Methis' POVI woke up with a start, my heart pounding in my chest. I had been dreaming of him again, the man I had met at the party last night. He was tall and dark, with piercing blue eyes and a smile that could melt the coldest of hearts. I had never felt such an instant connection with someone before, and I couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more to him than met the eye.I got out of bed and went to the bathroom to splash some water on my face. As I looked in the mirror, I couldn't help but notice the dark circles under my eyes. I hadn't been sleeping well lately, ever since I met him. I was constantly thinking about him, wondering what he was doing and if he was thinking about me too.I got dressed and headed downstairs to make breakfast. As I was cooking, I thought about the bar again. I had been so nervous when I first arrived, but he had immediately put me at ease. We had talked for hours, and I felt like I had known him forever.I finished making breakfast and
Jamal's POVThe next day, I decided to try my luck once again. As soon as the kids were fed and watching TV, I drove off to see if she was back, but not before stopping and buying some food from a restaurant downtown.Somehow that felt appropriate, a peace offering to get on her good side. No arguments today, I wasn't going to upset her in anyway.We were just going to talk, that's it.I drove up to Methis’ apartment with a mix of anticipation and a strange calm. I hadn’t seen her since she left her father’s house, and I knew she must be going through a lot. I also knew that away from her father’s influence, she was more vulnerable, and given the fact that he very clearly disliked me, she would be less hostile too, and I hoped to take advantage of that.I knocked on the door, and to my surprise, Methis answered it herself. She looked tired and withdrawn, but her eyes lit up when she saw me.“Jamal,” she said, her voice barely a whisper.“Hey,” I replied, a little smile spreading acros
Jamal’s POVThe quaint bell above the door chimed lightly as I and Methis entered the little fast-food restaurant tucked away in a corner of the bustling city. The aroma of sizzling meat and fried potatoes enveloped me, creating an appetizing welcome. The place was adorned with mismatched tables and chairs, each telling a story of countless shared meals and hushed conversations.I led Methis to a small booth near the window, the soft glow of sunlight filtering through the modest curtains. The hum of chatter and the clinking of utensils against plates filled the air, creating a lively backdrop to the rustic ambiance.A friendly waiter approached, a pad and pen in hand, ready to take our order. His name tag read 'Eddie,' and a genuine smile played on his face."Good afternoon! Welcome to Bite Haven. I'm Eddie, and I'll be your waiter today. What can I get you folks?"I returned the smile. "Thank you, Eddie. We'll start with a couple of burgers, fries on the side, and your special drinks
Jamal’s POVThe message from the owl arrived under the cloak of night, a messenger of the unseen realms. Its white feathers glowed in the moonlight, and in its beak, it carried a small vial—a vessel containing an otherworldly concoction. The air crackled with arcane energy as the owl descended, talons gripping the edge of my windowsill.The vial was delicately sealed, its contents shimmering in a mesmerizing dance of ethereal hues. A folded parchment accompanied the mysterious elixir, tied with a silver ribbon that seemed to hum with magic. I unraveled the parchment, its texture smooth against my fingers, and words inscribed in an elegant script greeted my gaze."Jamal, Alpha of the Crescent Moon Pack,In the realms where shadows intertwine, a meeting awaits you. Drink from the vial before the moon's descent, and the dream shall be your conduit. Heed the call of the unseen, for revelations await.The White Witch."The cryptic message held a resonance that transcended the physical real
Jamal's POV My father's last warning echoed in my mind, "Never trust a stranger, Jamal. Especially one who claims knowledge of the supernatural."Yet, here I was, standing before a weathered, moss-covered house, drawn by an inexplicable force. The house seemed to hum with an energy I couldn't quite place, an energy that both repelled and intrigued me.I knocked hesitantly, and the door creaked open, revealing a man who appeared to have stepped out of a time capsule. His clothes were a hodgepodge of styles, his hair unkempt, and his face lined with the wisdom of ages.Great, I got sent to a fucking soothsayer. Just absolutely amazing."Alpha Jamal, I presume?" he asked in a voice that sounded like gravel scraping against metal.I nodded, my voice caught in my throat."It's my utmost pleasure." He said, bowing slightly, "I have been expecting you."I said nothing, preferring to give as little as possible away and let him figure out this shit by himself."I sense some skepticism." He sa
Jamal's POV The drive back home was usually silent, but my brain was humming so loudly, it felt otherwise. I had taken a huge step. Desperate yes, but then desperate situations called for desperate measures, and the situation was indeed desperate. Every second Methis spent away from us, from me and the kids, was wasted. Moments we should be spending together as a family were washing down the drain and if I let it continue, if I let that Xander figure get closer than he already was, it was inevitable that irrevocable damage would be done. I needed to end this charade and I needed to end it now. But was this the only way? Did I really have no choice?I parked the car at the usual spot on the street and hurried upstairs, clutching the burgers I bought on my way home on one hand and the drinks on the other. It was my way of apologizing to them for wasting all day, visiting what was essentially a soothsayer to help get their mom back but then again, a man had to do what a man had to do.A
Methis POVI stood by the door, staring awkwardly at him as he stared back, begging him to say something, anything at all to break this silence."You look..." I paused, unsure of what to say, "Good."He smiled, "Yes, well apparently the black eye looks good on me, I haven't gotten so much attention since when I pooped my pants in the third grade."I remained silent for a moment, looking at him confused while he smiled back."It's a joke Methis." He said, noticing my confusion, "It's a joke.""Oh," I replied, chuckling nervously, grateful that he had at least made an attempt to cut out the tension in the air between us."So." He said quietly."So, Sophia isn't home?"He shook his head, "No, she went out to get some groceries.""Wanna talk about what happened?" I asked, quietly, trying to maintain eye contact. Awkward conversations like this weren't my strong suit.Thankfully, he seemed to recognize this. "Yeah, I would rather we take a walk."I looked up at him gratefully, "Really?""Ye
Xander POV “What are you doing here, Methis?” I asked, watching her saunter over to my chair and sit down crossing her legs. "Just wanted to see how my favorite drug dealer is doing." I rolled my eyes, walking over to her, "It was just a cigarette Methis, and you didn't finish it." She shrugged, and smiled. “I just wanted to see you, and have a little chat. Is that a crime?” “Yes, it is,” I said, reaching over. “You’re not welcome here. You’re not welcome anywhere near me, or my mate. You’re a nuisance and a troublemaker. You need to leave, and stay away.” She pouted, and shook her head. “Oh, come on, Xander. Don’t be so rude. I’m not here to cause trouble. I’m here to help you.” “Help me?” I repeated, skeptically. “Help me with what?” She leaned forward, and lowered her voice. “With your little problem, of course. The one that involves your mate’s stepmother.” I felt a surge of anger, and fear. How did she know about that? How did she find out? Who told her? “What are you ta
Jamal's POV"What do you mea....""Don't pretend like you haven't been thinking about me since the last time we met," she said, "I can see the nervousness in your eyes," she added as she leaned her face closer to mine while standing on her tippy toes. I quickly recoiled. Any further, and it'd have been a kiss.Ding!Finally, the ordeal was going to be over. The doors were about to slide open and I braced myself to get the hell out."Stop pretending like you don't want me!" She yelled.Affirmative. She's crazy."I would advise you to get some medical attention," I said as I slowly walked towards the doors which were now sliding open, "You need help," I added as I got out of the elevator."You can't keep it up forever. Your pretence can only take you so........." She was saying, her voice dwindling into a diminuendo as the doors slid shut. Talk about crazy.I walked down the corridor to Methis apartment and then knocked. I could hear footsteps approaching from within and took a deep bre
Jamal POV“I’m doing well, Sir.”“Why are you here? Same reason?”“Same reason, Sir.”“What have I told you in the past?”“That she is not meant for me. But hear this, Sir. I really don’t care what you think about us anymore and honestly it’s been hard for me as well having to see the one who I love reject me so often. So here’s what it is. I’m trying just one more time. Just one. That’s why I am here. To make my peace one last time. I really love her, Sir. I know that deep down you know it. She must have told you about out time during surrogacy. Even though you might look at it as a thing of tragedy which I completely understand, I implore you look at it from the point of I and Methis as well. She really enjoyed it, and so did I, Sir. You can ask for her own opinion. Just don’t intimidate her when doing it.”I sat staring for a while. Thinking if I should go on or just keep quiet. It would be nice to know what he was thinking but from the way Methis’ father kept his countenance, it w
Jamal POVI returned to the shore to see the woman sitting and examining the beast. She gave me a puzzled look.“Where did you come from?” she asked.“My pet wolf ran to me alerting me of danger,” I casually said.“Well, aren’t you a bad master leaving your pet wolf to deal with this thing alone?”“That thing knocked me unconscious that’s why I could not help him,” I lied.“Alright let’s go then. Where is your pet wolf?”“I just buried it.”“Poor thing.” She gave a little sob.We walked back to the boat and made our way back to the city.“What is that thing?” I asked.“I’m supposed to be asking you. You are the one stuck on that island with it.” She gave me a puzzled accusing look. “And a pet wolf.”“Well a different fisherman dropped me there and ran off,” I lied again.“Is it Bob? He’s the coward around here”“How did you see the beast?”“I was out fishing one day and I saw it shoot out of the sewer and I thought ‘What the hell?’ so I went after it but I lost it.”“Why didn’t you ca
Jamal POVI could not believe I was about to do this now. I was about to wrestle this large snake. I could feel my hands sweat as I made my way to the edge of the island. I stopped just beyond the water and took a deep look into the water. From here, I could see its massive outline looming deep beneath the blue, casting a dark shadow in the sea. If that thing truly did swallow the key, then it must have digested already. Either way, today was the day I made my biggest hunting kill. The only problem is unlike other animals I have hunted, this one seemed to have some sense of reasoning. So maybe I could use that against him. I usually did not like to strike first in a fight so maybe I could make this snake strike first. I’d egg him on.“HEY!” I shouted from the edge of the island. “I am ready! Let’s go! Let’s fight!”The beast circled around the water, creating little waves that emerged on the top of the ocean and splashed on the island. I was beginning to question the sanity behind thi
Xander POVI had been chatty at work for some time now. I talked often, perhaps more often than I realized because I was getting more compliments like "What made you start talking so often?" or subtler ones such as "You look to be in a good mood recently." One time, a young lady working with us asked me what had happened during the time I had first begun working here till this moment. They all thought I had received good news that carried me for a long time but in reality, I was the saddest I had ever been in my entire life. I had not realized I talked more often until all the compliments came pouring in. But somehow it all made sense.I was talking more often so I distracted myself from the pain I was feeling. My subconscious mind was trying desperately to find a new connection to forget the broken one o had with Methis. In the past few weeks, I had experienced pain that hit harder than hammer, pain that cut deeper than sword. It was more than a heartbreak. A heartbreak was not the k
Methis POVI woke up the next morning, a pounding headache threatening to split my forehead into two and tossed it in the bed next to me.Again, typical. The practice of waking up with another problem bothering me had almost become routine so I wasn't really surprised.Nevertheless, I dragged myself out of bed and prepared for school. Irrespective of my feelings, life had to go on right?The first few classes were boring as hell, and I was extremely uninterested, which made the ring of the bell for lunch break a very welcome development.I walked into the cafeteria and almost immediately, my eyes fell on her. Sophia, sat alone at a table, picking her food, a bored look in her eyes.It made me feel like shit, she was alone because of me. I was her best friend, we did everything together including lunch and now we were fighting she had to suffer the discomfort of sitting in the cafeteria and eating alone, with nobody to talk to.I had to fix that.Taking a deep breath, I grabbed my tray
Jamal’s POVI woke up, already feeling exhausted and drained, I allowed my body to revert to its human form as the involuntary transformation subsided. I lay there for a moment, the gritty sand beneath me a stark reminder of the ordeal I had just faced. The sun dipped low on the horizon, casting a warm glow across the island.As evening descended, I woke from a restless slumber. My surroundings were eerily quiet, except for the distant murmur of the ocean. Pushing myself up, I took stock of his situation. The city lights shimmered in the distance, a connection to my realm that seemed both distant and unattainable.My exploration of the island unfolded like a surreal odyssey. The air was thick with the scent of salt and untamed nature as I ventured into the heart of the unknown. The landscape revealed itself in layers — dense clusters of foliage, rugged terrain, and mysterious, hidden corners.The island's interior held a complex tapestry of life. Vibrant flowers bloomed in patches, th
Jamal’s POVThe dark witch, a shadow from the recesses of his past, cast an ominous pall over my thoughts. Her malevolence, the catalyst for the arduous journey through the realms, loomed as a reminder of the trials I had faced. In the face of this formidable adversary, I found the strength to swim against the currents.With a newfound surge of determination, O pushed against the encroaching darkness. The thought of Methis waiting, of my cubs growing up without their father, of the pack relying on my leadership, propelled me toward the surface. The image of the moonlit realm, my sovereign domain, beckoned as a distant haven.Yet, the cruel reality of physical exhaustion proved insurmountable. As my limbs strained against the water, the weight of my shifting form, soaked and weary, became an anchor dragging him into the depths.Then, everything went dark.* * *I woke up to a sound.Vaguely aware that I was lying on the floor, in the pitch darkness, my vision swimming around me, I groa
Methis’s POV“You know if you keep at this you won’t ever heal. No one is above problems. Not even me the counsellor.”“Well go deal with your own problems instead of mine!” I blurted out. All he needed to do was raise his eyebrow at me and I realized my mistake. “I am so sorry, Sir. I did not mean it that way, Sir.”“It’s fine, Miss Delis we all lose our cool occasionally.”“Please just call me Methis.”“So what’s the issue here Mehtis?”“It’s my best friend. I think she hates me now.”“Why would assume that?”“Well, I went to talk to her today and she snubbed me. A friend of mine and her brother had a fight earlier so she is mad at me for it all.”“Understandable.”“What do I do?” I asked.“Just talk to her. Keep aside any friendliness. Talk to her like a new person. Like you are meeting a stranger that you want to make your friend but this stranger has some prejudice about your race. Just imagine that sort of scenario. Then apply it in real life. alright?”“Alright. I have a test t