Chapter seven

Kei POV

I walked home with Ian. From afar I saw the gorilla girl with her friend. He just glanced at me then looked away, Hah! I know he's angry. It was clear from the look on his face. Seems like I really went too far.

Ah what do I care? I usually don't think about it. Why is it just because of that gorilla girl, I care about other people feel? I'm starting to get weird. Maybe environmental influences and because I just moved here. Yes, I'm sure of it.

Suddenly I saw Ian ruffling his own hair roughly. What's up with this one wolf? I thought. I frowned in confusion. Realizing I noticed his strangeness, he immediately cleared his throat and smoothed his messy hair. Ian then walked back as if nothing had happened.

Weird wolf. It was a crazy gorilla, now a strange wolf. Today is full of strange people.

****

A knock on the door sounded quite loud and rhythmic.

"Enter." a deep voice from inside the room told the knocker to come in.

"Alpha." the man who had just entered bowed slightly to the person sitting across from him.

"Any word on Hutch?" asked Ordovic.

"Yes sir. As expected. They went to Moon Roykolt pack." said the person in front of him.

A triumphant smile tugged at Ordovic's lips.

"Very good. You smoothed my plan brother."

Ordovic laughed loudly. He couldn't help but laugh out loud to satisfy his heart.

"Do as planned, Hutch. Didn't think it would be this easy."

****

In a meeting room in the Moon Roykolt pack, all the important people had gathered at one long oval wooden table. Oston and Cavril, Ian's father, was also there. Moon Roykolt's alpha, Sebastian, presided over the meeting.

"The most important thing is that we must find a way to control the curse so as not to harm the humans here." Sebastian said.

"That's right. Soon Kei will be seventeen years old and when he turns seventeen, that monster will be very difficult to control. That monster will force Kei to change even if Kei refuses. Kei is not as strong as my father used to be. My father is able to control that monster." said Oston. He was getting more and more worried about Kei.

"Call our historian." Sebastian's orders. The doorman of the meeting nodded and immediately went to call the person in question.

"Does Kei know about this?" Sebastian asked Oston.

"No, he doesn't know yet. I'm waiting for the outcome of this meeting first."

Sebastian nodded. "Yeah, that's better. My sister must have been devastated by this. After losing Dylan, she's going to face her son overrun by that monster. We all thought the monster died after your father died, Oston. We were wrong." Sebastian said. He looked down at his hands which were placed on the table.

"I think so too." Oston was the most devastated by this incident. Since his son inherited a curse that he couldn't control and worse, it wasn't him who made the mistake that caused the curse to occur.

"Alpha, how about we ask the magicians for help?" George suggested, Beta in the Moon Roykolt pack.

"I've thought so too. But who do we turn to for help?" Sebastian asked.

"What about the Elder? Or the chosen one? We have helped the chosen one a while ago and were given a pack of honors. I'm sure if we ask for help, they will help." George suggested.

Sebastian didn't answer. He seemed to be thinking. Soon the door to the room opened. The guard appeared with one person who looked quite old. All of his hair was white and thin. Full of wrinkles on his face and hands. But that person was still strong enough to walk. The person bowed to Alpha. Sebastian told the person to sit on the chair that had been provided. With a limp, the man sat down. All eyes were on him.

"Hector, do you have any news about the curse?" Sebastian asked. Hector is a very good historian. He knows the ins and outs of werewolves and all the curses and rules.

"I have read the ancient book in the Moon Goddess offering shrine." said Hector. Everyone is shocked.

"The Moon Goddess Temple? Isn't that a forbidden temple? Only certain people can enter the temple." said George.

"That's true beta. But I can read the book. Not without difficulty of course." said Hector.

"Okay, what did you get there?" Sebastian asked. He wanted to know how Hector got into the temple. But that can wait. What matters most is what Hector gets after reading the ancient book.

"A surprising answer." he answered. Hector smiled happily.

"What's that?" asked Kei's father.

"Oh come on, stop making us curious!" said George, getting annoyed that Hector had only answered half-heartedly.

"Okay, calm down first." said Hector, breaking his smile. "Mate, that's the answer."

"Mate?" everyone there said in unison.

"Only Mate can stop that monster." said Hector again.

"Kei's death? But Kei is not yet seventeen." said George, confused.

"Kei will turn seventeen in a month." said Cavril who finally spoke.

"That's true. But how and where do we find Kei's mate while only Kei knows who Kei's mate is?" said George.

"I'll talk to Kei." said Oston finally.

Sebastian nodded. "Okay, that's good. Then do you know why Kei's mate can control that monster?"

"The mate that was destined for Kei has half the power of the Moon Goddess, which will make the monster weak." Hector explained.

"Then how do you get rid of the curse? Does the ancient book mention that?" Sebastian asked.

"Of course alpha. The book mentions it in detail." said Hector. This time his face was full of concern. He took a deep breath. "The mate must die. But Kei must kill her himself."

Everyone in the room was shocked.

"Why should it be like that?" asked Oston.

"Because when the mate dies, the power of the Moon Goddess will come out. If it is not Kei who kills her, the power will only return to the Moon Goddess but if it is Kei who kills her, the power enters the body of the Kei's monster and extinguishes the curse before returning to the Moon Goddess." Hector explained.

Everyone looked at each other in disbelief. Killing your own mate is like killing yourself. Even if the mate dies without being killed, it feels very painful for a werewolf. Moreover, killing the mate with his own hands.

"This is really messed up."

****

The next day, Tania was still curled up on her bed. No sign of waking up soon.

"Tania...!! Let's hurry up. You'll be late." called Andy, Tania's second brother.

Silence. There was no answer from Tania. Andy put his coffee back on the table and go to his only sister's room. Andy knocked on Tania's door and called her again.

"Tania... Wake up.." persuade Andy. Hopeless, The younger sister still did not wake up.

Andy entered Tania's room and found her sister still sleeping with her whole body covered by a blanket. But Andy knew there was Tania under the blanket because Andy saw Tania's movement slightly. Andy came to Tania and opened the blanket on top. Andy is surprised, because he finds legs, not Tania's head.

"Foot?" he said confused. Andy shook his head and removed the blanket under him. Andy finally finds Tania's head. Andy stroked Tania's hair affectionately.

"Tania, you have to wake up now." Andy said while stroking Tania's messy hair.

"Ten minutes, okay?" said Tania lazily.

"I can't, Tania."

"Five more minutes then."

"You can't. You're too late. If you don't wake up soon the school guard will close your school fence in..." Andy looked at his watch. "... Five minutes."

Suddenly Tania got up and sat down. She rubbed her sleepy eyes. She looked at the clock on the wall directly in front of her. 07.30. Yup! She's late. Oh no!

Tania went straight to the bathroom to wash her face and brush her teeth.

"I'll wait downstairs, move quickly." Andy went downstairs, smiling amused at his sister's behavior.

In less than five minutes Tania was wearing her uniform and ready to go. Tania just put on a facial moisturizer without putting powder on it. Her hair, which was always tied up, was now left loose because she didn't have time to tie it anymore. Tania grabbed her bag that was hanging on her study chair and immediately went downstairs.

Tania saw her brother drinking coffee while reading her work papers that were scattered on the table. Andy is a great lawyer. He worked very hard to provide for him and his only little sister.

"Can you take me to teh school? I'm late..." asked Tania. Tania usually only walks to school because the distance between the school and her house is not too far. Just walk for ten minutes. Andy nodded.

"Sure, I will take you. But you have to have breakfast first." said Andy.

"I can't, i'm late. Let's go." Tania persuaded.

"There's still time Tania. Eat first."

"Andy! Please... It's already hour--" Tania was silent for a moment. He looked at her watch in her hand. It's still 07.05

Is this watch dead? Looks like I'm sure it's already 07.30

Tania saw her brother who was closing his mouth tightly, trying not to laugh.

"Andy...!!!" shouted Tania. Tania pouted at her brother. Andy, who couldn't hold back any longer, burst out laughing.

"Not funny." said Tania with still a frown on her face. Tania folded her arms in front of her chest and sat down annoyed.

"So funny..." said Andy who was still laughing.

"Not funny!!" Tania protested.

"Yeah, yeah not funny." said Andy. He had stopped laughing and tried to calm himself not to laugh anymore. Tania is still pouting because her brother is joked on her.

"I'm sorry, Tania. After all, it's hard for you to wake up. So you have to make your wall clock thirty minutes faster." Andy was still laughing every now and then. "Okay, because it's not too late, let's eat breakfast. I had made your favorite sandwich."

"Don't want to! You sucks!" Tania is still upset with her brother.

"Don't sulk for too long, you will get ugly later. "

"I don't care! I am ugly."

"What? who said that? My sister is the most beautiful sister."

"Of course i'm the most beautiful sister, i am one and the only sister in this family. It doesn't matter! Tania is still cranky." Tania still maintains her sullen face. Andy laughed amused and stood up from his seat.

"Aargghh... It hurts..."

Andy pinched Tania's cheeks.

"Yes, yes. I'm sorry. I won't do it again. But next time you wake up, wake up immediately. Don't too lazy to wake up. Do you understand?"

Tania took a deep breath. "Yes." she said finally.

"Smart kids." Andy stroked his sister's head and sat back down.

"You have a trial today?" asked Tania. He took his brother's sandwich and took a bite.

"Mmm... It's nine o'clock." Andy replied. "Tania, do you need anything?"

"No, nothing. Ah! Buy me some shoes.. My shoes have holes." asked Tania.

"Yes, after work, i'll buy it for you." said Andy. Tania cheered happily. Andy was always happy to buy his little brother something, whatever it was. Since childhood, Tania will not ask to buy something if she is not in dire need. Tania will only ask if urgent or really need it.

"Is that all?" Andy asked. Tania thought for a moment then shook her head.

"Only that."

"Powder or lip gloss? I'll ask Elena to buy it later."

"You don't have to. I've never used any of that. Just a facial moisturizer is enough and that was just bought by Elena last week."

"Why don't you wear it? Casey and Anne do." Andy was surprised to see his sister who did not like to wear makeup even though it was thin.

"I don't like it. It's uncomfortable to use all that. It feels like my face is plastered with a ton of cement. I don't want to." Tania shuddered. Andy laughed amusedly.

"That's because you're not used to it. Once you get used to it it will be fine."

"Yes, but from not being used to being used to it, it takes a process and the process is long and unpleasant." Tania protested.

"You really hard to persuade. Well let's go to school. Have you finished eating?"

Tania nodded. "Let's go."

Tania took a sip of milk before finally leaving the house followed by Andy.

*****

Tadariez