Arya sat on her bed, open letter in hand. The foreign words seemed to dance around, and she could already imagine herself trying to fit in a puzzle of words in its correct place.
Rodriguez had promised her his notes, but she hadn't seen or heard from him for the past half an hour. It seemed like he would be taking more time to search for the book than he had thought.
She decided to freshen up, then went to comb her hair. Looking at the person staring back at her from the mirror, any guilt that she had harbored in sacrificing someone for their youth vanished in thin air. Instead, she became even more determined.
Her reflection looked like a seventy year old woman with dark circles under her eyes, her skin dull, and her hair was just dry. Too dry.
The glow of a twenty five year old had completely vanished, and she looked tired. If sacrificing someone meant looking young and gorgeous, so be it. But with the first full moon in mere days, how will she look for a girl?
As if the universe had heard her plea, a knock came on her door. She tied her hair in a loose bun and opened the door to reveal Donna, standing there with a flier.
"Hi, Donna. What's this?" She asked.
"The Moon festival is in town. I'm taking my children out there tomorrow. Do you wanna come? It will be fun!" Donna said excitedly.
"I... I don't know..."
"Miss, you have to come. It's the only time our pack members get to interact with humans."
"Humans? I've never heard of this festival before. Can you tell me more about it?" Arya asked, stepping aside to let Donna in.
"Yes, of course," Donna said, sitting on a chair. "This moon festival is celebrated for three days; a day before the full moon, on the day of the full moon and on the day after the full moon. Humans also join this festival, in wolf costumes, and we all sing and dance all night long, under the moon."
"Do homeless people also come?"
"This is a festival celebrated by the homeless."
"Well, I'd love to be part of this festival. What time do we leave tomorrow?" Arya asked, a flicker of hope burning in her eyes.
This could be her only opportunity to get a virgin girl without raising suspicion. Hell, she could get all three girls and keep them hidden in the cave. She needed to speak with both Rodriguez and Elaine about this.
"We'll leave at six in the evening," Donna replied excitedly.
"I'll be ready. And Donna, do you know where Alpha Rodriguez is? I need to speak with him!" Arya asked.
"Oh yeah! He's in his office library. If you want, I can take you there," Donna offered.
"That would be great."
Both women walked out of the room, chatting about the moon festival. Donna also told Arya about her children.
Donna had three children, twin girls and a boy. She was a gamma, but her mate turned out to be an omega.
She left everything, her father's title, her family, her friends, her pack, just to be with Melvin, her mate. As a result, the Alpha of their pack banished her, declared them a rogue, and after struggling in the forests for months, they found this pack.
They have thrived in here. Melvin retained his title of gamma and works in construction, while Donna became the house help, as their Alpha called it.
Listening to everything, Arya realized that these rogues are not as bad as the other wolves are made to believe. Yes, according to Donna, there are men who break into a fight frequently, but her Alpha gets everything under control.
One thing was certain, they all loved their Alpha.
Arya found Rodriguez in the office library, just like Donna had said. Rodriguez was surprised to see her walk in when he gave permission to enter.
"I thought it was Donna!" He said.
"Actually, I needed to talk to you about the coming moon festival. Donna asked me to go with them, but I wanted to ask you..." Arya began, but Rodriguez cut her in mid sentence and said, "You don't need my permission, Arya. You can go anywhere you want."
"No, the permission is not about going. It's about... kidnapping."
The word tasted bitter in her mouth. Kidnapping? Kidnapping a child and taking her away from her parents just to kill her for her youth? That's inhumane!
But then again, she wasn't human to begin with. She was never human. She was a werewolf, and now, she's a witch.
"Kidnapping?" Rodriguez repeated, confused.
"Yeah... for the sacrifice!"
Why was Arya feeling this way? Her throat felt tight, as if the words didn't want to come out.
Maybe it was because this was her first sacrifice?
Maybe it was because some part of her didn't want a parent to suffer because of her!
Whatever the reason, she knew one thing; she would struggle to do it.
That was exactly why Elaine had surfaced. Elaine was the real witch, not Arya. Elaine would do the dirty job, while Arya would reap the benefit.
"If you want, I could send some of my men with you and Donna. They will do what you ask of them. But I must warn you to be very careful. One wrong move, and you'd get my pack in trouble. Or worse, expose our kind," Rodriguez said.
"Ok. I had another request... can I visit the cave?" Arya asked.
"I don't see any reason you shouldn't. Do you want the company of my men?" Rodriguez said and asked.
"I'll be able to find the cave. Thanks for offering your help."
Saying that, Arya walked out, leaving Rodriguez thinking about why things were the way they were.
In the forest, Arya followed the path that they had used the day before to get to the cave.
She reached the cave in no time and entered with ease. As she reached the center, she began thinking again.
Was she doing the right thing?
Forgetting Bella was hard, but becoming a witch? Was this even worth it?
Maybe it was destiny, or maybe it was selfishness. Both ways, Bella was better. At least she could talk to her without hiking to a cave in the middle of a forest!
She had always been taught sympathy. Taking care of others and respecting their feelings! But what of her own feelings?
No one had asked her what she wanted. No one!
Her aunt Kim never told her that she was a werewolf. Her so-called 'mate' didn't even ask her if she wanted to try becoming a wolf. He just pulled at the necklace, and she was forced to transform.
Natalie didn't even ask her whose side she was on, telling her mother to make a deal with Valac. She just ran to tell on her like a child.
Valac didn't even ask once why she was holding his mate. He just assumed Arya was trying to kill her, and he attacked.
Alfa didn't even once try to take her opinion on putting Bella into sleep mode. He just made that decision for her. He never once thought how it would hurt her.
And Kane! He was the bastard who started everything. He fathered Alfa. He was a monster and Alfa had his blood in his veins.
Arya had entered the cave to talk to Elaine, but now she knew the answer to her question. Yes, she can choose what to do, and she's choosing to be a witch.
She is choosing to sacrifice a young virgin for her beauty. Alfa and Kane can go to hell and see if she cares!