003

My gaze suddenly locked on the moon, it was time.

The full moon had risen. The distant howls of wolves echoed through the air, vibrating in my ears. My eyes burned a bright red, and I felt my claws slowly extend from my fingers.

I turned toward the window, my only hope for escape, and debated whether to jump out and make a run for it.

I shredded my clothes as the transformation took over, and then I saw her; a large black wolf, my mom, standing beside me.

Without a word, we took off into the woods, racing through the trees, howling under the moonlight.

We played, we ran, and we savored every second, our last mother-daughter moment.

Eventually, we stopped at a smooth pebble stone, gazing out over the mountains. We didn’t speak.

We didn’t need to. We stood there, taking in the view, lost in our thoughts.

This was it. Our last night together. As the first hints of dawn crept in, we raced back home.

I darted into my room, jumped into a hot bath, and got dressed. My clock read 4:30 a.m.

I still had plenty of time. Miss Victoria had asked me to meet her by 5 a.m., though I wasn’t sure what it was about.

I glanced at my reflection, I was wearing a black leather jacket, black pants, and matching boots.

I looked like a soldier already. I laughed to myself. But as I reached the door, my mom stopped me.

“Where are you going, hun?” she asked, her voice tight with worry.

“Today is the day, I can’t afford to look for you.” I gave her a reassuring smile. “Nowhere, Mom. I’ll be back in a jiffy. Miss Victoria just wants to talk.” She narrowed her eyes at me.

“What did you do?” I swallowed hard, panic creeping in. “Nothing,” I said, shrugging. “Nothing?” she repeated sharply, glaring at me like she could see right through me.

I cracked. “It was Luci’s fault!” Her eyes widened, and she covered her mouth. “What the hell did you do to Luci?”

“Nothing! Just... grazed her face a little.”

“You did what?!” she gasped.

Yeah, she knew I had a temper. She’d always tried to help me manage it.

I rushed toward her and kissed her forehead. “Mom, I gotta go. I’m late.”

She stood there, stunned. “You can’t run forever!” she yelled after me.

I couldn’t help but laugh as I ran off. I arrived at Moonlight Defile School and pushed open the gate.

It creaked loudly, echoing in the still night. Crickets chirped. Owls hooted. The air was thick with the quiet of darkness.

I made my way to the faculty lounge and stopped in front of a large door that read The Clawsome Coach.

The hinges screeched as I pushed it open. I stepped inside, taking in the strange artwork on the walls.

Then my eyes caught something on the desk, half-hidden under a book. Curious, I walked over and picked it up. It was a compact, odd sculpture.

I couldn’t tell what it was, but something about it felt... strange.

Then I heard a door creak open behind me. Miss Victoria stepped out from her inner office and froze when she saw me holding the object.

She quickly crossed the room and snatched it from my hands, tossing it aside. “What are you doing here, Evelyn?” she asked, a hint of panic in her voice.

“You asked me to come,” I said, eyeing her closely. Her reaction didn’t sit right with me.

“Oh... did I?” She let out a nervous laugh and adjusted her glasses.

“You did,” I said, not breaking eye contact. “Oh! Right. About what happened with Luci.” She cleared her throat.

“Thank the gods she’s a werewolf. Our healing abilities saved her. What would’ve happened if she weren’t?”

I smirked. “You just said it yourself, she’s fine.” She sighed and pointed a finger at me.

“You, honestly…” Then her voice softened. “I heard you’ve been selected for the Blood Moon Boot Camp.” I bit my lip.

Pain stabbed at my chest. “Yes. I was selected.” She stepped closer, placing a firm hand on my shoulder.

“You’re strong, Evelyn. You’ll get through this. Maybe… maybe it’s what you were meant for.” I nodded slowly.

“Thanks. I’ll take it as my life’s task, because maybe it’s part of my fate.” She smiled gently and gave my shoulder a small pat.

I glanced at the clock. 5:45 a.m. Then my thoughts wandered back to the object.

“Miss Victoria… that thing you took from me, what was it?” She blinked.

Her smile didn’t reach her eyes. “Oh, just something bizarre my grandma gave me,” she said with a chuckle.

I chuckled too, but her eyes told a different story. I left the school and headed home.

When I got back, I saw my bags already packed by the door. “It’s time,” my mom whispered. Her eyes were swollen, she’d been crying.

We walked through the crowded pack market, surrounded by others heading to the Council grounds.

There were murmurs. Sniffling. Quiet sobs. I never imagined I’d be one of them. At sixteen, seventeen, I’d hide in the shadows just to catch a glimpse of those leaving for Blood Moon Boot Camp.

Hundreds went. Maybe five returned. Ten, if we were lucky. And now... I was one of them. The Council grounds were packed.

The Beta, Gamma, Delta, and Omega stood tall on the dais, waiting. Then, silence. The Alpha stepped forward. Broad. Muscular.

Powerful. His voice cut through the air; “I know this mission is deadly.

I know many of you are scared. But this tradition has lasted generations, it is not ours to change.

The Moon Gods choose our path. We follow.” The crowd clapped and cheered, but not all of us could celebrate.

The Alpha continued, reading from a scroll: “The Blood Moon Boot Camp will last one year. All Valtor werewolves must follow these rules: 1. No mating outside of your species. 2. No pregnancies from another species. Any violation will lead to elimination.”

The murmurs returned. People looked around in confusion and fear.

“This is your message. Prepare yourselves. Soldiers will lead you to the train.” He stepped down, and the crowd broke out in a chorus of wailing and whispered prayers.

My mom turned to me, tears flowing freely. She hugged me tight. “Please stay strong.

Stay alive. Don’t forget our bond, Evelyn. I’ll always be in your heart.” I clung to her.

“I love you, Mom. I won’t forget.” The crowd began to move. Soldiers led us out of the pack lands.

I glanced back one last time, my mother’s form slowly vanishing into the crowd.

We stopped in a desolate part of the forest, near an old train track.

The soldiers turned their backs and walked away.

Some wolves sat, tired and confused. Then I felt the ground vibrate.

“The train’s coming!” someone shouted. But it wasn’t slowing down. “Oh my moon... it’s not stopping!”

Panic spread through the group. “What do we do?!” I screamed.

“Jump onto it!” a voice shouted.

As the train roared closer, we ran,.hearts pounding, legs burning, and leapt inside.

We landed hard. The train was empty. No chairs. No comfort. Just metal and cold silence.

I winced as my head hit the floor. I tried to sit up, catching my breath... ...when someone tapped me from behind.