Kaida's POV

Aethereia was a place of legend, a training ground where the Moonlight Shadows pack honed their skills and prepared for battle. The trees seemed to whisper secrets to each other in the wind, and the air was thick with the scent of magic.

As I walked through the grounds, I noticed the various training areas, each one designed to test a different aspect of our abilities. There were obstacles to navigate, opponents to defeat, and puzzles to solve.

The air seemed to vibrate with an ominous energy.

The trees loomed above me, their branches creaking softly in the wind. The scent of damp earth and decaying leaves filled my nostrils, and I could feel the misty air clinging to my skin.

I tried to lift my legs, but my feet felt rooted to the spot, as if an unseen force was holding me back.

The ground seemed to dissolve beneath me, and I felt like I was drowning in an invisible sea.

A voice behind me shattered the spell, "Hey, what are you doing here? You should move."

I spun around, my heart still racing, and saw people walking all around, going about their daily activities.

I quickly looked down to check on myself, relief washing over me as I realized I was whole and alive. It was just a hallucination, I told myself.

The forest air was crisp and cool, with a hint of damp earth and decaying leaves.

The trees towered above me, their branches creaking softly in the wind. I could feel the rough texture of the wooden sign beneath my fingers as I grasped it for support.

My exhaustion and lingering headache from the trip must have gotten the better of me.

As I regained my composure, I couldn't shake off the feeling that unseen eyes were trained on me.

A shiver ran down my spine, and I glanced around, but everyone seemed oblivious to my presence.

I took a deep breath and focused on the task at hand, completing the registration process.

I slowly walked to the documentation table, my eyes scanning the area.

The sound of murmured conversations and shuffling papers filled the air, a stark contrast to the eerie silence of my hallucination.

I hoped to finish everything quickly and leave. I had planned to skip the three-week training due to my poor health condition, asthma, a rare affliction for werewolves.

But I had been told that once I turned 18 and found my mate, I would be cured.

One of the reasons I was looking forward to that day.

Finally, it was my turn, and I finished the registration process.

I was assigned a room, but I gave them casual glance and told me I wouldn't be staying there.

I picked up my bag and headed for the exit, but a strange sensation pulled me back.

Maybe it was just the wind, I thought, hesitating for a moment before continuing on my way.

As I stepped out of the gates, I suddenly remembered something.

I was supposed to meet with the council representative, the man Prof Anam had linked me up with to facilitate my transition into the Moonlight Shadows pack.

I sighed dejectedly and turned around. It only seemed fair that I meet him in person and thank him for his offer and assistance, though I wouldn't be staying.

I dialed his number as I waited by the gates.

"Good morning, Sir," I greeted as he picked up the call.

"Morning," he answered.

I introduced myself, and he told me to meet him by the gates, just where I happened to be.

I ended the call, scanning the area to see if I could spot him.

Just then, someone called my name, and I turned around. A middle-aged person, looking at me with a caring look and a beautiful smile, came closer.

His eyes grew laugh lines when he smiled and it eased my concerns, although I kept wondering if he had something to hide.

He was dressed in a tailored suit when all the others were dressed more casually.

"Hello, I am Damien," and he said holding his hand out.

"Just coming now are you?' he inquired looking at my baggage.

"No, Sir, I was just about to leave." I answered.

"Leaving?" He looked up at me, and asked again.

"Goodness, I thought you were going to stay, " he spoke rather in a displeased tone.

Damien's eyes seemed to bore into mine as he spoke, his voice low and persuasive.

"You really should stay, You're exactly the kind of person we need here." I felt a shiver run down my spine as he leaned in closer, his breath warm against my ear.

"Trust me, you won't regret it."

"You'll have the opportunity to form connections with other packs and broaden your understanding of our world," he said, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.

The very thought of others cringed me. I detest crowded places, and this place shouts to me 'crowded place'.

Uhmm, I do not know..."

Well, just take a chance, you will be glad of it, Mr Damien urged.

"Oh! All right, I said, not being able to take any more.

Speaking with enthusiasm he smiled and his eyes flashed and his voice was full of a kindly warmth which set me at ease. He looked polished, but behind all that he seemed to be someone genuine to trust.

"Truth be told, I was expecting to see someone a bit uhmm..."

"Older," he added, his eyes scanning me from head to toe.

What did he mean by older?

"I mean, you look too young to be here. What's your age again?" he asked.

I hesitated before responding that I was 17, which seemed to surprise him.

I get that a lot from people, given my small and petite frame.

"Ok, got to go. I'm sure we'll meet again soon since you're staying," he said before rushing off.

I sighed, wondering why I had allowed myself to be swayed into staying.

I picked up my bag and headed to the hostel, feeling a mix of emotions.

As I entered the hostel, I bumped into someone and quickly pulled her back to prevent her from stumbling.

I apologized, "sorry."

"I'm clumsy," I added trying to cheer up the situation.

"It is nothing, I was not looking either," she replied back in her demure manner and I relaxed.

Her smile was so gentle, yet I wanted to get to know more about her.

"Hello! I am Kaida, Starlight Runners pack. And you?" I have made the introduction which is very unusual of me.

And her answer was, softly spoken, "I am Amala, of the Ember pack."

After this, we took a walk back together to our room, fortunately, only two places remained empty.

We moved in our beds, and got down to cleaning up our things.

Busy as I was, another girl came up to me wearing a smile on her face.

She was a tall athletic-looking girl with freckles on her cheeks.

She introduced herself with a certain infectious enthusiasm.

"Hey, I'm Chi of the Thunder Howlers pack."

I smiled in return, and I introduced myself a bit overwhelmed by her energy.

I will be your bunk mate, the next three weeks will be interesting, she added cheerily.

I smiled weakly in order not to appear too impolite.

It was tiresome and yet amusing how Chi babbled on and on without stopping but I had to take time off.

Amala smiling softly at me made me feel relaxed as we went into our room.

I am very glad that we are roommates, she said, her voice soothing as could be.

I seem to be a quiet person most of the time, but I think we will be friends.

In contrast Chi was simply upbeat.

She pounced in the room with a lovely smile and rosy laugh that caught my attention immediately.

"Hey, guys! I am dead bored being here! Who would like to go out to have fun?"

I said, "Well, excuse me, but I think I'm going to use the bathroom," and before she could answer I was out of the room.

I encountered Amala at the door and we agreed to go out and have lunch together.

Looking at Amala, I could see that she got luminous with her eyes when she smiled, and her lips were softly curved. She cut a very quiet persuasiveness which I liked, and I found myself wishing I knew her better.

***

Two days had passed since I arrived, and all seemed to be going well.

The activities were kind of lenient at the moment, as documentation was still ongoing, but soon, it would kick off, and we'd be handed our asses back.

Now that I was staying, I unfortunately had to choose a platoon, which was real hard and tedious, but I and Amala went through it together. It was late in the evening that we finally finished our documentation.

We decided to head back to our room to rest. But as soon as I had my butt on the bed, a whistle pierced the air, urging us to the camp hall.

The sound was jarring, and I groaned inwardly.

What was the purpose of this gathering, anyway?

Exhausted to the core, I dragged my leg and only managed to make it to the hall through sheer determination. I even lost Amala in the crowds.

As I entered the hall, the lights seemed to dim in my eyes due to the congestion of camp trainees.

The camp hall was a busy with activities, pack trainees rushing to and fro.I stood frozen, unsure of what to do.

The air was thick with the smell of sweat and anticipation.

I tried to find my way out, but the crowd kept pushing me in.

The crowd closed in around me, the air thick with the smell of sweat and anticipation.

I stumbled forward, my vision blurring.

Suddenly, everything went black, and I felt myself falling.

I landed hard on the ground, my head spinning.

I felt a gentle tap on my cheek, but I ignored it, and then it came again.

I slowly opened my eyes, only to be met with piercing blue eyes looking right into mine.

His gaze was intense, and for a moment, I forgot to breathe. He looked more...human than I'd anticipated.

His chiseled features and sharp jawline made him look like a sculpture come to life.

His eyes locked onto mine, and I felt a spark of electricity run through my body. He smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners, and I felt my heart skip a beat.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice low and husky.

I nodded, still feeling a bit dazed.I tried to respond, but my voice caught in my throat.

The blue-eyed stranger's eyes seemed to bore into my soul, and I felt a strange sense of calm wash over me.