We've run miles in wolf form until we reach a train station. It's an isolated waiting shade beside the railway and few people are waiting there, covered with their thick winter clothes. We both shifted into humans again before we approached the station. Matheo said that this will take us straight to the metropolis of Lanbarc. We shake off the snow from our clothes while waiting. "Mr. Matheo, you sure are an extraordinary explorer." He laughs at the idea. "You'll understand if you become a lone wolf. You can travel or run wherever you want!" "Have you met werewolf hunters?" "A lot." The steaming train is ringing. All the waiting passengers fall in line. After the train releases passengers inside, the conductors collect the tickets at the threshold before we enter. I'm wearing the coat Cormelio gave me that turns my skin dark. And as I observe among the passengers, people with dark skin aren't treated as slaves, some of them were privileged to work here. The situation in Lanba
Now that the snowfall has been tamed, I gaze at the stars in front of the garden dome, leaning my arms on the flimsy fence of the farm. The moon is so beautiful in my eyes. A beauty that still cannot fill the emptiness I'm feeling. My eyes must be looking for a different beauty. The street is dark and silent when the light coming from the garden dome illuminates the road for a second as the door opens. I didn't look back for there's no need for it. Cormelio leans his arms on the fence, too. "Why are you here contemplating the unknown in a summer outfit?" He raised an eyebrow at me. I look at my thin sleeveless shirt, then giggle. "I don't feel cold at all." The emptiness I'm feeling makes me cold already. Snow has nothing to do with my drama. He speaks like a wry neighbor gossiper. "I've always been curious... You said you traveled all the way to Asfara. Have you not met a girl that," he playfully made a consecutive sound of smack kisses, "the adolescence out of you?" My mouth
The raging fire is trying to push me back. Residents are evacuating towards the metropolis, some remained outside the hazard zone because of missing loved ones, children weeping, and the crowd huddling; these are the situations. Men are pouring snow scooped from the bucket they have and working together to diminish the fire. The cold weather helps, too. The different kinds of smells are swirling around me but I'm only looking for Cormelio. Bewildering. When I failed to find him I undoubtedly rushed through the fire until I heard a scream, "HESSUEL! OVER HERE!" I look back to where the voice came from—in the crowd—then I heave a sigh of relief when I found him with Amos under a tree. His right leg is injured but doesn't have any sign of burnt. Meanwhile, Acro is resting on his lap. "What were you trying to do!?" "I thought you were in there!" I pointed at the fire. Rescuers from the metropolis responded immediately to the case. The crowd gave way to the firefighters. "What happened
I met Matheo on my way outside the clinic. He asked me where I'm headed and I answered with honesty: I will not allow Mraz to stroll around without recompensation for the appalling incident he launched in my village. He tried to convince me otherwise so I promised not to involve people. I lent him my coat and walked away with my hands inside my pockets. He said that Mraz can't have the chance to leave this metropolis right away because of the ingredient Matheo poured into his drink. As a bar owner, he's aware of what will harm a werewolf's stomach. Additionally, Mraz is staying in an inn. I make steps straightway to that destination with my eyes closed, not a dot of care for people who see me. The sidewalk may be busy with people walking in both opposite directions. My sense of smell leads me to Mraz. I only stopped stepping when his scent was pervading right in front of me. My eyes opened to behold the facade of the inn. I'm standing in the narrow space between two buildings. The
I feel bad for looking at them in disgust! Matheo is raising his arms at us trying to stop us in the middle. "Please! I beg you not to harm each other!" "Stay away from him," Amos said and pulled Matheo behind him. "He's dangerous. His prey is his prey whether it's a friend or not." I spread my fingers tightly while unleashing my silver claws. My glare at him is out of my control. They are all the same. They praise themselves like saints by demeaning me as the villain. "Hessuel! Give room for my chance to explain myself," Matheo supplicated. His quivering, poignant expression softened me a bit. The texture of my silver fangs rubs my lip as I question with my chin up, "You knew him all along? ever since we came here? Then why didn't you tell me?" The impact of that betrayal broke my voice when I spoke. But Amos replies confidently when Matheo's tongue is unable to spill words, "We had a deal. For the salvation of Asfara." "... Mr. Matheo... of all people... why you?" I'm afrai
None of the victims of rabid dogs survived. Acro informed me. I rushed to the clinic with Sherizzah only to find out that Cormelio is already covered with a white blanket and all I can do is to hug his pale and cold body. Sherizzah consoled. The government provided the graveyard for free for those who died in the rabid incident. I sat the whole day in front of Cormelio's grave. Curt, my patron, lost a child. People in my hometown were weeping anywhere I cast my eyes. I felt cold not because of the snow, but because I felt the same before: the day I lost my kind. One emotion is ruling me. I stand on my feet when my knees feel cold from the snow. Looking at the gravestone in front of me, I form my determination. I am a werewolf from the past. I wouldn't be here in the future if it wasn't for the tragedy... if those black wolves never overdosed themselves in pride. They took and are taking everything away from me. All those lifetime cynicism is because of them. For the person lying b
Later on, an enraging white fat wolf attacks her. She pushed Tanya away from me and defended the boundary between me and her. Zaeramil arrived next and removed the spell from me. ["Alpha, are you alright!?"] ["What's wrong with this wrench!?"] Tanya growled and rolled her eyes. Zaeramil says rapidly, "I know the way out of here but first, we have to go back to our seats!" Acro came after them when I've fully regenerated. ["She's telling the truth,"] she said. I look at Tanya again, and she's sitting confidently. ["I told you I'm not lying. Your lad enchanter proved it."] I get up on my feet, stretch my shoulders, and walk away. "Then sorry to kill your excitement instead. I'm not going to kill you anymore," I gave her that answer. "Let's go." ["Wait!"] she howls. ["At least tell me your decision about the invitation of my Alpha! That way, I'll know what to do as well."] I stopped, removed my necklace to tangle it on my right hand, and presented to her the hanging pendant on
She looks beautiful in that yellow dress. Her loose wavy long hair reaches her waist, her hands are politely holding in front of her, and the way she looks down at me is majestic. She smells so sweet like a cake. I've never seen a woman like this who can drive me crazy just by looking at her for about 300 years. Unfortunately, she's an enemy. She must be casting a spell at me behind visibility. "Biaco is your target, no?" she spoke and that voice shivered me. "I will not allow you to cross this staircase until you cancel your command to those werewolves. Please stop what you're doing. Or else I will." I cleared my throat and stretched my arms. No, it's not the perfect time to impress her—somehow I felt that I wanted to. She's raising an eyebrow at me. I look at the upper floor. "Then I'm not going to use that staircase anymore," I sighed, yet when I was about to jump to that upper floor, she was standing behind me in the blink of an eye. Pressing the tip of her finger on my nape w