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
"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
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
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