The Fear

“It’s Alpha Hughes.”

“Come out you bastard, don’t protect that damn boy again!”

Mum and Dad looked at each other. Dad went out to Alpha Hughes. 

“What happened?” I asked Mark. 

“Randy snitched on Alpha Hughes. He twisted the facts,” Mark answered. 

“Wait, what happened before?” Mum asked us.

Mark was silent, but pulled my hand and showed it to Mum. 

“What happened, Lauryn? Did they burn your hands?” my mom asked.

“Chloe uses eucalyptus oil before she touches my hand,” I replied.

“Did you ever tell Chloe about your allergies?” Mom asked me.

I shook my head.

“Go take a shower now, Lauryn!” My mom gave me a quickie.

I was shocked when Mom got angry. Mom told Mark to get up and treat his wound with a cleanser. Mom left us, she approached Dad who was arguing with Alpha Hughes.

I didn’t really shower when the fuss got worse. I came out after I changed.

“Look, you defend werewolves like her?” Randy pointed at my face in irritation.

“You are the honourable werewolves here. Are you sure you’re willing to give up our family’s honour just to defend her? You’re going to quit the Highcrown Walkers and accuse my son of bullying your daughter?” Alpha Hughes scowled at me.

“I didn’t accuse him! It was a factual incident!” Mom snapped at Alpha Hughes. 

“What kind of proof can you give me, huh? Do you have any proof?” Alpha Hughes was getting upset. 

Dad pushed him away. Mum pulled my hand away. She showed Alpha Hughes my blistered palm. 

“Look with your eyes! Lauryn’s hands are blistered because Chloe used eucalyptus oil before touching her hands. She never told Chloe, but Chloe and Jason are always in your son’s group, Hughes.”

“Fuck off. Don’t you have anything else to talk about? Chloe’s not the only one with a hatred for lousy wolves like Lauryn,” Alpha Hughes defended Randy. 

“When did you stop defending him to be a loser?” dad asked Alpha Hughes.

“You think he is a loser?” Alpha Hughes affirmed.

“Since childhood you always taught Randy to be a loser. You let him be a spoiled cowardly figure.”

“Shut your mouth!” Alpha Hughes shouted.

“You feel ashamed, right? Your son abused his post as the son of a pack leader for such a stupid thing? If you don't feel ashamed, you’re not a good parent. You’ve failed to be a dad because you're always busy with yourself.”

Alpha Hughes clutched the collar of the dad’s shirt. I frowned in fear behind Mom. Dad was getting more and more emotional ignited. 

“Why are you taking offence? All the facts I said are true, right?

Dad asked in a dismissive tone. 

“I didn’t expect you to dare challenge me,” Alpha Hughes smirked. 

“Of course I did. I would’ve torn your body apart in front of everyone if you weren’t my little cousin. You heard me right, one more time you disturb the family’s peace I’ll tear you apart and sacrifice you to the beasts of the forest.”

Alpha Hughes deliberately punched Dad in the face. I screamed in shock. Mom pulled me in because the neighborhood was getting tense. A lot of warriors are after me and Mom. Mark’s trying to stop them with whatever's left. Suddenly, my mom grabbed my hand. 

“Go away. Mark, take your sister to the Ethereal Hunters. This is the map you have to follow,” Mom said to Mark.

“Why do we have to go first, Mom?” Mark asked my mom.

“Just do as I say, and I’ll catch up,” Mom replied.

“Mom, will you help Dad?” Mark was looking at Mom.

“Go away. Don’t worry about it. We’ll catch up with you in our van,” Mom replied.

Mark pulled me away from Mom. He took me to his car. We also left Highcrown Walkers with great difficulty because the warriors who were chasing us were very numerous.

Mark was driving his car too fast. I closed my eyes in fear. "Damn it to hell! How dare you dirty my car with your devil-smelling feet!" Mark cursed when a warrior got on the hood of our car.

Mark hit the brakes, the warrior fell forward. 

Mark immediately pressed the gas pedal to hit the warrior. 

“What are you doing, Mark. You can kill him!” I screamed.

“I’ll punish him before we leave here,” Mark replied coldly.

“Are you crazy?” I was at odds with him.

“Look, he’s after us. Whether you agree or not. I’m going to punish him for daring to stop me from going out.”

Mark is ignoring me.

The warrior’s body bounced across the street. The warrior shifts into his human body and gasps. Mark reached out and gave him his middle finger. 

“That’s not good,” I complained.

“At least we got out after making that stupid wolf hurt,” Mark replied.

“But, Mark–”

“You’re such a talker. You better play with your phone,” Mark growled.

“My phone is gone,” I told Mark.

“Since when did you lose your phone?” Mark was asking.

“This morning, maybe my phone was burned, or they made it into a fruit salad,” I sighed.

“Goddamn, Randy.” Mark grabbed his forehead with his hand.

I was staring at him. “I’m going to save up for a new mobile phone. It must be awkward to adapt to a new pack.”

“Just think about your education and how to raise a werewolf. I used to sharpen my sense of smell when I was eight. I also trained with Dad a lot, which was helpful in raising my wolf.”

“Why haven’t I had a wolf until now?” I asked.

Mark shrugged. “Do you know why our father became Beta?”

“No.”

“Because he’s having the same late bloomer.”

“Really?”

“Haven’t you heard this story from grandma before she died?” Mark glanced at me. 

“No, I didn’t. I was a baby when grandma died,” I replied. “I was born after you went on holiday with Grandpa.”

“Is that why our faces look so much like twins?” Mark asked me. 

“You look like Alicia when you poop, by the way.” 

Mar’s eyebrows furrowed. 

“You always forget to lock the door and it makes people around you upset,” I explained. 

“Go to sleep. Or help me look at the maps so we don’t get lost.”

A van went in front of our car as we were fighting.

“Finally, Mom and Dad made it out of that damn place,” Mark sighed and followed the van.

I shrugged and leaned my head against the car seat. I slept until we all got to a magnificent place. 

I woke up when Mark turned off his car radio. We've reached the Ethereal Hunters.

“Are we going to be part of the Ethereal Hunters?” I asked Mark.

“Yeah, I know. We will be members of the Ethereal Hunters?”

“But they are the pack most hated by the other pack,” I muttered.

“There is no other choice,” muttered Mark. “Come on, get up. We’re about to be introduced to Alpha Matthew.”

I followed Mark into a magnificent mansion before us. I admired the mansion because it had many stairs and roses blooming in the middle of the fishpond. 

Suddenly a man in neat clothes came up to us and asked us to immediately approach Alpha Matthew directly in his room. I was stunned, I was afraid that he’d find out I hadn’t had a wolf by now. 

We were led to the room. Mark goes in first while I walk behind Mark.

“Mark and Lauryn Anderson?”

Mark nodded his head. The man told us to sit in front of him. He told us to read all the rules in there. He also suggested that Mark join the ranks of the great warrior Ethereal Hunters. 

“I’ve heard all your greatness. I heard that you were the grandson of the greatest leader of the Highcrown Walkers at the time,” Alpha Matthew muttered.

“Yes, Alpha Bonaparte.”

“I’ve seen the track record of your dad and mom during this time. All look impressive. It’s just that I didn’t find your track record, Lauryn Anderson.” Alpha Matthew glanced at me.

Mark glanced at me then spoke up, “It happened because she was still busy with her education.” 

“Really?” 

“I-I’m in my last year of education now and it makes me have to focus.” 

“There’s no other reason why you don’t have a track record? If you’ve been in the last year, then you’re 17?” 

“I’m eighteen years and two days away,” I shot back. 

“What’s your wolf’s name?”