FINAL CHAPTERScreams of wolves, whispers of blood, and cries of battle filled in the dawn. My forces, my alliance, the good side of the war is about to win. I did not expect the amount of minions and troops that my father has. He has a lot, almost outnumbering us.I noticed they weren’t trained enough. Some of them were forced. One was a teenage guy whom Gelo spared a life because the guy explained he was scared of what the alpha might do to their family so he unleashes in the fight. However, some are straight-up evil. Just like the alpha, they believed that this is fun. A wholesome entertainment until I came upon and slit their throat with my slasher claws.I’m a bit tired. If this wasn’t a huge fight, I would’ve opted for a coffee break. I need that. Just like how I crave it when I’m reading a book at the very late hours of the night. But no, there’s no way I could until this ends.The alpha is gone. He’s missing. One of the troops, now dead, said the alpha’s family already fled o
PART ONE: NEW HOMECHAPTER 1Before the sun seeps between the dark ash clouds, a group of wolves attacked our home.Our neighbors were talking about wolves nonstop since the day that I remember. I thought it was a myth because I haven’t seen one. But now, I’ve seen not one but five of them. They all looked hungry with their saliva almost dropping from their pointy teeth.I can’t do anything about it. I’m weak. All I do was stare at my parents, trying to block the main door by leaning heavy objects we could find. Felix, my oldest brother, was the one helping them while Jay held my hand tight.“Jay, hide your sister!” Mom cried and her voice almost broke. “Go inside your rooms, make sure that you lock the doors. Don’t go outside whatever you hear.”“But mom…” Jay didn’t dare to continue on his words when Felix shot him with a deadly glare. He turned to me
CHAPTER 2Mom and Dad were the first people who believed in me. They told me that I could do anything with perseverance and self-confidence. I wasn’t confident in myself, especially in school but the two of them gave me the motivation to do so. Now that they’re gone, I don’t know what to feel anymore. I lost my interest in the things that were fun for me before.I stayed inside our new house for a whole week. I read a book but got constantly distracted by the noise of children playing outside. Jay and Felix weren’t home as much as I do. The only time I see both of them was either in the evening or in the early morning before they go to their respective jobs.In one week, I finished four fantasy books and a contemporary book that made me cry. It wasn’t a sad book, but I remembered Mom and Dad when I read it. I miss them so much.When my brothers left for their work, I followed their advice to live my life. The outside world was
CHAPTER 3The place was a sanctuary to me. I finished the book that I was reading, without scrolling through social media platforms. And for one of the rarest moments, I read instead of watching videos about reading. My brothers were glad that I finally got out of my shell and started exploring.When we had dinner, they warned me again about not staying outside during the night. They’ve been at home earlier before the sunsets. Because of that, I would want to see the sunset and run back home during the night.“Where are you going?” Felix asked me while he was reading a book.“Running around the town.”He nodded. “Don’t go that far away. It’s already afternoon and doesn’t go home after sunset.”“Fine,” I answered and disappeared inside our house. Felix would’ve been a perfect father to a child if he decided to be one. He had a girlfriend back then but I’
CHAPTER 4Tornado, that’s a word I can describe in my current situation. Strong winds and twists flipped my world upside down. Was there something I didn’t know about myself? I don’t completely believe in them. Everyone in here cannot be werewolves. There must be humans somewhere else.I was stunned even after Angelo and Nana left the house before we had our quiet dinner. No one talked about what happened again. But Felix pleased me that I should be more careful about my actions.I don’t want to believe them that this town was full of werewolves. I haven’t seen Nana or Angelo turn into werewolves. Even last night, I only heard the scary sound and growls but there are no creatures who appeared in front of me.In the first place, I wouldn’t believe in werewolves if I hadn’t seen them kill my parents before. Having another creature living in this world was unbelievable. It sounded like a fantasy.At the same t
CHAPTER 5I don’t know what Angelo means by not trusting anyone. I don’t trust him either. I was forced to trust his family for the sake of our safety. Not trusting others was an easy task for me. I don’t talk to strangers, especially social people who only know how to talk a lot.Angelo’s first class was different than mine. My brothers were familiar with my previous classes that’s why they picked the same for me. I picked AP US History before because I thought that would be amazing and entertaining. I was wrong. The teacher we had was boring. It felt like an hour of speech and not an engaging lecture. I took European History back in junior year and the teacher was great. In US History, we are forced to finish a certain number of pages for the recitation next class.I do love reading. Being a reader since I was a child was an advantage for that class. It took me a few minutes to read fifty pages while others took more than an hour.
CHAPTER 6For my next days as a high school student in the community high school, Angelo became my walking buddy. It wasn’t awkward between the two of us. Aside from Saturdays, we get to spend other days with each other. He’s a more open person than I thought of. I guessed I earned my first friend in this town.I was waiting for him when Nana offered me cookies. It looked like a normal cookie, then I remembered that she was a werewolf. I’m afraid there’s something in the ingredient of that cookie.“It’s a normal treat, dear. You don’t have to be scared of us. I told you to trust us,” she said and I accepted the cookie.Inside their house, I saw a family picture near the television set. Angelo got his features from his mother. They almost looked the same. His brother was also good-looking like him though they didn’t have the same face. His sister, like his brother and Gelo, was also attractive. I guesse
CHAPTER 7My parents were covered with blood. I was at the staircase and they were at the door. Werewolves did these things to them. And I wasn’t able to save them.They were screaming for help. They screamed for pain. I couldn't move my body from my position. I want to run towards them. I want to help them to stand out. But I was frozen in my place.“You’re always my girl, Cath,” Daddy said in a low monotone voice. His voice sounded like he was losing blood.“You’re always our baby.” My mom smiled despited of the pain she was struggling with.I love you Mom and Dad, I thought to myself. I wasn’t able to let it through my mouth. I love them and I wished I was able to protect them.My eyes opened. Everything was a dream. A nightmare. I found myself in a dark place. Old classroom chairs, broken tables, dirt on the ground. I was tied around a chair. Where am I?I almost forgot that Mr. Higg
FINAL CHAPTERScreams of wolves, whispers of blood, and cries of battle filled in the dawn. My forces, my alliance, the good side of the war is about to win. I did not expect the amount of minions and troops that my father has. He has a lot, almost outnumbering us.I noticed they weren’t trained enough. Some of them were forced. One was a teenage guy whom Gelo spared a life because the guy explained he was scared of what the alpha might do to their family so he unleashes in the fight. However, some are straight-up evil. Just like the alpha, they believed that this is fun. A wholesome entertainment until I came upon and slit their throat with my slasher claws.I’m a bit tired. If this wasn’t a huge fight, I would’ve opted for a coffee break. I need that. Just like how I crave it when I’m reading a book at the very late hours of the night. But no, there’s no way I could until this ends.The alpha is gone. He’s missing. One of the troops, now dead, said the alpha’s family already fled o
Chapter 60As the sun falls into the horizon, the people, or should I say the werewolves, of the town of Dusk and Dawn starts to gather at our place. Tonight the alpha’s madness will end. Tonight, everything will be more normal and free. No more threats and darkness. Only good, light, and life.“We’ll become a victor,” Jay told me while he was in the process of wearing the protective gear Nana personally made for him and Mom. They were the only humans to fight. Heroes, I believe. “It felt like I’m going in a fantasy war with these yet I have a small knife instead of a sword.”“It’s sharp though,” I said, trying the knife on my skin. A little more pressure and it will cut my skin. Nana told them to their brains or the heart. This knife will surely pierce through those body parts. “I’m scared.”“On what aspect?”“To fail. I have planned this. I have committed to this. The scary news is that it is really gonna happen.”Jay faced me and touched my face using his palms. “Darkness won’t end
Chapter 59Gelo wasn’t talking or even showing up to me for days. I hate that it happens because I love talking to him. In this town, he is my favorite person to talk to. My best friend. My boyfriend. But I do understand why. His father died. Another person in his family died. And as far as I know, his greatest fear is losing a person who’s been a huge part of his life.I swear I wanted to talk to tell him I’ll be by his side no matter what happens. I’ve been through what he’d been through before. I lost three important people in my life. Then I found out how fucked up my life is. Being the daughter of the worst man on the planet.“It wasn’t your fault,” Gwen told me when she came over to visit. “You didn’t do anything. It’s just it is that bastard who kills almost anyone.”She wrapped me in her presence. I’ve been longing for this feeling. Gwen is the only female friend I have in this town. I don’t know if I can treat Stacy and other women the same. Gwen listens. It’s just we rarely
Chapter 58“Mom.” I smiled at my mother who died months ago. “Dad.” And to my father who died with her the same night. “I’m sorry if I broke your rule of consulting you out before having a boyfriend. But I have one.”I expected them to throw killer grin at me. I expected them to shout at me for breaking their rule. In the neighborhood I lived in, it is normal for teenagers my age to date a whole set of men. My parents were different. They won’t let me unless I tell them. Maybe my brothers were the only exception, or maybe I am the exception to this neighborhood’s culture.I opened the door so Gelo could enter. He wore his wide and happy smile as he greets my parents on a very nice day. We all sat on the couch, everyone has their own teacup of the hibiscus tea my parents like to bring whenever they’re on a vacation from different states.We all chattered even though I couldn’t understand anything. We were just… talking. Nonstop. My parents seemed so happy to finally meet Angelo. It all
CHAPTER 57This could have been my perfect date with my boyfriend, who happens to be my only best friend in this town. I thought that the place Gelo picked is a safe one. It happens that the alpha is going to be here, ruining my fucking date.He grinned like he wins a reality television show where the father caught his daughter dating someone he doesn’t want to. Why does he always think he’s winning? Why does he’s always the one with power? Is it because he is the leader of the werewolf pack in this town? Or because he is a man?Just because he’s a man, it doesn’t mean he can claim everything he wants.He can never take me away from the family that took care of me. He already killed my brother, Mom, and Dad.After all, he never became a father to me.“What are you doing here?” I asked. Galo rushed behind me. He touched and caressed my hand which somehow calmed my system. The man in front of us is the one who ruined lives in this one. The antagonist of everyone’s story and I don’t nee
CHAPTER 56Gelo asked me on a date! I feel like a normal teenager asked by her long-time crush to go on a date. I never knew what a date feels like. I badly wanted to experience the right person.A perfect date in my head is when a person waits for you outside your house with his fancy car and a bouquet of roses and chocolates in his hand. That’s romantic, even in books.But reality struck me. After fixing myself on my spring-themed dress, I got down to face Angelo. He didn’t bring any bouquet of roses, just a stem on his hand and neither he has a car as well. But that’s love. Neither person or date is perfect. The world was just cruel to provide that for us.I do love Angelo, that’s the only thing that matters for now.“You’re going on a date?” Mom asked me. She pretends to be the evil stepmother who will do anything so the princess could not go on a date. “You’re not even asking me and telling me everything.”“I swear I forgot. Ever since I came here, Angelo’s been the person who we
CHAPTER 55“Chaz! Chaz!” I rushed to Chaz’s house the next day. He should know what we are planning and I know he’s going to join us. He’s one of those I knew who was wronged by the alpha so badly.Chaz didn’t answer. I was so excited to enter his house without knocking. Gladly, it wasn’t locked.The house smelled plain. I saw Chaz making out with Kaz in their living room. Holy shit! My innocent eyes! “Oh, Catherine. Can’t you knock for once?” Chaz said. “You came to bother us.” He stood up from the sofa, as well as Kaz. They only have their boxers on their bodies. I faced my back to them and waited to wear their clothes. “I’m gonna sue you next time. You can face us now.”“I’m sorry. I was just too excited to see you. I forgot that the last time I got here, you were doing the same with Kaz. I promise not to do it again.”“Don’t promise things you can’t accomplish, kid. So what’s with your commotion on ruining my morning sex with the love of my life?”I told him the story. What he ne
CHAPTER 54Their jaws dropped. They didn’t expect what I said. But that’s the very best thing that I know that could benefit everyone. Not just me but every family who lost someone because of the alpha.“The alpha killed Mom, Dad, and Felix. He killed more people than we knew. He manipulates people. He’s using his power.”“But you’re not a killer, Catherine!” That’s the first time Jay shouted at me. “Do not let your intrusive thoughts ruin you. You can’t become this kind of person. I know you’re not like that.”“Cath, as much as I want to kill that man. As much as I want to give him what he deserves, I don’t want my only daughter to become a killer. You can’t hold a knife and just kill somebody. Please.”“I talked to him last night.”Spoons clattered on plates when I said that. Gelo almost chokes himself as well. Maybe telling them the truth will make them understand my point more. I have to tell them this now. I know the alpha. He won’t stop getting what he wants until he gets it. He
CHAPTER 53I shouldn’t feel bad about what I did to my father, but why I am crying on my way back home? It was midnight and it was cold, so I could feel the tears warming up my face. I never longed for a father, even before. My past Mom and Dad were there. I never feel any complications in our relationship. I felt full. I felt loved.But when I saw him when he touch him. I felt a pang inside my chest. This man is my father. And this man killed the ones I loved. It wasn’t because I want us to be a complete family. We can’t be like that. My heart aches because the truth is my father is a killer. And I have to live with that truth until the day that I die. It wasn’t a history to tell. It’s a carved mark on my identity.Although there wasn’t any noise on my way, I don’t feel that everything is silent and quiet. My mind was attacking me with all of my thoughts. What are Mom and Alpha living better? What if they got to each other? What if the mess didn’t happen? What if Mom, Dad, and Felix