The secluded clearing of Lewis Center was enveloped in an oppressive silence, as if the very air held its breath. The pines, black and twisted, ford a wall of shadows beneath a starless sky. The scent of damp earth mingled with the tang of dried blood, a harsh reminder of the battle against Jay and the Betas. Hugo leaned against a gnarled trunk, grimacing, his shredded t-shirt revealing hastily bandaged gashes.
His golden eyes, still haunted by his transformation, scanned his friends. Ben slumped against a rock, fiddling with his torn jacket, dried blood sared across his forehead. Yuki sat on a stump, cleaning his blades, his face unreadable.
Hugo had just spilled his secrets: his father, Marcus, an Alpha who’d fled his pack for Nina, a paladin of the Order of Salvation; their cursed love; Marcus’s coma after facing his pack; Nina, disabled; and himself, an Alpha hybrid rejecting his nature. A heavy silence followed, broken by Yuki, his tone sharp. "You should’ve told us, Hugo. We’re your friends."
Kaiser snorted sarcastically. "Yeah, just like you did, right, Yuki? You didn’t hide that you ca from a family that hunted wunders, did you? You didn’t call us crazy that night, saying we were hysterical."
Hugo burst into laughter, a rough but liberating sound. "Fuck, I freaked out when I found out you were a Zodiac, Yuki. A guy with poisoned blood? Honestly, I thought Zodiacs were scarier—the tales wunders tell about you aren’t far off from the devil."
Ben laughed, punching the rock. "Yeah, but admit it, you were cool with . When I lost it after my transformation..." He lowered his gaze, his voice grave. "I did so crazy shit, man. Blood on my hands. You did everything to calm down, even when I didn’t want to stop. Thanks."
Hugo shrugged, embarrassed. "You’re my brother, man. Soone had to stop you from eating the whole neighborhood."
The atmosphere lightened, laughter easing frayed nerves. But Kathy, motionless, glared at Kaiser, her eyes flashing. Kaiser, confused, muttered to Ben: "What’s her problem? Does she want to gut or sothing? I’m just a human, damn it. She should want to kill you or Hugo, right?"
Ben snickered. "You’ve got a punchable face, man. Let it go."
Katrina sat beside Kaiser, nudging him. "Ignore her. She’s just... protective." She smiled, her black hair falling over her face. The two began talking, their laughter echoing softly. Kaiser, curious, asked: "You knew about Sabrina, right? That she’s a vampire?"
Katrina nodded, her tone light. "Yeah. But she’s my friend. She’s cool, she doesn’t kill. At least I think? I’m not gonna judge her just because she’s got fangs."
Of course, she was lying, but Kaiser didn’t know that.
Kaiser smiled, impressed. "Not judgntal, huh? I like that." He glanced at Yuki, more serious. "Yuki, though... he’s a bit hypocritical, isn’t he? Calling wunders monsters, except his friends. It’s his way of not feeling guilty when he kills them."
Yuki looked up, growling: "I do what’s necessary. Wonders kill. I protect."
Kaiser shrugged. "Yeah, but humans kill too. Cannibals, psychopaths, wars... Saying wunders are worse is hypocritical. The only difference is they have powers. A guy with an axe can be more monstrous than a vampire."
Hugo nodded, thoughtful. "Kaiser’s right. My father... he was an Alpha, but he chose love. My mother killed wunders, but she loved . It’s not black or white."
Kathy, still silent, fired an arrow that grazed Kaiser’s hand, embedding itself in the ground. "You’re too close," she hissed, her gaze full of disdain.
Kaiser raised his hands, laughing nervously. "Okay, okay, I’ll back off!" The others, tense, exchanged glances, but Hugo waved a hand. "Let it go. We’re all exhausted."
Kaiser, resuming, asked: "So, what’s the deal with the Zodiacs in Lewis Center? You two," he pointed at Katrina and Kathy, "why are you here?"
Katrina replied, her tone grave. "We just transferred because Dad’s hunting the Mysterienkult. A cult working against the Order of Salvation. They’re after the dusa Piece, and it’s here, sowhere."
Kaiser frowned. "The Mysterienkult? That’s the demon-worshipping thing, right?"
"Actually, do demons even exist?"
"How would I know?" Ben sighed.
But Yuki shook his head: "It’s probable. If wunders exist, why wouldn’t they?"
Kathy, adjusting her glasses, explained: "An ancient cult. They want absolute power with ancient gods. The dusa Piece is a Wunder relic. No one knows exactly what it does, but everyone wants it: Die Hand im Schatten, the Mysterienkult, the Order, even demon worshippers."
Yuki sighed, rubbing his blades. "Not the first ti I’ve heard that na. The dusa Piece... slls like trouble."
Ben, suddenly serious, interjected. "Wait, we haven’t talked about Hassan all day. Where is he?"
Glances were exchanged, unease settling in. Hugo frowned. "Hassan? He was supposed to be working at the garage." He stood, grimacing under his wounds. "Shit, if he’s in on it..."
Katrina, crossbow in hand, whispered: "Or if he’s a target. Die Hand targets those close to wunders. We need to check."
A crack in the bushes froze them. Ben, his vampire senses on alert, sniffed the air. "Not human," he growled, his eyes glowing red. A shadow moved, a whisper fading: "The Alpha is awake..."
Yuki, blade in hand, murmured: "We’ve already got trouble. I hope none of them co after us."
Hugo, his golden eyes blazing, growled: "Let them co. I don’t care."
"Yeah, sure. Fucking Alpha with supernatural strength. I’m the one who’ll get folded in half, just saying." Kaiser comnted with disdain.
Ben : "Speaking of which, soone saw Hassan today. The guy seed weird lately."
...
Hassan’s Villa
anwhile, Hassan Adi, sprawled in a bathtub overflowing with foam, let the hot water soothe his tense muscles. Steam filled the bathroom, fogging the gilded mirror. The scent of lavender soap contrasted with the tension gnawing at him. His villa, perched on a hill in Lewis Center, was a sanctuary of luxury, its stone walls hiding ancient secrets. A sharp knock at the door startled him. "I’m busy!" he growled, his deep voice echoing off the tiles.
"It’s your father, sir," the maid replied, her tone hesitant. "He insists."
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