The sound coming from the car's radio was the one that kept Ella awake the whole ride. They left their previous home hours ago after the agent settled all the necessary papers. Ella’s mother applied to the vet clinic in the town and got accepted. The place was called Blue Moon, it was small, but it had all their needs.

“Are we there yet?” Ella asked while watching the trees danced with the wind.

“We’re almost there,” Elisa answered with a smile. She gripped the steering tight and turned left, entering yet again another beautiful forest. Ella sighed and closed her eyes, trying to get an ounce of sleep. After what happened yesterday, she has no energy left. Ella didn’t even get a good sleep because of her bastard of an ex and her ex-best friend.

“I think we are already here,” her mother said while glancing outside. She drove slowly on the cemented road.

“Don’t you think this town is weird?” Ella asked. Elisa parked the car outside the house she had bought with what's left with her money.

“Why would you think that?” Elisa asked her daughter.

“Blue Moon. Who would name a town like that? It’s quite an unusual name,” Ella said and slammed the car door. Her mother went out of the car and peeked at her. 

“I don’t know, but the pay is good here,” Elisa said and winked to her daughter. “Now, go get your luggage. We have so much to do,” she added. Ella nodded her head and opened the trunk while Elisa was searching for the key to their new house. Ella picked her brown luggage. It created a soft thud when she put it down on the ground. 

“Ah! I finally got it,” her mother beamed and raised the key. Ella sighed and shook her head. Elisa put the key in the keyhole as gently as she could. As she slowly opened the door, it squeaked noisily.

“I think it needs repair, don’t you think so?” Elisa said and turned her head to where her daughter is. Ella shrugged her shoulders and examined it. Indeed, it needs repair. The door was kind of old, so was its hinges, but it’s sturdy. Elisa entered the house and looked around. It is a good two-story house with three bedrooms, a kitchen, a complete set of furniture, and a cozy living room.

“It needs repainting,” Elisa mumbled under her breath. Ella followed her mother and dragged her luggage with her. 

“So, where is my room?” Ella asked. 

“Upstairs, the bedroom on the right,” she replied. Ella nodded her head and ascended to the stairs, carrying her luggage. She stopped in front of her new room and inhaled deeply. Ella turned the knob and pushed the door slowly. The room’s wall was painted in blue, but it already faded because the house has been unoccupied for some time, and a queen-size bed in the center. Ella dropped her luggage and sat on the edge of the bed. 

“Mom! When will my other things arrive?” she shouted. Elisa, who was busy cleaning the cobwebs down the stairs, put her hands on her waist.

“Probably tomorrow!” she shouted back. And for the nth time, Ella sighed again. She lay on the bed for a minute, then stood up and took her luggage. She started cleaning the drawer, where she will be putting her clothes and started unpacking. After that, she stood up and went to the bathroom, bringing her necessities with her.

“It’s already evening?” she whispered when she saw on the window that the sun has already gone down. It was past seven in the evening. Ella shivered as the cold wind touched her skin when she opened the window. She was lost in her own thoughts as she looked at the beautiful forest in front of her.

“Ella!” her mother called that snapped her out. She fixed her clothes and closed the window. “Come down. We have visitors!” Elisa shouted once more. Ella couldn’t help but frown as she doesn’t know who would visit them at this hour. Ella went down the stairs and saw her mother talking to a man and a woman.

“Oh, she’s here!” her mother said. Ella went to her side, and politely smiled at their guests. “I would like you to meet my daughter. Her name is Ella,” Elisa said. 

“Uh…hi,” Ella muttered.

“Hello, Ella. I'm Ronaldo, and this is my wife, Annie. Welcome to the small town of Blue Moon pack,” he said. Ella’s forehead creased.

“Pack? What is that even mean?” 

“Thank goodness. I already prepared food!” Elisa said. “Come and let’s eat,” she added and smiled brightly at the couple in front. It was a good opportunity to talk to these people since they don’t know about the town. 

“Don’t bother, Elisa. We are just here to welcome you,” Annie said and smiled at her.

“No, I insist!” Elisa said. Ella wanted to groan at how pushy her mother can be, but that would be not polite to Ronald and his wife. The couple looked into each other’s eyes as if they were talking.

“Then, we will take your offer. Thank you, Elisa,” Ronal said. They followed Elisa, who was blabbering.

“Where is Gwen?” Annie asked her husband in which Ella overheard. 

“I don’t know, but I called her already. She told me she’s going here,” Ronaldo replied. The three of them sat on the chair while Elisa prepares.

“Who is Gwen? I’m sorry, I overheard you talk about her,” Ella curiously asked as she fumbled on the utensil.

“She's our daughter. Her real name is Gwyneth,” Ronaldo answered her question gently. Ella nodded her head and remained silent while waiting for food to be served. A sudden knock on the door interrupted them.

“It’s probably, Gwen. I’ll come and get her,” Annie said.

“No, stay here, Annie. Ella, you should go,” Elisa said. Ella stood up and went to the door. She purposely sent her daughter because she remembered what Annie said earlier. Gwen is the same age as Ella, and they led Elisa to think that they should get along just fine. 

“Hi, I’m Gwyneth,” the girl said when Ella opened the front door. 

“Yeah, your father said so,” Ella nonchalantly said. 

“So, what’s yours?” Gwen asked while playing with her fingers.

“Ella,” she said and walked away. Gwyneth hurriedly followed Ella to the kitchen.

“My! Are you Gwyneth? You are beautiful just like your mother here,” Elisa said. Gwen blushed and sat on the vacant chair while Ella went back to her seat. She resumed eating while listening to them talk.

“Thank you,” Gwen shyly said.

“Gwen, this is Elisa and her daughter, Ella. They are the ones who will live here from now on,” Annie said. Gwen politely bowed her head and started eating her food. 

“Gwen, can I ask you a favor?” Elisa said. “Can you accompany Ella tomorrow to your school?” she added. Ella almost choked on her own food. She secretly rolled her eyes. Ella was capable enough on her own. She can handle herself well and doesn't need a babysitter, but her mother still insisted.

“I would love to!” Gwen beamed. She was ecstatic to have a new friend aside from the pack members.

“Then, it is settled. Thank you, Gwen!” Elisa beamed. Ella excused herself to the bathroom, she doesn’t want a new friend, but her mother thinks she needs it. Her trusted friend betrayed her. She is okay, all alone. She doesn't need anyone, not Gwyneth, and definitely not someone in this town. 

Instead of going to the bathroom as Ella originally planned, she went to a small patio in the back of the house. It’s facing the dark forest, beneath the gleaming light of the moon. Ella sat on the stainless steel chair and stared at the starry sky.

A bone-chilling howl erupted from the forest. Ella looked around while gripping the chair handle. She couldn’t believe wolves are living inside the dark forest. Ella snapped out of her thoughts when the door opened.

“Ella, why are you here?” Elisa asked her daughter. Ella looked at her and worriedly smiled. “Come inside, it's cold out here,” she added. Ella nodded her head and followed her mother. The guests were nowhere to be found.

“Where are they?” she asked. Elisa slumped on the couch and started cleaning.

“They went home. Ronaldo said there was an emergency,” Elisa said. Ella glanced outside, the howl she heard won’t leave her mind. She clasped her hands together as tight as she can.

“What is it, dear?” Elisa asked, seeing her daughter’s uncomfortable expression. Ella shook her head and excused herself. She hurriedly went to her room and opened the window. She shivered when the cold wind blew but she remained staring at the forest. Ella wanted to hear the howl again, but the wolf didn’t howl again.

On the other hand, the new Alpha of the Blue Moon pack ran as fast as he can. His beta reported rogue sightings around the border.

“Fucking rogues! They dare trespassed on my land?” he growled. “Follow me, we will kill them all,” he said. His large brown wolf stood out among the others because of his distinct Alpha features. Blaze Matthew Reese ran, followed by the warriors behind him.

“They were already in Samson’s house.” The beta running alongside him said. The first ones to reinforce the Samsons family died. The rogues surely know their way around the pack. Blaze's mind linked everyone who was not with him, to stay alert of the surroundings. Samson’s house came into view with rogues circling around it.

Blaze instantly spotted the six rouges. The rouge positioned himself, ready to attack the Alpha. Blaze smirked at him. He lunged at Blaze, but he quickly dodged it and bit his neck. The rogue whimpered in pain. Blaze bit his neck hard, and he fell on the ground, dead. The other rouges snarled at the Blue Moon pack’s warriors. The beta known as Caleb attacked the rogues with the help of the warriors.

“Secure the area. Make sure the Samsons are safe,” Blaze ordered. The moon is full tonight. Blaze’s eyes glowed. The rogue who was desperately crawling on the ground began howling, but due to his damaged throat, it wasn’t enough to call for the ones outside the border. Blaze changed back to his human form and snap his neck.

“Where is the other one?” he asked as he glanced around the area. They were six of them but his wolf was telling him otherwise. His beta looked at him with confusion visible on his face.

“There’s only six of them, Alpha,” Caleb said, but Blaze shook his head.

“No, find the other one!” he yelled. The warriors scurried around and ran, searching for the rogues. Blaze glared at the dead bodies of rogues lying around the ground. A warrior handed him clothes and he easily put them on him.

“Blaze, I feel something,” his wolf said. Since earlier, Blaze felt his wolf becoming agitated. There’s something that tells him to go, but he doesn’t know where.

“What is it, Bas?” he asked. Bas was the name that her sister gave to his wolf when they were younger.

“I don’t know,” Bas answered and he fell into silence.

“Alpha, the Samsons are safe,” Caleb said. Blaze felt relieved, but because of this attack, three warriors are dead.

“How about the other rogue?” Blaze asked. Caleb who was now in his human form shook his head. It means that they were still tracking the one rogue that got away. Blaze nodded his head and marched back to the packhouse.

“Let’s go. Let Mark clean this up,” he said. Caleb followed him back. Blaze couldn’t help but sigh. As the new Alpha of the pack, the elders’ expectation of him was high. His father, Blake Reese, brought achievements and glory to the pack. Now, it’s his turn to do that.

“Are you going to class tomorrow?” Caleb asked when they entered the packhouse. Blaze slumped on the couch and caressed his head. His mother and father are on vacation right now while his twin sister was in Academia. It’s only him and his little brothers.

“Yeah, I need to. Tell Auntie to help me take care of the naughty kids,” he said. Caleb chuckled. His mother, Alice is the one that helps Blaze with his brothers.

“Then, I need to go,” Caleb said. “Oh, by the way. There’s a human girl that transferred to the University,” Caleb added. Blaze’s ears perked up. He only knows this when his father told him, but he didn’t know that they’d moved in today. Caleb left the packhouse while Blaze rested his back on the couch. He was tired. Running the whole pack by himself was too exhausting, but this is the duty he was born with. As the successor of the Blue Moon pack.

A sudden knock on the door woke Ella up. She rubbed her bleary eyes and glanced at the windows of her room. The sun has already risen and the birds were chirpings inside the forest. 

“Ella, you need to prepare for school now,” her mother said outside the room. Ella groaned and covered her face with a large pillow. The school was tiresome for her but she couldn’t ignore it. At the very least, she wanted to graduate and help her mother. 

“Ella, it’s your first day in your new school. It would be very bad if you’re late,” Elisa said and knock on her daughter’s room once again. 

“Can you give me five minutes, Mom!?” Ella yelled inside. Elisa heaved a sigh and leave Ella be. After five minutes of just staring blankly at the plain white ceiling in her room. She slowly stood up and walk inside the bathroom. 

Ella stepped into the shower, her toes flinching as they touched the solid cold floor. She removed her nightdress and turned the dial, releasing warm water that fully awakened her being. The water trickled on her hair down to her body. She closed her eyes and bathed her skin lightly. 

After her shower was finished, she went to the drawer and picked a white crop top with the word ‘QUEEN’ printed on it and a pair of pants. Ella wore it and headed downstairs, bringing her bonnet and bag with her. 

“I cooked our breakfast. Let’s eat and I will take you to your school,” Elisa said. Ella sat on the vacant chair and picked a ceramic plate and filled it with foods that her mother made. Together, they ate their food silently. 

“Are you ready?” her mother asked after cleaning the dishes. Ella wiped her lips with a handkerchief and nodded her head. “Then, let’s go,” Elisa added and picked the car keys on the table. Ella followed her mother outside and opened the passenger’s seat. Fifteen minutes had passed and they already arrived at the school. Elisa parked her car and glanced at her daughter.

“Remmington University,” Ella mumbled while looking at the school.

“Will you be okay? Gwen promised me to accompany you,” Elisa said. Ella had the urge to roll her eyes because of her mother’s remark but decided not to. She removed her seatbelt and grabbed her bag.

“Mom, I’m not a kid anymore. I’ll be fine,” she said. The truth was, Ella doesn’t want to upset her mother by saying unnecessary things about Gwen. She bid her goodbye and slammed the door closed, gently as possible. 

“Take care, sweetie! Love you!” Elisa said through the open window. Ella waved her hand and smiled. She waited for her mother’s car to go and entered the university, wearing her bonnet. While walking, she overheard the students talking about her, but she chose to ignore it. 

“Ella? It’s you!” Gwen enthusiastically said and hugged her. Ella pushed her lightly and gave her a tight smile. Gwen frowned, but it was quickly replaced by a smile.

“You look good today,” Gwen complimented. The crowd suddenly went wild. 

They gathered at the main entrance. Ella stared at them with a confused expression on her face that she didn’t even bother hiding. And like in a drama, five boys entered, hands on their pocket and looking smug.

“Who are they?” Ella asked. Gwen glanced at her and back to the boys.

“Ah…they are the h-heartthrobs in this university,” she stuttered and nervously laughed. Ella looked at her suspiciously. Gwen quickly avoided her gaze while fidgeting. 

“Right,” Ella said. A particular boy in the group caught her attention. He was emotionless and attractively handsome. The other boys had good looks too, but he stands out the most. He had an aura of being mysterious. He’s wearing a plain shirt, but he’s oozing with sex appeal. Ella mentally groaned. 

“Snap out of it, Ella! Remember your rule: Strictly no boys,” she muttered inside her head. Gwyneth saw Ella checking them out and she couldn’t help but giggle. She poked Ella’s shoulder lightly and smiled.

“Do you like someone on that group?” Gwen asked. 

“Nonsense, I don’t have,” Ella harshly answered back. She doesn’t need friends nor boys in her life. She’s done with it. Ella put her trust in them and what she received in return was pure suffering, the trust she had was broken. For Ella, boys are all the same. They will use, trick, and hurt a woman like her.

“That’s Alpha Blaze,” Gwen said and pointed at the boy who was wearing a plain white shirt. Gwyneth saying his name made Ella’s heart beat fast and do a somersault. 

“Alpha?" Ella curiously asked that made Gwen stiffened. "Like some sort of a gang leader?" she added. Ella felt her visibly relaxed.

“N-Nevermind. You are going to Dean’s office right? I’ll take you there,” Gwen said and smiled. Ella eyed her suspiciously again for dodging her question but regardless started following Gwen to where the Dean’s office was located. 

Gwyneth knocked on the door thrice before opening it. “Good morning, Dean. The new student is here,” she said. The middle-aged woman wearing eyeglasses smiled at the girls. Ella smiled back and they went inside. The Dean handed Ella a paper containing all of her class schedules. 

“Thank you, Dean,” Ella said and took the paper. The Dean nodded her head and watched the girls left her office. Ella started walking away from Gwen, but the girl kept following her, insisting to be her guide. 

“I don’t need a babysitter, Gwen! I can handle myself. Thanks for coming with me,” Ella snapped at Gwen. Gwyneth was taken aback by Ella’s sudden outburst, but instead of getting angry at her, she smiled and bid her goodbye. Gwyneth’s action made Ella sighed. Her conscience was eating her slowly, but she has to build a wall around herself. She doesn’t want to get hurt again. 

 Ella started searching for her classroom when she suddenly bumped into a solid wall that made her fall to the ground, but she was surprised when the said wall talked. 

“Fvck! What are you doing? Are you blind?” a voice said. Ella looked up and saw that the person she bumped into was the same guy who was wearing the plain shirt that Gwyneth called Alpha Blaze.  

“Fvck! What an idiot!” he said. Ella hearing this, rage in anger. She stood up and faced the boy. 

“Excuse me, that’s way out of line!” she angrily said. “I get that it was my fault, but you are also not looking while walking. So, we are just the same!” she added while panting heavily. Ella won’t back down to the likes of him. The guy dared to not look into her eyes. 

Blaze picked up the phone that fell on the ground and looked at Ella. He suddenly felt like the world stopped moving and all that he could see was the girl in front of him. 

“Mine,” he huskily said and hugged Ella.