Chapter 2 - ii

"𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐢𝐬 𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝."

– 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐓𝐰𝐚𝐢𝐧

Dusk Castello

O N E: Necessary Slap

I was on the last few pages of the book that I was reading when there was a knock on my door. I looked up when I heard the door open, revealing Amelia Castello, my mom "Mija would you please come downstairs for a minute? Your dad and I have something to discuss with you and your sister" Mom stated nervously.

Even for a 50-year-old, she looks younger. No wrinkles yet. Green, bright eyes. Dirty blonde hair tied in a neat bun. Some say we looked like her, but Mom knew the truth.

We looked exactly like our father; Grey eyes, brown hair or brunette as humans call it, and pale skin.

I nodded, placing my book down on the bed, hopping out of my sheet then walking out of my room, following her to the living room where my Dad- well stepdad but Dad nonetheless, my twin sister, Dawn, and my baby brother, Diego – sitting on his high chair.

I grabbed the whiteboard and marker on the table then I sat next to my sister. I looked at her in confusion.

'Mom looked nervous. Did something happen?' I mind-linked her. She shrugged in response. We both looked back at our parents, waiting for them to tell us what they wanted.

"You both have been chosen to attend Sancus Academy" Dad blurted out. My eyes widen while Dawn abruptly stood up, her mouth agape.

☾

It has been exactly 2 hours and 45 minutes since our parents dropped a bomb on us and it doesn't look like it's calming down any time now. We had already read the letter and let me tell you, it was a shock to us that we have to take Diego with us. 

I wonder what for? My eyebrows furrowed in confusion at my thoughts.  

Dawn has been pacing back and forth in the room while Mom left with Diego to feed him, leaving me, Dawn, and dad.

Sancus Academy is the only school made for werewolves. It was built to unite all packs across the world, even alphas have to join as trainers. You are to be chosen, not apply. Every year, the royal family picks five wolves to join.

In the first few weeks, they will test to see what are our strengths and weaknesses. I had a feeling in my stomach that I won't survive even for a day. 

Oh, Goddess.

Excited is an understatement. Dawn has been trying to convince Dad not to let me join, seeing as I have a "problem".

I'm mute, by choice – but that's a story for another time.

"Dawn calm down" Dad sighed, rubbing his temple. Dawn stopped pacing, sitting down next to me while grumbling incoherent words under her breath.

When will we be leaving? I wrote on the board then showing it to dad.

His eyebrows scrunched together in confusion and shock "You want to go?" Dad asked. Dawn snapped her head to look at me the same way but it softened.

"But, D-" I interrupted her by shaking my head not wanting her to finish. I knew what she was about to say. I knew she was making everything easy for me.

But I didn't want that, not anymore. It was unfair for her, I was supposed to be the oldest yet here she is, trying to protect me. It was supposed to be the other way around.

I'm fine, Dawn. I can take care of myself I scribbled on the board. She sighed, nodding hesitantly. 

"Derek will be picking you both up tomorrow at 6" Dad stated. Dawn and I looked at him, shocked.

"Derek is going to be there?" Dawn asked, her mouth turning into a full-on grin.

"Of course, he is one of the trainers and he did recommend you both to the Alpha King's son"

Dawn's grin diminished into a scowl, her fist clenching in anger.

"He- what?!" Dawn growled "Dad! You can't let him do this!" She stood up, her eyes darkened in anger.

I glanced at Dad, he looked calm as if he was expecting this to happen.

"There's nothing I can do, sweetheart. He already told them before I could stop him" He shrugged.

"But Dusk-"

Dad growled stopping her from finishing her sentence. His once calm demeanor has now changed into irritation.

"But nothing. Your sister is going, whether you like it or not. Now drop it."

Dawn huffed. She then stormed away, to our room most probably. I turned to look at Robert Brewer - that I forgot to mention, my stepdad; placing a hand on his shoulder hoping it would calm him down.

Mom never got to change our names, we didn't have the money and it was too long of a drive. Not to mention the hard word you have to put in. So, she kept it.

Robert and she were supposed to get married last year, but things took a turn. Father got out of jail, Dominic died, I became mute and she got pregnant after she was raped by Joseph – thus Diego being born.

He sighed, rubbing his face with both hands "I'm sorry, sweetie... I- are you sure you want this?" He asked. 

I nodded with no hesitation. I wanted this... I needed this. I have to stop reliving my past. I'm the third oldest and I have to start acting like one. I have to start taking care of my family, especially my baby brother since we have to take him with us.  

☾

At around 5:47 am we were packed and ready to go, Derek, my stupid older brother - don't tell him I said that, had arrived a few hours early to catch up with mom and dad.

We're currently sitting in the living room, yet again with Diego sleeping soundly on my lap. The tension and complete silence were so thick that if you dropped a pin, it would be heard.

No one wanted to talk. Suddenly, Dawn burst into tears. Mom and Dad were immediately by her side. Dawn tried to smile, but it faltered. Our parents hugged her so tight, they were afraid of letting her go. 

I chuckled sadly, whipping the tear that fell down my cheek with one hand while the other still holding Diego behind his neck.

Dad released himself from the hug and walked over to the shelf, beside the sofa. He grabbed a small steal chest from in between the books. Opening it, he pulled out five necklaces that had different pendants each.

He walked back to the sofa and sat in between me and my sister. "These are your biological father's family heirlooms. It was a tradition to have five kids. Past down from generation to generation, sibling to sibling. George- your grandpa died before he could explain everything to your mother and me" He sighed.

He handed Mom a gold necklace with a celestial sun pendant that had a round diamond in the middle of it. She bent down on her knees and clipped around Dawn's neck. She then gave her a peck on her forehead, standing up.

He threw the necklace that had a black string representing the chain and a dirty bronze Saturn pendant at my brother that sat next to me. Derek grinned slightly before putting it on.  

Dad then turned to me and hung on a silver necklace with a crescent moon with a black-colored, heart-shaped gem that hung in between the moon, around my neck.

He pulled the arm I wasn't using, opening my palm "This belongs to Diego" He laid a bronze chain that had a northern star pendant on my hand.

"And this…" He frowns looking at the pendant. I looked at him in the eye, he was already on the brink of tears when he inhaled sharply.

Everyone was silent at the one person that was missing in the room. Our oldest brother, Dominic. He… died a few years back. His death was a big impact on our lives.

Everyone loved him, all except one; Joseph Castello, our real father. When he died, he brought my voice with him. Over exaggerating? He was one of the reasons why I don't speak to this day. We were close, you know?

He sighs "Just… keep it safe" I nodded, looking at the chains that were mixed with different colors. Gold, Bronze, and Silver. It has a silver crescent moon, just like mine, a gold celestial sun, same as Dawn's, a bronze northern star in the middle, like Diego's, and a dirty bronze ring around it. It was like a mixture from all of us – No it is a combination of all of our necklaces.

Diego looked at his watch then stood up from the sofa "Right, we have to go. We have to pick up the others." He announced sadly. He then turned to our parents "We'll visit-"

"Oh hush, don't worry about us" Mom interrupted, pecking his cheek. She turned to me, looking at Diego sadly "You have his bottle ready, right?" I nodded.

"How about his bag-"

"Mom" Dawn groaned.

"Maybe we should-"

"Mom!"

"How about-"

"MOM!" Dawn rolled her eyes, as Diego stirred. I glared at Dawn making her sheepishly smile. "He'll be fine. Dusk will- I mean we take care of him. We promise" She stated while I gently rocked my baby brother to sleep.

Mom sighed defeated then nodded hesitantly. I stood up, my other arm going around Diego's leg, then started walking to the door. Derek opened it while dragging our bags to the car – sorry I mean limo, with me and Dawn following.

Mom and dad, stopped by the door watching us. Dad's arm around mom's waist while she cried silently.

I was halfway to the car when I hear a slap. I looked up and saw Derek's hand on his left cheek, his eyes widened in shock while Dawn scowled at him, yet her eyes glimmering in mischief.

"Dawn Maria Krisella Castello! Apologize to your brother right this instant!" Mom shrieked, dad chuckled making her slap his chest, and Derek laughed under his breath at the mention of Dawn's middle name. Diego stirred at the noise. I glared at all of them, hopping in the car, putting him back to sleep.

Dawn mumbled something then hopped in the car with Derek following. "What the hell was that?!" Derek furrowed his eyebrows at Dawn.

She shrugged, "A necessary slap".