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
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
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 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
"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