The Next Day.
~ Kaelos Riven~
Immediately I closed my eyes, I dreamt about the previous night's mystery, how the awful creature slaughtering werewolves without compassion. In my dream, the creature recognized me and the guy who accompanied me and started racing toward us! I jolt up immediately, startled.
When I opened my eyes, I noticed the birds singing, a gentle wind blowing, and the horizon glowing pearly. The rising sun spread a golden light over the sky. Golden fingers of sunshine filtered gently through the towering trees, bringing in a bustle of morning activity.
I was calm until I heard twigs snapping.
"Uh! What is that?"
I jumped to my feet, trying to see what was approaching. Was it the dreadful creature? I dashed behind a large tree, hoping no one would see me.
The wind rustled through the trees, and my heart raced. I closed my eyes tight and clenched my fingers.
"I'm not going to die yet! I have to avenge my parents!" I kept repeating these words, hearing footsteps getting closer.
A chill ran down my spine. I braced myself to see my parents again.
"Open your eyes, future Alpha!" a voice whispered in my ear.
I slowly opened my eyes. It was the guy who helped me last night.
"You scared me!" I said, panting after exhaling quickly.
"Greetings, my name is Gabriel Black. I didn't want to wake you up because you seemed to sleep well after crying all night," Gabriel said, sitting beside me behind the tree.
~ Gabriel Black POV~
"Who attacked our hut last night?" Kaelos asked, looking at me intently.
I tapped the ground, signaling for Kaelos to sit beside me. I picked up a small stone and tossed it away, smiling to keep him calm. He sat where I indicated.
"I don't know how to say this. Your parents should have explained it earlier, but it seems you don't understand much," I said.
"What is it?" Kaelos asked.
I exhale, look at him. "We are the most important werewolves," I replied.
"What do you mean?" Kaelos asked again.
I cleared my throat. "Vark Slade is the one that attacked our cabin and killed the werewolves last night. He's the leader of the vampires and envies werewolves because of Blang Emilio, the most powerful werewolf, who is the moonlight."
Blang Emilio was feared by vampires. She was powerful and untouchable. During her time, Kane Slade, Vark's father, led the vampires and was a ruthless killer.
Blang and Kane were lovers, but the prophecy came that they will kill each other. To avoid the prophecy coming to pass, they both go their sperate ways.
One night, a werewolf didn't return from the forest, causing panic. Blang Emilio used the werewolf's belongings to trace him. She found the werewolf in the vampire's lair and decided to rescue him.
Blang infiltrated the lair and fought fiercely, finding the werewolf's body hanging from a tree. In anger, she killed Kane Slade. Before dying, Kane stabbed Blang with a werewolf forbidden dagger. Blang escaped with the werewolf's body before she died.
This fueled the enmity between werewolves and vampires. Despite the hostility, werewolves lived peacefully and sometimes ventured into the city to live among humans.
"What's the city?" Kaelos asked, confused.
"The city is more civilized than this forest, with many cars and beautiful houses. You'd never want to return once you visit," I explained.
"Why don't we live there instead of this forest? Is it unsafe?" Kaelos eyes widened with curiosity.
"We fled the city because of the vampires hunting us," I explained.
"You said Blang Emilio, the most powerful werewolf, killed the vampire leader. Why are they attacking us again?" Kaelos asked.
"Because Blang didn't kill the main tyrant. Which is the vampire leader's son, Vark Slade. He returned to avenge his father's death," I explained.
"Is that why we're back in the forest?" Kaelos's voice was sad.
"Yes, we retreated to the Tagaytay jungle. When Vark Slade started killing us in Manila. We don't have anyone as powerful as Blang Emilio now, and even the government can't help us," I said.
"Why?" Kaelos asked.
"Because no one believes in vampires and werewolves."
"To be more powerful than his father means he's a worse tyrant. My parents said I'd defeat this evil creature. Is it him, Gabriel?"
I nodded. "Yes, Kaelos. That's why you must survive to kill him. Don't worry; I'll train you. Because Vark Slade will never believe that you died in that fire chaos."
"But you said he was powerful. Why am I the one who has to kill him? I'm still young," Kaelos said, facing me.
I explained to him about the prophecy I saw ten years ago. It foretold that a powerful child would be born among the werewolves, one who would be stronger than the evil monster on the vampire throne. This child would destroy the monster and bring peace to the werewolves. However, we didn't know who would give birth to this powerful child.
We spread the prophecy among the werewolves, and soon all the couples started having children, hoping that one of them would be the child from the prophecy. But all the children born at that time were just ordinary werewolves. Vark Slade kept attacking us, burning down our huts. He even captured a werewolf who went hunting. We were terrified because we didn't know what would happen to her.
"Why can't all the werewolves fight and kill him?" Kaelos asked.
I scoffed. "None of us have half of Vark Slade power. We'd be killed if we tried."
"So, how did you know that I am the one from the prophecy?"
I told Kaelos how close I was to his parents before he was born. They were the only ones who accepted me when I was brought into their midst. One sunny day, after I hid Eva, Kaelos mother hand, the prophecy replayed in my mind. I saw a newborn baby crying under a full blood moon.
I told Eva that she was pregnant with the child from the prophecy. She was shocked, as she hadn't told anyone about the pregnancy. Eva was thrilled that she would give birth to the child destined to save the werewolves. We announced this news among the werewolves and made Eva and her husband the leader. You were the only one born under the full blood moon six years ago among the werewolves.
"What happened to the werewolf Vark Slade took away?"
"She was tortured by Vark and she told him about the prophecy. I'm not sure if she revealed your parents' identities," I explained.
"I'm sure she must have suffered greatly to betray her kin," Kaelos said.
"Yes, but her betrayal only made Vark angrier. He burned down our huts, but your parents escaped. That's why I say Vark Slade might not believe you died in the fire last night."
Kaelos stood up, took two steps forward, then turned to face me. His nostrils flared as he stared at me, demanding to be taught how to use his power to defeat Vark Slade.
Seeing the fierce in Kaelos's eyes, I smiled broadly. If he keeps this determination, defeating Vark Slade won't be a problem.
I stood up and walked closer to Kaelos. Placing my hand on his shoulder with a big smile, I told him we should hide in this forest, then I would teach him how to fight and defend himself. Once he could handle any creature, we would move to Manila. But first, I needed to test Kaelos's power.
Without holding back, I closed my eyes for two seconds, then opened them again, my brown eyes turned radiant. My fang-like sharp pointed nails extended, and my canine teeth elongated. I wasn't going to bite Kaelos, as that would poison his blood. Instead, I scratched him deeply on his shoulder.
Kaelos screamed and stepped back, holding his shoulder. He looked at me with slanted, pale yellow eyes. I focused intently on him, eager to see his power.
"What have you done?!" Kaelos yelled, his jaw clenched.
"Do not ask questions! Attack me!" I barked, waiting for him to show his power. But instead, Kaelos just stared at me, lips curled.
I realized then that Kaelos had no power aside from his werewolf form. I closed my eyes and opened them again, returning my eyes to brown and my nails to normal. I preferred not to force him, as he was still a child.
"What was that for?" Kaelos asked, tears rolling down his cheeks.
"I'm sorry. I wanted to see if you had any other powers besides being a werewolf," I explained.
"So, I can't fight the evil monster yet?" Kaelos wiped his tears with the back of his hand.
"Not yet. But don't worry. I will help you awaken your powers and teach you how to fight. We'll stay hidden in this forest so Vark Slade won't find us."
I dropped to my knees and hugged Kaelos tightly. As the sun set and darkness enveloped us, Kaelos sat beside me, his eyes wide open.
"Aren't you feeling sleepy?" I asked, looking into his eyes.
"I'm scared. The evil monster might attack us if I close my eyes," Kaelos said.
"Come here," I said, drawing him closer and laying his head on my lap. "Rest now. I'll keep watch, so you don't need to be scared."
Kaelos fell asleep, and though my eyes grew tired, I kept them open. After a few moments, Kaelos suddenly woke up with a roar.
"Argh!" Kaelos jumped up from my lap.
I quickly stood and held his shoulders, trying to calm him. "What's wrong? Why did you wake up like that?"
"I saw him! He appeared in my dream!" Kaelos was breathing heavily, eyes wide.
"Who? Who did you see?" I asked urgently.
"Vark Slade!"
Hearing his name, my eyes widened, and my jaw dropped. I realized that Vark Slade was hunting the powerful werewolf child, who was Kaelos.
I muttered to myself as I sank to the ground.
**********
Thunder struck a dark room, revealing the back of a giant man in a black, impressive robe with a hood. Vark Slade stood by the window.