1: Him
I’ve been having the same weird dream for nights. It started occurring when I was seventeen. I would dream of a white wolf running through the woods. There’s something about that wolf, sense of peace, freedom and also authority. The way it’s running; it’s running as if it has a target, if only it runs farther. The next weird thing has been happening to me, I’m a werewolf, but I feel more mortal, I feel really weak. I flinch and at the slightest sudden noise. I’m eighteen and I haven’t completed my first shift. My step mom Teresa thinks it’s normal. The explanation my step mom gave me for my late shifting is that I’m a late bloomer and that I will complete my first shift any day now. ‘And for the dreams’? I asked her. She only said that I have those dreams because ‘I wish I could shift and run with the wind.’ Same old answers. I’m starting to think it’s more than that. I’ve spoken so much about it to my step mom, that she grew tired and weary of it. I’m starting to think she thinks I’m lying.
“Celeste, are you thinking about that dream again?”
My step mom asked while she fixed her dark brunette long hair into a high pony tail. We almost look the same. My hair is lighter brunette than her’s. And my eyes are sea green, while hers are ocean blue.
“No.”
I lied. I had to. I couldn’t bear to see her look at me as if I’m crazy.
“Good.”
She replied while she went into the kitchen cupboard.
“We’ve just moved into this town, and I’ve been cleaning all day. It’d be nice if you go to the market this time. Besides, it’s about time you get some sunlight on that unusually pale skin of yours.”
I just smiled and shook my head at her. But she was right. I hated going out. I couldn’t shift to my wolf form and I was embarrassed about it. I didn’t want anyone else to know about it, other than my step mom. I nodded in response to her statement. I then went upstairs to throw on my black hoodie(I did it to avoid attention). I then went downstairs to collect the list from my step mom.
“The list.”
I said, keeping my head down. I couldn’t bear to see her laugh at me. Yes, in other words; I’m a scaredy pup. She laughed so loud, I’m wondering how the glass in the window didn’t break.
“You know, your nineteenth birthday is around the corner. You can start to prepare for your shift from now since it’s only seven days away.”
She said between laughs. I just rolled my eyes at her and took up the market bag and headed through the door. There was something off about the atmosphere, it felt... tensed. Like trouble was on its way. ‘What trouble?’ I asked my conscience. I vowed to myself to avoid every mortal or wolf and keep my head low. As I drew nearer and nearer to the market, the feeling of uneasiness was eating me from the inside. I felt really on edge, my senses heightened and I was well alert. ‘But well alert for what?’ I questioned my conscience. Everyone looked normal and peaceful around me. I’m the only one who looked and felt tense.
‘Danger is on its way.’
A thought that sounded more like a voice echoed in my brain. I took a look at my surroundings once more. Nothing. But I still felt tense. The more time that passed, the more tense I felt. A huge wave of uneasiness crashed over me, then I heard a commotion, a loud commotion behind me.
“The Blood Moon King is coming, the Blood Moon King is coming.”
A few vendors at their market stalls shouted. I didn’t know who this ‘blood moon king’ was so I asked one of the stall members who he was.
“Who is this ′ blood moon king’?”
I questioned curiosity lacing my tone. The woman just looked at me as if I’m mad. As if I’m crazy for that matter.
“These tomatoes are so red and beautiful, tell me peasant, how much are they for?”
I heard the voice from behind me. It spoke with authority, command, and firmness. I shouldn’t, but I whipped my head around to see what this ‘blood moon king’ looked like. ‘And dear the moon goddess!’ He was devilishly handsome. He stood with authority, he spoke with authority. The way his very, abnormally dark reddish black hair slid across his shoulders, to the way he stood with his head held high and his nose pointing up. He flexed his crossed arms over his chest as a sign of strength. His height stood tall, like around; six foot, three. I thought my wolf would want him to claim her as his. But instead, something else happened, like the complete opposite. A growl erupted from the back of my throat. A really loud one. Making all the heads of the vendors, customers, and passers by snapped their heads in my direction. Even the so-called blood moon king himself looked at me, stared at me, along with his four companions. His piercing rusty red-brown eyes glared at me. I was supposed to flinch or feel intimidated by his glare. But I wasn’t, instead, I stood with authority, with command, I copied his posture. ‘What the fuck?’ I mentally screamed at my wolf. My wolf was basically asking, no, begging for a challenge. He just laughed a humorless laugh and it sounded really dangerous.
“Challenging the blood moon king are we?...tell me pup--”
My wolf growled at him, again, when he mentioned the word pup. Hushed silence fell over the market. No one dared to make a sound, not to mention move.
‘Mate.’
I heard his deep voice echoing in my brain. He looked me right in the eye and I did the same. I felt the small spark between us, we were mates. But something was blocking most of it, but I didn’t reject him, neither did I accept him.
“YOU’RE MY MATE, YOU SHOULD ACCEPT ME.”
His beast this time shouted, no demand into my head. I just stood there and stared at him as if he was crazy. His companions started to sense that something wasn’t right. And they tried to calm him down and direct him back to wherever he came from.
“I’M TAKING THAT WAY!”
He shouted while he pointed in my direction. Of course, they couldn’t defy him. So they did what they were told. I smirked (an evil one) at him when he walked past me and bumped my shoulder. I didn’t budge, I stood firm and glared dead right into his eyes. I could see his hatred for me. It kinda hurt, but it wasn’t that effective. He stomped off in anger to wherever he was going. With that problem aside, a new one arose;
‘Who am I?’
He left. I stood there alone, not sure of what to do next.
“She’s the one...”
“No she can’t be...”
“She doesn’t look like her...”
“But how else would she defy the blood moon king himself?...”
I heard gasps and whispers in the crowd around, that was about...me. I have so many questions. What were they referring to? Who were they referring to? I don’t even know who I am anymore. Fear got the best of me, and I ran out of the market back towards my home. I burst through the front door, warm streams of tears raining down my face. My step mom was alerted by the sudden noise and she ran over to me. She tried to hold me firm, but I fought out of her grasp with ease. Something I couldn’t do normally. My strength sent her flying across the room. I just looked over at her, fear brimming from within my soul. I was so afraid. I was afraid of... myself? I didn’t want to hurt my step mom again, so I ran upstairs to my bedroom and locked myself in my room.
