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
I feel empty. I don't want to do anything. I just want to remain on my bed. However, another person reeks in my room. I push myself up and scan my room with my sleepy blurry vision. It's the thief sitting-pretty beside the table while reading a book for mages. Acro is on the table too. Another thing that astonishes me is the pile of gifts beside my bed. It's not my birthday! "You're finally awake," Zaeramil said, dropping the book on the table, then sitting on the chair like horseback riding to face me. "How long have I been asleep?" Hunger must be the reason why I feel empty. "Only 10 hours, I guess." "Then how come you say 'finally'?" I sigh and scratch my messy hair. "Because I'm bored." "You're bored because you're here. Why are you here?" He caresses his finger on Acro's breast. "I'm still interested in your owl." "Traitor..." I cast my eyes upon the gifts again, lift my butt out of the bed, then poke about it. "What are these?" "A doggo culture," he says, "they gi
Tomorrow is the formal enthroning. I opened up my plans with Matheo and he insisted on coming with me. He said that he handles the dimensional passages and shortcuts to make my travel back home faster. I'm packing the offerings to present to Cormelio. While changing my clothes, I tilt my head, wondering about the purpose of the ribbon on my ankle I've been wearing all this time. I unknot and stare at it as I try to recall where I got this. Yet as far as I can remember, I use it for communication in my wolf form. I left it inside a drawer. It'll not be useful in the future. When I open the door, I pause my every motion because of Cados and the werewolves waiting for me outside. This phalanx of Omegas already surrounds my room. Not for good news since they're all preparing their claws. Unfortunately, their tremor and the smell of cold sweat are obvious. Seems like they're compelled to face the monster. "What's going on?" Cados reaches for my shoulder for a friendly touch while his
I briskly rummaged for a new coat and proceeded to the hall of the palace. I enter, I walk, and I keep my glare fixed on Luna Maia who's sitting, as usual, in the circle of couches. This hall seems how it usually has been ever since the beginning. The only difference today is that all werewolves, except Luna Maia, are bowing their heads at me as I cross their spot. "Luna Maia, I need to talk with you privately." She gave a sign for the werewolves to leave us in this circle. I sat in front of her and threw questions without further ado. "Was it your plot to cage us inside a room for the rest of the night?" "..." She leans her back, elegantly sitting with her legs crossed. "It was. I lent her the help she needed to gain your love and trust. I hope you're aware of how dedicated she is to be the next Luna. Have you two reconciled?" "We did. That could be the only good news I brought for you today, Luna Maia. I've wasted so much time cooperating with your traditions knowing that I have
We've run miles in wolf form until we reach a train station. It's an isolated waiting shade beside the railway and few people are waiting there, covered with their thick winter clothes. We both shifted into humans again before we approached the station. Matheo said that this will take us straight to the metropolis of Lanbarc. We shake off the snow from our clothes while waiting. "Mr. Matheo, you sure are an extraordinary explorer." He laughs at the idea. "You'll understand if you become a lone wolf. You can travel or run wherever you want!" "Have you met werewolf hunters?" "A lot." The steaming train is ringing. All the waiting passengers fall in line. After the train releases passengers inside, the conductors collect the tickets at the threshold before we enter. I'm wearing the coat Cormelio gave me that turns my skin dark. And as I observe among the passengers, people with dark skin aren't treated as slaves, some of them were privileged to work here. The situation in Lanba
Now that the snowfall has been tamed, I gaze at the stars in front of the garden dome, leaning my arms on the flimsy fence of the farm. The moon is so beautiful in my eyes. A beauty that still cannot fill the emptiness I'm feeling. My eyes must be looking for a different beauty. The street is dark and silent when the light coming from the garden dome illuminates the road for a second as the door opens. I didn't look back for there's no need for it. Cormelio leans his arms on the fence, too. "Why are you here contemplating the unknown in a summer outfit?" He raised an eyebrow at me. I look at my thin sleeveless shirt, then giggle. "I don't feel cold at all." The emptiness I'm feeling makes me cold already. Snow has nothing to do with my drama. He speaks like a wry neighbor gossiper. "I've always been curious... You said you traveled all the way to Asfara. Have you not met a girl that," he playfully made a consecutive sound of smack kisses, "the adolescence out of you?" My mouth