Lahat ng Kabanata ng Curse of the Lycan Kings: Kabanata 1 - Kabanata 10

Pippa's POVWith shaking, freezing hands, I unlock the side door of the church and stumble inside. I slam the door shut behind me and fall back against the solid wood, trying to gather my frazzled nerves.I had to run through a raging storm to get here today, and twice the lightning hit so close to me that I could smell the ozone in the air and every hair on my body stood on end.I inhale deeply, enjoying the comforting scent of the ancient old church before I shake myself like a wet dog, splattering water all over the familiar old stone floor and walls. I don’t care much, since I’m the one who’ll be cleaning it up.Shivering like a tired old cat, I make my way to the sacristy instead of the supply closet to get my cleaning equipment. I’m not generally allowed in the priests’ sanctum unless I’m cleaning it and one of them is with me, but the church is old and drafty and I’m in no mood to get another cold.I feel like an interloper when I quietly push the door to the sacristy open and

Pippa's POVIt’s going to be a difficult day.I had a long night. I kept waking with the stranger’s menacing voice in my head, “Are you lying to me, little girl?” followed by that bone-chilling howl that broke through the serene silence.My eyes are swollen and gritty, and as I walk down my short hallway to the bathroom, I keep bumping into the walls. I’m so tired I literally can’t walk straight.The shower does nothing to help - neither does the cup of strong coffee. I don’t even bother to eat. I just want to get this day over and done with.The priests and nuns have golf carts that they use to travel around the grounds, but I don’t have that luxury. I don’t even have a licence, because Miss Loretta didn’t think ‘my kind’ needed luxuries like driver’s licences. “You end up in one of three places,” she used to say. “In the convent, as a wife, or on your backs in a nasty hotel. None of those requires the ability to drive.”She was an awful woman. It’s a sin to hate, I know, but I think

Pippa's POV I stare into Father Adrian’s shocked face, and I am suddenly riddled with doubt. After what he said in the storage room and the church, I convinced myself that he wouldn’t mind if I asked him to stay, but clearly he does. “Nu-never mind,” I say, my voice trembling with embarrassment. “I will be okay.” Without a word, he takes the keys dangling from my shaking fingers, grips me by the elbow and steers and me in the direction of my flat. He looks around to make sure we’re not being watched before he unlocks the door and quickly slips inside. Adrian’s massive frame takes up half of my little entryway and I have to squeeze past him to get inside. “Do you want some tea?” I ask while nervously fiddling with the hem of the ugly t-shirt. I've never had a man in my house before. It's strange, but a little exciting at the same time. “I’ll make it,” he says, a deep frown of disapproval on his face as he looks around my living room. “You don’t have much in the way of security.”

Pippa's POVI couldn’t face going to church after what I did last night. The thought of looking Father Adrian in the eyes is just too much. Every time when I think about it, I burn with shame. What was I thinking, trying to seduce a priest?I get up at my usual time, but instead of changing into my church dress, I change into hiking gear, grab my backpack, and head out into the forest.The church property borders on a large national forest with beautiful hiking trails and streams so clear and clean that you can drink the water.Signs warn me to stay on the trails, but it’s one of the few rules I break. I often go off the trail, and in the two years I’ve lived on my own and allowed myself to do it, I’ve never gotten lost. It’s my superpower. No matter where I end up, I can always find my way back home.Singing softly to myself, I put the priest and the horror twins out of my head, and decide to enjoy the early morning quiet and the forest that I have all to myself today.I lose myself

Adrian's POVI went too far out into the woods, so it’s already sunrise by the time I make it back to the rectory and I'm late for my appointment with Pippa.The priests are still in their rooms, doing their morning prayers so my return goes unnoticed, but when I leave the bathroom after taking a shower, Father Abraham corners me in the hallway. “You’re back?”“Yes, Father,” I say. “An old parishioner texted me last night and asked if I’d go see them.”“Why?”I pull my phone with the fake text from Joseph out of my pocket and hand it to Father Abraham so he can read it. “His wife is dying, and he wants me to deliver her last rites.”Abraham’s eyes fly over the text. I have no idea why the man is so suspicious of me – I’ve never run into this problem before, but in a few hours this will all be in my past. He nods and gives me my phone. “How did you get back?”“The bus,” I lie smoothly. “And a very long walk.”This, for some reason, pleases the old priest. He smiles and nods. “You are v