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
After Norton left, my life gradually returned to its usual pace. At first, his name would come up frequently, and whenever I encountered people from the pack, they would jokingly call me as "Norton's headache." I didn't give any response they expected to this joke, and over time, no one mentioned it again. There were a few occasions when Norton was invited to the pack house by Alpha Alis, during which I would lock myself in my room, fearing the chance encounter. Besides those instances, he vanished entirely from my life. Eventually, Rose came to accept this reality, and she no longer opposed my decision not to seek another mate.In my daily life, Aunt Mary and Uncle Marcus took meticulous care of me. Aunt Mary prepared sumptuous dinners for me every day, and Uncle Marcus drove to Herman once a week to purchase everything I needed. To help me integrate into the community, they hosted several parties, introducing me to new friends. With their assistance, I became close friends with Alph
The Slice of Life café had been a cherished establishment in the pack for over 60 years, passed down through three generations of dedicated owners. Three years ago, Mrs. Wilson took over full management after her mother's retirement. The café resided in a two-story brown wooden house, the property of Mrs. Wilson's maternal family. The ground floor housed the bustling café area and food preparation section, while the second floor served as the living quarters for the Wilson family.Although the café's location between the Packhouse and the training grounds made it a convenient stop, the younger members of the pack seldom frequented the place. Instead, they preferred to drive 20 miles away to Herman's café, a more modern and trendy spot. When asked why they shunned Slice of Life, they often cited its old-fashioned décor and offerings."It's like a place only traditional Brits would visit," someone once remarked.Mrs. Wilson was well aware of this issue and had long desired to renovate t
The next morning at 8 o'clock, I set off from home to the café feeling disoriented and yawning continuously. I had worked through the entire night to finish the hand-drawn menus we needed. As I approached the café's entrance, Mr. Wilson and Abel were busy installing the new sign just delivered by the lumberyard owner."Hey! Good morning, Zoe!" Abel, standing on the ladder, turned to give me a bright smile. He was such a warm and genuine friend, and I was glad to have him by my side."Good morning, Abel. Good morning, Mr. Wilson," I greeted them with a smile and entered the shop after opening the door.Inside the kitchen, Mrs. Wilson was experimenting with new recipes. The countertop was piled with bananas, apples, mangoes, pineapples, and various other fruits. Some spilled milk had made a mess. I grabbed a cloth from the wall and wiped the counter clean. The ice bucket was almost empty, so I picked it up and filled it with a few scoops of ice from the ice maker."Good morning, Mrs. Wi
Susie and Abel ran into the woods, and it wasn't until the next morning that they strolled back to the café, hand in hand. Susie looked refreshed, with a healthy glow on her face. Her eyes were bright and her lips had that natural rosy tint, resembling petals. She seemed like a different person now, more vibrant and alluring than before. Today, she wore a light green blouse with all the buttons done up, hugging her neck. Through the gaps, you could just catch sight of the deep, faintly reddened bite mark on her neck, emitting a subtle glow—the magical mark of a werewolf mate. Abel’s transformation was equally striking. The friendly, approachable big-brother vibe he used to give off was gone, replaced by a mature, composed, more forceful presence. You could feel their contentment and happiness, just by looking at them together."Hey, Zoe! Good morning. We're here to lend a hand," Susie's voice was sweet and cheerful, her face beaming with affection. After exchanging a few words with me
Susie and Abel were inseparable, spending their days together like glue. The day Susie was supposed to retrieve her belongings kept getting postponed. Initially, she claimed she would return to the Red Moon Pack in a week to collect all her personal items. Later, that extended to within a month. Eventually, we decided that Grace would bring Susie's things along when she came to visit. Aunt Mary and Uncle Marcus, as agreed, funded the construction of a large house next door for Abel and Susie, meant to be their marital home. Workers from Herman arrived with trucks loaded with bricks, cement, and wood to the Nightwalker Pack. Abel, Uncle Marcus, and the young adults of the pack chipped in during their free time. The house was expected to be completed within three months.When the house was about a third built, Susie was confirmed to be pregnant. Around the same time, my belly started to swell, and even loose clothing couldn't fully conceal it. Gradually, Susie began to suspect something
On September 20th, Susie and Abel's house had just been completed, three days later, the radio broadcasted unwelcome news. On the 28th, a violent hurricane was set to make landfall from the southwest at Cayo Costa. On the afternoon of the 27th, all members of the pack received an order from Alpha Alis:"The hurricane is approaching. Tonight, all members of the Nightwalkers Pack are to gather at the Pack House. During the duration of the major storm, everyone must stay within the Pack House and not venture out. Any disobedience will be dealt with severely!"After receiving Alpha Alis's order, Aunt Mary and I covered all the furniture and items in the house with the waterproof cloth. Valuable clothes, jewelry, and such were packed into suitcases, sealed in waterproof bags, and placed in the basement. The windows on the southwest side of the house were closed and reinforced with wooden boards. With our protective measures in place, Aunt Mary and I each carried a suitcase containing essen