"I don't like Gao Tianyu, and I'm not gonna miss the chance to annoy him," Julian said to Loka, his silver-furred wolf companion. The big wolf stared up at him, gray eyes calm, tongue hanging out as he panted.
"Next time he comes around, you should mark his boots," Julian muttered with a smirk.
He was talking to a wolf. He felt like one of those mountain hermits who talked to trees and stones. Hopefully, this wasn't a sign that Loka would be his only friend in Kunming village. That would be worse than getting scolded for hours by like elder Gao Wen used to do, the head of the Sichuan werewolf academy.
When they reached the edge of the riverbank, the water shimmered under the moonlight. It wasn't wild like the rivers in Sichuan, where powerful currents could drag someone off. Julian stood by the river with Loka at his side, thinking of his father, Zhao Diwen, who was currently leading the northern scouts of the Wild Pack, the shadow peak clan at the territories of Yunnan. His father once said that life out in the wild made him feel needed. "A wolf without purpose loses his howl," Zhao Diwen had told him.
Julian hadn't told his father he planned to join the Outer Patrol after graduation to find that purpose.
As he jogged along the riverside trail, he passed another group of wolves gathered around a fire. Laughter and music filled the night. He spotted Venus Lin Yue right away, this time not by her scent but by her near and close presence sitting beside Gao Tianyu, who held a gourd of rice wine lazily in one hand.
If Lin Yue were with him, Julian thought, he'd hold her tight, tuck her under his arm like she was a secret meant to be protected. But he wasn't that lucky.
Loka, his wolf barked, loud and sudden. Heads turned. Including Lin Yue's. Her sharp, unreadable eyes met his. Then she looked away like he wasn't even there.
He veered off the trail and jogged home, trying to outrun his thoughts. But Lin Yue haunted him—her scent, her stare and even her silence.
"She's not even worth it," he said to Loka.
The wolf let out a low whine, like he didn't agree.
"She has a boyfriend. And she can't stand me living under her roof," he added, but couldn't shake the way her lips looked soft in the firelight, or how her moods changed the color in her eyes.
Back at the house, he tossed himself onto his makeshift straw bed in the guest room. The frame creaked with every movement. Before he could drift off, Loka leapt onto the bed beside him. The beast was snoring in seconds.
He was halfway into a dream when the door flew open.
"Why are you in bed with my dog?" Lin Yue demanded.
"I'm not. He's the one who climbed in," Julian answered groggily.
"You've already taken my sister's loyalty and my nephew's heart. Don't take my sweet dog too."
"Your dog, fork or whatever his name is came here himself. If you have family problems, keep me out of it." He sat up and noticed she was wearing a healer's tunic and flannel pants with old sigils printed on them. It was a big change from her elegant dress earlier that evening. "Just take your fork and go."
But she didn't leave. He could feel her stare on him, warm and heavy.
"What?"
"If you call me Moon cakes again, I'll break your nose." She said to him, before adding what she was forgetting to remind him, "and for your information, his name is not fork, his name is Forklor." She said patting her dog lovingly.
He smirked. He almost said what was on his mind. But changed his mind," I don't keep promises Moon cake, and I can't promise to stop calling you however I want."
Venus stormed out of his room, a confused expression washing all over her, she wasn't sure how to communicate with her sister's stepson.
Hours later...The following morning.
Lin Yue lay curled under her blanket, hoping the world would slow down just long enough for her to catch her breath. Last night with Gao Tianyu had gone terribly. She didn't even know where they stood anymore.
No messages. Not a word from him.
She got up and headed to the washroom. The toilet seat was up again. She cursed under her breath. She knew who was the culprit who was head over heels to test her patience, of course, it was Julian Zhao Xin.
She made her way to the kitchen. Julian walked in not long after, his hair messy, he was wearing loose linen clothes. He looked like trouble wrapped in calming candy.
"Did you lure Forklor into your room?" she asked.
"He scratched at my door until I let him in. Maybe he's bored of you."
She rolled her eyes. "A dog doesn't abandon his bonded friend."
"If you say so." He pulled out eggs and steamed buns from the pantry.
"What happened between you and Gao Tianyu last night?" he asked casually.
"What happened to you respecting my toilet seat rule?" she snapped back.
He smirked. "I suffer from a serious condition. I can't take orders."
"Poor thing. You must feel so attacked by a female telling you what to do." She grabbed dried berries from a jar, picking out the dark ones.
He leaned closer. "Nothing threatens me, Moon cake."
His breath touched her skin and sent a chill down her spine.
"I'm not affected," she lied.
"You only eat berries and dried roots for breakfast?"
"It's comfort food."
He shrugged. "If you say so."
She handed him the dark berries. "Take these. I don't eat them."
"You allergic?"
"To the dye they're treated with."
"I'll stick with eggs and buns." He rejected her fruits.
Little Jerry xin walked in. Julian Zhao Xin turned to the boy. "Want some food?"
The boy nodded.
"I'll cook—" Lin Yue began, eager to do something right.
"I got it," Julian said.
He cooked, and the smell of fresh food filled the kitchen. Lin Yue felt like a guest in her own house. Julian's arrogant presence made her feel invisible.
She waved the berry bag at her nephew. "Want some? Sweet and sour. Good junk food."
He shook his head in a second denying her offer. Venus stared at the little boy holding back her mouth from talk, Julian had already filled the little boy with his bad behavior she was sure of, she tried not to feel crushed.
Julian placed a warm plate in front of the boy, who hummed in approval as he ate. Lin Yue stared at the joy on her nephew's face. She remembered how she grew up after her sister left her alone, eating from jars and packages.
Jealousy twisted inside her.
Suddenly, she remembered. Last night, the full moon had passed. That meant rival packs could have left a message.
She rushed to the window.
No.
No. No. No.
It was worse than she imagined.
The courtyard wasn't covered in feathers or flour like last time. This time, pads were stuck to every tree. Tampons dangled from the branches like cursed ornaments. Some had fake blood—probably red paint—on them. Even the mailbox had pads stuck to it like it was some sort of sacrificial totem.
On the stone path, two words were spelled out in pads:
BLACK MOON WHORE
Her face burned with rage and shame.