Once upon a time, Aria and I were best friends. It was us against our parents, us against society, us against the world. We didn’t fight each other, we fought together. We were on the same side.
But it felt more like me against the world, especially now that I was singled out.
“Hazel, I think it’s long overdue for your induction.” Ken was saying with his mate Melanie by his side. Once I got to know her, she wasn’t that bad. She was nice but the only thing I didn’t like about her was how passive she was. She literally did anything Ken wanted to do.
“Induction?” But I was already apart of another pack, it would feel wrong.
“I agree, we should have one soon,” Melanie echoed.
“You know, when the pack welcomes a new wolf, or in your case, Moon Goddess.”
“What happens if you’re part of another pack? You know, theoretically?” I added in case he thought I’d been inducted into the rogue pack.
“That’s fine, I guess,” Ken shrugged, “So, is that cool?”
“I guess-”
“Great! I’ll tell the Alpha and Luna!” Ken said cheerfully, Melanie tagging along after him.
“Lost?” I turned around and saw Law walking over to me. I tried to stay guarded, not fully trusting him yet.
“No, I was just heading home,” I’d been called to the castle because Ken wanted to introduce me to his new mate.
He nodded and walked beside me, not saying anything. I still got the feeling that he hated me even if he said otherwise. Even was telling people to be nice to me but I didn’t like that. I didn’t like how they changed because they were yelled at to.
“Lawrence!” An middle-aged woman with streaks of silver in her brown hair waved to us.
“Mom,” Law replied and we both stopped in the hall.
“Good evening,” Law’s mom looked at me with awe in her eyes, “Are you Hazel? I just want to tell you how grateful I am to meet you.” Instead of shaking my hand, she bowed graciously, making my cheeks burn. I wasn’t expecting her to look at me like I was some goddess- oh.
“It’s nice to meet you, too,”
“It’s a miracle,” She gushed, “To have the Moon Goddess as a part of our pack.” From the corner of my eye, I saw Law roll his eyes.
“Come on, Mom, you’re being a little dramatic.” He acted so differently from his mom, I wondered where he got his manners (or lack thereof) from.
“I’m so happy we’ve found you, dear,” Law’s mom cried loudly, “Are you going to be inducted anytime soon?”
“Actually, they’re thinking about tomorrow.”
“And what about the evaluation?”
“The evaluation? What’s that?” Were they going to put me on stage and score me out of ten?
“No, she isn’t.” Law told his mom, who nodded silently. It looked like they were having a silent conversation judging from the way they were looking at each other, I looked from him to her back to him.
What weren’t they telling me?
“I have to go prepare for the induction then, love you, Law, and it was very nice to meet you, Hazel,” Law’s mom bowed again and smiled widely before leaving.
“Your mom’s nice.” She seemed very kind.
“She’s crazy, she doesn’t know what she’s talking about.” Law sighed in exasperation.
“Well, I liked what she said.” He might’ve found her comments crazy but I yearned to be needed. I relished the thought of being a miracle.
We walked in silence again until we reached the front entrance.
“Do you have a ride home?” He asked randomly and I looked around, seeing a couple of people studying me.
“Yeah, Ken said he’d drive me home after he talked to the Alpha and Luna.”
“Did you meet Melanie?”
“Yeah,” I tried to find a compliment for her but all I could come up with was, “She’s nice.”
“She’s clingy, especially for a mate.”
That, too.
“How did he meet her?” I asked curiously.
“It was when you went missing. He was talking to other packs about you and then he saw her. That’s it.” Law made it sound like it wasn’t special. But I thought finding your mate was the best part of a werewolf’s life.
“Do you not like her? Aren’t you happy Ken found his mate?”
Law looked down at the tiled floor, frowning, “No, I’m happy for him- both of them.”
“But?” I pressed and it didn’t look like he wanted to talk about it.
“No, it’s nothing.”
He was saved from Ken’s voice.
“Hey, Hazel, you ready to go?” Ken asked from the stairs, Melanie by his side. He walked up to me and Law, his keys in his hand.
“Yeah,” I looked at Law, “Bye, Law,”
“Bye, Hazel,” He walked away, his job to protect me done.
After Ken found me, he gave me a ride home. Melanie wanted to come along but he told her to stay at the castle.
When I got home, I asked Mom and Dad if I could sleep over at a friend’s house and they couldn’t say yes fast enough. They wanted me to have at least one friend other than Aria, who wasn’t really my friend right now.
As I got upstairs, I wondered what I should wear for the induction tomorrow. It wasn’t like I’d been to one before, was it a formal thing or casual thing? Or semi-formal? Should I wear my hair up or down?
I was going to ask Aria but realized she wasn’t home. Not that she’d tell me.
Wait a second, Aria never invited me to her induction. Did she forget or just not want me there?
I took a deep breath, torn between two choices.
*****
It was insanely different from how the rogues held my induction. The celebration was outside, everyone talking amongst each other in small circles.
The Alpha and Luna were standing in a gazebo, gesturing for me to join them. It felt weird to be singled out and join the most powerful wolves in the pack.
Aria wasn’t there. I wanted her there but decided that I didn’t want to anger her more. Seeing me would only irritate her and I doubted that she’d want to see Ken with his mate.
“Can I have everyone’s attention?” Alpha Ares announced loudly and everyone stopped talking.
All eyes were on me. Some were captivated, some were passive and some were suspicious. My heart raced when I met their stares. I hoped I wouldn’t make a mistake.
“Maddeline Brook, do you accept your place among the wolves of our pack?” Ares asked.
Ken told me everything I’d have to do, which was basically to say yes to everything.
“Yes.” My voice was quiet.
“Maddeline Brook, do you promise to live and fight for the wolves of our pack?” Luna Alex asked this time and I responded with a firm,
“Yes.”
“Please bow.” There was a strong power emanating from the Alpha and Luna. Like one word could control me and control the world.
I bowed my head and looked down at their feet, feeling as if I were betraying the rogues. Was I betraying them, they accepted me first?
“Please rise,”
I blinked and straightened my spine. Everyone’s stares felt like hot daggers on my skin.
“We now present to you Maddeline Brook, the Moon Goddess!” Ares and Alex announced together and I looked around nervously.
The werewolves in the crowd clapped and my mouth eased into a smile. I saw Law and Even in the front of the crowd, clapping.
As the crowd cheered and smiled, I waited until I could join them.
My heart beated rapidly in my ear as I stepped down from the gazebo and many people came to greet me.
“Congratulations, Moon Goddess!” Many bowed and smiled politely at me. After the first rush of people walked away, Alex was the next to congratulate me.
“You’re one of us,” She put a hand on my shoulder.
“I wish Aria could’ve been here.” I looked at the sky, the sun glowing a dazed orange.
She nodded and watched the sun set into the horizon with me. It was beautiful, colors of soft yellows, oranges and pinks blending together below the fluffy clouds. It made me forget about all of my problems, blocked out into the back of my mind.
*****
I woke up to the worst feeling in the world.
Someone’s hands were clasped around my throat, constricting my airway and forcing all of their weight on me. I panicked, fear surging into my blood stream. I scratched at their hands, desperately trying to stay alive.
I couldn’t scream, I couldn’t breathe, I couldn’t do anything. I was losing this fight and I couldn’t do anything about it.
I felt my spirit wither, my body helplessly weak and draining rapidly from the lack of air. Tears pricked my eyes as I wondered if this was it, the moment I would die. The world was spinning, like a carousel that tricked my eyes.
I didn’t want to leave, not without saying goodbye.
I wasn’t done.
“Hazel?” I heard someone knock on my door and I let out a strangled yelp.
The person choking me to death instantly let go and jumped off my bed. They’d already jumped out the window like the coward they were.
A knock came again, “Hazel? Is everything okay in there?” I could hear more clearly, recognizing Even’s voice.
“Help. . . please.” I wheezed, almost losing consciousness.
Even rushed in almost like he teleported. One second I was alone and the next he was there. He massaged my back, slowly rubbing circles to calm my heart down.
“Are you okay by yourself? Do you want someone else?” Even made a move to get up but I grabbed his hand.
“Stay. . .” I said in a raspy voice.
He didn’t move, only traced circles in my palm.
“Tha-That was terrible, why would someone do that?” I cried, tears slipping out from my eyes. “Why would anyone want to kill me?”
Without thinking about what I was doing, I wrapped my arms around him and sobbed into his chest. Even tensed but soon wrapped his arms around my waist to comfort me.
“We’ll figure this out, I promise.” He vowed strongly.
“But why would someone do that?” I wiped my eyes, grateful it was too dark for him to see me cry, “Is it because I’m weak? Because I’m human?”
“Don’t say that, you’re more powerful than you know.” Those were the words Ever had told me.
I cracked a smile, realizing how similar they were. Well, of course they’d be, they were siblings.
Finally, I pushed Even away and cleared my throat, still burning from my killer’s hands.
It felt weird having an empty room. I’d shared a room with Aria since we were babies, she was always there when I needed her. But not today.
Without talking, I got back under the covers. Even stayed on the top of my bed, my hand in his.
At first it was hard to fall asleep with Even next to me. But soon, I found myself drifting off into my deepest thoughts.
It’s us against the world, Aria and I. But now. . . it’s just me.
Against the world.