Moonlight Princess

Settle in

*******

The screech of the rusty metal door wakes me up as two familiar faces come into view.

The male nurses grabbed my arms and dragged me away.

Another day.

Another experiment.

At this point, I am too tired to even try to resist. Not that it would make a difference.

It's not like I have a choice. It's not like I can fight back... not anymore, I can't.

It's not like I can get out of here.

I tried, I failed, I was punished.

I tried a few more times, and I failed so many more times.

I have learned my lesson.

I've learned it's pointless to even try.

As usual, the nurses put me on a chair. A crazy-looking doctor is standing two feet away from me. The nurses tie my hands to the chair.

The doctor prepares a syringe; the silver particles shine from it.

The doctor starts to approach me. My eyes automatically closed.

He gets behind me and injects my neck with the liquid. Soon after, I feel a burning sensation all over my body.

The pain starts, and it increases by the second. I scream.

Black spots start to take over my vision, and my head feels like it's about to explode; sweat forms all over my body.

It's like I'm melting from the inside out.

Everything around me starts to fade, and I can barely make out the faint, disappointed voice of the doctor:

"This isn't it either."

*******

I jolt up, panting, salty sweat covering my forehead. Another nightmare.

It's been a year since I've escaped that place, but the nightmares never stopped. My subconscious likes to terrorize me, making me relive all the pain, all the fear, over and over again, every single damn night.

It almost feels like I've never left the Institution.

Looking around through the darkness, I feel my heartbeat increase. Memories from yesterday flood my mind, filling up the blanks, and I start to calm myself down.

I look at the watch, and it reads 5:30 am, almost three hours of sleep...

I don't even bother trying to fall back asleep.

I know it's pointless, so I take a long bath, trying to pass the time.

After getting dressed, I put on my necklace, the only thing that stayed with me no matter where I went, the one thing my birth parents left with me.

I've always been entranced by it.

Firstly, because it reflects me. Fur white as snow, just like my hair, and purple irises, just like my eyes.

Secondly, because it looks just like my wolf. I don't know if these traits run in the family or if my birth parents could foresee the future, but the wolf in the pendant they gave me is identical to my real wolf.

And in a way, it connects me with it. I miss that part of myself.

Even though I can use some of her strength, I can no longer feel her, nor can I shapeshift, and I hate it.

I hate how I didn't even have time to enjoy that part of myself before they ripped it from me.

And I hate those who took it away.

"One day... one day, I will make them pay."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A few hours later, I find myself back in the Alpha's office.

"We will resume our conversation from yesterday. Since you've been sent to us by a druid and have a destiny with my son, I will give you my trust for now. You said you were raised by humans and didn't even know what a rogue is, so I am assuming you don't know much about werewolves in general. Am I correct?"

"Yes."

"What about your parents? Your adoptive family, I mean."

My family...

What should I say? That my dad wouldn't even look at me after he found out I was not a human? That my religious mother tried to exorcise me? Or that my crazy aunt sent me to a crazy institution where I spent the next eight years in pure agony?

What will I say?

Nothing.

What happened is for me to know only.

This is my past and my pain. And what resulted from that pain is my weakness. Letting others know your weakness is the biggest mistake one could make. No one can be trusted.

I have learned my lesson. I'm not going to make the same mistake twice.

I wasn't going to answer, and by the look in his eyes, he knew it too.

"Alright then. Where do you live? And do you live alone?"

Why... why does he want to know that? Does he want to know if I have backing? If someone would look for me? Why--

"I see your mind wandering off in all the wrong directions. Don't misunderstand me, little wolf. I wish to know if you want to stay here for a while, that is all."

Huh? How did he notice? I have mastered the art of an expressionless facade... I couldn't have been shown on my face. So how... Is it the smell of blood? I do tend to clench my fists hard when I feel unsure. Does he have a strong sense of smell like me? Or maybe... I am not as sensitive to scents as I thought... maybe that's a werewolf ability.

"Well, yes, I was planning to stay here so I could learn more about the werewolves. But I didn't know there was a city inside the woods, so I rented something in the neighboring city. But I suppose I should look for something closer."

"There is no need for that. And nothing in this city is for rent."

"And why is that?"

"Because this isn't a city. This is the pack's territory, and all the houses outside are owned and inhabited by the werewolves of our pack. And those who don't have a house live in the pack house."

"The pack house?"

"Yes. This building you're in is the pack house."

"I see..."

"You can stay here for now. And starting tomorrow, you can attend the special courses."

"Special courses? What for?"

"They were designed for the young wolves to learn more about themselves. They will teach you everything you need to know about werewolves, our history, abilities, and control."

"I understand. Thank you for this."

"You have nothing to thank me for. I cannot ignore the words of a druid. Since you don't have a pack and you have a destiny with a future Alpha, most likely my son, then it is best for you to stay here for now. Although, a warning is in place. I have decided to give you the benefit of the doubt, but I cannot truly trust your words, and as such, you will be under tight surveillance here. If there's anything suspicious, if you're trying to do something, there will be dire consequences."

"That's to be expected. I know my word doesn't count much, but I promise you this, I am not here for trouble. But that's only the case for those who let me be. If someone from your pack provokes me, there will be consequences. I am not one to sit and take it quietly."

"As long as it is not started by you and it doesn't escalate more than it should, then it will be fine. Will you be moving in immediately?"

"Yes. I will go pack my bags and be back today."

"Elias will be escorting you. I have told him and he is already waiting for you outside. That will be all for now, you can go."

Well, I am not too pleased to be escorted, but I understand him too. If I were an enemy, this would be the perfect chance for me to go and report. Still, he decided to take me in, and that itself was a risk. I suppose I should be thankful for that, and stay put for now. Plus, if it is Elias... then is the man from last night. He was a quiet one, so he won't be too much of a bother.

Elias was really waiting for me in front of the house.

"I have been curious about something since yesterday... Both you and the Alpha, and David as well, said you called, but I never saw you actually calling for each other. So can you like... communicate telepathically or something?"

"Yes. It is not something a rogue can do, but wolves in a pack can communicate with each other over a certain distance. It is called the mind link."

"I see..."

What an intriguing ability. It would be interesting to use.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I was right about him being quiet. We've been together all day, yet besides answering my question this morning, he hasn't uttered a single word.

Once we got back to the packhouse I was greeted by a tall, black-haired girl. She was beautiful, but it was her eyes that captured my attention. The same capturing blue eyes Elias has. Maybe they're relatives.

"Hi, there! My name is Sophie!"

Her cheerful tone caught me off guard. I've only met a few people so far, but none had this... sparkle of hers. It makes you want to befriend her just to enjoy her company.

She also has this aura around her... it's warm, it feels good.

"I'm Ema."

"Well, Ema, it is nice to meet you! It is not every day that you see a rogue on your turf, and it is definitely a first for the Alpha to take one in his pack and house--"

"I'm not part of this pack." I say bluntly.

"Either way, you must be quite special! Well, here we are! Seems Elias already brought you bags while we were making the introductions. He always moves fast."

Sophie brought me to a room on the fourth floor. She opens the door, and the first thing I see is the luggage on the bed. The room is pretty normal, not too small not too big, and not too extravagant.

It contrasts with the rest of the building that I've seen so far. The room is white, and there are only a few furniture pieces around, a big window decorates the opposite wall.

The room feels cold and lonely... it suits me.

"This is the only spare bedroom we have. We're a pretty big pack, so we are kinda packed. You can decorate it however you want, anything to help you feel at home!"

Home...

What is home? Is it the house I grew up in? The house that made me feel loved, wanted, and safe only to take it all away... or is it the cell at the institution, the place that stole eight years of my life, the place that treated me like a lab rat, the place that made me feel dead inside and out... or maybe in the woods, where I had to run, hunt, steal, and kill, all just so I could survive another day?

Home... this term had become so unfamiliar to me.

"Ema... are you alright?"

Lost in my thoughts, I almost forgot I wasn't alone.

"I'm fine."

"Well, okay then... I'll leave you to get settled, but I will see you in the morning! School starts at 8 am, but since it will be your first day, I suggest you get there one hour early, so you can complete the paperwork and be in class on time. I'll also be the one to show you around the school, so I guess I'll see you there at around 7:30 am. Also, if you haven't eaten yet, there's always someone in the kitchen until 10 pm, so you can go and eat--"

"Hold on... school? I was told I would take some courses, but no one said anything about school."

"The special courses take place at school. Actually, everything that's to be learned within the pack happens in the same building. We are a big pack, but we're not an actual city, you know... and there is a fixed number of kids since the school is limited to the members of the pack and not open to the others. So the place we learn is just a big building that's separated to accommodate everyone. The first floor is for toddlers and preschoolers. The second floor is where teenagers learn the basics, like a human high school, and the last floors are for what you would call college. The third one is for those who learn to work for the pack's business, while the fifth floor is reserved for those who wish to take on a different path, such as art and entertainment. Well, then, good night, and see you tomorrow!"

She is a fast talker.

"Night..."