Chapter 1 The Birthday Girl

Cammile grumbled and cursed at the old gypsy after they left her filthy shop. Whereas Stevi couldn't stop laughing every time she remembered the woman's words and how she charged a hundred dollars for her fortune telling.

“She tricked us with that strange prophecy and forced you to pay a hundred dollars. Seriously?!"

"She was so funny. I even gaped at her words. I thought after she said her prophecies so seriously, she would let me have this necklace.” Stevi's fingers touched her new necklace.

She liked to touch the crescent moon pendant on her new necklace. She no longer thought about the price she had to pay or the gypsy woman's absurd prophecy because of the necklace around her neck.

“She was just boasting about the Moon Goddess's gemstone. This necklace couldn't possibly be made of such a precious stone. Maybe she just picked up the rocks from the sea and sanded them down.”

“Tsk, don't look down on that woman too much. She might be a bit of a bitch, but I love this necklace. Think of it as a birthday present.”

“You even got a rare jewelry set for your birthday present from your Dad. What are you wearing that strange necklace for?” Cammile picked up the necklace and looked at it scornfully.

“This necklace feels different to me. Tsk, get your hands off of it.”

Stevi pushed Cammile’s hand away. They continued on their way to a bar for lunch. It was actually too late for lunch, and it would be more appropriate to call it dinner. Stevi ate too much street food during the festival, so she was too full to eat lunch. And now, she started to starve. The gypsy seemed to make her expend all her energy.

"Do you believe in her prophecies?"

"Absolutely not. The gypsy was just boasting. None of the things she mentioned came close to Jason's characteristics. I just took it all as a joke.”

"But I felt a little strange when I entered the shop."

Cammile rubbed her nape, which suddenly got goosebumps. The two of them were stopped at a crossroads, waiting for the light to turn green.

Stevi was standing right in the front row with other pedestrians. She was so enthusiastic about looking at anything that looked very interesting around her. Several luxury cars moved slowly past her. One of the cars had the windows open. Stevi saw the figure of a man with silvery black hair with a tattoo of silver tendrils on his neck and black glasses that framed his eyes. The man stared straight ahead and was busy talking on the phone. But suddenly the man turned his head towards her. Stevi felt her heart pound very fast and her skin flushed. She reflexively lowered her head to end eye contact between them. She kept her head down for a while until she was sure that the man had left with his car.

"Stevi, can you hear me?"

“Wh-what?” Stevi stuttered when Cammile suddenly tapped her on the shoulder.

"I was talking to you."

"Sorry. I... my mind is a bit distracted. What are you saying?"

The two stepped across the street after the light turned green. Stevi and Cammile chose to stay away from the crowd and walk in the back row so they could chat more freely.

“The gypsy might be a witch. My legs went numb when she started predicting your future with her stupid cup.”

"Really? If she was a witch, I couldn't sense it. You remember when my father had a business in Georgia and I went with him. I could feel the energy of a witch disguised as one of the patrons in the restaurant where my father had a business meeting. The gypsy shop is like a normal shop. Just dingy and dirty.”

“But I couldn't move my body when I was about to warn you to stay away from her. I want to pull you out."

"Thank God you didn't drag me away," Stevi grinned. "I really want this necklace, and I'm not leaving until I get it."

Cammile snorted. Stevi was very stubborn. Cammile had a heavy burden on her shoulders if something bad happened to Stevi. Cybell and Hudson would cut off her head and make it a decoration on their doorstep if something bad happened to their only daughter.

"How about we eat burgers and drink beer at the bar?"

"Are you sure you want to eat in a place like that?" Cammile looked unsure.

The bar looked grungy with the paint on the walls peeling from the weather. Colorful neon lights twinkled around a sign saying Open. The blackboard near the entrance informed today's special menu and special offers, a 30% discount for couples who order special menus at the bar during the Mardi Gras Festival. Cammile would rather pay big bucks for her food than buy discounted food at a seedy bar. Most of the people who walked into the bar were people with messy faces or women with tacky make-up. It was obvious they were after the 30% discount offered by the bar owner.

“I want to try it. I've never been to a bar."

“We should look for another more decent restaurant. I doubt they cook food hygienically.”

“Come on Cammile, we can try some beer and some liquor in there. It's my eighteenth birthday. I'm not a kid anymore. I can drink all the drinks adults drink.”

“But… Stevi! Oh shit.”

Cammile followed Stevi's steps into the bar. As a descendant of noble werewolves, Stevi had greater power than Cammile, who was only a werewolf from a lower caste. Stevi could walk faster than Cammile and had a higher sensitivity to magical things around her. Furthermore, Stevi had a beautiful face and a curvy body. This made Cammile quite wary because any man who looked at Stevi would definitely show great interest in approaching her.

“Can you listen to me just once?”

“You took too long. I'm hungry."

"Hello, ladies."