My mother greets me at the door.

She is smiling just like she should. She hugs me just like she should. She tells me she is so happy to see me, just like she should.

Yet, it is her athletic build and sharp features that give her away. They are so familiar, and not because she is my mother. I never noticed before —I never had anything to which I could compare them. I dig my head into her chest and inhale her calming scent before pushing away.

I don't know how to do this.

It feels like I've literally forgotten how to do everything. I can't move or talk, and a blank expression takes over my face. I've forgotten how to breathe but my mind races. I consider the possibility that everything the Moon Goddess told me is true.

My first inhale is shaky but I need to get myself together.

My mom —this woman—drags me inside my childhood home. It feels cold now, I am unsure how to approach the situation.

What if they are dangerous?

My dad is sitting where he always is, in the living room, perched on his lazy boy. A mug of coffee sits beside him and I watch as he smiles when he sees me. He pushes himself off the chair and walks over to hug me, then falls back down into the permanent dent that had been made over the years on his chair.

It seemed so normal.

My mom comes back from the kitchen holding two mugs. I grasp the one she gives me in my hand, and I don't even bother identifying the liquid inside—anything would make me sick right now. I hold it tightly to keep my hands from shaking, my anxiety over this situation getting the best of me. I casually sit down on the couch and my mom sits beside me, unbothered.

"I'm so glad you decided to come to visit Addy, but why are you home?"

I look at her strong features; that upturned nose and smooth jaw. Why had I never noticed that I didn't inherit any of them? I decide that now is not the time to discuss such matters. As long as they don't know that I know, I can't hurt any worse. I keep my head down as I respond to her slight questioning.

"I was just so overwhelmed with school, my teachers are so tough on me," the half-truth almost makes me giggle. My mind is too exhausted for anything that I feel like I'm becoming delusional.

My mom looks at me with pity but I avoid her gaze. I know my eyes would give everything away. My emotions can be read on my face so easily, and I can't have that happen right now. I expect my mom to respond but it is my dad who answers.

His next words shock me into a stunned silence, as I hadn't expect such an aggressive response to emit from him.

My sweet dad.

"I knew we should have never let her go to that school!" He shouts aloud, the anger almost coming off of him in waves. It makes me panic.

Can he read me as easily as I can read them?

My head snaps to his and I meet his eyes; he knows something for sure, I'm just sure if it is the same thing I think he knows. My mom props herself on the edge of Dad's chair and touches his arm, seeking to calm him down. The action doesn't go unnoticed by me.

"Oh don't talk like that, it's a great opportunity for her to learn."

He instantly calms down and I recognize it instantaneously for what it is. It's the same reaction I have when I'm around Klayton.

Klayton.

I grab my phone and plug it in.

He is going to freak.

"Wow, can't go for one minute without her phone," I can almost feel my dad rolling his eyes behind me. At least his tone had returned to normal as he jokes.

I anxiously wait as the restart screen appears on my phone. With the apple loading shining in my eyes, I'm surprised when my lock screen appears and is free of notifications.

He hasn't even noticed I'm gone, could he possibly still be in the meeting?

I turn around to my see my parents watching me. I smile at them in response, and I don't feel in any danger of course, even though my life might literally hang in a balance. I don't think I had really accepted that the people that raised me were werewolves.

How many people in my life were supernatural creatures and I didn't even know? I am shaken out of my thoughts at my mom's sudden and audible gasp.

"Adira! Where is your necklace?" She screeches, and I slightly lean back and she and my father are out of their seats as fast as possible. Her hands are wrapped around my shoulders and she pushes my neck to the side to inspect something there.

"Oh thank god," her sigh is one of relief as she releases me. She doesn't go far as she retreats slightly; she stands in front of me —her eyes daggers on mine.

"Answer the question Adira."

I'm perplexed, shock emitting from me as my mouth hangs open. I'm trying to think quickly, but it feels like a million years before I answer the two inquiring minds in front of me.

"I-I lost it when I went to the gym, I'm so sorry, I know how much it meant to you —to the family!"

It was honestly the only thing that seemed like a normal response, on the fly. Even though nothing about this situation was normal.

My answer doesn't satisfy her completely, she only shakes her head with worry. She looks at my dad with concern and he reciprocates her expression, the two of them sharing unspoken words.

"Tell the truth Adira, what do you know?" My dad speaks in the scary tone I had grown up accustomed too, where instead of yelling he got really quiet.

My eyes shift between them and I take a step back. I never noticed their eyes before either; how they would darken when they let their emotions get the better of them.

Without realizing, I start to cry. I feel the salted tears run down my face and one falls upon my lips. I'm not sure what to do in this kind of situation.

Do I admit everything?

Do I just run?

My brain decides for me; I just break down. My tears choke me and I start to hyperventilate, not being able to speak. I can't do anything, this is all too much for one simple girl to handle.

I just let go, wallowing in my self pity of what my life has come to. My world falls into blackness and I pray that whoever these people are standing in front of me, that they care enough not to hurt me.

~

This time when I wake up, I am in a bed that engulfs me in a warmth I never want to escape. My tiresome eyes find my phone beside me, vibrating and blowing up with texts and calls from numerous people.

Klayton, Issac and even Lenna.

I resist the urge to answer. I instead listen to my surroundings, noticing that there are voices coming from outside the door.

It's my mother.

I could recognize her soothing voice anytime.

"This is exactly what I was afraid of. Oh Goddess what do we do?" I can hear her weeping. Goddess? Moon Goddess? I involuntarily sit up. Did the coward finally show up in person? I strategically stay still and listen to what comes next.

"Do not fret, you did the duty I assigned you were to do and this was only a matter of time. I think it has been contained well... considering," Her voice is no different than the one from my dreams.

I want to go out there and strangle her. How dare she ruin everything? It seemed like she had worked her way into every corner of my life.

"So, what are the next steps?"

It is a man's voice this time —the man who calls himself my dad. Bile builds up in my throat and the thought of my life of lies and I have the urge to spit. I loudly swallow and it feels like a rock going down my throat.

The things that have previously confused me, were all starting to make sense. The Moon Goddess asked these people to be my parents, to keep me away from werewolves.

How ironic.

"There's very little either of you can do now. Now that Destiny is involved, and has made herself known, it is bound to get quite messy. She never wants anything to go according to plan... how hypocritical of her. I am forever in your debt, but your duty is completed."

I could hear my mom almost sigh, as if she's been finally released.

"It has been nothing but a pleasure. I —we— would do it again in a heartbeat, Goddess."

There is silence until Artemis speaks again. Her voice is almost like a spoken lullaby, and if it wasn't for my severe dislike and disdain towards her, I probably would have found it soothing.

"Ah, it seems she has woken." I am caught off guard by the words and shove myself under the covers as if I was a little kid who had been caught past her bedtime. But how did she know?

The door swings open and I immediately feel drawn to her. Her presence is much more commanding in person. I fight the urge to stand up as she enters the room.

"It is nice to finally meet you Adira,"

Her eyes demand respect but I have nothing but loathing. I know for sure now that she was the one who orchestrated my life, and I can't help but glare daggers at her. I try to bite my tongue at what comes next, but my nature gets the best of me.

"I really can't say the same."

🖤