《Deserted But Not Alone》 Chapter 1 Chapter 1 Adam''s POV. "Doctor do something! My parents are in that room dying, and you''re here writing on that God damned clipboard of yours!!!!" Abby sreamed yet again, admist tears. She''s been crying nonstop, ever since we heard the news. 2 hours ago... "Ohe on! You only suggested we y this game because you''re good at it and its I suck at ying!" Abby groaned yet again because I beat her for the eight time at Call of Duty, as her yer dropped dead to the ground. I smirked. "You lose again! You lose again! You lose again!" I began chanting to piss her off even further. "Oh yeah? Let''s see if you''re still saying that, when I beat you at chess" She smirked. "Whatever. You''re such a sore loser Abby" I stuck out my tongue. "I really wish I could pull out your tongue right now. Then maybe you would be less annoying". "Like you said, you wish." "I hate you" she pouted and then I saw a glint in her eye as she opened her big fat mouth to call me what I consider to be the stupidest nickname on the pl. From the smirk on her face, I knew my assumption wasn''t wrong. "Addy" "Goblin face" I countered and she gasped. "Warthog" "Sloth" "Skunk" "Babo-" "Don''t you dare say that word Adam!" She red at me.C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. "And if I do?" I cocked up an eyebrow "I''m gonna kick you so hard, you''ll fly ten years into the fu-" she was cut off by the ringing of my phone. I scrunched up my eyebrows as it was an unknown number. "Hello? Who am I speaking to?" I asked into the phone as Abby watched on. "Hello good evening, I''m calling from The Raphael Memorial Hospital. Am I speaking with Adam Wealth?" Was the reply from the person on the phone. I tried not to panic because nothing good everes out of getting a call from the hospital, but I guess I failed, looking at the change in Abby''s facial expression. "Yes... Is there a problem?" I asked again. "Your parents werw involved in an ident and have just been wheeled into the emergency ward. Your presence is urgently needed over here." I bolted up from where I was sitting on a beanbag in rm and Abby di the same although she had no idea of what was going on. "What?! Uh y-yeah we''ll be there t-thanks." I ended the call. "Adam. What''s wrong? Why''d you scream like that?" Abby asked, looking frantic. "Mom and Dad are in the hospital. It was the hospital that called, they want us toe over." I informed her, my voice was wavering. "What!!!!!!!!! Oh no oh my God!" Her knees buckled immediately and she crumpled to the cloor. She sped her palm over her mouth and tears were flowing freely down her face. "Come on let''s go!" I grabbed her hand and we ran downstairs, straight to the bus station. Once we alighted at the nearest bus stop, we ran straight into the hospital and to the front desk "Hello. I''m looking for Avery and Eric Wealth. They were in an ident and brought here." I told thedy behind the counter. "Yes. And how are you rted to them?" She looked up our parents names in theputer in front of her. "I''m their son and this is my sister. Can you please just tell us where they are?" My calmness was diminishing by the second and I was desperately trying to hold on to thest shreds of sanity I had left. "I''ll show you to their room. Please follow me." She picked up her clipboard and walked down the hallway with us following closely behind, stopping in front of a doorbeled ''family and authorized personnel only'' With anxious hearts, we walked down the hall towards another room. As soon as the door opened, my heart broke into a million pieces. My parents wereying on the beds with their bodies connected toplicating looking tubes andputers, each beep deciding their fate. They were bleeding alkover with scratches and w marks decorating their bodies, their faces unrecognizable. Only my mom''s beautiful ne signifying that she was indeed the one. I heard my sister''s sobs beside me before I saw it. With her hand sped over her mouth, trying to muffle her cries, Abby slowly advanced towards our parents. When she reached our dad''s body, she couldn''t take it anymore she copsed on the tiled floor and cried. I just stood there," starstruck. The tears weren''t evening. My hands were trembling and my feet ignored the orders to move and go andfort my sister. Suddenly, my mom started coughing and on cue, I rushed to her side and screamed for a nurse or a doctor or anybody toe and help her. "Adam. Abby?" My mom''s voice was raspy and hoarse. It was painful to hear her sound like that. She held my arm and tried to tell me something. "You need to p-promise me t-hat you''ll take revenge on t-the people who did this to us." Her grip on my arm was loosening by the second. "Mom don''t leave us please! Don''t do this. Mom!!!! Doctor!!! Doctor!!! Nurse!!!!" Abby was shaking my mom''s shoulders. The nurses and doctors ran into the room and pushed us out, Abby wouldn''t stop crying. After an hour, the doctor came out and started writing in his clipboard,pletely ignoring the question we were asking him. End of shback "I''m sorry. We tried our best, but your parents wounds were too severe to be treated. I''m very sorry for your loss." The doctor patted my shoulder and walked away. Abby was full on wailing and screaming the ce down, as she ran into the room harbouring our parents lifeless bodies. I followed her into the room without a single tear in my eyes. Abby was screaming "Why?!" I noticed my dad''s clenched fist, like he was holding something. I loosened his fingers, only to find a lock of blonde hair. I startedughing. It wasn''t the happy kind ofugh. It wasn''t the sad one either. I sounded maniac. I wasughing hysterically. I ran my hands through my hair, still holding the lock of hair found in my dad''s hand. I began seeing ck dots. I fell to the floor and fainted, my sister''s screams ushering me into the darkness that weed me with open arms. Chapter 2 Chapter 2 Abby''s POV "Oww! Gree ovf ovvv me ju big file of ross" I groaned into my pillow feeling the full weight of a stupid 18 year old boy when my brother jumped on me. He spread his arms and legs starfish style and had the audacity to ask me, "What did you say?" I could practically see his smirk from where I was under the nkets. Then a devilish n came to my mind. "I said..." I suddenly twisted my body and with a all the strength I could muster, I pushed him off my bed. "Get off of me you big pile of rocks!!!!!" "Fuck!" He cursed. "I think I broke my butt." I rolled my eyes at his antics and ran a hand down my oily face. "Get out dimwit, I have to get dressed." "What do you think I came here for Shrek?" He asked, sarcasmced the words tightly. It was then I noticed that he was already dressed. As if reading my mind, he smirked and said, "You have twenty minutes." Then he took off running. My eyes widened. 20 minutes?? How does he expect me to be ready in 20 minutes??? "Adam!!!!!!!!!" I fell back on my bed again and sighed. "What a girl''s gotta do a girl''s gotta do..." I muttered to myself. Humming a random tune, I brushed my teeth and took a shower. My outfit for the day consisted of a ck sweatshirt with the words ''I PROBABLY LIKE YOUR DOG BETTER'' on the front, my favourite boyfriend jeans ripped at the knees and my trusty pair of white converse. As for my hair, I braided it into two curved braids and brushed the sides. Grabbing my phone, my lip balm and school bag, I was good to go. "Oh hey. Get your breakfast and hurry up. The clock is ticking" Adam said upon sighting me. I red at him for waking me upte. I reached up and grabbed the carton of frosted kes and poured a generous amount into my awaiting blue bowl, I poured in the milk and sat at the kitchen counter before finishing my breakfast and washing the bowl and spoon. "I''m done let''s go." We got out of the house, locked the door behind us and entered the car. Adam started the car and began reversing out of the driveway. As we drove to school, I connected my phone''s aux cord to the car''s stereo and selected Devil Doesn''t Bargain by Alec Benjamin from my ylist. "The devil doesn''t bargain! He''ll only el.n break your heart again, it isn''t worth it darling! He''s never gonna change! He''ll never be Prince Charming, he only do you harm again! I don''t. mean to meddle, but the devil. doesn''t settle! The devil doesn''t bargain!!" We sang together at the top of our terrible voices before we startedughing at how bad we were at singing. We got to school all too soon and alighted from the car, only for me to hear Adam muttering something along the lines of "Taylor and party" My eyes widened form just hearing the name of the spawn of Satan himself.Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. "Say what now?" I asked. More like eximed to be honest. He sighed and murmured, "This is not gonna end well." He cleared his throat before speaking up "Taylor said she''s having a party on Thursday and she wants you to be there." "Nope. Nuh uh. Not happening. Not even if hell freezes over. I''m not willingly stepping a foot into that crackhead''s house Adam." I shook my head vehemently and stood my ground. If you''re wondering, Taylor aka Miss Hoe Heels if I do say so myself, is my lovely brother''s girlfriend. She''s a slut and a queen bitch to be hoenest. She what I did there? Yeah... I''m spectacr like that. Anyway, she''s a female dog. Taylor and I don''t get along. Like at all. But she keeps inviting me to her stupid parties and outings with her friends like we''re buddies. One time Adam begged and convinced me to go out with her and her pissed, hoping that we''d bond. I ended uping home with my hair dyed a bright blue. I don''t even know how it happened, but I know for sure that it was her handwork. I still haven''t forgiven her for that. Not to mention that everyone knows that she''s slept with about half of the poption of the school already. To be frank, I don''t even know what my brother sees in her. Just as Adam is about to say something in her defence as usual, I hear her shrilly, helium induced, high pitched voice screaming from a few feet away. "Hey baybeeee!!" Taylor shrilled before sucking my brothers face off. I rolled my eyes at the action and looked away quickly before I''m from to watch live porn. Just as I''m waiting to be put out of my misery, I feel someone hug me from behind. I''m startled at first, buy then I inhale the familiar scent and I genuinely smile. I look up at my boyfriend and push back a curl of hair falling into his eyes. "Morning babe" he smiles back at me and nts his lips over mine. I kiss him back happily. Somewhere in the back of my mind I though I heard a voice sigh in happiness. I shrug off the feeling and concluded it must have been my imagination. We separate and I turn around to hug him properly. "Good morning babe." Tyler, my boyfriend, grins at me and my heart dies a somersault in my chest. "What a fine specimen." There''s that voice again. Or am I just imagining things? Once again, I shrugged it off and med it onck of sleep. Tyler and Adam did their weirdass bro handshake with Miss bitchy two shoes and looking on. But when he turned to greet Taylor, I saw something spark in his grey eyes and a weird expression came over his face and left immediately like it was never there, before he said a simple "Hey." with a wave of his hand. Taylor giggled and replied "Hey yourself Tyler." What''s going on? Chapter 3 Chapter 3 I wonder what''s going on? We walked into the school and towards our lockers. Fortunately, Taylor''s locker is really far from mine and Adam''s, so at least I don''t have to look at her stupid face while getting my books out, but unfortunately, Tyler''s locker is just as far away too.- Tyler squeezed my hip and pecked my cheek "I''ll see you at lunch babe." I smiled and nodded in agreement as he walked away towards his locker. Taylor had already left to get her things too, so it was just Adam and me. "Shit! I forgot about the Physics homework." Adam cursed and ran his hand through his hair in frustration. I scrunched up my face in confusion at his words because if anyone forgets about homework, it''s usually me. Adam is the type of jock that always does his homework, gets As and Bs on his report sheets, never hands in an assignmentte and is always on top of anything rted to school. So him forgetting his homework was kind of a shocker for me. "You can copy mine in sster, but what were you so caught up in that made you forget?" "I was on the phone with Taylorst night and we spoke for so long that it totally slipped my mind. I nned to do itst night, but it took quite a while before we hung up and I was burnt out, not to mention that I had to wake up early and wake you up too, so it kinda slipped my mind." He hiked his backpack up on his shoulder and closed his locker shut. I rolled my eyes at the mention of Taylor. I really don''t know why he''s dating her. It''s like he has decided to turn a blind eye and a deaf ear to all the stupid shit she pulls. Not just with me, but with other people too. As much as Taylor is popr, she''s also a vile creature. The bell rang for the first period, and Adam and I sprinted off to our next ss which was A.P Literature with Mrs. Henshaw. Luckily, when we got to ss Mrs. Henshaw wasn''t there yet. So we took our seats beside each other in the middle row and goofed around for a while. Six minutester, she ran in huffing and panting like she''d just run a marathon. "Phew. Good morning ss." she greeted, once she had gotten her things and herself in order. "Good morning Mrs. Henshaw." "Morning Hot stuff " we chorused, all except one idiot. Carter. "Who said that?" Mrs. Henshaw took off her sses and scanned the room with her eyes. Only that she didn''t need to, because all hands were pointing to Carter. "Carter! Stand up!" Mrs. Henshaw shouted in anger. Yeah... That woman has anger issues. "This is your three hours detention slip for the next three weeks-" she signed a piece of paper that she pulled from a drawer and thrust the pink slip towards him, "-and I expect your parents to be here in school tomorrow as well. We''ll be having a talk about your grades and behavior. Now ss let''s get to business." she pped her hands and began the lesson on To Kill A Mockingbird. The sses went by in a blur. The bell rang for the lunch break, I grabbed my bag and picked up my phone, sending a quick text to Tyler and Adam, asking if they were at the cafeteria already, to which they both replied that they were on their way. I joined the lunch line at the cafeteria and when was my turn, I bought three slices of steaming pepperoni pizza, a strawberry milkshake, and an apple to munch on. Humming a tune, I held my tray and walked to an empty table. I pulled out my phone and connected it to my headphones. I scrolled through my BTS ylist and selected a song. Soon, ''Blue and Grey'' flowed through the headphone speaker and into my ears. I saw a familiar hand tap on the table and looked up,ing face to face with Tyler, who was also holding his lunch tray in his hands. "Hey. How was Miss Dawson''s ss?" I asked, kissing his soft pink lips once he sat beside me. "Hell as usual. I swear that woman was sent to torture me from another pl." heined with a sigh before pouting. "A my baby''s grumpy" I cooed and pinched his cheeks. He swatted my hands away yfully andughed. "So....." I sped my hand and batted my eyshes, a smile creepier than that of Joker''s adorned my face. "So...?" He leaned away noticeably. "Someone''s pre-birthday is this Friday and that person''s birthday is next week. Do you know who that is?" I feigned ignorance, still blinking rapidly. "Hmmmm...lemme guess" he acted like he was thinking. I sat back and let him take his time. "Oh oh oh I know!" He eximed in realization. I smiled, ready for my hugs and kisses. "It''s ADAM''S birthday!" He eximed, clicking his fingers. "Ohe on!!" I hit his shoulder repeatedly. Heughed. "I''m kidding, I''m kidding babe. I know it''s your birthday. I mean how can I forget the birthday of that best, the most beautiful, the most amazing, most talented, and most supportive girlfriend ever? That would be a shame" he said dramatically. "Yeah yeah, whatever... So! What are you getting me? Is it a puppy? A new phone? Headphones? Is it-" my over joyous rant was cut off by his chuckles. "Whoa... Calm your horses down cowgirl" I pouted. "Guess who got two tickets to see The Multiverse Of Madness on Friday?" he smirked on seeing my reaction. My eyes widened. "Really? But IC0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. thought they were already sold out." Just so you know, I''m a huge Marvel fan, and Eve been anticipating watching the Dr Strange movie for months now, but when I tried to buy tickets for it, they were already sold out. "I have my ways babe. If it''s The Multiverse Of Madness you want, then it''s what you''ll get." I squealed happily and hugged him. "I. Love. You" I kissed him on the cheek for every word, emphasizing thest one. "What''s got her all riled up and excited? Lord knows it cannot be a good thing" Adam sighed dramatically like an olddy as he walked to our table with his hands in his pocket. "Oh shut up" I flicked his forehead when he sat down. "Tyler''s taking me to see The Multiverse Of Madness as a pre-birthday gift on Friday night." "I take that back." Adam said, nodding his head in approval. "What are you guys doing for your pre-birthday?" Tyler asked Adam, referring to him and Taylor. I turned to him to listen too, biting into my apple. I already had my pizza, so it just remained my milk. Every year, the Friday before our birthday is our pre-birthday because my mother''s due date was on the Friday before our actual birthday and it''s been like that since our it''s parents were alive. So we always do one thing or the other to celebrate it and its kinda grown on us. Content belongs to "Nothing. Taylor hasn''t said anything about it. I think she''s forgotten it again." he sighed and ran his hand through his dirty blonde hair. He tends to do that a lot, but so do I. "Don''t worry man. She''lle around eventually. And if you still don''t have anything to do, you cane with us to the movies on Friday, I got an extra ticket in case you were going toe with us." "Yeah, when pigs fly and hell freezes over" I muttered under my breath at the thought of Tayloring around. "Thanks man." Adam said with a grateful smile. "Babyyyyyy?!" Taylor''s shrill voice was heard across the cafeteria. Not again... "Yeah Taylor?" Adam turned around to look at her. "Why are you still sitting over there? Won''t youe to sit with us?" She said, eyeing our table in disgust and gesturing towards the table for the ''poprs'' "Nah I''m good" Adam shrugged her off and she stomped away screaming something along the lines of him being a traitor and not loving her. Talk about a drama queen. Chapter 4 Chapter 4 "Woohoo!! Fuck yeah!!" I raised my hand and cheered. "Tyler and Abby sitting in the car! Going to see the best movie ever!!!" We sang. School had ended and Tyler offered to take me home while Adam dropped Taylor off at God knows where.- "It''s good to see you all happy and excited you know. You and Adam really deserve it" Tyler smiled and I mirrored his actions. I understood what he was talking about. Ever since my parents died three years ago, Our aunt and uncle on our father''s side were given the roles of our guardians after the death of our parents and have been responsible for our upkeep. The only issue is that they are the worst guardians ever. All of my parent''s properties were snatched away from us except the house. Adam and I both have two jobs that we work on the weekends and after school to fend for ourselves, plus the meagre amount that our rtives send to us weekly. The car that we share was bought after we scraped money together for two and half years. So we do deserve to be happy. "Thanks. I love you, Ty." I pecked his cheek. "Yeah you do. I mean you have to, after all, I am the best boyfriend in the world" he said, boosting his ego. I rolled my eyes dramatically. "Hey we''re here already," he said and unbuckled his seatbelt, I looked up to see that we had indeed gotten to my house. "Wannae in?" I asked and grabbed my bag from the back seat. "Yeah sure." We both got out of the car and fought the way little kids fight, all the way to the front door. "Surprise!!!!!!" That was all I heard, as soon as I switched on the lights in the living room "What is this?!" I screamed in awe. "What are you guys doing here?" My colleagues at work were all here, including Adam''s. "We''re here to celebrate your pre-birthday because some of us won''t be around for your birthday due to the holidays" Martha the cook at Burger Zone piped up. Our birthday is on December 27th and this year''s pre-birthday is just a day before because our birthday falls on a Saturday this year. "How did you guys get in here anyways?" I asked again. I felt like my face was going to split in two from how hard I was grinning. Everyone pointed at Tyler. I turned to the culprit beside me questioningly. Tyler looked at anywhere but me sheepishly. "I may or have may not given them the spare key to set up the surprise." he rubbed his neck with his hand. "Hey guys I''m ho- whoa!" Adam eximed, also surprised when he opened the door. "What are you guys doing here?" He asked just like I did and they gave him the same reply they gave me. We spent the rest of our time together eating pizza and some desserts that other people brought. Cans of Dr pepper, diet coke, soda, and bottles of root beer were strewn all over the ce. After everyone had left, Tyler, Adam, and I cleaned the ce and goofed around with the brooms and mops. When it was starting to get dark, I looked at the time and realised it was almost 9:00! And we had school tomorrow. I kissed Tyler good night and told him to go home. "Hey. Are you up for a movie?" Adam asked and turned on Netflix. "Sure what are we watching?" He scrolled through the movies on our list and selected The Old Guard. "How about this one?" I nodded in agreement, "Sure. I''ll go change. Give me 5 minutes." I said and trudged upstairs to my room while ying my invisible air guitar. I came downstairs, wrapped up in my m nket, only to see Adam also wrapped up in his nket already. I smiled thankfully as he passed a mug of hot chocte to me. He sat on the sofa and I sat down beside him, leaning my head on his shoulder and smiling in contentment. The credits of the film had already started rolling. Soon enough, I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn''t hear Adam calling my name. "Abby. Did you even hear what I said?" Adam''s eyes were peering down at me in curiosity. "No sorry. Just thinking of what would have happened if Dad and Mom were still alive" I said solemnly. He snorted. "Dad would probably be stealing mom''s cookies that she used to bake for our pre-birthday and she''d be hitting him on the shoulder with her wooden spoon Helios Our Golden retriever who diedst year) would probably be yelping and barking, while we''ll be shooting each other with our water guns." We bothughed at how true it was. Dad was a sucker for mom''s cookies. "Yeah. Mom''s cookies were the real deal. I wish I knew how to make them like she did." I sighed wistfully, keeping my eyes on the movie ying on the TV, but not focusing. "Enough sappiness, let''s watch this movie!" Adam hollered. That drew out augh from me. I''m so grateful to have him as my brother because I don''t know what I would have done without him here by my side. We ended up watching Thor: The Dark World after The Old Guard and slept off on the sofa. I woke up with severe pain in my neck and rubbed it with my hand, my arms and legs were pins and needles too. I looked over at where Adam was sittingst night but didn''t see him there. Where is he? "Morning sleeping beauty!" His voice rang through the living room. I heard his footstepsing in my direction. "E. More like good morning garden gnome." Adam shuddered in disgust when he took in my disheveled state. "Shut up Sherlock" I muttered. Aren''t we supposed to be twins? Why can''t I also be a morning person? I swear Adam is like those girls in the movies who wake up smiling and stretching their arms in delight, listening to the sweet singing and chirping of birds and on the other hand, I''m like those who wake up with a freaking frying pan and smashes the stupid rm clock in anger. Guess I''ll just have to live with it.C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Groaning, I got up from the chair and went upstairs to my room to get some more sleep. Today is Tuesday, but I don''t wanna go to school. I probably sound like a whining ninny. "Get up and let''s leave for school!" Adam shouted from downstairs. I got up and had my bath, and brushed my teeth. I curled my hair. I made it very curly and put it in a ponytail. put on sleeveless yin and yang gown, paired with my ck denim jacket and my ck basic white sneakers. I coated my lips with a little gloss and used a bit of eyeliner. With my phone in hand, my lucky charm and bracelet on my wrist, and my bag on my shoulder, I was good to go. I went downstairs and took out a box of cereal to eat. My breakfast was rushed as usual because Adam pressured me to eat fast and apparently, get my fat ass on a move on. His words, not mine. Chapter 5 Chapter 5 School went okay I guess. Taylor shrilling and sucking off Adam''s face as usual, Mr. Sheldon; the instructor overworked us, I had lunch with Tyler, the cafeteria food was also yummy today, and I borrowed a few books from the school''s library for my Literature homework. The usual. But still, I''ve been hearing this voice in my head for some time now, and its really starting to bother me. I haven''t told Adam about it because I didn''t want him to get worried unnecessarily. I didn''t want it to seem like I was overreacting when it could just be a figment of my imagination. I was in my room ying Candy Crush on my phone when I heard Adam shout my name from downstairs. "Yeah?! What is it?!" I shouted back. I was toozy to stand up from my bed. "Come downstairs for a sec, I wanna show you something!" I frowned and tossed and turned on my bed. I really didn''t want to get up. "Youing dumbass?!" He shouted yet again. "I''ming idiot!" I got up grudgingly and stomped my way downstairs. "I swear to God Adam, If you called me down to look at another speedo online for you, I''ll castrate you and throw you all the way to Pluto where you can freeze your balls off till kingdomes." I muttered angrily. Yes, I was thatzy. "What?" I folded my arm and asked him when I got to the kitchen. "Someone''s grumpy." he said, amused. "Save it smartass. What did you want to show me?" He pointed at his phone, motioning me over, "Come over here, aunt and uncle sent something" "Huh? What is it?" I asked, now interested in what he was saying. Our aunt and uncle never contact us, unless its urgent. On a normal day, they usually just send money to our ount. I peered over his shoulder and looked at the text message on his phone that he was showing me. Uncle Travis: You and Abby need toe over to New Orleans tomorrow. Its important. No excuses, it''s not up for discussion. Do not bete. We''ll send a car to pick you up at the airport. Under no circumstances must you refuse toe. That''s all for now. You''ll receive the tickets for your flightter today. "What? no!" I eximed after reading the text. I can''t go to new Orleans when I''m going on a date with Tyler on Friday. Its not fucking fair. Do they expect us to juste running at their every whim? Shit! What I''m I gonna do? "What are you gonna do? At least you''ve been seeing that fine specimen for a long time, while I just got here. If anyone should be grumpy around here, its me." Its that annoying and nagging voice in my head again. "Who are you calling nagging and annoying? Speak for yourself midget." What the fuck? Okay I''m starting to think that I''m going crazy. "Starting to go crazy? Sweetheart, your seat on the crazy train had been reserved long before I got here." Huh? "Abby! This is not the right time to be spacing out!" Adam yelled, shaking my shoulders and bringing me out of weird my thoughts. "Huh? Oh sorry" I shook my head as if trying to ward something away. I don''t think I can take this anymore. I need to tell Adam about this voice in my head. "Hey Adam, I need to tell you something." I sighed. "Yeah what is it?" He asked as he typed away furiously on his phone. No doubt informing Taylor about thetest development. I pulled his shirt downwards, making him sit beside me on the couch. "What?!" He snapped, agitated. I took in a deep breath. "Lately, there''s been a voice in my head,menting on almost everything I say or do. I don''t know what''s happening. At first I thought was just imagining it, but getting all too real. It''s like there''s anothe person in my body talking tome. I know it sounds crazy, I don''t even believe what I''m saying but I''m scared. Am I going mad?" my voice shaky at thest part. Content belongs to NovelDrama.Org Throughout my rant, Adam just sat there with his eyes wide open and distant, and when I was done he looked away like we was contemting whether to tell me something or not. After about a minute of silence, I tapped his shoulder. "Adam? What are you thinking? Don''t you have anything to say to me?" He sighed and looked at me. "How do I tell you this? How do I tell you that I''ve also been hearing another voice in my head for thest week and that I feel what you''re feeling; like there''s someone else in your body. How do I tell you that without sounding crazy myself?" "You''ve been hearing it too? But why didn''t you tell me anything? I''ve been going crazy by myself all this while, not knowing you we''mrr going through the same thing." He stood up and started packing in front of the couch.Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. "Abby listen to what you''re saying. You only understand because it happening to you too. If it were to be someone who isn''t experiencing it, they''d probablyugh it of and find something logical to me it on. Like stress or my imagination. I didn''t want to worry you unnecessarily in case it was nothing." I stood up to stand in front of him and held his hands to stop him from making a hole in the floor with all the pacing he was doing. "But it isn''t nothing. So here''s what l we''re going to do. You and I are going to figure this out okay. When next you hear the voice, try tomunicate with it. You canmunicate with it right?" He¡¢ nodded. "Great. So can I. Try to ask it questions about why it''s popping up and who or what it is. We might get some insight on why if seems like we''re going crazy okay? We''re going to be fine. Just calm down okay." I hugged my brother and parted his back, trying to be the voice of reason. n When people take a look at Adam and I, it tends to seem like I''m the grumpy and Reckless one, while Adam is the levelheaded and calm twin. But it''s quite the opposite. Adam tends to overthink and stress about things and since the day our parents dies, it''s like his anxiety shot through the roof. So I have to calm him down when he gets anxious or has panic attacks. We bnce each other out in ces we''recking. I let go of him and held his hands in my own "You and I are going to be just fine okay?" He smiled softly and curled his hand into a fist in front of me. I looked at his fist then his face and then broke out in a smile too, before bumping fists. "Okay." Chapter 6 Chapter 6 Abby''s POV "I know Tyler...no, I can''te to the movies with you this Friday...yeah, unfortunately, if this takes long, looks like I''ll be spending my birthday with them.....I understand that it must have been really hard to get those tickets and I really wish this wasn''t happening right now...okay, I''ll see you when we get back...I love you too." I got off the phone with Tyler and slumped back on my bed staring at my ceiling fan. I kept my eyes on the des as they kept spinning round and round without any other purpose. I began to wonder, is my life like that? Is that what Adam and I have be? Fan des that only exist to do our rtive''s bidding? They only call us when they need us to do something that''ll benefit them. Like two years ago when Adam and I were sixteen, they called us down to their ce to sign some papers regarding our parents'' assets. They wanted us to sign over some of the properties they had just found out about that were located on another continent entirely. From what I remember, my parents bought thatnd to build a cabin for us. It was supposed to be a ce we could run to and hide when the rest of the world was being too loud. But that''s gone now, isn''t it? I wonder what they want us for now, or better still, what they want us to sign. I can''t wait for my birthday. Adam and I are turning 18 this year and we''ll no longer need to have them as our legal guardians. We''ll be free from their iron grip. I''m counting down the days until then. "Abby?" Adam knocked on my door. "Come in, the door''s unlocked." I replied. He opened my door and poked his head into my room, "Are you done packing? Our flight leaves in about an hour and half." "Yeah, I''m done. I just need to grab my phone and charger, and I''ll be good to go." I patted my already packed suitcase that was sitting on the floor beside my bed. He nodded and came to sit beside me on the bed with a sigh. We both leaned back toy down on the bed side by side, staring at my ceiling fan silently. "You don''t think they''re calling us over to sign anything again do you?" Adam asked out of the blue. I cracked my knuckles and replied, "I wouldn''t put it past them to shove the documents in our face as soon as we arrive at their house. God knows what property they found now." We sighed in unison. Adam raised his hand to look at the time on his watch. "We should probably leave now. There''s no telling if there''s going to be traffic on the way to the airport, and I don''t want to be on the receiving end of their wrath if we miss the flight." We both stood up from my bed and Adam left to get his suitcase while I got the rest of my stuff in order and went downstairs with my things. Once he came downstairs, we took our suitcases outside and locked the door to the house. We decided to take a cab to the airport, rather than walking in the cold to take the bus. Luckily we found a cab in no time and we were well on our way to the airport. We got to the airport on time and settled in for our flight to Canada. After wended and got through customs, we looked around for our uncle''s driver, Mr. Bet. He had always been the one to pick us up from the airport, so we automatically knew to look for him when we arrived. "There he is." Adam tapped my shoulder and pointed at a tall man with salt and pepper hair, dressed immactely I''m a suit. He was holding up a sign with "ADAM AND ABIGAIL WEALTH" written on it. I rolled my eyes as we approached him. "What''s the use of the sign when we already know who''s picking us up?" I said once we stopped in front of him. As usual, his nk face gave away no emotion. The man was like a walking, talking dead body. I had never seen him smile or frown. He always has that deadpan expression, like a permanent resting bitch face. "The sign is not necessarily for you, but so that people won''t approach me, thinking that I''m a public transportation driver." He replied. I sensed that that was the end of that conversation, and nothing more was said. He grabbed my suitcase and wheeled it to the car, where he stored both of our suitcases in the trunk. Without any further ado, we were on our way to my uncle''s house. It''s this part of the journeet that seems to scare me to be honest because it feels all too real when the car starts moving in the direction of their house, and knowing the way to their house, made it all the more terrifying because I knew how far and how close we were from our destination. And I was dreading every second of it.This is from N?velDrama.Org. I looked over at Adam sitting beside me, and I see him rubbing his wrists together. Something that he does when he''s anxious or panicking. I gently pulled his hands away from each other to stop him from rubbing his wrists raw and interlocked my fingers with his. This action made him look up at me, and I gave him a smile that didn''t quite meet my eyes. From the way he was panicking, I knew we were thinking the same thing. What are we going to face when we get there? We finally got to the house and got out of the car, leaving our things in the care of Mr. Bet. We met Uncle Travis and Aunt Meghan standing at the front door waiting for us. Their cold stares and imposing figures drilled holes into my soul. I could feel Adam shaking beside me. The reason why we''re so scared of our uncle and Aunt isn''t just because of all they''ve taken from us. It''s the actuality of their entire being. Their imposing figure, cold stares, harsh words, and their authoritative aura My uncle Travis who stood at 6"3ft tall, was a man with cannon-like muscles. His blonde hair was long, just reaching his shoulders and tied up in a man bun at the back of his head. He had a permanent scowl etched on his face like he had been born with it. But one thing that made him particrly vicious were the scars on the right side of his face. It looked like someone had tried to w his eye out, but was unsessful. Aunt Meghan on the other hand was just as terrifying. Her midnight back hair was cut short into a pixie cut and she also stood at a tall height of 5"10 next to her husband with the same permanent scowl on her face. Walking towards them was like walking to a ughterhouse. You know you won''t be killed, but what you''ll find there definitely won''t be pretty. Chapter 7 Chapter 7 We had finally gotten into the mansion with no greetings from either party. The only form of acknowledgement we got from our rtives was Uncle Travis tipping his chin towards the sofa in thevish living room, telling us to sit down. I was staring at my shoes and I''m pretty sure my brother was doing the same thing. After all, we''ve always found it hard to look at their eyes since we were little. "You''re probably wondering why we told you toe here on such short notice." Uncle Travis began. We stayed silent, still refusing to meet their eyes. "Something important is going to happen in the next few days, and you both need to be here when it does. Especially because you don''t know what exactly is going to happen and it would be catastrophical for anything to go wrong during that time." I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion, and out of the corner of my eyes, I could see Adam doing the same. What is he talking about? What event? Does this mean we''re going to have to spend our birthday here this year? The same birthday that I''ve been anticipating since our parents'' deaths? Fuck no. I don''t intend to see the faces of these monsters on one of the happiest days of my life. I mustered up the courage to speak, "I''m sorry, what do you mean by ''event''? What are you talking about? Are we going to spend our birthday here? It''s only a few days away." From the look on my uncle''s face, I knew I shouldn''t have said anything. I shouldn''t have questioned them. And now, I was going to pay the price. "You ungrateful little bastard!" Aunt Meghan screamed. "You should be on your knees thanking us for preparing you for what is toe. Instead, you''re here questioning our decisions!" She stood up, towering over us. For a moment, I thought she was going to hit me. Aunt Meghan turned to her husband, who had said nothing throughout her rant, "I told you we should have let the mutts go through it alone. Maybe once they experience what it''s like to be in that state without any help, they will finally grow a fucking backbone and start fending for themselves, instead of looking to us for everything! But no! You wanted to be the good uncle and have them here for the first time! I''m done! You can take care of everything alone. I''m not doing shit for them!" Aunt Meghan has always had an explosive temper. Even the littlest of things could set her on a rampage, and the only one who could calm her down and bring her to order was her husband. He grabbed her hand and pulled her down to sit beside him once again. He rubbed the back of her hand using his thumb and I could see her visibly rx. If they weren''t so terrifying and cruel, I would have thought that their rtionship was beautiful. After sessfully calming his wife, Uncle Travis turned to me with stone-cold eyes and pinned me to my seat with his icy re. "You will never question my actions again, You will never ask me stupid questions again and you will never speak up against my orders again. This applies to you too Adam. If I ever tell you something again and you have the nerve to question me, it could very well be thest thing you do." I felt shivers run down my spine at his eerily cool voice. "Is that clear?" "Yes sir." We chorused meekly. "Good. You are going to remain in your rooms for the rest of your stay here. On the day before your birthday, at 11:30 PM and not a momentter, you are both going to go to the clearing behind the house and face the forest. You are to wear as little clothing as possible when you go there. Stay there and wait for us. You want to know why we brought you here right? You''ll find out then." His instructions keep getting weirder by the minute. He wants us to go to the clearing? With as little clothing as possible? Just what drug was this man on? But we couldn''t challenge him, so we just nodded. "And by the way-" Aunt Meghan faced us once again, "-I don''t want to see your miserable little faces throughout your stay here, so make sure to stay out of my way, or else..." She left the threat hanging, but we got the message quite well. "Now go. I''m already sick of you and this is just the first day." She dismissed us with a wave of her hand, and we dly took the opportunity to leave their presence. Their aura was stifling and suffocating. With every step I took, I felt like I could finally breathe again. Over the next few days, Adam and I were like ghosts in that house. Never speaking and never being seen. We stayed in our rooms and onlymunicated through our phones. Food was brought upstairs for us by the servants, so we literally didn''t step out of our rooms until thirty minutes before our birthday. We were both standing in the clearing, facing the forest with our backs to the house. I was wearing a ck sports bra and yellow booty shorts, and Adam was only wearing a pair of grey boxers. We were both barefoot and cold, wondering why they made us stand in the cold with such little clothing. I rubbed my arms to try and warm myself, but it was no use. The cold was seeping into my bone and my teeth were chattering. I heard footsteps behind me, indicating that uncle Travis and Aunt Meghan wereing toward us. "Don''t turn around, stay where you are." Uncle Travis instructed. I felt glued o my spot at hismand. I could feel someonee up behind me and from her chest brushing against my back, I knew it was Aunt Meghan. From behind, she roughly grabbed my neck and forced me to kneel. My knees scraped the round harshly and I was sure that I was bleeding. I stifle the shout of pain that bubbled in my throat, not wanting to incur her wrath. "Close your eyes and open your mouth." She snapped, and I did so immediately. I felt her raise my chin before she poured a bitter and foul-smelling liquid into my mouth. I felt the unmistakable urge to gag and spit out the crap she was force-feeding me, but I knew that my actions would have consequences. So I tried my best to drink it. After the liquid torture was done and she finally let go of my chin, I fell on all fours and spat out what little was left in my mouth. I heaved and coughed harshly, with Adam doing the same beside me. Uncle Travis snarled, "Get up!" Still coughing, my twin and I forced ourselves to our feet, struggling to remain standing. They came to stand in front of us, folding their arms and looking bored. Aunt Meghan checked her watch. "Any minute now." I was too tired to even think of what she was talking about. My head was still spinning from the concoction she fed me when I heard a gut-wrenching scream from beside me. I turned my head so fast I could have gotten whish. Adam was now on the ground clutching his leg and screaming in pain. I could see that the bone in his leg was jutting out at an awkward angle. He screamed again and fell to his back, perspiration covering him. I ran to him and grabbed one of his hands, squeezing it in my mmy ones, "W- what''s happening? Adam?! Adam! What''s wrong with you?!" I was screaming at this point, while my uncle and aunt looked on. I turned to them. "What''s wrong with him?! What the fuck did you do?!" They remained silent. I could feel Adam burning up. His fever was rushing at an rming rate. I was still sobbing and crying my eyes out when I felt a wearing pain in my shoulder. It felt like something was pulling the bone out of its sockets and bending it like stic. From the depths of my pain, I heard an ear-piercing scream. It took me a moment to realise the sound hade from my lips. I let go of Adam''s hand and screamed to the sky. My body felt like it was on fire! My bones were breaking on their own and reforming into something else entirely. I could feel every single muscle in my body stretching and twisting at odd angles. And it fucking hurt! I rolled on the ground and moaned in pain. My voice was hoarse from all the screaming and I could do nothing but groan in pain. After what felt like hours, I managed to look at my hands and saw my fingers contorting and my fingernails grey to be what looked like... ws! I have ws?! el Long dark brown hair sprouted from my skin and covered my entire body. The pain was gone and I was left in confusion, fear, and horror. What was I bing? I suddenly fell on all fours and my face started changing. My nose transformed to be a snout and I felt my teeth elongating and stretching my mouth to the max. I closed my eyes and resigned myself to my fate. If this is how I was going to die, I give up. I felt my mind open and it was like I gust of wind hit me. I opened my eyes, but I wasn''t in the leading anymore. In fact, I wasn''t at the mansion was in a ce where could see nothing but white. It looked like ab, but it was devoid of anything. I looked at myself. I was normal again, still wearing my sports bra and booty shorts. I smiled. I''m me again. It must have all been a dream. My smile dropped. But if it was a dream, where am I right now? I looked around, there was nothing there. "Hello?" I called out. No response. Suddenly, I heard something. It sounded like someone was running. Fast. Extremely fast. As the sounds got louder, I realised it wasn''t someone, itProperty of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. was SOMETHING. And it wasing towards me. I turned around and fear gripped my entire being. Coming at me with the speed of a bullet was a wolf. It looked like an absolute beast. Even on it''s four legs, I knew it woulde to my height or maybe taller than me, The wolf had dark brown hair and a lighter patch of hair on its ears. It''s eyes were full of fury and it''s piercing gaze was directed at me. I felt glued to my spot and soon enough the wood reached me. It stopped right in front of me and growled lowly. Out of nowhere, it raised its head and howled. And then I realised. I knew without a doubt that this was MY wolf. Chapter 8 Chapter 8 I stumbled backwards at her howl and looked up in horror. Shey down in front of me, looking at me with curiosity and no longer hostility. Suddenly I heard that voice again, "Hi there." I looked around, trying to find the origin, when it suddenly clicked. I looked at the wolf staring at me. "It''s you isn''t it? You''re the voice that''s been in my head." The wolf smiled and for a moment she resembled a giddy dog. "Yes. I''m the voice in your head. I''ve been here all along, you just never noticed." Why would a wolf be in my head? Is this some kind of joke or something? I struggled to understand what she meant. "Why would you be in my head? What''s going on? Exin all of this please! I feel like I''m going crazy. Why the hell was I turning into you a few minutes ago? This has never happened before. Please tell me I''m not going crazy. Please." My voice broke at the end of my rant and I could see pity in my eyes. She sighed. "Sit down child. All your pacing is giving me a headache." I didn''t even realize that I had gotten to my feet mid-rant. "You and I have been connected ever since you were born. And that is because you inherited this gene from your parents Abby. You and Adam are werewolves, just like them." I was about to speak up when she gave me a look. I instinctively knew to keep my mouth shut. "Your parents were the Alpha and Luna of The Gauntlett pack. And they were loved by all. You and your brother were too, but your uncle and Aunt turned dark," Her eyes had an angry glint to it. "They wanted the title for themselves and challenged your parents for it so may times, that it became dangerous for you and Adam to stay in Canada because there was no telling how far they were willing to go. I don''t know how they died, but one thing I know for sure is that Travis and Meghan must have had something to do with it." My mouth was agape and I had so many questions about my parents, but I could ask her that some other time. "So what are you? What am I? Or better still, what are WE?" She rolled her eyes. I didn''t know wolves could do that. "You''re a werewolf dumbass. You haven''t figured that out yet?" My eyes widened, "But that''s impossible. Werewolves don''t exist, they''re a myth, a fairytale written in book. There''s no way they''re real." "Then how would I be here if they weren''t." She has a point though. I nodded, trying to wrap my head around all the information that had just been dumped on me. "Okay so I''m a werewolf." She nodded. "Adam''s a werewolf too?" She nodded again. "My parents were also werewolves." Another nod. I wasn''t sure of my next question. "Uncle Travis and Aunt Meghan too?" "Yes. All your rtives are werewolves. Those you know and those you don''t. The secret has been kept for hundreds of years, an it''s the secrecy that keeps us safe, because if the humans ever find out that we are different from them... Let''s just say it''s easier to destroy something different than tolerate it.". Wow. I looked at her again. She was so beautiful in all her viciousness. Her form was regal and her amber coloured eyes were wise. I couldn''t believe that was me. I couldn''t believe that I could change into her. "So what happens now?" I asked. "Now? Its you and me. I''ll help you understand our kind, but this can only happen if you ept me and let me in." She smiled as well as a wolf could. "Once you do that, we''ll truly be one and I can promise you, you won''t regret it." I nodded, already deciding that I wasn''t going to let her go. I wasn''t going to let this part of me slip away. "I ept you." She grinned and bared her teeth, howling to the skies again. But this time I wasn''t scared, I was thrilled to go on this ride with her. I have a lot of questions, but I know that she''ll be by my side to answer all of them. "You''re going to wake up now Abby, but you''re going to wake up in my body. Do not be scared. Your emotions are mine too. I''m with you and so is Adam. When you wake, we''re going to go for our first run in the woods. Its going to be so much fun." Sheughed and jumped around in glee, and I couldn''t help but smile. I was feeling drowsy and then I remembered that I forgot to ask something. "What''s your name?" "Salem." And then I woke up. My body felt weird, but technically it wasn''t mine anyway. It was my wolf''s. She stood up on her four legs and shook her fur. Looking through her eyes, everything was clearer and her hearing was much sharper than mine. I could smell so many scents all around. From strong to mild, and foul to pleasant. I heard a howl to my right and turned in that direction. I saw another wolf simr to mine, only the colour of our fur differed. Where I had dark fur, he had lighter fur and where my fur was light, his was dark. This was Adam! He ran toward me and yipped excitedly, rubbing his head and body against mine in affection. I was so happy to see him out of pain.Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. "Those woods look pretty tempting to me. Wanna go for a run?" Salem asked in my mind. I looked at the woods in front of me and the overwhelming urge to dig my paws into the ground and take off came over me. I howled to the moon in the sky. "You bet." And then Adam and I took off running. We zigzagged through the trees and jumped over fallen branches, feeling the night wind in our hair. It was freedom and it was bliss. Adam and I ran for about two hours before we stopped at a stream to drink water. Once our thirst was sated, wey down and stared at each other in wonder. I had read about werewolves in books and ne novels, but never in a million years would I have thought that they actually existed. I wish I could speak to Adam and find out how he feels about all of this. I was able to ept my wolf easily, but I wasn''t sure if how he was taking the transition. "You can actually." Salem quipped. "I can what?" "Talk to him. You canmunicate to him in this form by using the mind-link." "What''s that? How do I do that?" "The mind-link is like a thread connecting you and another wolf. Mind-links exist between family members and pack mates. So because you and Adam are twins, it should be easier for you tomunicate with him. Here''s how you''re going to do it, close your eyes." I closed my eyes. "Imagine nothing but darkness. in ck, nothing in sight." That was easy to do. "Now in that darkness, imagine a golden thread just lying on the ground. The thread id so long that you can''t even see it''s origin." I tried my best to follow her instructions and soon enough, I could visualize the thread. "Do you see it?" "Yeah I see it." My eyes were still closed. "Good. Now grab it and tug hard." Her instructions sounded weird, but I followed it all the same. I imagined my hands picking the golden thread from the floor, wrapping it around my hand and pulling it hard. It was like something snapped inside of me I was suddenly ovee with a bundle of emotions that I knew did not belong to me nor my wolf. "Now speak." Salem ordered. "Adam?" My eyes were now open and I saw Adam''s wolf perk up and stare at me with curiosity. "Is that you Abby?" I heard his voice in my head and I grinned, knowing it worked. "Yeah it''s me. How are you feeling? Are you okay? Did you ept your wolf? Are you in any pain?" I barrelled him with questions one I was sure we could talk to each other. "Slow down Abby." He chuckled, "I''m fine. I''m okay. My wolf and I are getting along just fine. It was a shocker I''m not gonna lie, but I think we can get through it. With their help of course." He said, referring to our wolves. I nodded in agreement. "What''s his name?" This time Adam''s wolf grinned and I could see amusement in his Amber eyes. "His name''s Faxon." I didn''t know if Faxon could also hear me, but all the same I introduced myself, "it''s nice to meet you Faxon. I''m Abby and my wolf is Salem." We rubbed our head against each other affectionately once again, basking in our new forms before Adam suggested that we should get back to the house. Chapter 9 Chapter 9 We ran back to the house and met Uncle Travis and Aunt Meghan waiting for us in the clearing. "Shift back." She ordered. I wondered how I was supposed to tell her I didn''t know how to.Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. Salem came to my rescue and guided me, "Close your eyes and imagine this wolf form bending and molding to transform into your human body. That''ll do it." I followed her instructions and soon enough, I was back in my human body. The transformation was not as hard as the first one, but it was painful nheless. A cold wind hit me and I realised I was naked from head to toe. My hands immediately went to cover my breasts and my womanhood and my eyes wandered around the clearing, looking for my sports bra and booty shorts. I found them, but I realized they were shredded to pieces. Must be why we were told to wear as little clothing as possible. Aunt Meghan threw a towel at me and I rushed to wrap it around my freezing body. Uncle Travis did the same to Adam and within a few seconds, we were all walking into the house. I had a lot of questions for them, especially concerning my parents. But I kept mute, knowing it was the right and safest thing to do. "Your flight leaves by 11 AM today, so pack your bags as soon as you wake up." Aunt Meghan said, turning to speak to us. Adam and I looked at each other, bewildered. Adam said, "You''re not going to talk to us about what just happened out there?" Uncle Travis growled and in the blink of an eye, he had his hand around my brother''s neck in a tight grip. His eyes shed amber and his teeth elongated intorge fangs. I could feel my twin''s terror mixed with mine. "What the fuck did I say about questioning us, mutt?" He snarled. "I-I''m sor-sorry s-sir." Adam stuttered, trying to fight against the hand squeezing his windpipes. Uncle Travis kept his iron grip in my brother''s neck, and I could see Adam''s face start to turn red, "I don''t know what your little wolves may have told you and neither do I care, but understand one thing." he looked at me to make sure I realised he was talking to both of us, "I am still the Alpha. You are both beneath me. If I tell you ''jump'', you are to ask me ''how high''. Don''t think that because you got your wolves, you''re stronger or more powerful. No! I could kill you both right now if I wanted to, but it would just be a hassle. Remember that. Remember that you are both still breathing because I simply don''t want to be inconvenienced. Are we clear?" I don''t think I''ve ever been this scared in my life. I could even hear Salem whimper in my mind with her ears t against her head in submission. "Yes sir." He finally released Adam, who fell to the ground coughing and heaving. I was too paralysed by fear to even think of helping my brother up. All aunt Meghan did was smile wickedly and follow her husband up the stairs and into their room. Adam and I silently walked to our rooms, only speaking when we wished each other happy birthday with wry smiles on our faces, before parting to go to our respective rooms. I tossed and turned all night, only falling asleep when the sun was just rising and all too soon my rm rang at 8 AM. I sighed, "Happy 18th birthday to me I guess." I got up, brushed my teeth and showered, trying to think positive thoughts and not think about the freak show that happened a few hours ago. I put on my ck tank top, tucked into a pair of boyfriend jeans ripped at the knees and selected a deep red cardigan to wear on the outfit because of the cold. I wore patent ck loafers and used four silver rings and earrings to essorise. I then packed my suitcase and prepared to go home. By 9:30, I had gotten all my things together. I went downstairs to have breakfast and I ran into Adam on the way. "Morning Garden Gnome." He smirked. It was good to see him in good spirits after the hell we went through early today. If my brother could be positive, so could I. I didn''t miss a beat, "Morning leprechaun. How are you doing?" We walked together to the kitchen. Adam was wearing ck jeans with arge forest green T shirt and patent ck loafers like mine. The only jewelry he had on was a wristwatch and our mother''s ne You would have expected the ne to be in my possession since I''m a girl, but Adam wanted the ne after their deaths, and I was more than happy to keep their rings as a memento. My parents'' rings were very simr. They were both silver rings with a single line of their birthstones going round the wedding bands. My father''s birthstone was Aquamarine while my mother''s was Ruby. In fact I was wearing them today. I usually wear them around my neck on a chain, but I decided to wear them on my fingers today. "I''m good. I didn''t get much sleep, but talking to Faxon helped a lot." I nodded in understanding. Salem had been a great help too. I hade to understand quite a lot about the ways of werewolves from what she told me. The concepts of mates, packs, marks, rouges, the moon goddess and all sorts of rituals. We spoke about everything all night long Though it was a bit weird discussing mating with my wolf, she still managed to make it as straightforward as possible. But knowing Salem and her quirky character, you can be sure she found ways to tease me. But I wonder what my mate would be like. It''s almost impossible for me to imagine that there''s someone out there who was tailor-made for me, someone who I''m destined to spend the rest of my life with. It''s even crazier than finding out that I''m a werewolf. Soulmates exist, guys! And I have one out there! Content belongs to NovelDrama.Org Soon enough we arrived at the dining table and were relieved to see that our uncle and aunt weren''t down yet. We wolfed down our breakfast which consisted of waffles, bacon and scrambled eggs. After eating, we sat in the livingroom, waiting for them toe downstairs and tell us what was going to happen next, and besides, our ne tickets were with them. It''s not like we could leave even if we wanted to. "You''re up, good." Aunt Meghan''s voice came from behind us and immediately my spine straightened in reflex. Her and her husband came to sit on the sofa in front of us like the day we arrived here. "Have your wolves exined everything to you?" She asked. Adam and I shared a look. What exactly did she mean by ''everything''? "I don''t understand." I replied. She rolled her eyes in annoyance like we were supposed to know what she was talking about. "Packs, shifts, the moon goddess, mates, rougues, marks- the whole story. Have you been informed about all of that?" I nodded. "Salem told me about itst night." She rubbed her hands together and rested against the sofa, "Okay. That would make this easier then. Since you both don''t have a pack, you''re rouges. And until you find a pack to join, werewolves from all over will be hunting you whenever you step on their territory." My eyes widened, "What?! Rouges?! That''s like a death sentence." I tried to recall all that Salem had told me. Rouges were lone wolves without a pack. They were usually ousted from a pack after doing something horrendous, and tend to live without morals. They have no sense of betonging and are feral, so packs typically hunt them down to avoid future trouble whenever they step on their territory. How could they make us rouges? I just found out that I''m part of a mythicalmunity a few hours ago, and now their making us outcasts? This is totally insane. "B-But you have a pack right? Can''t w-we join your pack? We''re going to be hunted if we be rouges. We don''t even know how to differentiate territories. Please let us be part of your pack." Adam pleaded and tried to reason with them. Aunt Meghanughed like he had just cracked the funniest joke she''d ever heard. "Part of our pack?!" She said incredulously, "Over my dead, rotting, six feet deep body. You think we''re going to let filthy and spineless mutts like you join our pack? The Gauntlett pack? One of the most powerful packs in America? You''re even more daft than I thought you were." I couldn''t believe what was happening. "But the Gauntlett pack is our parents'' pack right? So why can''t we join? You can''t leave us to be rouges! We barely know anything about being a werewolf and you feeding us to the wolves! Literally!" Adam couldn''t even say a word. He was glued to his seat in shock, his jaw hanging open inplete disbelief at the crazy words this woman was spouting. Aunt Meghan had a feral grin on her face. "And where are your poor parents now Abby? Last time I checked, they were six feet in the ground." I gasped at her audacity before I heard what she whispered next, "Right where I put them." Blood drained from my face and I paled immediately. I could hear my heart pounding loudly. ''I put them, I put them, I put them...'' kept ringing in my ears. Did these monsters really kill my parents? Are they truly that vile and evil? I refused to believe it. It was simply impossible. "What?" Slipped past my lips in a whisper without me even knowing. "Yes my dear. Daddy and Mommy dearest are gone forever and I''m proud to say that I had a hand in their journey from this Earth." She said with a sinister glint in her eyes. I turned to my uncle, waiting for him to debunk her ims, but all I saw was the same sinister smile and wicked eyes. Fear gripped my body and my hand immediately found Adam''s and squeezed tight. Uncle Travis decided to speak just then, "If you know what''s good for you, take those tickets and leave this instant. I never want to see you or speak with you again. In fact I hope you''re both shredded to pieces by a pack who didn''t know better. Get the hell out of my house and nevere back." He threw the ne tickets on the floor and left the living room, his wife trailing behind him. I looked at Adam who had a look that mirrored mine etched on his face. What the fuck just happened? Chapter 10 Chapter 10 The journey back home waspletely silent. Adam and I were lost in our own worlds from the moment we left the living room to grab our luggages. I felt so stupid and afraid. My father''s sister just confirmed that my parents death were her and her husband''s doing and there''s nothing I can do about it. To top it all off, I''m a rouge. What the hell am I supposed to do with that information? Lie low and hope for the best? Or should I be on the run from people who don''t even know me but are hunting me and my brother down? How am I supposed to do that for the rest of my life? This wasn''t what I imagined my 18th birthday to be like. Those were the thoughts that gued me on the ne, at the airport and even in the cab back home. Like a robot, Adam opened the front door and just went up straight to his room. Five minutester I heard something break. Then a crash and the sound of something else breaking. I don''t know if it was my new sensitive wolf hearing or Adam was just that loud, but I heard him crying and I covered my mouth to stifle a sob of my own. I copsed on my bedroom floor and cried silently. I tried to wipe away my tears, but they just kept oning rapidly. My eyes went to a picture of my parents on my nightstand and a I could imagine was Aunt Meghan and her husband attacking and maiming them until no life was left in them. I imagined their evil grins as they watched my parents slowly die. No wonder the doctors said it was an animal attack! Aunt Meghan and Uncle Travis killed my parents with their wolves! I can''t stay like this. I can''t keep living like this, not with everything I know now and the doom hanging over my head. I have to be strong right now, if not for me, then for Adam. I don''t mind going down, but I''m not going to let anything happen to my brother. I forced my tears back and steeled my myself, deciding to no longer be scared and afraid. I got up from the floor and left my room to go to Adam''s. I knocked on his door. "Adam?" "Go away Abby." Came the reply from inside. I tried again. "Listen, I know you''re probably feeling a lot of things right now. Anger, hurt, fear. I feel all of that too. But don''t forget what we are now, rouges. We''re rouges Adam, and every pack in our vicinity is going toe for us regardless of us being a threat to them or not. So please open the door so we can talk about this." Silence. Complete silence. "Adam?" "Adam?! I know you''re in there, open the door!" I was already worried because he could be having a panic attack behind that door. "Salem what do I do? He''s not answering." I asked my wolf. "Break the door down. You''re not going to be here for much longer anyway." She had point, but where was I supposed to get the strength to break this door down? Salem understood my worry, "I''m here with you Abby, you have the strength. So break THIS FUCKING DOOR DOWN!"Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. With that, I rammed my shoulder into the door and it gave way immediately. The door fell into the room. On a normal day, I would be in total shock, but what caught my attention wasn''t the broken door, it was the fact that Adam wasn''t in his room. Now I wasn''t just worried, I was full on panicking. "Adam? Where are you?" He wasn''t on the bed so I checked the closet. Negative. The windows were closed from the inside too, so he couldn''t have gone out. The next option was the bathroom. I tried opening it, but it was locked. I didn''t think twice before breaking the handle and pushing the door open. What I saw next made my blood run cold. I found Adam lying still, submerged underwater in the bathtub. His hands were tied together and he was in nothing but his ck boxers. Another thing that increased my worry, was the blood mixing with the water. With a speed even I didn''t know I had, I ran to the bathtub and pulled him out of the water and into the floor. I put my hand on his neck to feel his pulse. It was faint, but it was there and I was going to bank on that quickly untied his hands and administered CPR, crying in between pressing down on his chest and breathing air into his lungs. Content belongs to NovelDrama.Org "Adam please don''t do this to me. You can''t leave me all alone like this. It''s not fair! Adam wake up! Wake the fuck up!" I was in hysterics, but I didn''t let up on giving him CPR until he opened his eyes suddenly and began coughing up water on the bathroom floor. I rolled him to his side to avoid him choking on the water and helped him sit up against the wall. Once he got a grip on himself, I gave him a hard p across the face. "Abby..." Salem tried to reign me in, but I was far gone in my anger and pain that I unconsciously tuned her out. "How could you do this to me?! Why the fuck would you try to kill yourself?!" I shook his shoulders and through my tearing eyes, I saw him cry too. "Why would you even think of killing yourself and leaving me behind in this mess?! Why would you try to leave me at all Adam?! Do I not matter to you?! Does your life n matter to you anymore?! Mom and Dad are gone, and now you wanna leave me too. Is that it?! You wanted to kill yourself and leave me is that it?! Say something Adam!" I grabbed his hands and looked at the bloody razor marks that ran from his elbows to his wrists. There were so many pink lines on his arms. I looked at him again, "What is wrong with you? You''re even cutting yourself? Do you now what would have happened if I had been five minuteste? You would have died Adam! You would have been dead!" I couldn''t fathom why he would even attempt such a thing. "I''m tired Abby." my heart broke on hearing his defeated voice. "I just wanted it to stop. Mom and Dad are dead and Aunt Meghan killed them. We''re Werewolves and we''re rouges too. How I''m I supposed to handle all of that Abby? How?" We were both a sore sight, sitting on the bathroom floor crying out eyes out with a tub full of bloody water, about three feet away from us. "We would have handled it Adam. It''s not just you. You''re not alone in this. I''m here, Faxon is here and Salem is here. We''re ¨¤ team and we look out for each other. We''re going to do this together, remember that. It''s not you against the world Adamot''s us." I raised my shaky hand and wiped the tears on his face. His pale lips trembled and he hugged me, sobbing. "I''m so sorry Abby, I wasn''t thinking. Even Faxon tried to stop me, but I was too consumed in my pain that I didn''t listen to him and realised how selfish and self-centered I was being. I''m sorry Abby. Please forgive me, I''m so sorry." I rubbed his back and sniffled, wondering how we got to this point. "It''s okay, it''s okay. All that matters is that you''re here now and we''re together. We''re going to be okay." I kept on repeating those words until I started to believe them. Even though I knew it was a lie. We were never going to be okay. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!