and in control of my emotions, sometimes. But the kiss with Nico had shattered that carefully constructed deceptive appearance, revealing a raw, untamed desire within me.I remembered the way Nico’s lips had felt against mine, soft yet firm, sending shivers down my spine. His touch, his scent, and his very presence had ignited a fire within me, a fire that threatened to consume me.I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to block out the memories, but they were relentless. I could still feel his hands on my waist pulling me closer, his breath warm against my cheek. And I could still hear his
"Who is she, Dad?" I asked him as we got onto the bus heading back to New Orleans."The woman back at the cemetery?" I nodded. "She is no one, just a person that likes meddling in other people's business. She does that to everybody. She is more like a mental case." He said dismissively.His eyes gave him away, his mouth and the rate of how his breath paced all gave him away. He said a lot of things about the woman but failed to mention the truth. I could tell he was lying. It was the way he stared into space as he looked out the window, it was the way he repeatedly shook his head and clenched his fist, it was the way he took deep breaths now and then and also avoided meeting my eyes.Something was bothering Dad, and it was here in Trento. I had recalled how he sent this same 'Elena' out from the house when people came to give their condolences. She had said something about me finding out something soon no matter how Dad tried to protect me.What was he trying to protect me from? Or ra
Dad? What do you know about werewolves?" I asked him again.He looked at me completely pale, unable to talk. He stood up and began to walk away."Is Elena one?" Dad froze at his steps.I knew I had hit a spot. It was clear that Dad was hiding something about the werewolves and Elena, and he didn't want to say anything about it."I told you to forget about her?" He sounded mad."How can I Dad? How can I? When the mention of her name or either werewolves makes your blood boil and sweat drip from your face. Who is Elena, Dad? And what do you know about werewolves?" My voice calmed.He closed the distance between us, his eyes meeting mine in a silent exchange. "Why are you so concerned about werewolves Ella? Have you met one?"The ground beneath my feet shifted with the force of his question, plunging me into a pit of confusion. Dad was smart, he must have figured there was a reason for my consistent inquiry on werewolves. But I wasn't going to let him read me or compel me into telling hi
Two months later“Hurry up! We are going to be late!” Claire screamed from down the hall.“How did she get to dress up so fast?” Ariana asked. Lola opened the door from outside. “Hey you guys, I think we should hasten things up, or else we would miss the speech.”We hurried along with her, excitement surging through our bodies. It was the graduation ceremony. Nico was graduating! I was super excited about it because he had several fallbacks in school that made him re-take a lot of classes, extending his year of graduation.“What took you guys so long?” Claire examined us.“Sorry Claire, we were just trying to get prepared for the ceremony,” Ariana smiled.“Are we done with the chit-chats?” Lola was getting impatient. “Alrighty then, let's go!”“I thought you said we were going to miss the speech... the ceremony hasn’t even properly begun,” Ariana frowned when we got to the ceremony ground.“Well... better late than never,” Lola shrugged.“I don’t think that’s the best way to use tha
“Would you stop pacing around and glancing at your watch nonstop?” Lola said. “You are making me lose my cool you know.”“Yeah... you are keeping us on our toes here,” Claire agreed.I had finally told them everything that happened during our visit to see the witch. They were most excited about the demise of Elena. Telling the pack on the other hand was a hard choice to make, but we had to make it. Nico called for a meeting and the pack was informed about the progress and conditions involved.“As the leader of this pack, it's my rightful duty to choose what’s best for us. But I also must lead you without spite and a regretful heart. The condition brought to us by the witch is not one that we can control. And it would be selfish of me to do this without telling my pack about it. That’s why I have called this meeting, to hear from you brothers... and sisters,” Nico’s voice thundered with authority. “What your take is on this... and whatever we decide as a clan shall stand... no matter w
It was shiny like they had been soaked into a bowl full of glitter. I looked at the tiny bottles as we drove back home. The cure.It was finally in our hands, but somehow I couldn’t help but wonder if we made the right choice. Was the cure going to cause a feud between brothers and friends just like Agnes said? Was it going to bring death? Was it going to get to its final stage of completion? “If after forty-eight hours the blood of a willing hunter is not mixed in the potion, the potion ceases to be active. And don’t bother about coming back here to look for me... because you won’t find me.” She vanishes into thin air after laying the potion on my arm.I looked at the potion again. It had already been mixed with my blood and that of Nico’s. Now it was up to my Dad. Forty-eight hours.#I held on to it tight, like my next wake depended on it.****“Are you sure about this ?” Nico looked at me with concern.I nodded. “It’s now or never Nico.”“You know the last time all three of us we
Nico drove at a speed that made my inside turn. We informed the pack of our search and they offered to tag along, but we told them it was something we had to do by ourselves.“Remember, when it looks like danger is lurking, howla at us,” Lola made a wolf joke.Ariana and Claire were also aware of our trip and they offered support in the only way they knew how to. “If anything goes wrong, just call us and we will dial 911 straight up!” Ariana said.“You can’t bring the police to a werewolf and witch fight,” I reminded them smiling.“Oh... that’s right,” she gave a cringed look. “But still,” her eyes spewed concern. “Be careful.”“Promise to come back to us,” Claire said.“I promise.” I hugged them. After a few hours on the road, Nico, like he was reading my mind, chuckled. “What funny,” I asked him.“Nothing. I was just wondering why they all made it look like we were not coming back.”I laughed. They did make it look like that. Everyone reacted in a way of love that was easy for them
The familiar smell of grilled barbecue stung my nose. The noise in the restaurant was never changing. Customers still ranted about their orders, and servers hurried their way to please. “You mean you can’t remember those group of chatterboxes who sat down at that table two weeks ago?” I asked the waiter, already frustrated.“No Ma’am. It's impossible to remember the customers we have here in a day because we are highly patronised,” he bragged. “Not to talk of the ones from weeks ago,” he shook his head sympathetically. “They were like four of them,” I continued adamantly. “Three elderly men and one woman,” I searched the waiter's eyes, waiting for a positive reply.He shook his head. “Nope... nothing Ma’am. I am so sorry,” he picked up his iced drink and resumed his duty.“Let it go, Ella,” Nico sounded drained.“Let it go?” I shouted, and then realised I might have drawn attention to us. “Let it go?” I repeated in a calm voice. “Why would you say that? You know how much this means
“Wait, so you guys killed Garry?” Claire asked confused.It had been a week since we heard last from Elena, and everything seemed to have gone back to normal. I was back at the dorm and so was Lola, except for the time when she needed to go get stuff from her coursemate or go buy groceries, which I knew was a BIG FAT LIE!Ariana and I were cool again, and we were closer than ever before. The tension had tied between us, and they had learnt to accept me for who I was. Dad on the other hand was still finding it difficult to adjust to my new development. He never picked up his calls or replied to my voicemail. Nanny was more welcoming than he was, and she always invited me to come over for the weekend, but we all knew how disastrous that would turn out to be at the end.“No, we didn’t,” I tried to pass a clear message to Claire for the umpteenth time. “I wasn’t a wolf at that time, but I knew of their secret. There was a werewolf hunter who was sent to hunt them down and kill each one of
Relief washed over me as I stared at the pack that gave me so much pride. Finally, the time was here and there was no turning back now, not even for Elena.Elena stared at them for a few seconds and burst into laughter. “I see... I see what you did there,” she looked at me. “Very clever.” She turned to face Nico. “And what makes you think your little friends can stop me?”“We might not be able to put an end to your existence... but we can stop this foolishness of yours,” I said, opening my palm to release my claws. There was a distraction now, so whatever move I made, I was sure to have the backing of my clan. I cut through my net with my claws and landed on the floor with my feet. Claire and Michael looked down at me, I could almost see the surprise in their eyes, but this was no time for pity party or storytelling. I quickly removed the knife from my pocket and aimed at their net, setting both of them free.“You are out-numbered Elena,” I turned to face her. “There is nowhere to hid
The building smelt rusty and reeked of herbs and portion. A typical witch den. We searched all the empty rooms but couldn’t find Ariana or Elena.“Any luck?” I asked Claire. She shook her head in response.“Are you sure about this place?” Michael was beginning to get uncomfortable.“Yes I am,” I said. “My Dad gave me this location, and he is sure about it.”“Are you sure about your Dad?” Michael’s impatience was rubbing off on me in a very displeasing way.“Well if you think this is not the right place, why don’t you go ahead and find the right one then,” I snapped.“I didn’t say that,” he tried to deny.“But you assumed it,” I retorted.“Guys, guys,” Claire tried to ease the tension. “We are not even halfway there, and we are already fighting. How are we going to get Ariana back if we continue like this? aren’t we supposed to be together in this?”Claire’s words sunk deep, reminding us of the reason why we were in the god-forsaken building in the first place. “Now,” she continued whe
The silence in the study amplified the beat of Dad’s heart, I could hear his breath slowly leave his lungs, his feet turning cold and his eyes lifeless. “What are you doing here?” there was a spite in his voice that I could not ignore. “Who let you into this house? Aguiella!” First time I heard Dad yell Nanny’s name, and it was not in a pleasant way.“There’s no need for that,” I lowered my voice, hurt by how quickly Dad wanted me out of the house. “I won't be staying for long,” I searched his eyes. “I... I just need your help.”“Whatever it is you have come for, I am sorry to say, but you have wasted your time. I don’t need you to be here, I don’t want you to be here now leave.” There was nothing calm about the way he said it, even though his voice seemed calm. He steadied his eyes on me, and I searched for the tenderness it once had, but it was gone!Of course, I knew waltzing into Pa’s house wasn’t just going to be a walk in the park. I didn’t expect to be specially treated now tha