Phatinni leads us to where we can rest inside the castle rooms. It's the kind of palace where most of them have their own rooms, they're like living in the same house as one big family. There's neither rich nor poor among them. Some chose to have their separate roof. Matheo's family has a separate room from us, even Dandeline has her own as well. I told Phatinni that I'd like to stay in the same room as Dandeline's but she glared suspiciously at me. "You want to stay in the same room with a woman?" she questioned in a deep voice. "That's how comfortable we are with each other! And I don't have the slightest malicious thoughts." "Just abide with the rules, Hessuel," Dandeline said before she came inside her room. "No problem!" "Ngh— You were persistent a while ago..." Phatinni murmurs and I made a chuckle. There's no reason to be stubborn for she lends me a room right in front of Dandeline's. "Enjoy your rest here, Hessuel. Also, our fated Luna wants to deliver this message, p
"Alpha... Luna... Wait, what are those again?" "In humans," Luna Maia explains, "they are the King and Queen." I couldn't agree. Neither could I deny it after all they've done for me. The situation makes my fingers cold. I wouldn't like to spend my whole life with a 16-year-old stricter than her parents! The only opposing statement that flashed into my mind is, "But I am marked—" “We need to ask the moon’s will first regarding this,” Lanasia interrupted. "That’s right." Alpha Shio utters. "We would like to hear the signs as well." She lectures, "Keep in mind every word I'll say. Tomorrow, the moon shall smile at you during daylight if you are with the right woman. The moon shall not change if you and Sherizzah are not worthy to rule the white wolves together." Alpha Shio and Luna Maia agreed with the signs. They said that they would like to be informed once I met my mate here. And my choice will be between my very mate and Sherizzah. I only want Dandeline. Yet everyone is expe
I've been watching her back anxiously. She even looks different today. 'Tho it's fashionable for today's weather. Winter has completely poured itself onto anyone's skin. Her white dress remixes with the color of the snow, even her white umbrella. But about the moon's will... I remember what Lanasia told me before I existed here. When I think about it deeper, she's the fated Luna, and the strongest male wolf will be the next Alpha, especially now that Alpha Shio is about to lie down to his grave—as anyone can describe. The moon has been writing down our own path without my recognizing it consciously. I should be careful with the timing to reject her. "Hey, what's wrong?" I noticed too late that she stopped walking to face me. "When you saw me earlier, you looked like you'd seen a ghost. Is... that what humans call the living dead ones? Anyway, are you alright?" she asked while spinning the umbrella on her shoulder. "I'm okay. I lack sleep, that's all. And because you actually look
I've been staring at my necklace this whole time after the nap. The big question I have ever since been tackled. Few questions about the past are still unanswered in my thoughts. I can hear cheerful noises inside Matheo's room when I was about to knock. They're having fun, not even able to notice my opening the door. I found them playing a board game on the bed. A peaceful family after a long separation. I knocked on the opened door again and finally engrossed their attention. "Hessuel," Lanasia says, "would you like to join? We did not disturb you as you were sound asleep a while ago." "No." I dropped my sight at the board game again. "I only have a question to ask but I'll address it later." I step out of the room, then leave silently, staring at every step I make on the dolomite marble floor. I need extended time to recover... that is my thought while watching the waterfalls. Carefree bonding and happiness of my family remained in the past. It all came to pass and brought only
"Silence, men!" Luna Maia warned, standing firm in front of her seat. The wolves look down on the floor. None dared to look at the Luna in the eye. "I will not allow disharmony and violence amongst us, Shio!" Other than that, none else dared to speak against her. After a momentary fuming silence, Alpha Shio sighed, then proclaimed his decision. "Alright... I don't want resentment in our pack either. I can see how important this friend to you is. But I warned you. Cados," he called, "lead him the way to the penitentiary." "Right away!" Cados responds submissively. He throws a glance at me before shifting, ["This way!"] He left the hall through the doorway behind me. I bow my head for the Alpha and Luna. "Thank you," I said, then ran after Cados. I ran with two legs alongside him. It's meters away from the borders of the palace, inside the dark woods, in the mouth of a giant stone cavern we enter. Hopping above the piles of half-buried rocks. Stepping cautiously because of the d
Lanasia and her family are waiting for us on the terrace behind the waterfall. We got splattered when we passed through and landed safe and sound except that I almost slipped. I lift Dandeline with my arms again and took her inside her room urgently while Lanasia keeps throwing questions. It took an hour for both of us to rest and recover. For now, none else will visit her but only her acquaintances. After a momentary rest, Dandeline can lift herself again. She's leaning at the headboard, Lanasia is sitting at the side of the bed, I'm at the white royalty chair provided beside, and Matheo with his son is at the window ledge. Lanasia hands me over a mug of tea, one for Dandeline as well. "That will support your body to regain strength faster," she said. I saw a tiny spark swirling in the tea before I took a sip. The silence afterward holds back the words that must be told. Uncomfortable interaction. I wandered my eyes around until it landed on Lanasia's. We both glance at Dandeline
I spent the rest of the day lying down and staring at the cuff on my wrist. ["Daydreaming. Always daydreaming."] Letting out a sigh, I drop my arms on the bed and reply to Acro, "This place is driving me crazy." It's complimenting to imagine the white wolves will serve me, that I got the genuine blessing for Alphas, and to accept the consecration means to shoulder the responsibilities. My Luna will be the fated one. Which means that I can't be with the woman I desire. If this is the work of the moon, how shall I defy it? Or can I? I'm already born in the oath of having the blood of a silver wolf flowing in my veins. The situation of this age I woke up to is dire. Or it's just my responsibilities from the past haunting me. It'll probably fill half of my life in guilt if I run away again. If I become the Alpha, I have to stay here, away from the people I've grown up with. Far from those people who helped me reach this place. Far from the life that I used to have. Or else I can have
I'm addicted to her smell. The snow subsided outside. I watch it fall gradually from my position in the bed. Dandeline is sound asleep in my arms, her naked body in contact with mine. I've been sucking the scent of her hair this morning. Inevitable smiles streak as I recall what we had last night. Finally, she opens her sleepy eyes and looks up at me. And I want her to see her favorite eyes first thing in the morning. She reaches my cheek with her soft hand and raises a gentle kiss on my lips. There could never be a happier morning than this. I lean on top of her, then brush her lips with my gentle sticky kisses. When my kisses arrived on her neck, I saw my bite mark turning into a scar. I kiss it and ask, "Does it hurt?" "Hmm, a pain in pleasure." "You're going to be a werewolf soon." "Huh?" "Because you're bitten. Your cells mutate your genes to make you a werewolf. Just like zombies. If a zombie bites you, you'll become one of them." "They don't work the same." "What if