“I hope you’re ready, Yvonne,” Kayne asked, his hand clenched firmly around mine.
I glanced up at him and shook my head silently. He chuckled, and I stole a quick glance at his fair face, wondering if his laughter was necessary. Kayne smiled at me as if he could read my thoughts. “You should be ready, my beloved. You’ve waited for this moment for eighteen years.” I looked away, my legs twisting around each other as we sat beneath the oak tree in my expansive compound. I despised it when Kayne addressed me as his beloved. I was weary of being reminded repeatedly that I was betrothed to someone I didn’t love. “Are you okay?” he asked, gently tugging on my hand. I nodded. “Sure.” Standing up, I felt incredibly nervous. “Kayne, what did it feel like the night you first transformed into your wolf form?” I glanced at him, my ears attuned to his every word. His laughter was smooth. “It was the most wonderful moment of my life. It was like being reborn and invisible.” I turned to stare at him, relieved by the sparkle in his eyes as he spoke. “What if I transform into a wolf and never revert to human form?” I asked him. My mother once told me a story of a queen from another clan who transformed into her wolf form and never returned to being human. I couldn’t deny how terrified I had been after hearing that tale. His eyes widened at my question, then he shrugged. “It simply means you were actually meant to be a wolf and not human.” “What?!” I exclaimed, my heart nearly leaping out of its place. “Is that supposed to be a joke, Kayne?” “You know I never joke,” he answered. I looked away. That was one thing I didn’t like about Kayne; he was always serious about everything he did. For him, everything was business and duty, even eating. The cold was seeping in, and I needed to retreat back into the mansion. However, Kayne had already launched into one of his endless tales, and I wasn’t sure if I was listening. I merely sat there, unwilling to hear him nag about how I had disrespected him to my father. Clutching my fists, I softly bit the end of my lip while waiting for him to stop talking. I shut my eyes for a moment, unable to bear it any longer. “Kayne… Kayne…” I called out, cutting him off mid-sentence. “What is it?” he asked coldly, staring straight into my eyes. I was certain he didn’t like what I did. “I’m cold” I retorted. “Don’t worry. Tonight, you will grow stronger after you taste the blood of an animal,” he said, winking. I gasped, wondering how callous he could be. I had expected him to offer me his jacket or suggest I return to the mansion. I began to wonder why my father had ever arranged for me to be betrothed to a werewolf like him. He was cold-hearted and devoid of any romantic gestures. “I’m going inside, Kayne. I’m cold,” I declared, walking away without looking back. I didn’t care if he would report me to my father. “He should do his worst,” I muttered to myself. Entering a crowded living room, I found it large enough to accommodate up to fifty people. It was a lively mixture of the Moonlight Pack and Boldclaw Pack, the only surviving packs in Latan City after the great war. Every full moon, there was a party that brought the two packs together. Though they had once been enemies after the great war, I had yet to discover why. But that was the least of my worries. I loved parties, but certainly not a wolf party. Everyone seemed cheerful as they anticipated the full moon. Being the only wolf about to turn eighteen in my pack, I felt the weight of their expectations. I walked past them, forcing a pleasant smile and trying my best to be nice. At home, I was never myself. There were so many rules about every single thing, and I hated rules. It made me so uncomfortable at home. I only got to be my true self at school when I was with my human friends. Yes, I had just gained admission to the university, and I was already enjoying exploring life before my family turned it all into sadness with the news of my betrothal. “Yvonne…” I heard my mother call from behind as I was about to climb the staircase to my bedroom to lock myself away, as usual. Taking a deep breath, I finally turned around, exposing my white set of teeth, which I feared might turn red soonest once they made me devour an animal. “Mother….” I turned around, grinning. “You’re going upstairs. Where is your mate?” She began looking left and right. “Mother, he’s fine. We were just talking before I decided to come back into the mansion.” “I’m so happy for you, Yvonne. After you’re turned tonight, your wedding with your mate will be on the next full moon.” My mouth dropped open. “What wedding are you talking about, Mother?” I nearly yelled. She was startled by the loudness of my voice and quickly dragged me to a corner. “Mother, what are you talking about?” I was growing increasingly nervous. “What’s wrong with getting married to your betrothed mate?” She asked. “How can you and Father fix a date without telling me? Am I such a burden that you both want to get rid of me so soon?” Tears threatened to spill from my eyes. I detested the idea of being married to Kayne. “I don’t care if he’s my betrothed mate, but you and Father have no right to set a date without informing me first.” She simply smiled. “You are our only child, and we want the best for you. Kayne is the strongest of his pack and an Alpha. As such…” I cut my mother off at once. I was tired of hearing that same line of reasoning over and over again. “Mother, I need time to myself. I’m not ready to get married,” I asserted boldly and fearlessly. No one dared to speak to my mother that way; otherwise, they would surely be punished with a hex. She was a wolf witch. She smiled. “You know, young lady, if you weren’t my daughter, I would have separated your tongue from your mouth.” I remained silent, puzzled by the smile on her face. “Is she indirectly threatening me or joking?” I thought, glaring at her. She tapped my shoulder, squeezing it tenderly. “Go and get ready for tonight. It will be midnight soon,” she said, glancing at the wall clock. Kayne entered the mansion, and I watched him from behind my mother as he walked to my father. I hissed in my thoughts. “As always, he’s gone to nag. Fool!” I cursed, mumbling to myself and not hearing the last things my mother said to me before she walked away. I looked down at myself, still wearing my ball gown and heels. It was the worst attire for me. I climbed the staircase with difficulty, I noticed Kayne looking at me. “Just get lost,” I muttered. “I can’t believe my parents expect me to spend my entire life with this cold-hearted guy.” On the eve of my eighteenth birthday party last week, my parents had broken the awful news to me about how I was betrothed to Kayne from birth. Kayne was six years older than I am, and he had been aware of it all along. From the look in his eyes when he is around me or my family, I was sure he liked it. After all, whoever marries me automatically becomes the leader of our pack and rules alongside me. But I couldn’t understand why he was so keen on marrying me since he was already a leader in his pack. I walked into my bedroom and pulled off my shoes, flinging them to God knows where. My feet were throbbing with pain, and I sat for a while, massaging them. Quickly standing up afterward, I changed into something simple. I heard my mother calling my name, so I dashed out of the bedroom and hurried down the stairs. We drove off in our cars; I had my own red Benz CLA, a gift from my father on my birthday. Kayne had insisted I join him in his car, but I bluntly refused. I just wanted to be alone. We parked beside a bush path, and we all alighted from our respective cars, heading into the forest. I gasped, realizing I hadn’t brought spare clothes in case my current attire got torn apart. “Am I really going to go naked in front of all of them?” I whispered to myself, bowing my head in concern. “Don’t worry, I brought some spare clothes for you,” my mother whispered into my ear, nudging me softly. I smiled at her; she was just the sweetest mother ever. Being a wolf witch made it possible for her to read the minds of wolves, but she cast a mind cloaking spell on me, making it impossible for vampires to compel me. I didn’t think that was necessary because I hadn’t met or seen a vampire before, though my parents always warned that there were many of them. They kept telling me how evil vampires were and how they almost destroyed the entire wolf parks. My mother was the only wolf witch in our pack and the only one I had ever known. I had seen plenty of witches, especially in my school, but in this city, magic was completely prohibited. It was considered evil and sacrilegious, especially because the city was highly religious. Witches were hanged when caught, so all witches tried not to get caught while using their magic. However, Father Bosco always seemed to find a way.Father Bosco was the reverend at the church located in the heart of our small city, and he harbored a deep hatred for witches. This posed a significant threat to all witch covens in Latan City.As we continued walking deeper into the forest, the moon shone brightly in the sky, casting its ethereal light upon us. Everyone began to shape-shift into their wolf forms, and I was not exempt. It was an awkward feeling for me to change into an animal in the blink of an eye.I grew fangs, feeling funny and somewhat ugly in my new form. My eyes widened with fear, flashing with grey rays. I struggled to get used to walking on four legs. Since it was my first time in my wolf form, no one dared to mock me.Feeling weird and scared, I wasn’t sure if I was proud of this transformation. Despite my parents’ lectures near the chimney, the reality felt entirely different from what they described. They spoke of how fulfilling it would be, but now, fear gripped me, and my feet grew cold.I shivered as ever
I couldn’t suppress a scoff, my mind consumed by the dread of the impending title of “mate.” “I’ll be in my car, awaiting the others,” I declared, sidestepping him. Kayne swiftly intercepted my path, blocking my way. “You don’t appear pleased. Don’t you wish to be my mate?” he probed, his brow furrowing in concern. I maintained my silence, casting him a steely gaze. “We used to be fond of each other when we were younger. What changed?” he pressed, a note of desperation creeping into his voice. “Nothing has changed, Kayne. And I didn’t say I wouldn’t want to be your mate. Now, may I go?” I replied tersely, my patience waning by the second. Reluctantly, he stepped aside, allowing me to pass. With my heart racing in my chest, I hurried away, eager to escape his presence. Unbeknownst to me, my father, Arthur, had been eavesdropping nearby, and now emerged from his hiding place, joining Kayne. “It seems your daughter isn’t particularly enthused about this union,” Kayne remarked, feig
The next day, my mind was consumed by thoughts of the previous night as I sat in class. We had taken a test early in the morning and endured a series of lectures afterward. Despite the mundane routine, I found solace in the presence of my two gorgeous friends after the long weekend. However, beneath my facade of normalcy, I couldn’t shake the nagging fear of what would happen if they ever discovered my lupine secret. Unable to concentrate on the lectures, I fidgeted at my desk, tapping my pen softly against its surface. The memory of the raw animal flesh I had consumed flashed through my mind, causing my stomach to churn. “Did I really eat that?” I pondered, feeling the urge to vomit overwhelming me. Hastily, I rushed to the restroom, my insides heaving with each retch. As I wiped my mouth, gasping for breath, doubts flooded my mind. “Perhaps I was never meant to be a wolf,” I mused despairingly. Interrupting my solitary moment, Susan, a witch, approached me with a knowing smirk. “Wh
“Hey, Yvonne, where were you?” Lora asked, grabbing my hand as I approached.“I got your text. Why were you looking for me? I don’t recall stealing your boyfriend,” I teased, making faces at them as I settled between my friends.They laughed, playfully pushing me. “You’re crazy,” Lora exclaimed.I chuckled, enjoying their company.Grace pulled me closer. “Great! I knew they wanted to gossip,” I thought to myself, remaining silent.“Father Bosco was here. They caught a new girl, and she’s a witch,” Grace informed us, her hands trembling.“Oh, that’s unfortunate. Did the witch girl try to harm anyone?” I feigned ignorance, watching their reactions carefully.They gasped, staring at me in disbelief.“We can’t wait around until they start hunting us down, Yvonne. I’m relieved Father Bosco is targeting the witches. I can’t stand the thought of being bewitched,” Grace confessed.Suppressing the urge to laugh, I maintained my composure. What did she know about witches and being bewitched?“Ar
That day, I arrived at school in high spirits, having celebrated my birthday the previous evening with a lavish party my friends couldn’t attend. While I didn’t reveal the true reason for their absence, I made it up to them the following day, treating them to a joyous celebration of my new ride. Here at school, my affluent background and regal demeanor drew attention and admiration from my peers. Despite the allure I held for many, my betrothal to Kayne served as a barrier to romantic pursuits. While I rebuffed advances from admirers, some speculated about my sexuality. Yet, here I was, contemplating approaching a boy the next day. Life’s ironies never failed to amuse me. After dropping off my friends, I found myself lost in thought, the loud beats of hip hop music failing to drown out thoughts of Alexander. Despite my efforts to push him from my mind, his captivating presence lingered, igniting a newfound attraction within me. Glancing into my side mirror, I noticed a sleek black L
A few hours later, Susan stormed into the science laboratory, accompanied by Helen, both looking visibly frustrated. Lucy, Martha, and Geraldine sat at a round table, their expressions stern. “You’re late,” Lucy reprimanded sharply, her fiery eyes flashing with irritation. As both a teacher and a witch, her authority was undeniable, and her anger was palpable. She was the most powerful among them, having lived for centuries, her blonde hair cascading behind her ears as she glared at Susan and Helen. “We apologize, Lucy,” Susan murmured, bowing her head in deference. “You better be,” Lucy snapped, her gaze unwavering as she stared them down. Susan wasted no time in addressing the pressing issue. “This isn’t working at all, Lucy, Geraldine. You’re the remaining elders of the black witches, the oldest among us. How many more must Father Bosco kill before we take action?” Martha, with her dark skin and striking white eyes, chimed in sadly. “I’ve been wondering the same thing. He manag
Alexander and Drake arrived back at their luxurious apartment after a long day at school, their fatigue overshadowed by their cheerful demeanor. They parked their expensive ride in the garage and ascended to their apartment using the elevator.“The city has changed so much, don’t you think, brother?” Alexander remarked, loosening the buttons on his shirt.“More beautiful women, I must say,” Drake replied, sinking into the couch.Alexander raised an eyebrow. “If you’re referring to that silver-haired girl you were talking to earlier, I suggest you look elsewhere.”Drake chuckled. “Why? Is she out of my league?”“Don’t be oblivious to the way she looked at me,” Alexander retorted, pouring himself a drink. “She wouldn’t spare you a glance if she knew who I was. I doubt you stand a chance with her.”Drake sighed. “We’re in the twenty-first century now, Alexander. She’s innocent.”“Nobody is innocent, brother, not even her parents,” Alexander countered, a wry smile playing on his lips. “And
Grace looked visibly irritated, her arms raised in frustration, while Lora mirrored her discontent as they waited outside the club for me. “She’s always making excuses,” Grace vented, her voice tinged with anger. “Come on, Grace, she promised she’d come tonight. Let’s give her the benefit of the doubt,” Lora urged, attempting to diffuse the tension. “Like this is the first time she’s stood us up?” Grace retorted, her tone sharp. “She’ll be here tonight, Grace. She gave us her word,” Lora insisted, her voice steady despite the brewing frustration. They had been waiting for me for hours, a scenario not uncommon given my father’s strict rules. They feared I might bail on them once again. “And here she comes,” Lora exclaimed excitedly as she spotted me driving in. Grace’s grin was infectious. “Wow! She actually showed up. Tonight is going to be a blast.” Excitedly, they rushed to my car as I stepped out, clad in a pair of hot shorts, a stylish jacket, and heels, while my friends da