MayaThe party was in full swing when the five of us stepped into the hall which had been selected for the send forth event. I saw a lot of people I knew, including elders, here and there, probably taking in how the party was going and making sure that things were moving as the lycan king wanted it. Adam led us to a table where his friends and his brothers were gathered drinking, talking, and watching me. I noticed that everyone was doing those three activities, especially the last one. I was the center of attention. From the looks on everyone’s faces I could decipher what they are thinking about. One, is that I was looking so beautiful to be Maya, the wolfless pariah. My step brother, Lent, had his mouth open in shock, and Lilian’s facial expression was phenomenal. I wished I could take pictures of their faces. I could also see the mixed emotions of surprise and admiration in my mother’s eyes and the shock in my father’s. The others on ground also had the same look. Naomi had re
Nervously I watched, as the Lycan King climbed the podium and commanded the attention of everyone in the hall. Naomi’s left hand grasped mine and held, offering a much needed comfort. Appreciation rang true in my eyes as I turned and looked at her.“Good evening everyone. I am glad that y'all honored the invitation to be here tonight...as you all know, we have gathered here for the sake of one of ours…”The king continued with the speech; apologizing for the misconduct of his sons; and promising a better life for me outside the pack, in the city of humans. I turned to Adam, to see his reaction, when his father mentioned that a car would be coming next tomorrow to take me to the city of humans. His face was contorted in sadness, even as he redirected his gaze to stare at me as well, as if he had known that I had been staring at him all this time. He gave me a sad smile, and I wondered what that meant. Did it mean that he had given me up; that he couldn’t help the string of fate? M
Outside was cold and empty of life. There was no one I saw loitering outside the hall, except for me and the little girl who had invited me out. Although Naomi had been skeptical about the kind of meet up the girl had proposed, she had finally agreed to let me go. After all, what could go wrong? What could a twelve year old possibly commit against me? Well, seeing the dark and hollow environment, I was beginning to doubt and question that question of mine, especially since the bad feeling deep in my gut was getting deeper and wider. I shouldn't have come out here without Naomi. What was I thinking? I should have let Adam know at least. I had allowed my quest for a stupid information about Claire to drive me. I hoped I wouldn’t regret it. The girl still led the way, and I was about to ask her if we hadn't gotten to a place where no one would hear us yet, when she stopped abruptly and turned to face me. I looked at her, expecting her theory about Claire to resurface so that
The smile on my lips got wider at Adam’s blatant display of affection, even though the stares from most of the pack members were anything but encouraging. Claire was looking at me like she wanted to take my head off my neck. I noticed though, that when our eyes met, she smirked at me. The bad feeling in my guts had intensified. I had a feeling that whatever was making her this devious had to do with the little girl that had called me outside and the distraction the latter had talked about. Oh god. Was there a way I could leave this party without being scathed? A sad smile sneaked across my lips and replaced the former happy one, as I searched diligently for Naomi. I bit my lips as I saw her. She was talking with Ben, whilst Noah watched them, his hands splayed on the butt cheeks of one of Claire’s minions. The boy is an idiot.“Maya, focus on me? What is the matter? Where is your happy smile?” I heard Adam's concerned voice whisper into my ear as his lips brushed my earlobes, sendi
Adam closed his eyes when my mouth moved over his flat belly, leaving behind a trail of fire. Wherever I touched him, my mouth, hot and moist, followed. He dragged me closer, urging me onto him. My mouth was tight and hot and driving him mad. A low, ominous growl escaped, the beast shuddering with pleasure, needing primitive satisfaction.My fingernails raked the hard column of his thighs, light, erotic, sending fire leaping, coiling in his gut. His mind blurred, merged more deeply with mine, a red haze of lust and need, love and hunger. He craved my touch, my hands, my silky mouth turning him into a living, breathing flame.He dragged me up, his hands like bands, although he made every effort to be conscious of his strength. His mouth took mine, mating, dancing, so much hunger beating in him I caught it, pressing closer, my body sliding against his, rubbing, heating."Say you want me, Maya." His mouth moved over my throat, closed over my aching breast. Every strong pull sent an answ
The knock sounded for the second time on the door, and Adam groaned, not pleased with the interruption. But if I was to be honest with myself, I had expected the interruption earlier. I hadn't believed that Adam's father would let us stay out of the party for this long, especially me, the celebrant, who the party had been organized for. Thinking of it now, it was wrong of me to have gone away from the party. It was a sign of disrespect actually. But why hadn’t I seen it that way earlier? Well, that was because you were so engrossed in letting Adam's stick inside you. My mind taunted, and I sighed, watching as Adam wore his trousers quickly, before heading to the door. At the door, he paused and turned to me, gesturing with his hand that I put on my dress. I nodded immediately, whilst cussing at myself. Wasn’t I planning to leave? Maya, get your mind out of the gutters, and back on track. I stood up gingerly, and began to snuggle myself into the dress. Adam must be tired of wait
“No, she couldn’t have done it. I was with her the whole time, so when did she leave to steal the necklace? It's not even possible that she knew where the necklace was; she hasn’t been here before. Therefore, how would she know the safe room?” Adam spoke coldly, causing my heart to soar, and my fears to abate maximally.“Are you not seeing it?” He continued. “It is completely impossible that Maya did this. I don’t know how the necklace had gotten into her bag, but she didn’t do it. Perhaps someone else did.” A tear slipped from my right eye. A tear of appreciation. Appreciation for being loved and being stood up for.Adam’s brothers looked at me then. The anger that had swam in their eyes shifted to an apology; they believed him. But his father shook his head, his glaring cold eyes never leaving me, creating a sense of darkness within me. I wouldn’t be surprised if he was in on this set up. Because that was what it was. A set up. Someone had set me up. But who? Who would want me in
The Lycan King, Mr Brekan, grasped Claire by the arm gently, and pulled her to himself— in a way that a father would pull his daughter to himself—making me green with envy. What did they see in the manipulative brat?“Talk, my child. Tell me what you saw.” Mr Brekan said, his entire attention on Claire. Claire nodded timidly, opened her mouth, then shut it, creating a palpable tension in the hall. Everywhere and everyone was silent. I couldn't even hear the sounds of crickets. It was like everything had kept quiet just to hear what the girl had to say.I wanted to hear too, the lie she was about to spurn and vomit out. I watched her divert her gaze to Adam who still looked at her blankly, probably not understanding why she was acting this way. But I did.I have read all about her types in books. And I knew that she was going to point Adam as one of those that wouldn’t be happy with her confessions.“Adam…did you do anything to Claire?” Claire's father asked, his tone shorn with worr
I looked at my family. I looked at the Lycan triplets, whose faces were also ridden with surprise—they hadn’t seen this part of the congratulatory visit coming. I looked at Naomi and the rest; they were all ridden with surprise, and their faces were all ridden with the same question—why was the king inviting me to a party, attended only by werewolves? What was the business of the witches with the moon goddess? Witches didn’t understand the moon goddess, since they had theirs to celebrate, so why invite one? And wouldn’t that invitation trigger the ‘anger of the moon goddess’, as the pack would always love to put it? Was that notion being broken because of me? Wow, I never thought I would see the day where a protocol as huge as that would be broken because of me. My gaze reverted to the king again. He had a tentative smile on his lips, like he was half expecting me to reject the next words that would come out of his mouth. “Part of your reward includes traveling to places you wish
“Why aren’t you all dead?” I asked Diana and Levina, as we walked behind the adults, toward my tent, after professor Zokel was done listing off my rewards, including those I hadn’t been aware of, those that hadn’t been included in the bulletin that had been distributed in the school, in the days leading to the contest. “Dead? What are you talking about?” Levina asked, looking between Diana and me. Diana shrugged her shoulders. “We told her that anyone that saw the beast was liable to die.” Levina chuckled. “I think I told her the same. But seeing as we are all living and breathing, I guess that our parents had distributed unnecessary rumors to us.” We shared a laugh after that, a laugh which caused the adults in front to turn and look at us. Satisfied that we were not up to any mischief, they returned to their discussion, a discussion that I was privy to; they were talking about the beast bowing to me. Mr. Lethon believed it was because of the royal blood in me. Peter believed th
Because the beast’s voice could be heard by all in the field, and maybe even outside of the field, I used magic to amplify my voice, so that everyone could hear me speak too. So, when the crowd erupted in mild shouts and mutterings at the previous words of the Queen, they echoed affirmations after mine; affirmations mixed with amusement at the nonchalancy in my voice and then anger at the Queen for breaking the laws that had been in place for many years. The beast obeyed. He turned his mighty head and stared at the Queen, whose hands were shaking. Out of nerves or shock or anger, I wasn’t sure. But her cool composure was gone. “Well, to be fair to the Queen, she didn’t call you out…” The beast grunted, in confusion I was sure, if the thinning of his eyes were anything to go by. “Who called me then? Only she has the power to call us out…” “Well…” I smirked, and pointed at a Rachel who was shaking with fear beside her mother. Oh well, she was scared of what she had conjured? Inte
Rachel stood still even when the crowd was shouting ‘Fight!’ ‘Fight!’ like a mantra. I knew she wanted me to attack first. “I’ve been watching you fight, and you have never attacked first, well apart from your last match….” She started, placing her hands on her waist.“Well, that’s a stupid deduction to make. I’ve only fought two contestants. Didn’t your mother teach you that, when she taught you how to fight with the subtle magic, when she taught you how to cheat in the competition?” I shot back, a smirk appearing on my lips.Her eyes widened, and her composure disintegrated by a meaningful portion, as she looked around her, to check if the others were hearing. “Tsk, your family is terribly disgusting. You want me to attack you? Then you will have it. Don’t regret it though. There’s a reason I don’t attack first. I thought my last battle would have explained that, but it seems you are slow…” I said, right before I advanced toward her. She jerked back, as I approached, causing me t
Laura’s infamous meat sauce would have been enough reason to win this last battle, even if the Queen’s rewards hadn't been attached to it. Thinking of it now as I sauntered into the battlefield brought out the hunger pangs that had managed to stay hidden for a while, under the layer of fruits and water. I was hungry. “Wait, until I am done with this.” I muttered to myself, flexing my hands. Laura should have better prepared my favorite meal to celebrate my win, because I wouldn’t settle for less. Not when my mind was already clouded with meat sauce. Rachel was already waiting for me in the field, her arms folded across her chest, disdain notable in her eyes. I didn’t bother mirroring the same, I just wanted to be done with this, so that I could go home and eat. ‘That’s a good attitude, keep it up.’ El spoke then, causing me to pout. ‘Is that sarcasm?’ She chuckled. ‘Not at all. It’s good that you’re not nervous, considering the principal’s insight, considering that it lowers you
Rachel won her own fight. But it had been by a sharp luck; the senior had been varsed in combat, very varsed, despite her not so big stature. Probably why the organizers had linked her to Rachel; they had thought it would be an easy defeat. After her match, the Queen had called for a little recess, so that the final contestants could have some rest before the last phase of the competition. It was why I was reclining on the chair in my tent, drinking an energy mix that Laura had given me. “I’m sure that the Queen is giving Rachel some tools on how to fight you, some tricks. You have to be careful out there, Dora…” Diana spoke, with a disgusted expression on her face. “That woman can be so sneaky.” She added, placing her arm around my shoulder. “If you win Rachel, I will give you my meat sauce for a week.” I laughed then, unable to hold it this time around. Diana was a darling. “Deal!” I shouted, jamming fists with her, whilst her parents and Levina watched on with wide smiles on th
My second opponent was the senior that had tried to bully me in the hallway a few days ago; that had tried to instigate me to fight her so that I would be disqualified from the competition. She was prancing around the field like an overzealous proud horse, getting cheers from the crowd. I thought she looked hilarious. I was going to win her. That was a given; not because I was proud, but because I had no choice. I had no choice than to make her eat her words, than to make her regret troubling me that fateful day. My quiet demeanor was mirrored by Rachel and her family. At intervals, I looked at the people in the crowd, at the Queen, at her. It was as if they knew that the senior was making noise. A noise that was uncalled for. Rachel, especially, had a bored look on her face. She knew I would win, never mind that it wouldn’t be pleasing to her. When I had won Courtney, I had seen the dread that had flirted past her face, right before she conditioned her countenance to stoicness. Sh
The battle was over before the senior knew it. With swift movements that I had never learned in any training, I started to free myself from the painful hold of the senior. It was like my hands and feet knew exactly what to do, guided by some unseen force, guided by El.I twisted and turned, using techniques that felt instinctive yet unfamiliar to me. With each move, I could feel my opponent's grip loosening. I managed to break free and turn the tables. Now, I was the one in control.I didn't hesitate. El didn’t hesitate to attack. It was like a dance, each step calculated and precise. I surprised myself with my own agility and strength. El was not just guiding my body, but also my mind, giving me the confidence to face my opponent head-on.I dodged punches and countered with moves that I didn't even know I was capable of. It was exhilarating and terrifying at the same time. But I trusted El; she wouldn’t let me down.Soon enough, I gained the upper hand. The senior was struggling to k
The fight was against ourselves. Since we were just eight contestants, we were paired against each other in a duel. But the announcer had picked out rumpled papers in a bowl to know who we would be contesting against. For my first time, I was selected to duel with the senior that had bothered to speak with me after my victory in the magic prowess session. We were both surprised to be fighting each other, but we had no choice but to advance to the field when our names were called by Professor Zokel. We had been the last in the list too. The others had fought, and now there were only three females moving to the final; three and whoever would win this duel that was about to happen. “I had never imagined to be pitted against you, Dora. But I will make it quick. You have outlasted than we all had gambled for, a feat, but it comes to stop now.” I nodded slowly, not knowing what to say. The seniors had gambled on my position in the contest? Did anyone gamble for my win? “Did anyone gambl