CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT (WAXING CRESCENT)Chapter Thirty-Eight: Invitation“School?” Mallory asked, wondering if she heard right.“Yes,” Leofric answered while brushing away a branch from her face. He looked at her and smiled. “I thought that maybe you wanted to go to school. “I wondered if you also wanted to get into it.”“I can’t. I don’t have enough time.” Mallory said, remembering what he told her.“Why?” He frowned.She explained. “You said that everyone graduates the moment they’ll be having their Blessing Ceremony, and I’ll be having mine next week so…”She saw his eyes increase in size. Mallory embarrassedly asked. “I… I didn’t tell you?”“You didn’t!”“But you came to my birthday the other day…” “Oh, yes. But I still didn’t know.” he paused and thought how stupid he was before bursting out in laughter. “Well, now I do. I guess school is not an option. It doesn’t matter. You’re only interested in the library, anyway. I’ll grant you access to higher books in…
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE (WAXING CRESCENT)Chapter Thirty-Nine: Blessing CeremonyShe couldn’t find any clues. Not at all.However, she discovered a lot of things in a span of one week. And she also accidentally discovered the secret of the pack.One day, when she got so frustrated about her fruitless labor, Leofric noticed and offered her to enter the restricted library. She wasn’t polite and immediately agreed, but, just like the past few days, she couldn’t see anything. She can’t help but create a conclusion.‘Goddess’ Blessed… Am I the first case?’ Mallory can’t help but feel a forbidding feeling. If that’s the case, then she can’t have any guides to follow at all!The future is looking bleak, but she can’t give up.Mallory had to remember everything she and the other werewolves had to go through, and it immediately filled her determination. While reading, slowly, she realized something. She closed the book, and with a complicated look, she called Leofric. “Uhm,”Leofric raised his he
CHAPTER FORTY (WAXING CRESCENT)Chapter Forty: Ceremonial DanceThere are already a lot of werewolves in the square; unblessed and blessed alike. The unblessed were already near the fountain, circling it while chatting with each other. Mallory looked to her side where Oddny was, but she wasn’t there anymore.She looked for her, but couldn’t find even the hint of her shadow, so she decided to just let it be a concentrate on herself.Mallory looked closely at the fountain, especially at the statue.It was her second time seeing it, but the first time she saw it up close. The details of the statue were really marveling, and one can see how the artist dedicated his time and talent to making the Goddess statue and her jar.Mallory gulped. The anxiety not related to her identity slowly crept up to her. It was something she felt because, finally; it was her time.Since she had ravings blaring in her mind every full moon, she couldn’t see a ceremony. Not even once. Now, she had to experience
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE (WAXING CRESCENT)Chapter Forty-One: Fated MateThe hidden rune and ancient patterns on the square grounds lit up as well, engulfing the unblessed standing on top of them.Their parents, loved ones, relatives alike watched from the distance. Nervousness can’t help but hold their hearts suspended.They were afraid—what if a newly blessed werewolf lost control and went on a rampage? The elders and the Alpha were here to stop that from happening, but what if they’re not fast enough?Such dark thoughts made them close their eyes and bring their fists on their mouth and silently prayed to the Goddess, asking Her to look closely for them.Mallory’s random thoughts immediately wiped out of existence the moment the light surrounded her. She felt warm and light, and she could feel the surging power from within.She closed her eyes to nudge it. In the darkness, she could see gentle bulbs of light floating around in a vortex. They were like creating something straight; a line,
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO (WAXING CRESCENT)Chapter Forty-Two: RejectionEveryone felt this.They were all anxious about how the Blessing Ceremony would go when an unknown force made all the bystanders look at the two who were separated by the glowing fountain.Their hearts ceremoniously beat wildly, and without words, they knew—they felt what they were.The music stopped, and all the groanings stopped as well.The newly blessed werewolves—on their wolves’ forms—looked at Mallory and Leofric, and without any delay, all of them knelt on the ground, showing submission and respect.The Alpha of the pack looked at them, and an incomprehensible glint showed in his eyes before he covered them with his eyelids. No one noticed, all the population had their attention on the two. The Alpha exhaled, and after that, he said loudly, “The birth of the new Alpha and the Luna; bow down to your future rulers!”Everyone snapped in their dazed state, and then all of them kneeled on the ground with one knee. It
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE (WAXING CRESCENT)Chapter Forty-Three: The LunaMallory woke up in a foreign place. The ceiling was so high up, and the bed she was lying on was soft and smooth. It wasn’t her room. It was the exact opposite of her room.Without any second thoughts, she sat up, and when she did, the room around her spun. She anchored her body with both of her hands and waited for her state to stabilize before looking around again.“Where am I?” She stood up and walked around the spacious room. Her energy was spent, and she almost sat down again and again. No matter how she ransacks her brain, she can’t remember where this was. She had never been in a room this big before, what’s more, this elegant and grandiose. Her brows furrowed.Mallory’s head was still muddled, and she mindlessly strolled in the whole room until she came across a big mirror.She looked at the surface of the mirror, and there, her figure was reflected.In an unfamiliar dress, it was her with a slightly pale face
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR (WAXING CRESCENT)Chapter Forty-Four: Their Broken Bond?Alpha Ragnarr noticed her first. He was about to tell something to his son when his eyes landed on him. His mouth closed, and he stared. Leofric wanted to argue more with his father, but seeing his weird behavior, he followed his gaze and saw Mallory.The anger on his face was replaced with nothingness. And he looked at Mallory as if she was an air.Mallory’s heart felt like it was getting pulled into pieces. A servant signaled her with her eyes.She said, ‘Stand up.’Mallory forced herself to stand up, under the table where no one could see was her hands gripping so tightly on her dress to the point of tearing it. The servant once again told her, ‘Greet.’‘So that’s how is it,’ Mallory thought in her mind. ‘In the surface, they respect me, but no matter what, I am an outsider.’Mallory, not knowing the etiquette of the high class, stuttered. She tried her best not to look at the Leofric as she did. “G-good mo
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE (WAXING CRESCENT)Chapter Forty-Five: Mating CeremonySeeing that he’s in the verge of defeat, Leofric gritted his teeth, and once last glare to his father, he stormed out, stomping his way to the door. He didn’t look at her, not even once.Mallory kind of expected that already, but it doesn’t mean she won’t feel hurt from it.At the corner of her eyes, she followed him until he disappeared from the door. She thought that Alpha Ragnarr would stop him, but contrary to her expectation, he didn’t. Alpha Ragnarr didn’t even bother looking at his son, and continued eating with a serene face as if Leofric didn’t just walked out from him.Mallory soon felt the heaviness in the atmosphere the moment her tension from seeing Leofric disappeared. Seeing that Alpha Ragnarr was eating, Mallory couldn’t bring herself t
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