She didn't know what to think of the vial, the strange blood tests Emily gets done, and the fact that she is a Lycan and wasn't told. Rosalind couldn't forget either how it seems like an Alpha Lycan wanted her… at the full moon. The Full Moon had its own energy. It had a force that pulled the tides, and why else are people called Lunatics? It all clicked to her. That's why they were all strange. It was really the moon. Rosalind had stopped following the moon cycle as she quickly shifted to turn on her phone again. How close was it? She knew that sometimes the power of the moon was weaker than other full moon's and it had to do with trajectory.
Tomorrow, to her demise it was the closest of the whole year. Was she under the influence as well? No she never had turned, but why? She frowned as she sighted, maybe she could take a sample of herself and study her DNA? She would have to do it after hours of work.
Leaning back on the chair she let out a long sigh, as her thoughts were eating her, time passed quickly and before she knew it she was back at her university's city. She turned on her phone to get in contact with Lila.
Lila anxiously paced back and forth in the airport arrival terminal, scanning the crowd of travelers for any sign of her friend Rosalind. She had received a text message from Rosalind earlier that day, saying that she was flying back earlier than planned from her cousin's wedding.
As Lila waited, her mind raced with questions about why Rosalind had decided to come back early. Was everything okay? Had there been a problem at the wedding? Lila tried to push away her worries and focus on the excitement of seeing her friend again, but her anxiety lingered.
Finally, Lila spotted Rosalind pushing a suitcase through the crowd. She hurried over to greet her friend, throwing her arms around her in a tight embrace.
"Rosalind, it's so good to see you! How was the stay?"
Rosalind's smile seemed forced, and Lila immediately sensed that something was wrong.
"It was fine, I guess," Rosalind replied, her voice flat. "I just needed to come back early."
Lila's confusion deepened. "Is everything okay? Why did you need to come back early?"
Rosalind hesitated, then finally spoke. "I just couldn't take it anymore. The wedding was so stressful, and I felt like I didn't fit in with my family. I needed to come back and be with my friends, with people who understand me."
Lila's heart went out to her friend. "I'm sorry, Rosalind. That sounds really tough.
As they made their way out of the airport, Lila grabbed Rosalind's suitcase and headed towards the parking lot. She loaded the luggage into the trunk of her car and started the engine. As they drove back towards the university, she couldn't help but notice how sweet Rosalind smelled.
"Lila, what's wrong?" Rosalind asked, noticing her friend's strange expression.
"Nothing, nothing," Lila said, trying to shake off the feeling. "It's just... you smell really nice. Did you change your shampoo or something?"
Rosalind chuckled. "No, I didn't change my shampoo. But I did steal my sister's perfume. Do you like it?"
As Lila continued to drive, she couldn't help but notice that the sweet scent coming from Rosalind wasn't quite like any perfume she had smelled before. It was familiar, but she couldn't quite place it.
"It's really nice, Rosalind," Lila said, still trying to figure out what the scent reminded her of. "But it doesn't smell like perfume... it's hard to explain."
Rosalind looked at her friend quizzically. "What do you mean? It's a perfume she bought at a department store."
Lila shook her head. "I know, but the scent... it's different. It reminds me of something, but I can't quite put my finger on it."
Rosalind laughed. "Well, that's mysterious. Maybe it's just a new scent that you're not used to yet."
Once back at the dorm, she proceeded to update Rosalind on the latest developments in their research, sharing the new leads and potential partnerships. "And get this," Lila continued, "we're getting a visit from a doctor whose family has a pharmaceutical company. He's interested in investing in our research and helping us take it to the next level!"
Rosalind's eyes widened in excitement. "That's amazing, Lila! This is exactly the kind of opportunity we need to make a real impact in the field."
The two friends chatted animatedly about the potential for their research, each eager to contribute their own unique perspective and expertise.
Rosalind was glad she was back to a normal place. This is what she needed. Maybe she was coping with the situation in a bad way. However, she didn't look forward to being alone, and dealing with things about her family.
As Lila and Rosalind continued to talk about their research, Lila noticed that Rosalind's eyes were starting to droop. She could tell that her friend was exhausted from the long flight and the emotional toll of the wedding.
"Hey, Rosalind, it's getting pretty late," Lila said gently. "Maybe you should get some rest."
Rosalind yawned and rubbed her eyes. "Yeah, you're right. I think I am getting a bit sleepy."
Lila helped her friend get settled in bed, making sure she had everything she needed before saying goodnight. "I'll let you get some rest, Rosalind. We can catch up more tomorrow."
Rosalind fell asleep almost immediately after Lila left. But her rest was short-lived as a disturbing nightmare creeped in.
At first, they had sounded like wolves, distant and mournful, but then they had turned into something much more sinister - something monstrous and inhuman.
The howls had seemed to surround her, coming from every direction at once, and she had felt a sense of growing panic as they got closer and closer. She had tried to run, but her feet had felt like lead, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't escape the sound of the howls.
As the monster howls grew louder, Rosalind had seen the shadowy figure emerge from the trees, its glowing eyes fixed on her like a predator stalking its prey. She had tried to scream, but her voice had been choked off in her throat, and she had felt a cold sweat break out all over her body.
She jolted awake. Now, in the quiet of her room, Rosalind could still hear the echoes of those terrifying howls ringing in her ears. She knew that they were just a dream, just the product of her overworked and exhausted mind, but they had felt so real, so vivid.
She reached for her phone, and saw a message from her sister, and dropped the phone after she read it.
'Mother and Father have been taken to the Elders for trial. He is looking for you. Hide. Love you' The text read.