FINAL CHAPTER
Screams of wolves, whispers of blood, and cries of battle filled in the dawn. My forces, my alliance, the good side of the war is about to win. I did not expect the amount of minions and troops that my father has. He has a lot, almost outnumbering us.
I noticed they weren’t trained enough. Some of them were forced. One was a teenage guy whom Gelo spared a life because the guy explained he was scared of what the alpha might do to their family so he unleashes in the fight. However, some are straight-up evil. Just like the alpha, they believed that this is fun. A wholesome entertainment until I came upon and slit their throat with my slasher claws.
I’m a bit tired. If this wasn’t a huge fight, I would’ve opted for a coffee break. I need that. Just like how I crave it when I’m reading a book at the very late hours of the night. But no, there’s no way I could until this ends.
The alpha is gone. He’s missing. One of the troops, now dead, said the alpha’s family already fled out of the town. His wife filed for divorce a few months ago, not giving him any rights to their children. That must be the reason why he haunt me, why he wanted to own me.
Because I am the only one left for him to own. I will never be his possession or any other people in this world. No one can own me.
“Tired?” I asked Gwen after we both came back to our human form. Chad taught me not to use my other form for a long period or else I’ll lose control of my power.
“Still kicking,” she said, gaping for air. “There’s a lot yet there’s no trace of the evil man.”
“Do you think he runs?
“I’ve been living in this town for years. I don’t think his pride could ever make him run away from a fight.”
Then he hides. He watches us. He wants us to lose with his weaklings. But we’re winning. It’s either he’s about to run or he’s waiting for the perfect moment to attack. We share the same blood and the myth says he’s cunningly smart.
Moments passes, and we lost a few. Maybe less than twenty. I don’t know how am I able to take this after a fight. Courageous people died because of the fight. At least, we slay more than we lost.
“You look prettier when you fight,” Gelo said, grinned, and kicked the balls of the guy who tried to punch his face. “Have you seen your brother?”
I shook my head. I haven’t Jay or Mom. “I hope he’s fine. I can’t…”
Gelo tattered through me. His hands were positioned on both of my shoulders, letting me breathe for the first time tonight. “Don’t think too much. I saw him out in the crowd. He’s good. He’s screaming Felix’s name and yours. He’s fighting for you. He’s fighting for them.”
He stared at me and at the same time, I observed his face. War laments on his face and a smile that’s already telling me we’re winning.
His eyes focused on my lips and whispered, “I don’t know if those lips are as soft as before this night.” He aimed for my lips and I waited.
Just before our skin touched each other, a huge moon-black wolf attacked him. Without a second thought I shapeshifted, and let power run through my veins. I followed them as Gelo and the wolf rolled over the hill-like road structure.
Then I saw power.
It’s him. Without even seeing his human form, I knew it was him.
Power controls him. Power defines him. It’s the power that could distinguish him. He’s the alpha for a reason.
I aim for an attack before he could completely kill Angelo. I used all my weight and pushed his wolf body forward. At a glance, I saw blood running through Gelo’s head. Fuck. It can’t happen.
My blood surged and tried to use my claws. But his body felt like metal or a golem. It felt like heavy armor where it only absorbs my pierce attack. He growled like he was laughing and attacked me on my behalf.
He jumped on me and I could feel his weight siphoning all of my power. He stepped his dark furry legs on my arms and I screeched in pain when he bit my skull. His teeth were shards tumoring my brain. I couldn’t help but growl, groan, and gnaw out the pain. It felt like my skull could crack at any second.
Then I lost it. My power. I gasped for air as my body slowly turns to my human form. Catherine couldn’t even shoot a basketball. The girl whose power only lies in books, in the paper.
In words.
Why did I even attempt to fight him? Why did I even attempt to risk myself?
For those I lost and for those who protected me.
The alpha got back to his human form. As I confirmed his face, darkness hauls on his soul. I knew he was ready to kill me any moment from now.
“Who do you think you are to start a rebellion against me? Who do you think you are to gather my pack, and my traitor betas to use them against me? Who do you think you are? A superhero? A savior? You aren’t Jesus, Dear! You caused a commotion and mess just because you think you can defeat me with your plans.”
“Well…” He leaned closer to me. “You’re not!” He slapped me so hard I could feel my neck cracking, my skull turning to powder. “You’re just a girl! You could’ve been the most powerful woman in this town. But you wasted it. You chose this. You chose rebellion.”
I tried to grip my hands. I want to hurt him as well. I want to fight. But all energy I have in my body is my ability to breathe.
“Your pathetical Mom and Dad, the one who took you, already died. Your brother also died. Gelo’s father also died. A lot of people died because of you, Catherine!”
“I am not the one who killed them. You are the one who tormented them!”
“And now…” He caressed my face. “It’s your time…”
He stood up again. I closed my eyes and felt tears, no blood, flowing through my face. He’s going to kill me. I don’t know how. I don’t know if I’ll ever feel pain after what he’s about to do with me.
I breathe for one last time, waiting for my demise. He growled so hard, it echoed. But before I felt anything, a pain, or even a pinch. I heard a gunshot. The alpha’s body fell over me.
A silver bullet glinting inside his body. As I raise my sight, I saw Mom proudly holding a gun.
It’s finally done.
…
After all the chaos that happened in my life and in this town, we finally had peace. I enrolled in a university, the same as Gelo. It wasn’t as good as UCLA, but going home now and then feels good.
“I have to go now, Catherine. Make sure you’ll review for your exam.”
I rolled my eyes and smiled. “Sure, alpha-killer and Mayor.”
“It’s weird being the mayor of the town who thought I’m crazy for years.”
“They chose you. You killed the tyranny. There’s no other one who could be the mayor of this town except for you.”
“Fine. For now, I’ll accept those fluttery words. What are you doing for the day?”
“As you’ve said, I’ll study. With Gelo. By night, Jay and I might go to the park downtown.”
“With only Gelo today?”
“Gwen has a job. Aki attends Chad’s fighting class when he doesn’t have any classes. Gelo and I will just study.”
“Fine. But no sex!”
“Mom!”
We both laughed as I watched her ride her vehicle and drove away. She’s a very fast learner learning to drive a motorcycle for nearly a month.
I got back to our dining table, but some cookies, and did my classics readings. Choosing a creative writing class is the best choice I’ve done for years. I’ve been living between thousands of fictional worlds, and maybe today is the time to make one.
By noon, Gelo showed up, his hair wet and uncombed.
“You didn’t bother to comb your hair?” I crossed my arms. When he sat beside me, I played with his hair.
“It’s just you. I mean you’re just a neighbor. At least I bother to take a shower.” He looked at me as if he was judging that I only take showers at five in the afternoon. Thus, I rolled my eyes.
We prepared our materials on the table. Highlighters, pens, and his engineering pen. As I was about to pick up my pen on the table, he held my hand. I shoot a look at them.
This guy is so gorgeous and he smells like poison trying to begrudge me. As we observe each other, he leaned his face closer to me.
Our lips touched. It feels like stars collided and created a supernova explosion. After a few seconds, we collapsed and laughed. I do love kissing him though.
“I love you, Catherine.” He grinned.
“Mom says no sex.”
He laughed as if there was a lapel connected to him. “I didn’t ask for that.”
“Soon. The right time.”
“Right. The right time.”
“I love you too, Angelo.”
I hugged him. Feeling him is the best feeling in the world.
“It ended because of what you planned, Catherine. Now, we can go out on a bookish date without someone trying to kill us.”
“Surely. Just assure my mom and my brother to bring me back before the dawn falls.”
“Absolutely!”
We continued to study. We continued to aspire to our dreams and think about the future. The past won’t be forgotten as it remains to be a written history of this town. The battle had ended and I found my battle cry.
My Angelo.
And I’ll forever love him even if the dusk starts to rise…
THE END