CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE (WAXING CRESCENT)
Chapter 29: Conflict
A sense of disappointment with a mixture of irritation washed over her. It took a lot of dedication to control her expression, but somehow, Hazen noticed it this time.
“Something wrong?” She asked innocently. “Was yesterday’s catch unsatisfactory?”
“I did not fish yesterday,” Mallory stated plainly. “Why are you here?”
She looked at Hazen. She didn’t change much since she last time saw her. Did she even undergo the Blessing Ceremony?
Now that she thinks of it, it has been so long since she last saw her.
Two weeks ago? She can’t exactly remember the date.
Hazen pouted. "Why do you sound like I did something terrible? Anyway, I’m here because I want to invite you out!”
“Invite?” Oddny asked, emerging out of nowhere. “To where?”
“Hi there, little Oddny.” She grinned. “To eat out, of cou
CHAPTER THIRTY (WAXING CRESCENT)Chapter Thirty: AftermathHazen and Harper’s parents… Are dead?Mallory and Oddny looked at Hazen’s back with wide eyes. She saw her flinch and slumped her shoulders before she regained her strength to straighten them again. She stared at Muller really, really hard. Not a second did she break contact with the man.Muller started to break out into sweat. Instinctively, he stepped back. His eyes are still on her, appearing that he doesn’t want to break eye contact. But that’s not because of that. It’s because he can’t escape from her eyes.Muller stuttered. “W-what are you staring at me like that for?!”“Muller, you know that you constantly get on everybody’s nerves, don’t you?” Hazen coldly said. Mallory looked at her back, not recognizing her for a second.Muller couldn’t utter a single word
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE (WAXING CRESCENT)Chapter Thirty-One: Voices“Mallory, Mallory!” Oddny called many times as they walked into their house. Mallory unconsciously ignored her until Oddny caught her arm and stopped her. “Hey, listen to me!”“Sorry—what is it?” Mallory stopped and looked at her.“Tell me what happened,” Oddny pressed, her hand gripping her arm tightly. “The atmosphere there is weird—and, where is Hazen? She saw us earlier! And blood on the wall—what happened?”Mallory couldn’t stop the pity in her eyes from coming out.Hazen’s Blessing is not simply brainwashing. It seems like she can directly alter one’s memories or the way they think. Just this time, she did it unconsciously…Although she’s a friend, she agrees with everybody’s words.It was a terrifying Blessing.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO (WAXING CRESCENT)Chapter Thirty-Two: Unforeseen SituationMallory had to double-check again if anyone heard that.She couldn’t hear anything from the beat of her heart that was causing havoc behind her ribs. It feels like she’s on the verge of having a heart attack.‘How did they know about that?’ Panic is rising up in her throat. She thought against following the voice anymore, but then since whoever was doing this knew about her secret, there’s no telling if they’ll tell everybody if she turns her back now. ‘I-is the ‘leading to the twin’ a trap?’Mallory suddenly felt terrible.“What are you doing?”“Follow.”“Stop just standing there and get your feet moving!”“What are you stalling for?”The voices gradually started going fainter as the voices took turns.
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE (WAXING CRESCENT)Chapter Thirty-three: AlaricThe moon hung silently on the black sky. Aside from that, no stars are out for the night, making the whole sky look like an empty canvas—a void.A tall, gothic palace built far, far away from where the werewolves lived, stood in between small houses surrounding it. Streets were long and wide, connecting one street to another, like a spiderweb. The candles illuminated each house, giving a yellow-orange hue to each window.Inside the palace, deep in the throne room, there sat a young-looking man. His face was pale, eyes red as blood, and face as cold as winter. No emotion could be seen on his smooth face, like a stone statue frozen in time.The face known by every vampire, whose name could make them tremble from fear and exhilaration.The ruler of the vampire, Alaric.Next to him, the elder vampire who keeps an eye on their ruler when h
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR (WAXING CRESCENT)Chapter Thirty-Four: Days Before Her BirthdayMallory’s birthday was coming.For the past few days, she couldn’t focus on her own birthday. The sudden departure of Harper and the imprisonment of Hazen gave her a lot of stress. Oddny and her tried their best to ask where Harper went or if they could speak with Hazen, but they couldn’t get any result.In the end, they can’t do anything but just give up with it.“Everything will be fine,” Mallory heard herself assuring Oddny one day. “Hazen will be out in no time, and Harper will come back safe and alive.”She said that to Oddny, but at the same time, to herself.Mallory found Hazen’s presence sometimes too much. She’s overwhelmed by her, but she can’t deny the comfort she gave to her, especially with adjusting to the pack.Now that they’r
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE (WAXING CRESCENT)Chapter Thirty-Five: No WayWhat she had in her mind when it came to birthdays, was—to do nothing.In her previous packs, with her mother, they always just eat just a bit better food and then, nothing else. When she was gone and her first birthday in her previous pack was stale and cold, but when she’s supposed to have a warm birthday with Oddny, Damian, and Melita, the vampires stole it from her. Again.When she went here, she didn’t think of it that much. But with Hazen and Harper as ‘additional’ to their family, she thought of somehow celebrating with them…Then…Mallory just doesn’t want to think about it at all.Something bit her bait.Mallory stirred from her thoughts, and she immediately stood up and pulled. After a pull, she looked at the struggling fish on her hook. It was a big catch.Mallory is in her usual fishing job.Since she had no plans for the day, she just went out as usual. And it seems like Oddny forgot about her birthday too,
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX (WAXING CRESCENT)Arc Four: RejectionChapter Thirty-Six: He is the Alpha’s SonLeofric is the Alpha’s son.Mallory’s mind refused to accept it. But her memories slowly recapped and she remembered subtle hints about his identity, but she didn’t notice.Everyone just flocks towards him like it is natural.His natural leading capability.How others reacted when she was with him.How those nasty stares they got disappeared as soon as he said he’d do something about it.And… Benedict. The way Benedict laughed at her.That was so obvious. She should have asked. Pressed for answers. Who is Leofric? Why are you all acting like that? Is he important to the pack? How important?But she didn’t.Now, she has to suffer the consequences of her own actions.Mallory could clearly see the betrayal etching in Oddny’s face. She could practically see her temper rising.She’s about to blow up.“Oddny—”“Mallory,”Before she could say anything, Oddny cut her off. She called her name, an
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN (WAXING CRESCENT)Chapter Thirty-Seven: Selfish“Mallory!” He called out, his smile reaching his ears. “I’m so glad to see you!”“Hello, sir.” She said politely, and briefly, remembering how he just laughed at her while knowing the truth behind Leofric’s identity.Benedict seemed not to notice her coldness as he tapped her shoulder. “Are you here to pick a job? Are you fishing finally again?”“Finally…?” Mallory asked, then her eyes looked at the officer behind the desk. He looked away.‘Were they talking about me?’ Mallory wondered before answering him. “No,”She saw him visibly frown. “Why?”Mallory had long prepared an excuse for it. “I need something new to try… I’ve been fishing since I came here, so.”“I thought it was your hobby,” Benedict said, a slight disappointment etching in his voice. Mallory thought she could get away already when the light in his eyes flashed again. “No matter. Mallory, I would like to assign you to fish!”Mallory was flabbergasted.