Chapter 3

“You seemed in deep thoughts, Elaine.”

            My eyes could’ve come out from my face. “How did you know my—”

            “Welcome to Stella’s Soul, Elaine.” Then he walked away, without even bothering to look back at me or answer my question.

            I followed him with my eyes. And, I just realized now, how Las-Vegas-looking this place is. I was expecting it to be a tribe with two older people roasting a wild pig under the canopy of trees and some almost-naked children eating dinner from banana leaves. 

            Instead, a gilded fountain stood before me. Huge rosarium surrounds it. Neon lights ala Los Angeles illuminate the night of the leap year.

            This place is secluded. But, it was more lavish than Moonburn—perhaps more expensive than Beverly Hills.

            A young woman who was dressed in navy blue and white helped me get out of the mud. “I’m sorry about Tyler. It’s his first time to get out beyond the wall and see a female mortal. Especially one as gorgeous as you are despite all the mud.”

            Her voice was kind and sisterly. She looked young and—

            “You’re pregnant?”

            “Yes. I’m married to Jason, Tyler’s older brother.”

            My brain seems to have more difficulty in processing things now. “So you’re Tyler’s sister-in-law?”

            “Yes. And I am the sacrifice from the last leap year, last February 29, 2016…”

            An ‘oh’ escaped from my mouth. “So what am I doing here then? Am I—”

            That freaking can’t be. I am not. I cannot. I will not. Even if the sun rises in the west and sets in the east.

            “You’re Tyler’s bride. The next full moon will be the Worm Moon and that will be the time which you and Tyler will be wed.”

            “Worm Moon? That’s a pretty odd name,” I said.

            The woman laughed. “Worm Moon is the name of the moon for March’s full moon. Each month has their names according to ancient traditions. January’s full moon is named as Wolf Moon which is the most sacred moon for werewolves and so forth.”

            “Werewolves?” My brain seems to leave my own skull and bathe in the same mud I was just soaked in.

            “Yes. Tyler and all the billionaires here. They are werewolves. And we, the ‘sacrificed’ women’s duty, are tasked to give them children as their fellow female werewolves can’t bear them a  child if the father is also a werewolf. It must be a werewolf and a mortal in order to conceive another werewolf.”

            A sigh just came out from me. Maybe because it’s the only thing my body could do after all the revelation I just found out, as well as the pain in my whole body that was still lingering in my bones. She mentioned the wedding. Not too bad to be married to a wealthy talking doggy at the age of eighteen anyway.

            “What’s your name?” I asked.

            “Well, I am—”

            “Melissa!” shouted a shirtless honey-haired man from behind. He’s handsome, at least. “It’s cold outside. It’s not good for a pregnant woman like you!”

            The man rushed to her and covered her with a warm, fluffy blanket. He glanced at me for a moment. “Didn’t Tyler escort you to his mansion?”

            “No, honey. It seems your younger brother was still acting like a child despite the fact that he now has a bride.”

            Jason clicked his tongue and whistled. An old woman, older than Melissa and I, came running towards us.

            “Yes, Mr. Jason?” the old woman uttered as she gave him a bow even when she was still catching her breath.

            “Escort the new one here to my brother’s mansion. And tell Tyler to quit being childish and be more manly!”

            “As you wish, Mr. Jason.”

            Jason and Melissa strode to their abode behind the red rose garden. 

The old woman took off her jacket and handed it to me. She said that Tyler’s mansion is two houses from Jason’s.

“Well, that’s going to be a few minutes of walking exercise,” I teased. Her face didn’t yield even a smile. She walked first, and then I trailed behind her. We had taken a few steps away from the gilded fountain when a light flashed before us.

            Tyler was now standing tall a few feet from us. The old woman’s head was still lowered, as if she already knew who and what to do when a light flashed before her, especially one that came from a shifter—a werewolf.

            “I’ll escort my bride, Rowena. You may rest now.”

            I watch the old woman, Rowena, vanish behind the trees. 

            “What are you staring at, mortal? Follow me.” Tyler spoke in a rough, thundering voice.

            Before I could step forward, he grabbed my arm. My face landed on his bare chest. He was pretty much taller than me. Too bad he’s now fully clothed. I prefer him wearing nothing at all.

            I jerked my head and my emerald eyes met the windows of his soul, whose color resembles the southern waters of this continent.

            And under the Snow Moon of February 29th, amidst the late night’s breeze, his lips crushed into mine—without any hesitation or reservation.

            I drowned—we drowned—in each other's arms and lips. His hand travelled into my back and lingered in there.

            So this is what they mean to be a sacrifice then. All I can do is to answer with fiery passion. 

            After all, I am Elaine Winona Rutherford, the eighteen-year-old mortal who was chosen to become a ‘sacrifice’ to the billionaire werewolf, Tyler.