CHAPTER 1 - The Curse

I

Eighteen Years ago …

At the heart of Mount Reveree; Cressia, the Cold Mountain Pack’s Luna, cried in despair. Her Alpha has been dead and no one from among their pack could bring him back to life. Not even their pack Doctor. His life has been taken by Thutaara, the most feared witch of Mount Reveree. As she cried more, an excruciating pain crept through her bulging tummy; she shouted in pain, and a few minutes more, the daughter of the Cold Mountain Pack’s Alpha and Luna has been born!

As Luna Cressia lay down beside the body of her dead husband Alpha, her newborn daughter cried out loud. The Luna smiled with tears in her eyes as she tried to reach for her newborn daughter and embrace her into her bosom. She let her felt the warmth of her motherly embrace that would protect her from harm in the future, despite her absence. With a shaking hand, she caressed her head and hum softly a chant that would envelop her soul and link her into her own soul.

From the clouds, the deafening voice of Thutaara cursing the newborn daughter of their Alpha and Luna filled the ears of all wolves from the Cold Mountain Pack. 

“Your father rejected me despite all the love I showered him; you, their only heir will suffer my final curse to your pack. You will be thrown to a far-away land where wolves are considered deadly animals and after the day of your adulthood, you will shift every midnight into your most dreadful wolf form that the wolves’ world and even the human’s world will ever see! Let my curse be done to you!”

With tears, the Luna held her daughter beside her and whispered weakly, almost chasing for her last breath, “A love that is pure will shelter you from harm and will bring you to your true self. May the spirits of your Alpha father and your Luna mother shield and guide you wherever you may be.” After once more caressing her newborn daughter, Luna Cressia then, took her last long breath.

With that, the laughter of Thutaara boomed like thunder, shaking the land of the Cold Mountain Pack. Every wolf growls with sadness as they saw the two lying dead bodies of their Alpha and Luna. They believed this day as their most dreadful day.

When Thutaara made her final curse, the wolves hurled more and called on their Moon Goddess, who they believe has left them not cared for and unprotected from the wrath of the most feared witch.

When the clouds disappeared, so was the newborn daughter of the Alpha and Luna of the Cold Mountain Pack, which brought total gloom to all wolves who revered their Alpha and Luna so much. 

The wolves all growled loudly to release their sorrows and pains. Today, became their doomsday.

In a forest, somewhere in the human world, a beautiful baby girl, cried so loudly disturbing the peace of all living creatures therein.

Two pairs of ears heard such cries.

II

At present …

Grazziena was browsing her F******k Account when she saw the ads by the Albaya Provincial Government, encouraging young women from ages eighteen years old to twenty-four years old to join the beauty contest. She was not actually interested but what caught her sight was the last prize mentioned in the ads; a Scholarship grant for the grand winner.

“Papang, you think I am beautiful enough to be qualified in this contest?” she asked her father who was then preparing for his materials in making pots and pans made of clay. This is his father’s business. She called him Papang because that is the usual endearment of children to their father in their place and Mamang for mothers.

Her father looked at her then smiled. “Your beauty is more than qualified, my child. Go and join if you really wanted to. I and your mother will support you.” 

Without wasting any minute, Grazziena ran inside their medium-size house, made of nipa and bamboo. Her mother is in her favorite corner with her old sewing machine, finishing some curtains ordered by their neighbors. 

“Mamang, I hope like Papang, you will allow me also to join this beauty contest.” She said merrily.

Quickly her mother turned her back to look at her. The surprise was evident on her face. “Really Ga, you want to join a beauty contest? Knowing you since your childhood I can’t believe that you would even think about it. So, of course, I will agree for you to join so that you will overcome your shyness.” Her mother seemed to be happy with her decision.

“But Mamang, I am thinking about the costs of the clothing that I need to wear during the pageant.” Suddenly, she became sad.

Her mother made a soft laugh. “Didn’t you remember that your mother is a dressmaker? Besides, I have some kept old gowns and dresses in the cabinet. If those will fit you, I will just repair them to make them more modern.”

She almost jumped in joy. “Whoaahh, problem solved Mamang! How lucky I am to have such a wonderful Papang and Mamang like you,” she said teary-eyed while hugging her mother, who just patted her shoulder and laughed.

III

If she thought it would be easy to be a finalist in the contest; she would be wrong. Hundreds of applicants lined up at the Provincial Gymnasium where the assigned team for the project and their Program Planner and coordinators held their interview and selection process.

If an applicant has been chosen as a finalist, she will be handed a form to fill up by one of the coordinators otherwise the contestant will be going out of the gymnasium either teary-eyed, frustrated or angry.

Based on what she observed, only a few received the form to be filled up and mostly end up walking out of the gymnasium with sadness or frustrations on their faces.

Two more applicants and it will be her turn. Her nervousness is already overwhelming her. She tried to calm herself. She remembered what her mother told her; count one to ten and breathe and also she told her to put her lucky coin in her right shoes, which she did. 

It was her turn and she was called by the head coordinator. She walked gracefully which she practiced for several days at home. She watched how beauty queens walked and waved their hands, how they smiled and moved their shoulders and hips as they ramp during the competition.

The Head Coordinator looked at Grazziena with admiration in her eyes. “So far, this next applicant is one of the best among all those applicants I saw,” she whispered to her co-coordinator beside her. “I hope she could answer well.” She added.

As Grazziena reached the line where an applicant should stand, she stopped and made her model-like pose, then gave the two coordinators the most alluring smile that she mastered; showing her two cute dimples on her both cheeks. In her mind, Grazziena is so determined to be chosen. She wanted to finish college and be a lawyer soon.

Both the two coordinators smiled at her, completely mesmerized.

“Do we still need to interview her? Or you want to give her the form already?” The Head coordinator joked at her co-coordinator who also teased her back.

“I can see that you wanted to give her the form as much as I want to. Careful, no one knew that you are a lesbian.” Then she made a soft laugh.  The head coordinator laughed too together with her co-coordinator, who happened to be her best friend. She knew most of her dark secrets and that includes her true identity.

 

Thinking that the coordinators were laughing at her, Grazziena’s heart sank because of disappointment. She was about to turn her back and go when the Head Coordinator called her to come forward.

Grazziena was surprised as she saw the Head Coordinator handing her the form to be filled up. She almost leaped with excitement as her bluish eyes grew wide in total astonishment.