LOGINTeresa The cold water I bathed myself with this morning didn’t do much to reassure me, but I knew I had to move on. My mother’s time was up, and it was about time I accepted it. I pulled the closet open, my eyes trailing over the clothes there. For a moment, my mind went blank. If my mother didn’t pass the way she did, would anything have gone wrong? I convinced myself that she did her best. Most people’s souls wouldn’t be able to hold on for that much longer. Settling for a flowery dress, I pulled it out of the wardrobe and laid it on the bed. Then a scent filled the room. For some reason, I couldn’t recognize it. Was that a maid or a guard? Who could it be? The door opened with a silent swish. I didn’t turn. Whoever it was can announce themselves and why they came. “Teresa,” a male voice echoed. Strikingly familiar. Bennett. I turned around, failing to keep the smile off my face. “You’re back,” I beamed, walking towards him and wrapping him in a hug. He didn’t re
Keller The air from outside rippled the curtains, and they swayed slightly, occasionally giving me a peek of the moon outside. I was sure my brothers were still waiting for Teresa outside her mother’s room. Either way, I was sure they would move on when they didn't see anyone come through the door. They might busy themselves with whatever kept them occupied while I was taking care of pack matters. A small nagging feeling came to my chest, but I ignored it. One night looking after Teresa is something they can survive. And it’s not like there’s anything going… “Keller?” Teresa’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts. I met her eyes looking at me in the dark, illuminated by the small ray of the moon outside. I reached for the lamp on the bedside table and flipped the switch. Warm, yellow light illuminated the room, bouncing off on side of Teresa’s face. “Teresa,” I muttered. “You’re awake. How are you feeling?” For a moment, she hesitated. I wondered what she must be go
Keller “I’m sure there are better ways to make this work, Elder Malone,” I said to the elder. When a maid came to whisk Teresa off, I thought I’d be able to join her, but Elder Malone, one of Brock’s council advisors stopped me. Because I knew how important his position was and how invaluable he’d become once I take over as Alpha, I knew I had to pay attention to him. “It’s the way it has always been done since the foundation of the seven packs, Keller,” the elder continued. “We’ll need to shift your coronation to the time of the constellation, and until the constellation council releases a date, we’ll have to exercise some patience.” “Does that mean we don’t get to plan?” “Of course not,” he croaked. “I’m just saying that it will do us a lot more good if we don’t make any plans set in stone just yet. Because the constellations might determine your coronation to happen in the next nine months.” “Or might say it’s tomorrow,” I quickly added. “That would make us sitting duck
Teresa My feet moved as fast as they could as I dashed through hallways and stairs, heading for my mother’s room. My heart thudded within my chest, and a lot of things ran through my mind. I wondered if the energy Gretta lifted a moment ago was the reason my mother couldn’t wake up all this time. I thought about what could be going on through her head, how she’d look at me. Would she look at me with those eyes of hatred, or would she be eager to see me? There was only one way to find out. I approached the door to her room and tumbled through, panting, my lungs burning. Milinda’s eyes were open, looking at nothing in particular at the ceiling. My heart welled with joy. “Mother?” It took a moment, but she turned toward me. I scampered towards her, slumping into a chair and taking her hand. “Mother, I’m glad you made it.” “Te… Teresa,” she called. I squeezed her hand lightly, tears welling up in my eyes. “It’s good to have you back, mother.” Her breathing was fragile, and
Teresa A month had gone by, and all Milinda left me with was still that twitch of her fingers, and nothing else. I was standing in her room, watching her as I’ve always done in the last thirty days, hoping that she’d twitch again as usual, but nothing.“Mother,” I called, hoping she could hear me. “Please come back to me. I’d accept you the way you are.”She didn’t move. She didn’t twitch. Her eyes remain shut.The only proof of life was her inconsistent pulse, which the healer confirmed was normal. A small swish of the door snapped me back to reality. I turned to see Keller walk in with his brothers and a strange old woman.“Teresa?” Keller called.“You’re here,” said Lynch. “Thank goddess.” I blinked from one person to the other, waiting for one of them to tell me what was going on.“Uh, this is Gretta,” Keller gestured to the woman. “Gretta, this is Teresa, our mate, and over there is her mother. We were hoping you’d be able to revive her.”The woman looked at me as if she were
Teresa Days passed after that, and my mother didn’t respond. Occasionally, I would go to her room to check on her, to see if she’ll move again like she did the other day, but nothing happened. I’d spend hours waiting for her to wake up, but she won’t react. Sometimes, I ended up leaving her room whenever I got tired. Sometimes, the brothers would be the ones who would lead me out. I wanted to live with my mother again, even if it was just for one minute. I wanted to talk to my mother, the real Milinda, without anything possessing her, but as the days progressed, it looked like I may never experience that.This was two weeks after I’d recovered. I was in Milinda’s room, sitting beside her bed, her hand in mine. She was still as she’d always been, eyes closed. Face pale. It was almost as if she had died.“Mother,” I called. “I don’t know if you can hear me, but I need you to come back to me, even if it’s just for twelve hours. I know we may not have had the best relationship… but
LynchI may have told my brothers that I’ve got this taken care of, but the truth of the matter was that I didn’t know where to start.This world didn’t come with directions or a map. There was no sun either.No way to
TeresaI couldn’t get my mind off the last visit. I was back to my usual self, thanks to the herbs, and I was fine now.But I still couldn’t get my mind off the motivations behind the Luna’s visit. If she visited me, something must be moti
TeresaI couldn't tell how many days had gone by. The light from the window wasn't doing enough justice, and I was too tired to think of anything but my healing.The herbs and the treatments the healer administered the other day were a complete wast
TeresaThe pain from the silver cuffs made me feel like I was slowly being erased from the earth. I was peeled, burned, and shaped into something weaker.I was in my worst possible state, and the pain didn’t fade. It wasn't dull. It was







