Chapter 8 SEVEN

MORGIANA'S POV Warm sunlight shining directly on my face was the first thing I felt the moment I gained my consciousness. I didn't open my eyes just yet partly because I didn't feel like opening them and I want to sleep a bit longer and partly because I want to feel my surroundings first. "Their numbers are getting high and a lot more of them have been coming here during the full moon. We've killed a lot of them the past years and we killed quite a number of them last night. A lot of those deaths will rouse suspicions from the locals and eventually, we're going to get discovered," said a voice I don't recognize. Of all the people here, it was just Alaris' voice that I recognized. I don't know what exactly they're talking about but I have a good feeling it's about what happened last night. I suddenly froze when I remembered what happened last night. "They're already aware of our presence, Nico. Isn't that the reason why they're increasing the number of hunters coming here every full moon?" This time, it was Alaris who talked. I set aside my memories from last night and listened intently to what he was going to say next. "Are you saying that the town has somehow got involved?" "I wouldn't say directly, but yes. That's what I think. We've lived in this mountain for many years and in just the past few years, the rogue wolves have been causing trouble in the center of town. They have the right to be afraid of that." The other guy clicked his tongue. "It's not because they're afraid. I think they're onto something else. You said you saw Giro getting dragged by them. They're talking him somewhere. What would they want to do with him?" Alaris went quiet. So the wolf that I saw last night was named Giro. And from what I hear in the conversation, the hunters know they're wolves. "They know it was the rogues who caused trouble so why are they putting all the blame on us? You need to do something as the Alpha of this pack, Al." Then I heard footsteps. I swallowed hard as I realized it was just me and Alaris. "You can stop pretending to be asleep now." Damn it. Slowly, I opened my eyes and I almost jumped on the bed when I saw he was already sitting beside the bed, arms crossed. I blinked and composed myself before I quickly grabbed something from the bedside table and pointed it at him. It was a hairbrush. I pointed the hairbrush at him and he was just looking at me with his best blank face as though I was the most idiotic woman he has ever known. But I did not put the hairbrush down and glared at him instead. As if it could make up for my wrong choice of weapon. "Are you going to start swinging that any second? Because I'd dare you to." I was wise enough not to swing the hairbrush at him. Especially not when I saw how dangerous he was last night and how futile I would be against him. "Why did you bring me here?" I asked instead, still not dropping the hairbrush. "You were surrounded by some wolves last night and if I hadn't come and save you-" "Cut the bullshit. You did not save me. You just couldn't allow others to kill me. You wanted to do it yourself, don't you?" He was silent as he looked at me and the expression on his face was unreadable. Then I heard him sigh. "How are you feeling?" I was taken aback by his question. What the hell is he doing? Is this what he does before he kills his victims? How on earth was I crushing on him back at school? Am I still having a crush on a murderer? "Why am I here, Alaris?" He leaned back in his seat. "Not Mr. Alaris this time?" "I could call you asshole too." His mouth twitched into something like a smirk. "Fine. What is the question?" "Why did you bring me here?" "I already answered that." "Why do you want to kill me?" He was silent for a moment, as though thinking carefully about what he would answer to that question. "Because of your existence," he said and I furrowed my brows. "How does that-" "You remember what happened last night, didn't you?" he asked as he stood. He walked to the table and poured himself some alcohol. I hated how calm he was and feel like I'm about to burst into nervousness. Any second now, I could die. "I do," I answered. Some of it was a blur but the painful way all my bones in my body were breaking and how I was running in the woods were all so clear in my head. I had transformed into a wolf last night. I don't know how the hell it was possible but it happened. "You understand what that means?" "I am not stupid. I know what happened. I transformed into a wolf." He took a sip from his glass before he faced me. "Not just any wolf, Morgiana. You're a hybrid." "What does that even mean?" "You have two types of blood in you. Wolf blood and the vampire blood." "I'm sorry. A what blood now?" "Your parents were supernaturals," he started and it seemed like there would be a lot more surprises to come if I continue to listen to his story. But do I have a choice? None. I am a captive. And whatever Alaris has to tell me about my past, I need to know it. "One of them was a vampire and the other was a wolf," he said and my blood went cold. "Your parents' love for each other was forbidden. They were not supposed to be together in the first place. Wolves and vampires are very enemy creatures." "So that's why my existence is wrong too? Is that the reason why your people call me an abomination?" He nodded. "Does this mean...I'm going to become a vampire too? What's going to happen? When will it happen?" "You transformed into a wolf the moment you killed a person. I believe that broke the spell some witch placed on you. I am not certain when you're going to become a vampire but it's going to happen anytime soon." I swallowed hard at what he said. A vampire and a wolf. Both are enemy creatures and both blood exists in me. I didn't know anything about my parents except for the fact that they died when I was young and hearing Alaris' story was like a punch to my gut. It was both surprising and terrifying. "So you and your people want to kill me because I am the daughter of a forbidden love?" "Not all of them want to kill you now." "What do you mean?" "You might want to see for yourself," he said and jerked his head outside. Confused, I got off the bed, not dropping the hairbrush. Who knows I would need it later. I followed him as he walked out of the room. The cabin was small and the living room was spacious. When we were finally out of the cabin, I saw people doing different chores. Some were gathering firewood, some were chopping them, some were cooking and some were training. When they saw us on the cabin's balcony, some of them stopped to greet us. Not just Alaris but also me. It was suspicious. "Last night they were screaming profanities at me and now ... did they just greet me good morning?" I asked as I looked at Alaris. He was looking at the yard where the others are busy doing their thing. Some of them saw us and nodded and it made me feel even weirder. "I feel like this is a trap. Are you planning on something? What are you all into?" I narrowed my eyes at him and he gave me a look. He crossed his arms and it took everything in me not to feast my eyes on his muscles. "They're grateful to you," he said and it even made me more confused. "I don't know what I did last night but I can remember I did nothing for them to be grateful." "You save Giro, Morgiana," Alaris said. "He was about to be taken away by those hunters but you stopped them. You risked your own life-" "I did not do it to save him. I did it because I know what they will do to me once I go with them." "You ordered them to let the wolf go," he said as though it would make a difference. But it did make a difference. Especially since I made that order. At that time, I didn't know what I was doing. Perhaps it was the adrenaline. "If they had taken Gino, we wouldn't be able to see him again. Right now, he's in his cabin, resting. And it's all thanks to you." Gino. That was the name of the wolf I saved. Gino was probably one of those people who sneered at me last night. Why did I save him? "Do the vampires want me dead too? Re they here in this city?" I asked. "There are supernaturals here more than you could imagine. They have mastered the art of blending in with the humans." "Yes, like how you disguised yourself as a teacher in my school just to kidnap me." He didn't say anything about it but instead, he turned to look away. I was about to say something when someone called his name. When I turned to look who it was, the man blinked and bowed his head down. "Thank you for saving one of our own," he said as though it had been the only thing inside his head this morning and now he's finally able to say it to me. I wanted to snap at them for being so mean to me while they placed me in a cage. But before I could even have the chance to say something, the man immediately went on. "My name is Laurent and the man you saved last night is my brother, Giro. We will be forever in your debt." I turned to look at Alaris but his eyes were set on Laurent. "What's the matter?" he asked. "Giro's awake and he has some information about the hunters," Laurent answered. Alaris turned to me and said, "You come with me and see Giro." The way he says that sentence makes me want to smack him. He may be the leader of this place but that doesn't mean he could also order the hell out of me. I was about to protest when he said more. "Let him personally thank you for saving his life." The retort that I had prepared earlier was gone in an instant and I followed him walk through the yard.