Valerie whimpers as she hears Nicole scream. She can hear her bones cracking and altering themselves to cater to the shape of her wolf spirit. Her heartbeat accelerates as she remembers the first time she shifted. She doesn’t want her to go through that kind of pain, but as werewolves, it cannot be prevented.
The only thing the first part of ritual can do is to calm the person’s emotions and mind about the shifting process but it does not do anything to the pain they’ll experience.
Nicole crouches down to the ground, her hands grabbing the soil for support. She pants and screams as another jolt of pain courses through her body. Tears well up in her eyes as she feels her bones rearranging themselves.
Valerie flinches at the sound yet again. She wants to close her eyes, but those who are present are concentrating their magical essence on Nicole
Blue and yellow hues surround my form as I stare at my reflection in the mirror. The blue is directly right above the yellow and both are glowing brightly. What is this exactly? Maybe I'm just imagining things? I furrow my eyebrows and rub my eyes before looking at both my arms. They're still there. Why won't they go away? Moreover, I completely blacked out after shifting earlier. The pain itself was unbearable and I was having trouble keeping up with the alterations it brought to my body. I knew shifting was a painful process but I didn't realize it to bethatagonizing. They could have at least told me its intensity. I sigh. They didn't even bother to take me back home. Does this mean everyone is in the packhouse? Wait. How did I even manage to shift back? Valerie told me I should be conscious during the whole thing so I can be able to shift back. But how am I human now? Did I somehow shift back
The entire classroom remains quiet. Not one student dared to utter a single word, not after the teacher's sudden announcement of an oral recitation during the third period in which everyone has to participate. If you're lucky enough, maybe you'll get one of the easy questions."I swear, Mrs. Dane is a sadist. She likes seeing us suffer," Jace grumbles while smacking his head on his desk over and over again. "Jeremiah, Kathleen, and Leandre are so lucky. Since they aren't around, they won't be minced and cooked by Mrs. Dane's questions."The students slowly leave the classroom to their next class. Luckily for the four of us, our next class is study period which means we do not need to leave here. There should be a lot of us here but they probably left to buy food somewhere. I can't blame them though. Maybe they didn't get to have breakfast yet.I sit up straight and glance at Leandre's empty seat. What could have happened that made him miss today's class? I hoped
"What? Leandre and his family are coming?!""Yep," Valerie casually answers, plopping the 'p.'She was busy picking a shade for the blush for my makeup. She said she wanted me to look my best because people are coming over for dinner and especially because it's my birthday. I didn't even realize that Leandre's family would come, too.When I got home earlier, Valerie hurriedly urged me to take a bath so that the two of us can get ready together. I had no idea what she was talking about and she scolded me saying I should be more aware of the things happening around me.How could I be aware when they didn't even tell me anything about a dinner party?"Since you're so unaware of things pack-related, I guess I should be the one to tell you. Tomorrow, there will be a garden party in front of the packhouse. You should know that because it's for you and your successful shifting process last midnight," Valerie gushes and smirks. "I'll make you the star of t
Why can't I sleep? I've been tossing and turning all night ever since I decided to go to sleep. I even lit a lavender-scented candle for 10 minutes to help me relax. I tried listening to soft music and even ASMR. I thought ASMRs would work. But seems like the spirit of drowsiness is not ready to bless me yet. None of the different sleep-inducing methods worked at all. Instead, when I close my eyes, the conversation with Luna Cassie replays in my head over and over again. She told me I looked like my mother. The image of my mother in my head is the one that I grew up with ever since I can remember—dirty blonde hair, beautiful green eyes, full pink lips, and freckled cheeks. How c
Why can't I sleep?I've been tossing and turning all night ever since I decided to go to sleep. I even lit a lavender-scented candle for 10 minutes to help me relax. I tried listening to soft music and even ASMR. I thought ASMRs would work. But seems like the spirit of drowsiness is not ready to bless me yet. None of the different sleep-inducing methods worked at all.Instead, when I close my eyes, the conversation with Luna Cassie replays in my head over and over again.She told me I looked like my mother.The image of my mother in my head is the one that I grew up with ever since I can remember—dirty blonde hair, beautiful green eyes, full pink lips, and freckled cheeks.How
"Do we really have to keep following him? It's the third time this week! Plus, it's a Friday. Can't we take a break for today?" Dylan complains while they follow the principal's assistant's silver sedan.Xavier, being the driver, ensures that there is at least a ten-meter distance between their cars. He wouldn't want Mr. Zyris to catch onto their plans of tailing him, though they have been doing that since Wednesday. He made sure that their car was running at the same speed as the one their following. At least, that's what Leandre requested of them as a scout and a hunter."Quit complaining. Hemightgo somewhere unexpected this time," he returns, not bothering to spare a glance at his friend.Something's not right. How can someone like him be so bland and plain? Most of the girls at school are crushing on him, even the teachers. How is it that he spends time doing something tedious?We've been following him after he le
"He must have caught onto us," Xavier curses before backing the car and stepping onto the accelerator once he is already on the same side of the road as Zyris."Calm down, genius! We might end up crashing!" Dylan panics as he sees a gang of big buff men driving gigantic motorcycles right through the side mirror.Xavier speeds up when he sees their target's vehicle is far ahead of them. "Don't worry, once we're close enough, they can overtake us. We cannot lose sight of our target, not when he's finally doing something out of his usual routines."True to his words, once they are a good enough distance to tail the vehicle, some motor-bikers overtake their car. Xavier has been thinking for a while that Mr. Zyris has probably sensed there were people following him closely. Doing something ordinary, such as letting other vehicles go before them, will help them be steered clear of suspicions in his head. Even though it might not
"Let me get this straight... you followed him into a club?" Leandre asks, clarifying the report of the two men in front of him. It is eight in the morning on a Saturday. Leandre has just finished his daily workout routine when his two friends specifically requested to meet him. Turns out, the two had quite the fun adventure last night with the report they immediately conveyed. Still, Leandre is already grateful that the two even accepted his orders despite it being a dangerous task. "No, we tried to follow him inside," Dylan quickly replies. "Yeah. But this idiot got compelled and decided it was the best course of action to kill me." Xavier glares and Dylan before sighing. Leandre remains quiet as he scans the document provided by the two. It is only natural for them to write a narrative report of what happened with the investigation. 'Compulsion, huh... so we are dealing with vampires. They've
"Guys, can we rest up a bit? I'm having trouble sustaining this." I point to the floating man behind me. The more I try maintaining my concentration in making this man levitate, the more it drains my energy. "What was his name again? Randall?They stop walking and face me. The three of us have been walking around this endless forest for a while now but we still haven't found a road or anything that is familiar to us. I'm not sure what to think anymore. I could not communicate with my wolf yet again and even though Valerie and Sandy drank that healing elixir, they still were unable to communicate through the pack link.Once more, we are all in very bad shape, we haven't showered in days and we all look like we've been struck by lightning with how dirty our clothes were."
I grit my teeth as the man crouches in front of my cell, observing the very sorry sight of me. His face closes in on the cell bars, eyeing me up and down, sneering. A dark colored three-clawed scar is on his cheek, nearing his left eye. His entire aura is a darkened blue—which could mean anything negative. I stare at him angrily, not wanting his disgusting face near me. The man sniggers before standing up and examining Sandy and Valerie's weakened state."This is quite an interesting sight. Three Alpha's daughters caught in a bind... Helpless... Powerless. Oh if you all could see the look on your faces." The man laughs mockingly. He grabs a wooden chair, places it in the middle of the room, and sits down leaning forward. "Now, are you going to tell me which one of you is Alpha Rickart's daughter?"I look at him blankly,
In a small room dimly lit by torches sits an impatient man with a cold expression. His brown eyes stare coldly at the circle with symbols drawn in chalk in the middle of the room. He successfully drew the enchantment earlier and now he's getting more agitated the more time it takes for the spell to be activated.Six guards—four werewolves and two vampires— stand at attention behind him, waiting for the moment the target is expected to arrive. The two vampires both have a brooch with a ruby emblem on her collar."Is there no news from the mole yet?" The witch asks impatiently, tapping his index finger on the suitcase he brought."None yet, Gee," one of the werewolves responds."Are you sure you are the best witch for this job?" a vampire interrogates, her eyes throwing daggers at the witch's fretful state. "Won't it be more advisable if you double-check your spell?"Gee narrows his eyes at the vampire with his teeth gritted. "I've used t
"What do you mean they were kidnapped?!?" Leila shrieks as she drives into Lyra Town. She has been sent by the coven as theTemplerepresentative in Zinnia's stead. Zinnia had just informed her of the tragedy that occurred during the Alpha's little sister's initiation ceremony.This is bad. I haven't told Aunt Zinnia about the 'Stone of Life' Nicole possessed. Only Alpha Summers and I knew about it though. Is it possible the information I revealed accidentally got leaked? Or maybe I'm reading too much into things?"I said what I said, Leila. Please hasten your driving. One of their scouts is waiting for you at theLyra Townsignage. I expected you to arrive there an hour earlier. What happened?" Zinnia grumbles but nevertheless curious.Leila's face flushes as she recalls her taking a wrong turn earlier. "Yeah... I got lost. This is why I kept telling you to leave a teleportation crystal at the Blood Moon's territor
“Are all these really necessary?” I ask as Valerie paints the pack symbol on my left shoulder. I have already worn the white ceremonial dress on me and the brown gladiator sandals that had to be tied up to my knees. The dress was only one-shouldered and exposed my left shoulder, hence, why Valerie is painting the symbol there. Both Valerie and Sandy are also wearing white halter neck dresses. Valerie also had the pack symbol on her shoulder whereas Sandy did not. “You'll be fine,” Valerie coos. The dress I'm wearing right now is also what I wore when I was initiated into the pack. We'll know you are fully accepted into the pack once the dance is over.” “Is there an indicator that confirms that?” “The paint I'm using on your shoulder will glow.” Valerie finishes painting on my shoulder and places the bowl with the red paint on the vanity and heads to the comfort room. We can hear a faint sound of the water running. I look up at Sandy who has ha
The Dark Crescent warriors came to our territory, much sooner than we anticipated. Father noticed their presence from a mile away, and he had planned to buy enough time for the rest of us to escape. Some of the men left to lead the women and children out of the house through the back while the warriors’ presence had yet to close in on us. Some of us stayed behind to accompany Father, relentless to leaving any member of our family behind. All hell broke loose once father opened the door. I could feel all of our morale shatter at the sight of our family members being held hostage. Some were held down by the warriors in wolf form. The others had knives pressed on their throats. Father’s negative emotions swirled around the place and influenced us all. I never got a good look at the leader of the warriors. He wore a mask over his face. However, I could deliberately remember how vile and cruel his voice sounded. “I was expecting you to gladly join
"Let me get this straight... you followed him into a club?" Leandre asks, clarifying the report of the two men in front of him. It is eight in the morning on a Saturday. Leandre has just finished his daily workout routine when his two friends specifically requested to meet him. Turns out, the two had quite the fun adventure last night with the report they immediately conveyed. Still, Leandre is already grateful that the two even accepted his orders despite it being a dangerous task. "No, we tried to follow him inside," Dylan quickly replies. "Yeah. But this idiot got compelled and decided it was the best course of action to kill me." Xavier glares and Dylan before sighing. Leandre remains quiet as he scans the document provided by the two. It is only natural for them to write a narrative report of what happened with the investigation. 'Compulsion, huh... so we are dealing with vampires. They've
"He must have caught onto us," Xavier curses before backing the car and stepping onto the accelerator once he is already on the same side of the road as Zyris."Calm down, genius! We might end up crashing!" Dylan panics as he sees a gang of big buff men driving gigantic motorcycles right through the side mirror.Xavier speeds up when he sees their target's vehicle is far ahead of them. "Don't worry, once we're close enough, they can overtake us. We cannot lose sight of our target, not when he's finally doing something out of his usual routines."True to his words, once they are a good enough distance to tail the vehicle, some motor-bikers overtake their car. Xavier has been thinking for a while that Mr. Zyris has probably sensed there were people following him closely. Doing something ordinary, such as letting other vehicles go before them, will help them be steered clear of suspicions in his head. Even though it might not
"Do we really have to keep following him? It's the third time this week! Plus, it's a Friday. Can't we take a break for today?" Dylan complains while they follow the principal's assistant's silver sedan.Xavier, being the driver, ensures that there is at least a ten-meter distance between their cars. He wouldn't want Mr. Zyris to catch onto their plans of tailing him, though they have been doing that since Wednesday. He made sure that their car was running at the same speed as the one their following. At least, that's what Leandre requested of them as a scout and a hunter."Quit complaining. Hemightgo somewhere unexpected this time," he returns, not bothering to spare a glance at his friend.Something's not right. How can someone like him be so bland and plain? Most of the girls at school are crushing on him, even the teachers. How is it that he spends time doing something tedious?We've been following him after he le