Chapter 1: Werewolves and Nams

The 10-year-old Blaze came out of his room with an old book in his hands and ran to his mother, Aurora, in the living room.

“Mama, I read this book and I got curious about nams (humans). It says here that we lived together with them in this world, but I think I had never seen anyone. What do they look like?” He asked his mother, who was busy knitting a scarf for him for the coming winter.

“Os evo (My son), you’re really growing up now. You’ve been so curious about so many things.” His mother chuckled, placing down the yarn and needle on the center table. Then she continued, tapping the couch. “Kalih metas (Come here), I’ll tell you a story that was not written in that old book.”

Blaze quickly obeyed and excitedly sat down beside his mother. Then, his mother started telling him the story.

“Long ago, werewolves and nams or the so-called humans were living in this world next to one another. Just like the one written in the book you are reading. We look exactly like nams (humans) except that we have supernatural powers and a special ability to shift. Even so, werewolves at that time didn’t show their supernatural powers to humans as they didn't want humans to be afraid of them. They just wanted to live in peace with them and they just wanted the liberty to do anything that they want.” Aurora leaned on the couch as she crossed her legs. “Living with humans had not been an issue and seemed normal at the beginning. But humans had the money and talent, so they ruled the world while werewolves became their slaves because, you know, we were remarkably strong.”

Aurora shifted her gaze at the book with a grim expression on her face while Blaze was listening attentively to his mother. Then she looked back at her son.

“However, some humans became cruel and greedy. They forced the poor werewolves to work in terrible conditions for little pay. Nams (humans) oppressed and abused the werewolves. And that unjust treatment sparked a rebellion. Your opah (grandfather) was one of the leaders of the rebellion. They could no longer endure seeing some werewolves struggling. So they fought and use their powers. Undoubtedly, the werewolves won and decided to divide the world into two parts, the North and the South.

“The North belongs to the humans, while the South belongs to the werewolves. No one can trespass to each other’s borderline. Humans cannot enter the South and the werewolves cannot go to the North either. Otherwise, they would be subject to the law of the world they would trespass.”

“Then, our world was called the New Moon World. There were four packs formed according to race, the Golden Moon Pack which is the pack we belong to, and the three others, the Silver Moon Pack, Steel Moon Pack, and Snow Moon Pack. They equally divided their land into four territories. And from then on, the werewolves live peacefully until--” Aurora suddenly paused. Averting her gaze, she resumed. “Until today.”

She forced a smile after finishing the story, dissembling her true emotion while Blaze didn’t notice it, as he was amazed and shocked at the same time about what he heard.

“So nams (humans) are evil?” He wondered.

“Um, as far as I’m aware, not all nams (humans) are bad. There are only some that are greedy for wealth and power. But there are also some that are good.” His mother explained.

Blaze continued asking questions. He was really interested in humans.

“How could you tell if nams (humans) are good or evil?”

 His mom thought for a moment. “Hmm… You can see it in their eyes because their eyes are the windows to their soul.”

Blaze's eyes grew into wide circles. “Really? That’s amazing!  But mama, do you know what happened to the humans after the rebellion?”

“Well, some regretted their wicked deeds and apologized. Others were scared of us, but there are also some that are not. There are some that remain evadez (friends) with our pack.”

“Oh, that was cool. Does it--” Blaze was cut off when he heard a commotion outside.

He looked at his mother and saw the worry written on her face. He stood up and walked towards the window to check what’s happening outside, but his mother quickly blocked his way and held both of his shoulders.

“Blaze, listen to me. Go to your Uncle Joseph and tell him that it’s time.” Aurora instructed, looking deeply into his eyes.

His forehead creased. “Mama, what do you mean?”

“I have no time to explain it to you now, son. You need to hurry.”

“But mama, I can’t understand. What’s happening outside? I felt Papa’s aura--”

“Blaze, just go!” His mother growled. Her eyes flickered, a sign that anytime, she would shift into her wolf.

He was taken aback. It was the first time that his mother shouted at him.

“A-alright,” He uttered, taking a step backward. He was forced to obey his mother’s command even though he had a bad hunch of what’s happening. He hastily ran to the backdoor and went to the house of his Uncle Joseph, one of the Betas of their pack.

“Uncle Joseph! Uncle Joseph!” He yelled between his breaths, five meters away from him.

His uncle was standing in front of his house as though waiting for him already. Then he shifted into his wolf.

“Hop in.” His uncle’s wolf commanded as he kneeled down before him.

“U-uncle, why?” He asked, puzzled.

“I need you to get out of here.” He grumbled.

The answer of his uncle made him even more confused. “But why and where are we going, uncle?”

“I’ll explain it to you once we get out of here.”

Discerning the determination in his uncle’s wolf voice, he quickly jumped on his back. Then, he ran fast into the woods in no time. As they eloped, his uncle explained everything to him.

“Our pack was being attacked, Blaze. It was a month ago when your mama had a vision of bloody aggression. Then, we learned about the plan of the Snow Moon Pack to invade our pack in order to be the strongest in the New Moon World.”

After learning what’s happening, Blaze hesitated to go. “U-Uncle, I want to go back. Let’s go back. They need us!”

“No, Blaze. Don’t be stubborn. You’re still young. You don’t have enough skills yet to fight the enemies. Besides, you haven't shifted to a wolf yet.”

“I know, uncle, but I’m strong. That’s why I’ll be the next Alpha.” He insisted. He was determined to go back to fight and defend their pack. 

“Yes, but being strong doesn’t mean that you can defeat the enemies. You also need skills and power.”

Blaze couldn’t do anything but listen to his uncle. “U-Uncle, what would happen to my parents, to our pack? What if the enemies defeated them?” He asked worriedly.

“Don’t worry, Blaze. Our pack is the strongest among others.”

“Is that so? But where are we going? Why do we need to escape?” He couldn’t understand. He had a lot of questions that he wanted an answer to.

“You need to be safe, no matter what. So I will bring you to someone who can protect you. Your parents will pick you up once everything is over. But, in case they don’t come, y-you already know what happened.”

Blaze swallowed by the last remarks of his uncle. Thinking of losing his family, tears burned his eyes. However, he had no choice but to obey their command.

They were already in the middle of the woods when his uncle perceived that they were being followed. He ran faster. They were almost there to the agreed location, but the two white wolves following them were able to catch up with them.

“Where do you think you are going?” The bigger white wolf asked, blocking their way.

“Blaze, we’re almost there. Run straight to the borderline and you will be safe. They can no longer follow you there. Then, at the largest maple tree, you will meet the man I was referring to earlier.” His uncle ordered.

“B-borderline? M-Man?” Blaze was shocked. He did not know that he’s going to the human world.

“Yes.”

“But mama told me that we’re not allowed to enter the borderline.”

“Don’t worry about it. Fernando already took care of everything.” His uncle paused when the enemies started to move. “Now!” His uncle growled, pushing him to the side as the white wolves began to attack.

Blaze watched his uncle fighting the enemies. He balled his fists as he clenched his jaw, controlling his anger. However, he could not suppress the rage burning in his heart. His golden-brown eyes blazed like red flames. Then he felt a strange power within him that was going to explode.

‘Blaze,’ He heard a powerful voice call his name inside him.

‘Who are you?’ He asked in his mind.

‘I’m Marcus. I’m your wolf, Blaze.’

‘My wolf?’

‘Yes, Blaze. Are you ready?’ His inner wolf asked, to which he swiftly agreed.

In a flash, he shifted into a golden brown wolf with a remarkable aura. He howled so powerfully, causing goosebumps to anyone who would hear it.

His uncle’s wolf and the two white wolves froze. They couldn’t move their bodies. They could only turn their eyes in the direction of the golden wolf.

It stunned his uncle, seeing him shift into a wolf for the first time. It was too early yet. He was too young since all wolves he knew normally shifted when they reached the age of fifteen to eighteen. Nevertheless, he felt honored and delighted to witness it. Moreover, he was amazed by his extraordinary features, especially the supernatural power of his roar. His shiny golden coat was spectacular, which was undoubtedly for an Alpha.

After a while, his uncle was able to move. “Blaze, you should escape now!” He commanded.

But it’s too late now. Blaze couldn't control himself anymore. His wolf overpowered him and took control of his body as a golden wolf. His claws sank into the ground as he prepared to attack.

“Leave us alone!” He roared as he leaped to the air and attacked one of the white wolves.

The white wolf was appalled and confused why he could not move even an inch. Thus, Blaze triumphantly scratched his face along with his eyes. The white wolf snarled in pain as he flew away a few meters from him.

Blaze couldn’t believe it. He stood frozen, staring at the wounded wolf in front of him. At the same time, it exhilarated him. He finally shifted into a wolf. He could now fight for his pack!

However, the other white wolf took advantage of the opportunity as soon as he was freed to move. He quickly attacked Blaze from the back.

“Rawwwrr!”