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
Once all the supplies had been distributed, Alpha Alis granted us the freedom to move around. "A friendly reminder: please ensure your phones and computers have sufficient battery life. The hurricane will likely cause power outages. Although we have backup generators, they may not provide enough electricity for all 537 of us simultaneously," he warned, before departing the hall. Beta William and Uncle Marcus were left to maintain order among us.The crowd, initially subdued, gradually grew more animated. Laughter and chatter filled the air as people attempted to while away the time. Someone took out some bottles of alcohol from their bags and engaged in friendly rounds of games; a group gathered to play cards; mates and friends danced in the two-meter-wide corridor, and the rest cheered them on. Amidst this festive atmosphere, Susie pulled out a thick copy of "Moby Dick" to read. Meanwhile, I retrieved a needle and thread from my pocket, continuing to sew baby clothes for my unborn ch
"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