AUTHOR DORAH CAREN

VALERIE I walk to my window and look out through it, loving the view of the sea. It looks beautiful. It's easy for me to just jump from the balcony and go to the beach whenever I wish. Noticing all the pieces of paper on the floor, I start collecting them to throw them in the bin. I'm a feminist writer at twenty-one. I wrote and published my first book at seventeen. It was titled 'Tigress of the Third World.' The story was about a girl who tried to stop the illegal business of drugs taking place in her village. I put my soul into the book, and was delighted when it became a huge success. I use 'Dorah Caren' as my pen name to hide my true identity. Dorah is my middle name and Caren is Zelia's. So far, I have finished and published three novels and I'm penning on my fourth. The royalties from the sales of my books pay well, and it's how I am able to afford my nice car. "I knew it." a voice says from behind me. I don't need to turn around to see who it is. Veronica is inspecting the Pack House. I wonder why I didn't get a prior message about it from Evie. Veronica us like a mother to me; the mother I always wanted. She and Donald have made sure that I am given the perfect family life. She is a perfectionist and made sure I am one too. Thanks to her, it is compulsory for me to learn cooking, dancing, and how to wear make-up; basically she wants me to be a girlie girl. I'm not a girlie girl, but I'm not boyish either. I am just me. To avoid facing the aftermath from Veronica, I try to act like a girl. "You are the only one in the house who knows to keep everything clean," she says. I stand up only to watch her proud smile turn into a frown. Uh-oh! My dress. "What the hell are you wearing?" she asks frowning at my clothes. My shorts and top are soaking wet and there is a good amount of sand stuck on it all. In short, I smell salty and look unattractive. I am about to reply when Evie bursts into the room and says, "Inspector is coming." It is what we call Veronica. Evie freezes when she sees Veronica. She gives a big smile, showing all her teeth. "Oh Veronica, you are here," she says in fake pleasure, then leaves the room and closes the door fast behind her. Veronica shakes her head at Evie, and I pinch my lips together in worry. She turns to me and states in a motherly tone, which leaves no room for argument, "Go take a bath now, and pick a nice dress for the party." She turns and leaves the room to catch her next target. She's of course talking about the success party that the Pack is having. We have it every time we kill the rogues who are on our hit list. Edith helps me to pick a nice outfit for the party. I wear midnight blue jeans with a white chiffon top and heads downstairs to the party with Evie, who's wearing a pair of black jeans and a nice shirt. "The Alpha has arrived. Let's party-y-y...!" Oscar screams on top of his lungs. It's easy to tell that he's already wasted. Ahh! That is why I avoid drinking! The party is now in full swing with the music pumping loudly. I pull Evie with me and we begin to dance in the middle of the room with a few other people. 'Alpha, there is a call from a pack where rogues have attacked recently," Donald says through the link, interrupting Evie and my dancing. I immediately walk off the dance floor and walk to my office. Evie and Nathan follow close behind me. I feel the rage building in my veins. I seriously want to kill Mark right now. He said he would never let me live in peace and I know it. I only just got back from killing one of the rogues, and now I have to be prepared for the next hunt! Agggr! I look up to see Veronica and Donald are already waiting for me in the office when I get there. They don't look happy at all! "Which Pack?" I ask, turning to Donald. He avoids the question and looks at Veronica. I really don't like it and I growl at him in anger. "For the last time, which Pack?" I ask through clenched teeth. "Silverstone," he answers softly, lowering his gaze. I freeze in shock. I hear a sharp intake of breath from Evie, and a loud growl comes from Nathan. After crossing into the Riverside Moon Pack's territory, I never looked back. It has been six years now, and I'm sure they consider me dead. "How many deaths?" I ask, taking in a deep breath to calm down. "I'm sorry but I haven't collected that information, because the person who called said that he wanted to talk directly to my Alpha," Donald says remorsefully. 'You okay?' Evie asks me through the link. I avoid answering her question because I don't think I'm ready to answer it yet. "When will they call again?" I ask. "Tomorrow morning. I told him that you were out tonight," Donald answers. I nod at him, then turn and quickly leave the room. Evie starts to follow me, but I quickly tell her not to. I leave the house as fast as I can. In the patio, I shift into my white wolf and run quickly towards the woods. I stop at the shore of the sea and sit down, looking out at the water as I think. So Mark Ambrose has now started attacking the Silverstone Moon Pack? I don't know how many of them were killed, but I know his first target is always children and mated couple. He always kidnaps one of the mates of a couple and tortures them, so that the other mate will feel all the pain. I've avoided contacting the Silverstone Moon Pack at all costs. I know that Shawn is the Alpha, Jasper is the Beta and Abed is the third-in-command. All of them were my bullies when I was a part of their Pack years ago. Going back would be a terrible shock to them. But do I really want to go back? I know they were bad to me, but this shouldn't be their punishment for it. Mark can get really ruthless, and the children of their Pack don't deserve his torment! Whenever he attacked the previous Packs, he never tried to destroy their temples, but I know the Silverstone Moon Pack will be different. It is the Pack where everything started. I'm one hundred percent sure that he's going to try and destroy their temple. I, a white wolf, was born as an Austin. I know I was born for the sole purpose of killing Mark Ambrose Hunter, and any other who follows the path of evil, causing destruction. I have to respect my great grandpa's blessing. He protected the statue of the Silverstone Moon Pack with his life, and now I should do the same. I connect with the Moon Goddess most of the time now, asking for help, and now I need her help once again. "Hello, Alpha Oscar of the Waterwave Pack here," Oscar says as he picks up Shawn's call the next morning. His eyes are completely black, showing that his wolf is close to the surface. He's against the idea of speaking with Shawn, so I had to use my Alpha tone on him to make him do it. Evie is sitting beside me on the couch in the office, holding my hands in a tight grip. No one in my Pack is ready to talk to them. They are silent, holding off on all the furious comments they want to say, only because of me. I would love to hear what Shawn has to say on the other side of the phone, but I don't because I can't handle it! "We will call you soon with our decision," Oscar says, then ends the call immediately without even a formal goodbye. I have to smile, pleased at that. Oscar looks at me and says warmly, "You don't have to do this." "How many deaths?" I ask. "So far twenty-three, twelve of them children," he says sadly. A thunderously growl comes from me in fury. This has gone way too far. One of Mark's strongest henchmen must have been working on this. He always sends his henchmen to do his dirty work for him. They always end up being very deadly. "When does he want us to be there?" I ask. "Within a week," he says, his tone showing just how uninterested he is in going there. We always go to the Pack first, and make sure that the piece is actually from the old statue and not some hoax by any other rogues. Believe me, it has happened before. "Call him back and tell him that we are coming," I say and start to make my way out of the office. "But Valerie..." Oscar begins, but I growl loudly at him, which immediately silences him. "Enough!" I yell, "Twenty-three deaths. Twenty-three innocents were killed. All of it was done for fun. It's where everything began. All Hunters' have their curse because they tried to steal the statue from the Silverstone Moon Pack, and now Mark will destroy their temple, the same way he destroyed our temple!" I close my eyes and take in a deep breath to calm down. "Maybe they were bad to me, but they don't deserve this. Do you want the children in their pack to go through the same hell you went through?" I ask, looking at him seriously. "I'm going back. Whoever wishes to come can join me," I say and turn to leave the office once again. "I'm coming," Evie says just as I am about to step out of the office. I turn around and smile in thanks at her. "I want to kick the asses of all those who bullied you." She hugs me tightly and I hug her back, hot tears in my eyes. "Hell yeah, I don't want to miss that chance," Ivan says and gives Evie a high five as she pulls away from our hug. "I want to see the look on their faces when they see the new you," Edith adds and winks at me. "I'm going to make sure that they regret whatever they did to you," Nathan says and stands beside me. "I'm with you, because I know what you are doing is the right thing," Veronica says and smiles warmly at me. Everyone either stand beside me or behind me in the office, showing their support. It's only Oscar who stands on the other side of us all. I love Oscar to bits. He's the person I am closest to, after Evie of course. He means a lot to me. He's the best Beta, and very supportive. He never complains about taking orders from me, though he himself is an Alpha's son. I know I can't do this without his help, but I don't want to force him either. "I've been in one of their dungeons, and I know how hard life can be in there. I want the ones who treated you badly to go through that torture, but children... You are right, they don't deserve it," he says and closes his eyes with a deep breath. He opens his eyes and I notice that they've become a much darker shade. "But you have to promise me that you aren't going to let anything they say or do affect you. You aren't the same Valerie you once were. Remember that. If you don't do anything then me and everyone else who is with me, will kick their asses," he says while grinning. I smile happily at him and hug him tightly. I am so glad that I have my new Pack with me when I got back to face my so called old Pack. I know I am capable enough to face them, because I'm not the human I once was. I am a wolf now, and strong enough to kick their asses and protect myself. Besides, it's time to face the demons from my past.