01 - The News

The cool night breeze carried a cold whisper into the late evening, and a stronger chill was left in its wake.

Inside the small congested room, Baka could hardly feel the cold.

Yet she knew something was wrong before she heard the howls.

Loud, desperate howls, piercing the silence of the night.

Goosebumps ran down the length of her arms with rapid precision and the hair on the back of her neck stood up.

She sat up for what seemed like the fifth time that night. Her roommates were snoring loudly, seemingly deaf to the terrifying howls. Even despite the cold breeze, the room was as hot as ever because it was poorly ventilated. About twenty people occupied their small room. Baka could barely stretch her legs.

She stared down at her roommates as they slept on either side of her on the matted floor. Nothing but fatigue would have them sleeping under all that howling. The work they performed every hour of every day could make one sleep through a stampede.

But try as she might, she couldn't summon sleep. The sinking feeling in her gut didn't ease her plight and racing thoughts.

She heard the soft sound of footsteps approaching and crawled her way through the mass of bodies around her towards their dilapidated door.

Baka’s shoulders relaxed a little when she spotted her mother, but one look at her face made her tense up just as quickly.

Pushing the damaged door open ever so carefully to avoid making noise, she whispered, “What has happened, Mother?”

Her mother looked up at her in surprise. “Hush, Child. Help me with my things,” she spoke softly, gesturing to her bloodied apron and equipment.

Baka did as she was told with efficiency. It was clear her mother knew exactly what was going on. She was a midwife— the only midwife in their community.

When Baka had safely deposited her mother’s things in a small corner, she returned and found her mother sitting solemnly on the only chair in their room.

Baka sat on the ground beside her and gently touched her thigh. “Mother…”

No response. Baka got up and crawled back through the mass of bodies. She took a sandwich she had kept and crawled back, offering it to her mother.

“Here, I saved some for you.”

Her mother raised her eyes at her. “Thanks, Child. But I don't have an appetite. Have you eaten?”

She nodded. But the look in her Mother's face told her she detected the lie.

“What am I always saying? You cannot give what you don't have. Help yourself first.”

Baka nodded again, even though she disagreed. Her mother’s views always seemed to be the opposite of what anyone would ever advise. Weren’t you supposed to be selfless and help others before you help yourself?

“Eat,” her mother encouraged. She did as she was told.

“How has everyone been?”

“Bessia was punished by Luna Amie again,” Baka replied between bites. “Eight lashes. It took a while for her to sleep today. She kept crying.”

Her mother sighed slowly. “What about the boys?”

“All is as it always is. ”

“Be careful with your tone, Child. The only reason we're still alive is because we obey the rules.”

“To what end?” Baka retorted. “They gave us and the boys separate rooms and told us never to go to each other's residence without a guard. Why do you think they said that? Because they don't want us to reproduce. They don't want us growing in number. We're probably the last living humans, scattered and dying.”

The howls grew louder, and Baka could swear they sounded sorrowful. What was going on? Not knowing made her sick to her stomach.

Her mother had a forlorn look on her face and spoke a tone lower. “The Alpha King’s Luna is dead.”

Baka spoke without thinking. “What?”

Her mother’s eyes sharpened as she looked her straight in the eye. “Don’t ask a question with “what”, Child. Do you want to end up like Bessia?”

“No, Mother,” Baka mentally chastised herself. Here in Khadom city, humans got killed over the most minute things. “I meant… Sorry?”

Her mother nodded in approval. “She died during childbirth. The baby didn’t make it either.”

“That's not possible.”

Werewolves couldn't die in childbirth—certainly not the Luna Queen. Besides the fact that she was a powerful, beastly creature, she was also a Trinitarian—the strongest pack in their territory.

“Indeed. The baby’s skin…” Her mother whispered silently.

Baka sensed that something greatly troubled her. Something her mother was hesitant to divulge.

“What about the baby’s skin, Mother?”

Her mother blinked. “What are you talking about, Child?”

Baka studied her mom openly. She was never one to withhold anything from her. She had often said that keeping secrets brought nothing but death. Baka had come to realise that her mother was right.

She had been right when Baka’s brother had foolishly snuck away from their camp to rescue his captured girlfriend during the werewolves final attack on their hometown and died in the process.

She had been right when one of their team members betrayed them by giving away their hideout location which had led to their ambush and capture. Eleven of them, including her dad, were now dead because they hadn't known Aksana was a two-timing greedy snitch.

Baka, her mom, and four others were captured that day and made slaves of the werewolf monarchy. They were nothing but bed warmers to them, a sport, a tool to put to work.

“To be in the know could very well save your life,” Baka said, repeating her mother’s words to her, word for word.

Her mother smiled sadly. “Yes, Child. You're right. But not this time.”

“What does that mean?”

“What I know, I cannot tell you.”

“Why not?”

“Because it would make you a target.”

“A target to whom?”

“The monarchy.”

She blinked, glancing around them to ensure everyone was still asleep. All seemed normal.

Baka faced her mother again. “Mother, if what you're saying is true then it's too late. You're my mother. I've already been made a target by association.”

“But they don’t know that. And your heat signature will save you.”

She froze as it suddenly dawned on her.

Werewolves could tell when someone was lying by their heartbeat. Those monsters were literal walking lie detectors. This could mean they already knew Mother suspected something.

“Mother, you have to hide!”

Her mother’s sad smile broadened. “Hide where? We're locked in, Child. There's nowhere to run. But all is not yet lost.”

“How can you say that?” She asked in between sobs.

“I’m still alive, aren't I? And I haven't been questioned. Besides, they will do nothing now because of the Selection Festival.”

Baka had forgotten about that.

The Alpha King had to find a new mate. An Alpha without his Luna was just that—an Alpha. His seat could be challenged. But with his Luna Queen, he was made more powerful. He was made true. Even better if they had children, no one would dare challenge him.

The last Selection Festival had been the coronation ceremony of the old alpha—Alpha King Triton of Trinity pack. That was when werewolves had finally overcome the human race.

Very soon, one female in each of the four packs from the ages of seventeen to twenty-one would have to report in. They would line up in front of the Alpha King on selection day and he would choose his new Luna Queen.

“Get some herbs from Healer Freya tomorrow for Bessia’s wounds.”

Baka nodded as her mother crawled over the sleeping bodies to a small corner and curled herself into a ball. Baka followed shortly after.

Several hours later, she still couldn’t sleep. She had seen real fear in her mother’s eyes. Something she hardly ever saw in her mother.

Baka couldn’t shake the gnawing feeling that had taken root in her belly.

Whatever her mother was hiding was disastrous. It could cost her her life. Her mother was the only living relative she had. Baka refused to lose her too.

She didn't know how yet but she was going to find a way to get them all out of this wretched place.