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52. Joke
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Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 53. Over
Callista.The maids still don’t like me, but it’s different. It had been less than three days when I noticed it, and more than five when I finally acknowledged it because I don’t let myself think things would get easy. Expecting disappointment is much easier than expecting success after all. But once I notice the difference, there is no going back.There isn’t any loathing towards me. There is dislike, certainly, because I’m the stealer after all. At this point it’s customary to be mad with the stealer, so it’s not bothering me as much as it should. But the general negativity is toned down to such a degree that I can afford to ignore it most of the time.Perhaps my sordid tale of being the Alpha King’s punching bag mellowed their attitudes towards me a little. Maybe Ruelle was being more of an influence than I thought, and not just with Helen. Not just the servant, but the entire castle seems different. Like after the sea after a storm, there is calmness in the air. Everyone seems t
Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 54. Free
Callista.It takes a moment for the words to register. My feet remain planted to the ground, I don’t dare look, not yet. There are a lot of questions circling in my mind, it takes some time for me to settle on one.“So, I can go out?”For a moment, there was only silence. I don’t know why Theon hesitates to answer the question. It’s a simple yes or no.“Yes.” Finally. “You’ve finished your service for the crimes you’ve committed. Now, you can be a free member of the pack as our agreement states.”Oh, for the sake of the Goddess.“Agreement? Are we still working according to that?” I grip the edges of the sink, trying not to let the anger rise.“Look, I understand that there are some issues but there’s nothing I can do about it. It was sworn on the Moon Goddess. Such an agreement is binding until one of the parties mentioned dies.” He replies, still in that nearly apologetic voice.Not apologetic enough though.“My mother cursed me in front of the whole pack.” I snarl, gripping the sin
Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 55. Escaped
Callista.Two weeks after the ankle monitor is removed, I decided that it is time.Kellin and Haden make noise about making me an official member of the pack, sending me to school again, and helping me graduate, so I can attend the Rexellen University, and maybe even get a job. I nod at them, agreeing with everything. At least their sentiments are nice. I wish I could expect to live that ideal life.But I can’t.My mind is set, and I have somehow talked myself into leaving Haden and Kellin. After all, without me around, even their lives would change for the better. There would be no tension between them and the Alpha King, and they would once again be able to run the pack like they’d done before.With no stealer polluting the passages of the Rexellen castle, everything will be right again.So, after my second plan is complete, I lock up everything that’s hurting my heart in my mind and start to act.At the very beginning, before my first attempt, I had only one plan, but now I have tw
Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 56. Human City
Callista.The city is huge.I’ve seen them before, but only on TV or videos. Before escaping, I made sure to do as much research as possible into living as a human, especially a homeless human who had no identity outside the werewolf. There were so many articles and forums that gave me the information I wanted, and I noted them all in my head. I had somewhat of a foundation of knowledge of what I was getting myself into.But knowing facts about the human world and seeing it for the first time are different experiences.The moment I enter this place, that’s what I register. How damn gigantic it is. The buildings rise so much that they nearly touch the clouds, and the light…there is so much light. And vehicles. I’ve never seen so many vehicles before.Also, the people. Even at this time of the night, the streets are so busy.With normal humans, who didn’t believe in the Goddess or mates. Who didn’t care for stealers. Who weren’t in packs. No one spares me a second look, and all of them
Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 57. Bus
Callista.There are two transportation options I can take because I do not have enough cash to rent a car.So, train or bus. Train or bus?I decide on the bus.I march straight into the terminal and ask the lady behind the counter for a ticket. This is my first interaction with a human, and I try my damndest to be natural. I don’t want to look like a scared teenager out here, that’s bound to backfire on me. I already look bad, don’t need to add more to the story and make them think I’m a runaway. I don’t know enough about humans to wonder if they’d take me straight to the police if they think I’m running away because I do look a bit young. But in my state of being essentially a ghost in the human system, I refuse to take the risk.She looks at me, surprise evident on her face. My stomach drops. Did I do something wrong? Is that now how people ask for things around here?“Um, hello. May I ask to where you want a ticket to?” And then she rattles off a bunch of questions with ticket type
Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 58. Interlude
Interlude.Four days later.“I found a human,” A man said with his head held high above his shoulders. He stood facing the window that looked into the far city, its light pollution preventing him from seeing the stars. “A very strange smelling one.”He was a large man, at least seven feet tall with a broad muscular frame. He was clean-shaven with russet brown hair that grew past his ears, brushing the top of his shoulders. All in all, he looked like a man who’d seen much in life, and who’d done much as well. There was a scar running down his cheek, from his eye to his jaw like a tear track. He wore only a pair of pants, standing barefoot on the plush carpet of the office.Another man sat behind a desk facing the same window. He was as big as the other one, but with dark blond hair, dressed in a casual outfit. His face was covered in a thick beard, and he wore an expression of interest.“What kind of a smell?”“Beautiful, really. Enticing.” He shook his head, “It smelled like her.”“He
Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 59. Shelter
Callista.“So, does that mean we can sleep here, for free?” I ask my new friend, looking at the run-down building in front of us.There is a line of people near the building, dressed like us. Some of them have the same look of misery on their faces, their hands tucked into various pockets in their layers of cloth, some carrying bags and some without anything. Some others look cheerful, some just look ordinary if this is a regular occurrence for them. When I was researching, I never did get a clear idea of what being homeless was like, and thought that it was misery all the time. I basically resigned myself to a sad existence when I decided to run, but seeing some of the people here I start to think that maybe it won’t be so bad. Maybe with the right friends, I’d be able to make it through.We have to stand in line for some time more because the building was still closed, only opening at 05:00 PM to take the people in. Apparently, it was only a night shelter, where you came in, had a m
Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 60. Shower
Callista.Somehow, we got in.I honestly didn’t think that it would be possible, given how long the line was even if we had come relatively early. But about fifteen minutes after the place opened, we have two cots in the female section with a small bag of supplies each. I place my bag on the top of my cot, which doesn’t look much compared to the accommodations in the Rexellen castle. But I’ve been sleeping on park benches and even the cold, hard ground, which means that this cot would be heaven to sleep in tonight.Jenny looks happy as well. Well, calling it happy might be stretching it. She looks content for now, but her eyes are still so tired.We sit on our cots for a moment in silence, taking in the sudden change and making sure that it won’t go away anytime soon.“They told us that dinner's in an hour, right? Better get ready.” Jenny reminds me in a quiet voice. “Wanna take a shower? Bathrooms are communal but the water’s hot.”“That’ll be nice.” I don’t remember the last time I'
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