With the sudden change of tone from her mom, Kinana ran to the front of the store, locking it secure.

"Hurry!" her mom shouted from upstairs.

Kinana raced up the stairs to find Mrs. Amethyst already sitting at the dinning table, her hands buried in her hair trying not to scratch her scalp in panic. "Mom, Mom, relax. Things will be ok. You don't have to do that to yourself. Did I stress you out that much?"

Mrs. Amethyst looked up at Kinana. "Sit down. I have something very important to tell you." she had repeated herself. So Kinana sat across from her, holding her mom's hands in hers. Mrs. Amethyst continued, "Kinana, it's about your father."

Kinana gasped, releasing one of her mom's hands to cover her own mouth. It was so rare for to hear anything about her father. "What about Father?"

Mrs. Amethyst seemed to tear up a bit. "Well, you already knew that he was killed by the White Werewolf Terror during that massacre almost 10 years ago." Kinana nodded her head sadly. "There is more to it then simply a slaughter. I don't remember those present, & those who weren't. Those in hiding, & those caught off guard outside besides your father & I. You were at Laki's that night."

Kinana nodded again. She remembered her 11 year old self remaining with the Olietta family that night so her parents could have some them time.

"The moon was high & full, & the stars could be seen for miles on end. I remembered when most of the town would be open late, even the library. But that night was the last time anything would be open so late."

Kinana had some memory of the shops & stores being open so late at night. But even now there isn't much open late at night anymore, not even the town's bar or hangout areas. Usually as soon as darkness crept into nature's view, people stayed inside.

Her mom continued, "We use to have protectors for our village town. But it was like they were knocked out or just unaware. Whatever the reason, they were unresponsive that night. The White Werewolf Terror literally seemed to control the chaos. He murdered so many people that night, including your father."

Kinana knew all of this though. So she interrupted, "Mom, why are you mentioning all of this? You & others have told me what happened a long time ago & the massacre isn't brought up anymore except for 'the massacre'. Why are you so scared?"

"Kinana, the protectors, what do you remember them as?" Mrs. Amethyst held Kinana's hands even tighter.

She thought for a bit before answering, "Humans? Weren't they humans, Mom?"

"No. This is the part no one told anybody about. It was like the whole village had forgotten about them. I remember that they were banished to live in the forest for 'failing to protect us'. & then after the Banishing Ceremony, there was only a handful of us that remembered the truth about the protectors' true selves. Kinana, the first sacrifice was someone asking around about the protectors. So listen: never ever say that word in public again. Those protectors were called Lycans. Please, do not spread more chaos than that is already here. Make sure Laki tells no one of Lycans either. I don't know why I remember them for sure, but I have my theories. Just please, don't ask anyone else who they are."

Kinana tried processing this new information. She must of been on overload today, because she was starting to get a headache. "What are your theories, Mom? & who are they? Why can't I remember the Lycans either?"

"That's why I think this first theory is not correct, but my first thought was that you're mated to one, so somehow that protected me as well. But then, like you said, you didn't remember either that the protectors were Lycans."

Kinana's eyes widen at this, "Mated? M-mate?"

"Yes, dear, your mate. But I can explain that in a moment. What I think actually happened though, was that my husband's soul protected me. Healer Granny seemed to agree with me on that theory the most. Before you ask, yes, I have seen her about it too. She recommended not asking those who don't remember the protectors. We feared that we would be sacrificed next."

"That makes sense. Dad was with you last before his death, & you are his wife. I guess he figured my uh mate would protect me. & speaking of..."

"Yes, yes, your mate. I am getting to that. You asked who they are. I think answering this will help understand why you have a mate."

"MOM, suspense is killing me here. Just say it already, uuuuugh!" Kinana was getting frustrated. She already understood that Lycans were a no no topic. But now with the fact that she is mated to one? How does this affect her life?

"I know, Kinana. I am trying to explain. Healer Granny might have better insight on formal details about them, but to simply put, hm uh," her mom thought for alittle bit before resuming, "So you know that werewolves are forced to transform into an ugly wolf form on every Full Moon, right?"

Kinana nodded. She remembered that the White Werewolf Terror had hideous white patches of fur splayed out all over his body. His form had a wolf's head with big red eyes & sharp yellow teeth. His body was interesting though, because it was a cross between a deformed human & a wolf. It definitely had the white tail. But Kinana remembered being told that he could freely choose between walking on his hind legs or walking on all fours.

Mrs. Amethyst continued, "Well, Lycans have the ability to transform whenever they please. & they look like a larger form of a regular wolf instead of a demented one."

"Do Lycans loose their human minds too then?!" she panicked.

"No no! Not at all. They can be really pretty & gentle in their wolf form. While human though, they keep their tails & their ears are pointed. I've heard that their sense of smell & hearing are more amplified than a regular human's is. It's pretty fascinating though. They were such loyal friends too, which was why it was weird when they were suddenly banished the way they were." Mrs. Amethyst looked sadden by this. Kinana guessed that her mom might have had close friends be Lycans. But she didn't ask; she really didn't like seeing her upset like this.

She instead changed the subject, "What's it mean to be mated to one? Who is my mate?"

"Don't be scared, Kinana. It's nothing to be scared or ashamed about. According to Lycans, you are predestined who is going to be your spouse. Lycans have a, uh, 6th sense you could call it, for finding their one true love, whom they call a mate. When they hit the age of 13, this 6th sense is awaken & they are free to find their mate. You & Erik were always good friends, that's why it wasn't that big of a shock when he had bursted through our bakery doors & ran straight upstairs into your room & pounced on you to wake up, practically screaming that you guys were mates." her mom laughed at the memory. "You were only 10, but you guys were so in love. Your father's & my only rule was no sex or Bonding Ceremony till you were at least 18. He & his family respected our wishes & he was such a gentleman towards you. We were all devastated when the Lycans were banished from our village town. Especially you. You were crying & you two didn't want to let go of each other."

"His name is Erik?" Kinana asked, hopefully. Hoping beyond hope that she wouldn't look like a dummy if she ever got the chance to see her mate again, which she had a feeling she would.

"Oh, that's the thing. I don't remember what name they gave him at the Banishing Ceremony. We were all upset & crying too much to pay attention to the formalities to it. We were just trying to get our last goodbyes in & well wishes & hoping to one day see the Lycans again. At Banishing Ceremonies, usually the one being banished is given a new name, so they have no ties to our town." Mrs. Amethyst shakes her head. "It really was a mess of a day. Practically banished a third of our villagers, the protectors were so coordinated with our lives, they were one of us."

Kinana shook her too. How had most of the villagers, & herself, forget such great creatures. & she's mated to one at that! She sighed in frustration. Something was definitely up. Not only does she have to remember the night she was sacrificed, but now she has to remember 11 years of her life that involved Lycans in it. All before the next Full Moon! She concluded that it was all tied together. She definitely needed Granny Porlyusica's help with this. Good thing Kinana was suppose to see her tomorrow.

"I think I need to go to bed, Mom. I've learned way too much today, & after today, I'll have 14 more days left. I need engery for tomorrow. Let's continue this tomorrow or soon please."

"Alright, Sweetie. Just remember to be careful."

& with that, Kinana got up & ready for bed. & in her dreams that night, she dreamt of the maroon haired Lycan she had met earlier.