Chapter 288

Mary jolted upright with a loud scream, her chest heaving as the vision snapped away like glass shattering. Sweat clung to her skin, her eyes were wild, and she looked like she might jump from her bed, until Adele’s arms were around her, holding her still.
“Shhh, don’t worry. You’re safe now,” Adele murmured, her voice soothing enough to ground her.
She held Mary close. The young girl was shaking like a frozen leaf in winter. Adele had brought her to her place in the Staff lodge. It was much more comfortable and away from the disturbances of the annoying students.
Moreover, she refused to let Mary stay in the infirmary, not when it was so close to that wretched hospital ward. Not that the school lounge was ironclad safe, but it was better. Here, Mary would find peace.
The panic slowly faded from Mary’s eyes, but they quickly watered again. Soon the tears spilled as her lips trembled and she sobbed, “I don’t want this! I don’t want to be like this!”
Adele said nothing. She simply pulled her closer, holding the girl tighter, resting her chin gently on her head as the sobs grew louder, more guttural.
“Shhh, it’s alright,” she whispered. “You’ll get used to it.”
But those words only made Mary cry harder because she didn’t want to get used to it. She hadn’t asked the moon goddess for this. All she wanted was to be normal again.
Mary and Adele were never particularly close.
The girl was the school’s best student guide, easygoing and responsible, while Adele, on the other hand, was the reclusive healer—the one they called in for complicated emergencies when things went beyond what the hospital could handle. Their relationship had always been casual, professional at best. They existed in the same school, orbiting different spheres.
But right now, Adele saw a kindred spirit in her. Mary reminded her of her younger self — shaken, afraid, and carrying more than she ever asked for.
Mary had calmed down some, her breathing more even, her sobs now hiccupped silence. That was when Adele spoke, her hand rubbing gently at the girl’s shoulder.
“Powers like ours are never for ourselves. They were gifted by the moon goddess to serve. To help her children. But human nature is insatiable. They’ll only take and take until there’s nearly nothing left to give.”
Adele pulled back slightly, her eyes meeting Mary’s firmly.
“This is why you must be strong. You can no longer hide what you are. Heck, I think you might be the strongest seer we’ve had so far. You’ve been sprouting prophecies like you’re reading poems.”
Mary’s cheeks colored at what sounded like a compliment, but her voice came out hesitant and uncertain. “I… I don’t remember saying those words. The dreams I do remember a bit, but the rest just fizzles away. Or doesn’t make sense.”
“Visions,” Adele corrected gently. “You are one hundred percent a seer, Mary. Not even your dreams are to be taken for granted. And that is why you need to train. You need to be able to remember, to wield them. The power you hold, many people would kill to have it.”
“Then let them have it,” Mary snapped. “I don’t want this. I didn’t ask for this. I just want to be a normal teenager in my final year. Not a freak—”
“You are not a freak!” Adele said suddenly, with an intensity that startled them both.
Mary flinched.
Adele exhaled slowly, realizing she’d come on too strong. She softened her tone, eyes sincere. “Your power is a gift. You are the eyes of the goddess. And our people worship seers. The East especially. They would commit a holy war in your name if you told them it was the will of the gods. That’s just how powerful seers are.”
Mary swallowed thickly, the weight of the revelation crashing down on her. That was more than she expected.
“So…” she asked tentatively, “how do I control my powers? Would you teach me?”
But Adele let out a snort. “I’m a healer, not a seer. While some principles might work the same, our powers are different. You need your own teacher. The East can provide that.”
She sat back, her expression turning practical now.
“First, you’ll be presented to the Alpha King Elijah. Then the rest of your family will be tested. If there’s more wolf blood in your line, trust me, we’re claiming them. We’ve already lost enough of our kind. We’re not leaving anyone behind, full-blooded or not.”
Mary blinked, trying to keep up.
“There’s going to be lots of paperwork,” Adele continued, almost with a grimace. “Thanks to the Human-Werewolf Relations laws, which I’m sure you’ve already been taught and know. Since you’re still in school, your schedule will be reworked to accommodate your new seer ability and training. I think that’s pretty much it.”
Mary just sat there, stunned.
Adele reached over and took her hand, saying, “I know it seems like much. Overwhelming. But trust me, you’ll get used to it.”
She asked her, “So… I’ll belong to a pack?”
“Supposedly,” Adele answered. “The East Pack will likely claim you. They’re the ones with the resources to groom you into the powerful seer I know you’re going to be. Good thing there’s Parents’ Week around the corner. You’ll meet Alpha Irene. She’s a really impressive woman.” Adele smirked, as if relishing a memory exclusive to her alone.
However, the once curious expression on Mary’s face had turned to horror.
She said quickly, “I can’t tour the parents. What if I fall into a vision and embarrass myself?”
“You are not embarrassing yourself, Mary. You are only not in control of your powers. But don’t worry, you’ll learn.”
But Mary spat, “Until then, I’ll make a fool out of myself. And this time in front of hundreds of parents.”
“Mary, no—” Adele began, only to be interrupted by a knock on the door. She ignored it.
“Listen, Mary, you—”
The knock came again, louder now, more persistent, until Adele let out a groan of frustration.
“We are so not done with this conversation.”
She rose and went to open the door. And it turned out to be Alaric except her jaw dropped at the sight of him.
“Alaric? What the fuck happened to you?!”