"Gwen?" Odessa dubbed as she ambled around the little treehouse. She sniffed deeply, discovering she couldn't snag her friend's strawberry fragrance anyway. She shrugged.Then, her blue eyes went to the little furniture that stood in the middle of the space, her tongue running over her plump lips at the appetizing sight of roasted meat set on a bowl. Her mouth moistened as the aromatic scent broke through her sense of smell. Before she could help it, she rushed over to the little stool beside the table and sat herself down, leaning close as she sniffed in the aroma, this was so good.Odessa nodded, already cutting a piece off the meat but just when she was about to bring it to her mouth, her hand was clasped, and rapidly her head snapped up to be confronted with a pair of midnight blue orbs that somehow reminded her of a starless night. "What?" she snarled, yanking her hand out from his rather powerful grasp. Where did he come from? Earlier, Odessa was conclusive she didn't detect an

(FLASHBACK)Ten years old Gwen placed down the little stiff bucket of water in the front of the portable cabin she inhabited with her grandma and sisters.The little girl with crimson hair and unalloyed hazel eyes placed her hands on her hips, a vast grin sporting her face as she peered down at her accomplishment. She couldn't wait to tell her Grandma she has fetched water from the well and brought it back home without slipping any of it. She clapped her little hands happily, slightly ricocheting on her feet. Grandma would be so proud.With thoughts in mind, she ran to the back of the cabin, thrilled to tell her grandma but the little girl stopped dead in her tracks when she heard the wailing voice of her best friend, being pacified by their grandma Ola.Curiously, Gwen hid behind the edge of the hut and couldn't help but listen in on their dialogue."But she's your friend, Odessa" -Grandma Ola.Little Odessa wiped her tears-drenched face with the back of her palm. "Who cares Grandma,

So, this was how heartbreak felt like?Gwen sneered at the words as she stared thoughtlessly at the burning fire in front of her, in the fireplace, keeping the place warm since it was winter, not like they were cold, werewolves never get cold.It had been weeks since she and Odessa returned from the forest and nothing had been the same. Her heart and her friendship with Odessa had changed. Gwen tried to pretend nothing happened, the events in the forest were just her imagination but no matter how she strived, she could still see the sparks in his eyes when he smiled, she could still feel the lingers of his touch on her skin and the softness of his lips on hers, Gwen remembered all of it, she didn't want to let go, not yet!Unknowingly, a few pearls of tears dropped rolled down her face, dripping on the floor and bringing her to reality as she immediately wiped down away with the back of her palm and resumed her work of grinding a few herbs on a mortar.It wasn't worth it, she told her

While Gwen had dozed off into sleep, Odessa stayed awake, not looking from the burning pack till there was nothing but ashes and white smoke floating into the sky.Odessa sighed. "Rest in peace Grandma, thank you for taking care of me when I was abandoned by my parents, thank you for giving me a new life," She ducked her head, feeling gratified and a bit of remorse for the first time in her life.Suddenly, her sensitive ears caught the sound of paws thudding on the forest ground. Odessa immediately turned to Gwen, tugging her awake. Gwen stirred awake. "What is it?""Something is coming, we need to hide!"Gwen scrambled to her feet and grabbed Odessa's wrist, getting away from the obvious spot and hiding behind bushes and concealing their scents."Do you think it's the rogues that attacked our pack?" Gwen wondered in a hushed tone. "I don't think so," Odessa responded and they fixed their gazes on the center of their pack where the paws were headed. Patiently they waited and soon, m

Sluggishly, Gwen tailed behind Odessa's back as they shadowed Fedora, escorting them down the hall, passing numerous doors till they eventually paused in front of a particular one."This will be your room from now on," She enlightened while nudging the door open and they strode in, coming to a halt again as they looked around the room with blue wall painting, two large beds at both edges of the wall, a dress, a door leading to the bathroom and a blue rug at the middle of the room. "I will have someone bring in a desk and chairs," she veered at them, sporting a vast smile. "I hope you girls will get comfortable," Her eyes inspected them over, noticing their rumpled clothes. "I will have someone bring in new clothes and when you are settled enough, we will take you to the pack mall, there you can pick whatever you want,""Thank you, Mrs. Fedora," Odessa gleamed."Alright, freshen up and come down for dinner," She verbalized and ambled out of the room.Odessa turned to Gwen, acknowledgin