Tanya’s POV
Feeling the weight of Monica's unexpected threat, I knew I had to find a new place fast. My days became a whirlwind of stress and uncertainty as I embarked on the journey of searching for a new hostel.I wandered through the streets of Shadowclaw, scanning every "For Rent" sign and jotting down phone numbers. The weight of my backpack seemed heavier with each rejection, and the fear of being unwelcome lingered in the pit of my stomach.At one point, I stumbled upon a hostel called Moonlight Haven. The name itself felt like a soothing balm for my troubled soul. I cautiously approached the reception, my nerves on edge.The receptionist, a friendly woman with a warm smile, greeted me. "Looking for a place to stay?"I nodded, "Yeah, just moved here, and things didn't work out at my previous hostel."She handed me a brochure, "Moonlight Haven might be the perfect fit for you. We believe in creating a peaceful, welcoming environment."The atmosphere at Moonlight Haven was noticeably different from my previous experience. As I toured the place, I overheard residents sharing stories and laughter. It felt like a community, a stark contrast to the tension I had left behind.I hesitated, expressing my concerns to the receptionist. "I need a place where I can feel safe and at home. The last few days have been a nightmare."She reassured me, "We prioritize a supportive environment here. Our residents respect each other's space and well-being."I smiled at her and we went on to sign the contract as I made my down payment.It's been four days since I got that threat from Monica and her groupies, safe to say I found a place within budget, a 20-minute walk to the university, and offers free WiFi as well. It’s the mini hostel called Moonlight Haven, a very weird name but who am I to complain? I have decided to move in tomorrow. I just hope I can cope with Monica for one more night.The next day after packing up my things and preparing for the move, I decided to go get my laundry from the beat-up, crappy washing machine in the basement of the hostel. I reached into the machine and found nothing but the wet slick sides of the drum and like a bad joke- the worst pair of underwear I owned and a sock. There were only two machines and two dryers in the entire basement. Checking the rest I didn't find any of my missing clothing articles. This has never happened to me in my six weeks here.“No”, I said out loud, I balanced myself on the edge of the washer to look down into the dark, partly rusted interior. It smelt like mold and cheap detergent. Nope, nothing was there. I was missing every piece of clothing I wore in the last two weeks. The very pieces that I didn't mind wearing, pieces that didn't scream “my mom shops for me”.“No!!! Nooo!!! This can't be happening, how the hell did this happen?” I yelled into the washer, my words just echoed back to me, there was no miraculous answer, just silence.I started panicking, I did have some other clothes but they were last-choice clothes. What should I do? I only had about 500 dollars left to last me for, well months. After buying yet another book for Professor Eugene Richard, who didn't seem to have figured out yet what subject he was teaching, and the eating out marathon I've been on, do not forget the rent I paid for Moonlight Haven which was behind my parent's backs. If I do decide to get new clothes I wouldn't have much left to sustain myself these coming months.I suppose I could find some thrift clothes if I look around, ShadowClaw has more thrift stores than the entirety of Kentucky put together. Assuming I could find anything I could stand to wear. I should have expected this after I received the threat from Monica and her groupies last week.I fell to the ground, dumped my backpack on the scratched linoleum, and put my head in my hands on top of my knees threatening to squish my boobs in this crouched position. My face felt hot and I was shaking, I was definitely about to cry. Cry like the baby they've been taunting me with for weeks. A big girl that still cries like a 15-year-old, yes that's who I'm becoming gradually.“Don't cry Tanya, it's not worth it. They're not worth it” I repeated like a mantra while gulping deep, damp breaths. “ if you cry they'd hear it, so don’t”, I said willing myself not to bawl my eyes out. I couldn't call Mom and Dad for an extension at the moment, they already have enough bills to handle.Looking up, I came face to face with a note pasted across the wall, “Dear freak, we found some trash in the machines and threw it down the chute. If you want it back, dive for it”“Shit!!!” I breathed and had to blink back tears for an entirely different reason. Blind, stupid rage. Monica, I had guessed it but now I'm sure. “I'm gonna make you pay!!” I screamed while heading back to our room. There I found Monica casually lounging on her bed. I walked up to her and slapped her hard across the face. Monica stood up and it became a full-on catfight.“You stupid little bitch! How dare you slap me? You’ll lose your fucking life today” Monica sneered. “Oh yeah, let's see about that” I retorted, grabbing a fist full of her hair as she grabbed mine.A crowd had begun to form as onlookers were cheering and laughing, and before long her minions decided to show up. Janet and Lisa held both my hands at both sides allowing Monica to do as she pleased with me. “Oof,” I gasped as Monica punched me in the gut. She hit me three more times before I collapsed to the floor. While on the floor the three girls stomped on me repeatedly, breaking a rib or two.When they were satisfied with the abuse, Monica crouched down and said “The only reason why you're not dead right now is because I promised you a week, if you're still here by tomorrow you'd better call your parents and tell them how much you loved them, freak”. After saying that she got up and left the room with her minions trailing right behind her. I lay on the floor wincing in pain for thirty minutes before I was able to stand up, retrieve my things, and head to Moonlight Haven.“I need to get out of here quick before she comes back”, I mumbled before dragging my things to the school gate and hailing a cab. “Where to?” the driver asked as I settled in the back seat. “Moonlight haven, please” I replied respectfully.Tanya’s POVAs I stepped into Moonlight Haven that night, a mix of anticipation and uncertainty hung in the air. The decision to leave my previous hostel, haunted by the cruel whispers and the weight of constant bullying, led me to this seemingly ordinary yet oddly inviting place.Moonlight spilled through the windows, casting a soft glow on the worn-out carpets that crunched beneath my shoes. Little did I know that within these walls, a world untouched by ordinary rules awaited. The air buzzed with an inexplicable energy, whispering secrets that eluded my understanding.The creaking of the old staircase echoed my apprehension as I made my way through the dimly lit corridors. The hostel seemed to hold stories in its timeworn bricks, stories I had yet to uncover. It was a moonlit beginning, a fresh start, unbeknownst to me that the ordinary facade concealed extraordinary secrets that would shape the course of my life in ways I could never have imagined.The door groaned softly as I ent
Tristan’s POVI toyed with the night lights of my pack bedroom, first pressing the switch button on the remote and then shutting them off after a few seconds, watching the room flicker between brightness and darkness simultaneously.I turned around in bed, my head going from resting on my arms to the pillow to the bed itself, with my eyes closed I tried to get in at least 2-3 hours of sleep after working the whole day. Usually, after my busy day working 14 hours, I would be out succumbing to darkness but for the past 2 days, it has been the opposite. I've been struggling to sleep, my mind racing with thoughts of the weirdly attractive human girl I met in the woods behind Moonlight Haven.I can hear the raindrops falling against the glass wall which gives a picturesque scene of the whole pack. ShadowClaw pack. This very pack became mine too early and probably would have an alpha born of a loveless marriage after me. It's a shame that my father got ill and can't continue his pack duties
Tanya’s POVThe next morning, I woke up feeling woozy, like I had hit my head on a wall. The events of yesterday came rushing back to my head spontaneously most especially those haunting hazel eyes that deprived me of my sleep. I had so many questions but no means to get answers, Ms. Grant would not talk to me either, and looking at the creepy nature of my housemates, I knew making the moves to get answers would be a dead end. I resolved not to let it overwhelm me, I’ll take it a day at a time. I looked at the time, jumped out of bed, and ran to the bathroom. I was going to be late for Professor Eugene’s class. I took off the nightwear I wore and tossed it farther from the bathtub as I entered the old and unbalanced Jacuzzi tub. It had lost its original color which I believed was white, I imagined how long it hadn’t been in use for. I felt a relaxing kind of sensation that soothed my insides so much immediately my skin made contact with the warm water. It reminded me of home, it also
Tristan’s POVMy mind never stopped running back to her. She had made herself at home in my head and I loved how it made me feel. I went from my usual morning run and I suddenly felt a twinge of ecstasy in my chest that caused me to stop in my tracks. A powerful scent that sought nothing but to bring me to my knees engulfed me. It was her, I knew it was her, that human with those beautiful pure eyes I met in my wolf form that day in the woods, she was close. I looked around anxiously for a sign of her, but I got none and it was beginning to piss me off. SKY, my wolf was pacing inside of me, he sizzled with so much energy, and he felt her too. “She’s here…somewhere close, I can feel her, Yesssss, I can feel her” Sky giggled inside me, I felt him surfacing, a sign that he wanted her so badly. “Take it easy, will you? You can’t possibly surface here, we might just end up scaring her away, I can’t even get a sight of her and it’s frustrating me, don’t add your tension to my already tens
Tanya’s POVI felt eyes someone’s eyes was watching my every move but I didn’t give much thought to it, for I know it could be the other students of Mystique University who also saw me as an alien. After my class that morning, I headed to the cafeteria, I was hungry and since I hadn’t eaten in the morning, the insects in my stomach were beginning to bite me profusely. I felt uncomfortable gazes on me, I wanted to disappear and reappear at the cafeteria but HA! I am no magician or witch. I looked down the whole time as I took careful steps as though the ground was going to break if I walked any harder than I did. When I got there, the gazes never stopped, rather they multiplied. I made my way to the counter and ordered food mac and cheese. That was all I could afford at that time because I had run out of money. I placed the order and waited for a few minutes for it to be processed. After a little while, the counter attendant rolled over a tray to me. I carried the food from the counter
The pressure coming from the pack about the Alpha getting a Luna became too much ever since the incessant attacks by rogues began. The people feared the rogues may conquer them because their alpha’s strength was limited, he needed a mate to make him stronger and a Luna to oversee the affairs of the pack should he go into battle. Tristan feared that the attacks on his pack by rogues might continue and a darker time would come thus he needed all the strength and power he could gather. He understood the importance of having his mate by his side so he decided to make moves to win Tanya over. He knew nothing about wooing a woman, especially a human. He was used to the women coming unto him, and he planned to make her fall in love with him naturally since she was human, it would take him time to properly woe her the way the humans do in their world, but if she were their kind, {if she was a werewolf} the mate bond would’ve already found a way of bringing them closer to each. She had not see
The next morning, the sun beamed exuding its glories through the thick blue clouds, the birds were already about their morning rituals, chirping and flapping their wings from tree to tree. There was a cool breeze that was blowing all over. There was a sweet moisture that filled the air. That was the kind of weather that sent the werewolves into a moment of joy, it was going to be a good day. It made them remember the moon goddess had their interests at heart. They felt it but never was able to fathom what exactly was going to happen. The only people who were privileged to such knowledge were the Witches usually referred to as the Nights. They were augurs and sibyls meaning they could foresee the future, read people’s minds, and offer judgments to offenders. They were rare in ShadowClaw. Their lineage was wiped off several years ago by Tristan’s great-great-grandfather who saw them as rebellious to his reign. Whenever beautiful mornings such as this one arose in ShadowClaw the pack me
Tanya’s POVThe morning was oddly beautiful, the birds chirped with so much enthusiasm and the dew that rested on the plants was too fresh. I could feel deep in me that there was something off about it. Stepping out of Moonlight Haven to begin my day, I noticed the usually quiet streets were unusually quiet, I began to wonder what was wrong. On reaching school, the same thing was happening. Was there a holiday I didn’t know about? The school environment was scanty; there were no students. I stood still for about ten minutes impatiently looking around to see if anyone would walk through the gate, when there was no sign of anybody, I walked out of the gate. I didn’t understand what was going on, I walked back home and still saw fewer people by the roadsides. I met Ethan when I got home, he was reading a book on the alchemy of souls. I quickly remembered the book I saw in the drawer yesterday. He looked up at me and smiled, his eyes sparkled with delight, even if his goggles were on, I c