CHAPTER ONE - THE FLASHBACKS....

Eden just turned six when she finally discovers the truth about her own family. All these years, she thought that her family was just like a normal person, like the others. But turns out they are more than what she had been thinking before. All this time, she thought her parents to be an old—fashioned couple. Which is good but still looks kind of odd since both work as specialist doctors in their town. The small county is beautiful and more peaceful than the bustling city. But for someone that had an excellent education and works as a doctor, saving a life every second, hour, and day,—is not so suitable in this small county, as BlueWood.

The population that BlueWood had is only half of the other counties surrounding them. The relationship among all the residents is unique; a tight-knit community. The people don’t have any sort of disease or any kind of emergency that needs a specialist doctor like her parents 24/7. Awaits for any case to deliver to them every single day also rang suspiciously to Eden, too. Everyone knows everyone here. So if something is going on or missing around the county, the police can easily find the victims or even the culprit—sometimes. Making the police job lessening nowadays. And if there were a case, the work of investigation they did will not be that hard.

The low crime rate made Eden feel safe walking alone around town. With the authorities’ outstanding performance, battling the crime made her proud to be one of the BlueWood natives. The mayor's frequent involvement in every situation inside or outside the county gains him the respect of his fellow mayor. His reputation made him respected and trustworthy. Maybe for humans, the mayor is just an ordinary person, doing his job right. No one knows or thinks that he is one of the supernatural creatures—top predators after the Cold Blood clan.

In the supernatural world, the top hierarchy belongs to The Cold Blood clan and The Werewolf. The Witches come in third even if they possess great magic. The Witches usually work and associate either with the Cold Blood or the Werewolves, as they also need protection from their unknown enemies. Apart from the Witches with magic, the demons also have their magic power. But those two still can’t overpower the Cold Blood and the Werewolves alone. These two clans have power from their ancestors before them, which is clearly above the Witches and the Demon kin.

While the demons dominate mainly in the underworld—lots of their kin are living around the human population these days. So, to keep the peace between mankind and all the supernatural creatures, they made a special treaty amongst themselves. To form one organization under the name of ‘Divine Pact Organization’ or ‘DPO’ for short. This institution will monitor and prevent unwanted feuds between all of them to happen. The administration, most of it managed by the Werewolves and Cold Blood, with few humans whose is aware of the presence of another supernatural being in the world.

This ensures they kept peace between all the pact members, which including the unholy and holy spirits that live surround or beyond human realms. Someone controlling this organization is the higher-up. Selected two or three people from each pact as a representative from their respective clans during the council meeting that is held once, after completing the twelve years all around. This is symbolic of the twelve months that humans had in their normal calendar. So the complete round for the supernatural world will be every twelve years and not in twelve months periods.

Because of the human aging problem, there is a request place to rewrite the proclamation or the decree made over 200 years ago. According to mankind, they made the regulation during their mindset were still very low, especially in knowledge for supernatural and power of position. So they demand more authority at the council by giving them more seats in the hall. They turned this demand off because of human nature which often changes their mind every time so easily. Not to mention the temptations for power and the demons making them stick with the old rule.

The council will act like a protector or the law in the supernatural world. They will give advice and guidance to their respective clan and kin by maintaining the peace agreement between the pact member for as long as needed. This council is represented by twelve people from each pact which is—twelve from the Cold Blood, twelve from the Werewolves, and twelve from the Witches. Humans and Demons are each represented by six people from each side. They reduced those two because of the incident that occur 70 years ago, which almost burned the council hall. The alliance will conduct the verdict if the offender is involved with the supernatural circle. The hall will change its course, where there will be a proceeding for a case with the judge, advocate, prosecutor, witness, and jury—in which their respective clan leader will be one of it.

One night around 1:00 am in the heat of summer night about thirteen years ago, Eden is awake because of her thirst. She went down to the kitchen to get some water to drink. She already emptied one bottle and was still feeling parched because of the heat. During this time, they left her all alone at home as her family attending some annual function which is Eden did not know during this time, at the mayor's house. No nanny for her. Bluewood is the safes county, and even for just a small kid, you can rest assured.

When she was just a toddler, she used to attend any kind of gathering around Bluewood with her family until she turn 3 years old. At 3, she was suddenly allergic to fur and dust. And, her appearance in a crowded place becomes less and turns into a home—grounded person, not by choice, of course. She then becomes attached to her medication and can’t live without it. To prevent her allergy get worse every single day and, so she can go to school like any normal kid, she needs to follow her drugs precisely.

The full moon is at its highest peak. BlueWood is usually a traditional county and celebrates the full moon celebration to the fullest. Using the ancient Lunisolar calendar that occurs either the 14th or 15th day of the lunisolar calendar, the full moon celebration will hold in July on the 14th or 15th day of the lunisolar calendar. This festival is like Christmas Day which we celebrate with joy and happiness. Therefore, a big celebration will hold in the uptown hall where the mayor gives his heartwarming speeches and greetings. It will open the banquet for the public at the mayor’s residence and they invite everybody. Anyone can come and celebrate the full moon even if you’re not from BlueWood. It’s a celebration for everyone.

The pact member also will attend the formal party in which the respective representative with their families as the special guest. Since Eden's parents worked as a doctor and her father is the mayor’s best friend, they are obliged to attend the festival every year without a miss. Eden have a chance to attend it when she was 1 to almost 3 years old. After she turns 3, she stops appearing at any parties anymore because of her bad allergies. Sometimes Eden got frustrated, too. She’s an animal lover yet she had to cease her passion for animals annoyed her before. It’s not like she’s born with a golden spoon and not accustomed to the situation at all.

Raised in a home that had a large family farm full of fur animals such as goats, horses, cows, chickens, ducks, dogs, and rabbits. They also have a small lake at the back of their house, to her family's surprise. She’s the only one who had a bad allergy to furs and dust in the entire county. Walking downstairs, humming some random children’s songs—Eden opens the refrigerator and took a bottle of cold water, gulping it slowly. After emptying her bottle, she took out another one and planned to keep it inside her room, so she didn’t have to come down back again in case she was thirsty.

Still in the kitchen and leaning on the island counter, munching her midnight snack, she suddenly caught sounds of growl inside the house. The light around the kitchen is bright, leaving the dim in the living room. The dark, vicious growl made her small body tremble in fear as she saw four enormous wolves walking toward her. Goosebumps attack all over her body. Even the hair on the back of her neck and arms stood up as if attached to electric static. She stood unmoved. Tear well up in her big blue ocean eyes. She was afraid to make a single move because she was frightened the creature might go for her head or limbs if she run away.

Unlike her elder brother and sister, she is a coward herself and she isn’t shy to admit it. Feeling weak in both her legs, Eden closes her eyes tight and says her last prayer, hoping her family is safe from the beast. She tries to open her eyes slightly at first, but gasps back when the four pairs of eyes stare at her hard. She knew she was in deep, deep trouble now, and the neighbors either are far away or still partying uptown—no one will come to rescue her.

Looking at the current situation, she feels relieved a bit because none of them are making a move, just staring into each other. Her heart is on the verge of exploding when one wolf with dirty silver fur makes a move. She had a weak heart and she leave everything in God’s hands. Just before she collapsed, she sees the face of her family one by one as her eyes shut and she falls to the floor. Succumbed into the darkness forever.

Minutes change to hours. Despite that, she stays unmoved in her bed. Deep inside her tiny little head, she was dead already. She is probably inside her casket right now. As her body feels the warm delicate fabrics touch her bare arms. Her eyes were still closed tight and she could feel the security and comfort of being there, which is warmer and safer like her own home. Lost in her thoughts—her ears caught voices talking around her, a voice that was no stranger to her.

‘No, it can’t be real! Am I still alive or am I in the pit of my grave right now? But I can hear my family’s voices talking from above. God... please be with me. For I still need your guidance and love in my life...’ still in her mind, she can see the four intensive looks with their eyes looking at her, waiting for the perfect time to tear her entire body apart. What about her family? Are they safe or do they also become victims too? Am I dreaming or am I dead already?

“Baby, are you awake now?” that is her mother’s voice. Is she alive? Or does her family fools her with some pranks last night? Still hesitating to open her eyes. Every single tiny thing pops out of her head. She doesn’t need to pretend to be brave in front of others when she feels hopeless and frightened about fighting for herself. Every day, she had a hard time at school. She doesn’t need another problem anymore.

“Pumpkin, we know you are awake now. Please open your eyes, sweetheart. We need to talk with you about something important...” hearing her father's smoothen words, soothe her heart and made her eyes blink.

Whether it will end well, she needs to witness it for herself. With trembling feelings and a twisted heart back, she finally opened her eyes. She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw everything was still in good condition.

The bedroom is still in the same condition as yesterday. Nothing has changed at all from last night too. Seeing her parents, brother, and even her sister there made her feel guilty about herself. Both her parents were sitting at the end of her bed while her brother was standing by the door of her bedroom and her sister was also standing by the window of the room with their gloomy faces. As much as she wants to hug them in her tiny warm arms, she still worried every time it reminded her of last night’s incident that almost made her get killed and died in vain.

“We are very sorry for what happened last night, pumpkin! We do not intend to scare you. After all, we think it is not yet time for you to know the real things, which is why we kept it a secret from you... I guess we’re wrong about that.” Said her father exhales and sighs with a regretted face before continuing his speech back again.

“I want to give you much time before we can finally tell you the real thing. We never intend to lie to you, Eden. We need the right time to tell you these things because we didn’t want to scare you... do you understand, pumpkin?” he said in a slightly trembling slow voice to keep Eden stay safe and calm.

“I know am not the best mother for you, Eden, but I swear with all my heart and soul that I love you, sweetheart. We all love you, Eden! Please do not keep us silent like this, honey...” Eden’s mom says in a hoarse voice, as tears well up in her eyelids, making Eden’s heart feel for her mother’s pain too. They all look so sad and deeply guilty about last night’s incident.

Eden, who also felt sympathy towards her family, only bow her head down. She feels betrayed by all of them, but they have a strong enough reason not to tell her in advance. She admits she feels pretty offended by their actions, but is also thankful that they are all finally in a safe state at the same time. Only she was still hesitant somewhat about whether she wanted to forgive them. She is still in the same position and situation since she woke up before—did not say a word.

“Pumpkin... Her father's voice vibrated as he said something...”

Although she struggled to swallow and accept it all with a feeling of calm and an open heart, they were all still members of her own family. The family she loved more than herself. They are the most important and valuable people in her life. She needs them, too.

“I know and understand your feeling, Eden. We just don’t want to lose you, pumpkin. I am also not ready to lose you or all of my children. Eden, please forgive me. Forgive us all. I promise! After last night’s incident... and starting today, we will not keep any more secrets from you. We will tell you everything you want to know after this. Just, please say something pumpkin!” hearing the sad words and promises from her dad made her feel relieved. She can finally breathe a sigh of relief and comfort again after this.

“I also want to apologize too, dad. It scared me when I saw the four enormous wolves in our house last night. I am afraid that I will be their next victim. I am afraid that I cannot see your faces after that...” her children’s voices trembling as she mouthed the words out.

The tears that she had been holding back since last night finally fell as well. She then got up from her seat and hugged her mom and dad tightly, with much love and affection for them. She wanted to cry as much as she could—satisfied in their embrace so that she could forget her horrible experience last night forever.

“We will never leave you, pumpkin. Remember! We all love you so much. No matter what happens, we will always be by your side forever” she then nodded her head slowly. They also wiped the tears that flowed down her cheeks first before she returned to speaking in a hoarse voice, sobbing because of crying too much.

“I am sorry too, Jacob, Hailey... I love you guys both...” after hearing the words she said, they finally returned hugging each other tightly. The cheerfulness radiated again on their faces. They finally heard again their laughter.

The tight and spoiled hug from her family, to some extent, made her feel secure and comfortable again, as usual. However, she still needs to know one more thing... the most important thing that will change her way of life forever. Does she need proof that she will also live like the four of them or vice versa?

Looking at her family’s faces one by one, she took a deep breath and finally asked the golden question with much anxiety and excitement at the same time. “Am I going to be a werewolf too?”

Upon hearing her stupid question, her family laughs again. She chuckled and pulled her angry face as soon as she saw their reaction. “No pumpkin! You differ from all of us. But that does not mean that we are not your actual family. Always remember... we are your only family and we love you very much, sweetheart!”

Hearing her dad answer, she finally breathed a sigh of relief as she put on a big smile before returning to the arms of her family again. “Okay... I love you mom... dad! I love you Jac and Hail... I love you guys very much!” she gave a warm kiss on both cheeks of her parents first before doing the same to his brother and sister. She is now pleased with her life and hopes that the happiness that they share will last forever as long as they are all still alive.

END OF THE FLASHBACKS...