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I woke up the next morning, and staring at the wooden ceiling was the first thing that made me realize that I was at Oakley and not in New York. I sat up, and stretched myself. The cold breeze gushing in through the open windows made me shudder, and I decided to freshen up, get myself to have some corn flakes, and head for the town to find a job.

I wore a sweatshirt and khaki trousers- my comfort outfit- a reason my colleagues used to call me 'tomboy.' I never cared. I enjoyed being the tomboy, if it meant you were practical and could be yourself.

I started to walk through the empty, isolated path. The lush green trees swayed with the wind, and the clouds drifted with it, making the weather warm and sunny, and shady and cold intermittently.

The forests were eerily quiet- crickets croaked, and the crows flew over my head. I heard the scuffling of my feet with the rocky path, and I kicked a pebble along the way to make myself feel bolder.

Finally, when I thought that I had lost my way, I saw the town- it looked medieval, with woman busting all over the main square, hitherto, with bags, and bargaining on the streets for jewellery and other accessories. None of the shops were more than two floors high, and there definitely wasn't a single skyscraper visible in this landscape. It would not even suit this town.

A girl smiled at me. She was pretty with dimples forming on her cheeks when she curved her lips.

"Aren't you going to buy something? It is the Wolf Festival today!" She cried excitedly. "Or are you done with your shopping?"

"Oh no, I am not done." I shook my head. "What did you say it is again?"

"The Wolf Festival."

I turned to see a tall man standing behind me. He wore a long black coat, and his dark brown hair flowed over his head perfectly. He was flawlessly handsome, and I noticed the other girls faltering in their way, halting temporarily to get a clearer view of him.

Boy, wasn't he popular among the girls.

He almost laughed and rolled his eyes.

"Is there something amusing in that?" I asked him.

"No, no." He pursed his lips. "It is actually shocking that I of all of you tell you about it." He sighed. "Anyways, you are-"

"Zara Sheldon. I am new in town." I managed to pass him one of my most amiable smiles.

"Fettah Wright." He said almost harshly, and then took my arm, shocking me, and leaving the girl behind me open mouthed.

"They say that today is the day the Moon Goddess chooses a werewolf to become the alpha of the clan that resides here."

I froze. Looking at my condition, he chuckled. "It is just legend." He leaned in and whispered, "But if you are a believer, it is indeed true."

"And if I don't?"

He flickered his eyes towards the sky. "Well, then it is just a silly way of the old-school townsmen and women to dance the night and celebrate together."

"That sounds like something more comprehensible."

"Agreeable to you city people of course." He muttered under his breath. "Anyways, we do not have many new people in town. Where are you from?"

"New York." I replied.

"I have friends there," he said.

"Really? Awesome."

He took me to a shop, which was overcrowded with young girls, who literally screeched when Fettah entered in. I got flashed of angry stares, and probably even earned myself a few curses. Definitely one of the perks of roaming about with a popular guy.

"So," he nicely said, "let me buy you something."

"Oh no, surely not. I am.. not .." I began.

"But you should come. I will introduce you to my friends, and you can make some of you own friends as well."

I sighed, and gave in. He held a purple gown over me, and frowned. "I am not good at shopping."

"Neither am I." I shrugged.

Suddenly, his face changed, and he made a disgusted face. I thought I saw a tinge of red in his eyes, but I couldn't be sure. His gaze was fixed somewhere behind me, and I looked back to stare at the guy I had bumped into yesterday.

Fettah sighed, and bid adieu. I wondered what was wrong between them.

The guy appeared, and took me by my shoulder. "Girl, are you always falling in for trouble?"

"Excuse me? What trouble? He was helping me pick a dress for the festival tonight."

He raised an eyebrow. "So you know about it?"

"Fettah told me." I informed him.

"Oh really." He burst out laughing, and finally fell silent. "Let me help you choose a gown, then."

There was definitely something going on. Why were all hot guys suddenly trying to be friends with me? Or maybe all people are friendly here, and aren't busy and always on the run like the people back in NYC. None of my colleagues had time to spare even for their family. Maybe I was getting them wrong. I shook the thoughts away from my head.

He came closer to me, and I felt his hot breath on my neck. He placed a beautiful maroon gown over me. I looked down, nervous to meet my eyes with his, as he stared down at me.

"It would look nice with the fire at night." He said.

"Hmm." I still did not look up.

He pulled away, and handed me the gown. "Go into the trial room, and try it." It sounded more like a command. I hated being ordered.

I marched furiously into the trial room and wore the gown. I did not know whether it suited me. It stuck to my curves, and showed off the shape of my body, which to my surprise even I had ignored for a long time.

Not very sure about how I looked, I walked out of the trial room. I heard the shopkeeper gasp, and shied away.

He stood up, and blocked my view of the shopkeeper. "Stay away from the vampires."

I laughed. "Stop cracking jokes. I am Zara Sheldon, by the way."

He did not say a word.

"And you are-" I began.

"Trent Volkann." He said. "Stay safe, even if you do not believe."

He looked at me as if I was a baby goat going for slaughter.

"I can take care of myself."

"I know how much you can take care of yourself." He said. "I saw that yesterday."

I narrowed my eyes and crossed my arms. "Shut up."

"May the Moon Goddess be with you."

8 /

Specially for @jjbluebearjj