Pack School always held an inauguration camp every year. This year was my class's turn to be in the final grade and year.
Apart from being a farewell, this event summoned wolves for those werewolves who had not yet gotten a wolf. I was looking forward to this night because, despite being nineteen years old, there was no sign of my wolf's arrival.
It certainly made me anxious. My friends got their wolves right when they turned seventeen. Some even got them earlier. While me—.
"You're daydreaming again," a voice said, interrupting my wandering thoughts. I was still staring straight at where the campfire seemed to be dancing. There, we would see our wolf form—that was what the elders always said. "Can't you wait to meet your wolf?"
"I don't know if I'll ever get one. My best friend is already bonding even though she hasn't met their wolf yet. It's as if the wolves are lining up to meet them." I turned to Uncle Ray. "I don't feel anything."
"Is that why you feel sad?"
I didn't respond. Uncle Ray shifted his seat slightly away and seemed free to look at me. I didn't dare turn to him, just glanced with my eye's tail.
The past few months have been a hard time for me to understand myself. Was this attitude of mine normal?
"You must be sure you will meet her. You're a warrior; you can't not have wolves."
I just shrugged my shoulders, about to speak, but the principal's voice interrupted my unspoken sentence. We all stood up, welcoming the principal who had climbed onto the podium.
"It's great that we can have another inauguration night with such a solemn atmosphere. I hope tonight will be a joyous night for all who have not yet found your wolf. Tonight, you will earn your wolf as your right and power and find your mate."
The boisterous sound of the students' screams and applause accompanied the principal's words. For some reason, I wasn't in the mood to join in the excitement. Moreover, Uncle Ray's presence made me a little nervous.
"Without further ado, let's do the ceremony before the art performance begins. Hopefully, with this, the Moon Goddess will send down the best wolf for you."
Again, the sounds of cheering could be heard and instantly made me sick. My head felt spinning, and I quickly looked for anything to hold on to.
"Ioris? Are you okay?"
"I don't know. My head feels like it's spinning. Is there an earthquake?"
Uncle Ray frowned. He held me and helped me sit down. But that didn't help at all. What was happening to me? Was this one of the symptoms of my wolf's arrival?
Woosh!
The sound of a strong gust of wind blew the fire out of control. All those surrounding the campfire suddenly retreated. Some shrieked in shock, while others looked amazed.
The strange incident did not end there. The fire soared, followed by sparks that flew and approached several nearby people.
Horrifyingly, the sparks sprayed towards the she-wolves. I, who had been feeling dizzy, instantly forgot about the pain in my head and got up, watching the phenomenon before my eyes.
The she-wolves and other young werewolves who were hit by the flames, both eyes flashed golden, and then a wolf figure appeared behind them.
Oh, how lucky they are. Will I get it, too?
I walked closer to the campfire, ignoring Uncle Ray's call, who seemed to be trying to catch up with the steps I didn't realize had stopped close enough to the fire.
I stared at the curling flames with a blank stare.
"Oh, Moon Goddess, I ask for the best wolf and mate that will bring good to me and my pack," I prayed softly.
The fire now seemed to have stopped dancing. I felt like something was watching me from within it. However, it wasn't a tiny spark like the others. Almost all the flames were raging and about to engulf me.
They were spraying towards me. I screamed so loudly that Uncle Ray quickly pulled me to run away, but the flames chased us.
Everyone seemed to be watching us in the corner. It was as if a demon in the flames was hunting me. I gasped, and so did Uncle Ray. He shifted me to get behind his body to protect me.
However, I didn't know what happened; all the flames that were initially scattered gathered into one and rushed towards me. Uncle Ray swiftly grabbed and protected me with his sturdy body.
I didn't know what happened next because everything seemed—.
... so dark.
***
Something warm seemed to be holding me tightly. I groaned, trying to move my body, but it was difficult, and when I opened my eyes, I realized that someone was beside me, hugging me with both warm arms.
"Uncle Ray, let me go. I can't breathe," I said softly. He noticed and immediately released his embrace.
"Your body was frozen. I don't know how to warm you up except this. How do you feel now?"
"I feel warm already, thank you." I circulated my gaze around the room. It wasn't a tent but a room where I knew where I was from the scent alone. "Ergh... why did you bring me home?"
"It's your mother's will. The inauguration ceremony is also over."
"But I want to finish it and return with the others. Why are you—"
"Ioris, why are you so sensitive these days? Have I done something wrong? I understand if it's about your disappointment with your parents, but it's not right for you to take out your anger on innocent people," he said, leaving me stunned.
He was right. Why was I so sensitive and wanted to always vent my anger towards him? It was like I hated him so much when I didn't.
What was happening to me?
"My wolf—did you see it?" I asked Uncle Ray, but the look on his face answered everything without him having to say it. "So I'm the only one who didn't get it? That's weird."
"Ioris, you don't have to think about it too much; sooner or later, you'll get—"
Zink!
Uncle Ray instantly stopped the words and his hand, which originally caressed my cheek. I felt something I couldn't understand. I guess he felt the same way because of his sudden change in attitude—distancing himself from me.
Our gazes met for an instant. He looked at me long and deep. It was magical. It was like I could read everything he was thinking.
Not in any absolute sense. I just felt that our feelings were the same. Uncle Ray and I were thinking about what happened just a few seconds ago.
That vibration—what kind of vibration was it?
And this scent... was it his scent? Why did I feel so uneasy just because of this scent?
"I think I should go," Uncle Ray said and got up. I got up too and tugged on his shirt sleeve.
"Don't go. At least stay until Mom or Dad get back."
Uncle Ray didn't respond as I'd hoped but turned and walked away with no word. I didn't know what happened to him, but his attitude made me anxious.
Was it because of the feelings I had just felt? Did he feel the same way? That vibration... what was that vibration I just felt that seemed to travel from my chest to my entire body, even my most intimate parts and made me crave Uncle Ray strangely.
What was wrong with me?