Chapter 2: Full moon festival

Kiera

Each time I remember the day I lost my parents to the cold hands of death, the pain comes fresh, eating me up and refusing to heal no matter how hard I try. I was only 8 when my parents' car got chased by werewolves in the middle of the night.

"Drive faster, faster! Don't let them get to us," my mom's constant yells freaked me out as I watched my dad step hard on the brake. Looking at the wolves behind us, my eyes widened in terror as they caught up to us.

"Mom!" I yelled as one of them smacked the windows, shattering the glass.

"Kiera, duck," she screamed as she hurriedly picked up a gun from her purse. She shot him with a silver bullet and pushed him out.

Slightly distracted by my mom saving me, "No, No, No!" my dad exclaimed as he crashed into a tree.

My dad's head was wounded seriously, blood gushing out non-stop. He managed to check on my mother, but she died on the spot. "Kiera, run," he managed to say as he was slowly running out of breath.

"Dad, I can't!" I mumbled while shaking my head, refusing to leave him alone. I glanced at my mother and my heart skipped a beat. I was not willing to accept that she was gone. "No!, Mom you can't die," I yelled as I shook her bloodied body, waiting for her to laugh and tell me it was a joke.

But no, she was dead.

Staring at my dad, I was frightened at the sight of him. He was gritting in agony as the broken shards of glass were stuck in his head. "Dad, dad, daddy, please stay," I wept furiously as I held his hands.

"Kiera, you need to go. Save yourself and leave me," he mumbled slowly as he was slowly losing his strength.

"I'm wounded. My leg, it hurts," I managed to say after a while.

"Kiera, you have to go. It's a minor wound. If they eventually catch up... Up to you, tell them... tell... tell them you're not the one," he yelled, his voice stern and harsh.

"Dad, I can't leave you here!" I cried out as he forced me to run.

"I'm not your father!" He growled with the last strength in him as he pushed me out of the car.

I was crying non-stop as I ran into the wilderness alone without turning back. A few minutes later, I heard an explosive sound. Turning back, I saw my parents' car explode into bits as their bodies rolled out of the car.

Seeing their bodies for the last time, I felt devastated, my heart heavy as I just lost my only companions. As I was running without looking back, I had only one thought in mind: Revenge!

"There she is!"

"She mustn't escape."

Hearing the voices of my tormentors, I was scared and confused. They were shooting as they chased me from behind. What could an 8-year-old do?

Frightened by the attack, I cried out, "I'm not the one!"

At the same time, amidst their shooting, I heard them say, "You think you can deceive us?"

"We know you're the one! If you're not, why do you look exactly like her?"

Confused by their words, I mumbled, "Her?"

Suddenly, a loud growl echoed through the forest, its roar reverberating like thunder.

Frightened, I didn't stop running. I continued fleeing to wherever my little feet could take me, but I froze at the sight of a huge werewolf. Compared to the ones before, he seemed bigger, larger, and fiercer. His brown fur glowed slightly in the moonlight, mesmerizing me, yet shocking me at the same time.

Moving backward, I swallowed nervously as I wondered how I was going to die at the hands of a werewolf. However, the wolf didn't harm me. He singlehandedly took on the other wolves, killing them mercilessly before turning back to me. As he noticed the fear in my eyes, he transformed into a human.

He had piercing blue eyes, jet-black hair, broad shoulders, but then, he stood there stark naked. At that moment, he was the most beautiful man I had ever seen.

Not wanting to seem like a pervert, I covered my eyes with my little hands.

.....

Lilian

Finally, the full moon festival is here. I was extremely happy because I have a good feeling about this year's festival. If the moon goddess, Selene could give.me this chance to prove myself, my joy would know no bound. 

My town was beautifully decorated as teenagers wore their traditional wear. Although I was no longer a teenager, I still didn't know my wolf. Teenagers have it in them but I've never heard my wolf's voice. 

Suddenly, I noticed that everyone's attention was on the slimly built figure that just walked in. All the ladies smiled as they watched him in awe. Dressed in a traditional wear for the festival, the Alpha walked in along side his Luna and his only daughter, Azura. 

"I welcome you all to this year's festival" he said with a commanding presence. Everyone was silent as no one dared to talk while he was still talking. The Alpha instills fear in everyone. Although he's a kind one but no one dares to take his kindness for granted. 

"I hope everyone is ready to face their fears and allow their new selves out?" 

"Yes!" The teenagers roared , determined to see themselves transform. 

"Are you ready to embrace your wolf even if he's a bit different from you?" 

"Yes, Alpha!" I yelled on top of my lungs as I joined the teenagers. People glared at me angrily but I didn't care at all. All I wanted was to be in my wolf form. 

Then the Alpha howled at the moon as he transformed into his wolf form. He howled at the moon the second time to thank the moon goddess for his life as a warewolf. He howled the third time to thank the moon goddess for making him the Alpha, head of the pack. He howled the fourth time to thank her for his Luna, his people and his daughter. And at the fifth howl,everyone immediately transformed into their wolf form as they offered praises to the moon goddess. 

At the same time, the teenagers cried out as the sound of bones breaking was heard. They screamed in agony as their bone was taking another form. Since it was their first shapeshift, it was usually very painful. Right there, they transformed and howled at the same time, worshipping the moon goddess. 

And me? 

Just like the previous years, I howled at the moon with my mouth wide open as I glared at the moon. Hoping the moon goddess would see me. I wanted her to feel my pain, I wanted her to know what it feels like to be different. But can she? Does she even know me? 

"blast!" 

Suddenly, a deafening sound reverberated through the air, accompanied by the sight of people armed to the teeth. 

Suddenly, without hesitation, I saw them aim at the alpha at the same time. "No!" I screamed as I saw them shoot him in his wolf form.