Once every month, there will come a time that the power of our kind will vastly increase. Full Moon. During this night, our kind, or should I say, wolves, receive a great power spike from the gods above. It became a monthly habit to receive newly found strength during this time, thus, we consider this as gifts from the gods. Our kind has been blessed ever since ancient times. The wolves dominate the forest in the night, especially during an event such as the full moon.

The power we receive equals to our current realm, such, in such situation, the battle prowess of our kind will double. Unfortunately, receiving such power spike will make it hard to control. Many of our kind lose their minds during the full moon. If an incident such as like that happened, the head of the house, or the alpha, will take control of the situation to suppress the wild wolf.

Alphas are the strongest in the pack and they usually take the responsibility of the whole family. As the strongest, it’s their duty to make decisions and protect the weaker ones under their belt.

The alpha is strong, but that doesn’t make them invulnerable. During the full moon, they are the ones that receive the greatest power among all. Such, they receive the greatest suffering of all while trying to suppress and absorb as much power as possible, without losing their sanity. To do that, and still protect and guide the pack simultaneously is the proof that the alpha is indeed the strongest among all.

During the Full Moon, it is advised that we avoid contact from the outside during this time, even with our own friends and family, as losing one’s mind will consider anyone neither friends or foe. Our pack usually goes back to the mountains, once a month to isolate ourselves and not harm anyone, just in case something happens.

In the mountains, we run wild and let out instincts and desires to take over us. There are three reasons for doing this. The first reason is for the safety of the people around us, especially normal people that didn't know our existence. At the mountains, we can do anything we want, isolated from all eyes that may bother us. It also keeps them safe when one of us loses their sanity and rampaged on the streets. Such, every family member is required to go back to the mountains whenever a full moon occurs.

The second reason is family bonding. It’s like a monthly family reunion for us. During these days, we rarely stay together as a pack, especially today’s era is getting more and more inclined to technology. We also have to adapt to our surroundings. We cannot just go out and hunt for food and fend off only for ourselves. We need to start changing and adapting to society today. We started building our civilization closely related to humans as well. This gives us advantages to increase our powers as well. Such, once a month, during a full moon, we stay together and harmoniously howl at the moon.

The third reason is to reduce stress. During a full moon, both our minds and body are filled with energy that increases our strength but greatly applies burden equal to the strength gained. Running wildly in the mountains till your limbs hurt, seeing family members, and just letting your instincts take over for the night. Doing wolf kinds of stuff makes us happy. It's hard to pretend to be a human all the time. Suppressing one's instinct requires great discipline and mental control. It is an agenda if you want to go out of the mountains and live a modern life. Unfortunately, keeping it up every day will build up stress upon you and a stressed mind will make the chances of losing sanity higher.

After the full moon, wolves spend their time meditating or practicing their newly found strength. You need to integrate it into your body well enough that you can use it efficiently. Not doing so may result in harm of your body and mind.

With all that said, I faced Bel, while she rummages through my drawers getting a few clothes and packing them neatly on my travel bag. We are currently preparing for the full moon, which is tomorrow night. Fortunately, this month's full moon is set on a weekend, Bel and I won’t have to skip a day at school.

“Master, will these clothes suffice for tomorrow's event?” Bel asked. She was careful not to say Full Moon in front of me, as I’m very sensitive to the word, or in the event itself. It’s not that it’s a terrible experience for me, but the fact that I have to go to the main house and meet with my family for the night doesn’t make it better. I have to meet my mother again, in which I’m not very close to. There are also other relatives that just can’t keep their mouth shut.

I said that but the very reason I don’t want to go is that not even once, I received power from the gods. Every wolf I knew, every one of them, every full moon, the gods give them power, no matter how small or big it is. In my case, not even a minuscule amount is given for the past 16 years of my life. Why is that? I don’t know myself. The gods seem to be playing with me for the past years. For that, I’ve been called the unblessed one in the family.

Of course, in the early years, I try to overcome the demerit with hard work and persistence. I tried to catch up to them even knowing the absolute fault. I tried. And I failed. I knew that there’s no meaning in doing so anymore. That’s why I hated it. I hated the fact that we need to go to a mandatory family reunion for the night. I don’t want to see my family.

It’s not hidden that I’m clearly the weakest among all of the wolves in the pack. If not for the fact that I’m a member of the main family, they would’ve abandoned me long ago. To be honest, if they left me, I’ll probably find some inner peace within me rather than suffering in point blank discrimination. The way they looked at me, then sigh. The way they’re talking behind my backs as if I couldn’t hear them. I hate it all. I’m perfectly content being a normal person, hiding in the middle of society. I sometimes question why am I born in this kind of family.

Unfortunately, we still needed to go. It’s a rule, and breaking the rules will result in sanctions. It’s scary how sanctions work on this family, it’s so scary that a lazy bum like me will have to comply, even if I don’t receive any kind blessing from the heavens.

To keep me from getting bored, I help Bel to reduce her stress. I watch over her and make sure that she stays sane. Not that I can help that much, but I stay by her side and observe her movements or alert the higher-ups to help her if things get ugly. It’s the least I can do to help those who are kind to me.

Going back, I instructed Bel on getting some plain clothes, one that will not attract any attention from the family. Though I attract attention anyway for being a failure, I still try to hide my presence as much as possible.

“Understood.” Bel finished up the packing and I went on to get some of my stuff, such as books and other stuff to keep me company for the night. We will start traveling at dawn to reduce the casualty of being seen, so we have a couple of hours left before we depart towards the main house.

Speaking of which, the Coleman Family are a family of wolves as well right? I wonder how they do stuff during full moons. I mean they’re overwhelmingly rich so they probably have an island reserved for only them. It’s not like my business to care about these things anyway.

“Bel, wake me up when we’re about to depart, I feel a little sleepy so I’ll take a nap.” That said, I should get some sleep while I can, a full moon is a night event, it’s impossible to get some sleep tomorrow night. Though wolves are nocturnal animals, my body clock shifted closely to humans. In addition, I’ll get bored easily since I have nothing to do.

“Understood.” Bel went out of my room and I lay on my bed, hoping that when I woke up, the full moon is already over.

***

As my consciousness shifted over, I saw another dream. What’s up with these dreams lately? I’m starting to think that I’m an oracle or something. That said, this dream in a little bit weird.

This time, there was only darkness in the scene. There’s nothing around, but I get the feeling that there is something is in front of me, I just cannot see it. And it’s something powerful as well, it made me nervous and afraid for some reason.

After a good while, I heard a voice, it was husky and deep. It echoed throughout the whole area. It’s powerful enough to make the hairs at the back of my neck stand up. I’m frozen on the spot, I cannot move a single muscle. Sleep paralysis?

“What is it that you desire?” The voice said.

“I want to sleep peacefully.”. I replied after finding out that I can talk back.

“Then wake up.” The voice replied.

Huh? I want to sleep and it’s telling me to wake up? What’s wrong with this guy? Is this some kind of prank? Some dream this is. Lightly mocking him inside my head, I replied.

“That’s kind of ironic, isn’t it? But my answer is no, I’m tired.”

“Wake up.” The voice echoed again.

“Wake up.”

“Wake up.”

“Wake up.”

It repeated the same words over and over again. Why is this guy so persistent on waking me up? When I truly wake up, I’ll try to search for some preventive measures against dreams.

“What do you mean by wake up?” I asked after it stopped repeating the same words.

“Wake up and open your eyes.” It replied after a minute of silence.

Seems easy enough then. I tried waking myself up by pinching my elbow but it didn’t work. I’m pretty much sure that what I’m seeing are visions, not dreams anymore since I can’t seem to wake up and I awfully remember all the details that occurred.

“I can’t.” I gave up trying and asked the voice. What do you want me to do now? Close my eyes and sleep? I thought of that and I really did went to sleep. I felt my eyes getting heavier and heavier. Before I fell asleep while being asleep, I saw the one speaking, he revealed himself. It was a jet black wolf.

“Oh it seems you resisted the spell quite a bit, now go and wake up, it’s your time now.” As he said that, I truly opened my eyes this time.

I can finally wake up.