Marked by the Moon.

arged into the room as I lay on my be

plied, my voice mu

all day doing nothing." Lola wasn't taking no for an answer, a

happen. As my birthday approached, it drew nearer to the day I met my fate. Dread lingered, but I wasn't sc

disposition, held up two dif

ifting my head. "Lola,

your other birthdays, you should go out sometim

" my mum chimed in a

ow get up," Lola insisted,

own," my mum remarked

here, go try it out," Lola

in defeat. The red gown hung on the back of the door, a

a reluctant litt

," my mum replied, a sm

can thank me later," Lola sa

lked down the stairs, while my parents cheered. I couldn't help but roll my eyes at

Even though they were smiling, I could tell they were nervous,

birthday girl," my dad revealed, g

" I exclaimed, my eyes widening

ow go and have fun, but no

a chimed in as we hastily m

Carter's party. Spotting our friend Ravi as we parked, his ex

he ex

Lola chimed in as we

, his words tapering off as h

e was a really nice guy, and any girl would be lucky to have him. Honestly, there was a time I felt the same way too, but I coul

ng his throat and averting his gaze, a

ed with a smile, looping our arms toge

louder. The room was packed with teenagers dancin

rter exclaimed as

lied, raising her voice

lose, it seemed he felt the same. You couldn't blame him; Lola was the epitome of beauty. Her flowing blonde hair cascaded down her back, her big blue eyes

time together, Ravi and I veer

y?" Ravi

lot on my mi

ggested. I nodded in agreement

e stepped away from the cro

rums were going to

your birthday, but I just thought... it would be nice if

if you don't want i

ed, turning around for h

ou, Ravi," I said with a

love it," he s

esterday," Ravi disclosed, b

I inquired wit

he had covertly trained me on survival. Seeking a solution, he had approached Ravi's mom, the city's foremost scientist. In her kind

m will surely find a way.

t his words. "You're right.

s who is coming over

nother g

Bas," sh

t the mention of his name. "Shut

ped the Alpha, and in return, he decided t

asily forget the pain and heartbreak they caused? A surge of hurt and anger pulsed through my body. If he showed u

hamed of yourselv

u mean?" the girl as

monster who has brou

blem with that, go talk it out with h

f them, anger etched across my face. "Ta

ey've taken, how many homes they've bro

to survive, and if it means having him between my l

tention and formed a circle, Ravi navigated through the c

d," I

u call me?"

was angry before, she was now truly

suggested, attempting to grab my hands, but I vehe

her friend appeared out of nowhere, t

Ravi barked, wiping off

thinking, I slapped her. The surroundings fell into silence, ev

cted that way. Was it because the happiest day of my life turned into the worst? Or was it the hope that Ravi's mom would fix things? Maybe it was the

get out