CHAPTER 23“Whoever told you that I lost my mind doesn’t know anything about me,” she said. She sounded sincere and genuine, but the person who told me she was crazy was the only teenager by I trusted in this town.I trusted Gelo more than her. I also believed that Gelo could lie to me for the better. Or he may even don’t know the truth about Mila. Or what he said was the absolute truth and Mila’s turning crazy to make me think that the things she was saying were real.“How can I know if you’re telling the truth or just fooling me?” I took a step back. She could grab me instantly or put a knife in my belly. I don’t want to be kidnapped again. That night when the teachers kidnapped me was one of my haunting moments.She let out a sigh and touched my wrist. “Come with me inside. I can’t tell you everything here.” She was about to pull me inside when I stayed at my place. I won’t go with a stranger like her.“I don’t trust you. I won’t go with you.”Her lifeless eyes blinked. She was pal
CHAPTER 24I left Mila shortly after the confusion. She told me, “This isn’t the end for the two of us.” Which crept me out because she’s still a stranger to me. What if she was imagining things that didn’t happen. That the Alpha of the pack in this town wasn’t the one who killed her parents. I don’t know what to believe anymore because that woman was going to mess up my mental health if I thought of her more.What if it was true? That she’s just pretending to be crazy to save her life. That she’s somehow connected to the Alpha because he’s the one who killed her family. I somehow relate to her. If we join forces, we’ll be able to find out who killed my parents as well.She’d been living her life in this town for at least thirty-five years, based on how I see her age though she looked like she’s in her late forties because of her whisky hair. But my brothers wouldn’t let me cooperate with a person I didn’t know. As far as I’m concerned, humans, especially crazy ones, made up most of t
CHAPTER 25“You talked to her?” Gelo asked, not furious and not calm. He was shocked by what I said. Even my old self couldn’t believe what I did. I talked to the woman they pertain to as ‘crazy’ or ‘someone who lost her mind’.I crunched my waist, left and right. “She wasn’t crazy at all. She’s completely fine,” I insisted. The information Gelo has for this town was incomparable to what I know, but there’s a chance I could be the right one. If Mila has sufficient information that might help me, I could connect those to the death of Mom and Dad. The truth will prevail. A gift I wanted before I avoid myself in this town and attend university. “She didn’t harm me. I don’t see any possible harm from her. I think she wanted to make a deal with me.”“Why don’t you just listen to me, Cath? Mila’s crazy. She lost her mind. Everybody knew that.”“What if you’re wrong? She might be the missing piece in the death of my parents. She’s also lost her parents. According to her, the Alpha killed her
CHAPTER 26Entering someone’s property is prohibited. Basic ethics and morals, as what teachers or priests taught us. Chaz will give me answers. So I headed alone to his place without informing Gelo. Then I heard him screaming for help. In pain. In danger. I forcefully opened the door and thought Kaz was about to kill him. It turned out, that I’m the one on the wrong side. I illegally entered, and stopped them from what they were doing earlier“What are you doing here, Cath?” This time, Chaz’s voice turned mad or serious. His brows crossed while Kaz remained calm and bland. Based on how they’re reacting right now, they weren’t planning to kill each other earlier.I trailed with my first words. “I visited you to ask something you might have an answer for. Aside from Nana’s family, you’re the only one I can trust. Before I even call your name, I heard you screaming for help. I saw Kaz, half-naked, though he’s going to kill you. And then…” I gasped for breath. I don’t know what to say an
CHAPTER 27“You knew her personally?” A lesson I learned in this town was that asking a few people would uncover truths in a mystery. Chaz only told me a few details yet they helped me to get to know Mila well.Chaz bobbed his head. “We’ve been friends. I’m not sure why they call her crazy. She lost her parents, but she’s not the type who will grieve like that. She’s tough. A contender for a fearless woman. We lost in translation when my parents died. She stopped training and I stopped seeing others.”I was about to speak when he continued.“The two of us…” His adam’s apple moved. “Were really great friends while training. A human and a werewolf, but there’s no discrimination in between. She’s the first, the only one who kept my secret that I like guys. We realized we’re not that different from one another. Then my parents were killed. Why are you asking me again, Catherine?”“She talked to me. She told me I was the key to justice for her parents. She knew what happened to me, that my
Chapter 28Mila did not lie in telling me that the two of us are the same. We have the same goals. Justice and the truth. For now, she’s my other half—my partner. She needed me, to the same degree how I needed her. We both decided that I will only visit her when I have an update or at least once a month. We don’t have a time frame for our plan. It’s better to conduct it safely and carefully.By Saturday, we had another physical training. I felt stronger than before though my muscles were gushing with pain and soreness. They were roaring, wanting to escape from the pain. I never had physical training or even work out intensely before. My body wasn’t used to that. I already told Chaz about it but he wasn’t listening. Everyone, even the newbie, got hard on themselves earlier.I realize I might grow abs with our training. When I was in middle school, it had always been my wish to have abs. High school women that are passing by our house were sexy and have abs. I’ve been promising myself s
Chapter 29Angelo liking me was the most hilarious thing I heard in the past few weeks. It’s not that Angelo is ugly—he was damn attractive, kind, a literal boy-next-door type since he’s my neighbor. I admit that he’s likable. But what am I? I’m just a half-blood and he’s a pure werewolf. A type who wasn’t interesting at all.I never had the chance to ask him what are his reasons for why he liked me. I wish it was a joke, but he looked so serious about it. If I let myself attach to the thought, I wouldn’t be able to focus. My goal was to find the ones who killed my parents and help Mila, who’s still on the verge of thinking that the alpha was the one who killed hers. I wasn’t here to break my virginity and have a relationship.Chaz let us grab a set of bow and arrows. I never knew I would be practicing archery. If I would be part of a school’s sports team, I’ll join cross country and not freaking archery. This time, we had to learn it as a weapon. I don’t know what’s the point with th
CHAPTER 30“Gwen, can I take a look at your essay on history? I badly need inspiration,” Aki said. We’re inside the library, one of the safest places if we wanted silence and peace while studying and making our assignments. We had to make an essay about the cold war and it’s due in our class later. I don’t know why Aki did not make his assignment at home.“What if I don’t want to? You’ve been playing video games most of the time when you’re at home, and now you’re telling me you don’t have an essay that’s due a few hours from now?”“Gwen, I’m sorry. It’s just I don’t have the motivation to study? Who does?” They both glanced at me. The person who finished her assignments earlier than the due, who always perfect her quizzes and tests, and was complimented by the teacher most of the time. “Of course, it’s Catherine. Now I wonder if humans are more capable of learning than werewolves.”“I just like it. I love learning,” I said. And I also love to pass UCLA or Yale to leave this freaking
FINAL CHAPTERScreams of wolves, whispers of blood, and cries of battle filled in the dawn. My forces, my alliance, the good side of the war is about to win. I did not expect the amount of minions and troops that my father has. He has a lot, almost outnumbering us.I noticed they weren’t trained enough. Some of them were forced. One was a teenage guy whom Gelo spared a life because the guy explained he was scared of what the alpha might do to their family so he unleashes in the fight. However, some are straight-up evil. Just like the alpha, they believed that this is fun. A wholesome entertainment until I came upon and slit their throat with my slasher claws.I’m a bit tired. If this wasn’t a huge fight, I would’ve opted for a coffee break. I need that. Just like how I crave it when I’m reading a book at the very late hours of the night. But no, there’s no way I could until this ends.The alpha is gone. He’s missing. One of the troops, now dead, said the alpha’s family already fled o
Chapter 60As the sun falls into the horizon, the people, or should I say the werewolves, of the town of Dusk and Dawn starts to gather at our place. Tonight the alpha’s madness will end. Tonight, everything will be more normal and free. No more threats and darkness. Only good, light, and life.“We’ll become a victor,” Jay told me while he was in the process of wearing the protective gear Nana personally made for him and Mom. They were the only humans to fight. Heroes, I believe. “It felt like I’m going in a fantasy war with these yet I have a small knife instead of a sword.”“It’s sharp though,” I said, trying the knife on my skin. A little more pressure and it will cut my skin. Nana told them to their brains or the heart. This knife will surely pierce through those body parts. “I’m scared.”“On what aspect?”“To fail. I have planned this. I have committed to this. The scary news is that it is really gonna happen.”Jay faced me and touched my face using his palms. “Darkness won’t end
Chapter 59Gelo wasn’t talking or even showing up to me for days. I hate that it happens because I love talking to him. In this town, he is my favorite person to talk to. My best friend. My boyfriend. But I do understand why. His father died. Another person in his family died. And as far as I know, his greatest fear is losing a person who’s been a huge part of his life.I swear I wanted to talk to tell him I’ll be by his side no matter what happens. I’ve been through what he’d been through before. I lost three important people in my life. Then I found out how fucked up my life is. Being the daughter of the worst man on the planet.“It wasn’t your fault,” Gwen told me when she came over to visit. “You didn’t do anything. It’s just it is that bastard who kills almost anyone.”She wrapped me in her presence. I’ve been longing for this feeling. Gwen is the only female friend I have in this town. I don’t know if I can treat Stacy and other women the same. Gwen listens. It’s just we rarely
Chapter 58“Mom.” I smiled at my mother who died months ago. “Dad.” And to my father who died with her the same night. “I’m sorry if I broke your rule of consulting you out before having a boyfriend. But I have one.”I expected them to throw killer grin at me. I expected them to shout at me for breaking their rule. In the neighborhood I lived in, it is normal for teenagers my age to date a whole set of men. My parents were different. They won’t let me unless I tell them. Maybe my brothers were the only exception, or maybe I am the exception to this neighborhood’s culture.I opened the door so Gelo could enter. He wore his wide and happy smile as he greets my parents on a very nice day. We all sat on the couch, everyone has their own teacup of the hibiscus tea my parents like to bring whenever they’re on a vacation from different states.We all chattered even though I couldn’t understand anything. We were just… talking. Nonstop. My parents seemed so happy to finally meet Angelo. It all
CHAPTER 57This could have been my perfect date with my boyfriend, who happens to be my only best friend in this town. I thought that the place Gelo picked is a safe one. It happens that the alpha is going to be here, ruining my fucking date.He grinned like he wins a reality television show where the father caught his daughter dating someone he doesn’t want to. Why does he always think he’s winning? Why does he’s always the one with power? Is it because he is the leader of the werewolf pack in this town? Or because he is a man?Just because he’s a man, it doesn’t mean he can claim everything he wants.He can never take me away from the family that took care of me. He already killed my brother, Mom, and Dad.After all, he never became a father to me.“What are you doing here?” I asked. Galo rushed behind me. He touched and caressed my hand which somehow calmed my system. The man in front of us is the one who ruined lives in this one. The antagonist of everyone’s story and I don’t nee
CHAPTER 56Gelo asked me on a date! I feel like a normal teenager asked by her long-time crush to go on a date. I never knew what a date feels like. I badly wanted to experience the right person.A perfect date in my head is when a person waits for you outside your house with his fancy car and a bouquet of roses and chocolates in his hand. That’s romantic, even in books.But reality struck me. After fixing myself on my spring-themed dress, I got down to face Angelo. He didn’t bring any bouquet of roses, just a stem on his hand and neither he has a car as well. But that’s love. Neither person or date is perfect. The world was just cruel to provide that for us.I do love Angelo, that’s the only thing that matters for now.“You’re going on a date?” Mom asked me. She pretends to be the evil stepmother who will do anything so the princess could not go on a date. “You’re not even asking me and telling me everything.”“I swear I forgot. Ever since I came here, Angelo’s been the person who we
CHAPTER 55“Chaz! Chaz!” I rushed to Chaz’s house the next day. He should know what we are planning and I know he’s going to join us. He’s one of those I knew who was wronged by the alpha so badly.Chaz didn’t answer. I was so excited to enter his house without knocking. Gladly, it wasn’t locked.The house smelled plain. I saw Chaz making out with Kaz in their living room. Holy shit! My innocent eyes! “Oh, Catherine. Can’t you knock for once?” Chaz said. “You came to bother us.” He stood up from the sofa, as well as Kaz. They only have their boxers on their bodies. I faced my back to them and waited to wear their clothes. “I’m gonna sue you next time. You can face us now.”“I’m sorry. I was just too excited to see you. I forgot that the last time I got here, you were doing the same with Kaz. I promise not to do it again.”“Don’t promise things you can’t accomplish, kid. So what’s with your commotion on ruining my morning sex with the love of my life?”I told him the story. What he ne
CHAPTER 54Their jaws dropped. They didn’t expect what I’ve said. But that’s the very best thing that I know that could benefit everyone. Not just me but every family who lost someone because of the alpha.“The alpha killed Mom, Dad, and Felix. He killed more people from what we knew. He manipulates people. He’s using his power.”“But you’re not a killer, Catherine!” That’s the first time Jay shouted at me. “Do not let your instrusive thoughts to ruin you. You can’t become this kind of person. I know you’re not like that.”“Cath, as much as I want to kill that man. As much as I want to give him waht he deserves, I don’t want my only daughter to become a killer. You can’t hold a knife and just kill somebody. Please.”“I talked to him last night.”Spoons clattered on plates when I said that. Gelo almost choke himself as well. Maybe telling them the truth will make them understand my point more. I have to tell them this now. I know the alpha. He won’t stop getting what he wants until he
CHAPTER 53I shouldn’t feel bad about what I did to my father, but why I am crying on my way back home? It was midnight and it was cold, so I could feel the tears warming up my face. I never longed for a father, even before. My past Mom and Dad were there. I never feel any complications in our relationship. I felt full. I felt loved.But when I saw him when he touch him. I felt a pang inside my chest. This man is my father. And this man killed the ones I loved. It wasn’t because I want us to be a complete family. We can’t be like that. My heart aches because the truth is my father is a killer. And I have to live with that truth until the day that I die. It wasn’t a history to tell. It’s a carved mark on my identity.Although there wasn’t any noise on my way, I don’t feel that everything is silent and quiet. My mind was attacking me with all of my thoughts. What are Mom and Alpha living better? What if they got to each other? What if the mess didn’t happen? What if Mom, Dad, and Felix