The Human World...
The door creaked open slowly. Three men stepped inside. They were tall, draped in black cloaks and their eyes glowing red beneath their hoods. They moved silently.
They spread through the small, dusty house. The air reeked of alcohol and mold. An empty bottle rolled across the hallway as one of the intruders stepped in.
“She’s not here,” the first man said, his voice a low growl. “Search everywhere.”
In the corner of the living room, sprawled over a stained couch, was kelvin. A bottle still clutched in his hand, his eyes bloodshot, barely able to sit upright.When he saw the figures, he froze.
“No… no, no,” he muttered, trying to stand. “You—”
The leader turned toward him. “So you do recognize us.”
“You’re the ones that destroyed Ryker and his family… You killed Ryker, goddammit.”
The man smirked beneath his hood. “Ahh, so the memory hasn’t entirely rotted in your drunk skull.”
Kelvin backed up a step, knocking over a small wooden table. The bottle in his hand shattered. His hands shook.
“Where is she?” the man whispered.
“I-I don’t know,” he said, terrified. “I’m sure they must have taken her.” He let out a shaky laugh, his breath reeking of alcohol.
“Taken her where?”
“I told you—I don’t know. And even if I did, I’m not telling.”
The man sighed. “Then what use are you to me? If you can’t tell me her whereabouts, you’re better off dead—just like your friend.” He turned to the others. “Kill him.”
“Wait!” Kelvin shouted. “Don’t…please, I beg you…have mercy…”
But his pleas fell on deaf ears. One of the cloaked men lunged forward, his blade sliding across the room with deadly speed.
A sharp gasp.
Then silence.
Kelvin collapsed to the floor, blood pooling from his slit neck, eyes wide with the final terror of a man who had seen monsters twice.
“No!” Cherry shouted from the door steps, the shopping bag in her hand fell to the ground. Behind her was Loretta, wide-eyed in shock.
“Get them!” He ordered.
Loretta and Cherry quickly ran off.
“Prepare the Bloodstone. If she’s crossed over into the mystical world, we’ll find her. As for the rest of the family, find them and kill them.”
“But Slyker,” one of them asked, “what do we tell the king?”
“That’s why we have to find her quickly.”
~
The next day…
A girl around Freya's age stopped in front of her house in the human world, her hands gripping the steering wheel with excitement. The soft purr of her brand-new car—sleek and silver.
Her parents had gifted it to her after their vacation as an early birthday present, and she couldn’t wait to show it to her best friend.
She parked along the curb and stepped out, the cool morning breeze ruffling her dark curls. As she shut the door, she glanced around. It was too quiet.No clinking of empty beer bottles.No grumbled swears from kelvin and no abuses from Loretta.
Just… unbearable silence.
Tiffany walked up the porch steps, the wood creaking beneath her boots. The front door was slightly open.
Why is the door open? she thought.
She knocked once.
Then again.
No answer.
“Freya?” she called out, peeking through the narrow front window.The hallway looked the same, but something felt… off.
The energy in the house was dead.A small frown tugged at her lips as she gripped the doorknob to the living room. It turned easily.
She stepped inside cautiously. “I’m coming in, okay?” she called, forcing a small chuckle.
Then the scent hit her.
Sharp.
Metallic.
Like rust.
Tiffany wrinkled her nose.“What the hell…”
The strange smell grew stronger with each step. Her instincts screamed at her to leave—but curiosity pushed her forward.
“Mr. Kelvin? Freya?” She called out for Freya's foster father and her friend. “You alright?”
The scream never made it out.Her breath was stolen by the gruesome sight before her. Kelvin lay sprawled across the floor…lifeless. His chest soaked in blood. His hands dangled limply, fingertips grazing shattered glass and a bottle of liquor.
Blood had pooled beneath him, seeping into the carpet and staining it.
“Oh my God… Oh my God—Freya…”
She scrambled back, fumbling for her phone, fingers slipping as she dialed emergency services.
“There’s blood… he’s dead… I think he’s dead…please, please hurry—Mr. Kelvin —he’s—” Her voice cracked with sobs.
She ran to Freya’s room,but it was empty.“Freya? Where are you? Please…”
Her hands shook as she dialed her mother’s number.
“Moth-Mother,” she stammered, breath ragged. Fear gripped her chest. “I don’t think I can drive, Mum. Please… come to Freya’s place.”
“What are you saying, child? I can barely hear you. Why are you crying?”
“Mother, please… just come. I beg you,” she whispered, then ended the call. She texted Freya quickly.
Where are you? Are you okay?
Her mind spun in circles.
What if Freya had been hurt too? What if she had walked in on this? What if—
She dropped to her knees, sobbing as the worst possible scenarios consumed her. And the sirens couldn’t come fast enough.
**************
Meanwhile, in the mystical realm… in the white halls of the Crimson Pack mansion, Chloe paced furiously in front of the Pack Council Chamber.
Her heels clicked sharply against the polished stone, her lavender gown fluttering with every turn she took. Her long dark hair was unkempt from tugging at it in frustration, and her usual calm demeanor had shattered into furious pieces.
"They’ve lost their minds!" she shrieked, storming into the chamber without waiting to be invited.
Kristen’s mother, Mabel, Luna of Crimson pack, sat at the head of the long table with a few council members. She raised an eyebrow but said nothing, waiting for Chloe’s tantrum to finish.
“Elders, please excuse us,” Chloe said, fury burning in her eyes.
They looked at their Luna, and she gave them a single nod.
As soon as the room cleared, Chloe rounded on her. “How dare you all make Kristen abandon his duties here—his coronation, school, and most importantly our mating ceremony—just to go babysit some human hybrid freak?"
“Watch your words,” Mabel said coldly, her eyes glinting with restrained rage.
“I had to learn about it from my source! None of you could’ve had the decency to speak to me about it first? What will my father say when I tell him? She’s a stain on everything we stand for!" Chloe barked. “Isn’t she the daughter of the previous Alpha who betrayed his own pack and this very pack to go to the human world and be with someone?”
“Why let your son play mentor to some abomination, Luna Mabel?”
"Enough, Chloe." Luna Mabel’s voice rang.
"No!" Chloe shouted, her chest rising and falling rapidly. "You’re his mother! How could you allow this? How could you let him disgrace us all by entertaining that thing? You promised my father that he would be ready! The ceremony is in three weeks!”
"If not for one thing, Chloe, I would’ve ended this alliance," Mabel said calmly. "You aren’t even Luna yet, and already you’re setting yourself high, trying to control everyone around you. Don’t forget your place—and who’s in charge here."
"You speak like a spoiled pup Luna Mabel added.
"Chloe’s nostrils flared. "I’ve spent my whole life preparing for this. I’ve trained beside Kristen for years. I’ve earned my place! He needs to come back here. He can’t leave me behind to go take care of some human. I’ve spent my whole life preparing for this!" she repeated, her voice cracking. "She just…he can’t just throw our plans away for her"
Mabel stood up slowly, her gaze sharp. "Are you speaking out because of the ceremony… or because you feel threatened by her presence?"
"Threatened? Seriously? By a human? Don’t flatter me, Luna Mabel. I can never feel threatened by her. Why would you even allow Kristen to transfer to that school?”
"You know, Chloe… I think you don’t love my son. You’re just after the power and the name the Blackwood family will give you."
Chloe opened her mouth to respond, but the words barely came.
"No need to be defensive, Chloe," Mabel said, her tone clipped. "The ceremony will happen in three weeks. Just don’t get in my son’s way.”
