"Yeah, what are you talking about, Razel? Wait. Are you sick or something? Or are you on drugs right now?" inquires the other student which caused me to roll my eyes to the ceiling.
Razel and I have been communicating day and night over the phone but he never mentioned about consuming drugs or any deadly elements that could harm his body. He was too smart enough to ruin his life that easily. As his older brother, I never miss telling him not to use drugs or any harmful elements to boast his confidence or to make it an excuse when his life turns into a mess. Werewolves don't need drugs in their bodies. Not unless you are in the middle of a crisis or desperate. But I know Razel more than anyone. He fell head over heels for his Felise because their relationship, I believe, is in the middle of getting intimate. "I think your boyfriend needs utmost attention, Felise. He's already talking nonsense things." says her friend before she laughed. "Who says Razel is still my boyfriend?" Felise laughed back. "I already broke up with him since the night at the camping." That was a total lie. And I don't know the reason she needs to lie in front of Razel. My wolf can still sense her deep and sincere feelings for my stepbrother, it was all over the corners of the classroom. I just hope Razel senses that too. "What?" Razel blurted out, telling me that my thoughts about him were mistaken. "Are you breaking up with me?" While hiding in the toilet room, my wolf started to burst into worry and fear when Razel's mood started to change. Change in a way that I could even hear his teeth being gritted while having a hard time controlling his rage and embarrassment, especially when most of their classmates heard him loud and clear. "Is it because of my stepbrother?" to my surprise, Razel suddenly brought me into the topic. "Or is it because you found out that my stepbrother is a fucking..." My wolf was about to flash to their room before he could finish his statement but he cut it off himself. Perhaps he come to realize that once he slips off something about me being a wolf, he might get involved as well since he cannot deny the fact that we are brothers by blood. Instead of debating with Felise, he went out of the classroom and flashed... heading to the toilet room where I was hiding. However, instead of noticing me standing in the corner, he slide to the lavatory and switched on the faucet. Then he rinsed his face with water. "Razel?" I softly breathed out his name which caused him to nail his feet on the floor with his entire body stiffened as steel. "I believe you already saw her." To my surprise, Razel disappeared from the lavatory in a blink of an eye and landed in front of me, choking my neck. He then pushed me until my body was pinned against the wall. "And it's all your fault, you son of a monster!?!" yells Razel straight to my face. "If you and your idiot pack members did not show up that night, everything could have been fine by now..." Razel's tears began pouring down to his eyes similar to the open faucet in the lavatory while continuously punching me in the face. As usual, I did not fight back. I let him punch me in the face all he wants as long as it could help him feel at ease. "She could have been in my arms by now, Ezra," he added despite the stuttering tone. "You heard everything that happens in the room? I hope you are happy with what you heard." My heart and mind don't know how to react or respond to his statement but I know deep inside me I have nothing to do with what happened that night. He knows that I was helping them at that time. Even killed one of my pack members for him. But I cannot blame Razel to think of me that way. His heart was completely impenetrable to hearing explanations right now. He is mad. I got that. However, what I don't get is when he still feels mad at me considering he already found Felise standing still, breathing, and talking to him. When I could feel his punches start getting heavier, I quickly hold onto his hands and glowed my eyes. "Stop it, Razel!" I said. "We both know that nothing would change if I let you kill me. Want to kill me?" then I let go of his hands. "Then better do it with your claws and fangs. I hope you'd be happy once I'm gone. Go on. Kill me." Razel punched me again, however, with just a single punch. And he gave all his strength in that punch when my jaws almost dislocated after getting hit. Good thing my wolf can access my healing process already. Then he slides into the corner and burst out crying while punching the wall instead of me. "Why are you doing this to me, Ezra?" he said. "What did I do to you and your pack to make me suffer this much, huh?" As soon as I could see blood coming out of Razel's hands, I grab his hands and wrap my arms around him. "You did nothing, Razel," I uttered. "Lance was an idiot. I cannot deny that. And it was all his fault my wolf was chased out of the pack because I disagreed with their proposal to kill you." "But why me, Ezra?" he let go of his punches and drops his chin on top of my shoulder. "I cannot live without her in my life. What am I going to do?" I could feel the weights that were currently bothering Razel's heart and mind. They were all nothing but pain. Helplessness. Emptiness. And hopelessness. There are no inspiring words that can help Razel ease off, so I simply rub his back and tighten my wrap around him, even ignoring the two male students who just came into the toilet room. As soon as the students came out of the toilet room, I also let go of my hands from Razel. I had to make sure those students will not say a thing about what happened between me and Razel, knowing they found a few drops of blood on the floor. So, I followed their scents. "Don't worry, Razel. Felise still loves you." I uttered without looking him in the eye as my senses kept tailing the two male students. "I'll make sure she will have enough time to get things back to their place." "What do you mean by that?" Razel asked. After knowing the two male students simply went to classes, I let go of my suspicions and drag my glare to Razel. "It means that Felise will be turning soon. It was my wolf who turns her into a werewolf. We already have this bond between us. Her wolf will come to find me." "What?" he blurted out the way I expected him to. So I explain to him everything he needs to know and what to expect about Felise sooner or later. That she may not be showing any signs of turning yet but I know deep inside her lies my werewolf venom. My wolf just doesn't know when exactly. It is in our nature as werewolves that those who got bitten or turned by someone's claws and fangs will seek help from the source no matter which pack we came from. On top of that, I also told him about my unfortunate situation as a lone wolf and working part-time in a convenience store. Unfortunately, Razel simply scoffed at me. He barely believe everything I told him because he no longer sees me as his brother but as an enemy to him and his pack. He even threatens me that he is going to call the cops if our paths cross again, especially seeing me ten meters away from Felise.After the second failed attempt of convincing Razel to be on my side, I found myself standing in the corner of the convenience store, completely bothered and helpless. And I have been standing and mute for hours. My wolf could barely hide those consecutive cold sighs of dismay and heavy heart while listening to Melissa at the counter entertaining the customers. I could not force my lips to turn into a smile even if it was required for us. "Don't give the customers that kind of face, Ezra," says Melissa right after she comes out of the storage room. She then slaps my shoulder and smiled, trying to lift my mood. Her shift just started. And she was on her way to check our inventory to get the items that were about to expire. Getting inventories that are about to expire means a huge discount for us if we want to buy them. "Smile." she added. "though your heart is aching. Smile even though it's already unbearable and is breaking you apart. Want some bottle of beer af
"So, it happens that I am completely wondering if Alpha Dustine knows about this," I said back, trying to buy enough time to make a better plan without anyone from Melissa and Razel getting hurt. Based on my quick observation, the convenience store only has two exits. The main and exit doors happen to be connected with each other. And that was built in across from me, behind Robert and his two close relatives. There is no way I could rush both Melissa and Razel out of the convenience store without getting caught by one of them. There were also glass walls surrounding us but I highly doubt if our bodies can break them as fast as two to three seconds. One of them could get us. But getting Melissa and Razel out is the only solution my brain could think of right now unless I have to fight and beat Robert and his relatives in front of Melissa. In order to do that, I have to shift into the monster I really am in front of her. That could be the last thing I must do. Or e
"Is your brother gonna be okay?" Iniego asks me the second I stepped foot into the convenience store. Melissa wants to have eye-to-eye contact with me but I avoided them. Perhaps she has hundreds of questions about my conversation with Robert earlier. Robert mentioned us being wolves and brothers of murderers. "He will be, Mr. Iniego. Thanks for the concern." I said back. "May I know what the cops say regarding the case?" Earlier while talking to Razel in the parking lot, I heard Iniego and the cops talking about the store being temporarily closed for a few days until the case against Robert and his relatives get close. What worried me is if that happens, I no longer have a place to sleep and income to support me in those jobless days. The convenience store is the only place I could depend on. I still have no human friends in the city apart from Melissa and Iniego. "They decided to close the store until further notice," says Mr. Iniego the way I expected. "They give us a week but
Razel, as far as I know, did not blurt out because tonight is the full moon. He already shifted in front of my eyes without the influence of the moon's calling. It means to me that his dad already equipped him well when that happens. What scares and annoys him was because of how upfront my wolf is in front of his human friends. On top of that, Razel is afraid that I might say a word about them being notorious monsters in front of them. He said to himself that my wolf has no more value at all. That no pack will protect me because I am already a lone wolf. Mateless. Homeless. Without someone on my side. Little did he know that being a lone wolf also has the biggest advantage the world could offer. And I have been holding onto that one main advantage since the day I step out of the pack. Everyone's secrets are not safe with me. I can disclose and peel off the mask behind their faces if I want to. If I am desperate enough for him to shut off his mouth and listen to me
"Lay your hands on her or you'll see who I really am behind the mask under the full moon." I furiously announce to Razel and his werewolf friends even though surrounded by a bunch of human drunk and wasted assholes. Everyone, including Razel, steps away from the car upon hearing my threatening voice. Let alone let them notice my eyes glowing for five seconds. Short enough that I manage to scare the hell out of them. "Excuse me?" Razel debated in disbelief. He tried to kick the car but one of their pack members stops him from getting closer. "Know your place, you son of a monster." "Are you kidding me right, now, huh, Razel?" I debated with him. "Want to test me who the real monster between us is?" Cursing me straight to my face was not the Razel I know. His sweetness, understanding, and caring type of brother was already long gone. And I blame myself that he turns into a cold-hearted stepbrother. "Don't cause more trouble, Razel," he whispered to Razel. "Not h
"So you were saying I am just going to watch her being taken away by those people?" I debated with Razel. "Is she not important to you, huh?" Razel inhaled and exhaled shortly before he orders his friends to let go of their grip on me. Part of me wanted to ignore his advice but, on the other hand, it also made me think that the werewolf hunters' bullets can move faster than my wolf. I might only worsen the situation if my wolf is going to strike our enemies without any backup plan. "As much as Felise is important to you, Ezra, you cannot change the fact she was once my girlfriend. And I still love her more than anyone in this world. But we must not do something reckless." The only thing I did in the situation is a glance at Felise being taken away by those men out of the woods. She did not fight back because her entire strength was completely drained after her forceful shift. As soon as Felise and the werewolf hunters finally disappeared from our sight, I expec
I could hear the sound of gunfire ringing in my ears as my wolf charged forward. From where my wolf is hiding, I could see Felise chained up in the corner, surrounded by hunters. One of the hunters turned and aimed his gun at me. My wolf was too quick, though. I managed to dodge the bullet and lunge forward, sinking my teeth into the hunter's neck. With a roar of rage, the other hunters turned on me. Their weapons were no match for my powerful jaws and sharp claws. I took them out one by one, feeling my rage burning hotter and hotter. Razel came to stand by my side, his eyes gleaming with feral intensity. Together, we were unstoppable. Felise was cowering in the corner, looking frightened but relieved to see me and Razel. I could see that she had been injured, with bruises and cuts covering her body. Razel then moves to unchain her, growling a warning to any of the hunters who might try to interfere. The hunters were down for the count, and they knew it. They l
Razel wasn't convinced. "I don't buy it," he said, his voice rising again. "I saw the way you were looking at each other. You were practically undressing each other with your eyes." Felise stepped forward again, her voice trembling. "Razel, please, you have to believe me. Nothing is going on between us. Ezra and I are just friends, that's all." My stepbrother hesitated for a moment, then seemed to come to a decision. "Okay, fine," he said, his voice softer now. "I believe you. I'm sorry for jumping to conclusions." I let out a sigh of relief, grateful that the situation hadn't escalated further. "Thank you, Razel," I uttered. "I'm glad we can all be mature adults about this." Razel nodded, then turned to Felise. "But I think it's best if we go home now," he said. "It's getting late, and your parents might get mad at you for letting two gentlemen stay in your apartment." Felise looked me in the eye, disappointment etched on her face. "I guess you guys should go,