Chapter X

Another week passed. Dario's house felt like a hotel with so many people coming and going, the teenagers locked in their own little world, in their bedroom, despite Artemisa's help. The two of them were constantly organizing. To break the routine, they went house-hunting, since "the little boss" needed a bigger one, big enough for his entire family. They went to the most exclusive residential areas in the city, but not a single house or mansion really caught their attention.

The afternoon arrived when the two arrived and both were surprised to see the boss shouting from one side to the other, Artemisa shrugs, Secundina sees it, frowns, stops in front of him, stops abruptly, and points at the phone.

—“It’s Zinerva. She doesn’t want to negotiate, she wants me to sleep with her.”

Secundina snatches the cell phone from him.

• I'm sorry, Mr. Makris isn't interested in your insane request. If the reason for your call isn't about the meeting, I asked you to speak to me directly. He doesn't have the time to waste on a... lady... like you. Good evening.

He hangs up and gives the phone to Elián, he goes to the improvised office leaving the two with a look of astonishment at his attitude, Artemisa smiles, pats her friend's arm wishing him luck, he puts his hands to his face, then to his waist, shakes his head and returns the gesture to his friend.

• Now I understand why your wolf howled for her.
• I just need to win her over. She's determined when she wants to be, she's brave, she's not afraid of me, and that makes me want her more and more.

—You conquered Rome, you can surely handle it, patience brother, patience.

The eldest cannot hide the pride that Secundina's attitude provokes in him.

Girls' room.

—On the full moon you transform and you're wild?

—Not me, the new ones do. If I integrate you into the pack, you have no control over yourself for the first hundred years, nor any memory.

• I would change, I would kill, but I wouldn't remember anything, right?
• True, since I was born with a magnifying glass, the same doesn't happen to me, since my parents were already civilized.

—Ahhh! What was your mom like? If your dad loves my mom, he'll make her like you guys, right?

• My brothers say that my mother was very pretty, I really don't know, dad says that Calix looks like her, my dad wouldn't change your mother unless she wanted to, but the way I see it, they don't even talk anymore.

—My mom is stubborn, but I'll do some convincing, at least if it's her boyfriend.

—My dad doesn't want her as a girlfriend, he wants her as a wife and to be his Alpha.

—You must explain that to me with apples because I didn't understand with pears.

Elian's passion

—Every pack has its leaders, in this case they are my dad and my mom. Since he became widowed and couldn't find a partner, that is, another alpha, my older sister Briseida took my mom's place, she fulfilled almost everything except one function.

—Being your dad's partner.

—Yeah, Dad needs a partner to help him keep everything under control, and even defend him.

—My mom is strong, I'm sure she would help my uncle Elián very well.

-You think?

—One hundred percent sure —screams begin to be heard.

—It's my dad, and this time it's not your mom... oh! This is bad.

—Why? What does it say?

• More dismembered bodies have turned up. Felipe, Alejo, and I don't know who else are coming. You'd better go to a hotel. I'll tell Dad.

—I'll talk to my mom.

By the time the two of them left it was already late, the locals were already in the house, the girls went into Secundina's room, Elena leaning against the door trying to listen, the other two listening to the screams.

—This is very, very bad. If Dad doesn't do something this month, it'll be worse. They shouldn't have the meeting this time.

—Why? What's going on?

• Moors on the coast, I tell you, there's more night.
• Yes, yes, Moors on the coast.
• It can't be, it can't be, Jonathan is coming.
• He's another one like you.
• Yes, from the northern tribes. Since I haven't seen him for a hundred years,

Will he still be as handsome? He's a white man adopted by a northern ethnic group.

—Ha! Is he your boyfriend?

• No, he's my friend. I haven't talked to anyone yet.

. . .

In the room.

"Felipe, if they're already doing this during the day and without changing clothes, it's beyond personal," he said, looking at the images. "Who would dare to do something so atrocious?"

—But during the day? Only some of us are supposed to be able to transform in broad daylight.

• What Elian says is true—Felipe sits down and places his elbows on his thighs—There's a legend about Utah, but if we're a myth, the legend could be true; it's a matter of going with the Navajos.

—What does that legend talk about?

—They call themselves SkinWalker, they are said to be so ferocious, bloodthirsty, they are said to be pure evil.

—Pure evil? How bad are they?

• They say that just naming them is terrifying.
• We are terrifying too.
• We were, no longer, we have evolved over the years.
• But our instinct remains intact, we just control it. What happens during a full moon?
• We are bloodthirsty beasts.
• Let's go back to being those beings. But first, let's investigate everything we can about those beings. What do you think about going with Jonathan?
• Don't worry, he'll be here soon, the cowboy will arrive in three days.
• He'll be glad to see you. We're leaving in three days. I have to sort out a few things and make some calls.