CHAPTER 15

There’s no escape from this creature. Why would a guy enter a female restroom to attack an innocent woman like me? He can’t turn into a wolf because it’s a day. The sun was shining bright outside. At the same time, I was afraid he might punch me or kill me with his fists. He remained in his place, ready to hit me with his balled hands.

“Marvel, don’t hit her,” a woman from the outside said. Marvel calmed down. His face relaxed for a bit. They should be in guidance counseling right now for assaulting me inside the restroom!

The woman who talked showed pup behind Marvel. She had blonde hair, and pink lipstick, his skin was pearl white.

Marvel growled at her. “She’s a threat. I can scent it. Glitter, she’s a threat!”

Why does he sound so crazy about me? He looked like a dog with rabies who would attack a person. While Glitter was a calmer version of him. Hence, they both feel like I was facing Akisha. Beta’s children, I supposed.

“But she’s nobody. She’s just a half-blood. She can’t do anything for us. Don’t waste your time and your time, Marvel.” Glitter gleamed a smile on her face and raised a gaze at me. “Go. Leave us before my friend kills you.”

I didn’t talk and kept silent. I bypassed Marvel and Glitter, their perfume killed the oxygen inside my lungs. Before I leave I heard them talking.

“She won’t go that far. Don’t put yourself in danger next time,” Glitter told Marvel.

I rushed to the library where I found Gwen and Aki. I had to tell them about my encounter. They have more knowledge than I have. Aki was reading a book while Gwen was scrolling through her phone with her earbuds plugged inside their ears. I think I would go to the bathroom again alone.

Panting after running, I spoke catching up my breath. “Marvel and Glitter…” I easily caught their attention by telling the two names that scared the hell out of me earlier. “I’ve seen them in the restroom.”

“Eldest son of Beta Moon and Beta Loretta—bosses of my parents. What happened? Please don’t tell me you faced Marvel.” I nodded. Gwen cursed and flinches her eyes. “You’re so unlucky.”

“Marvel almost punched me to death. He was raging and strong. I would’ve died there if Glitter didn’t show up. She saved my life!” I tried to lower my voice. I guessed it was naturally not distracting. People inside the library didn’t pay any attention to me.

“Glitter didn’t save your life. She just doesn’t care about these people. The only daughter of Beta Chuck and Shine,” Aki explained.

Gwen cleared her throat before speaking, “In short, these two people are both Beta’s children. They were both bullies and you should not ever talk to them. They hurt people without hesitation. They’re stronger than us because of their nature. They’re a threat. Don’t be a dumbass on facing them. Having courage won’t spare your life in this town.”

They were easily saying me not to act like a brave person in front of these people. I’ve never encountered bullies like them in my school before. I knew that once they started to hurt me. I’ll fight back. I’m an introvert, but not the type who would let people ruin me. As others quoted, quiet but deadly.

I agreed to the two of them. Having a debate about this thing won’t benefit the three of us. I pretended that I follow their advice, that listen to them.

“Don’t trust anyone else in this town,” Gelo’s voice in my head reminded me. Befriend but don’t trust. I hope he wasn’t the traitor since he’s the one I trusted the most along with my brother.

…

I walked alone back to our place. Angelo said he had some errands which I don’t care about. He wasn’t my bodyguard and he has the right to go where he wanted to go. It wasn’t awkward for me to walk alone. I’ve been alone for most moments of my life.

I love how the birds were chirping on my way. They were jumping from the roofs of the houses next to each other. I don’t know if these houses were empty or if people living here weren’t in the town. But I like it. Those birds felt safe and peaceful in their activity.

The town has a mild wind. It wasn’t strong enough to scare the birds away. It wasn’t weak enough to annoy the heat. I hate hot temperatures. I hate summers. Those were the worst things that exist in this world. Locking myself inside an airconditioned room was my only option at that time.

I slowed down my pace when I saw our house and Nana’s. Our houses weren’t far from the others. It wasn’t close enough to hear the noise from the nearby neighbors. At first, I thought that neighbors in suburban villages like this would be so close. Maybe in werewolves, they don’t care enough.

Nana and I would be alone in our own homes. The silence was perfect when my brothers weren’t around. They weren’t distracting for me, but I hate when the television was on when I’m reading. At least, I’d get a nice reading time on the couch for the rest of the afternoon. Not until Nana showed up and pulled me inside her home.

“Gelo’s buying groceries,” she said. Gelo didn’t tell that me. He should’ve so! Buying groceries was a normal thing. Everybody does that. Will he be walking his way back to his place? That’s absurd with those heavy groceries he had to carry. “You should stay with me for a moment. I’m baking a cake.”

I’ve never tasted Nana’s cake. I’ve never had an interaction with this old woman. Nana’s been so kind to me and my family even before. Exchanging my reading time to talk to her wasn’t a huge loss. So I stayed.

Nana brought me to her kitchen. The smell of chocolate cake inside the oven and the sweetness of sugar were exposed through the air. Nana’s dry palms let go of me as I seated on one of their chairs.

“Do you bake cakes?”

I shrugged. “I don’t but I do bake cookies from time to time.” I hate waiting that’s why I do it rarely. There are a bunch of pre-baked cookies in the grocery stores. They tasted the same so why would I bother to bake one.

“Baking’s one of my favorite hobbies. When I was a young mom, Angelo’s mother would be asking me to bake a lot for her. She was a fat child before. A very very chubby one.” She died, I reminded myself. I don’t want to cross the lines and ask about a dead person. The last time I saw Gelo’s mother was in their family picture. She looked gorgeous just like him. Maybe she lost weight during her teenage or maternal period.

“What happened to your husband?” I just said that I won’t ask about a dead person but I did. I’m naturally curious.

“He died. He’s killed. He was brave that time and faced five betas. They asked him for a little amount of money. We weren’t poor that time but he didn’t want to get stepped on by these betas. So he fought. He was strong yet he lost because they outnumbered him. It’s so sad he didn’t have a chance to see his two grandsons. I wasn’t able to grant his wish to give him a son. I had three miscarriages and I stopped. So asked Angie, our daughter, to bear a boy. But her first child was Minnie. And my husband died before Sage saw this world.”

There are sad stories for happy people. I learned from the books that I read that traumatic and depressing moments were the ones that shape the personality of these people. Nana, despite her age, doesn’t fear anyone. She wasn’t rude to anyone and she accepted my family.

“I’m sorry for that.”

“Let’s talk about something else. I’m bakings sweets and we should talk about sweet and happy things.” Nana wore leather gloves. She pulled out the socket of the oven and pulled the chocolate cake from the inside. She let it stay inside the can and served it in the middle of her table. Then she grabbed two plates for both of us, a bread knife, and a spoon. “It would take a lot of time if you’ll wait for me to put chocolate around it.” She placed a slice of the cake on my plate and smiled with her uncomplete set of teeth.

“Was Sage was quiet and stays in his room most of the time?” I put a piece of cake inside my mouth The taste was mouth-watering and delicious. Nana bakes a great pastry. “By the way, the cake tastes marvelous. If you live in the city, you must be their favorite baker.”

“Thank you. I appreciate you liking what I baked. And yes. Sage’s the type of mysterious and quiet one. He’s still respectful and good. There are women before who would ask me where they could find him. He was likable even before. And I would tell them he’s hiding inside his cave. They don’t believe me.”

“And what happened to those ladies.”

Nana’s face turned serious. “They left the town before they were killed.”

I realized the town could be that dangerous for everyone to leave, especially for those who weren’t part of the pack.

“Then why did you stay in this town if you think this is dangerous for your family.”

Nana smiled at me. “Dear, you’ll understand that when you get older. When you lived and stayed in a place for a very long time, you’d rather spend the rest of your life in that place. This is where I was born. This is where I raised my children and grandchildren. This is where I fell in love. This is where I had my heartaches. And dear, this place is where I want to die.”

I had to change the topic. I don’t want to blend seriousness with our conversation. So I asked something awkward. “Does Gelo have a girlfriend before?”

Nana didn’t answer. She was looking at me. No, she was staring behind me so I rotated my head.

Gelo was already here. Holding a bag of groceries in his right hand. “You need something about me? Then why don’t you ask me directly.” His grin killed me the moment my eyes laid on his face.

It’s so embarrassing!