"W-what!?" I stuttered in shock which made the two girls in front of me surprised and confused.
"Why do you act so surprised?" It was Gabriella now who has asked me in confusion.
I looked around the library. There were lots of students here, does it mean that... "S-so... everyone here.. including y-you... are werewolves?" I couldn't raise my voice knowing that we are inside the library and I am afraid that what I am thinking is true.
I couldn't understand... A school of werewolves? Then, why am I here? My chest tightened upon hearing those words... not believing everything that they have said.
I have been connected with werewolves ever since I was young, the sounds of the wolf every night at our village, the transformation of my father and also... the two werewolves who chased me before when I was heading to Tobias place.
And now, the Astrid University? I wished I understood it wrong.
"We all are, Maive. The university won't accept you if you're not a werewolf," Anne answered. She looks at me... not even believing my reaction.
I was agape by her words and my heart was racing fast. Again, I looked around to see some students of Astrid University reading books quietly as if they were harmless. At some point, I am scared, wait-
"B-But... I am not." I said softly as I looked at the ground feeling guilty that somehow I accused them of being harmful, my father has never harmed his children, he loved me as much as he could.
I am not a werewolf, however, how could I pass and get a scholarship when I am not one of them..?
I knew my father was one of them... but Zonen and I grew up being normal human beings. There's no way I belong in this place.
Then... If that's the case... Tobias... is one of them. Tobias is a werewolf? How come? No, that's not even possible. We grew up together, I have never seen him once being a werewolf. There's no way that's possible.
"Are you j-joking?" I laughed awkwardly.
"No. Are you?" Anne answered seriously. They looked dumbfounded at my reaction.
I looked at them seriously as I pointed to myself, "But I am not a werewolf..."
Gabriella shook her head, "That's impossible, Maive. You will never set foot at this university if you're a normal human being."
I shook back my head. "I am a normal human being..." I stated. I am sure; I grew up with no signs of being a werewolf like my father.
Their mouths fell open upon hearing my statement.
But Gabriela recovered after some seconds. "The administrators would not make such a mistake. Are you sure that you're not?"
"Yes." I answered without a doubt. I could have discovered that I am a werewolf through some symptoms right? But at my age, I have none. I have only a bite mark in my neck, but that doesn't mean it was a symptom.
"How about your family? Relatives?" Anne asked once more.
I fell into silence for a few minutes after that question from Anne.
I bit my lip, "W-well... my f-father, I think, he's a werewolf." I stuttered. It was my first time talking about the identity of my father after finding it out that night. Actually, it was a fact that my father is truly a werewolf since I saw him transformed into a wolf, until now, it makes my heart quenched painfully.
Gabriella snapped her fingers, "Then you are one of us. I knew that the administrator wouldn't make such a mistake."
I pointed my finger at myself, "I'm... a werewolf?" I couldn't believe it.
"You definitely are," Anne answered. "The wolf in you has probably not awakened yet but you have the blood of being one."
I flew silently after that. My thoughts wandered everywhere. Aunt Vera and Uncle Silas have insisted for me to go here. Does that mean that they knew about it? Are they wolves too?
My brain ached at everything that I thought of. My heart also aches at everything... it aches for my father and brother. If a place like this exists, then why does my father stay in a village full of cruel human beings. If he did not stay in a village like that, he could have lived. He could have been accepted if he was here. We could have lived normally in a place like this where all werewolves live freely and not called a monster.
Does my father know about this place? Or he doesn't?
I couldn't understand it.
I was silent that whole day. I was not able to understand all the lessons that were discussed in my class the whole day. Anne and Gabriela felt that I wasn't myself so they did not even try to interrupt my thoughts. They just sat beside me silently.
"So... see you tomorrow?" Gabriella asked as we bid goodbye to each other when the last class ended.
I nodded absentmindedly, "Yeah, tomorrow."
I proceeded to walk with my mind full of thoughts. A lot of questions were running around in my head and it felt like it was about to explode. On my first day at this university, I found out that I was surrounded by werewolves. A prestigious university of wolves... seemed unbelievable to me.
Still, I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn't even realize what I was doing or where I had gone to.
I just saw myself sitting on a bench in front of the boys' dormitory, waiting for Tobias to come. I can feel my knees weakening from what I have learned.
I didn't realize that it was already dark. I was probably sitting here for hours. I only realized this when Tobias appeared in front of me.
He looked pissed, "What are you doing here? It's dangerous, Maive!" He exclaimed madly.
On normal days, I would just probably throw some jokes to calm him but this exhausting day is different.
Tobias bent his knees for our faces to be leveled. He, then, lifted my face with his right hand and scanned it.
"What happened here?" He gritted his teeth as soon as he saw the side of my lips with a small wound. It bled earlier when I was slapped by a man from that group of wolves.
I shook my head.
"Is it true?" I asked him instead of answering his question. I have no energy for explaining.
"What?" He asked, not focusing on my question but on the wound in my face. He looks so worried about me.
"This school..." I paused. He, now, looked at me with a hint of nervousness which made me certain of it.
"Tobias." I called his name.
He clenched his jaw as he avoided my gaze.
"Are you... a werewolf?"