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
Hilda's disappearance only sparked brief discussions within the crowd. Soon enough, everyone completely forgot about the incident. As evening fell, the fierce wind destroyed the pack's power, and the sudden darkness caused many to let out terrified screams. The piercing cries frightened the young children, and their sobs echoed in waves, turning the packhouse into chaos. The on-duty soldiers switched to backup lights, and five minutes later, the five large generators kicked in. Finally, light returned to the packhouse, and the disorderly crowd regained order.Observing how fragile and insignificant werewolves were in the face of indifferent natural disasters, I couldn't help but feel a touch of sadness. Later in the evening, I wanted to find a quiet place to rest, away from the noise of the hall. As I headed towards the attic, I unexpectedly overheard a conversation between Alpha Alis and Beta William at the corner of the stairs on the third floor."I can't reach her anymore. I have t
Water was everywhere. All is a monotonous gray expanse. In the distance, the water took on an even darker hue, where Jason was struggling. The sea seemed like a black abyss, swallowing him whole. I swam towards him with all my might, but despite my efforts, I found myself going in circles. Watching him gradually sink, all I could do was cry, as if I were trying to release all my inner turmoil. An ear-piercing screaming jolted me awake from this dreadful dream. I sat up suddenly, tears still flowing down my face. After a while, I finally regained my senses. I wiped my tears away with my hand and looked at Hilda, who was standing by the bed, staring at me with an astonished expression. "Why on earth are you in my house?! What are you doing here? Why are you crying so much? Are you fucking crazy? And why in the world are we sleeping in the same bed?" Her arms were crossed, and she was yelling in a state of near hysteria. "Calm down! Stop yelling!" I interjected sharply. "How can I cal