Dawn of the Werewolves

By Aniya Rossi

Aella “whirlwind” Harlow was looking at the screen of her phone with earbuds on, the live speech of Aniya Rossi in the United Nations. She sighed and mumbled, when it ended, “Dumbass... Werewolves accepted by society, protectors, helping Humanity achieve greatness. Yeah, greatness my butt! A good Werewolf is a dead Werewolf! Spoiled brat... Stupid bitch...”

She checked her quiver, counting the darts still there. A quick glance at the pistol crossbow on the left side of her belt, and at the Ruger gun inside the holster under her left armpit. Grabbing her faithful Labrys, a double edge axe, was the last thing she did before hearing a howl nearby.

Aella frowned and mumbled, “Show time...”

(It is the sequel of "The Flesh-Eating Werewolf", set 20 years in the future, but can be read as a stand alone, but with minor mentions to events in the first story, and some previous characters that will appear in this story.)

• Language: English
• Publisher: Aniya Rossi
• Release date: May 28, 2022
• ISBN: 9781005486679

Aniya Rossi

I am a twenty-two years old spoiled blond with light blue eyes that love to shop and party and I still manage to have time to enjoy life and friends.

Book preview

1

Chapter 1 – Fated encounter

Aella ‘whirlwind’ Harlow was looking at the screen of her phone with earbuds on, hearing the live speech of Aniya Rossi at the United Nations. She sighed and mumbled when it ended, Dumbass… Werewolves accepted by society, protectors, helping Humanity achieve greatness. Yeah, greatness, my butt! A good Werewolf is a dead Werewolf! Spoiled brat… Stupid bitch…

She checked her quiver, counting the darts still there. A glance at the pistol crossbow on the left side of her belt, and the Ruger gun inside the holster under her left armpit. Grabbing her faithful Labrys, a double-edged axe was the last thing she did before hearing a howl nearby.

Aella frowned and mumbled, Showtime…

With her inhuman speed, she crossed the forest where she was without making any noise. Years of training made her the best of the best in her field.

Suddenly, she stopped, and walked slowly, approaching her prey. In the clearing ahead, two dark-grey Werewolves were eating a Human body on the ground at their feet.

Aella leisurely approached and addressed the surprised Werewolves while taping the silver edge of her double axe. Well, well, what do we have here… Two mean and scary Werewolves killed and are eating a person? Well, I don’t know if you can understand me or not, but the penalty for killing a Human is death. So, who wants to be the first?

Both Werewolves had blood dripping from their mouths, and while they were still looking at her, Aella put a dart on her crossbow gun and waited for their next move.

The moment one of them stuck his left paw on the ground, preparing to jump, she moved with an inhuman speed.

In the next split second, she was next to that Werewolf, sticking a dart straight to his neck while hitting the other Werewolf with her axe, slicing his left arm off.

An elbow to the stomach of the Werewolf with the dart made him bend his body, and Aella beheaded him. Her axe continued the downward movement, and with a wrist movement, changed its course and went straight at the last Werewolf.

Surprisingly, he was able to grab the blade with his still attached hand, and even with the silver sharp edge cutting into his flesh, he pushed Aella to the left, throwing her against a tree.

She was already pointing her gun at him when her back hit the wood, and she shot straight to the chest, slowing his run towards her. She used the tree to get an impulse by hitting it with her feet, and she darted ahead, with her axe pointing forward.

They both rolled on the floor, with Aella shooting her gun at the Werewolf’s head and slicing it with the axe in a swift and powerful slash.

When she was getting up and panting, the noise of running from behind her alerted her that the fight hadn’t ended.

Unknown to her, there was another dark-grey Werewolf in the woods that, perhaps attracted by the noise, was almost grabbing her. Then, a dark shadow came from Aella’s right side and tackled the Werewolf.

She frowned at the sight of two Werewolves rolling on the floor, but it didn’t last long because the dark Werewolf clutched his fangs in the throat of the dark grey Werewolf, and killed him.

Aella squeezed the handle of her axe and lowered her body, preparing to attack the dark nightmare, but then she heard him speak in a harsh voice, with both arms raised, Wait! I mean no harm! I just saved you, you know?

Nice, a freaking talking Werewolf! I never asked for help, you beast!

The dark Werewolf made a low growl and said, You are a nice piece of work, aren’t you? I shouldn’t have helped you. This World doesn’t need more stupidity. You were lucky this time, but maybe you won’t be on your next adventure. I only hope you die before you have time to have children, or they will be even dumber than you.

What did you say? Are you freaking joking with me? Do you have any idea with whom you are talking to?

I don’t, nor do I care. You mean nothing to me. I have better things to do than waste my time with you.

Then, she started to change. In seconds, Aella was looking at a blond, blue-eyed woman who was removing the last bits of flesh and fur from her body. She gulped because the blond woman was not only extremely beautiful, but her figure was also amazing.

Without looking at her, the mysterious woman went to a tree nearby, and from behind it, took a bag and opened it. She grabbed a towel from there, cleaning herself from all the blood the change left all over her body, and she quickly got dressed. A white t-shirt, a dark-brown sweater with a hood, black leather trousers and boots.

Aella was looking at her, marvelled, unable to avert her eyes. The mysterious blond got dressed without even bothering to look at the puzzled woman, and when she grabbed the bag again, she approached the dead Human body on the floor, the one the Werewolves were eating, and she kneeled next to it with her eyes closed in silence as if she was praying.

The mysterious woman then got up and looked at Aella. Then her frown slowly changed to a surprised stare. She walked slowly towards her, and Aella didn’t even dare to move.

To her, it was as if a being out of a fantasy story was approaching, with her eyes shining and her loose blond hair reflecting the moonlight.

Aella noticed a strange glow around, something that seemed to come from her and, until that night, had never happened.

The blond woman made a slight smile and said, in a slow, calming voice, What you feel is the bond. It means we were meant for each other. You shine like my mother, and that is extremely rare. I know of only twenty people in the entire World who can make this light. It also gives you immense power over Werewolves, and that means you are my Alpha or my Luna. We may need to decide which role each of us should take in this relationship because it will make things far easier. What colour is your Werewolf form? Don’t tell me it is white, because that would be a tremendous coincidence!

Aella gasped and said, I… am not a Werewolf… I hunt them… I am a member of the Werewolf Enforcer Unit…

No need to lie to me. You are a Werewolf. I can smell you. I don’t know why you deny it, but you are just like me. Except that you are an Enforcer, and I am a Bounty Hunter. The family of that man those Werewolves killed hired me. My job was to save him, or retrieve his body and avenge his death. I couldn’t find him in time to save him, but I avenged him. What is your story? Were you after the Werewolves?

Yes… Yes, I was. They were on the run for a few months, and I tracked them down here. They have a long list of Humans they have killed, either as Humans or as Werewolves. I need to take their heads with me as proof and bury the bodies. And… I am a Werewolf, yes, but I hate it. It is not something I chose to be, so I don’t want to be one.

The blond woman raised her left eyebrow slightly, puzzled by her answer. After a few minutes of silence, she said, I know there is a story behind that decision, as it most definitely is one behind why you chose to be an Enforcer and only fight in your Human form. You should be at a disadvantage against Werewolves, but from what I saw, you are very dangerous. That is cool, and also very attractive. What’s your name?

I… Shit, this light is messing with my nerves! How do I turn it off?

Close your eyes. Breathe deeply and calm your heart. Focus on your breathing. Slow and steady. The light is connected to your emotions. Being calm and in control keeps the light hidden, but ready for you to use if you need to enforce your power over Werewolves.

Aella did as the mysterious woman said, and her heart rate slowed down, and the light diminished. When Aella opened her eyes again, only moonlight surrounded them.

She made a slight frown and asked, What do you mean, power over Werewolves? I heard a few things about this light, but most of them were rumours, lacking proof.

Because only a few people are blessed with it, and those who aren’t, don’t fully comprehend it. It is basically the power to bend a Werewolf to your will and to make them acknowledge you as their superior. It is useful to make Werewolves used to the smell of wolf’s bane and to gather a Pack around you. Unless those Werewolves already have a Pack. In that case, your light does not influence them. But like I said, from what I know, only twenty people can make that light in the entire World, meaning that there are not many Packs of Werewolves, fully recognized. There are Packs with appointed leaders for protection or organisational purposes. The real Packs that exist around someone able to make that light are country size. If you ever wish to join them, that light grants you an automatic seat in the Werewolf Organization. But you still didn’t answer me. What is your name?

I am Aella ‘whirlwind’ Harlow. I am an Enforcer, and I am considered by my superiors to be the best in activity. That is why they nicknamed me ‘whirlwind’. According to them, it is because I leave a track of dead Werewolves behind me. What is your name? You also didn’t introduce yourself.

You are right, I didn’t. I am Aurora Rossi Kerrish. Nice to meet you, Aella.

You… are a Rossi? And your mother can use this light… Your mother is Aniya Rossi? Are you that bitch’s daughter? For real?

Aurora timidly nodded and answered, Yes… Carrying this name is a burden, and I don’t use it. I prefer introducing myself as Aurora Kerrish, and-

Suddenly, the lights went out for Aurora. Aella felt her blood boil and punched her so hard that Aurora was sent flying for three metres, hitting a tree.

Aella approached her while squeezing her battle-axe, and as she was lifting it, her light appeared in full force, as if suddenly, she had become a sun. She lowered the axe and tried to calm herself down.

When the light disappeared, Aella quickly dug three holes with her axe to bury the headless Human bodies of the former Werewolves. She opened the backpack that she had put at the edge of the clearing, and from there, she took three thick plastic bags and put the heads inside. She put the heads in her backpack, and after one last look at the still fainted Aurora, she bit her lip, forcing herself not to approach the fainted beauty and left, running at high speed among the trees.

After almost one hour of running without slowing down, Aella found the river that she had crossed when she was after the Werewolves. She entered and walked with water up to her knees, stream down.

Half an hour later, she left the river and kept on running. Never stopping, never slowing down, and always remembering the encounter with that gorgeous blond young woman.

Aella tried to keep her mind away, but those blue eyes that only moments ago were looking at her were engraved in her mind, and she couldn’t forget.

When she finally stopped, she was once again inside the tunnel underneath the country road that she had travelled on to get there.

She mounted her motorcycle and mumbled as she was putting her helmet on while trying to calm herself down. Why did I have to meet her? Why, of all the women out there, had to be Aniya’s daughter? And why did she have to be so damn gorgeous? Now I have this stupid light… I need to focus like she said, calm down, and it will disappear… If this grants me some sort of advantage against Werewolves, it might be useful. But she said something about an automatic seat in the Werewolf Organization… As if I wanted to have something to do with those beasts! Argh! Just my luck! Stupid Aurora… Kerrish… That is Aniya’s husband… Nick Kerrish… a strong Alpha and a fantastic fighter… Oh, shit! She knows my name! Darn it, why did I tell her my name before knowing hers? I need to get back to the office and get my next assignment. Maybe there is one far away from here and from Aurora. Damn it! Why can’t I stop thinking about her?

2

Chapter 2 – Aurora’s job

When Aella was walking in the river, Aurora woke up. She caressed her lower jaw and mumbled, This is going to hurt for a while. Why did she punch me? Does she have something against me? Or my mother? She was so beautiful… Ouch, my head hurts… She moved so fast that I barely saw her. I could have avoided her punch if I had expected it, but she totally got me by surprise. She deserves that nickname for sure; she is a whirlwind, alright!

Aurora got up and took a big body bag from inside her bag that she used to put the dead Human inside. She looked at the fresh soil on her left and said, At least she buried them. It is better if I get back. I need to take this poor guy to his family. This will not do well for Werewolves’ reputation. Normal Humans already fear us enough without having Werewolves kill and eat people. These guys give Werewolves a bad name, and the problem is that, lately, more of these deaths are happening. That law that my mother is trying to fight about Werewolves needing to be registered and identified will get through if this keeps on happening… and all hell will break loose!

Aurora left the clearing in the opposite direction from where Aella ran, carrying the dead man over her right shoulder. She had a slight frown all the way to her car, which was parked on a path near the side road she used to get there, still thinking about Aella and her reaction.

She carefully put the body in the trunk, and spoke in a low voice, I am sorry for not finding you on time. At least your family will give you a proper funeral and mourn for you. I am also sorry for putting you here, but I can’t have you in the back seat. I hope you will forgive me.

Aurora closed the trunk and threw her bag onto the back seat after taking her phone from one of its several pockets. She sat in the driver’s seat and sighed, before going through her contact list and pressing a familiar name there.

Aniya’s voice came from the other side. Aurora! Where have you been? Are you alright? Are you safe?

I am, mother, no need to worry. Why all the stress? You know I had work to do, right?

I know. You told me after slamming the door on me last week, remember? But things are not like last week. Come home; it’s not safe for you to be all alone!

Why is that? Did something happen? I have heard nothing since I picked this job. I have been tracking three Werewolves for two days straight!

Aniya went silent, and said, after a few seconds, There are a few skirmishes all over the country, and in other countries as well. People are putting pressure on their governments to approve the Werewolf Registration, and mobs are attacking Werewolves’ families and getting killed. So far, twenty Werewolves died along with their children and over four hundred normal Humans. Some countries have already enforced Martial Law. Can’t you come home to us?

What for? What good will it do if I am there? You have the pack to keep danger away from you and father. You don’t need me. Besides, no one knows I am away, and if I don’t use your name, no one suspects me. Don’t worry, I will be alright. Besides, someone has to be around doing what I do, hunting maniac Werewolves. You and the Werewolf Organization knew this could happen. Heck, you knew things could turn out like this when you and all the other Lunas went after the Hunters! But it was not to argue with you that I called. I need a name and a location. Aella ‘whirlwind’ Harlow, a member of the Werewolf Enforcer Unit.

You took one week to at least phone me to say you were alive, and you called asking for a favour? You have some nerve, young lady!

Mother, she is my partner. I felt the bond. And she also has your light. It seems today was the first time it appeared. You know what that means, right?

Aniya gasped, and her voice came in a low tone from the phone, barely audible, No way… Aurora, you and another woman… Really? Well, I knew you liked women, but I thought… I never heard of a bond between two women! And she has a light like me? You saw it?

Of course, I saw it, or else I wouldn’t have said she has one, would I? She killed two of the Werewolves that I was also tracking. She said she had been tracking them for one month, and they left a trail of dead bodies until she caught them. I killed the third Werewolf, and I took the dead man they killed with me, and I am going to deliver him to his family.

That… Maybe you shouldn’t. It will do more harm than good if news reaches the TV channels that a group of Werewolves killed another Human.

Too late for that. When they contacted me, the news had already spread. The least I can do is deliver the body so that the family can have a proper funeral, but I can also make sure they spread the news that the Werewolf Enforcer Unit was also after those Werewolves, and that will ease some damage in the public’s eye. You do your part as well, with a press conference or so. As for my question, can you see what you can find about her?

Why didn’t you ask her what you wanted to know? She left you or what?

Aurora rubbed her jaw and explained, She kind of punched me the moment I told her I was your daughter. When I woke up, she was long gone. I could smell her track, but I will let her be for now. She has to think about this for a while, I suppose. She also denied being a Werewolf, and she killed those two Werewolves in her Human form. From what she told me, she doesn’t like to be a Werewolf. I got the feeling she hates our guts. You might have something to do with that, judging by her reaction when I told her my name.

Or, and this is just a thought, you said something that made her angry. You tend to do that, you know?

I wonder from whom I got that trait… Not father, because everybody likes him. You, on the other hand…

Oh, shut up, you! I will see what I can find out. Is she pretty at least?

No mother, she is hideous! Horribly looking, with a hairy wart right on the tip of her nose! She is also crossed-eyed and has male features! She looks like a nightmare as a Human! As a Werewolf, I can barely imagine!

Silence on the other side. Then, after a deep sigh, Aniya said, You don’t want to tell me, then don’t tell me. I will see her photo when I find her. What are you going to do after delivering the body? Can you at least call me every two days so that I know you are still alive?

I guess I am going to wait for your phone call and go after Aella. I could try to follow the bond, but that could take a long time, and if things are as bad as you say, it is better if I remain low. Will you send a kiss to Grandma?

A kiss, you say? Really? Not a punch?

No, a kiss will make her suffer more, that old hag! She always hated me, so I know showing her kindness will make her angry. Bye, mother, we will talk later.

Bye. Be careful!

Aurora hung up and frowned. She slowly shook her head and mumbled, What was she expecting? For as much as she defends Werewolves, normal Humans will always fear us…

She turned the key and drove away, entering the countryside road towards the City where the family that hired her lived.

Using side roads and avoiding villages and main roads, Aurora rode all night, stopping every two hours to sleep for one hour before continuing her journey.

At dawn, Aurora entered the City. She followed the same small streets she used two days before to reach her destination, the backyard of the family that was waiting for her anxiously. It was a pity that she had no good news for them. Instead of a smiling husband and father, she brought a dead body with missing flesh and limbs because of the Werewolves that killed him.

She stopped the car in front of the garage, and phoned the wife, telling her that she had arrived but without good news.

The garage door opened, and Aurora drove the car into it. The crying woman was already there with her mother, and as soon as the garage door closed, Aurora got out of the car and spoke, I am sorry. I didn’t find him in time. He was already dead when I got to him, and he probably died yesterday morning. The ones that killed him are also dead, and their deaths were excruciating. A member of the Werewolf Enforcer Unit was also after them for some months. Those Werewolves that killed your husband were on the run, leaving behind a trail of bodies. They won’t hurt anyone else. The Enforcer Unit has its own laws, above the police or any government, concerning Werewolves that kill normal Humans. They kill Werewolves on the spot, no questions asked. I killed one of them and the Enforcer killed two. And she was terrifying. I am pretty sure they pissed themselves as they were dying, those bastards.

Aurora took the dead man from the trunk of her car and carefully laid him over the table that was near the wall. She unzipped the bag for them to see his face, and said, Don’t look further than this. It is not a pretty sight. From his injuries, I can promise he died instantly, and he didn’t suffer. His killers suffered a lot.

The woman and her mother hugged the dead man, crying their eyes out. Aurora stood next to them in silence. Delivering dead bodies to their families was the worst part of her job.

She preferred it way more when she could reach her target in time, even if she had to kill all the Werewolves in her path to get the job done. Delivering him or her alive to their families was the sole reason she worked as a Werewolf Bounty Hunter. She was often hired to track down and kill a wanted Werewolf, but saving someone in the process made everything worthwhile.

As usual, Aurora didn’t accept the payment. She never did that when her target was dead. Instead, she gave money to the wife to help pay for the funeral. More than enough for it, and to get her life straight when the pain ends.

As soon as the door opened, Aurora drove the car away, leaving behind a mourning family, suffering the loss of the one she couldn’t save.

A few blocks away, she stopped the car, parked near a tree, and cried. It was still early, and that street had no shops open, so there was no one in sight that saw her there.

Almost fifteen minutes later, she cleaned her tears and drove to the motel where she was staying to sleep and wait for the phone call from her mother, hopefully with news about the dark brown-haired beauty she met.

She couldn’t figure out why Aella got so angry and reacted like she did at the mere mention of Aniya Rossi, or why she denied her Werewolf side. But she sure wanted to find out! Not only that, but everything about her. Her deepest secrets, her quirks, what she liked, or what she disliked.

Thinking about those deep brown eyes was enough to raise her mood, and Aurora found herself smiling, as she mumbled, Yeah, she sure is a beauty… The things I want to do to her… and the things I want her to do to me… Geez, calm down, Aurora! Calm down!

3

Chapter 3 - Bullies

By the middle of the morning, at a certain High School, Amy Pearson opened the door that led to the balcony on the rooftop of the main building. Surrounded by a wall at chest height, it was not a place where students were allowed to be, but that never stopped them.

Amy’s childhood friend was there, waiting for her. They used to always be together, but since High School started, she stopped wanting to go to School with her and even joined the group of popular girls.

Amy Pearson didn’t understand why, but the popular girls started to pick on her, bullying her every single day. They would make her trip, bump against her on purpose, or put papers with insults in her locker.

Asiya Khan was always with them, and she did nothing to stop them. Instead, she laughed and clapped every single time. More than once, she would be the first to make Amy trip, starting another round of bullying from the girls with her.

Asiya forced a smile and greeted her. Hi, Amy. I wasn’t sure if you would come or not.

Hi… It took me a while to decide. I am not sure why you wanted to see me here, considering all the mean things you have been doing to me ever since you joined that group. You know what they are doing to me every single day, and you did nothing to stop them. Today, you left a note in my locker, saying that you wanted to apologise and explain.

Amy made a slight frown when she saw her once-upon-a-time friend making an awkward smile and waiting. Asiya then explained, and Amy felt her heart stop. They are being mean to you because they found out your parents are Werewolves. Since this week you are going to be sixteen, you will probably be one of them as well.

Sometimes kids with Werewolf parents never change, and sometimes kids with normal Human parents change! It’s not an exact science! How did they find out? I never told anyone, and neither did my parents!

From behind them came a girl’s voice that made Amy shiver. Oh, that is easy to explain! Asiya told us! What were you thinking, you monster? That no one would find out?

Amy turned to face her bully and her three friends. Charity Richie was grinning at her, with a dark brown hijab covering her hair and surrounding her cute face and hazelnut eyes. Amy faced her childhood friend, who was now also grinning at her. She understood immediately. She snitched, and that was a trap. No one was around to see them, meaning they could do anything they wanted to her.

Then, something snapped inside the always peaceful girl. Amy jumped at Asiya’s throat and squeezed while shouting, Why did you tell? Why are you being so mean to me? We grew up together, moron! Your parents are also Werewolves, and I never told anyone! Not even after everything you and Charity did to me!

Charity and her three friends frowned at the two fighting girls, and while Asiya was trying to take Amy’s hands from her throat, Charity shouted, You are also one of them, Asiya? Shit! Are you like her, a rotten Monster?

Asiya rolled her body, and they both bumped against the wall. With a final push from the adrenaline and fear that what happened to Amy was also going to happen to her, Asiya shouted as she pushed Amy against the wall that surrounded the balcony, No! She is lying! I am not like her; neither are my parents!

Amy screamed while her head was being pushed backwards and she felt her feet leaving the ground, Yes, you are! Even your grandparents are Werewolves! You changed for the first time before High School started! I was with you, and I helped your parents restrain you in their basement!

Asiya shouted, and made one last push, Liar! I am not a monster like you! I am not!

Amy went over the wall and fell head-first on the concrete, three floors down. Asiya stared at her former friend’s dead body with blank eyes, watching as the pool of blood stretched on the concrete, making a strange shape, and she mumbled, Amy… I… I am sorry…. Amy… What did I do…

Then, she felt hands on her arms and legs, lifting her over the wall, and she shouted, Wait! Stop! Let me go!

Charity spoke in an angry tone, You are one of them as well? And you told us you hated Werewolves! You monster!

No! I am not! Let me go! I am not one of them! Let me go!

Oh, I will let you go, alright! You know what my father says? A good Werewolf is a dead Werewolf!

Asiya screamed all the way down, her arms stretched forward, desperate to hold on to something. In a flash, all the memories she shared with Amy came to her mind. All the time they bathed together, played together, or cried together. All those images vanished the moment her head got sliced open after hitting the concrete. Her hands and arms broke first, and her head last.

On the top of the building, Charity Richie was grinning, and one of her friends asked, with a pale face, What… What do we do now? If someone saw us…

Charity turned to face her friends, and her scary smile made them shiver. We saw nothing. We go wash our hands and faces in the bathroom, and then we go to class. Those two were most certainly fighting here, and they fell during their fight. No one saw. We were never here. Understood? Unless any of you want to join them!

The other girls vigorously shook their heads and followed their leader to the exit door, leaving the balcony in silence, straight to the nearest bathroom.

In there, Charity was smiling while washing her hands, and asked the three girls next to her, What do you say if we go do some shopping after School? I feel like celebrating!

The three girls slowly nodded, and one of them asked, in a whisper, Charity… What about our religion? We are Muslims, and according to the Islamic teachings, this looks bad! We… we did nothing wrong, right?

What are you talking about? Didn’t you see the news lately? This is war! And we are soldiers! It is us against them! You forgot?