Becca I spent the last two weeks learning everything there is to know about how most packs operate and what differences they have. There are a lot. I found only two more packs where the reports mention any kind of protection spells, so there is hope for more of us. Even though the file my Mum showed me is the only report on the Crystal Ice Pack, the photos and drawings are wholly burned in my memory, I spent so many times watching them. The images of the Alpha family with Alpha Jack, Luna Astrid, the young Annalise, and two younger boys, Blake and Benjamin, are engraved in my heart- their smiles, their hopes, the mouth of the cave behind them. And the next photo, with all the members standing next to one another, shows a pack I’ve had once and dreamed about since. They are one big family. My heart stutters as I close the folder again and put it on the shelf. I’m ready. Ready to find them, to meet them, to be part of the Crystal Ice Pack. The realization chills me with both fear a
Becca With my bags lined up by the wall, we sit in the kitchen again. Jason’s tense shoulders tell me everything. “To be honest, I thought I’d never see you again. The way your texts got so vague since you arrived home made me feel like you moved on to something else,” he says while I drink some juice to quench my parched throat. “I kind of felt the same from your side,” I reply, but add quickly: “I’ve been researching things I couldn’t share with you over the phone.” “I assume that research led you somewhere because you are here with all this camping stuff,” he looks at my giant backpack with narrowed eyes, which has several things hanging from hooks and nooks. “Yeah,” I laugh at the face he makes. “I’m not really the over-shopping type, but I couldn’t stop myself this time. Even though I’m a werewolf, we slept in tents on floatable mattresses during camping trips and mostly cooked our food. I don’t plan on living solely on raw meat while we travel. Do you?” “Urgh, no,” he repli
Becca I found a comfortable Inn in the neighboring town, despite Jason’s mom insisting I take Jason’s room, and soon fell into my new daily pattern in my new jobs. I get up early every day to start my day with Jason as his apprentice, then work in a Diner, and then back to Jason again. Even though my days are long and exhausting, I eagerly anticipate our nightly runs. This is unequivocally the best part of being here. The forest becomes familiar as Makya shows Bliss interesting places and teaches her everything she doesn’t know. Our wolves are so fond of each other, and their relationship grows even stronger with every passing night. The way Bliss follows him without question shows how she trusts Makya with her life and looks up to him for guidance. These weeks have been crucial in allowing us to get to know each other before facing those challenges leading to the Crystal Ice Pack. The first project was a massive office building. We painted the interior for five weeks. Despite wor
BeccaWith the map in one hand and my water bottle in the other, we tread through the forest, sweat rolling down my back. The air is so thick that there isn’t even a slight breeze. Despite the afternoon sun barely getting through the canopy of trees, I’m burning hot, with my hair stuck to my sweaty neck; the tickling annoys the hell out of me.According to my research, we are already on the Greyback Pack's territory, but there's no sign of werewolves or even humans in the area. With each step, the lump in my throat grows bigger, and my heart is heavy, already knowing we won't find anything.Jason’s steps are heavy beside me. He is losing hope, just like me, but still going on until it’s proven otherwise.We spent two days in the nearest town sniffing around literally and figuratively, asking around the locals for the nearby farms and forest trails. Even though we corrected them each time, the locals seemed to think we were a young couple. I have a feeling we should play into that the
Becca My skin burns from the beaming sun above. We weren't gifted with clouds today. The parched ground under my boots craves the rain, just like me. The dirt road we took to get to the forest seems endless, and I swear I see things that aren't there. On one side are fields of harvested corn stalks stretching for miles, while on the other, there is a vast cattle pasture. The forest is visible in the distance but still too far to provide any relief. I reach into the side strap of my backpack to retrieve my water bottle, unsure whether to drink from it or pour it on my head. "Why did we think coming on foot was better than by car?" I ask Jason, whose steps are getting heavier beside me. "I'd say no clue, but we both know you were the one who insisted that a little walk can’t hurt," he replies with a grumble. I drink from my water and pretend he didn't say that, but my self-defense gets the best of me. "It didn't look this far on the map," I say defensively. "I guess we lear
Becca“So, you don’t know anything about werewolves,” I say in a questioning tone.“No, I didn’t know they existed,” he laughs again with that nervous laugh, and I can’t help but smile at him.He was just a baby when everyone- along with his parents, died. This day does not go the way I thought it would.“Should we go this way?” I ask him, motioning towards where he came from.“Yes,” he replies, stepping out of the bush, and I quickly turn so I don’t face him. We walk side by side, a few meters from each other. He is so thin. I can see his collarbone, the bones on his shoulder, and even his ribs.I share with him the story of my family and our former pack, and he listens intently as I talk about growing up among werewolves. Jason joins us again when I explain what we discovered about the end of pack life and the decimation of the werewolf population.“I must have been around 2,” he says solemnly. “At least, I think, because that is when I got in foster care. No one knows anything abou
Jason I beat my forehead on the steering wheel. Once, twice. Frustration bubbles up in my throat, but I keep the vibrations of growling inside my chest. I cannot believe that they are leaving on that fucking bus, that Becca would simply throw all our plans for this kid. She was like, hey, would you- a complete stranger- want to move in with me? And I had no idea how to stop her without being a total asshole. Of course, I saw the guy was underfed and lived in a tent in the forest. Of course, I wanted to help him. That’s why we were teaching him how to hunt and cook. But he is a goddamn werewolf. With a few more days of practice, his wolf would’ve become natural, as he should’ve been already. Why the hell his wolf didn’t know how to hunt? I ask no one in particular, yet Makya thinks it is time to budge in with his wisdom. ‘He was alone. While we had the pack for a few years, he had never seen another wolf.’ Yep. I just knew he would be a smartass about it. How the hell he isn’t fu
Becca“Let’s look at that map again,” Jason says, reaching into my bag to pluck it out. “If no one has been there for two decades, we might have trouble finding it due to overgrown vegetation.”“I was thinking the same thing,” I reply, sighing as the trees separate us again. Despite my efforts to pinpoint the exact location by the description of the closest pack and studying every map of the area, it could still take days to find it. And even then, we’ll have to wait for the right time when the full moon illuminates the forest.I confidently take the lead. Thanks to the satellite images, I have memorized everything I could, even though the forest is so wild that it is impossible to find any track. My boots too often get caught in the tangle of vine and undergrowth to keep a decent pace. I find myself shaking my leg after every few steps. I have to constantly look to the ground, evading most of the vines since it is way overgrown, and the leaves from last fall are still here. This is t