As I was zoning out on the white carpet next to my bed, I heard a knock on the door and a random girl peeked her head in.
“Good morning, Moon Goddess, may I enter?” She asked super politely.
“Sure,” It felt weird being called a goddess, I certainly didn’t look like one right now with my polka dotted pajamas and massive bedhead.
I wiped my eyes, exhausted from yesterday.
I couldn’t get any sleep last night. I’d been worried about the killer coming after me and I’d been hyperaware of Even sleeping next to me. Mostly because of the latter.
“We thought it would be desirable to assign a personal servant to you,” She asked.
Why would I need a personal servant?
“Come in,” She barked and the door opened to reveal a slim girl with white marble skin and jet black hair. When she looked up I almost thought I was still dreaming.
“I believe you’re familiar with Mila,” The girl looked at Mila with disgust, which made me defensive. All I wanted to do was hug her to death and catch up.
She continued, “She’s a gift from the pack, to celebrate your induction.”
“Thank you?”
Since when was a person considered a “gift” to others?
“She’ll be living out her days as your servant. Anything you want, she’ll do. Is that clear?” Her question was aimed at Mila, who stood silently.
“Is that clear?” She repeated and Mila exhaled as a reply.
“Don’t worry, we’ll keep an eye on her. She’s totally harmless,” The girl headed towards the door, “Are you okay with the rogue as your servant?” Not as a servant but as a friend.
“Yeah,”
“Don’t be afraid to put her to work. Maybe you’ll think twice about leaving, rogue,” She spat at Mila and with a gracious bow in my direction, she left, “Have a good day, Moon Goddess.”
I couldn’t contain my relief to see that she wasn’t hurt, “Mila, I’m so happy to see you’re-”
Mila walked right up to me and covered my mouth.
“Stop talking, people are listening.” She warned lowly.
“Like who?” I whispered.
“Everyone in this damn castle.” She started to judge me harshly like she’d done when we first met. But I was just happy she was alive.
“So you’re the Moon Goddess, huh?” She asked calmly but her eyes betrayed her. Her dark brown eyes were filled with sheer hatred.
I nodded slowly and she narrowed her eyes, clasping her hands in front of her and bowing her head, almost mocking me.
“What can I do for you, Moon Goddess?” She spat the title in my face and I flinched.
“Nothing right now.”
“If there is nothing I can do to satisfy you, I will leave you be.” Her words were restricted with mocked formality and I hated it. Why couldn’t she just talk to me? Did she hate me because I lied? Well, I didn’t really lie, I just found out a few weeks ago.
“Mila,” I said suddenly and she turned around, “Who else made it besides you?”
She shook her head before answering, “Only one other.”
Who was the other one who was lucky to survive? There were more than ten rogues to begin with. Now there were only two.
*****
It was almost eleven when I decided to ask Even about my training. Since Law was technically assigned to be my bodyguard now, he entered the conversation later on and we started talking about what happened yesterday night.
“Who would want to kill her?” Law asked.
“That’s what I want to know.” Even shook his head, exhausted from this whole ordeal.
“And why didn’t I know about this sooner? We should take turns guarding her during the night.” Law sounded mad, probably because he missed his chance to kill my killer.
Even nodded and stood up to move around.
“Okay, let’s start your first lesson.” I just looked at him blankly.
“Right now?”
“Right now,”
I was finally going to use my powers! Well, besides the mind-link, which was also really cool.
I have powers, powers this world was kind enough to give me, I might as well put them to use. Besides, I was kind of curious to know what I could do.
“What about self-defense?” Law asked and I’d never thought of that before.
Even answered before I could say anything, “What about it? Hazel isn’t going to be fighting wolves, she’s always going to be protected.”
“And what happens when we’re not there? What’s she going to do, just stand there? She needs to know how to fight.”
“From who?” Even challenged and Law scoffed.
“Who else? Me.”
“You? Aren’t there more qualified wolves for the job?”
“What do you think? Aren’t there more qualified healers who aren’t dumbasses?”
“How about asking the person who hasn’t said one word about this?” I spoke up and they must’ve finally realized I was there.
“Sorry, Hazel,” Even apologized like a gentleman.
“Yeah, sorry,” Law said the same thing but shot a nasty look at Even.
“I think it’s a good idea,” I continued quickly, “I want to learn. You can teach me how to use my powers,” I looked from Even to Law, “And you can teach me how to fight.”
“I can teach you how to fight.” Even offered.
“You should stick to your healer duties.” The way he said it made it sound like it was a bad thing. But healers were important and in my opinion, irreplaceable.
“And who lost in a fight against me again?”
The scary thing about Even was that he was so unnaturally calm, he didn’t show any emotion, unlike Law. Law’s face was clearly frustrated.
“Let’s take this outside, then, and see who’s the better fighter.” Law argued and pushed off the wall he was leaning on, getting in Even’s face. They were almost the same height, Even just a little taller. Either way, both looked physically capable of teaching me how to defend myself.
“What is with you two?” I asked loudly and they didn’t say anything so I voiced my thoughts, taking Law’s side, “I think since Even’s teaching me about my powers, Law should teach me self-defense. Besides, you’re babysitting me anyway, you might as well spend your time doing something to help me.”
Even agreed effortlessly, “Okay,”
“Okay?” I asked Law, who also nodded.
“Okay.”
He finally backed up from Even.
“Good,” I smiled and changed the subject, “So, what’s the first lesson?”
“Your first lesson is control, how to control your thoughts and how to communicate them to other wolves.” Even explained as Law sat down on the desk, looking bored. “You have the mind-link now, it may be a little hard to adjust but you’ll learn as you practice more.”
Maybe even easier to adjust to since I’ve used it before.
“Since when can you mind-link? How did you do that before, at the school?” Law interjected and I shrugged.
“I don’t know.” It’s a good thing wolves can’t tell if you’re lying.
“Her powers are already stronger.”
“Much stronger.” Law added and I kept myself from swelling with happiness.
We spent an hour talking telepathically until my brain grew tired. We ended up eating food for the rest of the afternoon.
*****
School the next week was better than before. Considering I’d already been busy with my makeup work, I was actually passing my tests. For me, it wasn’t that hard to adapt after being absent so long. I just had a natural talent for school.
Everything felt like it was shifting back to normal.
I went to biology in the morning like always but when the bell rang, the two seats next to me were empty. That’s where Law and Even usually sat.
Naomi and Kaitlyn didn’t sit in their usual seats in the back, the ones they chose to flirt with the “hot twin brothers”. Instead, they took Law and Even’s seats and actually talked to me.
“So, you got detention last week?” Kaitlyn asked and I wondered how many people knew.
“Yeah,” I said uneasily and their faces broke out into wide smiles.
“Why?” Both questioned curiously.
“Because I got in a fight with Aria and the Principal saw.” I said sheepishly and sort of regretted it.
Naomi snorted, “That bitch deserves it.”
My forehead wrinkled with surprise, “Aria?” I thought they were her friends.
“Who else?” Naomi had a sour expression on her face, “A lot of people hate her right now. Actually, everyone’s always pretty much hated her but we just didn’t realize it.”
“Oh,” But why? I mean, she wasn’t my favorite person right now but siblings never got along. I thought everyone loved her.
“What we’re saying is that if we had to take sides, we’d take yours.” Kaitlyn told me before Mr. Leonard told everyone to stop talking.
I had a sub in my next class, English, which was usually taught by Harry. He wasn’t there and neither was Aria. That didn’t make sense, Aria drove me to school this morning, was she skipping or was she with Harry?
Where was everyone? Did it have to do with the pack? Law, Even, Harry and Aria were all absent. . .
During lunch, I sat with Naomi and Kaitlyn and their friends. They asked me questions about my fight with Aria nonstop. Everyone thought it was awesome but I couldn’t help but feel guilty.
The house was empty when I got home. Surprise, surprise.
I walked upstairs to my room, ready to start my homework, when I saw it.
A river of dark crimson liquid coating the carpet underneath my door.
I carefully opened the door, scared out of my mind. I felt like I was in a horror movie, where the audience screams at the girl to run. But I couldn’t run, I needed to see what was in my room.
Blood, there was blood leaking from my closet.
Then I heard shallow breathing.
I froze, looking around for any sort of weapon. A hairbrush was the closest thing I could grab.
I walked on the balls of my feet, hairbrush in hand, as I edged closer to the closet.
As my heart hammered in fear, I covered my mouth when I saw where the blood was coming from.
There was a werewolf in my closet.