Skinwalker - Completed

CHAPTER 15

(Rylie's POV)

"We are the elders. Welcome to our pack."

They all looked up towards the sound of the voices. And Rylie can't believe her eyes when she saw several old people lined up on the balcony from the walls. They are sitting on a wooden chair on that balcony. They are also a group of old men and old women that has a dignified look to them.

Her mouth became agape.

"Y-You knew my father?" Rylie can't help the quiver in her voice. She suddenly remembers her father and all the fond memories she shared with him.

"Yes. Your father helped us. He hid the truth about our tribe at the expense of his reputation. He's a good man."

One of the elders, a woman with a kind smile, said that.

Rylie's chest swelled with pride. All this time, she thought her father was a liar too. But now that she knew, it made her feel better. Her father did something good. If it was her, will she also do the same? Or will she not? Just days ago, she was so determined to prove that werewolves really exist and that her father is not a liar. Now her mind is battling on what to do.

Riley shook her head. It's not the time to think about that. She needs to get back to being human!

"B-But, can you help me get back to being human?"

Rylie looked at them. And she saw the gloomy expression they all had. Even the Alpha Gab was downcast. She felt the tension inside the room as her palms began to sweat from the realization.

"I'm sorry, Rylie. We can bring you back into a human if you sacrifice your life, and the magic inside the totem gets back inside it. Your blood will be poured inside the totem, then you will become human again and then die from the blood loss. No one survived the process of the extraction."

"B-But....the witches maybe they can help?"

Rylie felt desperate. Is there nothing she could do to bring her back into a human?

She clenched her fists a few times before looking at Aly. The latter held her hands and squeezed them.

"It will be alright, Rylie. We can control our wolves. You just need to train it."

Rylie felt the hopelessness sank into her heart then her eyes began to well up with tears. She doesn't know if she will be able to go back to her grandma and her mother. One way or another, she has to say goodbye to them if she continues to be a wolf. Will she be able to get her life back?

"Please don't cry." Aly pulled her and hug her. "I'm sorry, Riley. We can be your family if you want."

"B-But Aly, My mother, and my granny are the only family I have left. I can't lose them."

Aly patted her back. "If you can control your wolf. Maybe I can help you live among them. You just have to control it."

"Aly. Don't tell her that yet. There's still one more level Aly has to conquer." Alpha Gab looked at her with wary. "Aly. You have to battle your inner wolf to gain control from it."

She looked at both of them. Aly sighed. "Remember the first time you walked on our ritual? That woman has to battle her wolf. If the wolf wins, you will be a werewolf forever. The second level is where you just want to eat flesh and drink blood. Witches hunt those beings, but they also feel the need to eliminate all of us because of it. That is why we are stronger as a pack."

Rylie's eyes became wide. There's still too much to take in right now. The information made her regret what she did.

"W-What does it mean?"

"It means that when you reached the first full moon. Any time of the day or night, the wolf will try to take over. You have to get ready when it happens."

"That is why you saw us surrounding that woman during the ritual. It was a precautionary measure if something goes wrong and she was stuck in being a werewolf." Aly's mouth opened and closed as if she was hesitating to tell her more.

Alpha Gab looked at Aly intensely. There were no words between them, but it looked as if they talked with each other, and Rylie knows by now that they must be speaking in mind link.

"J-Just tell me. I-I can handle it."

Alpha Gab and Aly looked at her. Rylie looked away from Alpha Gab because she saw how the leader of the pack looked at her. It was full of amusement.

"W-Well..." Aly looked again at the Alpha, then back at her. She sighed. "W-We kill that person if they became stuck to that level. We can't afford to let the world know about the werewolf. Plus, the witches will also try to break apart our pack and take our magic if that happens." The last sentence seems to make Aly's face color with a sad expression.

Alpha Gab coughed, and both Rylie and Aly looked at her. There was still an amused smile on the Alpha's face. "Aly. Train her so she can take over her wolf. The full moon will show itself 3 weeks from now. You should train yourself, Rylie."

"W-What kind of training?"

"You'll see." Alpha Gab sat on her chair.

Rylie looks up to the elders, and they all nodded and smiled at her. There was something in those smiles that made her want to make it.

-----------------------------

After saying goodbye to the Elders and the Alpha, Aly brought her to the back of the mansion. She was mesmerized to see that small children were playing and making a mock fight. There were also some people close to her age, fighting and training. Some are lifting a heavy barbell, and others are training with a sword or a gun.

This feels like a military instead of a pack. And with forced labor, too, if Rylie may add, because of the children.

Aly saw the expression on her face and chuckled. "You know when I first came here. I thought the same too. Why are they training children? Will I guess that if you are a werewolf and attacks came? The children have to defend themselves too."

Rylie studied Aly's face. There was again that nostalgic tone and that sad expression. She doesn't want to pry in Aly's private life but seeing that her beautiful face mar with that sorrowful expression. Rylie can't help but want to take it away.

"T-That's a good thought, Aly."

Aly gently smiled at her, and her smile lit up in a corner. There were no teeth shown, and Aly looked boyish for a moment. That made Rylie's face flushed warm. She panned herself with her fingers when Aly wasn't looking.

"So, what training do you want to do first?"

"Surely not that one." Rylie pointed her finger at the man who was lifting the barbell.

Aly's laughter made the other people on the ground look at her. It was the heartiest laughter she had seen someone does. Rylie can't help but admire Aly's beautiful face. She sighed with relief. At least Aly is smiling again. 

========================

A/N: Favor if someone is reading this. Please vote for the chapter thanks. ^^