Aderyn Pov

My heart raced as I thrashed around, trying to break free from the tight binds that held me captive. 

"Let me go!" I cried out, desperation lacing my voice.

Dylan, with an evil glint in his eyes, taunted me with a sinister laugh. "What will we eat if we let you go, huh?" he asked, his words dripping with malice.

"We're starving, Adie." Bell joined in, a fork in her hand, teasing me with her chirpy voice. 

Desperately, I tried to reason with them. "Bell, I thought we were friends," I cried, my voice cracking with emotion.

But she only laughed, a coldness in her eyes that sent shivers down my spine.

"Humans can never be our friends," she said, her voice low and menacing. "We can't make friends with our food. What will we eat to survive then?"

I tried to crawl away, but they closed in on me, their eyes glinting with a pang of savage hunger. 

"Let me go!" I pleaded, but they only laughed and taunted me with their knives.

"No can do, Adie," Blake sneered, while Cole smirked at me with an evil gleam in his eye.

I screamed and shouted, my heart pounding in my chest as they closed in on me. 

"No, don't eat me! I don't have any meat!" I thrashed around, desperate to escape their clutches.

When I finally came to my senses, I found myself in my room, sitting on my bed, clutching a pillow tightly to my chest. Dylan, Cole, Blake, and Bell stood before me, staring at me as if I were insane.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself down. It was only a daydream, a nightmare that had felt all too real. But the fear still lingered, and I couldn't shake the feeling that they were still out there, waiting for me to let my guard down.

The sound of Bell's throat clearing pulled me out of the nightmare and back into reality. I watched as her playful expression melted away, replaced by one of deep concern. With gentle hands, she reached out and touched my arms, grounding me with a reassuring touch.

As I struggled to regain my composure, Bell's voice cut through the fog of fear and confusion that still lingered. 

"Are you okay?" she whispered, her eyes wide with worry.

"Yes, I am definitely alright," I realized that my response was more an automatic reaction than an honest reflection of my state of mind. My body felt numb like a robot following a pre-programmed script.

Bell's touch and smile offered me a fleeting moment of comfort, a brief respite from the chaos of my thoughts. She urged me to calm down, but I knew that the source of my distress ran deeper than a simple nightmare.

Dylan's frustrated muttering only served to heighten my sense of unease. His words were a reminder that the truth can reveal itself in unexpected ways, disrupting our carefully constructed illusions and forcing us to confront uncomfortable realities. When Bell spoke, her words carried a weight of urgency and truth that I could not ignore. 

"You need to do something about us," she said, her eyes fixed intently on mine.

At that moment, I was forced to confront the fact that my actions, or lack thereof, had real consequences for those around me. I felt a sense of guilt and responsibility that I could no longer ignore.

My inner voice offered a cynical retort, but I knew that the truth of Bell's words could not be denied. It was time to take action, to face the reality of our situation, and to make a choice about what kind of life we wanted to live.

"I know you've already discovered some of the truth for yourself, but what you saw is only half of it. You deserve to know the full story," Bell began, her voice soft and gentle.

As she spoke, I felt a wave of conflicting emotions wash over me. Part of me wanted to run, to distance myself from whatever secrets they were hiding. But another part of me was curious, desperate to understand the truth and the motives behind their actions.

"I can see that you're trying to keep calm on the outside, but I know you must be freaking out inside," Bell continued, her hand reaching out to grasp mine.

Despite my initial reluctance, I found myself drawn to her sincerity and vulnerability. There was a sincerity in her voice that made it difficult for me to remain suspicious.

"We will never harm you," she reassured me, her eyes earnest and full of conviction.

I could sense the depth of her commitment, and I began to wonder if it was possible that my initial fears and assumptions had been misguided. Perhaps there was more to this situation than I had originally thought, and I was willing to hear her out to understand the full story.

Silence hung in the air as Bell's words sank in. I could feel the weight of the moment pressing down on me, as I struggled to make sense of the conflicting thoughts and emotions swirling inside my head.

I found myself at a loss for words, unsure of how to respond to the gravity of the situation. So, I simply remained quiet and nodded my head like Noddy, hoping that my actions would convey my willingness to listen and understand.

As I sat there in contemplative silence, I realized that sometimes words were not enough to convey the depth of our feelings or the complexity of our thoughts. Sometimes, it was in the stillness and silence that we were able to truly understand ourselves and the world around us.

The room fell silent once again as Bell's revelation hung in the air. The weight of the truth was heavy and I could feel the tension building up inside me. I watched as Dylan nodded in agreement with Bell's words, his body language indicating his own unease with the situation.

Meanwhile, Cole and Blake had their eyes fixed on me, their expressions unreadable as they tried to gauge my reaction. I gave them a small smile, trying to reassure them that I was okay, despite the overwhelming emotions that were swirling inside me.

But then Bell turned to me, her eyes searching mine, and she took a deep breath before revealing the truth - "We are Werewolves."

"I'm an elephant," I quipped, unable to resist the urge to be sarcastic and abrupt. 

My mind reeled at her words, struggling to comprehend the enormity of what she had just revealed. And yet, even in that moment of shock and confusion, I couldn't resist the urge to inject a bit of levity into the situation. 

But as soon as the words left my mouth, I regretted them. This was not a time for jokes or flippancy. It was a time for honesty and openness, even in the face of the most unexpected and frightening revelations. 

As I made my sarcastic remark, Bell shot me a disapproving look, while Dylan let out a derisive scoff. Cole and Blake, on the other hand, couldn't contain their laughter.

"Aderyn, you never change," Blake teased, causing Cole to nod and cough as he tried to stifle his chuckles.

Bell intervened, sternly turning my head towards her with a pointed finger. 

"Aderyn, this is serious."

I sighed, clutching the pillow tightly to my chest, and gestured for Bell to continue.

"Aderyn, we are shape-shifters - supernatural beings. Specifically, we are werewolves," Bell explained, and I listened intently, trying to wrap my head around the unimaginable truth.

"For thousands of years, we have roamed the earth as mythological beings, existing alongside humans yet remaining hidden from their eyes," Bell explained. "We do not wish to cause harm to your kind, Aderyn. On the contrary, we respect humans and strive to coexist peacefully with them."

I nodded in agreement, but my mind couldn't help but wander to the possibility of danger lurking beneath their gentle exteriors.

"So, why am I here?" I asked, my voice betraying my confusion. 

"Did I do something to offend your community?"

Bell shook her head reassuringly. 

"No, Aderyn, you have done nothing wrong. We brought you here because we need your help."

"Help? How can I possibly be of any help to you?" I questioned skeptically.

Bell hesitated before speaking. "We need your assistance in a matter of great importance, but it is not something that can be discussed lightly. Will you hear us out?"

As I nodded my agreement, I couldn't resist a snarky comment: "Great, I'm probably just a human sacrifice waiting to happen."

"No," Bell sighed.

"Adie, in order for you to truly understand us, you must first comprehend the essence of our being," she said, her words heavy with weighty significance. I eagerly nodded in agreement, intrigued by the idea of delving deeper into their world.

"Our God, our creator, is The Moon Goddess, who sculpted us into being just as your human God created you and your lords whom you pray to," she continued, her voice reverential as she spoke of their divine creator.

As I listened, I couldn't help but wonder about the nature of creation and the concept of divinity. Did we all possess a higher power, a force that breathed life into our existence? The idea that we were all connected by a shared origin and purpose was both comforting and daunting. And yet, I felt a stirring within me, a desire to uncover the mysteries of the universe and the truths that lay hidden beneath the surface. But I was never religious. Things were not makings sense to me but it was before me. They were before me.

"After them are the Timeless Wolves. They are the Seniors of our kind. They have been living on this ground for millions of years. They are wolves, more powerful than us. They give us powers and they have the capability to take our powers back too. They can never die. They are immortals, they are like souls wandering everywhere".

I nodded, trying to absorb all the information she was sharing with me. It was all so fantastical, yet it felt strangely familiar.

"And then there is the King, the Alpha of all Alphas, the ruler of our kind. He is the one who protects us from threats and ensures our safety. His mate, the Queen, is just as powerful as he is. She is the Luna of Lunas, the mother of all werewolves. She takes care of the kingdom, and her word is law."

As she spoke, I could sense the reverence in her voice, the respect and awe she felt for these supernatural beings. It was almost as if they were deities, and I couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to be in their presence.

She told me about the werewolf hierarchy, and the word "Luna" caught my attention, but I decided to remain silent for the time being. I could always ask her about it later.

"Next in line is the Beta, the Alpha's trusted right-hand and warrior who fights to protect the pack's territory."

"As werewolves, we belong to different packs, with each pack having its own Alpha, Luna, Beta, and other ranks."

"However, they are all subordinate to us."

"Subordinate to you?" I queried.

"Yes, subordinate to us, as the King himself is Dylan."

A freaking King?

As Bell told me about the werewolf hierarchy, I couldn't help but feel amazed by their social structure. Dylan, who was apparently the King, confirmed his status with a smirk and an air quote.

"Yes, I am the 'freaking King'," he declared.

I scoffed and looked him up and down, curious about how he earned such a title. 

"Who made you the King?" I asked, crossing my arms over the pillow.

Dylan scowled and muttered something under his breath, but Bell couldn't help but smile at his reaction. "The Moon Goddess made him the King," she answered.

I gave her a small smile, acknowledged her response, and turned my gaze back to Dylan. He was now looking the other way, his expression neutral.

As Bell continued to introduce the other members of the pack, I felt a sense of pride and admiration towards each of them. "Blake is the Beta of Betas," she said, pointing towards him. I looked over and gave him a genuine smile, feeling happy for him.

"Cole is the warrior, the Delta of Deltas," she added. I looked towards Cole to find him giving me a nervous glance. I smiled at him, trying to ease his nerves, and he smiled back at me.

Bell continued, "We also have Omegas, who are the lowest rank of werewolf kind, but still powerful than a normal human being."

I couldn't help but ask, "And where do I fit in all of this?"

Cole finally turned his attention back to me and spoke, "You will find your place in our pack, Adie. The Moon Goddess has a plan for everyone."

Bell leaned forward, a serious expression on her face. "It's said that when the Alpha King finds his mate, the bond between them is so strong that they both feel it. It's like a magnetic pull, an unbreakable connection that they both can sense. And when they look into each other's eyes, it's like they're looking into the depths of their own souls," she explained.

I was intrigued. "And what happens then?"

"When the Alpha King and Queen come together, their power is amplified, and they become the strongest force in the werewolf world. The Queen has the ability to calm the Alpha King's fierce temper and balance his power, help him in his shapeshifting. It's a beautiful and rare connection, and we all long for the day when our King finds his Queen," Bell said wistfully.

I heard Dylan snorting. 

"But one day, you will find her, my King.  And when you do, you'll know it," Bell said confidently, her eyes shining with hope.

Dylan looked away, but I could see a hint of a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. It was clear that he didn't believe in the whole soulmate thing, but I could tell that Bell's words had touched him in some way.

"What about the Queen?" I questioned interested to know.

"I'm not sure yet," Bell said, pursing her lips as she looked back at Dylan. He rolled his eyes and looked anything but me.

"The Queen is yet to be found, Adie. But we know she is around us, with us, safe with us," Bell continued, and I nodded.

"How will you know that she is your Queen?" I asked.

"We can feel her. We can feel her power and we sense her as our Queen. Werewolves have mates, Aderyn. The Moon Goddess sends us as our soulmates, the other half. We were meant to be together. We can feel and smell them when they are around us. Our mates will have their own smell which only we, their mate can smell it. It will feel as if the world will stop around you when you look into your mate's eyes. They will be your everything who will take care of you, cherish you with love, protect you, and everything. When you touch your mate, you feel sparks and tingles forming in that place where they touch you."

At her last sentence, my breath hitched, and I could feel my heart rate rising. Her words were disturbing me, and I took a glance towards Dylan to find him already looking at me with something in his eyes. I averted my gaze, not wanting to think about it, and concentrated on Bell.

"But what am I doing here?" I asked, still confused.

"You will know about it soon, Aderyn, but till then have faith in us and have patience," she told me with hope in her eyes.

"Do you have a mate?" I asked, curious. Bell blushed and shook her head. "No."

"What's the need of blushing? I just asked whether you have a mate," I gave an incredulous look as she kept on blushing deep red.

"Only Cole has found his mate," she told me, and I looked at Cole, who was already smiling dreamily, possibly thinking about his mate.

"Who is she?" I asked.

"She is the daughter of an Alpha from a pack. She has gone to them for a few days. She will be back soon, and you will meet her soon."

"I see," I nodded, trying to take it all in. "What will happen after you find your mate?"

Blake began to cough, and he went out of the room, giving an excuse.

"You will mate with he-" Bell was cut off by Dylan.

"That's enough. I think that is enough for today. She will know about all this eventually, not all at once," Dylan interrupted.

Bell bit down on her tongue and looked at me, giving me a sheepish grin.

"I think Alpha will tell you-" she was again interrupted by Dylan, who spoke warningly, "Bella."

She stopped mid-sentence, and I frowned at Dylan for interrupting so much.

"What is your problem? Can't you just keep quiet?" I snapped at him, to which he just gave me a sarcastic smile, crossing his arms across his chest.

"Bell, let's give her some space. She should probably rest. It is all very new to her. Tell her about us tomorrow. It's very late. Let her sleep," Dylan spoke, more like he was commanding.

"So, unicorns and mermaids exist?" I blurted out, unable to hold back the question that had been on my mind from the start.

Dylan scoffed, clearly annoyed. "What nonsense. There are no such things as unicorns or mermaids. Unicorns? Really? And mermaids? Does the idea of a half-human, half-fish creature actually appeal to you?"

I stared at him in shock. "And the existence of werewolves—half-human, half-wolf—appeals to you? You exist! Who's to say mermaids don't? Someone must have seen one to start the legend in the first place."

"Myth," he muttered under his breath, shooting me a glance before turning and walking out of the room.

Bell sighed and looked at me. "I think he is right. You should rest now."

"She will tell you everything tomorrow," Cole spoke, walking towards us and placing a hand on Bell's shoulder.

Bell nodded and helped me into bed. I still couldn't wrap my head around everything, clutching the pillow tightly to my chest. As I began to drift off to sleep, my thoughts lingered on the Queen and the concept of having a mate. It all felt too surreal, too impossible. But then again, just a few days ago, I hadn't even known werewolves were real.

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