It is now 8 o'clock in the evening, and I am waiting for Aunt Mary's arrival at the station. She is expected to arrive in half an hour. Last night, I called her and informed her about some urgent matters, urging her to come. This morning, she immediately applied to her Alpha Asher for leave from the pack and entrusted Alpha Asher to inform Alpha Joan of her visit. After all the procedures were completed, she boarded the latest regular bus and rushed here. Aunt Mary is an extremely interesting person; she claims to have a fear of driving and prefers to take public transportation or have others drive her wherever she goes. She never wants to try learning to drive, and we often tease her about it.Aunt Mary is my father's sister, and fifteen years ago, she met her mate, Uncle Marcus, and settled in the Nightwalker pack with him. She is cheerful and straightforward, often likes to joke around, while Uncle Marcus is mature yet humorous. He always spoils Aunt Mary like a child. After fiftee
After confessing everything to Aunt Mary, she was so angry that she trembled, swearing to twist Drake's head off. I asked her to stay calm and keep this secret for me."Well, you're right. If I twist his head off, it will undoubtedly lead to a war between our two packs," she shrugged, trying to talk in a more casual sort of way. "By the way, does your mom know about this?""I haven't told her," I shook my head and said with a bitter smile.She sneered, her big blue eyes giving me a knowing look, "Not telling her is for the best. What else can she do other than crying all day? Oh! Just the thought of meeting her gives me a headache. If it weren't for you, I would never have come here."Hearing her words, I felt a little awkward. I didn't know how to respond, so I let out a dry laugh. To be honest, once Aunt Mary and my mom meet, there will definitely be quarrels, and to mediate between them will be a headache for me too.It's about a 20-minute walk from the bus station to my house. It
At eight o'clock in the morning, the hospital had almost no patients. I asked Aunt Mary to wait outside the examination room. And then I knocked on Dr. Grace's door."Come in," came Dr. Grace's gentle voice from inside the room."Good morning, Dr. Grace," I greeted politely as I walked in."Good morning, Zoe. Is there anything wrong with your health? Any lingering effects from the head injury last time?" Dr. Grace asked with concern, setting down her pen upon seeing me."Thank you for your concern, my head is fine. But this time, I have something important to share. I found out that I'm pregnant two nights ago," I said.Upon hearing the news, Dr. Grace was somewhat taken aback. "Oh, unbelievable. I'm sorry to hear that.""I was surprised too. You are the only person in the pack who knows about this, but as time goes on, my belly will grow bigger, and the secret will be hard to keep. I don't want that to happen, so I intend to leave the Red Moon Pack and live with my aunt's family in t
It’s late at night, I gazed at my reflection in the mirror, putting myself in a hunting state of mind, imagining as if I were observing prey. Hold your head high, with no tilting, and maintain a steady gaze, with no wavering. Yes, that’s right! Do relax the expression, don't appear tense, even if your heart is pounding, just ignore it. Focus on the person or object in front of you, disregarding your insignificant inner turmoil. That’s much better. Put on a subtle smile, don’t be too serious. Perfect, nearly perfect.After several hours of practice, my eyes were bloodshot, and my face felt stiff from smiling, but I was finally satisfied with the progress I made. I assured Aunt Mary that I would strive to be firm, confident, and decisive, even when facing wolves of much higher rank than myself. In a few more hours, at 10 o'clock in the morning, we would meet Alpha Joan and Luna Irene at the pack house. At that moment, I would have Aunt Mary witness my progress.It was getting late now.
As we drew closer to the Nightwalker Pack, I found myself growing increasingly restless. An inexplicable restlessness enveloped me, causing my body temperature to rise, my heart to race, and my cheeks to flush like on a fire. Maybe it was just one of those early pregnancy symptoms, as I recalled reading about it online. The car eventually reached the border checkpoint of the pack, and there were a few vehicles ahead of us waiting for inspection. We joined the queue, and soon, several cars lined up behind us."Looks like the Alphas from surrounding packs are arriving at this time," Alpha Joan remarked casually.My physiological response intensified at this moment. I felt the heat building within me, and even a sip of water from a bottle didn't offer much relief. Part of me wanted to strip off my clothes, but reason told me not to give in. I settled for unbuttoning the top two buttons of my shirt, seeking some relief. As I opened the car window, a faint scent of pine wafted in, intoxica
"Good morning, how did you sleep last night?" Aunt Mary greeted me."Not bad," I replied with a smile. In truth, I didn’t sleep well at all. I had dreamt all night about Rose mating with that silver-gray wolf."Come with me to my room, we'll pick out a dress for the ceremony. Our body shapes are similar, so you should be able to fit into my clothes," she said, linking her arm with mine as we descended the stairs.Inside her dressing room, she presented me with several new dresses, still with tags attached. I chose a violet silk one-shoulder evening gown, adorned with a violet corsage at the shoulder. I then applied a simple makeup, with light pink eyeshadow and a touch of lip gloss. "Your skin is flawless, you don't need the foundation to add anything," she commented.When everything was done, Aunt Mary looked at me in admiration, "You are truly stunning."Before leaving, I put on a trench coat to keep warm. The road was bustling with cars, people streaming towards the Packhouse for t
Countless thoughts swirled in my mind, and I had to frantically focus on the task at hand to divert my attention. My hands moved swiftly, and soon, I had a mound of peeled potatoes and a large bowl of corn kernels before me.Suddenly, my shoulder was tapped, and I turned to see Aunt Mary looking at me with confusion. "Zoe, can you hear me?" she asked.I hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Of course."Aunt Mary let out a sigh of relief. "I called your name several times, but you didn't react at all, just kept peeling potatoes. I thought you were in a trance or something! Let's go, there's only fifteen minutes left until the ceremony begins."The venue was all set, with nine rows of seats for the audience. According to werewolf ranks, the highest-ranking alphas sat in the front row, followed by the betas and gammas in the second row. Aunt Mary, Uncle Marcus, and I settled into our seats on the left side of the second row. As we sat down, the seats in the back were already filling up,
The room was elegantly decorated with a touch of rustic charm, adorned with symbols of the Nightwalker Pack. Chandeliers bathed the hall in a warm, golden glow.The long banquet tables were laden with an array of delectable dishes. Exquisite platters of roasted meats, savory stews, and grilled vegetables tempted my appetite. The aroma of various spices and herbs mingled harmoniously, tantalizing the senses. Dessert stations offered an indulgent selection of treats, from luscious chocolate cakes to fruit tarts, creamy pastries, and the cookies Aunt Mary made. There were waitstaff gracefully weaved through the crowd, carrying trays of cocktail glasses.Abel handed me two glasses and offered one, "Are you feeling at home here since your arrival?""Quite well," I replied, taking a sip of the wine."Do you have any plans? Are you thinking of exploring around?" he inquired."Not yet," I answered simply.We continued with casual small talk, interrupted occasionally by some of Abel's friends
"Sorry, it's just a child's nonsense, please don't mind." Norton took two steps back, and his misty eyes quickly returned to calm. The warm yellow light shone on his face like mist, making his brows and eyes softer. His eyes stayed on my face and he couldn't bear to look away.Strong love spreads in my heart. Guided by Cupid's arrow, I gave up my reserve and let impulse and passion take over. I walked up to him, stood on tiptoes, and pressed a gentle kiss on his lips.A sweet smile spread between his lips, and he stroked his lips, seeming to reminisce."Dad, Mom, can you open the door for me?" Lola shouted outside the door."Okay." Norton turned the door lock.The moment the door was opened, Laura's cute little head squeezed in with a bright smile on her face."Dad! I like Zoe, and I want her to be my mother, okay?" She jumped in, hugged her father's legs, and said coquettishly."Baby, you have to ask Zoe if she is willing." Norton rubbed her head and said softly, his eyes full of lov
His thin lips parted slightly as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he clenched his mouth shut, swallowed hard, and his sexy Adam's apple bobbed up and down. After a while, he finally managed to say something less awkward."What's the baby's name?""Noah.""It must be tough raising a child on your own.""Not really. Aunt Mary and Uncle Marcus help me take care of the child. I'm really grateful for them. And,"I was tired of beating around the bush. He had so many questions, yet he insisted on maintaining this cool demeanor, keeping his inquiries bottled up inside."Are you wondering why he isn't taking responsibility for the child?""You guessed it," he nodded.I sighed and shrugged my shoulders. Since he wanted to know, there was no need to hide it any longer."He doesn't know the child exists. I was forced back then, and when I found out I was pregnant, I escaped to the Nightwalker Tribe. I didn't want that beast to know about it. I was afraid he would harm my child, jus
"Lola, take your drawing board and go to the art room to play by yourself. I need to have a talk with Miss Zoe," Eliza said, pulling a small drawing board from the toy box and handing it to Lola. "Fine," Lola reluctantly left my side, casting a parting look and saying goodbye before walking into a large circular room. "Lola, are you sure about this job? Have you decided to take it?" Eliza asked me. I closed my eyes, sniffed the lingering scent of violets from Lola, and felt an unusual sense of comfort. This child and I had a connection. We liked each other from the first moment we met. "Yes, I've decided," I replied. "Well, that's great. Please wait a moment; I'll get the contract from my office," Eliza said as she got up and headed upstairs to the room on the right side. Inexplicably, this lavishly decorated house gave me a feeling of déjà vu. I tried to identify something familiar inside it, but unfortunately, I couldn't pinpoint anything. It wasn't a particular object that gav
I named the baby Noah. He's a mischievous little one who keeps us on our toes. He can sleep all day but insists on being awake and fussy at night. Aunt Mary and Uncle Marcus dote on him, taking turns to soothe him in the evenings. Typically, Aunt Mary handles the first half of the night, and Uncle Marcus takes the latter. Noah is like a mini-me, inheriting my brown skin and green eyes. He's nothing like Drake, which eases my worries.Five months after Noah's birth, Susie's baby arrives too. It's a girl named Giselle. Giselle is a chubby, adorable baby with sapphire-blue eyes, fair skin, and dimples on her cheeks, a spitting image of Susie. Abel adores his daughter and proudly parades her around the tribe, showing her off to everyone he meets.When Noah was ten months old, I graduated from college and passed the entrance exam for Herman College. I entrust Noah's care to Aunt Mary and Uncle Marcus and head off to Herman for my studies.On the first day of school, I found myself rooming
About ten days later, news came that our storm-damaged house had been partially repaired. This brought immense joy to us. We woke up early, planning to catch the earliest ride back.We walked along the street towards the bus station when a silver Mercedes pulled over at the roadside. The car was filled with the scent of cedar. The window rolled down to reveal Norton's handsome face."Are you headed back to the Nightwalker Tribe? I'm going that way and can give you a lift," he said, taking off his sunglasses.Before I could decline, Susie spoke up eagerly, "That's terrific! Abel, help load our luggage."I reluctantly got into the car. It was awkward! I hadn't seen him once during our two-week stay, and now, he unexpectedly offered us a ride. I couldn't believe it.Susie and I sat in the back, with Abel in the front passenger seat. I couldn't help but sneak glances at Norton. A couple of times, our eyes met in his rearview mirror. My heart pounded as if I were a child caught doing somet
I stayed in this small room for three days, barely going out. Outside, the street grew busier day by day. Susie and Abel would go out for a few hours every day. They invited me several times, but I declined. Rather than being a third wheel, I preferred to immerse myself in reading books. Besides, Herman is so small; I was worried about the awkwardness of bumping into Norton.At six in the morning, car horns from outside woke me from my sleep. I closed my eyes, trying to fall back asleep, but it was futile. I turned on the table lamp and picked up Virginia Woolf's "A Room of One's Own," leaning against the headboard to read. After an hour or so, I put the book down, got out of bed, and changed into a loose, purple cotton maxi skirt. I headed to the bathroom to freshen up but found the toothpaste was empty. I made do with a quick rinse and then left the room to go to the dining area for breakfast.At this time, only a few people were in the restaurant. I picked up a tray at the counter
The next morning, after a week of fierce wind and rain, the weather finally cleared up. As the radiant sun rose from the east, all the werewolves cheered and howled at it together, filled with ecstatic joy even more intense than when facing a full moon. The damn hurricane had passed, and the damn lockdown was finally coming to an end.The Packhouse was located at the highest point in the center of the pack. The surrounding floodwaters receded quickly. In just one night, the water that had been thigh-deep now barely reached the ankles. Some of the werewolves living around the Packhouse began to pack their belongings, preparing to return home. Their houses were relatively intact, so naturally, they weren't on the relocation list. Most of us who lived farther from the center, including myself, continued to stay here, waiting for the floodwaters to subside and the roads to recover, so that we could be transported to Herman.Since our brief conversation last night, Norton had completely di
On the third day since the hurricane's arrival, a sense of weariness was gradually creeping in among everyone. Complaints were intermittently heard within the crowd, expressing their frustration with the seemingly idle days. By the fourth day, a small group of people began to experience friction, with some engaging in verbal spats and even minor physical conflicts. It had become a common occurrence. The fifth day was testing everyone's patience, food supplies were running low, and the powerful wind outside persisted, enveloping each person in an air of despair. Alpha Alis attempted to boost morale through a speech, but the impact was far from impressive. Despite his spirited demeanor, his face appeared more gaunt, his complexion slightly gray from hunger. This image was hardly reassuring to those who were struggling to find sustenance. By the sixth day, many had nearly exhausted their food, hungry cries of children echoing throughout the Packhouse. Even the usually optimistic group co
"Thank the Moon Goddess, you finally came," Aunt Mary anxiously awaited us at the back door. Her tone carried both concern and reproach. Seeing me all drenched, her eyes filled with compassion, "You're such a foolish child," she gently patted my hand and then she shot Hilda a death stare. Aunt Mary is always overprotective of me, and I really love her for that.Afterward, she exchanged words with the guards stationed at the back door and led us through the back door into the packhouse, not wanting to attract the attention of others. Climbing the spiral staircase to the second floor, we headed to Beta William's office first where both Beta and Uncle Marcus were waiting for us. As I walked in, I saw Beta William sitting on a black leather office chair, his expression serious. Uncle Marcus occupied the sofa, displaying an air of genuine worry."Hilda! Please tell me, what's wrong with your head? What exactly happened?" Beta William saw his sister with a bandaged head and quickly approach