**BEFORE YOU READ**
As you guys move forward in this book, you will notice that this is a tiny bit different from your typical werewolf story. But if you like trying new stuff, this is for you! It is still very much a paranormal story, just with a lot of different stuff thrown in.
Also, please be patient with me, there will be some typos and grammatical errors. Not a lot, though. I hope you enjoy!
Also, thank you for picking The Faults in Us!
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I'm free.
Those two words kept running through my head as I ran, as fast as I could. As fast as my legs could carry me in my human form. Without looking back, without any hesitation in my step, I ran. I was finally free. I was so happy I could cry.
But there was no time.
As soon as I hit the outskirts of the forest, I shifted. It was painful, I almost screamed, but I pushed through it and ran. My wolf was howling with joy. I was feeling the same way, all traces of the pain gone.
Every hit, every whip, every slap...
They all made me stronger.
I won't let that planning and submission go to waste.
As I ran, I didn't look back. Never will I ever go back to that hell hole. It's over.
I'm free.
****
'DRINK'S ON ME!' I yelled loudly, and everyone cheered. I was here, in New Orleans, and it was the time of Mardi Gras. Everyone was out on the streets, dancing and collecting beads, while I and my group of friends were in our usual spot in the local bar, drinking 'till we couldn't anymore. It was a time of celebration, after all!
He was dead!
'HERE'S TO THAT ASSHOLE! MAY HE ROT IN HELL!' Athena yelled.
'CHEERS!'
A few hours later, around two in the morning, Ena and I were the only people left.
'Hey,' I slurred, clearly drunk (not that I'm going to stay that way for long), 'we should head home. Come on, Ena.'
'Yes! Let's... wait, what?'
I rolled my eyes. 'Come on,' I said, hauling her off the chair.
'Bye, David!' she yelled to the bartender, who had graciously put up with us until three am.
'Thanks!' I yelled too. Ena and I walked to our two-bedroom apartment which wasn't too far away. We undressed and collapsed immediately on the large couch in our underwear, not bothering to remove our makeup or brush our teeth. Hell, we didn't even put pj's on, just slept in our underwear and bras.
The next morning, I woke up with a slight headache. My werewolf genes took care of the worst parts of a hangover and I knew even that slight pain would be gone in a matter of minutes.
Ena, however, was a completely different case.
She was a witch, but unfortunately, they don't have the regenerative powers we do, though they have powerful magic. Ena came to New Orleans about the same time I did and helped me get rid of those bitches who were always on my ass, haunting me and giving me a hard time.
She's the daughter of one of the Seante, who are these all-powerful witches and are part of this high and mighty witch council that rules all the witches around the world. I pity the witches, they have dictators on the throne. Ena, realizing this fact, ran away from home and found me.
We both protect each other, a werewolf and a witch working together can form a powerful team. Our species despise each other and try to stay apart, but somehow he managed to convince some of them to hunt me and make my life miserable.
But I guess I must be grateful, he taught me how to fight and didn't tell anyone he had tabs on me. Not only physically, but mentally. When I was his prisoner he pitied me and tried to "protect" me, but in the end, it was all to use me. He wanted me to think of him as my saviour, and obey his every command. He wanted me like his personal slave. In all aspects.
I found out about his scheme one day and since then, he had been nothing but cruel, before I ran away and was finally free. The witches were a major nuisance, but I could deal with them. Just as they were getting out of hand, Ena came along and everything was alright.
I sighed, looking at her figure sprawled across the couch with drool dripping down the side of her mouth and a wet patch on the pillow. I did NOT want to deal with a hungover Ena right now, but since she pays the rent and this is basically all her stuff (and I'm her best friend), I had to.
But not just yet.
I set a glass of water and Aspirin on the coffee table next to the couch. Then, I started making breakfast. One thing I'm good at is cooking. I can cook anything, anything at all. It's one of my many skills. And I love it. It puts my mind at ease and helps me forget my worries, even for a short time.
Because the nagging feeling that he's going to find me someday just never leaves.
Maybe one day he will.
But for now, I'm just enjoying my life. I've got a new fresh start in New Orleans, where I have a best friend and an awesome place to live. Who knows, maybe I'll even find my mate.
No, that's too much to hope for.
Werewolves can find their mates at the age of 18. That's my age right now, because...
Today is my birthday!
Well, the only exciting thing about today is that I can finally sense my mate. Otherwise, it's just any normal, boring day. Well, almost. I have a hungover Ena to deal with.
I hummed a happy tune as I made bacon and eggs. I wasn't in the mood for something extravagant or time-consuming. I had to be somewhere.
A job interview.
Ena had finally forced my lazy ass to apply, even though I was more than qualified to do anything. Not on paper, though. Werewolf education is of high level for those who want to do something other than fighting (which is basically 1% of the werewolf population) and in 10th grade, I knew enough to get a master's degree in business and literature.
So, I was more than qualified for a lot of jobs.
But I couldn't get any of any value because humans didn't know we existed and the world is basically run by them with paranormal species in the shadows. Werewolves, witches, vampires, ghouls. All these species endangered. The ghouls are nearly extinct.
People say they just lost the will to live.
Vampires went underground, no one knows one unless it wants you to.
Werewolves and witches are eternal rivals.
So, the paranormal world isn't really thriving.
There is an old myth about a time where all the species ruled the earth and lived together in peace and harmony. But that's all it is. A myth. With the way things are now, there can never be peace.
Some werewolves even despise the Moon Goddess, our "Guardian", who hasn't been seen for more than a century. The legends say she often used to visit the earth, but no one in my lifetime has ever even heard about a person meeting the Moon Goddess. Many of our kind think she abandoned us and is floating around somewhere (or doing whatever divine entities do). In my personal opinion, I don't think she abandoned us. It doesn't make sense.
She created the werewolf species, she could destroy it. Why just leave us be and not pay any attention?
Anyway, I don't waste my time thinking about it. She's been missing since the Great War of the Species.
The Great War...
'Aw! My head!'
'Take the Aspirin,' I said, not too loudly. I heard a loud groan and gulps as Ena took the medication. I chuckled and bought the plates out. I almost burnt the eggs in all my brooding, something I've never done before.
'Here,' I said, 'I made a big effort to get up and make these, so don't puke all over them.'
'Whatever.'
'Hm. Do you know what day it is?'
Being the conceited brat I am, I just had to ask.
'It's Friday. Why?' Ena said, her mouth stuffed. I gave her a knowing look.
She froze, then choked on her food. I laughed.
'I'm sorry!' she whisper-shouted, reaching out to hug me.
'It's fine, don't worry about it,' I said. She looked around frantically.
'I've got to buy you a present!' she said and stood abruptly. Immediately, she cringed and gently sat back down.
'Maybe later,' I said, 'you have a very bad hangover.'
She gave me a dirty look. 'The last thing I remember from last night is you telling me to drink those tequila shots.'
I gave her a toothy grin and hurried into my room before she remembered anything else I told her to do while she was drunk.
I am a truly wonderful best friend.
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Hello, everyone!
Updates for this book will be slow because I'm currently working on two at the same time! I hope you enjoyed the chapter, please let me know what you think about it in the comments!
Thanks for reading,
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Enjoy life,
Mareska.
PUBLISHED- Feb 10, 2020
EDITED- April 23, 2020