Part of the pack

9 || No more holding back

Our regrets, our fears, they hold us back. We have to let them go so we can become what we're supposed to be. We have to burn them all away.

- Amie Kaufman

'•'•'•

The window reflect the overcast sky, the sun remains in hiding as the wind blew letting the branches made a creaking sound as they sway with each other.

I'm currently at Everlyn's house, her words were both amusing and terrifying as she felt like I tormented her all day after hearing the news spreading like wildfire in just a few hours.

"I won't do it again okay?" I assured her and held her hand as she harrumphed. "You were so terrified at that time so I didn't want to frighten you more"

"Fine!" She groans and pointed her red manicured fingers at me and says. "If you ever hide something from me again I'll... I'll never give you the book collection you've been wishing for!"

Ack. I don't want that to happen! That is such bad news!

"I won't okay? No more secrets" I swear and even pinky swore at her to make her believe me. After that, she informed me of their traditional winter vacation in California, it's her maternal family's home.

It was tradition for them to go to California every winter break especially the fact that Wilsbrein gets super cold this month, December. I supposed I couldn't come to the forest without looking like a sack of potatoes have been hiding in my body.

I have decided to go to the forest, I need to get this burning curiosity out of my system.

I decided to go to the forest tomorrow morning, Everlyn would have left the town and my parents would still be in their work. Besides, I have a week off from work, I better finish this now or else I won't be able to return to my work in a sane mind.

The roads were slippery, wherever my eyes landed it was filled with snow, I fasten my walk as the wind stung my cheeks. Pristine white snowdrops fell on my face and immediately bring a sting to my cheeks, I saw a man shoveling white, thick snow out of his porch, a woman holding the walks for dear life as she continued to slip on the roads.

Thankfully, I avoided all of that by wearing rubber shoes and going to the edge of the road filled with the soil covered in snow. My eyes flutter as I returned home, finally, I shouldn't be frugal when it comes to my safety but I'm still paying for the camera that I begged for my parents to buy for me.

It was a Canon 7D Mark II, it was twelve hundred dollars and someone as a teenager couldn't quite yet afford it. Even though we live quite comfortably with two of my parents working, they wanted to let instill the thought that if we wanted something, we should work hard for it.

I took off the bulky jacket and opted for a sweater as I went to the small library that my father specifically designed for me when he learned of my love for books.

My hands traveled along with the old covers of books, some were even given to me when I was as young as nine. My eyes met the striking golden-colored book I was looking for, it was grandma's (from my father's side) gift for me when I gain interest in wolves. This book though was handed to her by her mother, it was about the mythical creatures that stayed hidden against human eyes.

A book filled with tales of werewolves.

It was made in 1940, the same time this town was built, I guess that they created this book after realizing the mystery inside the heart of the forest. It also states here on the first page that this book must be given to those who truly believe that there are creatures we only believe as fiction, are real.

I went back to the warm comforts of my bed, the duvet blanketing me with its sunny-like feeling. My fingers brushed past its trusted pages, it's a 100-year-old book and I could see the ink fading away. It's been a long time since I've touched this, I only had my mind towards the wolves but not the mythical creatures that resemble them.

Werewolves are mythical creatures that are superior in everything, strength, senses, and some telepathic abilities to communicate with their species as well as the power to transform into a human being.

Some countries see wolves as a work of witchcraft, evil beings in others, they were revered as gods and is another form of gods such as Apollo and his twin sister, Artemis.

Wolves were thought to be carnivorous, man-eating creatures and the only weakness that can be gathered from other sources are silver bullets.

"Selene!"

Shit! The book dropped on the carpet and I glared at the suspect, it was my younger brother, again! Shouting as if we were miles apart, can't he just say my name in a normal voice and situation!

"What is it?" I stomped on the carpet and went down the stairs to see my brother standing there with a frown on his face. I looked at what he's staring at so intently and saw the black burnt thing piled into a plate.

"Did you try to cook again?" Don't even get me started about the way he cooked ramen, after destroying it seeing the overcooked noodles with mushy wheat-colored soup, I almost threw up.

"Well I wanted to eat" he glared at me then return his eyes to that weird food of his.

"Well, you could have told me" I sarcastically replied and move into the kitchen to throw the food he wasted. This is why mother didn't let him in the kitchen, he's a terror, and no matter how many lessons mom gave, it was futile.

I boiled some pasta I got from the kitchen drawers and took a tomato paste and chopped some carrots, onions, garlic, and premade meatballs I got from the fridge. Fifteen minutes later, I placed a serving of spaghetti and meatballs on his side and took some for me.

We are in silence, we were never like this, after he became 11 and met Simon he was like a new person. He was irritable, rebellious, and nothing like the bubbly and kind boy that I get along with.

"So, did mom went lenient on you?" I asked and he stared at me quietly for a moment before muttering.

"She didn't, I deserve it anyway" I blinked, it was the first time in two years that he acknowledged his mistake.

So does it mean that he's changing? I look up at him and smiled before continuing my food, it's best to not tease him about it, or else he'll revert to that thorny self of his.

***
Chapter 9 is out! Hope you like this chapter!

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