I went downstairs and found Dad, Mom, Isaiah, and Uncle Ray gathered around. Apparently, they were talking about something because when I arrived, the conversation stopped, and their gazes fell on me.
To hell with whatever their thoughts were, I simply ignored them and kept walking. Today, despite my reluctance, I again had to come to school to spend the rest of my time studying there.
Being one of the most competent students made me always want to maintain my position, especially after knowing that I have a flaw where I didn't have what the average werewolf has. I couldn't go down just because of that, and I had to go higher.
My steps stopped when Uncle Ray called my name. I turned around and saw Mom motioning me to go over to them and sit down.
"I have to go," I said, declining their invitation. After all, it was an adult conversation, right?
"We'd like to talk for a minute." Dad cut off another sentence I was about to say. His intonation was so cold, as if there was a tremendous anger he was harboring.
What was this again? I didn't feel like I'd done anything.
"Did I do something wrong again?"
He shook his head. Not as an answer to my question but rather a form of desperation that he felt. Perhaps.
"I don't know how else to warn you. This has gone too far, Ioris. I didn't expect you to do this and cause so much harm." He looked down and made me wonder even more.
I turned to Isaiah, who had been silent. The look in his eyes implied anger, but I didn't know what made him so.
Not long after, I was still looking at my twin brother, and he raised his face. The flash of anger was even more evident, with tears welling up there.
"I don't know what you're thinking, Ioris. You're an evil!"
"What's going on? I have no idea what you're talking about."
Uncle Ray sighed. Although he didn't make the same accusation, his gaze toward me was painful. "There's some unpleasant news, I'd even say bad news, Ioris. One, Lyla, Isaiah's mate, was mauled by something she said only resembled black smoke; she's hospitalized now."
"And I'm sure this is all you're doing!" cried Isaiah.
"I had no idea about the smoke and whatever happened to your whore, jackass!"
"Ioris! Watch your language!"
"Don't you want and need to watch what you say to me, huh? You're the ones who've been ostracizing me from the start and always accusing me of shit. Should I be silent about all this mistreatment?"
"Ioris, we are not accusing you."
"No, Mom. No. You guys are accusing me just because I didn't get a wolf; you're calling me what they call me—a demon. You're saying I have demonic powers. And what else? Don't you find that hurtful?"
Uncle Ray was about to take over Mom's words, but I quickly raised my hand to block his intention. "You're the same, Uncle. You know how it happened, what happened on the inauguration night, and the scent we keep smelling, and it feels so strange; you know everything before, during, and after, but you never tried to defend me."
Everyone was silent at my words. All this time, I had never spoken so long, making everyone think I was now a dissident. However, I had to do this because if not me, then no one would stand up for me.
"There is one more thing I would like to say before responding to all your words, Ioris." Uncle Ray paused his sentence, and then, shortly afterwards, he continued, "You're right about one thing. You're right, Puppy. She is not a good woman. I caught her making love to one of the soldiers even on our wedding night."
I smothered my gaping mouth. I knew that woman was a whore. She wanted Uncle Ray to give her a high position. I knew that. However, I never expected that she would do that even after becoming a luna of an enormous pack like The Moon Hunter, especially on their wedding night.
"Oh, Uncle, I'm sorry. I never thought that she—"
"No problem, Ioris. I'm actually grateful for that. And now I'll tell you why I didn't do anything to defend you. You may be my niece, but I am an alpha. I can't defend one over the other before knowing what the problem is. I don't condone bullying, but I have to prove them wrong about you. However, the opposite is true."
I was stunned to hear Uncle Ray's words. In other words, did he believe that I had demonic powers?
"So you believe their nonsense?" My eyes must have been glazed over by now. And sure enough, those tears were shed at last.
"I'm sorry, Ioris. I didn't punish you, nor did your father, because we wanted to improve you. If that's your strength, let's practice it well."
"Starting tomorrow, you should train with the others on whether to become a warrior or something else. Most importantly, your power should be on the right track. To help the weak and protect the pack, not the other way around." Dad added Uncle Ray's words.
I thought their words were clear enough, but I didn't want to hear any more. I liked their idea of making me a warrior, but not their reasons for doing so.
Still, they accused me of having black magic and harming many people. I didn't know how I did that myself.
"And I will train you myself," Isaiah replied with a sly grin. "I will never forgive what you did to Lyla, Ioris. You'll have to endure it no matter what."
Look at that! Even with such a terrible threat, neither my father, mother, nor Uncle Ray stood up for me. They were silent as if it didn't matter if Isaiah did that, as if I deserved it.
I just nodded, knowing well enough how they judged me. Now, their treatment was the result of their unaccountable assumptions. Even the words of a whore like Lyla—they listened to, but not my voice.
I was their family member; they should have trusted me, but that was not the case.
I got up, ran away and did my best. I had no wolf, but I could run as fast as Isaiah. That was one of the abilities that stood out about me. But, of course, it was useless to them.
My steps stopped when a puff of thick black smoke blocked my way. I didn't want to see him. He's already made life too difficult for me. I quickened my pace and pretended not to see him, but as I entered another path through the forest, the smoke confronted me and pushed me against a large tree trunk.
I felt as if someone was standing in front of me. It was so real that it made me think that I might be out of my mind to imagine a disembodied object as a person.
"Why are you avoiding me, little wolf? Are you angry with me for putting your best friend in the hospital?"
"My guess is correct. You're the culprit. And once again, you've put me through the wringer."
"Do you want me to get back at them?"
"Don't you dare touch them! Or I'll never forgive you!"
The creature chuckled, then seemed to refocus his attention on me. He was getting closer. I could feel the breath from his mouth brushing my face. It was so fragrant that I could only swallow my saliva.
What exactly is he? Why did he keep it a secret from me?
He didn't say anything but instead seemed to be leaving. However, before doing that, there was one thing I felt he had done to me.
A kiss—he gave me a kiss that I had never felt before. It was so cold, but it activated all the signals in my nerve centers and the surge of hormones that made my entire body so yearning.
The kiss felt so real, but still, I didn't see the creature's appearance. And when he left, my heart shook.
What had he done to me?
What had happened to my heart?