Claudine seemed to think the adage "third time's a charm" proved true as she slipped out of the house again. Unbeknownst to her, Arielle had keenly observed her departure. Upon Claudine's return with Lumos by her side, she found Arielle waiting in the outhouse, nestled in her small bed, arms folded, and wearing a petulant expression."You, where are you coming from?" Arielle said without standing up."I-I-I..." Claudine stuttered. She had never thought that she would be caught. Arielle and her parents always seemed heavily engaged in the evenings. They had never summoned her or asked about her during those times, so she concluded that it was perfectly safe to leave the house at that time. She had not anticipated her elder foster sister sitting on her bed. Her face squinched so that she looked like an owl, asking her of her whereabouts."Ohh, please, Claudine," Arielle said, rising to her feet. "Spit it out. I don't have all fucking night. The ball is tomorrow, and I need to get
The Founder's Day Ball turned the ordinary-looking streets into a magical carnival, with people adorned in masks filling the space. Every corner, embellished with vibrant decorations, created a swirling burst of colours beneath the greyish night sky, illuminated by the gentle twinkle of fairy lights.Denzel and Nira arrived in style, pulling up in a vibrant red sports car to join the bustling event. The streets pulsated with the lively beats of a live band performance, and fire dancers twirled flames in a captivating dance. Distant fireworks erupted, painting the night sky with vivid hues. Cars decked out with floral arrangements and ribbons lined the streets, serving as transportation and exclusive lounges for the attendees.As Denzel looked for a parking space, he glanced at the bubbly scene outside their car, an air of disinterest apparent on his face. Nira, sensing his subdued mood, turned toward him."Why so unenthusiastic, Denzel? This is supposed to be a celebration," she remar
Claudine felt this sudden burst of wind brush against her, leaving her with an eerie shiver down her spine. Though she couldn't see the source, she sensed this unexplained presence. Puzzled yet intrigued, she turned to Ezrianna and asked, "Did you feel that? There was this sudden surge of electrifying energy, and for a moment, it felt like someone was right here with us."Ezrianna, wanting to guard Denzel's identity, downplayed it. "It's just the wind, silly.""No, it's more than that," Claudine insisted, shaking her head. "I felt a presence, a warmth that's making me feel like I'm on fire.""On fire," Ezrianna jinxed the words with Claudine, adding, "you feel like you might explode if you don't find whoever it is.""Yes, exactly! How do you know? Do you have any idea who it could be?"As Ezrianna was about to reply, a sudden rush of wind enveloped them, leaving both girls bewildered. The cause, an unseen figure, continued to dart around them in a swift, blurry dance, drawing their pu
Beneath a solemn shroud of gray clouds, the moon discreetly withdrew, enveloping the returning werewolf pack's route in profound darkness. The lupine eyes of the werewolves gleamed in the darkness like little yellow bulbs. Unseen creatures stirred in the sacred groves. Denzel, Ronald, Nira and Cordelia, somewhere in the middle of the collective pack making their way to the mansion, were walking in a group of their own."I get that Nira's in danger, but why summon the entire pack back?" Ronald questioned, still bewildered by Denzel summoning the entire pack back."We've got a traitor among us," Denzel replied in a low murmur.Nira's eyes widened in surprise. "What?"Denzel nonchalantly shrugged, coming to a halt mid-step. "Yeah, you heard me. I've got this gut feeling that tonight's murder at the founder's ball wasn't just a random thing."Cordelia interjected, "So, you think it's a setup?"Denzel nodded. "Exactly. Consider this – who else knows about Nira's powers? Someone is trying t
Moss, Keeran, and Reid swiftly retreated, vanishing into the darkness engulfing the forest once more as the moon crept underneath the shroud of gray clouds. Meanwhile, Denzel's previously bleeding neck revealed the remarkable regenerative abilities of werewolves. Consumed by heartbreak, he held himself responsible for all that had transpired, especially his powerlessness during the battle when the witch subdued him to the floor.Cordelia had bravely protected Nira in the intense battle, shielding her from the onslaught of attacks launched at them. Even when she had gotten shot with a wolfsbane bullet she had kept on fighting, enduring the pain. As their adversaries retreated, she finally succumbed, collapsing onto the forest floor. The insidious effects of the wolfsbane thwarted her natural healing, and Nira, overwhelmed with worry, knelt by her side, tears streaming down her face."I'm so sorry I put you in this mess," Nira said, her voice choking with emotion. "The witch was blockin
She felt as she had the first time she got to the house — dejected, hopeless, the crushing feeling of loneliness threatening to squeeze her heart to a mute stop. She paced the cramped room, sat on the too-small bed, and got back up in what was a mixture of confusion and frustration. Lumos sat in a corner of the room, napping. It occurred to her that at some point she would need to sleep, too, to rest her body and mind, but with the way her mind ran wild with thoughts, she knew that would be impossible. After a few hours, the weak light of dawn came into the room in dull slants."Morning," she said under her breath, realizing that Arielle would soon come for her.And she was right, in a few minutes, the door swung open and Arielle — her face sagging and worn out, her disposition irritatable — walked in. Claudine could see that she was in trouble. She stumbled to her feet to face her elder foster sister."G-good morning, Arielle," she said.Arielle simply nodded — a gesture more of
The air in the warehouse was taut with tension, apprehension palpable in the disposition of all present. Reid — flustered and frustrated — paced the floors of the warehouse, from wall to wall, his head tossed upwards, as if he was imploring some deity. Moss and Keeran, both still exhausted from the rigors of battle, sat on the ground, their backs against the wall. Other wolves sat on the ground, too, in various stages of injuries, nursing their wounds."Fuck!" Reid suddenly let out, punching the wall, his fist cracking going through it, mortar and dust sprinkling to the ground.The noise from his punch gave everyone a start, and they fixed their eyes on him."We had everything planned out," he said again, his breath shallow. "Every single damn thing, and now this."Keeran got on his feet, padded over to where Reid stood leaning against the wall and put his hand on his shoulder, squeezed gently."Be calm, Alpha. We did our best," he said. "There's no need to have regrets. We can always
At first when she opened her eyes, she did not know where she was. She ached all over, every single muscle in her body that could ache ached, but her head most especially — it seemed like there was a battle ground inside her skull two opposing factions were warring bitterly. She grunted as she shifted, trying to make sense of where she was. Slowly, painfully, she managed to sit up, and it occurred to her that she was in the outhouse. The stench of blood was still in the air, and her memories came back in bright and obscene flashes — Arielle taking off Lumos's head, the spurt of blood, the physical exertion it had taken to clean the room."Ohh, no," she said to herself as she straightened up."Ahh, ahh, ahh," she heard a familiar voice. "Look who's awake."She saw Angelo's wiry frame make it into the room, a smug smile on his face. He must have been standing outside all the while."Girl, you look terrible," he said to her, and Claudine could tell, by the look of disgust on his face, a l