Alison.
"No! No! No!" I yelled, prancing about. I rusted to the door but didn't touch it as the memory of my earlier encounter assaulted me. I didn't want that kind of energy around me again.
"Fuck!" I cursed.
Then, almost as if I wasn't being tempted enough, the gate disappeared. Completely. Like it has never been there, leaving only dark bleak that swirled around the greenness of the forest.
I reached out with my middle finger, testing out the new development. The same bolt of energy shot through. I quickly retracted my finger. A single tear slid down my throat as realization dawned on me.
The door wasn't just locked. It was sealed. It has sealed me with the monsters.
Before panic could fully take over, footsteps padded toward me. I turned rapidly, my stance firm, my shoulders squared, my hands in fists, ready to punch and throw back anyone or beast who dared come near me.
Instead of monsters that I expected, an old woman—judging by the streaks of white hair in her head—chuckled at me. It wasn't the friendly laugh that eased one's worry. It was the kind that made young men pee their pants and made young girls run home to their mummy.
"W-who are y-you?" I stammered out. I still maintained my stance, refusing to let down my guard.
Her expression blanked. "I am Headmistress Aurora. I rule this place." As she said the last part, she looked behind her. The humming that was circulating hushed and everywhere became as silent as the graveyard the place was turning out to be.
"So you are the trespasser." She eyed me from head to toes. Her expression dismissed me as nothing. "Escort her after me!" She commanded.
Before I even knew what was happening, two hands gripped me.
They escorted me—if "escorted" meant flanking me like bodyguards who would rather take the pleasure in killing me—back into the main building. Students parted around us, whispering. Some sneered, others looked almost… afraid.
The moment the headmistress was gone from sight, the whiskers flew around again.
"Human?"
"Impossible."
"Two heirs—"
"She'll ruin everything."
"How did she get in?"
My eyes locked with the two men I wouldn't have minded getting laid with - until they turned into monsters before my very eyes - but they stared at each other instead, silently daring each other for what I couldn't understand. I didn't get the chance to ask or the time to worry as my bodyguards dragged me.
We stopped in a vaulted office lined with bookshelves that stretched to the ceiling. Behind a massive oak desk sat the headmistress. Her silver hair was now pulled into a severe bun. Her presence filled the room more than her size should have allowed.
"Headmistress." The two men holding me said, bowing their heads slightly. The headmistress gave them signs to leave. They noted immediately, leaving me and her alone.
The woman's gaze snapped to me, sharp as a blade. For a moment, her eyes flickered, tainting her brownish color with gold.
"You," she said, voice like iron. "What are you doing here?"
I shifted nervously. "Student… research… camp. I saw lights. The gate was open. I-I didn't know—" I jumbled out, unable to speak confidently.
Her expression didn't soften. If anything, it hardened.
"Wh-where am I?" I questioned, struggling to find my voice.
"This is Moonbound Academy." She said slowly, like she was pronouncing a sentence. "A place hidden from human eyes."
The words struck me like a punch. "Hidden? From… humans?" How the hell did I walk into here then?
"You don't know?" She questioned, eyeing me suspiciously.
You shouldn't be able to see the gate." The Headmistress murmured, more to herself. Her gaze sharpened again. "Unless…" her sharpened gaze trained on me. "Did they send you here?!" She yelled at me, anger masking her demeanor.
My stomach dropped. "Excuse me?"
They? They who?
"I just want to leave, please," I pleaded, staggering backwards. Her eyes were suddenly scaring me. Do
The Headmistress waved a hand. "Is anyone there?!" Two men arrived at once. "Take her to the guest wing. Until we determine what she is, she doesn't leave the grounds."
"What I am?" I sputtered. "I'm—"
Her gaze silenced me. I followed the two students—or were they guards?—out, pulse hammering. My mind reeled.
Not entirely human.
What the hell did that even mean?
Of course I was human. However they've been disillusioned in their ignorance wouldn't change the fact that I was human.
"Release her." A sweet, calm voice said from behind us.
The hair in my skin prickled and I shivered slightly. Even before I turned around to see him, I knew it was him, the sky-eyed guy.
"But the headmistress—" one of the guards started to protest but a glance from the man shut him up promptly. "Sorry, Alpha heir Grayson." He apologized.
Grayson?
The name sounded like music to my soul. I wanted to roll the name on my tongue and see how sweet it would sound when I pronounced it.
The hands that held me on either side loosened, breaking into my wild thoughts, and I was free. I rolled my right wrist to release the tension on it.
"Come with me, I'll take you to the guest wings." He summoned. He walked away, leaving me no choice but to follow. I watched him stride away and noted amidst my inner turmoil that he was now dressed in casual clothing. There was no trace of the beast he had converted to earlier. I shivered, wondering what level of sorcery was at work.
"What are you all?" The question left my mouth even before I realized that it did. I clamped a hand over my mouth. When he stopped walking and turned to stare at me, I averted my eyes, looking everywhere except him. He ignored me and continued to walk. I sighed, knowing that there was not going to be an answer to clear the air of my mystery.
"Werewolves." He said after we took a few steps.
I rushed to his side and began to walk beside him. "Werewolves?"
"Yes. Humans who have the supernatural ability to change from being humans to being a wolf." He explained. He didn't seem to mind sharing that information with me.
Werewolves? Change? They sounded like one of those fairytales stories parents would read to their children. Except that I have never heard of theirs before. Not even anything remotely closed.
"Do you have to touch a talisman or something?" He paused and stared at me like I was an idiot. "You know… like when mermaids leave water and they need legs to walk on land?" My voice was small and unsure.
He chuckled softly. His hand reached for my blonde hair and he stroked gently. I let out a soft gasp as electric shock shot through me. My lips parted of their own accords, purring at how gentle his touch was to my soul.
"Touch her again and I'll—" An angry voice yelled from the shadow.
"—Or you will what?!" Sky blued eyes, who I now knew his name was Grayson, revolted.
"Enough!" I yelled at the two of them. "If you two want to fight, by all means do that, but do not drag me into your mess. All I want is to leave here alive, not be the object of enemies." My voice was low and shaky.
I wanted to return to my mother. I wanted her to hold me in my arms right now and assure me that all would be well. That I was going to be fine.
Four hands camouflaged around me, consoling me.
"Look what you did, Harrison, you've made her cry. That's all you all know at Blood Moon Pack," Grayson accused.
Harrison.
So that was the name of the second.
"But you—" Harrison began his protest, but I shot him a look to shut him up. He grunted but didn't say anything further.
"Can you both take me to the guest room where I await my fate then?" I didn't bother to wait for them. I walked away, leaving them no choice but to follow. They did, flanking me on either side. When we got to the room, I got in, locking them both out. I rushed to the windows and jammed them locked. Then I followed on the bed, my body racked with sobs I managed to hold in all this while.
Suddenly the window flung open. I stood up, ready to shut it once again but I jumped back from shock and fear.
A dark shadow stood by the window, the only visible thing about it was its glowing red eyes. It stared at me like it was fascinated by my presence. I opened my mouth to scream but no words came out.
"You shouldn't have come." It said, hissing at me.
A scream rented my throat as I fell down to the floor from fear that shook through me. I wrapped my hands around myself, my knees shot up to shield me.
"You shouldn't have come." The shadow repeated.
And just like that, it was gone.
But the fear in my heart wasn't.