CHAPTER 3
The place was a sanctuary to me. I finished the book that I was reading without being distracted on scrolling through social media platforms and watch short videos about books instead of reading. My brothers were glad that I finally got out from my shell and started exploring.
When we had dinner, they warned me again on not staying outside during the night. They’ve been at home earlier, before the sun sets. Because of that, I would want to see the sunset and ran back home during the night.
“Where are you going?” Felix asked me while he’s reading a book.
“Running around the town.”
He nodded. “Don’t go that far away. It’s already afternoon and don’t go home after sunset.”
“Fine,” I answered and disappeared inside our house. Felix would’ve been a perfect father to a child if he decided to be one. He had a girlfriend back then but I’m not sure what happened to them. Maybe they broke up because the girl stopped from visiting our home.
Jay also had one before. A genius woman, an honor student in her high school, wanting to take law after her undergraduate degree in college. Jay was more open to tell me that they broke up because law would be that girl’s priority after she finished college. Why can’t she mix up things and not break up with my finest brother?
I don’t know if Jay cried after that. We all have separate rooms back then. Now that we moved into a smaller home, he and Felix were already sharing one with each other.
I opened the book the moment I arrived at my favorite spot near the river. Butt on the ground, hands on the book, eyes on the page, mind into a new world. I don’t know how long I can focus while reading in this place. This was an nice place with nice air to read for an hour straight. Then I remembered that my brothers didn’t like me to stay here until the sunsets. But they couldn’t do anything about that. That’s why I will stay here until the time I wouldn’t able to read the words on the page.
The world I was forced into was more magical than I expected. It felt like I was living inside it, the words were devouring me into it. I wish life was like books, bad things were not real and mostly it’s a happy ever after.
I only had to end it when someone grabbed the book from my hand. That’s when I noticed that it’s already dark around. Not the pitch black darkness, but the kind of darkness that creeps out on me. Why does the night in this town looked darker than before?
I raised my head, also my eyebrows, to the guy who grabbed my book. He’s thin but not sluggish. Tall, carved face, and attractive. This was the first time I saw an attractive person in this place. He looked like an angel or a campus crush. Still, he grabbed my book without my permission.
I thought he was going to flirt with me, use his sexy ways after pissing me off. “What are you doing in here?” He was serious. I can see it through his eyes.
“I read. Isn’t it obvious?” I don’t care about his looks or how dark he feels. He grabbed my book and stopped the peak of my reading experience. He’s a stranger and could be a dangerous person.
He’s wearing a uniform, maybe a student in the university nearby. And he doesn’t know me so why did he care.
I grabbed my book, hug it close to my chest. “Also why did you grab my book from me?”
He didn’t say a work until a howl crept us. It sounds like wild beast… or dog. He quickly grabbed my hand, not too tight or light, and ran away from the woods. I didn’t know what he was trying to do. But I was scared of the howl as well. Can a guy like him was also scare of that sound?
“Where are we going?” I asked halfway back home. I recognized that path and knew that it was the same way I walked before.
“Keep you voice low. They might hear us.” He was almost whispering, gasping of air. Maybe he was tired of running. He looked better and more handsome because of the sweat he has all over his face, even on his hands that touched me.
“Who? Who can hear us?” I copied the volume of his voice. I’m new in this town and I don’t know if there were killers or kidnappers in this place. And I even don’t know if this man I am trusting is safe! “And I’m not sure if I’m safe with you. What if you’re the one who’s going to do harm on me?”
He clicked his tongue, glanced left and right. When he saw nothing, he gazed back at me. “I’m Nana’s grandson. I guess you already met her.”
I didn’t see any patterns of Nana on his fac.e Maybe he didn’t inherited any of her features. Or her features were already smothered due to her age so I wasn’t able to see it through him.
So what should I call him? Nana’s boy? Nana’s guy? I don’t even know his name!
After running and escaping from the thing he’s scared of, we arrived in our home. I’m not sure if my brothers already met him, but they looked so worried about me. Thankful on this handsome stranger. Nana was also sitting on our couch. I don’t know if she was smiling or her reaction was just bland.
“Where have you been, Catherine?” Felix asked. Brows furrowed and his voice was mad again.
“Read my book near the lake.”
“I thought you were already in danger.” Jay sighed. He hugged me. I’ve always loved hte comfort of my brother. Before anything else, why were they that worries about me being outside during the night. They knew how much I love watching the stars and the sky.
“You’re still not listening on me, Cath!” Felix said. He glanced at the strange guy. “Thank you for looking out on her, Angelo.”
So that was his name? Angelo. I thought it would have been a more complicated one because of how he looks. I guessed his parents were tired of thinking names for him.
Jay released my body. “You should thank him.”
I turned to Angelo, a bit of smile was on his face. “Thank you. But can you tell me why are we running away from the night? It wasn’t even midnight. And what’s the howl that I heard?
My brother’s face turned pale. Everyone didn’t even open their mouths. My eyes focused on Nana.
“Werewolves, dear. Humans that turns to wolves. Like us. Like everybody in this town.”
Like them? Was Nana saying that they were also werewolves? They were the same creatures like the ones who killed my parents?
We left our previous home because our parents were killed by werewolves. And now, we’re living in a village full of them? Even these people, not actually humans, were like them?
“How? If you’re like them, then you’re also capable of killing me and my brothers? Werewolves are killers. They killed Mom and Dad!”
I can’t help but to turn emotional. The same night my parents were killed came back to me like a precious memory. Except that it wasn’t precious. It was a nightmare.
As far as I can remember, my brothers brought me here because they said this place was safe from those creatures. They said that if we stay from our previous home, I would be in danger. How come that this place was safe when I just ran from the night?
“You’re not like your brothers and sisters. This young girl has difficulties in understanding,” Nana said as if her words were magical. Was she saying that I have a problem in my brain?
“They were not like them, Cath. They weren’t part of any pack. They were good werewolves and they will not hurt you. They took care of us when we’re younger. They promised our parents that if something happened to them, Nana’s family were the ones who’s going to take care of us,” Felix explained. This was one of those moments where he’s calm and not scary.
“Cath, do you remember when Mom and Dad always tell us stories about werewolves?”
I reconciled that moment. Mom and Dad were telling us a stroy about a family of werewolves who were bullied most of the time because they weren’t Beta or Alpha. They can’t be Nana and her family though the main character of my parents’ story was an old woman who has the exact features like Nana.
“I remember. I thought they were kind back then. But they are the same creatures who killed them.” I strode to Angelo. Our faces didn’t have any distance. “If you’re also like them, tell me who killed Mom and Dad!” I shook his hard body a little bit. “Tell me!”
I let my tears fall from my eyes. The revelation I had hit me directly to my face. Overwhelmed, the only word I can describe to myself.
Angelo shook of his head, clueless of my question. “I’m afraid we don’t know about it as well.”
I can’t accept it.. I can’t embrace anything when I’m overwhelmed and thoughts were scattered in my mind. They brought me here because Nana’s family are going to guard us, and no one from them knew who killed Mom and Dad. The thought of living in a town full of shapeshifters shivered my whole body. From this day forward, my life wouldn’t stay the same. No, it already flipped when some other creatures attacked our house and killed my parents.
There must be a reason. I can’t be something special that they wanted to capture like the chosen one characters I’ve read in books. Was I?CHAPTER 4Tornado, that’s a word I can describe in my current situation. Strong winds and twists flipped my world upside down. Was there something I didn’t know about myself? I don’t completely believe in them. Everyone in here cannot be werewolves. There must be humans somewhere else.I was stunned even after Angelo and Nana left the house before we had our quiet dinner. No one talked about what happened again. But Felix pleased me that I should be more careful about my actions.I don’t want to believe them that this town was full of werewolves. I haven’t seen Nana or Angelo turn into werewolves. Even last night, I only heard the scary sound and growls but there are no creatures who appeared in front of me.In the first place, I wouldn’t believe in werewolves if I hadn’t seen them kill my parents before. Having another creature living in this world was unbelievable. It sounded like a fantasy.At the same t
CHAPTER 5I don’t know what Angelo means by not trusting anyone. I don’t trust him either. I was forced to trust his family for the sake of our safety. Not trusting others was an easy task for me. I don’t talk to strangers, especially social people who only know how to talk a lot.Angelo’s first class was different than mine. My brothers were familiar with my previous classes that’s why they picked the same for me. I picked AP US History before because I thought that would be amazing and entertaining. I was wrong. The teacher we had was boring. It felt like an hour of speech and not an engaging lecture. I took European History back in junior year and the teacher was great. In US History, we are forced to finish a certain number of pages for the recitation next class.I do love reading. Being a reader since I was a child was an advantage for that class. It took me a few minutes to read fifty pages while others took more than an hour.
CHAPTER 6For my next days as a high school student in the community high school, Angelo became my walking buddy. It wasn’t awkward between the two of us. Aside from Saturdays, we get to spend other days with each other. He’s a more open person than I thought of. I guessed I earned my first friend in this town.I was waiting for him when Nana offered me cookies. It looked like a normal cookie, then I remembered that she was a werewolf. I’m afraid there’s something in the ingredient of that cookie.“It’s a normal treat, dear. You don’t have to be scared of us. I told you to trust us,” she said and I accepted the cookie.Inside their house, I saw a family picture near the television set. Angelo got his features from his mother. They almost looked the same. His brother was also good-looking like him though they didn’t have the same face. His sister, like his brother and Gelo, was also attractive. I guesse
CHAPTER 7My parents were covered with blood. I was at the staircase and they were at the door. Werewolves did these things to them. And I wasn’t able to save them.They were screaming for help. They screamed for pain. I couldn't move my body from my position. I want to run towards them. I want to help them to stand out. But I was frozen in my place.“You’re always my girl, Cath,” Daddy said in a low monotone voice. His voice sounded like he was losing blood.“You’re always our baby.” My mom smiled despited of the pain she was struggling with.I love you Mom and Dad, I thought to myself. I wasn’t able to let it through my mouth. I love them and I wished I was able to protect them.My eyes opened. Everything was a dream. A nightmare. I found myself in a dark place. Old classroom chairs, broken tables, dirt on the ground. I was tied around a chair. Where am I?I almost forgot that Mr. Higg
CHAPTER 8Jay was massaging my nose with an ice pack. There’s a stream of blood that bled from it earlier. The way Ms. Durrant spanked my face with the plank must be that hard to cause bleeding.Angelo saved me. I don’t know what happened to me if he didn’t arrive there. Those three teachers must’ve killed me. The two other werewolves he was with were Minnie and Sage. The two of them looked the same as what I saw in their picture frame.The night was already dark when we left the basement of that building. There was no other person in the school aside from the three teachers who kidnapped me, me, and three people who saved me. The school was surprisingly open during the night even without bodyguards. We’re lucky that we didn’t encounter any wolves. I mean, there were werewolves in human form around. But none of them shapeshifted into a wolf.“What happened, Catherine?” Felix asked. He wasn’t mad at this moment. Instead, worries were planted all over his face. If it’s my fault that I w
CHAPTER 9Gwen and Aki chaired themselves on both of my sides. Their face was curious. I knew they were going to ask about what happened yesterday. I had to thank them for telling Angelo where I was. They indirectly saved my life.“I’m flattered to see that you’re perfectly fine. We knew what happened yesterday,” Gwen said. Her dazzling hair was blown by the wind coming from the outside. I hope they were not gaining my trust for the worst-case scenario. I reminded myself to socialize with them but not put my trust in the first place.“We’re still unable to shapeshift. We knew Gelo already learned how to shapeshift. Our parents were slaves of betas. Fighting them would put our life at stake,” Aki explained. Then he narrated a whole lot of a story about his friendship with Gwen since they were kids. Unfair justice was also applicable in the life of these werewolves. We can’t go wrong on our steps, especially if we’re going to face the higher-ups.“Don’t worry that much about me. Angelo
CHAPTER 10Today, my brothers will kill me. At least on the inside. I have to tell them my decision on training with Angelo wherever he was training. This wasn’t for my safety—for them. The family who took care of me. This was my way to give back on their efforts on me.I expected Felix would open up a hot debate about the matter. They won’t let me go. For them, it would be too dangerous. They didn’t want me to open up as a half-blood werewolf. They wanted to keep things normal to me. But life wouldn’t be normal because I’m different. And I belong to these creatures living in this town.Felix was watching a thriller action movie on our television—Jay was folding clothes. I choked my fears as I approached them.“Catherine,” Felix muttered. He has strong instincts as he felt my presence though I wasn’t too close to him. “You need anything?”We weren’t siblings only in paper. He’s my brother because of our connection.“I don’t. I have to tell you something.” He picked the remote lying on
CHAPTER 11The training grounds look like a gym.There were a few attractions like hurdles and sit-ups. It wasn’t a typical training ground where we are going to train outside. There’s an apartment-like house near the low-lying grasses. Inside the building, there were gym types of equipment like stationary bikes and things I don’t know the name of. I wasn’t going to the gym even before. Running and walking was the only exercise that I know.I didn’t care about how our training would be. Walking our way here was more of a training than a warm-up. If Angelo described it as a warm-up, I’m afraid that the training would be vigorous.The last time I count the number of young peers in here, we were eleven. I lost count when I answered the registration form. I don’t know how things work in this place. But it’s a similar process to what humans do.Unlike the classroom in the community school, this place was full of people chattering. They have their own group of friends. I wonder if Angelo ha
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