CHAPTER 6

As Vera hurried along the familiar route to school. With each step, her heart pounded in her chest, her mind racing with the realization that she was already late for her first class. She glanced at her phone and felt a surge of panic as she saw that the class had already begun. Determined to make it on time, she quickened her pace, her footsteps echoing in the empty streets.

But just as she rounded the corner, disaster struck. With a sickening squelch, Vera stepped right into a pile of semi-liquid dog shit, her foot sinking deep into the foul-smelling mess. She recoiled in horror, her face contorted in disgust as she frantically tried to wipe the filth from her shoe.

"Oh god, could this day get any worse?" Vera muttered under her breath, her voice tinged with frustration as she glanced around for something to clean herself with. Spotting a patch of grass nearby, she hurried over and began to scrub at her leg, trying to rid herself of the vile substance.

Finally satisfied that she was at least somewhat presentable, Vera resumed her hurried journey to school, her heart heavy with embarrassment and self-loathing. With each step, the weight of her misfortune seemed to bear down upon her, threatening to crush her spirits entirely.

As she approached the school building, Vera's heart sank even further as she spotted the figure of Mr. Robert Downs, the principal of Moon-grove High School, standing at the entrance. Beside him stood two other individuals whom Vera recognized as members of the school board, their stern expressions sending a shiver down her spine.

But it was the sight of Damon Spelman, the alpha of their pack, that filled Vera with a sense of dread. Tall and imposing, with a commanding presence that seemed to fill the air around him, Damon exuded an aura of power and authority that was impossible to ignore. His piercing gaze swept over Vera, causing her to shrink back instinctively as she felt the weight of his scrutiny.

Mr Robert knows about the secret werewolf community in the town unlike other humans because his wife is a werewolf and the his daughter is Francesca the redhead and one of Victoria's friends.

"What are you doing coming to school this late? This is the second time this month you've been tardy," Mr. Downs chastised, his tone stern.

Before Vera could respond, Damon stepped forward, his brow furrowed in confusion. "You... You were the one running up the woods with your friends yesterday," he stated, his voice tinged with uncertainty.

Vera's heart skipped a beat as she tried to make sense of Damon's words. She hadn't been in the woods yesterday—it must have been Victoria. "Oh, sorry, that must have been my sister you saw," Vera apologized, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

Damon's frown deepened, and Vera hurriedly added, "We're identical twins."

Damon's gaze softened slightly as he processed Vera's explanation. "Ah, I see," he murmured, his voice thoughtful. "You do smell different."

Turning to Mr. Downs, Damon made a proposition. "Look, I will donate much more to both the science and arts programs if she gets off with just a warning," he offered, gesturing towards Vera.

Mr. Downs hesitated for a moment, weighing Damon's offer against the school's disciplinary policies. Finally, with a resigned sigh, he nodded. "Of course, Mr. Spelman," he acquiesced. "She can go."

As Vera made her way out of the hallway, a wave of relief washing over her, she couldn't help but steal a glance back at Damon. Their eyes met for a brief moment, and Vera felt a flicker of gratitude towards him for his intervention. But Damon had already turned away, engrossed in conversation with Mr. Downs. With a sigh, Vera hurried off to clean her pants and return to class, the memory of Damon's kindness lingering in her mind.

"What's her name?" Damon inquired, his voice low and authoritative.

Mr. Robert Downs glanced in the direction of Vera, who stood a few feet away, her eyes downcast as she fidgeted nervously. "Oh, her? That's Vera Fitzgerald," he replied, his tone tinged with disdain. "Her father is Mr. George Fitzgerald. He was one of the people sent to apprehend your uncle Moses before he fled, you know...What he did"

Damon nodded, understanding the implications of Mr. Fitzgerald's involvement in the search for his uncle. His thoughts drifted briefly to Moses Spelman, his uncle and his hatred for him after killing his parents and making him and Hus little brother orphans at a young age.

"She mentioned a twin sister," Damon remarked, his interest piqued.

Mr. Robert Downs nodded, a hint of admiration in his voice. "Yes, Victoria. She's the jewel of her peers—a quite exceptional young lady. And she's my daughter Francesca's best friend," he explained.

Damon absorbed this information, his mind racing with possibilities. There was more to the Fitzgerald twins than met the eye.

"Very well," Damon said, his voice decisive. "Shall we continue our discussion?"

Mr. Robert Downs nodded, gesturing for Damon to follow him back into his office. As they entered, Damon couldn't shake the feeling that the encounter with Vera Fitzgerald was just the beginning of something much larger—a thread that, once pulled, would unravel the mysteries of the past and shape the destiny of the future.