Mikha's Pov

"It's only dodgeball sabi ng isa dyan," Gwen said.

"Nagpatalo ka lang ata Mikhs," Jho said.

The three of us are on our way to school. Well, two days ago we lost to Aiah's team in dodgeball.

"Hindi ako nagpatalo. I didn't use my power," I said.

"Oh right, para hindi tayo mahalata," Gwen said.

"Kayo ni Aiah ang natira sa last minute, katakot din pala siya kalaban kahit dodgeball game," Jho said.

"Both of you know that we have to be careful, especially since they are hunters," I said.

"At least we had fun playing while not using our powers," Gwen said.

I'm Mikhaela Janna Lim, a 4th year college student and captain of the volleyball team. What Gwen meant about our powers is that we are werewolves. We are betas in our pack. Pinsan ko si Gwen at bestfriend namin si Jho simula pagka-bata.

Ma-ingat kami sa movements namin lalo na when we're around Aiah and her friends. We only use our powers in case we need to, especially na teammate namin si Colet. We excel in playing volleyball, kahit hindi kami gumamit ng powers.



Paano ko nalaman na hunters sila Aiah? Sometimes I listened to them pag bumibisita parents ni Aiah noong buhay pa parents ko. Her parents and mine are bestfriends, but she doesn't know what we are. That's why we're childhood bestfriends. We used to play every day and sometimes do sleepovers.

We used to bond together before, but hindi na masyado simula ng nag-start training niya bilang hunter. Paano ko nalaman? Narinig ko sila ni Colet nag-usap about sa hunter training nila. Close pa din kami ni Aiah lalo na magkaklase kami. Lagi pinapanuod namin ang games ng isa't-isa. I already feel her presence when they are about to sit in the bleachers.

"Mikhs nag-chat si Maloi sa group chat, ikaw na mag-reply," Jho said.

"Why me?" I asked.

"Because medyo late ka nagising," Gwen said.

"And you are the reason why binibilisan ko mag-drive," Jho said.

Sabay kami tatlo pumasok ng school since same house lang kami ni Gwen while katapat lang ng house namin ang house nila Jho. Car ni Jho ang gamit. Patay naka-capslock chat ni Maloi. Hindi din normal person si Maloi. She's a banshee, a special human woman who has the supernatural power to sense and predict when someone is about to die.

Chat Conversation:



Binulsa ko na phone ko sabay kinurot braso ni Gwen. We're seated in the back seat.

"Uso kumampi sa pinsan," I said.

"Seryoso Mikhs katakot si Maloi, remember her screaming powers," Gwen said.

"Daan tayo coffee shop, I'll buy one for Maloi," I said.

"Mikhs, kami din i-treat mo," Jho said.

"Kinampihan niyo ba ako?" I asked.

"Damay nga kami sa punishment mo eh," Jho said.

"Oo na, bibilhan ko din kayo," I said.

Our punishment, nagpa-kulay ako ng red hair at nagpagupit si Jho at Gwen. May dinamay din kami na isa sa punishment, si Colet na nagpagupit din. Syempre teammate namin siya. Nagkita-kita kami apat sa mall kagabi at sabay na sa salon para sa punishment namin.

Dumaan na kami sa coffee shop, then binilisan na makarating sa school. Nasaktuhan namin si Colet na mag-isa sa parking lot. Napatawa kaming apat.

"All for one, one for all talaga," Colet said.

"Coffee Colet," I said.

Binigyan ko ng coffee si Colet. Actually, eight coffees ang binili namin, naisipan ko nalang din bilhan sila Aiah. Pagka-dating namin sa classroom ay napatingin lahat ng tao, especially sila Aiah.

"Goodmorning," I said.

"Kaya pala ang aga na naman magpasabog ng BiniU," Sheena said.

"Magpasabog?" I asked.

"The four of you are the topic of BiniU in X," Maloi said.

Pinakita ni Maloi phone niya, kami nga nila Jho ang topic. Ang bilis naman talaga ng BiniU. Binigay ko na muna kila Maloi dala namin na coffee bago umupo.





"Kaya pala pinagtitinginan kami," Gwen said.

"Paano hindi kayo titignan eh captain niyo mas lalo pala poganda sa red hair," Sheena said.

Kinurot ni Aiah braso ko.

"Mikha Lim naging advantage pa ata punishment niyo," Aiah said.

"I didn't know na babagay sakin red hair. It's my first time magpakulay," I said.

"Teka nga Jhoanna Robles sinuhulan niyo ata hair stylist ng salon," Stacey said.

"Hindi namin sinuhulan Staku. Sinabi lang namin na sila na bahala samin," Jho said.

"Hinintay pa namin si Mikha matapos," Gwen said.

"Staku nadamay ako, makurot kita eh," Colet said.

"Na-active niyo si anger," I said.

"Ako din mag-active anger ko muntik na kayo ma-late lalo na kasama niyo si Jho na class representative," Maloi said.

"Hephep tama na yan. Maya-maya nandyan na si Ma'am Ica," Aiah said.

Saved by Aiah, pero lagot pa din kami ni Jho at Gwen pag uwian kay Maloi. Alam namin agad sa pag-tingin niya samin tatlo.

Parang ang bilis ng oras. Sana binagalan pa, pero may tryouts pala ang team ngayong hapon. Nasa gym na kaming lima kasama si Coach Mickey.

"Lim bagay na bagay red hair," Coach Mickey said.

"Coach naman," I said.

"Dagdag pogi points ata yan sa mga crush niyo eh," Coach Mickey said.

"Hindi uso crush coach. Volleyball is life," I said.

"Coach natalo kasi yan sa dodgeball kay captain Aiah ng archery team," Gwen said.

"Kaya nadamay kami sa punishment," Jho said.

"Lalo na ako damay talaga," Colet said.

Bigla may humawak sa tenga ni Gwen at Jho. Lagot si Maloi.

"Kung gaano kayo kaaga pag practice ay ganun din sana kayo pag-pasok sa class," Maloi said.

"Teka Loi si Mikha may kasalanan," Jho said.

"Nasuhulan na ng coffee si Maloi," Colet said.

"Madaya," Gwen said.

"At least ang poganda lalo ng mga papi line ng volleyball team," Coach Mickey said.

"Tama coach," I said.

"Wow, Mikha Lim," Maloi said.

Kinurot ni Maloi braso ko.

"Wala epekto suhol mo. Mag-simula na kayo mag-set up bago dumating mga teammates niyo at mga mag-tryouts," Maloi said.

"Coach pwede na ata maging assistant coach si Maloi," I said.

"Siya na papalit isa sa mga assistant coach pagka-graduate niyo," Coach Mickey said.

"Ay baka hindi tatagal sa kanya mga players," Jho said.

"Kikilos na ba kayo o ibibigay ko nalang sa mga mag-try outs ang dala ko na chocolate cookies?" Maloi said.

"Uy kilos na tayo Mikhs," Colet said.

Colet pulled me to the, ang bilis talaga masuhulan ng cookies gawa ni Maloi. Kinuha na namin mga equipments, after namin nag-set up ay naisipan ko sumilip sa bintana. May practice sila Aiah. Their practice area is just at the side of the gym.

I know one of the reasons why Aiah is great at archery is because of her skills as a hunter. I can't help looking at her, even though I already watched her every practice or her games. Maybe as a childhood bestfriend, bilib talaga ako sa kanya.

"Mikhs nandyan na mga mag-tryouts," Gwen said.

Kasabay dumating ng mga mag-tryouts ang ibang teammates namin. I made them play for two sets; both sides have two players from my team.

"Madami ata may potential sa kanila," Colet said.

"Mukhang mahirap pumili," I said.

Colet is the vice captain of the team; her position is outside hitter. I made Gwen and Jho play, para medyo mapadali makita sino ang malakas ang potential. Both of them are middle blockers. I want to bring another championship trophy, bago kami mag-graduate.

"Talaga lang ang lalakas ng mga palo at ang ganda ng blockings ni Gwen at Jho," Colet said.

"Naramdaman na nila ang bangis ng dalawa," I said.

"Paano pa kaya pag naglaro din tayong dalawa? Eh di mas malala," Colet said.

"Ang tibay mag-receive ni Sophia, malakas din bawat palo niya pero gusto ko subukan itrain siya bilang setter minsan," I said.

Si Sophia, kahit part na ng team ay gusto pa din maglaro kasama mga mag-tryouts.

"Ginalingan niya talaga. Mukhang hindi pa yan ang full power niya, and she's smiling." Colet said.

"She's enjoying the game." I said.

After the game, nauna na umuwi sila Gwen dahil kinausap ko pa muna si Coach Mickey. Mabuti pala pinadala ko kanina motorcycle ko kay Tito Ed, dad ni Gwen. Another reason bakit ko pinadala ay may dadaanan ako mamaya. My motorcycle is a Ducati Multistrada 950.

"Mikha, what do you think about the tryouts?" Coach Mickey asked.

"There may be three to four people that are passed to join the team coach," I said.

"Pag-usapan niyo ni Colet, then we'll send the message to the players both of you will pick," Coach Mickey said.

"Yes, coach," I said.

"Mikha uso din magka-lovelife," Coach Mickey said.

"Huh coach?" I asked.

"I said get a lovelife too. The four of you are too focused in volleyball. This is your last year," Coach Mickey said.

"It's not that easy, coach," I said.

Hindi madali, especially I'm a werewolf. Who would fall in love with me? That would be impossible.

"It's easy looking at the captain of the archery team by the window," Coach Mickey said.

"Coach, we're just childhood bestfriends," I said.

"Okay okay, but please hinay lang kayo nila Colet sa volleyball. Don't forget to also enjoy college life," Coach Mickey said.

"Yes, coach," I said while smiling.

Parang father figure na din namin si Coach Mickey, kahit two years palang namin siya nakakasama. Pagkalabas ko ng gym ay may naririnig ako sa side ng gym. Pagabi na may nagprapraktis pa. I already know who that person is. It's Aiah, I guess patapos palang siya. I sat on the bench near their practice area.

"Mikha Lim, what are you still doing here?" Aiah asked.

"I just finished talking to Coach Mickey," I said.

I stood up, then went close to her.

"I should be asking you that question, pagabi na Aiah," I said.

"I didn't notice the time. Pinauna ko na din umuwi si Sophia," Aiah said.

"Sabay kana sakin, ihatid na kita," I said.

"Are you sure?" Aiah asked.

"I'm sure. We're going to use my motorcycle," I said.

"Your favorite motorcycle," Aiah said.

Binalik muna ni Aiah mga equipment niya sa gym; each club has a locker room there. Sinuot ko sa kanya yung helmet ko. Bago kami umalis, may bigla ako naalala.

"Aiah, may daanan lang tayo saglit. Is it okay with you?" I asked.

"Oo naman," Aiah said.

"Thanks," I said.

We went to the cemetery.

"Hi mom, dad. Sorry ngayon lang napa-daan, kasama ko po pala si Aiah," I said.

"Hi tita, tito," Aiah said.

My parents are already dead. I have a brother, pero nasa ibang bansa. Parents ni Gwen ang nag-alaga sakin simula ng umalis si Kuya.

"Next time I'll bring flowers, galing po kasi kami school," I said.

Kinausap ko saglit puntod ng parents ko, then hinatid ko na si Aiah.

"Malapit na pala death anniversary ni Tita Mina. You miss them," Aiah said.

"Always missing them," I said.

Nakarating na kami sa tapat ng bahay nila Aiah.

"Thanks for the ride, Mikhs. Don't forget your helmet," Aiah said.

"Your welcome, Aiah. Sabihin mo lang ako pag late ka matapos magpractice para sabay na tayo umuwi," I said.

Sinuot ko na din agad helmet ko na pinasuot ko sa kanya kanina.

"By the way, this week dalhan kita ng cookies," Aiah said.

"I'll be looking forward to it. Goodnight, Aiah," I said.

"Goodnight, Mikhs. Drive safely," Aiah said.

I watched her go inside their house before I left.

After a few minutes nasa bahay na ako. May familiar scent ako naaamoy, I see in the glass window, my eyes glowed gold. Someone just came down from upstairs.

"Kuya Enzo!" I said.

"Hi Bunso," Kuya Enzo said.

I quickly hugged my brother, then punched his shoulder.

"Uso din umuwi minsan. Hindi ibig sabihin alpha kana ay wala ka dito," I said.

My brother is the current alpha, the leader of the pack. He got the power of the alpha from our Uncle Javier Lim, who killed our dad.

They said that you have to kill the alpha to get the power, but miraculously our uncle survived and my brother got the power. Hindi sinabi ni Kuya Enzo kung saan dinala si Tito Javier. What I only know is he's alive.

"Chill Bunso, hindi na ako aalis. I already recruited new betas for our pack," Kuya Enzo said.

"Do I know them?" I asked.

"Maybe you'll meet them in school tomorrow. There's another reason why I came back. I found out the reason how mom died," Kuya Enzo said.

We didn't know how our mom died. Dad didn't say how, and at that time Kuya Enzo was studying abroad. The only thing that I remembered is that I woke up seeing dad preparing for the funeral of Mom with our family.

"She was killed by a hunter who used a silver arrow made with a dangerous kind of wolfsbane in it," Kuya Enzo said.

"Wolfsbane?" I asked.

Wolfsbane is an extremely toxic herb for werewolves, werecoyotes, and presumably werejaguars. There are many kinds of it.

"I'm going to need first the claws of dad to find out who killed mom. There's a possibility that dad hides the identity of the hunter," Kuya Enzo said.

"Dad's claws? Maybe the emissary would know where it is," I said.

We don't know who is the pack's emissary. Only the alpha knows. Now that my brother is the alpha, the emissary might show up to him.