Changes
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The morning after that night, Dorothy and Crowick rushed home after they heard from the alpha about what happened to Aldeheid. Halos liparin na nila pareho ang daan pabalik sa Malcolm upang masilayan lang ulit ang kapatid.

They were surprised when they saw Aldeheid's whole room covered in blood. When they were sure none of it was Aldeheid's blood, they immediately look for an impulse. After they checked it, ginamit na nila ang kakayahan nila upang mapabilis ang paglinis sa kwarto ng kapatid. They even woke their kids to help out at pinaalam na rin nilang huwag itong sabihin kay Aldeheid kapag magising na.

Dorothy knew that every time a new day starts, almost everything Aldeheid experienced the day before would remain in that day. In short, hindi nito naaalala ang mga nangyayare sa kaniya sa tuwing magigising siya. It was because of her adoptive sister's condition. And it's a cruel thing for her to take advantage just to keep Aldeheid safe. Ayaw niyang gawin iyon pero ayaw niya ring mapaaga ang pag-alis nito.

That even if it means hiding the truth about their identity, Dorothy would selfishly do it.

Nagising si Aldeheid na naguguluhan sa lahat. Aside from the clean sheets and unbroken glass in her door, was the memory she never thought she would still remember.

Hindi niya mawari kung bakit niya pa ito naaalala kung may sakit naman siya. It's so surreal for her and confusing at the same time. Dahil hindi niya alam ang papaniwalaan kung totoo ba ito lalo na nang masilayan ang malinis na silid niya.

She went down to the kitchen with a crumpled face. Agad naman siyang binati ng pamilya ng ate niya na siyang nagpabago sa ekspresyon niya.

"Hey, I just had a weird dream last night. It's so creepy that it felt real." aniya habang ngumunguya.

She was telling them her dream but immediately get the sensed that they are trying to change the topic. Naguluhan siya bigla kung bakit niya ito naramdaman kahit paman na huminga lang ang mga ito ng malalim.

Mabilis siyang napatayo na ikinagulat ng lahat. She got stilled for seconds and embarrassed by her action after. Napakamot nalang siya ng batok at pekeng natawa, "I'm sorry. I forgot that it's the day of my monthly checkup. Baka mahuli na naman ako katulad noon." before she flee away.

Napaupo agad siya sa kama habang hinihingal na napatitig sa harapan. The day was so beautiful to get puzzled. Gusto niya nalang ialis ang litong nasa isipan niya ngunit alam niyang hindi niya iyon magagawa.

It's just so weird for her to remember something from last night. Kahit pa man hindi niya mawari kung totoo ba iyon ay hindi niya parin maiwasang maniwala sa nangyare. It was too real to not believe! Lalo pa ang takot na naramdaman niya nang makita si Callum na ganoon ang itsura.

Wait, Callum? How the hell did she even remember the name of the guy she had met last month? And how did she even know it was him?

And now that she remembers, mabilis siyang napakapa sa sugat niyang nakuha niya kagabi. It was the only evidence that would make her believe it was true but when she saw nothing but a plain skin in her arm, doon siya natameme at mas lalong naguluhan.

From all the confusion in her mind ay napasapo nalang siya ng ulo habang patuloy na naghahanap ng sagot sa kung ano ang nangyare kagabi at ang nangyayare sa kaniya ngayon.

As soon as she walked inside the bathroom, sa tingin niya ay mas kailangan niya ng psychiatrist kesa sa isang cardiologist. Mukha kasing may sira na ang utak niya.

Nasa labas ng hospital sila Callum at Harrison kaharap ang ibang taongbayan na kasalukuyang humihingi sa kanila ng tulong para sa mga batang nasa kritikal na kondisyon ngayon.

They were the kids from last night Callum gathered to prepare. Kasama nila ang mga guro nila sa gabing iyon kaya kampante si Callum na walang mangyayare sa mga ito. Ngunit hindi niya inakalang ikakasisi niya pala ang pagiging kampante niya lalo na't makaharap ng mga ito ang isang malaking uso na biglang umatake sa kanila.

The other seven got away but two kids failed and got beaten by the gigantic bear. They were too lucky when their screams were heard. Mabuti nalang at kahit paman pula ang buwan kagabi ay nasa tamang pag-iisip pa ang ibang kauri nila at mabilis nitong sinalba ang dalawang bata. They did save their lives but it was not enough to save them from being in critical condition.

"Isn't the beta who gathered them to hunt? Paanong wala siya sa tabi nila nang mangyare iyon?! It shouldn't have happened if only he was there!" sigaw ng isa sa mga taong nandoon.

May ibang sumunod sa kaniya kaya mas lalo lamang nagkagulo ang mga tao. Callum could only swallow hard to prevent himself from smacking the senses out of them. Kung hindi lang talaga nagsalita ang alpha nila ay siguradong maghapon ang mga taong magpapalatak sa labas ng ospital.

"Quiet down." ma-awtoridad na utos ni Harrison na agad naman nilang sinunod. "How did it become the beta's responsibility when it was clearly the teachers' fault?"

Walang nagsalita mula sa kanila nang sampalin sila ng katotohanan ng alpha nila. "Your beta didn't even get the chance to hunt last night because he was out there saving a human's life from monsters like us."

Harrison knows it was rude for an alpha to address themselves monsters pero mula sa asal na ipinakita ng mga ito ngayon lang ay alam niyang alam nila na hindi sila naiiba sa mga halimaw.

They all heard Harrison took a deep breath first before he went on, "Put it in your mind that pointing fingers doesn't always solve problems. Sometimes, keeping your mouths shut is helpful. So, with all due respect, please leave."

Isang utos, lahat ay sumunod. Nang makita nilang walang ni isang mamamayan doon ang natira ay napayuko nalang si Callum sa inis. He felt his shoulder being tapped.

"I apologize for putting you in this mess. Hindi pa nga tayo nakakausad sa isang problema ay nadagdagan na agad. I really hope the kids will get a miracle." tango nalang ang naitugon niya.

"And about Aldeheid, let's talk about her after this problem is over." napatango ulit siya at huminga ng malalim.

Now the he remembers her, his mind became bewildered again. Paulit-ulit nalang iyon na papasok sa isipan niya. At gustuhin niya mang malaman ito agad ay hindi pwede dahil may iba pang mas importante doon at iyon ay ang buhay ng mga batang naatake.

Sabay silang pumasok ni Harrison sa loob at kapwa namang binati ng mga taong nakakasaluha nila. It was a usual thing they both hear everyday for being the two most respectable persons in the town. Kaya gaya ng nakaugalian ay binabati rin nila ito pabalik.

Sa isang malawak na daanan ay nasilayan nila ang iba pang opisyal ng bayan kaya ay pinuntahan agad nila ito. At imbes na pagbati ay gulat silang dalawa na isang malakas suntok ang natanggap ni Callum mula sa kanila.

Callum's fists clenched and his jaw tightened. Sa lahat ng ayaw niya ay ang atakeng walang katuwang na rason. If only the man wasn't an official, Callum would have brought him back the punch Callum did not deserve to have.

"Who dared disrespecting an alpha in front him?" ramdam na ramdam nila ang galit ni Harrison sa nangyare.

Ang ibang opisyal ay napaatras nalang doon ngunit ang matandang sumuntok kay Callum ay may mataas na kaakuhan at hindi pinayagaan ang sariling ipahiya sa maraming tao.

"Alpha Harrison! A beta like him does not deserve to be in such position! Siya ang dahilan kung bakit nasa kritikal ang mga bata! Dahil sa pagkapabaya niya pati kami ay nadadamay sa kaniya!" singhal ng matandang opisyal habang pinagtuturo ang beta nila.

Harrison scowled for the old man to shut up. Mabilis naman niya itong ginawa pero nasa mata parin ang pagiging determinado sa pagpapaalis ni Callum sa posisyon.

"Your beta was saving a human's life from a monster like us. Is that enough reason to shut your mouth?"

The old man remained being eaten by his pride, "Eh, ano naman ngayon kung patayin ng kauri natin ang isang hamak na tao lang? Hindi ba dapat unahin niya ang pagbabantay ng mga batang susunod sa yapak natin? Huwag mong sabihing uulitin na naman niya ang ginawa niya noon? Was it not enough for the town of Malcolm to learn? It was even the reason why he lost his mate!"

The last thing Callum wanted to hear was someone provoking him. He dislikes the idea of being provoked, especially if it's being followed by a sensitive topic he never wants to hear about.

Galit siya sa narinig at ang gusto niya nalang gawin ngayon ay ang ipatikim sa sarili kung ano ang lasa ng paghihiganti.

His long nails were all ready to scratch out the old man's heart but a very aromatic fragrance entered his nostrils brazenly. It made him dizzy and heart beat erratically. Naguluhan si Harrison sa nasaksihan at naramdaman niya mula kay Callum. Callum acted like he was looking for something that the other hybrids couldn't find. Mas nalito si Harrison doon at napatitig nalang sa tila ba'y nawawalang kaibigan.

Callum felt himself so lost and baffled. Hindi niya alam kung bakit siya lang ang nagkakaganun. Perhaps the others couldn't smell what he has been smelling for seconds already? Even their alpha couldn't sense it!

Ngunit wala siyang pakealam doon at ang gusto niya lang ay ang matagpuan ang amoy na biglang dumikit sa ilong niya.

He swore it was not a smell coming from a mate but it was rather different. It was as if something he owned, and something others obviously couldn't claim. Nangamba siya bigla sa sarili at nalito. He was almost at the edge of doubting in himself before his eyes caught the familiar seal-brown hair that was rippled about those small shoulders.

Napakurap siya at napaatras. His heart went even wild when Aldeheid's caramel eyes fixed on his. Napahinga siya ng malalim at pinakatitigan mukha ng dalaga.

He wanted to clarify if what he thought was true. At hindi niya inakalang magiging totoo pala ang hatol niya.

His mouth parted and eyes went to Harrison who already knew what was happening. Mabilis itong napakunot noo na bumaling sa kaniya. At sa huling pagkakataon na nagsalita ito ay ang pagdagdag lamang ng kalituan sa isipan niya.

"She tamed you? What the hell?"

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nyariina