Once night emerges, I stand in the middle with my arms crossed and eyes closed, waiting for my package. I had Saye and Arlo return to the farmhouse since Camila and the others would be coming by.
A wolf no older than us rushes past me from where the entrance gate is and approaches Dominic.
"What is it?"
"T-there...there..." the teen pup stuttered and seemed surprised.
"What?" Dominic asks with a demanding tone making the boy flinch.
"There is a huge monster at the gates."
I hear everyone gasps and talk among themselves about the monster on the other side of the gates. I know who it is judging by the reaction of that wolf.
"He's here probably for me," I say with a smile. "Open the gates."
Dominic wanted to ask but didn't. "Open the gates."
"But alpha-"
"Open the gates."
Without questioning his alpha, the young pup ran to the gates, and with another guard there, they opened the two large doors. Takkar enters the pack base pulling a wheeled cage meant for a large animal; beside him are Kaze and Camila. And in the cell is what I had requested.
"What the hell is that?" Ask a wolf referring to the Takkar. It seems they have never seen an ogre before. Well, they are very solitary creatures. They never leave their cave.
"Is that a wolf? It's huge!"
"What kind of wolf has a horn?"
"Who's the girl? I smell a cat on her."
"Forget them; what is that inside the cage?
Everyone is curious and scared, asking around, wondering who these strangers are. Then their attention landed on the main attraction. Everyone looks at the feral inside the cage, snarling and growling at them.
"Lippy!" Takkar let go of the chain, pulled the cage, and brought me up in a hug. "Takkar miss you."
"I miss you too, buddy," I chuckle and smile. Takkar then put me down gently as curious eyes landed on us.
"Master," Kaze revealed his voice with such a deep tone as it gave the wolves inside in shock. "I brought what you requested."
I caress the large side wolf as you do with a horse. He enjoys it begging more. "Thank you."
I sense hostility coming from behind as I turn my head to see Dominic with his eyes glowing red.
Seriously, what the hell is wrong with that guy?
"There are a lot of wolves here," Camila says as she moves next to me. When her eyes landed on Clayton, who winked at her, she hissed at him.
The snarling and sound of gurgling coming from the feral inside the cage as he scans his yellow, green eyes around, looking at potential victims.
"This," I raise my voice introducing the creature. "This is a feral. This is what happens if you stay too long in the miasma. The area is poisonous and can turn you into one like this fellow. They are far more dangerous than a rogue."
I had Dominic and everybody's attention.
"The miasma is a living thing that came from the Demon Realm. Once miasma consumes you, your life is in its hands." I turn to Leah and her grieving family. They don't look too happy. "I'm sorry I had to end Wallace's life, but he's already long gone before I killed him."
"You didn't have to kill him!" Doug screamed; there was a pain in his tone.
"If I didn't, then he wouldn't have attacked a family of campers that night," I blurt out. Doug's mouth shut; that is when his mate opens hers.
"Wallace wouldn't do that," still not convinced. "My son, he's a sweet boy."
"I'm sorry, Mrs. Larson," I lower my voice while looking at her. "It was a family of three, and there was a child, a boy, younger than the two Melton boys."
The image of that boy's wide lifeless eyes was full of fright and pain. It breaks my heart to see a young boy die before he can take an independent step into reality. I found the child underneath the tent. He was hiding, but Wallace found him. He has watched his parents get mauled by Wallace's feral form.
Angela gasped and whispered 'no' before she passed out. Her worried mate catches her before she can hit the ground.
"This could all be a hoax," Gwen spat, trying to get the other members on her side again. "That thing is probably her doing. From what I heard from our alpha and beta. Tuna Carter is a demon."
Gasp and mutter emerge from the crowd. My identity as a demon was never a secret; I didn't want to tell them.
"She's probably the one who let that miasma go. She's the one who turned Wallace into that and killed him to get revenge on us." What nonsense is she spatting? "She will have us all killed. We must kill her first before she makes a move and destroys us."
"You are a piece of work, Gwen," I snarl. Besides me are Kaze, Camila, and Tokkar, all shooting hostility at Gwen.
I had enough of her mouth running.
"Well, it's true, isn't it?"
I scoff. "If I want to kill you, all I should have done the day I left." Although, I didn't know my magic powers and being a demon then. So I said it in a bluff.
I took a step toward her as her eyes grew wide. I glare at her making my eyes glow bright violet purple. "Demon loves the taste of blood; the first one on the list will have your name on it."
I smirk as her body starts to tremble and fall on her ass.
"See! Didn't you all hear that?!" She jolts back up. "She's evil!"
"Gwen, enough!" Dominic barked an order making Gwen reveal her neck, submitting and not questioning her alpha. Probably he is as fed up as I am. "Calliope, since you know so much about these ferals. How do we kill them?"
Speaking like a true alpha made me smile inside.
I walk over to the cage. The feral snaps his sharp piranha teeth at me. "Since their humanity is gone and shows no emotions; there are two ways. Cut the neck to separate the brain from the body. Then destroy the head before they regenerate—secondly, their heart. But the difficult part about the heart is protected by a steel-like plate. For you to hit the spot, you got to strike them hard. But it's going to be a challenge. I learned the hard way."
"It sounds as if there's an easier way."
There is.
"Camila, open the cage."
"Wait, Calliope, are you insane?" Question Clayton as Camila holds the handle on the cage."You're going to let that thing out with everyone here. Lives will be endangered here."
"Don't worry," With a wave of my hand, a magic barrier form a dome around me and the cage. Camila, Kaze, and Takkar all step out of the barrier.
The feral burst out and crawled on all fours like a predator, stalking and hissing. Seeing so many victims, he starts to attack. He was pushed back hard by the barrier. The magic barrier keeps demons like him inside, and his attack failed.
He tried scratching, biting, and even hitting himself at the violet transparent barrier, but none worked. I blew a whistle through my lips. The feral stopped and gave up as he slowly turned his head to my attention.
"Let's dance, asshole."
He stalks me, slowly making circles around the barrier. I stood in my place with my eyes on him, waiting for him to attack.
I guess I can tease him a bit.
He snarls in a battle cry and jumps in the air for a strike, but my whole body disappears, making him land.
I smirk.
The feral screeched in frustration. Usually, I've learned that although the miasma has a child's mind but can control its brains, it's not very bright. All ferals care about is life and flesh. They are zombies but deadlier.
Using his long sharp nails to take me down, I dodged every movement. With a hidden weapon, I had summoned by magic as many people of the pack watching, and I might as well give a demonstration. I put away my secret weapon and instead enlarged my nails into talon-sized claws aimed at his neck.
"Aim for the neck, cut it off and destroy the brain."
Not wanting to cut the neck to end this session too soon. I then aim for the heart. You need to make a plan when going for the heart. It's the only way to release the original host soul. Although the heart is protected, only the front blocks the attacks. But ferals are aware of it, and marking the hit will make them guard it at all costs. So, you must be wise and precise when stabbing the heart from the back.
I spin and jump on its back, pinning him to the ground. "Here, since the front is too hard to destroy the heart. You stab the heart on its back." I instruct.
The feral pushed me off as I made a smooth cat-like backflip, landing solidly on my feet. The feral did not like what I did. He became ever more hostile. "When I had enough, it's time to end this," I crouched and did a back hind kick sending him flying across.
The feral got up and growled at me.
Now it's time. I unleash full of my magic, revealing my proper form to everyone around here. My hair turns a silver-white shade like the moon as fox ears, and nine tails pop on my head and back.
I was ignoring all the stares and surprised looks from the crowd. The feral made a screeching howling.
He came charging me full speed as I extended my hand and blasted my black-blue fox fire at him. He starts to screech in agony and pain. His whole body starts to melt; he reaches for me with little strength, still wanting to kill me, but before he can do that. His entire body then turned into ash. I let the magic go, and my appearance and the magic barrier dispel.
"Wow!" Camila jumped on my back. "That was fucking amazing, Lippy."
"As expected from my master," Kaze praised and wagged his tail.
"Lippy, super strong." Takkar clap.
"Master is so sexy and hot when she killed that feral," Saye and Arlo appear beside, harassing me again by rubbing themselves.
I groan.
When are they going to stop the touching?
Their praise made me smile before I turned to face the crowd, who still had a shocking expression. I look at Dominic, surprised, then pull up a full smile.
Oh...Kay.
I release myself from the twins and step forward. "As you can see, this was not an easy kill," not easy for you guys, but for me, I can burn the whole forest down to get rid of this nuisance. "As long as you don't step foot in the swamp area, your life will be safe. Until I can figure out
I snapped my finger and instantly lit the dead feral on fire, burning its rotten flesh. I created a barrier to keep the miasma from entering the pack base with my magic touch. They should be fine if they don't enter the swamp a mile from here.
If they listen to me, I don't have to come back here and annihilate the pack.
"Well, now that my job here is done." I turn my back. "Guys, it's time for us to go."
Camila and the gang came by my side for us to teleport, but before we could, Tracy stopped us.
"Calliope, wait, please," I can see that she is nervous as I can see her eyes. "I wanted to say I'm sorry. I should have never doubted you. I mean..."
"No need," I stop her with a smile. "Some people change, and I understand you had doubts about me assuming my reputation here. But I did what I had to do to pay for my...transgressions."
"Thank you," She smiled at me genuinely as her eyes were puffed up from crying. "Thank you for saving my boys."
I nod and look up at Dominic. It seems he had something to say to me. I'm hoping he would. It had been a year since we last saw each other, and his expression of me was different from my past life. Before he opened his mouth, Leah came to his side and linked her arms around his, sticking close to him like glue. She sends a message that I should stay away from her man as she darts her menacing eyes at me.
I snort.
Her man?
I felt a knot in my heart and reminded myself that I had already broken off with him as it didn't concern me if those two were or were not together from what Dominic told me. But seeing how Leah is close to him means she still wants him.
I sighed and closed my eyes shut before the magic I had released teleported us out of here. Thinking about my decision, leaving the pack, and giving up on Dominic will make me regret it.
It has been four days since I left the Blue Moon pack. A lot has happened and my intervening with them wasn't part of my survival plan. I should have left them to deal with the ferals. But my heart told me I should act as I did in my past life. I didn't want to get involved with them again, especially with Dominic.That day, he looked at me as if he didn't hate me; instead, he had some doubts. I mean, we did date, and I was somewhat overly in love with him that I would do something crazy to be with him.I was stupid back then, and dying from my past life gave me a wake-up call.Now I need to find the primary source of the miasma and get rid of it for good. I had the twins scout the area, hoping to find anything to give us a chance to destroy it. I know it came from the demon world, but who would place something like that in the forest.I look through all my notes and sources from where I've been and where the miasma had spread. So far, the miasma has appeared in Brazil, Japan, Scotlan
As I learned when I lived in the Blue Moon pack, before the war ended 500 years ago, when the Elders had run out of luck and lost a lot of their people in an ocean of blood and corpses when all hope was about to be lost, a mysterious woman in white appeared. In one move of her power, she wiped out a whole army of demons in just a night. The adults had said that the woman in white was none other than the Moon Goddess.No one has seen the Moon Goddess except the Elders and the people from 500 years ago. The Moon Goddess is who they called and worshiped because she wore and blended with the moon like a beautiful maiden from the moon.I sigh."Alpha, it would be inconvenient for me to go," I tell him calmly. "Firstly, I'm not a wolf; it's not my place to say something to the Elders. I'm a demon, and they won't listen to me. They will kill me the moment I step foot in their territory. Secondly, only leaders of their clan, along with their mates and two commanders, can only attend. You are
Feno's arrival had me wondering why a wood elf came by and introduced himself. And how does he know where I live?I don't think anyone knows me apart from the Blue Moon Pack. I didn't have many friends when I traveled back. The only friend I wanted was...Now, why am I thinking about Dominic? Since our earlier encounter, I don't think it's the right thing to have him back in my life. I promised myself to avoid the guy at all cost, but somehow fate wanted to be a pain in the ass. I should hate him. I want him to die after he killed me that night for being framed by that bitch Leah. I know she killed that young wolf to have the whole pack, especially Dominic, loathe me more.But I couldn't have the heart to do so. Hating Dominic and getting revenge on the pack I grew up with isn't what I wanted. I didn't have the heart, and instead of being a public enemy to the werewolf community, I left.I return my sense to the tiny creature sitting in the middle of my couch. I never expected a guest
Once the door shuts behind me, I feel a little dizzy and almost drop, but I use the wall as support. "Lippy?""I must be cruel, right?" I ask Camila, who stays silent as warm tears run down my cheeks. "I must be born a villain to be cruel to innocent people like Feno. After all, I'm a demon. Demons are meant to be evil and merciful. But..." I clench my fist on my chest as if a sharp pain stabs me in the heart. "I couldn't bear to show any cruelty. I wanted to help him. He came here for my help, and I made him lose hope."I exhale a shaky breath. "I don't know what to do. I'm so useless."I let my insecurities get the best of me as I put myself down with all the major flaws of being weak. The thought of someone asking for my help always makes me happy. But dealing with miasma, I know the results. Everyone like me wants to survive and be strong. I practice my powers every day, I do my best to solve the miasma problem, and I won't quit when I do. My old self would've given up, but I'm no
I gaze through the window of the private jet studying clouds as each one passes by as we are on our way to Romania. They take forms of different shapes as I count each one in my head."Lippy, are you still not talking to me?"I scowl and advert my eyes on Dominic, sitting across from me, with his sad wolf pup face. This was the tenth time trying to get my attention and feeling apologetic."Dom, I said don't even bother," Malik tells him as I scowl more at him. "Taking her with us will only cause trouble.""Want me to start off burning that face of yours?" I threaten, flashing my blue flames. "Because you are this close to having this plane crash into the sea.""Want to have a go?" Malik tenses up and clenches his jaw."Easy, the both of you." Clayton tries to get between Malik and me.Malik hates me. Being here makes him on edge, but he can't complain to his alpha because I could ride with them to Romania. So, he can't do anything to kick me off the plane. He can try, but that will ma
I closed my eyes, and seconds later, I opened them, frantically panting, my heart beating wildly and sweating."Lippy?" I look up at Camila, who looks pale. "Are you okay?"I continue to pant and remember where I am. Everyone was looking at me, either oddly confused or worried. Kaze, still on my lap, whimpers with concern. I brush my hair back and exhale sharply. We are still on the jet. I rub my face and inwardly curse myself that I dreamt something like that. I thought I died...again.I noticed Dominic had a worried look but did not budge to move because of that one person blocking him. At the same time, Malik and Clayton had their head in my direction with expressions of curiosity."Here, drink some water," Camila hands me a bottle of cold water. I took it from her and immediately drank till it was halfway."Thanks," I wipe my mouth. My heart starts to slow down its pace enough to relax a bit. "How long was I asleep?" I ask."You only shut your eyes for five minutes."Only five?Bu
Experiencing that plane ride with Dominic and his group, I'm starting to dislike air travel. If I'm riding on the same transportation with Leah, I don't know what I will do, but it won't be pretty.We step forward in front of the gate. I feel an overflow of magic surrounding the castle—a protection barrier created by the faes. Though visible to the human eyes, I can see it shimmering.I became hesitant going through the barrier, worried that my presence could trigger an alarm system to alert the elders that a demon had entered the premises."Are we going in?" Camila asked and noticed I hadn't made a step forward."Yeah, give me a minute. There is a force field covering the castle, a barrier. It prevents anything evil from entering.""Master, you are a demon. If you touch the barrier-" Kaze sounds flustered."If anything happens, get ready for me to teleport you two as far away from here. Got it?""Got it," Camila and Kaze say in unison.I took in an intake of the surrounding air and le
With the other hand, I pinch its tiny shirt and lift it at eye level. It was yelling and screaming like mad, swinging tiny fists at me."Let me go, you human!" the Imp squirmed.I study the little thing—my first to see an Imp up close. It has the size of a toddler, stubby in length, with whole almond black eyes with no iris or pupil. The Imp has red skin, two little horns sticking out from the top of his hairless head. He resembles the cartoon character where your subconscious sits on one shoulder while an angel occupies the other.The twins told me how naughty they are; pranking others is what they love to do. They can mimic voices and lure you away from the crowd, making your head go crazy. And this did a good job getting irritated and messing with my head.I don't know how long he will keep wailing his fists in thin air, but I find him adorable. "I said let me go! How can a human catch me?""Hey, do I seem human to you?" I ask.The Imp stopped swinging his little arms and stared at