Chapter 1 BLOOD AND ROSES

***Hamish's POV

"Haaaamissshhh...."

A melodic voice echoed my name as I strolled down a dimly lit hallway toward a closed door, beneath which radiated a bright red light.

Approaching the door, I cautiously turned the knob, revealing a dark forest with haunting echoes of my name.

"Haaaamisssshhh!..."

There she was-a woman suspended face down, her messy blonde hair veiling her lifeless features. Clad in a light nightgown adorned with black roses, she was covered in blood and mud. Her voice, unmistakably sounded like my mother's, reverberated through the eerie forest. It sent shivers down my spine.

Some of the branches were moving towards me, as though they were alive.

'Growling'

A low growl escaped her, and a sudden tension enveloped the air. I could feel her imminent shift, teetering on the edge of transforming into a wolf.

My heart raced as she fully transformed-a silver she-wolf with grey-black fur around her sides. Anger radiated from her eyes as she charged toward me. My legs turned to jelly, and I stood frozen in fear.

The dark forest echoed my name louder with each step she took, her mouth opening as if poised to take my head.

"Ha-a-a!" I screamed.

"Hamish, Hamish, Hamish!"

A deep male voice called out, growing increasingly louder. Suddenly, I jolted awake.

It was only just a dream.

Fully aware now, still in my bed, I realized it had been the same recurring dream for the last eight years-a woman calling my name, clad in the same dress, covered in mud and blood.

It had to be my mother. Ever since her death 14 years ago, I started having this same dreams, but I haven't had these dreams in a long while.

"Why now?" I couldn't fathom the meaning, because it scared the shit of of me. I often wondered why I couldn't just escape from her and her evil forest.

"Hamish, what's wrong with you?. Open up, open the door."

Oh no, my step dad Bob was still at the door. I quickly got out of bed, rubbed my eyes to gain my balance, and rushed to open the door just in time.

"Hey, good morning," I said, trying to sound awake with a fake smile.

"Hey? Are you kidding me, Hamish? Don't tell me you just got up, for crying out loud, why aren't you dressed yet? You have a flight to catch!" Bob spoke in his usual deep morning voice.

"Shit, I completely forgot about my flight." I raced past this 5'9 blonde man, into the bathroom, grabbed my brush, and headed to the bathroom to get ready.

Bob was a Beta, very sensitive when it came to academics. He was a math Professor in Lockwood Western College.

"I spent the last year and three months trying to get admission to Claremont University in Jacksonville, Florida.

Despite my step dad's persuasion not to go that far, I managed to convince him that it was the best school for the career I wanted-History and Ethics.

He only agreed because he wanted to win me over."

Now dressed in my favourite dark blue shirt with a white sleeve, folded on both arms, I focused on my hair.

Though not long enough, I made sure to bring every strand forward, covering my left eyebrows and a bit of my dark red eyes.

Unsatisfied with my looks, especially now that I was late for my flight, I grabbed a dark blue cap to match my pants and headed downstairs with my well-packed boxes.

I had spent all night fitting my stuff into just three boxes, exhausted by the time I finished.

Dragging two boxes down the stairs, my cute twin step-sisters rushed up and hugged my legs.

Lilith and Alyssa, both 6 years old and 2'7" tall, couldn't reach my waistline because I was a 6'2 giant to them, settling for hugging my legs.

I immediately dropped the boxes halfway down the stairs, picked them my little cuties, and continued walking, leaving the boxes there.

Alyssa wrapped her arms around my neck, giving me a peck on the cheek. She was more emotional than Lilith.

"Hamish, good morning! Quickly eat something, and put the girls down so I can get them dressed," Esther, my stepmother, spoke softly as she handed Bob a bowl of chicken soup. Leaving a sweet smell waffling through the air.

After finally dropping the boxes in the trunk with Jeremy's help, my 15-year-old stepbrother, 4'7 tall - one of the smartest kids I have ever seen, blonde like his dad, Jeremy loves playing baseball like me, so I had to give him my baseball kits, knowing I wouldn't be seeing him in a long time and of course in 3 years time, during a full moon, he would shift for the first time, causing him a rapid growth.

At least my baseball kit should fit on him better by then.

We went to the dining room, although not a morning person or a breakfast guy, I decided to eat, especially with Esther's efforts to make sure I didn't leave on an empty stomach.

Jeremy interrupted everyone, showing his phone screen, which read, 'Approximately 24hrs 6mins.' "That's how long it'll take you from Sydney, Australia, to Jacksonville City, Florida, USA." The realization left us momentarily stunned.

Bob said while passing me the bowl of chicken soup "If you don't eat enough now, once you enter that plane, you won't get the chance until tomorrow, Okay?.

Esther woke up early just to make sure you filled your stomach before travelling halfway across the world,". All i did was to nod my head looking at their happy faces.

After eating, we all headed to the airport. They accompanied me to the airport, showering me with love. I took a group photos with my entire family before boarding. I was definitely going to miss Alyssa and Lilith, my two cuties.

I couldn't shake the feeling that they had shown me so much love over the years out of pity.

After I lost my mom, I overheard Esther telling Bob, "What if he commits suicide just like his mother? We have to keep an eye on him."

Now, as I finally departed for the United States, they wouldn't have to worry about me any more.