Chapter 8

• After gaining her wolf, Lupa decided to stay in the village a bit longer, she wanted to learn all that she could from her mentor, and he didn’t hesitate to teach her whatever she wanted to know.
• She quickly found her place in the village, while helping others in whatever way she could.
• ‘’Lupa, it’s summer and mother is worried that our crops will die from the sun. Do you think you could do something to help?’’
• ‘’Of course, Nala. Just give me a few minutes, I need to get these back to Roman.’’
• Lupa had finally figured out the name of the old man who had been of such good help to her, he was more like a father figure than a mentor.
• ‘’Lupa, bong fire tales tonight,’’ someone said.
• She nodded, getting excited because she loved hearing stories all the werekinds had to tell about the lives they left behind, or how their lives differ from that of wolves.
• After getting to the small hut, Lupa gave the apples to Roman so he could make his pies.
• ‘’I’ll see you later, I am going to help Mrs. Greenfield water her crops.’’
• ‘’Yes, yes. Just don’t stay out late else your dinner will be cold.’’
• Lupa ran off in the direction of the Greenfield’s farm, there she spotted Mr. Greenfield and went over to him.
• ‘’Lieutenant Tree, reporting for duty.’’ Ever since learning that the man had ran away when younger to join the human army, and was a brigadier general, she felt the need to salute him with each visit.
• ‘’Hey there, the wife and daughter is already by the creek.’’
• Lupa made her way behind the house and down to the creek, there she saw the two females trying to fill their buckets with water, but the creek was almost dried up.
• ‘’I see what you mean now, I think I can help.’’ Taking a deep breath, Lupa concentrated and could feel water being backed up over the hill.
• ‘’I know what the problem is, something is stopping the flow of the water. Like a dam of some sort, but it wasn’t built by humans or any werekinds, so might just be pollution.’’
• Concentrating, Lupa raised a hand, feeling the strong currents of the water that wanted to be set free. She closed her fist and made a motion as if calling the water to her. There was an explosion, followed by a loud rumbling sound as water began to rush down the hill and into the valley.
• ‘’Thank you.’’ Mrs. Greenfield smiled gratefully.
• ‘’You are welcome, but I have another idea. I could just channel the water closer to your field and to the barn so your cattle would have better access to water.’’
• Mrs. Greenfield clapped. ‘’Oh, you would do that for us?’’
• ‘’Yes, this village depends on your crops and livestock, so I would do anything to save them from the oncoming heat wave this summer will bring.’’
• After doing that, Lupa was rewarded with some chuck, flank and corn.
• ‘’Thank you, Roman would be grateful for these.’’
• After getting back to the hut, Lupa had dinner, but she wasn’t really eating it. More like swallowing her food because she didn’t want to miss the lighting of the bonfire or all the singing the villagers did before the storytelling started.
• Lupa got there just in time to see them throwing the last of the fire hood into a pile.
• ‘’Lupa dear, why don’t you light the fire tonight?’’
• ‘’I…ok.’’ As Lupa shot fire out of her hands, she had a smile on her face which she had a hard time trying to hide.
• Lupa was overwhelmed with the kindness of everyone and was stunned at how accepting of her they were. She was ready to be the outcast again, but they all acted as if she was just a long lost friend.
• And after being there for almost two years, they never let her feel as if she was beneath them.
• ‘’Seiko, why don’t you tell us a story? I think you have been in this village long enough.’’
• The male by the name of Seiko nodded and used his ability to project images to help everyone get a visual of what he had to convey.
• ‘’It happened a few years ago; my sister was forcefully taken by the brutish Alpha of the Blood Moon pack, all because he was on a quest to find the right female who could give him a son.’’
• Someone cut in. ‘’Wait, you are from the Blood Moon pack?’’
• ‘’Yes’’
• A few wolves that knew of the Blood Moon pack began to whisper among themselves.
• As rumors had it, Blood Moon was the Moon goddess’s most favored people. They were also the only pack to live by the olden ways. Sleeping under the stars, instead of in houses, hunting for food instead of raising farm animals and they still sacrificed to the gods. Sadly, they were driven mad after they were cursed by the goddess because the Alpha killed his Luna, a female she held dearly to her heart.
• ‘’You may continue, and please. Let Seiko tell his story.’’
• ‘’At this time, there was a rumor that Alpha Aztec had killed all his children because his mate could only produce females. He was furious, as he wanted a son that would take his place as Alpha. But Aztec was nothing but backwards, not allowing himself to think that females could be Alphas too.’’
• ‘’After his mate gave birth to their fourth daughter, Aztec decided that he might as well rid himself of the woman. He ordered his child to death, just as how he had ordered his men to kill the rest. He wanted to kill his mate as well, but knew that if she died by his hands, then he would face the wrath of the Moon goddess and so he locked her away.’’
• ‘’After a while, Aztec saw that celibacy wasn’t for him and decided that he wanted a new mate. This prompted plenty of women from the Blood Moon pack to flee or be sent away. My mother tried to do the same with my sister, but she was too stubborn. Her mate tried to stop her from being taken but was killed in the process.’’
• ‘’Soon after, my sister gave birth to a still born, and was beaten. He tried to have more children with her, but unfortunately, she couldn’t produce any more kids and was killed.’’
• ‘’Aztec was filled with so much rage that he went to his mate in the dungeon where he had her locked away and tried for another child with her. Again, it was a girl and he called for the execution of both mother and child. But no one wanted the blood of the Luna on their hands, or the wrath of the Moon goddess on their heads, so Aztec took care of the matter himself.’’
• ‘’That night, the moon turned blood red, then a raging storm followed. The Moon goddess unleashed her anger on our pack, only spearing those who opposed Aztec.’’
• ‘’Rumor has it that this child is still alive, she was secretly carried away, but no one knew for sure.’’
• ‘’Lupa, would you like to share your story with us?’’ one of the elders asked.
• ‘’I… don’t I have to be living here for a certain number of years to have that privilege?’’
• ‘’No, as long as you live in this village, you have the right to share a story.’’
• Lupa thought about what to say. ‘’I am from the Night Walker pack and was seen as the runt. Mostly because at the time I didn’t have my wolf or my abilities, and everyone my age made fun of me for this. Everyday all I could hear was that I wasn’t pretty enough, that I was nothing but an Omega, or that I would face rejection from my mate. I grew tired of it all and decided to run away, then Roman found me and helped me to know who I am.’’
• ‘’Your pack members thought you were ugly? They must be blind,’’ someone said.
• ‘’Beauty standards are different everywhere, I guess.’’
• They continued sharing stories until the moon was high in the sky and the elders decided that it was enough story telling for the night.
• Lupa was woken by cries for help, but it didn’t sound like someone in distress, more like someone taunting another. She peeked out the small dirty window to see a little boy walking about outside.
• ‘’Help me,’’ the little boy cried, and Lupa dashed from the hut, leaving the door wide open.
• ‘’Who are you? Why are you out here so late? Where are your parents?’’
• ‘’Help me,’’ the little boy repeated.
• Lupa moved closer to him, she could smell blood and wanted to see if he was injured.
• ‘’Lupa, get away. It is a skin walker!’’ Roman yelled.
• By the time Lupa looked back at the little boy, he had his teeth bared and lunged for her. Out of defense, Lupa raised two boulders out of the ground, and they closed around the boy, crushing him.
• Hearing the commotion, villagers came out of their houses to see what had happened.
• ‘’It was a skin walker, but I killed it,’’ Lupa made known.
• ‘’A skin walker? None has ever come into town before,’’ a man said.
• Lupa brushed it off as nothing.
• By morning rise, everyone learnt that the skin walker had drained most of the Greenfields cows of their blood and eaten a few others.
• ‘’Thank goodness you killed that thing, Lupa. Else it would have came again tonight to finish the job.’’
• ‘’I still can’t believe a child did this,’’ Lupa said, counting close to fifteen dead cows.
• ‘’A child?’’ Mr. Greenfield asked.
• ‘’Yes, it was a small boy. No older than twelve.’’
• ‘’Gods have mercy on us, this village will be haunted by his mother.’’
• ‘’What? I thought skin walkers traveled by themselves.’’
• ‘’No child, not when this young.’’
• ‘’I’m so sorry.’’ Lupa began to apologize.
• ‘’It is nothing to worry about, we have strength in numbers. So that creature will think twice before coming here. Its offspring didn’t know any better, but the mama will know not to set foot in this village.’’
• For a while, Lupa was feeling paranoid that the hateful woman would come to avenge her son, but she never showed up and she soon put it out of her mind.
• ‘’I still can’t believe that people from your pack thought of you as ugly,’’ Keanu said, he and Lupa were helping to plant a few seeds.
• ‘’Like I said, everyone’s beauty standard is different.’’
• Keanu scoffed. ‘’Well, they must be blind because you are one of the most beautiful women I have ever met.’’
• ‘’You are just saying that.’’
• ‘’Don’t you own a mirror to look at yourself?’’
• Ever since getting her wolf, Lupa did notice changes in herself. For one she had gotten taller and had a sexy physique. Her breasts had gotten bigger and so did her ass. Her fair skin was no longer covered in pimples, while her facial features were enhanced with pouty lips, a more pronounced heart shaped face, and a straight nose.
• But what Lupa liked the most was the now colorful streaks in her hair. The red, blue, pink and green colors appeared the morning after her shift. Her hair had even grown longer, now falling to her lower back in soft curls.
• ‘’Wonder how your mate would feel if he should see you now, no longer the ugly duckling,’’ Keanu said, but his words were more like taunts, making Lupa wish she never said a word to him about that.
• Going back home was now once again heavy on Lupa’s mind. Even though she felt accepted and appreciated where she was now. She couldn’t help but feel selfish for just leaving Ulva behind, she couldn’t begin to imagine the worry the woman must feel with her being missing for two years.
• ‘’I should go,’’ Lupa said and handed the sack of grains to Keanu.
• When she got to Roman’s home, he nodded at her.
• ‘’If you want to leave, I won’t stop you and I’m sure the villagers won’t either. We all understand that not everyone is the same, and some would want to return to their previous lives.’’
• ‘’Thank you for everything.’’
• ‘’No need, remember I told you. I am nothing but a spiritual guide.’’
• ‘’I won’t be able to find this place again if I leave, will I?’’
• ‘’Not unless you are in grave danger, or in need.’’