Chapter 4 In Aetheria forest

Kaida's POV

As I stepped into the dreaded grounds, a chill ran down my spine, and the air seemed to vibrate with an ominous energy.

The trees stood still, their branches like skeletal fingers reaching toward the sky.

I tried to lift my legs, but my feet felt rooted to the spot, as if an unseen force was holding me back.

The ground seemed to dissolve beneath me, and I felt like I was drowning in an invisible sea.

A voice behind me shattered the spell, "Hey, what are you doing here? You should move." I spun around, my heart still racing, and saw people walking all around, going about their daily activities.

I quickly looked down to check on myself, relief washing over me as I realized I was whole and alive. It was just a hallucination, I told myself.

My exhaustion and lingering headache from the trip must have gotten the better of me.

As I regained my composure, I couldn't shake off the feeling that unseen eyes were trained on me. A shiver ran down my spine, and I glanced around, but everyone seemed oblivious to my presence.

I took a deep breath and focused on the task at hand, completing the registration process.

I slowly walked to the documentation table, my eyes scanning the area.

The sound of murmured conversations and shuffling papers filled the air, a stark contrast to the eerie silence of my hallucination.

I hoped to finish everything quickly and leave. I had planned to skip the three-week training due to my poor health condition, asthma, a rare affliction for werewolves.

But I had been told that once I turned 18 and found my mate, I would be cured.

One of the reasons I was looking forward to that day.

Finally, it was my turn, and I finished the registration process.

I was assigned a room, but I gave them casual glance and told me I wouldn't be staying there.

I picked up my bag and headed for the exit, but a strange sensation pulled me back.

Maybe it was just the wind, I thought, hesitating for a moment before continuing on my way.

***

As I stepped out of the gates, I suddenly remembered something.

I was supposed to meet with the council representative, the man Prof Anam had linked me up with to facilitate my transition into the Moonlight Shadows pack.

I sighed dejectedly and turned around. It only seemed fair that I meet him in person and thank him for his offer and assistance, though I wouldn't be staying.

I dialed his number as I waited by the gates.

"Good morning, Sir," I greeted as he picked up the call.

"Morning," he answered.

I introduced myself, and he told me to meet him by the gates, just where I happened to be.

I ended the call, scanning the area to see if I could spot him.

Just then, someone called my name, and I turned around. A middle-aged person, looking at me with a caring look and a beautiful smile, came closer.

His eyes grew laugh lines when he smiled and it eased my concerns, although I kept wondering if he had something to hide.

He was dressed in a tailored suit when all the others were dressed more casually.

"Hello, I'm Damien," he said as he put out his hand.

"Are you just coming now?" he asked as he glanced at my luggage.

"No, Sir, I was ready to leave at that moment." I answered.

"Leaving? He glanced at me and said, "I thought you were going to stay," sounding a little displeased.

"You really should stay, I'm sure you'll love it here," he added before I could respond.

"You'll have the opportunity to form connections with other packs and broaden your understanding of our world," he said, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.

***

Just the mention of others made me cringe. If there's one thing I hate, it's crowds, and this place screams that.

"Uhmm, I'm not sure..."

"Come on, just give it a try, I'm sure you'll love it," Mr Damien insisted.

"Oh! Ok," I gave in, feeling a bit overwhelmed.

He seemed too insistent.

"Truth be told, I was expecting to see someone a bit uhmm..."

"Older," he added, his eyes scanning me from head to toe.

What did he mean by older?

"I mean, you look too young to be here. What's your age again?" he asked.

I hesitated before responding that I was 17, which seemed to surprise him.

I get that a lot from people, given my small and petite frame.

"Ok, got to go. I'm sure we'll meet again soon since you're staying," he said before rushing off.

I sighed, wondering why I had allowed myself to be swayed into staying.

I picked up my bag and headed to the hostel, feeling a mix of emotions.

As I entered the hostel, I bumped into someone and quickly pulled her back to prevent her from stumbling.

"Sorry," I apologized.

"That's clumsy of me," I added, trying to lighten the mood.

"It's ok, I was also not looking where I was going," she answered back, her shy demeanor putting me at ease.

There was something about her gentle smile that made me want to know more about her.

"I'm Kaida, from the Starlight Runners pack. And you are?" I initiated the introduction, something I rarely do.

"I'm Amala, from the Ember pack," she replied softly.

We walked together to our room, and luckily, there were only two spots left to fill.

We took our beds and started arranging our belongings.

As I was busy, another girl walked up to me with a bright smile on her face.

She was tall and athletic-looking, with freckles scattered across her cheeks.

"Hey, I'm Chi, from the Thunder Howlers pack," she introduced herself with infectious enthusiasm.

I smiled back and introduced myself, feeling a bit overwhelmed by her energy.

"I'm going to be your bunkmate for the next three weeks," she added brightly.

I gave her a weak smile, hoping not to seem rude.

Chi's non-stop chatter was both exhausting and entertaining, but I needed a break.

"Excuse me, I think I'm going to use the bathroom," I said, and before she could respond, I fled.

At the door, I met Amala, and we decided to go out and grab some lunch together.

The cafeteria was bustling with people, but Amala's calm presence made me feel more at ease.

As we sat down to eat, I realized that I was actually looking forward to getting to know her better.

***

Two days had passed since I arrived, and all seemed to be going well.

The activities were kind of lenient at the moment, as documentation was still ongoing, but soon, it would kick off, and we'd be handed our asses back.

Now that I was staying, I unfortunately had to choose a platoon, which was real hard and tedious, but I and Amala went through it together. It was late in the evening that we finally finished our documentation.

We decided to head back to our room to rest. But as soon as I had my butt on the bed, a whistle pierced the air, urging us to the camp hall.

The sound was jarring, and I groaned inwardly. What was the purpose of this gathering, anyway?

Exhausted to the core, I dragged my leg and only managed to make it to the hall through sheer determination. I even lost Amala in the crowds.

As I entered the hall, the lights seemed to dim in my eyes due to the congestion of camp trainees.

The air was thick with the smell of sweat and anticipation. I tried to find my way out, but the crowd kept pushing me in.

The darkness closed in around me, suffocating me, and everything went black.

I felt a gentle tap on my cheek, but I ignored it, and then it came again.

I slowly opened my eyes, only to be met with piercing blue eyes looking right into mine.

His gaze was intense, and for a moment, I forgot to breathe. He looked more...human than I'd anticipated.

His chiseled features and sharp jawline made him look like a sculpture come to life.

"Hey, are you okay?" he asked, his deep voice sending a shiver down my spine.

I tried to respond, but my voice caught in my throat.

I nodded instead, still trying to process the situation.

The blue-eyed stranger's eyes seemed to bore into my soul, and I felt a strange sense of calm wash over me.