Chapter 25

ERICA'S POV

I can't help but think about what happened in the forests…the weird wolf and its extraordinary speed… its experience with Claire and so many more. Chills ran down my spine as I try to remember its deafening growls and I shuddered as I imagined encountering the huge monster once again. There was this strange familiar feeling I got when the huge monster looked at me before leaping into the forests. There's something about the look and it kind of bothers me.

Anyways it's gone, never to be seen again, hopefully… It was such a weird,strange and scary looking creature and although Claire had called it a cursed wolf, we knew better than that but we were just looking for a name for it at that moment. It looked nothing like a cursed wolf although I've never had an encounter with one, I've been teased and threatened with its picture while growing up and the image has been glued to my memory ever since then.

Trying to switch my thoughts to something better, i thought about Alpha Dante and my heart hurts as if it has been pierced with thousands of needles. Infact, it hurts ao much I crouched and started sniffling as I reminisced on our sweet moments together and how much trust and love we both have for each other, and our secret plans.

“Is he still gonna trust me?”

“Does he still loves me?”

“Is he in danger now?”

“Has he finally decided to succumb to his father's whims?”

“Does he hates me now?”

“Or is he dead?” I asked myself these questions as I shuddered in fear at the last question. His father is a demon and would probably punish him severely the moment he realizes that I've escaped, he would blame him and maybe lock him up in the dungeons. I thought as I finally let out all the tears that had welled up in my eyes overtime.

“I'm sorry Dante but I have such a terrible fate, I can't afford to include my innocent child in all these mess– I really can't-” I bursted out again while I cried.

“It's fine if you don't wanna forgive me Dante, it's totally fine but I just want you to know that I love you so much, more than words could ever tell bur I just have to do this-” I said to myself and quickly hid my face as I heard the bolt of the door unlocking and Claire entered.

“Erica I have something to discuss with you–” she paused on seeing my present situation as I tried hard to hid my snot smeared and swollen face from her view.

“I'm fine Claire, ask me anything you want to” I said with a rather ragged voice.

“No Erica, look at me?! What happened?, aren't you happy to be here? We can always go back yunno” she said and moved closer to me while she questioned me incessantly like the worry wart that she is.

“I-I-I-it's just old memories and I –” I stuttered.

“What memories Erica? Please tell me,you're scaring me already!” she shouted worriedly while holding my shoulders.

“It's nothing really Claire, I'm just reminiscing about Dante and–well I broke down in the process–” I said,feigning a smile.

“Okay then” she said while sighing in relief.

“Let's take a walk around darkmoon shall we?” She said while dragging my hands.

“Yes-yes, let’s go” I said, suddenly giddy with excitement and she looked at me in wonderment.

“Pregnancy mood swings are the worst!” She shouted, while laughing out loud and I smiled in embarrassment.

We took a walk around the Darkmoon pack and I couldn't help but gawk at the beauty around me. Talk about the green forests and beautiful colored flowers buzzing with life, talk about the birds flying in the air with no care about anything going on below them, talk about the atmosphere and the people in it, all hustling and bustling and the whole scenario is just beautiful and it kind of lifted up my spirits.

Darkmoon is more beautiful than what I've heard about it. Arguments have ensued between so many kids back then in the bluemoon pack about whether or not Darkmoon is the most beautiful and silly me, had joined them in berating Darkmoon but right now I have changed my mind completely, its just the most beautiful pack ever and now I realized why greedy Alpha Logan wanted to take over from my father and I boiled in anger.

Infact right there and then, I vowed to help my father fight his battle with his greedy counterparts, I vowed to protect my fatherland, with my life and nothing, not even the moon goddess, would make me change my mind. I vowed silently as I looked around admiring the beauty, peace and serenity in the neighborhoods.

Claire held my hand and approached a young guy who goes by the name “Agar” , her supposed childhood friend and crush, according to her.

“Let's branch to my friend's shop Erica. I want you to meet him and moreover, it's been a while since I saw him,” Claire said and dragged me to a little shop at the extreme end of the street.

On getting there, the supposed friend Agar, short and lanky, quickly approached us with his coal smeared shirt and shorts. “Hey Claire, it's been a while, “ he said while hugging Claire.

“Yes, I missed you” Claire quickly replied and introduced me to him.

“Agar please meet Erica, my long lost sister “ she said while smiling sheepishly and deep down I felt like giving her a hard knock.

“Ohhhh, welcome Erica - it's a pleasure to meet you” Agar said, sizing me up.

“You too,” I replied shyly.

“Have your seats please” he said and we sat down. While I tried to get a good view of him.

“He's short,lanky, blond hair and silver eyes. If I were to rate his handsomeness over a hundred I would give him forty although he seems to be a nice guy.

He served us a special type of tea which I enjoyed so much and a few minutes later we were on our way back home.

“So what do you think about my friend, Agar?” Claire asked me curiously.

“Nothing special about him, he just seems fine” I said smiling.

“Oh really? It seems pregnancy has made you quite saucy these days” she said and I laughed.

We got home and not long after, Dad arrived too. He hugged Claire and gave me a question mark look which made me uncomfortable.

“Erm-dad, meet Erica– your—--”