"The heck?!" Selena shrieked, bugged-eyed. "Why would you go back to that asshole?!"
The librarian made a shushing sound while giving her a pointed glare. Selena chuckled awkwardly as she tried to hide her red face with her phone.
"Girl, keep it down," Melissa groaned across from her, looking just as embarrassed. "Do you want us to be kicked out of here?!"
"Sorry. It's just..." Selena dropped her phone; the screen displayed some random online reading site. The one she was currently reading, Chains, Love and Blood, was the subject of her ire. "This story doesn't make any sense! The pacing's all over the place, the plot's ankle-deep at best, and there's a handful too many tropes shoved in the story that it's almost constricting! It's already over 90 chapters! And it's not even done! And this novel has around 500k reads?! How?!"
"The consensus was that the characters were all charming, I think."
"Charming? Which part of this is charming?" Selena picked up her phone again and started scrolling through the chapters. "The male lead hurt her, humiliated her in front of many people, discarded her like trash, and she just..." She waved her arms around, "Forgave him like that?! Thought that he's just, what, really awkward in showing affection? Broken? How did she even convinced herself that it'll be a romantic, happily ever after when the two of them get back together?! Is she that delusional? People actually enjoy reading these things?"
"It's a common trope in Werewolf stories," Melissa shrugged. "And yes, a lot of people really enjoyed reading them. I mean, don't you agree that Alpha Chase is such a hottie?"
"He sounds like an asshole," Selena deadpanned. "He is an asshole. I read this whole thing because you said the protagonist has the same name as me, and so far, the FL has tried leaving the guy for the fourth time, only to go back to him. And now I'm regretting everything. I hate the male lead. And his name sounds ridiculous. Chase? Really? Why, because girls chase after him?" The only thing she found she liked in this story was the author's poetic prose and wide-ranging vocabulary. She had to applaud the number of metaphors and analogies used in describing the smut scenes.
"He's a tragic character. He lost his parents when he was young and was forced to lead the pack at such a tender age."
"Doesn't change the fact that he's an asshole." Selena shook her head. "Honestly, I don't understand why you're so into these. Hear this," she started scrolling through the chapters, back to the earlier ones. "Chase's large hands encircled my wrist fully, and his grip was tight, almost bruising, as he growled, "Do you think you have any rights to say a word to me?" Why would anyone think this is hot?!"
"You're missing the point, Sel," Melissa said with a shake of her head. She even gave her a disappointed look. "It's about emotion. The connection, the tension. Don't you usually like gripping scenes in books? Well, this is just the same, just in different genres. And the fated pair! Don't you want to know who the universe chose as your perfect partner?" The girl sighed dramatically, hands clasped close to her chest. "An already perfect package of a person, brought to you by fate itself. Sure as hell saves me time hunting down my perfect man."
"Not really," Selena sighed as she leaned on her chair. "Why would I want to tie myself like that with other people? I could barely tolerate my older brother. Plus, it sounds stupid. No person is that perfect."
Melissa rolled her eyes. "You can, maybe, try to imagine? Like, maybe think of what you would like of your future boyfriend. Or girlfriend, if you swing that way."
"You mean like how you and Justin pawed at each other every chance you got?" Selena smirked. "Yeah, no. Research says that a human's mouth is full of bacteria."
"Eww, gross!" Melissa stuck out her tongue at her. "Why do you keep doing that?!"
Selena snickered. The 6 PM bell rang, and every student in the library started gathering their things. Both Selena and Melissa power-walked out of the library as soon as they neared the librarian's desk by the reception area.
"Justin and I are going clubbing tonight, along with the group," Melissa said as she linked her arm to Selena. "You should join us! Let's find you your perfect partner."
Selena snorted. "No thanks! I'm quite happy being single. And besides, I still need to water my plants at the apartment. Not to mention our mountains of assignments."
Melissa groaned. "You’re going to turn like those cacti yours. Come on, don't be such a party pooper! Live a little! Enjoy college while it lasts!"
Selena rolled her eyes, a small smile on her lips. "I am enjoying college, Mel, by sorting my priorities."
Melissa sighed again in disappointment. "Seriously, you. This is why you never get a boyfriend." She paused. "Or a girlfriend."
"I don't need one. I told you, I am very comfortable in my current status."
"That's because you haven't met the right one yet! Trust me, when you finally find someone you like, your whole mindset regarding relationships will change."
Selena only shook her head, highly doubting that.
The street didn't have that many people, which is rare. Across the road, the traffic light turned green, and Selena started walking to cross while throwing a wave to Melissa.
She dumped her bag down the floor as soon as she entered her room, which was quickly followed by her shoes. She will be forever thankful to have her apartment a walk away from her university. Heaven knows why alarm clocks never worked for her.
The place was also really decent, albeit smaller than she would prefer, and the rent was perfect for a student like hers. Though if you ask her, the best feature of the place was the mini veranda. It was barely half an arm’s length wide, but the sunlight hits it in such a perfect angle for her various potted cacti. It was Selena’s makeshift little cactus garden; checking her plants as soon as she’s home was pretty much a well-ingrained routine by now.
“Hmm, seems like George is finally feeling better,” Selena murmured as she inspected one of her smaller cactus. “The yellowing was almost gone now. And oh, Marta had a bud! Hope the flower’s yellow…”
She watered those that were looking a little parched, making sure to monitor the amount of water she’s giving them. Already, she could feel her shoulders fully loose and her mood light as she hummed.
“Now this is my kind of night,” she said to herself as she crouched down. ”Peace and quiet, with no hints of excitement and buzz.”
There was a loud screeching noise, followed by shouts of panicked people. As Selena looked up, the last thing she saw was a fast-moving object that looked like the side of a truck before everything went black.
The water dumped on her head was freezing. Selena cried as she sat up gasping, her heart hammering in her chest, and her wet hair covering her sight. The sudden movement was also making her head swim and is making her want to throw up. Who the fuck—-!
"Wake up, you useless girl! Who told you that you can sleep in, huh?!"
A woman decked like some misplaced Victorian cosplayer stood glaring in front of her, one hand holding an empty pail, the other on her hip. Selena, still out of it, absently took note on the woman’s pointed feature: her chin, eyes, nose, and even eyebrows all looked pointy. Her face looked like she had crashed into a truck full of makeup with how thick it was, and her loose chestnut-brown hair only made her look paler.
Wait. Crash . She was just—
"What are you staring blankly there for?!" The woman screeched. "Do you want to be punished that badly?!"
Thoroughly confused, Selena furrowed her eyebrows. "Did you forget to drink your coffee this morning or something?" Man, even this girl’s voice is sharp to make anyone’s ears ring.
The woman's mouth fell open as she spluttered indignantly. "You… you…"
Selena watched in bewilderment as the pale-caked face quickly turned splotchy red. "You BITCH!"
She pulled Selena's hair forward, making her cry as she spluttered and clawed like she was trying to uproot it from her head. Selena's hands found the woman's wrist and tried to hold her in place, before desperately stomping on her tormentor’s foot and feeling something crack.
The woman howled as she suddenly fell to the floor, clutching her foot. Selena stood panting, her head throbbing as she noticed the woman’s shoe had broken a heel.
She stood there gaping. Wow. Okay, she hadn’t expected that she had the strength to do that. She'd feel bad; the shoe looked expensive, but the woman was too batshit crazy for her to feel sorry for.
"Claire!"
An older woman ran inside the room and held the crying woman—must be Claire— by the shoulders. "Claire, darling, are you alright?"
The similarities feel uncanny. Same hair, same pointy face. And when she looked at Selena, she noticed that the glare also looked the same. Mother, maybe?
"How dare you!" Even the way they screech was the same. "Lowly omega! You have no right to lay a hand on my daughter!"
Huh? What the heck is omega? "Are you on meds, lady? Your eyes looked like a vampire’s."
The woman gasped, wide-eyed, as she put a hand on her chest. “Did you just call me—”. Soon, her face also turned as red as her daughter’s as she raised her hand. "You insolent little—!"
"Enough!"
With the room lacking any window, the voice had all but boomed and making everyone freeze, even the crying Claire. A second later, an older man in a sharp-looking suit and black pants walked inside the room. He held a shiny walking stick in one hand, but he stood tall and straight, eyes cold as he looked at the three people inside.
"Elder Tharen!" "Father!"
Selena flinched. Yikes, now the patriarch's here. This is getting worse.
"Olivia. Claire. What happened?" The man’s, Elder Tharen's, voice was deep and cold like a glacier.
"Father!" Claire was standing now. "This omega laid her hand on me, kicked me, and broke my foot!" She was wailing as she practically spit the words out of her mouth while trying to burn Selena into cinders with her glare at the same time.
Selena wanted to roll her eyes. The whining woman was standing fine, from what she could see. "Why do you all keep calling me omega?" And where did she heard that term before? It sounded familiar…
"Shut up, you stupid—!"
"Quite!" Elder Tharen thumped his cane to the ground, silencing Claire. His eyes moved to Selena, his gaze heavy, before turning his back to them. "The Ascension Ceremony for the next alpha of the pact and Shifting Ceremony will start as soon as the sun sets. I expect everyone to be prepared in time. Any problems will not be tolerated." He turned just enough to look at them through the corner of his eyes. "Am I understood?"
A gripping sense of emotion—no, more like pressure— filled Selena, making her breath hitch with uneasiness. The other two women, however, quickly bowed their heads deeply, napes in display. Selena blinked, confused. Is this some bizarre way to pay respects? "Yes, Elder," they answered in tandem, voice sounding so submissive than their earlier temper display.
Elder Tharen narrowed his eyes at Selena for a few seconds before leaving, followed closely by Olivia. Claire kicked the empty bucket in Selena's direction. "Clean up. We couldn't have you bringing more shame to the family." She then stomped out of the room, feet completely fine.
Okay, this is getting weirder. She's quite sure that injuries don't heal that fast.
Selena picked the bucket, brows furrowed as she finally looked around her. "What is this place?"
Dark stains painted the walls, caused by water dripping from the ceiling. It was chilly, too; she could barely feel her toes, yet she couldn't find even a single decent slipper to use aside an old Converse pair with holes in them. She didn't even notice it earlier, but the mattress she slept in just now was also just a thin comforter, a sad-looking pillow, and an even thinner blanket.
She either magically acquired teleportation magic or she hit her head on the concrete.
"… Oh my god, the truck!" she cried, suddenly remembering that screeching sound followed by shouts of panic before everything went blank. She patted her body; she couldn't feel anything broken or injured, aside from her throbbing head after being pulled by the hair like. If anything, she thought as she patted her arm, her skin felt smoother somehow?
"Is this some kind of weird hospital?" she murmured with furrowed eyebrows. Because if so, the bedside quality had seriously deteriorated. What kind of hospital would let a patient get assaulted like that? "This looked more like a mental hospital room in horror movies."
A sudden loud howl from outside made Selena jump in fright. "Was… was that a wolf?" How did a wolf appeared in the middle of the city?!
Heart pounding, she gripped the pail tightly in both hands, ready to swing it in case some wild, ferocious animal jumped on her. She moved to the slightly ajar door as silently as she could, using her foot to pull it open. She was greeted by a flight of stairs, and so with a gulp, she climbed up, stopping at a flight every two steps or so.
It brought her to a lavish-looking hallway, the walls decorated in red and gold wallpaper and some beautiful wooden-carved furniture that would not look out of place in an old Victorian house. Selena lowered the pail, confused at the sight. "Did that crash make me hallucinate?"
Still, she kept the pail close as she followed the hallway, looking for some door that would lead her out. "Damn, whoever owned this place must be pretty rich," she murmured as she spotted a tall, sparkling vase. She gingerly poked it. "Is this antique?"
Before she started panicking about running in circles, she spotted a large, heavy-looking, two-door entrance with a surface intricately carved in flowers and vines. At the center, divided perfectly in half by the two doors, was a carved circular object that looked suspiciously like a moon.
She couldn't resist sliding a palm on the moon carving, marveling at the artistry. Certainly a unique choice for design, but it was still beautiful.
"This design is atrocious on me! Change it!"
"Geh, it's that crazy woman." The voice sounded like it was from the upper floor, but the clarity of the screech made her look around in alarm. She couldn’t get herself spotted.
"I need to look beautiful for the ceremony tonight! I couldn't let Chase look at anyone else other than me."
This gal has an ego taller than Everest. Not really wishing to have another hair-pulling competition, Selena quickly pushed the heavy-looking doors open and slipped outside, only to stop at the sight the greeted her.
"… Where the fuck am I?" Selena's mouth hung open as she tilted her head to look at the towering trees around her, instead of tall, bright, familiar skyscrapers.