CHAPTER FORTY-SIX (WAXING CRESCENT)
Chapter Forty-Six: Vampire Traces
The news feels like a rushing tidal wave. It almost swept her rationality as she stared at the alpha in shock. Her brain refuses to process the information, as—
It was too soon!
And, are they really going to do it?
As that question enters her mind, she remembered the loathing glare she received from him. It brought shivers to her spine, and her heart unconsciously rejected the idea of the mating ceremony. She doesn’t want him to hate her even more.
“Did he… Agreed to it?” Mallory asked, despite knowing the answer very well.
Alpha Ragnarr simply smiled and changed the topic. “While preparing for it, you will be taught things to manage the pack. As part of your duty as he future luna.”
As she listened more, she
FIRST QUARTER Chapter Forty-Seven: Discoveries A lone moon hangs up in the dark, cloudless sky. The moon shone brightly, yet its light couldn't touch what was inside the thick forest. In that darkness, figures zoomed in at the speed of sound. Despite their fast movements, they merely stirred the air and rustled the leaves, but they left no unnecessary noise behind. Then they stopped. A silhouette blurred in the shadows before manifesting into a solid, human-like figure. However, unlike humans, the figure had long, sharp canines, and red eyes that were glowing against the darkness. The vampire kneeled on the ground, his head lowered and with a respectful yet scared voice, he said, "Madam Mabel, there are no packs in this area. I recommend moving a bit further." In front of the kneeling vampire was a woman with a tall build and voluptuous body, with her long hair tied up. A playful smile danced on her lips as she gazed down at the other vampire with a condescending look in her sim
FIRST QUARTERChapter Forty-Eight: Desire“Well, I, uh,” for the first time in a while, Mallory found herself lost for words. She blanked and panicked, wondering where Oddny took that question.What does she mean by that?Mallory sincerely thought that she was joking, however, the genuine questioning in her eyes and the blatant discomfort she was throwing her way says otherwise.She gulped and forced herself to say, “Visiting…”Oddny raised a brow. “Visiting, huh? And why do you have these…” She looked at her guards before snorting. “Oh, forgive me, Luna.”Mallory felt her heart drop when she saw Oddny bowing at her. She reached out a hand to stop her from the gesture, but Oddny calmly backed away. Pain etched on Mallory’s face, and she looked at her. Why?Oddny had no emotions left on her face. She looked at her with a sense of detachment and aloofness, as if she didn’t know her. “I am sorry if I sounded and acted so rude. I could not prepare myself for the visit of the Luna, and I a
FIRST QUARTERChapter Forty-Nine: Confirmation“I don’t have all the time in the world to wait for you, Mallory,” Oddny said impatiently. “If you could please tell me what you want and get over it. I need to work, to earn, to live.”“… Sorry for bringing trouble to you like that,” Mallory kept her hands on her back, not wanting to agitate the younger one if she accidentally touched her. “I wanted to see if you’re fine.”She gave her a look of ridicule. Oddny doesn’t believe her. She scoffed and pulled her lips into a fake grin. Spreading her arms wide, Oddny said. “Look, I’m fine and well! Now, are you satisfied? Can I go now? Can you go now?”And can we go into our separate paths now?Mallory didn’t hear that, but she knew Oddny thought of it in the bottom of her heart.She wants to cut her off from her life completely.Mallory wouldn’t allow that.“Come on,” she said hoarsely. A smile full of pain surfaced on her lips. “Don’t tell me I’m losing you too…”Oddny turned livid.She laug
FIRST QUARTERChapter Fifty: New Abilities Unlock “… I see,” Mallory said with not much thought.The head servant observed her and nodded in her head. It seems like the Luna is as eager as the Alpha’s son to break the bond. If that’s the case, it would be troublesome if they know how to cut it off.The bond-breaking ceremony is an absolutely forbidden knowledge. Few werewolves know about it, and those who did had binding spells to not tell a soul about it, lest chaos would ensue if they forcefully break what the Goddess bestowed them.Books about it were burned to ashes, and there’s almost no record of it. Generally, it’s passed down by reigning Alpha mouth by mouth generations after generations.Thinking about the reason why they went out in the first place, the head servant diverted the topic. “Luna, are we still going?”The servants next to them, having no knowledge and not thinking as deeply as the head servant, thought that the Luna would refuse and
FIRST QUARTERChapter Fifty-One: AcceptanceThe night was cold and chilly, heavy rain poured down like there was no tomorrow. Everyone retreated into their homes, lighting up their fireplace to expel the cold. As it was already evening, everyone gathered at their tables, with piping hot soup in bowls and freshly cooked rice. Digging up the food, they had their meal.However, deep inside the Alpha mansion, Leofric walks down a dark corridor with a few servants and guards following his trail. Disregarding the coldness and dampness of the air, the aura surrounding the new Alpha was sinisterly icy, as if anyone would freeze the moment they touched it.Silence hung in the air until they turned into a corner and saw a massive wooden door reinforced with metal. In front of these wooden doors were guards standing alertly, their eyes glowing against the darkness of the corridors, and their ears were perked to listen to any unwanted sounds.The moment they saw Leofric, they didn’t lower their v
FIRST QUARTERChapter Fifty-Two: Morning Meetings; The Council.Daily meetings are held in the Throne Room as soon as the sun rises. When the clock strikes 8 in the morning, the tall, heavy doors of the Throne Room close, putting the meeting inside in a bubble of privacy.Inside were the few trusted guards standing next to a wall, and the Council who gathered in the center of the room, keeping their thoughts to themselves. Their appearances were mid-30s, but their eyes, seasoned with time, say otherwise. These people definitely had not only lived for that meager 30 years. They’re old, some are even older than the reigning Alpha.The Council; the only people who can question the Alpha’s words. They help the reigning Alpha decide over things that need thorough thought, and help the Alpha deal with irrelevant things for him. They are one of the pillars of the Pack, and also one of the reasons why the pack still exists.The council was unusual today. If it were any other days, before Alph
FIRST QUARTERChapter Fifty-Three: Setting OffThe meeting ended up with a sour air.In the end, the plea for the ceremony to begin was denied, and when they questioned the Alpha about it, he simply said,“Both of them agreed to not participate in the ceremony just yet. It would do more harm than good if we force the two.” Alpha Ragnarr stood up. “Not agreeing now doesn’t mean they won’t do it in the future. Leofric is still the future of the pack, and Mallory is the fated mate of the future ruler of the pack. Both of them are bound by fate."Alpha Ragnarr looked at them, but at the same time, it seemed like he was looking at another dimension. His eyes were straight but scattered.“No one escapes their fate.”No one was able to insert a word after that.Mallory noticed a sudden change in the atmosphere after he said that. She observed them and thought,It was
FIRST QUARTERChapter Fifty-Four: Hazen“Do you think I can see Hazen?” Mallory asked when Alpha Ragnarr sat in his seat.Alpha Ragnarr looked at her, then at the breakfast on the table, and couldn’t help himself. He laughed.Mallory frowned, “what?”“Oh, I apologize,” he said, stopping his fit of laughter. “You see, I just came back from the morning meetings and can’t wait to eat my food. I did not expect to get greeted by a sudden request.”"Oh," Her face heated up. Mallory suddenly felt guilty and ashamed. She apologized with a small voice, but still pressed on for answers anyway, lest the alpha would forget about it.“… Well, yes.” The alpha seems to be in a thought. “I guess you can?”“Huh?” Mallory blinked her eyes in confusion. What does he mean, he guess?Before she could ask what he meant by that, he hurried her to eat, and before she knew it, she was being guided somewhere.Mallory thought she would be guided underground, where the prison lies, but to her confusion, the guar
First QuarterChapter Ninety-Five: RevelationAn urgent meeting was held in the throne room.The elders were present, as well as the two Alphas. Their faces were grim and dark, yet it everyone noticed how pale Leofric was.“How did they know about this place?” Without waiting for anyone to talk, an elder immediately raised his doubts. “How did they break through the barrier?”Another elder mirrored his doubt. “Did they discover it by chance? Or…”He didn’t continue talking, so elder Ester said instead. “Or someone told them.”Her words were like blizzards, freezing the bloods of everyone in the room. They looked at each other suspiciously, their eyes glaring with warning.With the tension in the air so high, the servants and guards held their breaths, wanting to remain invisible all through out the meeting.Alpha Ragnarr sighed. This took their attention, and the tension eased a bit.“Let’s not set ourselves up.” Alpha Ragnarr stood up. He walked down the stairs and stopped just a cou
First QuarterChapter Ninety-Four: FireMinutes before the disappearance of the barrier…Mallory ran like her life depended on it. She never looked back, and before she knew it, the house she used to live in appeared in her eyes. She stopped moving and looked at it when she detected movement inside.Immediately, she frowned. She looked to the west and saw the moon hanging in the sky. It descended slowly, but the morning will surely come.“Is she awake?” Mallory asked herself. After thinking for a while, that was the only plausible explanation she could think of. She looked at the door and finally made up her mind to knock.Knock, knock.The movement inside the house paused, and then after that, she could see a silhouette walking to the door.Then, the door opened.Mallory met Oddny’s surprised eyes. Then, her surprise was immediately hidden. She looked at her up and down, and Mallory couldn’t hide the bags on her side. Just at first glance, one could tell that she had packed up to lea
First QuarterChapter Ninety-Three: Broken Barrier[Mallory!][Wake up!][Pst!]The blessed souls who she talked to earlier to wake her up before the sun rose yelled loudly in her ears. Their voices successfully woke her up.Mallory forced herself to get up. She could feel her body throbbing painfully. She did no strenuous activity, yet she felt like she exercised for a long time before sleeping. But there’s no way one could exercise their heart.Out of everything on her, her heart felt the most painful.Mallory decided to ignore that and forced herself to not think of a certain person.“What time is it?” Mallory asked, her voice slightly hoarse.[Two hours before sunrise.][Quickly, hurry!]Hearing that, Mallory dragged her body out of her bed. She looked below and saw the bag she packed. Mallory took it and then changed into more comfortable clothes. She slipped in h
First Quarter Chapter Ninety-Two: Broken “The Luna?” A glint flashed in his eyes before it settled down. “Why?” Leofric pursed his lips. Why? Why indeed? A small smile unconsciously surfaced on his lips. “… She finally let me see her.” He could feel his eyes on him, but Leofric didn’t withdraw his smile. After staring for a while, Alpha Leofric nodded his head. “Very well. Then, I will find someone for you.” Delight crossed his eyes, before bowing his head. “Thank you very much.” “It’s nothing.” Alpha Ragnarr laughed. “Then go. I’m sure you have a lot to prepare.” - Two hours before the ceremony starts. The moon was slowly rising in the sky. The sky itself was dark, and if not for the stars loitered on it, one would think they were staring at an endless void. The pack was lively. No one rested, as they went back and forth in preparation for the ceremony. Far from the lively celebration, Mallory walked through the dense forest. Her mind kept the direction in her mind, and
First Quarter Chapter 91: Full Moon “—It’s necessary!” The first voice was Harper’s. As usual, her voice was calm and collected, the exact opposite of her twin. “I don’t understand!” Even though their voices were deliberately suppressed, Mallory still heard it thanks to her enhanced hearing. “Why must I hide while you—” Mallory then entered their sensing range. They collectively looked at her, one shocked while the other had unfathomable eyes. Look is not the right word. Containing her shock, Mallory stared intently at Hazen. Her eyes were covered with a blindfold. She only knew that Hazen had turned to her in shock as her mouth gaped open. ‘This might be her punishment before getting freed.’ Mallory concluded; her heart can’t help but feel pity. ‘To not be able to see until says so.’ Her eyes are okay under that blindfold, but she can’t take it off until she controls her blessings. It was a great countermeasure. Her blessing is destructive, after all. She looked at the twins
First Quarter: Chapter Ninety: She's Back Somewhere in the middle of the forest. Night had come, and the moon was hanging high in the sky. Thick clouds glided smoothly into the sky, and the cold wind slowly pushed it forward. Inside a cave, Oddny was kneeling on the stony ground, the pebbles digging into her flesh. “Hmm, did you figure out where they put them?” General Mabel looked at her and a small grin couldn’t be suppressed from her face. “No,” Oddny answered curtly. Disappointment dawned on the general’s face. She sighed, and the sigh echoed throughout the cave. This caused the other vampires to shake on their knees. Even if they were not the subject of her disappointment, their hair still couldn’t help but stand up. “It’s been days.” She said, her eyes looking all over her body, and stopping on her neck. Oddny bowed her head even more. “… I apologize, I find them soon.” General Mabel swatted her hand, placing a palm over her forehead. “No matter. I am in no hurry. Go
First QuarterChapter Eighty-Nine: Mysteriously DisappearingA knock interrupted their conversation. Both turned their heads and looked at the wooden door. It creaked open, and a head peeked out of it. “Is physician Manon here?”“Here!” Manon stood up. “What is it?”The door opened wide, and a man and a boy entered. The boy was clutching his hand, his face showing complicated emotions.“What happened?” Manon asked, then took the boy’s hand. “You broke your hand?”“Yes, he was playing with the others earlier, but he had a bad fall.” The older man, who looked like the boy’s brother, explained. He then sighed. “I don’t know what to do with this kid. He has been causing trouble these past few days.”Manon chuckled. “It’s normal. Sit down—ah!”Manon looked at Mallory and spoke. “It seems l
First QuarterChapter Eight-Eight: Physician Manon “I—”“Hush it, I’m not listening.” True to her stubborn nature, she swatted her away like a fly. Then she took a medicine leaf out of her box and applied it on the arm. Then she covered it with the cloth. “If I see you injured again, I will lock you up in the basement. Try me.”“Okay, I’ll try my best to be careful.” Mallory lied smoothly.But she’s no match for a person who had lived for a hundred years earlier than her. Elder Ester gave her a look and shook her head. “Look, I know that you are eager to develop your capabilities more, but you have to take care of yourself not to get overboard… You might not like the outcome if you do.”“…” Mallory was touched, but that’s the whole reason she wants to develop further.Vampires.She knew that they had been very aggressive in the past few days. And that only fueled her desire to learn and develop even more. The treatment continued, and then Mallory asked a question she’d been itching
First QuarterChapter Eight-Seven: Elder EsterA few days later…“In this month, we already had four casualties. We made the guards stop patrolling individually outside the border and tightened the security inside the barrier.” A man clad in his guard uniform reported with a grim face. “After that, no deaths have been reported.”“Damn it, they’re playing with us for sure!” An elder couldn’t help but slam his hand on the table, breaking it. It wasn’t just him who displayed their anger. The other elders couldn’t hide their emotions as well.“They’ve killed a lot already,” one said weakly. “But we haven’t seen even one vampire at all.”"They’re looking for our pack,” someone said with confidence. “And they somehow knew that it’s near here.”“But we don’t have to worry about them discovering it.” Another one chimed in, looking at the person sitting on the throne. “The Alpha’s blessing will protect us all.”In their heart, they collectively agreed. Hundreds of years had passed, and the Al